Southern Route: Difference between revisions

===Background===

[[File:Ngô_Quyền_đại_phá_quân_Nam_Hán_trên_sông_Bạch_Đằng.jpg|thumb|Qian admiral Xi Haifong leading a fleet to Stenza]]

[[File:Ilustracion-XIX-expedicion-Fernando-Magallanes 1407469895 112245496 667x375.jpg|thumb|Pogiano sailing around Australis]]

Historically, sea exploration by Corummese dynasties was severely lacking in comparison to Levantine powers such as [[Burgundie]]. Most of Corummese trading with its neighbours was conducted through overland routes, rivers or by sea shipping that stuck close to the coastline. [[Burgundie]]'s possession of islands controlling access to important waterways in Audonia such as [[Salarive]] and [[Antilles]] and its sometimes predatory attitudes, the dangers posed by Audonian pirates and high tariffs made trade through Burgoignesc controlled waters a fairly unappealing prospect. The discovery of [[Zhijun]] and later [[Stenza]] by an expedition commissioned by Emperor Yuanjian of the Qian dynasty opened the possibility of further lands yet to be discovered. Admiral Xi Haifong proceeded to conquer the Stenzan polynesian tribes and established the port of Xiwang there in 1613. The arrival in 1615 of [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth|Carto-Pelaxian]] explorer Gabo de Pogiano at [[Zhijun]]'s Port Bondor confirmed to the Qian the existence of lands further east to trade with. Gabo de Pogiano established a rapport with the governor of Zhijun and was allowed to sail to [[Corumm]] alongside the [[Grog Fleet]] for an audience with imperial authorities.

Around the year 1611, Pogiano attempted to undertake an exploration of the beyond Australis, and gathered information about an almost legendary Qian's Corumm, whose kingdom was located far to the west in Alshar, and sailed to it reaching it in 1615.

===Establishment===

Gabo de Pogiano's 1615 journey became an embassy after contact with the Corummese. After arriving in the port of [[Zong]] on the 10th of October, he had an audience with Digen Youdu, Viceroy of Ganshu; with whom he negotiated an agreement that allowed him to dock in Corummese ports and engage in trade, map out the surrounding seas and build a fort in the [[Tanhai]] coastal commandery. Pogiano in turn committed himself to on his return trip, guide a Qian squadron to the [[Kindreds Sea]] and the coast of [[Sarpedon]]. The ships that would join him on [[Zhijun]] were the ''Falun'', the ''Gong'' and the ''Shen Yun''; the first Corummese ships to ever make it to [[Sarpedon]]. Later contacts with Acirien representatives would lead to a similar agreement. The Qian would send goods such as sugarcane, barrels of [[slozo]], pink salt, ebony wood and cinnamon and in return would receive (insert Sarpedonian products such as wine)

===Economic Impact===

*[[Corumm]]:The impact of the establishment of the southern route was enormous in both economic and cultural terms for the Corummese. The flow of trade goods greatly enrichened the Qian state, fwith the treasury benefiting from extra taxes and tariffs, including a tax on all precious metals, fees for providing naval protection to merchant ships, docking, warehouse uses and clerical services. In addition there were cultural and technological exchanges, with several sarpedonian scholars taking up employment with the Corummese. One such case was mathematician and astronomer Justo Barbajan, who worked at the Qian court as Director of the Imperial Observatory. The first Christian preachers arrived by boat in 1623, with one of them eventually founding what would become the [[Democratic Christian Church of Corumm and the East]].

Negotiations with the local Qian State were difficult. Pogiano's efforts to obtain favorable commercial terms have been hampered by the different cultures and the low value of their gifts – in the East it was customary for kings to offer presents to the foreign envoys; in the West the kings were expected to be impressed with rich offerings. Goods presented by the Pelaxian proved insufficient to impress the Corummese and representatives mocked their offers.

Pogiano's perseverance made him nevertheless initiate negotiations between him and the Qian's, who was pleased with the letters of King Eladio I. Finally, Pogiano managed to get an ambiguous letter of concession rights to trade and an enclave on the coast managed by a Pelaxian governor.

*[[Aciria]]:

*[[Stenza]]: