In the autumn of the 30th year of Chengshun, the Gulf of Aden and its eastern waters were located at the junction of the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Its geographical location was very important.
Many years ago, the Chu Empire rented a small port in Djibouti called "Red Kou City" from local indigenous people under the pretext of trade.
This was also the first official foothold of the Chu Empire in Africa. Later, large-scale construction began in the city, including port facilities, forts, military camps, warehouses and other facilities, and more troops were successively dispatched here. garrison.
Of course, in the early years, the Da Chu Empire was very cautious in its actions here. In order to avoid overstimulating the Ottoman Empire, the Da Chu Empire did not expand rapidly to the surrounding areas. Instead, it only operated Hongkou City and acted honestly. Really doing business with the Ottomans who controlled Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula.
At that time, the Chu Empire did not launch a major war in the Indian Peninsula, which made the Ottoman Empire in West Asia less vigilant, and even made them think that they could join forces with the Chu Empire to expel the Portuguese.
Therefore, the relationship between the Chu Empire and the Ottoman Empire was actually not bad in the early years. The personnel of the Western Trading Company once became guests of the Ottoman Empire's Egyptian Governor.
On the basis of this friendly cooperative relationship, the Chu Empire subsequently leased Pilin Island, and then rented a small coastal area on Socotra Island as a supply base.
This formed the military presence of the Chu Empire in this triangular area.
After the Battle of the Indian Peninsula, the Chu Empire relied on Hongkou City to expand to the coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula and northeastern Africa, and fought with the Portuguese, Dutch and even the English there, which lasted for several years. Colonial Struggle.
In the end, the colonists of these European countries were completely expelled from the Arabian Sea area, and control of the shipping routes in the coastal area of the Arabian Sea was completed.
Taking advantage of the situation, they also occupied many coastal ports from European colonists and several local indigenous people. Among them, they occupied a coastal area in the eastern part of Oman and built new large-scale garrison, trade, and supply ports. , Anxi City.
This formed a route across the Arabian Sea from Mumbai to Anxi City and then to Hongkou City.
In this area, the Dachu Empire dispatched the ninth task force of the Pacific Fleet to station, patrol, and escort for a long time. Its fleet headquarters is stationed in Hongkou City.
However, overall, the Chu Empire's overseas expansion in this area was mainly aimed at the three European colonists, the Netherlands, Portugal, and England, and did not target the local indigenous forces.
Even in order to avoid local indigenous people, mainly Persia and the Ottoman Empire, they were wary or even defensive about the overseas expansion of the Da Chu Empire. The Da Chu Empire had been relatively positive in treating them before.
There are no harsh conditions for trade, and the export authorization for many advanced weapons has been liberalized. It was during this period that the Ottoman Empire obtained a large number of export-type flintlocks from the Great Chu Empire, and the Persian Dynasty also obtained The Chu Empire imported approximately 20,000 flintlock muskets.
Then the two countries also purchased a large number of various plate armors, swords and other cold weapons from the Great Chu Empire.
Not to mention, although the Chu Empire itself has entered a comprehensive era of guns, countries in West Asia and Europe basically use a large number of guns in combat, which is a transitional period between matchlocks and flintlocks, but the use of cold weapons is still very large. big.
When armies fight in West Asia and Europe, armor is still a very important piece of equipment, and swords and spears are also necessary weapons.
In fact, let alone them, even the Dachu Empire itself is equipped with a large number of waist knives and bayonets. Generally, officers and non-commissioned officers have sabers, and soldiers are issued bayonets. This kind of bayonet is actually a short knife in daily life, and it can also be used. It can be used to cut and chop the thrust, and it can be put on the barrel of the musket through the buckle during combat.
Not to mention armor, the Dachu Empire has always been equipped with a large number of armors, and decides whether to adopt them according to the situation. When faced with low technical levels, especially when the enemy uses cold weapons on a large scale, especially bows and arrows, the Dachu Empire When soldiers fight, they always wear light half-body plate armor and go up to fight with percussion guns.
If they encounter that kind of pure firearms force, the Chu army will simply throw away their armor and fight with only guns and cannons.
Therefore, whether armor is used depends on the level of enemy firepower faced by the Chu army.
The Dachu Empire itself still uses armor and cold weapons, not to mention the armies of other countries. Therefore, although the importance of cold weapons and armor has declined significantly these days, they are still urgently needed weapons and equipment in some cases. .
The high level of weaponry and equipment of the Dachu Empire is not only reflected in the guns and cannons exported, but also in cold weapons and armor.
Those export models of plate armor are directly smelted steel plates and made by machines. Their performance is much better than those handmade by the indigenous people themselves, and the price is not more expensive than traditional hand-made plate armor.
Therefore, the export-type plate armor of the Da Chu Empire is still very popular around the world, bringing a large amount of profits to the Da Chu Empire every year.
The Ottoman Empire and the Persian Dynasty also purchased a large amount of export-type plate armor produced by the Chu Empire. Although this export-type plate armor was not as good as the Chu army itself, it was still better than what they used.
Coupled with the trade of artillery and flintlock weapons as military weapons, this made the trade relations between the Chu Empire and the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Dynasty very good, which also greatly reduced the influence of these two countries on the Chu Empire's overseas expansion. Be wary of expansion operations.
Without these two powerful factions in West Asia, the Chu Empire's overseas expansion in the above directions seemed to be relatively smooth.
In the past, through trade and physical coercion, the Yariba Dynasty in the Oman region was forced to recognize the lease rights of the Chu Empire in the Cape Had area in its eastern region, and allowed the Chu Empire to build trade strongholds in the area, and communicate with the local and Trade began in surrounding areas.
This is how Anxi City came into existence.
However, after acquiring the city of Anxi, the Chu Empire did not continue to carry out large-scale colonial expansion in the area for a long time targeting the local indigenous people, but continued to focus on trade cooperation.
Even colonial strongholds were mostly obtained by attacking the Dutch, Portuguese, and English.
Generally speaking, the Chu Empire in this region pursued the same strategy as it did in the Indian region: only attack European colonists. As for the local indigenous people, if you are willing to do business with me, do business. If you are not willing to do business, then wait. Wait, if you dare to make a move, I will beat you down.
For the Chu Empire's overseas expansion in this region, the main enemies in the early stage were not the local indigenous people, but the European colonists who were also outsiders.
What the Dachu Empire wanted was to expel the European colonists first and put the meat into its own bowl. As for how to eat it in the future, that was of course up to you.
It can be eaten roasted, stewed, or made into soup... There are many ways to do it, whatever you want.
Therefore, the overseas expansion of the Dachu Empire was actually very confusing at first... It doesn't mean that you just ran over and shouted that you were going to colonize here.
When we first went there, they would say that we were just here to do business and only needed a very small trading supply station as a foothold, and they were willing to give generous rewards...such as sending them a batch of guns!
The export-type matchlocks, flintlock guns and iron cannons produced by the Dachu Empire are of high quality and have excellent performance. They have been popular in overseas countries for more than two decades.
When the indigenous people benefited from trade, such as powerful "advanced weapons" and exquisite industrial products, they allowed the Chu people to go ashore and rent a small warehouse.
The Chu people will increase their requirements step by step, and finally rent a small port, barren land, etc. Don't worry, we will pay for it, and the price will be sufficient!
But when you really rent the place to them, the Chu Empire will build a fortress in this small fishing village and port, and it won't take long before hundreds or even thousands of troops will be stationed.
At this time, it is too late for you to regret the eviction.
Even at this time, the Chu people would start to intervene and stir up local disputes, or adjust the disputes between local indigenous people and other European colonists.
Further expand the economic benefits obtained in the local area, and will often use the threat of force.
In this process, the indigenous people will be tempted or simply coerced by force to sign various unequal treaties one after another, such as extra-legal jurisdiction, full market opening, mutually agreed tariffs, etc.
Then carry out comprehensive exploitative economic plunder.
The Great Chu Empire followed such a very standard process in the Ariba Dynasty in the Oman region.
When they first arrived, they were all smiling. The people from the Ariba Dynasty thought they were coming to a group of friendly and kind people who were sending money to them.
As a result, the Chu people stopped at their ports, opened commercial shops, and then gradually increased the number of armed guards and began to demand more step by step.
Finally, in the twenty-seventh year of Chengshun, when the Aliba Dynasty realized that the Chu people were no different from the Portuguese, both were greedy and posed a great threat, it was already too late...
At that time, the Chu people had already stationed hundreds of soldiers here, and they began to show their fangs. They also built basic fortresses and stockpiled enough food, weapons and ammunition.
In the end, more than 600 Chu soldiers defeated the troops of the Ariba Dynasty who came to forcibly expel them.
These indigenous troops of the Ariba Dynasty thought that the Chu army, like them, used matchlocks, spears and plate armor...
But they didn't expect that Chu Jun took out a flash cap firing rifle and pulled out a bunch of artillery that fired grenades.
Under the cover of gunfire, the indigenous army was dumbfounded on the spot...
At first, they thought the Chu people were sheep, docile and friendly.
Then they thought that the Chu people were money wolves, greedy and scheming, and their previous friendship was just to trick them into opening their homes.
Finally, they discovered that the Chu people were Xionghu... and when they really got going, they slapped them to death.
The operation of the Ariba Dynasty is a standard one for bringing a tiger home...
Then... naturally, they signed a series of unequal treaties and officially gave the permanent concession of Point Hade to the foreign country. The Da Chu Empire also established a large military supply base in this area: Anxi City.
Fortunately, the purpose of the Chu Empire during this period was not to carry out large-scale colonial expansion in West Asia. For now, the Chu Empire's strategy is to first control the entire Indian Ocean and drive away the European colonists on the African coast. , even captured South Africa, and finally brought the entire Indian Ocean region under its control.
Then go back and slowly expand colonization in this area.
That's why the Ariba Dynasty has not been destroyed, but according to the step-by-step colonial expansion policy of the Great Chu Empire in this area, it is estimated that it will be over soon...
After conquering the coastal areas of West Asia, expelling the Europeans in the area, and gaining a large foothold in the city of Anxi, the Dachu Empire's overseas expansion sights set its sights on the northeastern region of Africa, that is, the Somali region.
The situation in this area is relatively complicated. There are local indigenous people and Portuguese people. In addition, the Dutch and English will often come over to get involved.
In response to this complicated situation, the Chu Empire's overseas expansion strategy continued to target the local Portuguese, Dutch and English.
As for the natives, naturally ignore them for now.
Taking advantage of this east wind, in the autumn of the 30th year of Chengshun, the Dachu Empire's Ninth Task Force protected a large number of Marine Corps soldiers, and of course the indispensable vanguard of the Dachu Empire's overseas colonial expansion: the Western Trading Company.
A total of dozens of ships carrying thousands of ground combatants arrived on the coast of Somalia, and then swept all the way south, smashing and occupying all the ports occupied by European colonists along the way.
Some local indigenous people were quite happy when they heard that the Chu people were going to attack the Portuguese and other European colonists.
But when they saw the huge fleet of the Chu people, they were all dumbfounded...
Huge ships like mountains filled the entire bay one after another, which was directly beyond their imagination.
This is more terrifying than European colonists!
When the Portuguese and the like came over in the past, the natives were able to put up a resistance, and sometimes they were even able to repel the European colonists.
Although the European colonists were strong, this strength was still within their cognitive range and within their acceptable range.
But these Chu people... were so powerful that they were beyond the scope of their cognition. Even with all their brains, they could not imagine what those thousands of tons of huge steel battleships that sprayed white mist and moved without wind were.
One or two ships is fine...but that's dozens of ships!
The natives of Somalia were in despair when they saw it, and they did not even dare to get close. They could only watch helplessly as the Chu people swept away the fallen leaves like the autumn wind and captured many coastal colonial strongholds occupied by the Portuguese and other countries.
Even when the Chu people came to Mogadishu, the local indigenous people fled after hearing the news and did not even dare to resist...
(End of chapter)
