1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 925 "Weaving Webs"

October 1676, 10, Surat.

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

With the roar of artillery, the outer walls and gates of the Qi Kingdom Commercial Hall were riddled with holes, and the counterattack inside became weaker and weaker. The final fall of the Commercial Hall was inevitable.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, amidst the warm cheers of the besieged Mughal army, the Qi State Commercial Hall unfurled a white flag.Afterwards, the shopkeepers, principals, clerks, Mughal employees, and more than 60 guards in the business hall walked out of the business hall in a dejected manner, and were arrested without a fight.

However, what happened next left everyone stunned, including the European businessmen watching from afar.

The Mughal officer ordered the soldiers to drag out all the Mughal employees from the Qi State Commercial Hall, regardless of gender, age or age, and then beheaded them on the spot. All their heads were placed directly at the gate of the Qi State Commercial Hall.The bloody scene caused the captured Qi people to panic, cursing, crying, and scolding, one after another.

When the Mughals saw the chaos of the Qi people, they seemed to be very satisfied with the effect, and then brandishing spears and swords, they escorted them towards the Governor's Mansion.

"Oh, God!" Calvin Phillips, the senior manager of the British East India Company in Surat, made a cross on his chest with his right hand, and his face was a little pale. "All this is too barbaric and bloody!"

"Qi's expeditionary fleet attacked the Bengal area a month ago." Kyle Walker, commercial counselor of the East India Company in Surat, shook his head and said, "This angered the Mughals to a certain extent, making them brazenly do This kind of revenge. However, I am very surprised why the Mughals didn't kill the captured Qi people. Only in this way can they greatly deter those arrogant Qi people."

"The Mughals have besieged the Qi State Commercial House for three months, and they have not launched a strong attack for a long time. The reason is that they don't want to completely offend the Qi State people and freeze the relationship between the two parties." Calvin Phillips said with a wry smile: "Now, Although their Bengal area was attacked by the Qi State Expeditionary Fleet, the Mughals were greatly shocked and angry, but also made the Mughals feel a little threatened. The Qi State people have the ability and strength to deal with them start a war."

"I don't know how long this war will last?" Kyle Walker frowned, "Qi's warships blocked Surat Port and the entire Cambay Bay. Presumably, on the east and west coasts of India, the Mughal Empire There are warships of the Qi people swimming and cruising in the main ports of the country. This not only makes it impossible for the entire Mughal Empire to carry out foreign trade, but also puts our East India Company in trouble."

"The duration of this war depends on how long the dignity of the Mughal emperor can be maintained, and whether the war goals of the Qi people can be fully realized." From a distance, countless Mughal officers and soldiers have swarmed into Qiguo Commercial Hall, Phillips couldn't help sighing, "During this period, I think that all trade affairs of our East India Company will inevitably come to a standstill again."

"This is unfair!" Walker said angrily: "In this war, it is a war between the Qi people and the Mughals. We, the English, should not be involved. Because we belong to the neutral first Three parties!"

"so……"

"So, we should unite with the French, the Dutch, the Portuguese, and even the Ottomans, Persians, and Malays to put pressure on the Qi people to protest their trade blockade and ask them to lift their sanctions against third-party countries. The interception and seizure of merchant ships." Walker said passionately: "I don't believe that the Qi people dare to offend all our countries at the same time!"

"Dear Walker, I think you can try it." Phillips moved in his heart, and said meaningfully: "There will definitely be many voices of opposition to the domineering behavior of the Qi people. If you talk a lot, they may dare to target someone A country that violates trade blockades but dares not push us all to their opposite side."
-
October 10, Diu.

From the sixteenth century onwards, Gujarat was a major trading center, based on its production of large quantities of cotton cloth and other products, and its role not only as the only gateway for the Mughals to go on pilgrimage to Mecca, but also as the host All kinds of goods were imported in large quantities and sent to the heart of the Mughal Empire.

As Europeans and Qi people came here one after another, the foreign trade of the entire Gujarat region became more prosperous, and Surat became one of the greatest and busiest ports in the world.There was a diverse group of experienced merchants, substantial capital resources, and extensive commercial connections in the coastal regions around the Indian Ocean.

Every year, more than 120 merchant ships berth at Surat Port, with a gross tonnage of at least 800 to [-] tons, and a total trade value of at least [-] million rupees.

However, this trading area, where a huge amount of wealth flows, has suddenly come to a standstill since three months ago, as if someone had pinched the blood vessels, silted up and congested on the land.All merchant ships were intercepted or persuaded to return, and all trade was artificially blocked.

It is said that not only Cambay Bay is in a state of blockade, but the warships of Qi are swimming everywhere on the coast of Coromandel, Malabar, and Bengal.

Over the past 200 years, the trade here has been in order, and many trade routes have been active with merchants from all over the world.Sugar was used as ballast and shipped from Bengal to Surat, with some re-exported to Persia and the Red Sea.Bengal supplied rice to the Coromandel and Malabar coasts. Ginger, coarse cloth, sugar, and rice were also shipped directly from Bengal to Mocha on the Red Sea, and sugar and coarse cloth were shipped to Basra.

As the largest commodity of the Qi State, it almost covers the east and west coasts of India and the coast of Bangladesh. However, from one port to another, it gradually penetrates into the interior of the mainland.

Today all trade has come to a dreadful standstill, goods are no longer moving, wealth is no longer spewing, and merchants are no longer active.

A war befalls the Indian region. Well, it should be accurately described as the huge Mughal Empire falling into an all-out war with Qi, making it inevitable that the entire region will be affected.

"What do the people of Qi say?" Antonio Silva, the governor of Diu in Portuguese India, looked at the direction of the port through the window on the second floor. Red Yellow Dragon Banner.

"The Qi people said that during the war, any merchants are forbidden to trade with the Mughals." Portuguese trader Danilo Pereira said: "If we have any trade needs, we can go to Bombay Island, or Cochin, Trade with the local Qi State merchant station. In order to make up for our losses, the people of Qi State promised that the price of all the goods given to us will be reduced by [-]% from the previous basis."

"Wow! The people of Qi spent a lot of money in order to defeat the Mughals." Antonio Silva nodded with a smile: "However, they can really ban all the products produced by the Mughals. On the mainland? In this regard, I express my deep doubts."

"Yes, Governor." Danilo Pereira nodded and said, "There are too many ports on the east and west coasts of India. Even though the Qi people have a large number of warships, they still cannot achieve a complete blockade. During the period, there will inevitably be countless Smugglers smuggled Mughal goods out to earn huge trade profits. That’s right, the prices of Mughal-specific goods have risen by at least [-] to [-] percent in the past few months. Under such circumstances , there will be many people who will take the risk."

"Do you think the people of Qi will take violent measures when they encounter those smuggling merchant ships?" Antonio Silva asked curiously: "After all, apart from the Mughals, the merchants who did smuggling during the war There must be many Europeans and Persians and Arabs."

"..." Danilo Pereira thought for a while, shook his head and said, "I think the people of Qi may intercept, inspect, or even persuade merchant ships that violate the trade blockade they issued. But It should be carefully considered to further use force intimidation or military strikes—of course, the merchant ships targeting the Mughals may be an exception. After all, this seriously violates the right of free navigation of other countries’ merchant ships and will cause conflicts between countries. strife between nations."

"Oh?" Antonio Silva turned his head and glanced at the Qi warship parked at the pier, then shrugged, "Do you think that in the Indian Ocean region, with the strength of the Qi people, they will be afraid of threats from any country? ?”

"..." Danilo Pereira stared wide-eyed and looked at Governor Silva, "The people of Qi will take... decisive measures against any merchant ship that violates the trade blockade?"

"I think they will." Governor Silva nodded and said: "The Qi people have many port supply points on the east and west coasts of India, and even our two colonial strongholds, Goa and Diu, are forced by the situation. Their ships are not allowed to enter the port for replenishment and rest at any time. Their fleet is powerful, and the southern kingdoms of Cochin, Kozhikode, and Qiulong are their vassals. The Dutch, as their strategic allies, will also Give Qi the greatest support. Let me ask, in this situation, which country dares to easily challenge Qi's hegemony in the Indian Ocean?"
-
October 10, Karat Khanate, Khuzdar.

"The Sindh area?" King Ahmed I of Karat Khan was immediately moved when he heard the promise made by the Qi people in front of him.

Most of the Balochistan area occupied by the Karat Khanate is mountainous and desert. Not only is the land barren, but the climate is dry and rainless, the output is not abundant, the economy is very poor, and the lives of tens of thousands of people in the country are miserable. lol.If it weren't for the strong support of the Qi people and the provision of a large number of firearms, their nascent Karat Khanate would have been swallowed up by the Mughal Empire and the Safavid Empire long ago.

The Sindh area, located in the plains of the lower reaches of the Indus River, has fertile land and a large population. It is also the main cotton producing area of ​​the Mughals. Its wealth has always made Ahmed I covetous.

"The Mughals have more than [-] troops stationed in the Sindh region, and many local tribal forces are also inclined to the Mughals." Ahmed I said: "With the current strength of our Karat Khanate, Even with the help of you Qi people, I am afraid it will be difficult to capture all of them."

"Your Majesty, the Sindh region has a vast territory and a large population, and as you said, many tribes in the area are still inclined to the Mughals. It is bound to be difficult to capture them all in a short time." Qi State Black Guards stationed in Jinmen Fort (now Karachi Luo Jingde, Commander of the City) and Xuanjie Xiaowei (Major) smiled and said: "But the people's livelihood there is rich and the economy is developed, which is just right for your Karat Khanate cavalry to plunder and enrich the national strength. Once the Mughal in the Sindh area The power of the Er people is gradually weakened, and at that time, it is the opportunity for your Karat Khanate to attack."

"You Qi people can provide us with the necessary light artillery?" Ahmed I breathed a sigh of relief, and plundered places. Isn't this the main means of our Baluchi people's livelihood.As long as we are not forced to attack the Mughals' fortified key towns and plunder Sindh, that is a good thing we can't wait for.

"That's natural." Luo Jingde nodded and replied: "In order to support your operations in the Xinde area, in addition to giving you one hundred flintlock guns and two artillery pieces, we will also send several combat staff officers and technical officers to accompany you. You participate in military operations together. Well, in order to ensure that you can deal with all kinds of looted materials in time, and at the same time obtain our necessary military assistance, you must capture the important city of Hyderabad so that our ships can pass along the Sindhu River estuary (i.e. the Indus) reached here without incident."

Ahmed I nodded, expressing his approval of the arrangements made by the people of Qi.

Eight years ago, in the Battle of Jinmen Fort, the more than [-] cavalry led by Ahmed I were almost wiped out, and he was captured alive by the people of Qi.Originally, he thought that the other party would directly execute him to deter all the enemies who coveted Jinmen Fort.

Unexpectedly, the Qi people not only let him go, but also expressed that they would vigorously support their Baluchis to fight against the Mughal Empire and the Safavid Empire.

Over the past few years, with the support of the Qi people, the Karat Khanate established by the Balochs has gradually gained a firm foothold, and has continued to expand its territory in three directions, east, west, north, and west. powerful third-party forces.

However, the Balochistan area is poor and barren after all, and the products are not abundant. Apart from grazing sheep and growing fruits, there is basically no decent agricultural foundation.Even though wheat, rice, and corn provided by the people of Qi are planted, the harvest is extremely limited and they depend entirely on the weather.

If it weren't for the trade with the Qi State, in exchange for a large amount of food and various daily necessities from them, it would be extremely difficult for their Karat Khanate to survive, let alone expand outward.

Therefore, Ahmed I seemed to be hesitant when he first joined the Qi State. After a few years, after gradually tasting the sweetness of the support of a powerful country, he simply turned to the other side and became a vassal of the Qi State. The most powerful support point.

Now, the Qi State wants to take action against the Mughal Empire and ask the Karat Khanate to attack the Sindh region and disturb the situation in the northwestern region of the Mughal Empire. Ahmed I naturally dare not refuse.

Moreover, the Qi people did not ask them to attack the enemy on the Mughal territory, but to use their most advantageous cavalry mobile combat mode to destroy the political and economic order of the entire Sindh region, so that the Mughals could not concentrate. Respond to the attack of the Qi people.

However, after hearing the news of the outbreak of the Qi State-Mughal War, Ahmed I had a faint ambition deep in his heart. If the Mughal Empire was defeated by Qi State, its prestige and dominance would inevitably be destroyed. was greatly weakened.So in the Northwest region, where the situation is complicated, is there a chance for their Baluchi people to get involved?

(End of this chapter)