Since the Zhou Dynasty, there have been vassal states, at first vassal states were the territory of the princes, with the social changes and the development of the times, the scope of vassal states has also expanded to overseas countries, such as Korea, Burma, Thailand were our vassal states.
The vassal parliaments came to make pilgrimages, paid regular tribute, reported to the emperor, and reported some of their major arrangements to the emperor, and they would only carry out them when the emperor agreed.
China's last vassal state was very loyal to us, and even if it ceased to be our vassal later, they said they would always support China.
What is the name of this vassal state, how did it become our vassal state, and what happened to it?
The last vassal state
The name of China's last vassal state is "Kanjuti", which can also be called Hongzha, Qianzhute, Qianzhute, Hunza and Bangza, etc., and it is called differently by different dynasties according to different eras.
The Kanjuti are a frontier tribe scattered throughout the Grand Canyon of the Karakoram Mountains, bordered by the Pamirs to the northwest, Afghanistan and the mainland, and some mountain passes to the north leading to Selkul in Xinjiang and India to the south.
In the 26th year of Qianlong, Kanjuti became a vassal state again, and their leader succeeded to the throne with our consent.
The leaders of the successive dynasties would pay tribute to the Qing Dynasty on time, and the tribute was "fifteen taha tribute gold", that is, one or two or five coins of sand gold, divided into 15 bags. The emperor of the Qing Dynasty would arrange for officials to reward Kanjuti with two pieces of silk and a lot of porcelain and silver.
In contrast, the Qing Dynasty's reward was far greater than Kanjuti's tribute, which was also a symbol of the Qing Dynasty's declaration of suzerainty over Kanjuti.
In 1847, Kanjuti assisted the Qing dynasty in suppressing a Muslim rebellion and was regarded as a loyal vassal state, and the Qing dynasty rewarded Kanjuti Yarkand with some land and a subsidy.
Kanjuti had a trouble, that is, Kashmir, at that time, Kashmir was eyeing Kanjuti and wanted to take Kanjuti into his pocket, but Kanjuti was one step ahead of the Qing Dynasty. Although the Qing Dynasty never included Kanjuti in Xinjiang Province, it never gave up its sovereignty over Kanjuti.
It was not until the 18th century, when the British invaded India, gradually seized the power of India, and germinated the idea of further expanding the colony in India, and Kanjuti came into the eyes of the British.
As mentioned earlier, Kandjuti is geographically located in an excellent location connecting Afghanistan, China, and India, and if Kandjuti can be taken, it will be convenient to attack in either direction.
At that time, India was already in the pocket of Britain, and if Britain could take Kanjuti, it would not only expand its colonies, but also deploy to China, and if it could not fight, it would be very beneficial for Britain to retreat back to India itself.
As a result, the British began to act, and the British first proposed to build a road to make Kashmir's Kanjuti more convenient and convenient for the British army to enter, and they sent people to persuade Kanjuti to make some people willing to deal with the British.
In 1888, Canjuti also recognized Britain as their protectorate. However, not only Britain wanted to occupy Kanjuti, but Russia also wanted Kanjuti, and when Britain was making trouble, Russia also put pressure on Kanjuti to bow down to Russia.
Kanjuti is just a small tribe on the frontier, in the face of the two big countries of Britain and Russia, although they are dissatisfied, they do not dare to resist, so they have to survive in the cracks, wanting to pass the news to the Qing government and let the Qing army come to help.
At that time, the Qing government was powerless, and in the eyes of the Qing government, Kanjuti was far away in the borderland, and it was only a vassal state, after several considerations, the Qing government decided not to offend Britain and Russia, and in the face of British discussions, the Qing government directly refused, letting Britain and Russia fight.
However, from the very beginning, Britain's goal was not just Kanjuti, their ultimate goal was China. When the British army built a fort in Kanjuti and stretched out its claws on the mainland of Xinjiang, the Qing government finally understood the importance of Kanjuti to us.
In 1892, the Chinese magistrate of Kashgar proposed that Kanjuti was part of China, and asked the British to explain to China why they wanted to station troops there, and at the same time, he also sent envoys to Kanjuti to negotiate with the British.
As a result of the negotiations, China and Britain each took a step back, allowing Kanjuti to continue to pay tribute to the Qing government every year, and Britain also recognized China's suzerainty over Kanjuti.
However, in 1895, after our defeat in the Sino-Japanese War, Britain and Russia still signed an agreement behind our backs, pocketed Kanjuti, and divided the Pamir region of the mainland.
In 1990, as the situation changed, the question of Kanjuti's ownership was "forgotten" by the Qing government.
Thoughts on China
Although we have "forgotten" Kanjuti due to the national crisis, Kanjuti has not forgotten us, although the Qing Dynasty no longer exists, but the friendship between Kanjuti and us is still there.
In 1937, Britain had no strength to compete with the Soviet Union at that time, and gave up control of India's northwestern border, and India broke free from British control, but Kandjuti was already under British control and had already fallen under the jurisdiction of Kashmir.
In 1947, Britain imposed the partition of India and Pakistan in India, which led to a major fight between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, and it was not until 1949 that the ceasefire line was drawn.
At this time, Lao Chiang, who was far away in Taiwan, took the opportunity to make trouble and drew a map to enclose Kanjuti into the territory of the Qing Dynasty on the mainland, saying that Kanjuti was the territory of the mainland and was under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang authorities.
It is said that Kanjuti also wanted to belong to us directly at that time. However, we said that Kanjuti was not a Chinese territory, but a vassal state of China, and the two concepts were different.
So, who does Kanjuti ultimately belong to?
Kanjuti has said that whether they belong to China or not, they will always support China. After negotiations, Kandjuti eventually belonged to Pakistan, and until 1974 they remained self-governing until the Hill Gang was disbanded and placed under the administration of Pakistan's northern regional government.
But they said they would always support China and stand firmly behind China.
Resources:
[1] Western Regions Studies, "The History of the British Occupation of Kanjuti and Related Sino-British Negotiations", 20090715
[2] Journal of Xinjiang University (Philosophy and Social Science Edition), "China and Britain Belong to Kanjuti", 20050115