Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 2434: Record of the Western Expedition (I) The Siege of Kazan

The Volga River in June was filled with turbid waves, and the walls of Kazan on the east bank of the river revealed mottled limestone outlines in the morning mist. The double-headed eagle flag on the top of the city was fluttering in the morning breeze, but it could not hide the fear in the eyes of the defenders - half a month ago, an urgent report came from Tyumen: this largest city of Tsarist Russia east of the Ural Mountains had lost its will to resist after three rounds of bombardment by the Ming army on the westward expedition, opened the city gates and announced its surrender.

"Their artillery carts are equipped with iron wheels, and they run faster than Cossack horses on the grassland!" The scout who escaped was covered in blood, his knees knocking on the oak floor of the Governor's Mansion. He spoke so fast that it seemed as if someone was holding a knife to his back. "Each No. 3 light cannon is wrapped with red silk, and mysterious oriental characters are engraved on the gun body! As soon as our musketeers on the top of the city started to reload, the Ming army's flintlock rifles started to fire, as dense as heavy rain hitting iron sheets!"

Governor Alexei Stroganov's fingers clenched the sheepskin map. The mark of Tyumen was circled in red pen, and the ink was not yet dry. He now knew clearly that the so-called "Tatars" were actually the First Naturalized Cavalry Army under the Ming Dynasty. These cavalrymen all carried Wanli Type 3 short carbines, and the bronze animal head emblem on the buttstock shone coldly in the sun.

However, what really frightened him was the "three-stage attack" tactic mentioned by the scout - five thousand musketeers fired in three rows, and the sound of gunfire was continuous like thunder. He even knew another powerful weapon of the Ming army. After all, the wooden castle of Qiuming collapsed in half quickly under the bombardment of the solid bullets of the No. 3 Army Cannon.

Alexei certainly knew this, because he was defeated in another battle that broke out a few days after the Battle of Tyumen, and then fled west to Kazan in panic. The place where that battle took place, Tobolsk, was the residence of him, the Governor-General of Siberia.

Kazan was not under the control of the Tsarist Russia for long, only about fifty years. The administrative agency here was the "Kazan Court Office", or it could also be called the "Kazan Affairs Office", which was included in the Tsar's "special jurisdiction" and therefore had no governor to manage it.

However, since it was a chaotic period after the extinction of the Rurik dynasty, even Moscow was in chaos, and Kazan was naturally leaderless. Under such circumstances, Alexei Strogarov, the governor of Siberia, suddenly found that he was the highest-ranking person in Kazan after escaping, so he took over the position and began to command the local nobles of Kazan by intimidating the Ming army.

The Kazan nobility was divided into two groups, one was the Russian nobility and the other was the Tatar nobility. The emergence of this situation needs to be traced back to the conquest of the Kazan Khanate by the Russian Empire.

After conquering the Khanate of Kazan in 1552, Tsarist Russia implemented a phased, multi-level governance strategy that combined high military pressure with political appeasement. The specific measures are as follows:

First, military pressure and population replacement. Tsarist Russia followed the Novgorod model, expelling a large number of Tatar natives by the army, especially establishing military bases in the middle reaches of the Volga River, and moving in Russian immigrants to consolidate control. For example, a Russian garrison area was formed around the city of Kazan, and most Tatar nobles were forced to migrate to the eastern steppes.

Then, Tsarist Russia used Cossack forces to establish a patrol system along the Volga River to suppress the Tatar rebellion and used Kazan as a springboard for the subsequent conquest of the Astrakhan Khanate (1556) and the Siberian Khanate (1582).

Second, the implementation of "difference politics" and indirect rule. Tsarist Russia allowed the Tatar lords who surrendered to retain some land and judicial rights, but they had to pay taxes to Moscow and provide military service. For example, the last royal family members of the Khanate of Kazan were directly incorporated into the Tsarist Russian aristocracy system in exchange for their appeal to local tribes.

In terms of culture, the Tsarist Russia did not force the implementation of Eastern Orthodoxy, allowing local people to retain their green faith, but limiting the scale of new green temples. Tatar was also used as an auxiliary language for local administration, for taxation and judicial documents.

Third, the seizure of economic resources and trade monopoly. The Russian Empire controlled the Volga River waterway, and Kazan became the core hub of the Russian Empire's monopoly on the Volga River fur and grain trade. Tatar merchants had to pay high tolls to the Russian Empire's customs.

In terms of land, nationalization and serfdom expanded. The Tsarist Russia confiscated the land of the rebellious nobles, distributed it to the Russian service nobles, and introduced serfdom to develop the agricultural resources in the Volga River Basin.

Fourth, symbolic assimilation was carried out in religion. Ivan IV built St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow (1555) to commemorate the conquest of Kazan and strengthen the ideological presence of Orthodox Christianity in the Volga River Basin. In Kazan, more Orthodox churches were built, but direct destruction of Tatar religious sites was avoided to reduce resistance.

In short, Tsarist Russia's complex governance model of "military deterrence + cultural tolerance + economic exploitation" enabled it to transform Kazan into a strategic fulcrum for eastward expansion at a relatively low cost, and provided a model for subsequent control of multi-ethnic regions.

Under these conditions, after Alexei fled westward, he took advantage of the chaos in Kazan and actually exercised local governance on behalf of the Tsar. However, there was another important reason why he could do this - his family, the Stroganov family, was an important supporter of False Dmitry I and one of the fictitious emperor's fictitious sponsors.

Of course, to go deeper, the Stroganovs were not just hanging themselves on the vine of False Dmitry I. They were actually betting on many parties - not only would they help whoever wins in the struggle in Moscow, but also the Stroganov family would not hesitate to help some ambitious people who aspired to the throne of the Tsar as long as they showed a certain chance of success.

Under this family policy, the Stroganov family, as a powerful family in the eastern part of Tsarist Russia, became the main driving force for the eastward expansion of Tsarist Russia, and also became the Tsarist noble family that benefited the most from the eastward expansion.

The family first made its fortune in the salt mines of Solivichegotsk—salt was a necessity that brought a steady income, whether in the East or the West—but then expanded its business to the Siberian fur trade, exploiting resources east of the Ural Mountains to make huge profits.

Relying on its close relationship with the Tsar, the family obtained the right to develop land in the upper reaches of the Kama River and Chusovaya River, and enjoyed tax exemptions and military autonomy, forming an economic system of "a country within a country".

In 1579, it was this family that hired the Cossack leader Yermak to lead an expedition to the east, and in 1581, they captured the capital of the Siberian Khanate, Kashlyk, laying the foundation for the Russian Empire to control Siberia. Tsar Ivan IV was overjoyed and authorized them to build a city and recruit soldiers on the east side of the Ural Mountains, directly participating in territorial expansion.

So the family immediately began to build strongholds, such as Perm, on the western foot of the Ural Mountains, which became a springboard for eastward expansion and controlled the traffic routes in the Kama River Basin. When the Ming army launched the first westward expedition (the westward expedition to Yarkand), the family's "eldest son" Alexei Stroganov was awarded the post of Governor-General of Siberia, stationed in Tobolsk, not far from Tyumen, the largest city east of the Ural Mountains in Tsarist Russia.

During this western expedition, after Erdemutu met up with Ildukzi and captured Tomsk, he continued westward, capturing Omsk and other places, all the way to Tyumen.

When attacking Tyumen, Alexei had already learned of the strength of the Ming army. Therefore, when Tyumen surrendered and the Ming army marched towards Tobolsk, he had made all preparations - he fled to Kazan as soon as he heard the news.

Of course, after arriving in Kazan, he claimed that he had "fought a great battle with the invading Ming army" in Tobolsk, but in the end he could not withstand the overwhelming force of the Ming army and had to retreat. He also told the local Russian and Tatar nobles that he not only brought "3,000 elite soldiers" but also brought intelligence on the Ming army, so he "naturally" appointed himself as the temporary military and political chief of Kazan.

As Moscow was in chaos and Kazan was one of the Tsar's special jurisdictions, there was no military noble stronger than Alexei in the area. Therefore, although Alexei had no noble status (his family was a business tycoon), he was the governor-general of Siberia before. Now that he volunteered to lead everyone to resist the "Ming army invasion", everyone could only accept it after looking at each other for a while.

At noon, the Ming army's vanguard arrived ten miles south of Kazan. Thirty thousand light and heavy cavalry formed a wedge formation, their black armor glowing with a cold blue light in the sun, and the gluttonous patterns on the horse's head iron tools trembled with the fragrance of the horses.

Erdemutu's flag was raised first, and under the wolf-head banner, the army advanced slowly towards Kazan. After arriving outside Kazan, Erdemutu and Ilduk saw that the Russian army was hiding in the city and judged that the city had limited manpower, so they ordered the army to deploy. Thirty-six side carriages carrying No. 3 guns slowly pushed aside the chevaux de frise, and the muzzles of the guns were uniformly pointed towards the Assumption Cathedral in Kazan.

It was not that they had any intention of destroying religious symbolic buildings to undermine the enemy's morale. It was simply because the Cathedral of the Assumption was built high enough to facilitate long-range aiming and was suitable for firing a few shots to test the enemy situation in the city.

"fire!"

The first solid bullet tore through the air, passed over the city wall and hit the city, but due to its limited range, it did not hit the Assumption Cathedral which was too far away, but hit a brick house. Amid the flying stone chips, the defenders saw for the first time the power of the Ming army's artillery - even though the No. 2 heavy artillery, which Erdemutu tried not to use as much as possible because of its small number, had not yet appeared.

Immediately afterwards, an accident happened: the second shell hit the noose of the city gate drawbridge accurately, the hemp rope as thick as a child's arm broke, and the drawbridge crashed into the moat, splashing water feet high.

This accident stunned both Erdemutu and Ildukzi - they had no real intention of attacking the city. They sent troops to Kazan only to force Tsarist Russia to send peace envoys to discuss the peace treaty of ceding the land east of the Ural Mountains to the Ming Dynasty.

As for why... of course it was because Kazan was west of the Ural Mountains, and was not within the scope of the mission given to them by Gao Youshi! With Gao Youshi's current prestige, and Erdemutu being his disciple, he naturally didn't dare to just casually say "the general is away..."

"A loud Russian interpreter will tell the city's defenders to send an envoy to see me immediately if they don't want the city to fall in an instant!"

Such a request was not excessive, but Erdemutu had already learned what the Russians feared most through his correspondence with the Prime Minister some time ago, so he not only sent an interpreter to convey the message, but also wanted to demonstrate his military power.

Erdemutu personally rode his horse to the front of the battle, and the five thousand flintlock soldiers behind him suddenly formed three lines of horizontal formation. The barrels of the Wanli Type 3 rifles glowed with a cold blue light in the sun, and the anti-slip patterns on the buttstocks were clearly visible. As the flag bearer waved the flag, the front row of soldiers knelt on the ground to shoot, the middle row half-crouched to load, and the back row stood ready. The gunshots were as dense as frying beans. As soon as the Tsarist Russian matchlock musketeers on the top of the city showed their heads, they were frightened by the lead bullets and retreated behind the wall to avoid.

Fortunately, the Ming army's deterrent shooting did not last long, and they did not take the opportunity to send people to seize the bridge and the gate, but immediately sent interpreters to shout. Alexei was greatly relieved when he heard the Ming army's request in the tower. Although he did not know why the Mongols were so easy to talk to, the legends he had heard in the past still made him guess - could it be that these Mongols were like their ancestors, first asking us to surrender, and then attacking the city and slaughtering the people if we did not surrender?
But Alexei did not have time to think too much. Since the other party asked to talk first, he would talk to them first, at least to delay time. So soon, the city of Kazan sent envoys to negotiate with the Ming army.

Surprisingly, this Ming army composed of Mongolians did not ask Kazan to surrender, but asked Kazan to inform the Tsar that if the Tsar was willing to cede the Ural Mountains and the east of the Ural River, both sides would "use the mountains and rivers as boundaries and settle their people". Otherwise, the Ming army would "first conquer Kazan and then enter Moscow", and at that time "blood would flow, the mountains and rivers would cry, and your country would regret it too late".

Alexei heaved a sigh of relief when he heard the envoy's report. Although the biggest and most direct loss was to their family in ceding the land east of the Urals, at this moment, saving their lives and the survival of their family was the most important thing. Moreover, even if they lost Siberia, their family was still a powerful family in the eastern part of Tsarist Russia, so they could just regard the past ten years as a waste.

Alexei immediately sent another envoy out of the city, saying that Kazan was more than 700 kilometers away from Moscow (no need to use "li" here), and it would take the messenger half a month to travel back and forth. In addition, the Tsar needed the consent of the Council of Gentry to make such an important decision, so he hoped that the Ming army could give them a month.

Erdemutu and Ildukzi obviously did not understand - or simply did not believe - that the emperor needed the consent of the gentry to make a decision? Therefore, they quickly replied to Alexei's envoy: I will give you at most 20 days. If you do not get a satisfactory answer after 20 days, the Ming army will immediately capture Kazan!
Alexei almost had a heart attack after hearing the news. He quickly convened a meeting of the Kazan nobles. After reaching a unanimous agreement, he quickly sent an envoy to Moscow to report the news.
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PS: This period was the most chaotic period in the early days of Tsarist Russia. The national strength, power, and prestige all plummeted. Various parts of the country were in disarray due to the chaos in the central government. Therefore, Erdemutu encountered almost no decent resistance when he moved eastward, so I will just briefly mention the Battle of Tyumen.

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