Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 314: Expedition to Chola
The thirty-second year of the Li Yuan Dynasty.

Zhao Zhe rejected Zhao Xin's invitation on the grounds that none of Zhao Xin's grandchildren were willing to go.

Zhao Xin didn't say much. If it really doesn't work...

Then he would have another child of his own.

In fact, Zhao Xin is still not sure about how to rule Srivijaya, or even the entire land of Southeast Asia.

first……

This land is too pristine and its area is too large.

Secondly...

The population of this place, all added together, is quite large.

of course!

The most important thing now is to continuously expand the influence of Chinese culture.

For example, school.

This year, Zhao Xin had someone open it.

The issue is……

When it comes to opening a school, how do you attract people to come?

In the Song Dynasty, the motivation that attracted people to go to school and study was to become an official. As for learning knowledge and becoming a knowledgeable person, that is pure bullshit.

The purpose of studying is to become a superior person, it’s that simple!
But, if you study hard, you can become a superior person. How are you going to explain this to the local people and chiefs?

Will it even affect their interests?
After fighting for six or seven years.

This year.

Zhao Xin also had to calm down and start thinking about how to better rule this area.

There is also the relationship with Buddhism, etc.

Anyway...

No matter what, let them learn Chinese characters first.

As long as you have the conditions, you should learn it.

even……

It's not just Srivijaya, other islands should be like this as well.

So this year.

Zhao Xin sent people to various islands to persuade them and their children to learn Chinese characters and Chinese.

As for what you said you don’t want to learn, what should I do?
Wouldn't this give Zhao Xin an excuse to attack you?

Java's side...

After listening to the envoy's words, I felt helpless.

He just said to the envoy: "I heard that the capital of Srivijaya has been built very well in recent years."

The envoy asked, "Did you hear this from the merchant?"

King Java asked, "So the Emperor of the Great Song intends to stay in Srivijaya permanently?"

The envoy kindly advised: "I think if you Javas are smart, you should surrender as soon as possible and become a part of the Song Dynasty. Otherwise, you will bring disaster upon yourself."

King Java understood that the Song Dynasty had a strong desire to develop their area.

but……

Although this understanding has already been reached.

I can only say that the other party is too optimistic.

feel……

All he needs to do is pay tribute to the other party every year to remain the king.

Nor can we say that the other party is naive.

But...

No one can allow the Song Dynasty to be divided into counties easily.

Then he said, "Since the Song Dynasty asked us Java to build a school, then let's build the school."

The envoy also said: "Our government has also said that every year, you must send your children to Srivijaya to take our government's examinations."

"If I fail the exam..."

King Java asked, "What do you mean by failing? What will happen if you fail?"

The envoy said, "It's hard to say, but the government has said that they might impose taxes on you."

King Java thought to himself that this was going too far!

But he was well aware of the strength of the Song Dynasty.

We can only wait and see.

There is no need for things like direct war.

……

When the envoys left, they also left behind two Han people, one male and one female, as teachers.

As for the textbooks... Zhao Xin instructed Cai Jing to compile them.

Basically, Zhao Xin and Cai Jing have set standards for how to teach and to what extent.

Nowadays, there is actually no need to make the other party understand the greatness of Chinese civilization.

At most, we can enable them to at least master the level of children's literacy.

In addition to the teachers, a large number of stationery were also left behind.

then……

After several days of hasty preparation.

The two teachers, one male and one female, began to teach the children of the nobles in Java, both male and female.

And even Javadu is like this.

There is no need to say more about the country of Srivijaya.

While strengthening cultural dissemination, Zhao Xin did not completely give up on expanding territory.

after all……

There was such a big Zhu Luo there, and the key point was that he had killed the other party's grandfather.

The other party has sufficient reasons to wage war against us.

As for why the other party didn't take action.

From the information sent back by Arab merchants, Zhao Xin also learned that Kurotunga was actually an outsider.

It is no exaggeration to say that he became the king of Chola through dishonorable means.

Because of this, if the other party really uses all of its country's troops to attack Zhao Xin, it might give its domestic opposition forces an opportunity.

Therefore, Kurotunga did not dare to send his soldiers to expedition to Srivijaya.

of course!

In fact, if you really want to talk about expedition, in fact, Chola and Srivijaya are not that far away.

In terms of the sea voyage, if there is a tailwind, the fastest time may be fifteen days, and the slowest is more than twenty days, and the two sides may be able to meet.

This might even be faster than Zhao Xin's fight from Kaifeng to Youzhou City.

The thirty-second year of the Li Yuan Dynasty.

November.

Considering the labor force, it is still not enough.

therefore……

Zhao Xin also led the fleet and headed straight to Thanjavur, the capital of Chola, in less than twenty days.

As for your reason for sending troops.

This can be edited.

For example...

At that time, Chola killed many of their Srivijaya people.

The thirty-second year of the Li Yuan Dynasty.

Five hundred warships appeared on the sea southeast of India.

As one of the nodes of communication between the East and the West,

In fact, the strength of the Chola Dynasty was not bad at all.

A rough estimate puts the population of its capital at least at over 300,000 or 400,000.

Not to mention, besides the capital, there are a large number of other cities here.

Zhao Xin also hit him as soon as he saw it.

First, they launched a surprise attack on the enemy's docks and ports, and then carried out looting in the coastal areas.

While building defensive fortifications, we waited for the other side to send troops over.

Because Thanjavur is 200 miles deep inland.

Instead of running away and letting the other party take advantage of the situation, it is better to take advantage of the situation yourself.

Kurotunga probably didn't expect that the people of Srivijaya would be so bold.

Without saying a word, he immediately sent 30,000 people to rescue. At the same time, he gradually transferred another 30,000 people from other places to reinforce.

As for the navy...

There are also.

About 20,000 people in total.

There were only 80,000 people in total, but they claimed to have 8 million people, and they rushed towards Zhao Xin. To be honest, Zhao Xin didn't expect that Zhu Luo still had some strength.

and……

Chorro also seems to have mastered the Greek art of fire.

As a result, Zhao Xin also lost a lot of warships.

Many people were killed or injured.

The two sides fought a battle at sea, and the battle on land was not the focus.

Moreover, Zhao Xin also took the initiative to withdraw from the land and moved the battlefield to the sea.

At last……

I can only say that Zhao Xin won a small victory.

On the sea...

Fires were everywhere.

The wreckage of warships was everywhere.

Zhao Xin injured more than two thousand people.

The other side has only one tenth of its navy left.

At first, I was a little surprised that the opponent would use Greek fire.

But the good thing is...

At the beginning, Zhao Xin did not directly deploy his own troops.

His direct troops were intended to provide fire support on the flanks.

The warships of both sides collided with each other, and then everyone fought there with swords and shields.

After this battle, Zhao Xin was forced to re-evaluate Zhu Luo's combat effectiveness.

at the same time……

He also sent envoys to discuss with Kurotunga about the subsequent Chola submission.

Chola capital, Thanjavur.

When he learned from spies on the front line that his navy was almost wiped out, Kurotonga could only say that he was a little shocked.

He said in disbelief: "All gone?"

The spy said, "Yes, all of them are gone. Anyway, all the ships are gone. As for the people, there may be some left."

Only then did Kurotunga sit back down.

The spy added: "The weapons used by the enemy are very advanced. They can attack our warships from thousands of steps away."

"And our ships can only watch them attack themselves."

Of course, Kurotunga knew something about what the spy said.

Because it was mentioned before when the Pagan Dynasty was attacked.

only……

Kurotunga didn't expect that it was really so powerful.

Kurotunga then asked: "What is the situation at the front now?"

The spy said, "The navy was almost completely destroyed, and the army can only watch from the shore."

Two more days passed.

At this time, the envoys sent by Zhao Xin arrived in Thanjavur to negotiate with Kurotunga.

"Why did you, Srivijaya, attack us?"

The envoy said, "Our king said that you had previously taken away many slaves, gold, and spices from our Srivijaya. We came here this time to avenge our past."

Kurotunga was almost unable to react.

No!

I am the grandson of King Srivijaya.

How come you, the King of Srivijaya, seem more orthodox than me?
So he asked, "Who exactly is your king? We have never had any grudges against you. Why do you have to be so aggressive and fight against us?"

The envoy said, "I don't understand what you are saying, but our king said that unless you submit to Srivijaya, we can't say what will happen next."

Kurotunga said, "Is it just as simple as surrendering?"

The envoy said, "Of course not. This is the list our king asked me to give you."

Immediately afterwards...

The envoy then handed the other party a list of how much money and even the number of slaves that the other party would pay as tribute every year.

Many people may think that Chola was a land country.

actually not……

Chola was a maritime nation.

Moreover, his main business was actually to control southern India, including the trade ports on the east and west coasts of India, as well as temples, thereby gaining a large amount of wealth.

For example, in India, many people believe in Buddhism, and people will voluntarily donate money to temples. So who does the money go to in the end?

Do you think the monks in the temple can really afford so much money?
A large portion of the money was handed over to the king.

The key is……

The common people of India are still willing.

It has to be said that this is the money-making ability of religion.

Chola was just such a country, which not only controlled the trade ports that were essential to the Maritime Silk Road, but also controlled the local temples.

After Zhao Xin inquired from many sources and understood the nature of the Zhu Luo country.

to be frank!
Zhao Xin thinks that the country of Zhu Luo is quite interesting.

even……

After learning about the importance of the other party's geographical location, Zhao Xin became drooling over the place.

The problem is that the other side's population is simply too large.

It is a bit difficult to occupy such a place alone.

As for what you said...

Should I sell my body and marry an Indian princess?

Then, after Kurotunga dies, I can instigate his descendants, and maybe I can get this Chola, and my descendants...

At least……

It can be said that it is justified.

That’s all Zhao Xin could say.

He is really not interested in Indian women.

of course!

If the other person looks like the internet celebrity Liya Sanyal, Zhao Xin can only say that it is not impossible to consider it.

only……

It is said that Indian women all have a strange smell on their bodies, maybe it’s from eating curry?

It is also said that nine out of ten Indians have body odor.

Therefore, how could Zhao Xin bear to do this?
but……

That's what I mean.

All you want is a name. You don't necessarily have to sleep with her. You can just use some medical means to fertilize her, which is actually the same.

Zhao Xin actually considered such a plan.

Of course!
But when I think about it, I don’t know what the baby will be like when the time comes.

Zhao Xin thought again, let it go.

Instead of this...

It would be better to use force directly to defeat the other party, and then directly immigrate and colonize the local area.

then……

Kurotonga then saw a series of lists that Zhao Xin gave him.

Of course the other party could not accept the conditions proposed by Zhao Xin of paying tribute of gold, spices, cotton cloth, grain, slaves, craftsmen, etc.

after all……

After all, they, the Chola, were considered the little overlord of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

then……

Kurotunga asked his ministers, "What do you think we should do next?"

At about the same time...

In Central Asia and Europe, the First Crusade was also being planned this year.

of course!

After all, for Zhao Xin, they were still so far away. Even if they really fought, Zhao Xin couldn't do anything about it.

After defeating Zhu Luo's naval fleet and plundering along the coast, Zhao Xin took his fleet back first.

After what Zhao Xin did, it was obvious that the kingship of Kurotunga was gradually becoming precarious.

after all……

If you lose your naval fleet, the domestic opposition forces will definitely take the opportunity to rise up.

When we rebelled in the past, you could mobilize the naval fleet to suppress the rebellion at any time. Now, you only have the army, and other places will surely demand independence.

(End of this chapter)