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Zhu Bolin: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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. | ||
The siege was a grueling event from the start, it was clear the naval bombardment would not force the surrender of the fortress no matter how intense. Disgorging the land contingent on a nearby beach, Bolin now took on the role of general and ordered the circumvallation of Dun-Kurrengev. A crisscrossing network of trenches, tunnels and strongpoints were dug out by thousands of Polynesian slaves while siege towers were constructed and cannons brought to bear on the land walls. Zhu Bolin ordered consecutive attempts on the wall, with waves upon waves of slaves clambering upon the walls and being thrown back amid massive losses. | The siege was a grueling event from the start, it was clear the naval bombardment would not force the surrender of the fortress no matter how intense. Disgorging the land contingent on a nearby beach, Bolin now took on the role of general and ordered the circumvallation of Dun-Kurrengev. A crisscrossing network of trenches, tunnels and strongpoints were dug out by thousands of Polynesian slaves while siege towers were constructed and cannons brought to bear on the land walls. Zhu Bolin ordered consecutive attempts on the wall, with waves upon waves of slaves clambering upon the walls and being thrown back amid massive losses. For seven long months the siege proceeded with attacks through tunnels and over the walls, night assaults and attempts to pull down the walls with massive hooks. The climax of the siege came in November 1665 when news came of a large [[Kiravia]]n relief fleet under Alcibiades Verramar making its way from [[Æonara]]; only weeks remained to wrap up the siege. | ||
Impeded from advancing to the north of the island by a chain of fortifications, the only choices were taking the fortress or retreating by sea. With the army suffering from bouts of dysentery and plague and mounting heavy casualties, [[Zhu Bolin]], his commanders convened a late night conference that included representatives of the soldiery. It was agreed on one final assault attempt on November 22th, if it failed the siege would be abandoned. During the early morning of the 22th a sustained cannonade finally cracked a hole in one of the northern walls, upon seeing this a general assault was ordered. [[Daxia]]n assault columns charged forth with mobs of pickaxe-wielding slaves running ahead to clear the rubble. The battle for the collapsed gap in the wall saw the most ferocious melees of the siege yet; two of the defenses chief lieutenants were killed there as was the mercenary leader Răzvala who lost an arm and was speared through the neck. [[Zhu Bolin]] charged into the battle firing a specially made crossbow from atop a palanquin carried by slaves. The fighting raged for hours but eventually the gap was choked up with bodies and the [[Daxian]]s began to pull back, with the dwarf leader being carried off after his palanquin was set on fire. The failure to take the gap mean the last effort was defeated, the Daxians burnt their siege camps along with the dead they had recovered before reembarking and sailing southwards; the siege of [[Dun-Kurrengev]] ended in a victory for [[Kiravia]]. | |||
===Fall from grace=== | ===Fall from grace=== | ||
===War of the Eastern Crag=== | ===War of the Eastern Crag=== | ||