Chapter 237: Eastern Promises
Spring, 1824
Pune
The late Peshwa would expire over the winter of 1824. Unlike his predecessor, the recently deceases Peshwa would be more willing to tolerate the religious minorities of the Maratha Empire...provided that they were useful and knew their place.
By 1824, virtually all the major Kingdoms of the subcontinent, once ruled by Muslim Mughals, had seen new Hindu monarchs assume their thrones over the past half century or so. Local rulers would vary in their treatment of the Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, etc.
The new Peshwa had been raised by Hindu nationalists and would be less inclined to tolerate those of other faiths. Some later scholars would speculate that the ascendant position of the Maratha Empire with their secure borders and no natural enemies would actually increase the problems that would occur in the future years.
Throughout the previous wars with Europeans, the mountainmen from which the Mughals once swept, the Mughal lords whom were defeated one by one, etc, etc, the Marathas would often utilize regiments of non-Hindu soldiers hired from the assorted European trading companies or whole armies of Sikhs. These men would be called "Sepoys" by the Peshwas and had been in integral and highly respected portion of the Maratha military. They had fought the Maratha wars and were considered the elite of the subcontinent.
However, by 1824, the new Peshwa was already finding new ways to offend their "Sepoys".
Honshu
Throughout previous years, the Chinese Empire had quietly assumed control over the outer islands of Nippon, leaving only Honshu (under internal conflict) outside the Emperor's control. By 1824, the Mandarin was ready to end the absurd notion of Nipponese independence (utilizing the largely historical fiction of Nippon having been subordinate to China).
An invasion would be dispatched to turn Honshu into yet another Chinese colony.
Central Asia
Over the past several years, the unofficial frontier alliance between the Chinese forces battling the Turkic peoples west of China and the Russians facing their cousins further west would stand. Other tribes, well out of Chinese reach, would face the repercussions of the battle as various tribes would be displaced further and further south into the lands of the Uzbeks, Kazaks, Turkmens and others.
This would lead to ever more violence as the related tribes began infighting.
Siberia
Though the Russian population along the northern Pacific of Siberia was modest at best, the lure of gold would lead thousands of people to board ships for the new lands of North America. Even as far south at Oahu the Russians would abandon the remote tropical paradise in hopes of riches.
Pune
The late Peshwa would expire over the winter of 1824. Unlike his predecessor, the recently deceases Peshwa would be more willing to tolerate the religious minorities of the Maratha Empire...provided that they were useful and knew their place.
By 1824, virtually all the major Kingdoms of the subcontinent, once ruled by Muslim Mughals, had seen new Hindu monarchs assume their thrones over the past half century or so. Local rulers would vary in their treatment of the Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, etc.
The new Peshwa had been raised by Hindu nationalists and would be less inclined to tolerate those of other faiths. Some later scholars would speculate that the ascendant position of the Maratha Empire with their secure borders and no natural enemies would actually increase the problems that would occur in the future years.
Throughout the previous wars with Europeans, the mountainmen from which the Mughals once swept, the Mughal lords whom were defeated one by one, etc, etc, the Marathas would often utilize regiments of non-Hindu soldiers hired from the assorted European trading companies or whole armies of Sikhs. These men would be called "Sepoys" by the Peshwas and had been in integral and highly respected portion of the Maratha military. They had fought the Maratha wars and were considered the elite of the subcontinent.
However, by 1824, the new Peshwa was already finding new ways to offend their "Sepoys".
Honshu
Throughout previous years, the Chinese Empire had quietly assumed control over the outer islands of Nippon, leaving only Honshu (under internal conflict) outside the Emperor's control. By 1824, the Mandarin was ready to end the absurd notion of Nipponese independence (utilizing the largely historical fiction of Nippon having been subordinate to China).
An invasion would be dispatched to turn Honshu into yet another Chinese colony.
Central Asia
Over the past several years, the unofficial frontier alliance between the Chinese forces battling the Turkic peoples west of China and the Russians facing their cousins further west would stand. Other tribes, well out of Chinese reach, would face the repercussions of the battle as various tribes would be displaced further and further south into the lands of the Uzbeks, Kazaks, Turkmens and others.
This would lead to ever more violence as the related tribes began infighting.
Siberia
Though the Russian population along the northern Pacific of Siberia was modest at best, the lure of gold would lead thousands of people to board ships for the new lands of North America. Even as far south at Oahu the Russians would abandon the remote tropical paradise in hopes of riches.