The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 496: Combine vertically and horizontally
Fort William, Kolkata, India.

Strictly speaking, Kolkata is not the mouth of the Ganges.

The Ganges, the clean and hygienic mother river of India, does not flow directly into the sea like the Yangtze River when it flows into the Bay of Bengal. Instead, it is divided into many channels and flows into the sea in a sieve-like shape.

The main place where it enters the sea is near Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh in later times.

The Hooghly River in Kolkata would not have attracted much attention if Kolkata were not so famous. It is also one of the small tributaries of the Ganges flowing into the sea.

In May of the Gregorian calendar, which is the fourth month of the lunar calendar, India is so hot that it can kill people. This is the hottest time of the year in India.

Therefore, Lieutenant General Sufran and Chen Lian did not choose to dock the fleet at the mouth of the Hooghly River.

Going ashore to attack the British batteries on both sides of the Hooghly River estuary in this hot weather of around 40 degrees Celsius is not fighting, but killing the soldiers.

On the flagship, Prince of Yanping, Vice Admiral Suffren said to Chen Lian, "Your Excellency, the Mysoreans have slowed down the progress of the war. If we want to attack Fort William, we must wait at least another four months. That means September will be the right time."

Chen Lian glanced at Lieutenant General Sufran and realized that the Mysoreans had indeed slowed down the progress of the entire war.

Because according to the arrangement, they should have ended the war in South India by November last year, and then reached Fort William in December and launched the attack.

Even if they could not capture the entire Fort William, they would force the British army into the bastion and then plunder most of Bengal.

If this step can be accomplished, the power to fight or retreat will be entirely in the hands of the Chinese Navy.

As a result, due to the mistakes of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, father and son, it was not until early February this year that the coalition forces captured Madras and St. George's Bastion.

At this point, if the coalition forces were dispatched north immediately, it would still be in time, but Haider Ali and his son had another plan.

They actually hoped that the coalition forces would not immediately march north to attack Bengal, but would help them defeat or force the surrender of the Hyderabad princely state, or even capture Guntur before attacking Bengal.

This is like treating the combined fleet as free thugs for the Kingdom of Mysore. No, they should be thugs who bring their own food.

So, the two sides started endless wrangling again. It was not until April that the army set out north. Now, in May, they have only arrived at the mouth of the Hooghly River, 70 kilometers away from Fort William.

Lieutenant General Su Fulang saw that Chen Lian did not speak and kept staring at him, and he knew in his heart what the Duke Commander of the Chinese Empire was dissatisfied with.

Because according to the agreement between China and France, if the Imperial Chinese Navy gains an advantage in the Indian Ocean, France must mobilize an army of no less than 2,000 people and a navy of five warships to the Indian Ocean within six months, and the two sides will jointly launch a fatal blow to British India.

At this time, France was still a quasi-ally of the Ottoman Empire, so it would take six months for French warships to come from the west coast of Africa and for the army to pass through Ottoman territory.

As a result, the Kingdom of France shifted all its resources to North America.

In the entire Indian Ocean, there has always been a corps of more than 50 officers headed by Vice Admiral Suffrand, a fast frigate, and a two-masted armed sailing ship playing soy sauce here.

Chen Lian sighed deeply. If the French reinforcements arrived and some Tamils were recruited from the local government, it would be enough to attack Bengal, and the Mysore Kingdom would not have to send troops.

As a result, the French did not come, so he had no choice but to try to persuade Hyder Ali and his son of the Mysore Kingdom.

It's already May, and there's still no need to fight in Bangladesh.

"Duke, I have an idea. If we can't find the English fleet and can't take Fort William and Chittagong, we can go to another place."

"Where? Are we going back to Lower Burma?" Chen Lian spread his hands as he looked at Lieutenant General Su Fulang.

"Once we go to Lower Burma, we will have to wait another five months until winter before we can return to Bangladesh."

"Yes, that's right." Lieutenant General Sufran tried his best to calm down and suggested nervously:
"I heard that the Burmese King Meng Yun of Lower Burma was not truly subservient. He did not even punish Marquis Wu Wen and the Siamese rebels who betrayed the Great Emperor. Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Arakan also betrayed the Great Emperor and sided with the British.

Then, we can take the fleet to Lower Burma and force the Burmese King Meng Yun to send out troops to eliminate Pegu Hou Wu Wen and the Siamese rebels.

While he was working hard, the officers and soldiers of the fleet took a good rest in Lower Burma.

I believe that the coconut rice, roast duck, and beautiful and affectionate Burmese women of Lower Myanmar can surely soothe the fatigue of the soldiers from battle."

Although Chen Lian did not want to listen to Lieutenant General Suffren's words, because it meant that in the future attack on Bengal, the Chinese Empire would still need to mobilize most of its forces, and the French would still be getting something for free.

However, reality told him that Vice Admiral Suffren's suggestion was correct. The fleet had been at sea for two years, and the officers and soldiers were very tired and in urgent need of rest. Lower Burma was a very suitable place.

Moreover, the arrival of the fleet can put some pressure on Meng Yun, the cunning guy, and by the way, kill Wu Wen, one of the three marquises of Lower Burma who betrayed the emperor, and Chu Zhi, the younger brother of the Siamese rebel Tong.

"Your Excellency the Duke." Seeing that Chen Lian was somewhat moved, Lieutenant General Su Fran continued to persuade him:

"In addition to these benefits, after punishing Wu Wen and Chu Zhi, we can also order the Burmese King Meng Yun to cooperate with us to eliminate the Arakan Kingdom that has surrendered to the English.

I think that after Chittagong was fortified by the British and could not be captured in a short time, the fleet needed a port in the Kingdom of Arakan.

This way, we won’t have to rely on the Dutch ports of Jaffna or Trincomalee.”

Yes, this strategy is correct, Chen Lian nodded involuntarily. In addition to obtaining the port of the Arakan Kingdom, it can also severely consume Meng Yun’s military strength.

After all, the Arakan Kingdom still has an army of more than 20,000. At that time, the army of the Chinese Empire can be used as the Eight Banners Army, and let the Burmese soldiers go first.

"Okay, Lieutenant General, this is the only solution at the moment. We will retreat to Lower Burma, put down the rebellion in Lower Burma, and then attack Bengal in the winter."

Lower Burma, Yangon City.

Since the recapture of Yangon by taking advantage of the rebellion of the Siamese brothers Tong and Chu Zhi, and U Win, the Prince of Pegu, one of the three princes of Lower Burma.

Meng Yun did not choose to return to Ava deep in the inland, but continued to expand the city of Yangon, as if intending to make it the capital.

All the civil and military officials of the Konbaung Dynasty, and even most of the Burmese people, advised Meng Yun not to build the city of Yangon.

Because this city, located at the mouth of the Irrawaddy River, is difficult to defend against the attack of the Chinese fleet.

But Meng Yun ignored the opposition and insisted on building a new capital in Yangon.

Only Meng Yun's trusted minister Duan Tingdewen knew the significance of all this.

Because even if the capital was built in Ava, it would be impossible to withstand the full force of the Chinese Empire. It would be better to place the capital in Yangon, which could be threatened by the powerful navy of the Chinese Empire at any time.

At least this proves that the Burmese have no intention and no ability to challenge the status of the Chinese, and the Konbaung Dynasty will always be a loyal vassal of the Chinese Empire.

It's the same as a pet dog turning its belly over to its owner.

However, before the construction of Yangon City was completed, Meng Yun's first test came.

Chen Lian, commander-in-chief of the Chinese Empire's Indian Expeditionary Force, Duke of Yi'an, Army General, and Right General, sent someone to inform Meng Yun that the Chinese Empire's Indian Expeditionary Force and its subordinate fleets would come to Yangon for a period of rest.

"Bodaopaye, Lord Chen, the Right General of the Upper Kingdom, only said to rest for a while, but he didn't say how long. What if he comes and doesn't leave?"

The commander-in-chief of the left army, Wu Yao, said in a low voice, with a rather nervous look on his face.

Meng Yun's face darkened. He thought carefully for a moment, then shook his head. "Not really. Duke Chen has been fighting in India. Now it's May, and India is too hot for the army to bear. It makes sense that they would come to Yangon to rest.

Besides, if he really had received the order from the Great Emperor to come and capture us, he wouldn't have waited until now."

"However, Duke Chen wants us to hand over enough food and meat to feed 30,000 people and provide clean shelter." Xin Zhan, the inner court minister, said with a grin:

"These are fine, we can still afford them, but three thousand girls for the entertainment of the army, isn't that too much?"

"Give it!" Meng Yun's face darkened. "In order to save our country, giving away three thousand girls is worth it."

Meng Yun shook his head and looked at his confidant, the Minister of State Duan Ting Dewen, and asked, "Should we capture Wu Wen and present him as a gift to Duke Chen?"

"No, we absolutely cannot do that!" Duan Tingdewen quickly waved his hand to stop him. "If we offer Wu Wen at this time, it would prove that we are clearly capable of taking Pegu and relieving the Great Emperor's worries, but we didn't do it.

If it is to be on the safe side, I am willing to go to Mawlamyine on behalf of Bodawpaya to persuade General Suki, the grandfather of the Third Prince.

If he is willing to come to Yangon to help us this time, then after we capture Wu Wen, we can give up Pegu as his territory."

(End of this chapter)