Part 08 - Into Russia, With Loathing
True to our designated mission, we offer an alliance to Punjab. How our relations became good enough for these kinds of odds of acceptance, despite of our different religious groups, is beyond our comprehension. Still, waste not, want not.
Naturally, they cancel the alliance months later.
Still, for now it is valid, and again, our focus turns to the Oirats. It is clear their perpetual dinner party needs new furniture, and some delicate lacquerware is dispatched. It will take them months to discover the woodworms laying dormant inside.
Sadly, that marks the end of Empress Harushi I's long and blessed rule. Her eldest son, designating himself Hongxi I, assumes the Mandate of Heaven. Alas, growing up under his mother's long shadow, his only skill is talking himself out of trouble.
Nevertheless, he is a dedicated Hindu, and to facilitate the spread of Hinduism through the Chinese core lands, he hires a grand team of theologians. In short order, nearly all Chihan culture provinces and some of the provinces bordering them become Hindi lands. Perhaps some of those borderlands might voluntarily assimilate into Chihan culture provinces.
Missionaries are also sent to far-flung Sunni and Orthodox lands, to stabilize the edges of our empire until pagans make their way there.
From the west, news of a great war abound. Muscowy is a great power in their own right, and they are allied to Sweden and Poland/Lithuania. The Golden Horde is in for a grand fight - but that does leave their flank vulnerable.
Emperor Hongxi I wastes no time in taking advantage of this. On April 3rd, 1445, our forces begin flowing across the borders.
Their multifront war is disastrous to the Golden Horde's war capacity - but they are no pushover, even so.
Once more, Kazakh is let off with a minor tribute.
The same for Chagatai. Their ends will come soon enough.
Delhi, however, we have some designs for. Thus, the war with them continues. Unfortunately, some of the Horde frontiers have calmed down, and the pesky Muscowites reached the bridge province we so badly needed first.
When our expeditionary force stumbled upon the remnants of a large Horde army, our generals were lulled into believing the war almost over. If this was all the enemy could muster, the war would soon be over.
Delhi had annexed Bengal some years previous. Now, we divest them of their prize.
Muscowy secured Zavolochye, and the war rages on. We have barely some thirty thousand men in the area, but the Horde is clearly not yet defeated.
It is then that their Khan comes at us with full strength. In occupied Simbirsk, a fierce battle commences, but soon after it is all too clear it will be a defeat for Ming.
Emperor Hongxi I had hoped to wait for Muscowy to peace out, and perhaps claim Zavolochye. This is clearly not meant to be. However, we
will have our border with Muscowy, and as it turns out, we get to further compartmentalize the demesne of the Golden Horde.
Explorers venture west, and contact with Muscowy is thus established. Sadly, they are not a minor, defenseless nation, as we had hopes for.
Despite that, and despite their allies, the Emperor decrees that we must continue our expansion west. March 6th, 1449, Ming declares war.
We start the war in a good condition, and Sweden, despite owning nearly all of Scandinavia, has trouble at home and a small army. Montenegro cannot reach us, but Poland and Muscowy alone have a considerable force. Our generals decide the best is to let the enemy come to us.
Muscowy wastes no time, and a massive battle in Kazan is the result. Their monarch is a solid military commander, but we manage to repel him with superior numbers. A pursuit starts immediately.
In Nijni-Novgorod, a new, great battle takes place. Worse still, the Golden Horde ferries sightseeing troops through the province continuously, increasing attrition to horrific levels.
In the end, we are forced to admit defeat, and pull back.
It is clear this will be a truly savage war.
