Zhu Bolin: Difference between revisions

Bolin immediately did something that was considered quite scandalous but the societal norms of the time, he seized [[Xi Haifong]]'s estate and used the money in secret, to bribe officials at court to secure a promotion for himself. The bold bid worked and he was appointed Admiral of the Southern Waste in 1650, a dizzyingly fast pace of promotion from Vice Captain to Admiral in a mere twelve years; Zhu Bolin was at this time only 35 years old and the youngest admiral in the Qian fleets. His bought title however brought him not only prestige but also danger, many distrusted him for his youth, lack of qualms and now evident corrupt nature. Moreover the friends of [[Xi Haifong]] at court were now Bolin's enemies and would constantly seek to cast him down for the rest of his naval career. It was after his promotion that Zhu Bolin began to be derisively called the''Child Admiral'', but never to his face. The new admiral continued his career for the next eleven years supporting the growing encroachments of [[Daxia]] on [[Peratra]], combatting Bergendii and [[Kirav]]ian piracy and protecting the [[Southern slave trade]] from which he also personally profited.

===Daxian Polynesian Wars===

The expanding sway of the Qian over the [[Ocean of Cathay]] required it to continuously build up its naval power. Zhu Bolin's Fleet of the Southern Waste was renamed to the ''Right Trident of the Qian'' in recognition of its coming role as one of the main instruments of Qian policy at sea. While Zhu Bolin was able to grow his fleet significantly during this time, he also had to compete with the [[Harmonious Flotilla Invincible]], the private fleet of the [[South Seas Development Company|South Seas Trading Company]]. The competition for imperial resources was fierce and Bolin had to personally attend court many times to prevent his funds from being slashed by the dogged lobbying of pro Company ministers. While the [[South Seas Development Company|South Seas Trading Company]] at this time favored a policy of consolidation of the colonies of [[Peratra]] and argued its fleet was solely for the defense of said colonies, Zhu Bolin argued that [[Daxia]] should expand its control east across the sea and push back the 'white men' before they arrived on the shores of [[Peratra]]. His ambitious proposal resonated with Emperor [[Xiaodan]]'s own notions and thus he won the argument; Zhu Bolin proposed to attack [[Kiravi]]an [[Sarolasta]] first, its position in the northern Polynesian would serve as the northern anchor for a 'naval net' blocking access to the [[Ocean of Cathay]]; the second anchor would be [[Zhijun]] which was already under [[Daxia]]n control. Zhu Bolin then spent the period from March to early May 1664 gathering an impressive armada of one hundred and twenty ships; composed of 70 galleys, 30 galleons and other ships of various sizes. The [[South Seas Development Company|South Seas Trading Company]] also sent a small force of armed dhows crewed by Christians in support, commanded by [[Caphiria]]n mercenary Luidan Răzvala Saminian Dovinofo. His ground contingent counted with four hundred cannons and 15,000 men between soldiers and ship crews. Five thousand ghulams sent by the sultan of Ghanim, a [[Daxia]]n vassal were also taken along to serve as first wave. The armada set sail from the port of [[Zong]] on June 25 1664, calling at [[Zhijun]] before heading north to [[Sarolasta]], arriving withing sight of [[Dun-Kurrengev]] on August 13. The [[Siege of Dun-Kurrengev]] would be the official start of the [[Daxian Polynesian Wars]] and the ''Right Trident of the Qian'' would strike the first blow.