The Ming Dynasty was not interested in the Western Regions, but why did the Qing Dynasty attach so much importance to it?

Xinjiang, called the Western Regions in ancient times, was an important passage of the ancient Silk Road in history. During the Han Dynasty, the Western Regions were all located in the Western Regions, and Xinjiang became a part of China.

We know that after the rise of Mongols, there was a whirlwind in Asia. The Mongols not only eliminated the Great Song Dynasty and unified the Central Plains, but also controlled most parts of Central Asia and West Asia through the Western Expedition. Genghis Khan even gave the occupied area to his sons.

However, after the establishment of the Ming dynasty, it did not control the western regions. Until the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains, it ruled Xinjiang again by eliminating the Junggar khanate. Why?

Some people say that the reason why the Ming Dynasty didn't go to the West was that the Maritime Silk Road replaced the onshore Silk Road, and Daming's great efforts to develop this site were not worth the loss.

But objectively speaking, after more than 300 years of development, has onshore silk replaced maritime trade? Otherwise, why did the Qing Dynasty destroy the Junggar khanate 70 years later?

So it can't be said that there is no economic reason, but it is definitely not the only factor.

First of all, we say that in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Kansai Seven Guards were established one after another, and the Turpan area in the eastern part of the Ming Dynasty was included in the territory, which was also the westernmost part of the Ming Dynasty. During the Jiajing period, Hami Wei was revoked by the Ming Dynasty, and the forces returned to Jiayuguan.

Zhu Yuanzhang drove away the Mongols and established Daming, but he did not destroy the Mongols. After Bei Yuan retreated to his hometown, he was still fighting against the Ming Dynasty and did not completely inherit the territory established by the Mongols. Zhu Yuanzhang and his son made several northern expeditions, but they still did not disappear. Although the Mongols lost the spirit of letting Japan go, even if they split, it was always a huge hidden danger in the Ming Dynasty.

Judy moved to Beijing for many reasons, but one of them must be that the emperor is defending the country. It can be seen that his strategic center of gravity is in the north.

By the middle of Ming Dynasty, Ming Yingzong was also captured by Vala, which was also a shame for Daming.

It can be said that once Daming, the north has always been the focus. Especially after Judy, Daming began to shrink strategically and became more conservative. It is obviously impossible for Daming to explore the northwest by giving up the northern part of Vietnam laid by Judy.

Therefore, the reason why the Ming Dynasty did not control the western regions and expanded to the northwest was beyond its power. Without this strength, even if you are defeated, you can't rule effectively.

Moreover, after the Mongols' Western Expedition, the western regions almost became the world of Mongols. Although they conquered each other and fought against each other, the western regions were still the territory of the Chagatai khanate and others. If you travel long distances to conquer, attracting the two sides to form an alliance will not be worth the loss.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, a Junggar khanate rose in the northwest. This Junggar is the Wara department that once fought against the Ming Dynasty, but Wara split in the process of westward advancement. Junggar Department is one of them, and the other is the Turhut Department that returned during the Qianlong period.

Junggar, which has great strength, has great ambitions, especially galdan's tendency to unify Mongolia, which is a challenge for Daqing.

For the Qing dynasty, the Mongolian tribes in the central and eastern regions must ensure stability. Especially the Russian invaders appeared in the north. Instability in the north is like a sore throat for the Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, in 70 years of the Qing Dynasty, three generations of emperors had to solve the Junggar problem. In fact, the fundamental reason was the security problem. Of course, we are talking about the early Qing Dynasty. At this time, the Qing dynasty was in the heyday of anti-cadre, and it also had the ability to maintain the stability of the frontier. As for the later period, in fact, the late Ming Dynasty, like the late Qing Dynasty, was unable to continue to maintain a huge empire. Especially in the late Qing Dynasty, facing the invasion of western colonists, it was an industrial power against an agricultural power, and the outcome was decided.