Chapter 1212: Now I Shall Be a Great Emperor (Seeking Subscriptions)

Although Aurangzeb's precious daughter Princess Nisha already had a prospective match, Shesta Khan was still absolutely certain that a war against the Dzungar Kingdom was now unavoidable.

The marriage negotiations between Princess Nisha and the Ming Emperor had merely put Aurangzeb's Timurid Empire in a relatively favorable position for the coming war — but one must always guard against others! Aurangzeb had killed three brothers and imprisoned his father to seize the throne; how could he possibly let down his guard over a marriage alliance that might never even come to pass?

As Aurangzeb's newest high minister, Shesta Khan naturally shared his master's conviction that the affections of imperial houses could never be trusted — never mind that the marriage between Princess Nisha and the Ming Emperor had not even begun to take shape; even if they entered the bridal chamber and the deed was done, could the Ming Emperor really be relied upon?

If one's own father and own brothers cannot be relied upon, how much less a son-in-law?

Therefore, after concluding his negotiations with Mingzhu Lama and Sanbao Lama, Shesta Khan immediately dispatched six trusted men, divided into three groups, riding fast horses straight for Samarkand, to inform Aurangzeb that Sengge had refused conversion and submission, and that Sengge wanted to act as matchmaker between Nisha and the Ming Emperor.

The reason for reporting so urgently was to ensure that Aurangzeb could begin preparations for war with Sengge at the earliest possible moment!

Although Aurangzeb did not want to start a war because his forces were weak, preparations still had to be made — the weaker the army, the more thorough the preparations had to be.

According to the plan Aurangzeb and Shesta Khan had previously agreed upon, once war became unavoidable, Aurangzeb should lead the main force south to Termez, leaving only a small decoy force at Samarkand, so as to prevent the main army from being surprised by King Sengge — although such a possibility was unlikely, precautions still had to be taken!

But when Shesta Khan returned to Samarkand from the Stone Fort royal city, he suddenly discovered that the city had become a sea of soldiers; far from decreasing, the troops gathered there had actually increased greatly!

Inside and outside the city, Timurid armies could be seen everywhere, either patrolling or drilling. There were Rajput cavalry and musketeers whom Aurangzeb had brought from India, as well as new troops Aurangzeb had recruited locally in Samarkand and Tajik.

Particularly eye-catching among them was the Shanatur Guard, clad in chain mail, wearing pointed iron helmets, and equipped with large numbers of Shanatur cannons (camel cannons), matchlock muskets, and various other cold weapons.

As Shesta Khan entered the gates of Samarkand, this newly formed army was drilling in formation on the open ground outside the city.

Shesta Khan saw at least five thousand soldiers of the Shanatur Guard formed into ten squares of five hundred men each, arrayed in a mixed formation of foot matchlock musketeers, camel artillery (Shanatur artillery), and camel cavalry.

The formation could not be called particularly orderly, but the soldiers composing it all looked robust and strong — truly not comparable to the local soldiers of India.

Yet Shesta Khan still did not believe these troops could be mentioned in the same breath as the elite soldiers of the Dzungar Kingdom, for the latter were already equipped with flintlocks in large numbers and used artillery of far greater power!

Thinking that Aurangzeb had lost his head, Shesta Khan hurried toward the palace, and in the great hall he found Aurangzeb trying on a suit of chain mail.

Although Aurangzeb was gaunt as a stick, he had a large frame and was very tall; once he donned the chain mail he looked majestic and imposing. Moreover, he had a fierce countenance — deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and a great beard — he looked like a man not to be trifled with!

"Your Majesty Alamgir, why are you still in Samarkand?" Shesta Khan glanced around, saw there were no outsiders, and after making his salutation came straight to the point.

Aurangzeb waved a hand, dismissing the eunuch who was adjusting his chain mail, then looked at Shesta Khan and asked, "My Wazir, take a look — do I not now resemble a great emperor?"

A great emperor? Shesta Khan sized up Aurangzeb — he really did look the part! Far more so than that Sengge!

"Your Majesty Alamgir, you are a great emperor — you are the great Emperor Alamgir of the Timurid Empire!" Shesta Khan flattered him.

Aurangzeb nodded and smiled. "I think so too! So from now on, I shall be a great emperor!"

What did that mean? Shesta Khan could not figure it out, so he asked, "Your Majesty Alamgir, did you receive my letter?"

"I did," Aurangzeb said. "Since Sengge has rejected my goodwill, war is now unavoidable!"

"Your Majesty, do you not wish to marry the Princess to the Ming Emperor?" Shesta Khan asked hurriedly.

"That is another matter," Aurangzeb said. "The marriage between the Princess and the Ming Emperor can be negotiated slowly, but our war with the Dzungar Kingdom is imminent!"

"Your Majesty Alamgir," Shesta Khan said, growing anxious, "we are not yet prepared!"

"We are prepared!" Aurangzeb shook his head. "At the very least, we must make the envoys of Russia and the Persian Empire believe that we are prepared!"

"Russia and the Persian Empire?" Shesta Khan frowned slightly. "They both intend to send troops?"

"Yes!" Aurangzeb nodded. "Abbas II has sent Red Hat troops toward Turkmenistan — perhaps he believes that a holy war against the Dzungars is a good opportunity to win over the Turkmen tribes."

The Persian Red Hats were the elite household troops of the Safavid dynasty, wearing their signature small red caps, their members all drawn from the Turkmen tribes.

Therefore, when war between the Turkmen tribes and the Dzungar Kingdom became unavoidable, the Safavid dynasty had no choice but to be drawn into the conflict.

"Russia has also sent missions to the Lesser Jüz, to Bukhara, and to us here," Aurangzeb said. "Clearly, that Tsar also cannot tolerate the expansion of the Dzungar Kingdom and is preparing to join forces with the Muslims."

Tsar Alexei I now had a little breathing room — previously he had been busy fighting Poland, fighting Sweden, fighting Turkey, and fighting the mobs who rioted over his debasement of the copper coinage, and it was not until 1662 that all this was finished. Once the west was settled, he looked east — and was stunned! The Ming had expanded enormously, the Celestial Empire had revived, and south of Russia's eastern territories a string of vassal states had been established, the strongest of which, the Dzungar Kingdom, had already fought its way into Central Asia and extended its reach to the Volga River!

If he did not act now, the Golden Horde might be resurrected before he knew it!

So Alexei I hastily dispatched his high minister Marquis Golovin at the head of six thousand streltsy to the upper reaches of the Ural River, where they built the fortress of Orenburg at the confluence of the Ural and Sakmara rivers, while also supplying weapons and equipment to the Kazakhs of the Lesser Jüz to help them resist the Dzungar Kingdom.

Through introductions by the Kazakhs, Marquis Golovin learned that an anti-Dzungar alliance had already emerged in Central Asia.

Marquis Golovin felt this was an excellent opportunity to strike at the Dzungar Kingdom while seizing Central Asian territory, so he reported to Moscow even as he dispatched envoys to Bukhara and Samarkand.

Aurangzeb's face was dark and stern, and he looked extremely imposing. "The envoys of Persia, Russia, and the Khanate of Khiva will soon arrive in Samarkand. As Emperor of Hindustan and the Timurid Empire, how could I quietly slip away to Termez?"

"Then what of the marriage between Her Highness the Princess and the Ming Emperor..."

Aurangzeb shook his head and said, "That is another matter, and it can continue to move forward. You will still be in charge of it. Remember above all: you must make King Sengge believe that we are very willing to conclude this marriage alliance! In addition, keep it as secret as possible — do not let this affair between a man and a woman interfere with the holy war!"

"Your Majesty," Shesta Khan said, still somewhat confused, "should we still withdraw to Termez?"

"How is it a withdrawal?" Aurangzeb glared at his tactless Wazir. "I have already written to the Afghan chieftains, inviting them to join this holy war. Therefore, after meeting with the envoys of Persia, Russia, and Khiva, I shall go to Termez to await the brave Afghans!"

Shesta Khan breathed a great sigh of relief upon hearing this, for he knew that Aurangzeb would wait in vain for the Afghans. Afghans were only brave enough when invading India; go to the Central Asian steppe and fight Mongols? Was that not seeking death? Where would one find Afghans that brave?

(End of Chapter)