In the royal palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Humayun, the emperor of the Mughal Empire, sat in a white palace and quietly looked at the Dutch envoy in his palace.
The Mughal Empire is generally considered to be an Indian dynasty, but in fact this country was established by conquerors from Central Asia and Persia after they conquered northern India. In other words, it was not so much an Indian dynasty as
Was a colonial empire in India from the conquerors of Central Asia and Persia.
Therefore, in the upper echelons of the Mughal Empire, the emperor and nobles all used Central Asian etiquette and customs and spoke Persian.
However, after hundreds of years of conquest, the nobles of northern India have basically become conquerors from Central Asia. Most of India has completely surrendered under the iron heel of the Central Asians.
Although Humayun bore the title of Mughal Emperor, he was actually an exiled emperor. His father was the Mughal emperor, but after Humayun succeeded to the throne because he failed to control his younger brothers,
The empire fell into a civil war for the throne. An Afghan noble, his father's vassal prince, Sher Shah, defeated Humayun, so that Humayun had to exile to the Safavid dynasty in Persia.
After ten years of forbearance and begging, Humayun used Persian troops to conquer the land in Afghanistan and the northwest corner of India, and finally he had a foothold.
However, Humayun was not willing to stay in Afghanistan and be a minor nobleman. After all, his title was the Emperor of the Mughal Empire. What he always wanted was to restore the Mughal territory in the hands of his father and rule the entire northern India.
, and even the whole of India.
Humayun was waiting for an opportunity, but today, the opportunity came to his door.
The Dutch envoy Weltmann looked up and down at the Afghan palace where he was staying, and finally said: "Let me honestly say that the Mughal emperor should not live in such a small palace."
"Such a palace is not even comparable to a prince in India."
Humayun had no expression on his face when he heard the translator's translation.
Humayun was a king who rarely showed emotion or anger. This is not to say that his palace was so deep, but that his character was so calm. Humayun rarely laughed and never got angry. It is said that
Humayun never cursed anyone in his life. The worst thing he said was "idiot".
But Humayun was a man who was good at seizing opportunities.
He raised his right hand holding the sword, spread his palm and said: "So, envoy of the powerful Dutch Republic, how do you think I, the emperor, should return to India?"
The Dutch envoy Weltman looked at Humayun and laughed.
"Your Majesty the Great Emperor, your mortal enemy Sher Shah has been killed in battle. India is now falling apart. It is time to send troops south to rebuild the glory of the Mughal Empire. Do you want to live in the desolate Afghanistan and hide in this mountain all your life?
And in the ravines between the mountains?”
Humayun heard Weltman's almost provocative words but showed no emotion.
He understood that the Dutch came to his territory with a boatload of matchlocks and cannons, and they were definitely not here to make a joke on him. That boatload of weapons was very important. It might not be a big deal in Europe, but it was enough in India.
A weapon that can change the outcome of a war.
Humayun has sent spies to observe the ship for a long time. It is impossible to say that Humayun is not greedy for the advanced weapons of this ship.
Humayun stood up. He walked to the middle of the palace and took Weltman's hand. He led Weltman to his master's seat and asked the Dutch envoy to sit down with him on the gorgeous Persian carpet.
.
"Messengers of the great Dutch Republic, your merchant ships are spread across every corner of the Indian Ocean. Only you have the power to change the balance of India."
Weltman did not kneel on the carpet like Humayun, but sat cross-legged very rudely. As a European who sits on a chair, Weltman was not used to the etiquette of Central Asians.
"Indeed, the Netherlands has the power and the will to change India."
Looking into Humayun's eyes, Weltman said: "We hope that the Mughal Empire will return to rule India, arm 200,000 soldiers and horses, become the most powerful fortress in the Indian Ocean, and block all threats from the east."
When Humayun heard the Dutch envoy's words, Gujing Wubo's face finally couldn't help but burst out with excitement.
To rule India again and restore the glory of his father's generation was Humayun's dream for the past ten years.
Not only Humayun was excited, but all the nobles sitting in the palace were also excited. Someone accidentally knocked over the wine glass on the table, but no one had time to care about it. They only listened to Weltman's words with their ears pricked up.
Humayun looked at his subordinates in the palace, with an extra layer of persistence in his eyes.
Of course, Humayun was not willing to be a subjugated king, and he was not willing to let the Mughal Empire really fall by his own hands. Humayun could not be mediocre, because he inherited the position of Mughal emperor. If he was mediocre, he would not be mediocre.
What about the Mughal nobles who followed him into exile for ten years?
Humayun knelt on the carpet and bowed deeply to Weltman, as if he was kneeling before the Dutch envoy.
"What will it take for the Mughals to do so that the great Netherlands will help us regain control of India?"
Weltman laughed and said: "Northern India is now ruled by nobles from the Middle East. Only the Mughal emperor has the appeal to truly unify this country." He helped Humayun: "Your Majesty, in fact, our interests are
Exactly the same. Your noble Majesty, we only need you to take control of India and then send troops to attack Li Zhi in the Far East."
Humayun was stunned: "Li Zhi?"
Weltman took a breath and said: "Li Zhi has sent troops to attack the Indochina Peninsula. It is estimated that it will not be long before he can completely control the entire peninsula. We Dutch do not want to lose all the interests of the Far East, so someone must stand up and defeat Li Zhi
.”
"And the only one who can defeat Li Zhi is the Mughal Empire."
"We will provide you with a large number of flintlocks and mortars to help you return to Delhi as quickly as possible and control northern India. Then you will organize all Indian troops and horses to attack Li Zhi from the west."
The nobles in the palace looked at each other for a while before they understood why the Dutch came to Afghanistan with a shipload of firearms.
It turns out that everything is to stop Li Zhi from the Far East.
Humayun nodded and said: "Dear Dutch envoy, if we can regain control of India with the help of the Netherlands, we will certainly prevent Li Zhi's expansion. Even if it is for ourselves, we will not sit back and watch the expansion of Li Zhi's power."
Weltman nodded and said: "We will provide you with the most advanced weapons, even more advanced than those of European countries. But for the sake of better exchanges between the Netherlands and the Moguls, we hope that His Majesty will send his eldest son Ah
Keba was sent to the Netherlands to study European culture."
Humayun's left hand trembled slightly.
He knew that the Dutch wanted hostages.
Humayun had few heirs, and his son Akbar was not born until he was thirty-five years old. Akbar was the only heir that Humayun could not lose. If he agreed to this condition of the Dutch, the Mughals would become
Servant state of the Dutch.
However, after glancing at the fanatical-eyed nobles in the palace, Humayun knew that he had no choice but to agree to the Dutch.
"Dear Dutch envoy, I think Akbar is willing to go to Europe to study."
Weltman laughed loudly and said: "We have a batch of greeting gifts on our big ship. Five thousand flintlock muskets, one thousand Formosa rifles, and fifty Dutch long guns! I won't be able to want them for long.
, northern India will surrender at the feet of His Majesty."
