Champa, located at the southeastern tip of the Indochina Peninsula, is also called Champa Puluo. Since "Pura" means "city" in Sanskrit, it is simply translated as Champa Kingdom, or Champa City.
The hometown of Champa was originally Xianglin County in Rinan County in the Han Dynasty. After independence, the Champa State was founded. Unlike Dai Viet, which is bathed in Central Plains Confucian culture in the north, Champa in the south is heavily influenced by Indian culture, and its people mostly believe in Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism.
Since the Song Dynasty, the three kingdoms of Chenla, Dayue and Champa located to the south of the border have been in constant war. Among them, Chenla was so powerful that it once destroyed the country and Champa several times. In the 13th year of Jiading in the Southern Song Dynasty (1220), the king of Champa, Jayaparamitsuaravarman II, defeated Chenla and restored the Champa state. Later, Chenla was in conflict with the Luohu Kingdom in the south, and the relationship with Champa was slightly eased. Even so, due to the intertwined borders between the two countries, wars of various sizes continue on the borders between the two countries.
In the fourth year of Dazhong Xiangfu (1012), the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a severe drought in Jiangsu, Huaihe and Zhejiang, and the paddy fields were not cultivated. Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty sent envoys to Fujian to collect 30,000 dendrobium of rice seeds (capacity: 10 bushels) from Zhancheng and distribute them to the above areas for sowing. , achieve success. Soon, Champa rice was also planted in Henan and Hebei areas. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Champa rice spread throughout the Southern Song Dynasty and became the main variety of early indica rice. Champa rice has also become the main food eaten by people in the Southern Song Dynasty all year round.
On a high ground on the south bank of the Saigon River, thousands of dark-skinned civilian workers, sweating like rain, were carrying earth and stones to build the fort on the pier. The fort is nearly a hundred meters in diameter, including a four-foot-high watchtower, an ammunition depot, an official hall, a barracks, and a one-meter-high wall. The fort can hold more than 20 heavy guns and is circular in shape, covering the entire river and land.
The fort can accommodate hundreds of soldiers, overlooking the surroundings. If equipped with small cannons and thunderbolts, it can withstand the attack of thousands of people.
On the plain not far behind the fort, city walls of varying heights were being built. The wall thickness was only about three meters, but its height could reach ten meters, stretching for several miles, which was very spectacular.
Inside the city wall, the sound of reading could be heard loudly in the town's upper school, "Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road...", babbling, babbling, etc., which were also Song dialect, poems and songs.
The dock has been built, with stone foundations, cement slurry poured in, and dozens of huge steps. It stretches for several miles along the coast. It has a deep draft and can accommodate hundreds of ships, large and small. Two long cement trestles, one in the south and one in the north, go deep into the sea and serve as a docking place for large ships.
On the river, several cargo ships came from far away in the inland river and stopped at the shore of the dock. The coal, iron ore on the ship was unloaded by the workers, and was transported along the cement road connecting the inland or to the work sheds on the shore. Or it can be transported to the ironworks on the shore to burn coal into coke and smelt steel.
The reason why it is called an iron workshop rather than an iron factory is because the scale of the iron workshop is too small and it can only repair and cast some urgently needed civilian iron tools. As for the large amount of iron tools and weapons used, they were all transported from the Song Dynasty.
For those huge warships, it was easy to transport iron weapons and firearms, and they could also ballast and push the boat along with the current.
A radius of more than thirteen miles should be about right.
Du Xian stood on the fort fortifications being built, looking at the increasingly taller city wall not far away, with anticipation in his heart.
Three thousand naval officers of the Song Army were stationed in the southern part of the city. After defeating the Zhenla army in several moderate battles, the Song Army was in need of berthing warships. The Song Army chose Zhenglai Bay, more than a hundred miles south, as the naval garrison. .
Unconsciously, he took out the textbook of Jinling Lecture Hall from his arms and turned to the folded page. It was a map, a map of the world.
It was this world map that gave Du Xian a goal, which was to sail the warships of the Song Dynasty to every corner marked on the map and conquer every unknown place on the map.
Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Cape of Good Hope, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, English Channel….
Australia, Africa, Europe, North and South America...
A map is not only the dream of Du Xian, but also the dream of many naval officers of the Song Dynasty!
Ever since I got this map, the land of China, which used to have three mountains and five mountains and eight thousand miles of clouds and moons, feels smaller.
For more than a year, he and his naval warships traveled throughout Nanyang, visited many places, and enriched the map of Nanyang a lot.
"General, is it necessary to build this walled city so big? It's almost as big as Jinling City for more than ten miles around!"
Wang Kai, a soldier of the Navy, went up to the fort. He had a dark complexion and was young and enthusiastic. He glanced at the wilderness deep inland, where the wind was blowing and the valley was moving, and his eyes were full of green.
This place is as warm as spring, and rice is harvested three times a year. A spatula can be exchanged for several kilograms of rice. There is also food and grass provided by the Champa Kingdom, so they cannot starve.
"It's better to cultivate bigger than to cultivate smaller. If we fall out with the Champa people or the Zhenla people come to attack, this will protect everyone!"
In fact, the "fortress" built by Du Xian and his soldiers and craftsmen had already crossed the southern border of the Champa Kingdom. Because the Zhenla Kingdom was weak and had constant internal fighting and was unable to govern, Du Xian and his soldiers from the Song Dynasty arrived first. .
Zhenglai Bay is deep and sheltered from the wind, which is suitable for large warships and merchant ships to berth. This is why Du Xian chose this place as the naval base.
As for whether he offended the Zhenla Kingdom or whether the Champa Kingdom was frightened, Du Xian no longer cared about it.
"General, just those little soldiers and generals in Champa and Zhenla. It's not that I underestimate them. They just bully the common people. When it comes to fighting, look up to them!"
Having cooperated with the Champa Army for two or three battles, Wang Kai was well aware of the combat capabilities of Champa and Zhenla.
"Don't underestimate them, and don't bully the local aborigines. They must cultivate their eating habits, reading and writing, so that they can become Song people without knowing it."
Du Xian whispered to his subordinates.
The culture of the Song Dynasty was far higher than that of surrounding countries, and it was also imitated and followed by surrounding countries. Just like the Song Dynasty Academy in the town, there are many children of local nobles in it. Even the construction of the city wall was supported by many local wealthy families.
In addition, merchant ships from the Song Dynasty continued to dock and visit, and shops from the Song Dynasty gathered, making the town lively and prosperous.
"General, isn't this a good thing? You won't fall out with Zhenla or the Champa people, right?"
Wang Kai looked around cautiously and lowered his voice.
"I don't know either. However, the customers are bullying the shop. I have strong ships and cannons. It is inevitable that King Chenla and King Champa will become suspicious."
Champa has a small population and a weak country, so Chenla may launch a surprise attack on the town. After all, this place nominally belongs to the Zhenla Kingdom.
"Champa is a vassal state of the Song Dynasty. He doesn't dare to do anything to us. General, I heard from these people that Chenla is extremely weak now, and the king of Chenla is huddled in the Angkor Wall area. From here to the south, a large area The land is uncontrolled. Our army just took advantage of the trend and went south and annexed this piece of land as a granary for our army."
When King Jayavarman VII of Chenla was on the throne, Chenla was once the most powerful country in Southeast Asia, with 200,000 war elephants, an army of more than 100,000, and a vast territory. After that, the king carried out extensive construction projects, built Buddhist temples, resorted to military violence, and deceived the people. There were constant wars externally and in Siam, which led to rapid decline.
There is a famous saying among the naval officers and soldiers of the Song Dynasty, a famous saying of the emperor:
Our journey is a sea of stars.
In Wang Kai's view, these fertile lands, inhabited by capable people, were originally the hometown of the Han Dynasty and should be returned to the hands of the Song Dynasty.
"You're right, I think so too. You can't just go back home in despair after a few years, right?"
Du Xian pointed to the wilderness to the south, his eyes shining.
"From here to the south are plains, which are mild and humid all year round, like spring all year round. Champa rice can be harvested three to four times a year. There are also forest trees, coconut bamboo, agarwood, pomegranate, sugar cane and other fruits. In addition to elephants and other rare birds, Beasts, there are countless fish along the coast, no worse than our southeastern coast in the Song Dynasty.”
At this moment, the emperor's words suddenly flashed in Du Xian's mind.
"Champa is humid and rainy, and the food is harvested three times a year. In the future, it will not only feed the Song Dynasty, but also become a springboard for the Song Dynasty's navy to go south to the world!"
The emperor was ambitious, the town was built, the fort fortifications were built, and the springboard was ready.
"General, that's exactly what it is! His Majesty is deploying troops in the northwest. I wonder what the situation is? It's a pity that we are the navy and can't help!"
Wang Kai was very sorry that he could not fight with the army.
"If the emperor is going to conquer it himself, you don't have to ask. He will definitely beat the crap out of the Tatar army! You are still young, so don't worry. Your Majesty will build an unprecedented celestial kingdom. There will be many wars in the future!"
The country is so beautiful, the emperor's ambitions are great, and the army is really looking forward to the future of the Song Dynasty.
His "eldest brother" Zhang San, Zhang Zhongxia, and his brother Du Er, Du Hui, are still clinging to Xixia. Several of his good brothers should all fight bloody battles in the northwest frontier. I hope they are safe and sound, and I also believe that the emperor has sent troops north to meet the return of the soldiers who reinforced Xixia.
"General, from here to the south to the seaside, it is hundreds of miles at least, with hundreds of thousands of people and millions of acres. Isn't my three thousand soldiers too few?"
Wang Kai's eyes were shining, his saliva was flying, and he was very passionate and ambitious.
"Three thousand soldiers are enough! The key is to establish an effective government governance mechanism. Build water conservancy projects, send medical officers to save lives and heal the wounded, and select a group of children to study in the Song Dynasty. There will be poor and rich people. In a few years, in my country Bathed in Chinese culture, this is my overseas vassal state of the Song Dynasty."
What he said was clear and logical, but Du Xian secretly had a headache.
The imperial court should send more medical officers, teachers, craftsmen, and more importantly, officials to govern the place and enrich the place with immigrants. It is really difficult for him as a soldier to worry about these things.
"General, one day, every corner of this map will be planted with the battle flag of the Song Dynasty!"
Wang Kai seemed to be interested and said generously.
Du Xian nodded subconsciously.
The navy of the Song Dynasty spans the world, and of course it is necessary to see every place on the world map.
"General, look there! There seems to be a sea ship coming!"
Wang Kai held up his telescope, pointed at the sea level in the distance to the northeast, and shouted loudly.
"Isn't it Zhenla's warship?"
Du Xian was startled, raised his telescope and looked towards the sea.
On the sea, the black spots slowly grew larger, and then countless ships appeared, and seabirds flew around them. When the ship got bigger and the flag on the ship's mast came into view, Wang Kai was so excited that he shouted loudly.
"General, this is my warship from the Song Dynasty!"
"Yes! They are the warships of the Song Dynasty, as well as sea ships and merchant ships!"
Du Xian put down his telescope and kicked Wang Kai.
"The ship is almost here, but you guys are still watching! Go and give the order for the soldiers to go and greet it!"
It goes without saying that warships must be loaded with supplies and immigrants. As for the merchant ships, they transported various "products" of the Song Dynasty to Southeast Asia and overseas places, and then transported back rice from Champa, Bo Ni and other places, as well as black pepper, nutmeg, etc. from Guawa, Ceylon and other places. Cloves and other spices.
"Yes! General!"
Wang Kai's face glowed red and he ran away in large strides.
The arrival of the warships of the Song Dynasty means that there are letters from home and news from relatives and friends. The navy of the Song Dynasty is about to create a new world again. Why not make him excited?
"One day, the whole world will belong to the Song Dynasty!"
Looking at the ships of the Song Dynasty parked all over the bay, with high battle flags flying, there were warships and sea ships, and the decks were full of soldiers and people of the Song Dynasty, Du Xian murmured something in his mouth.
