The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 109 China and Siam, the Father-Son Country
What can I say about the country of Siam? Its ties with the Chinese are far closer than those of all Chinese in later generations.

It also exceeded the Thai people's own imagination.

As early as the end of the 13th century, Zhou Daguan, a geographer of the Yuan Dynasty and author of the book "Records of the Customs of Zhenla", once went on a diplomatic mission to Zhenla.

He wrote in his records that "In Zhenla, rice is easy to obtain, women are easy to find, houses are easy to build, utensils are easy to obtain, and business is easy to do."

Therefore, when he was on a diplomatic mission to Zhenla, many Tang people had already settled there and engaged in trade.

These Tang people also told him that their ancestors had settled here hundreds of years ago.

Zhou Daguan specifically recorded that many Tang people settled in Zhenla, which was actually not Cambodia in later generations, nor the Mekong River estuary in Jiading, but the land around the Chao Phraya River estuary in the Gulf of Thailand.

At this time, the Sukhothai Kingdom was still entrenched in northern Thailand around Chiang Mai and Sukhothai City. They had just broken away from the control of the Khmer Empire, and their territory had not yet extended to the Gulf of Thailand at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River.

In other words, except for the indigenous people who originally surrendered to the Khmer Empire, the Chinese actually arrived in the Chao Phraya Plain earlier than the Thais.

In fact, Zhou Daguan didn’t know it at that time, or even if he knew it, he didn’t have the heart to say it out loud.

The Chinese he saw here, except for a small number of Han people who moved south dozens or hundreds of years ago, the vast majority of them were those who fled to the Gulf of Siam before and after the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty.

They are the earliest Mingxiang people in Nanyang, that’s not right, they should be called Hanxiang people.

Even the Sukhothai Kingdom that later entered the Chao Phraya River Plain and the subsequent Ayutthaya Dynasty were essentially formed by the southward migration of various ethnic groups, mainly the Dai people, from Yunnan.

To be a little arrogant, the country of Thailand, no matter which side, from the perspective of the Han people or the Dai people, is a country established by the Chinese who drifted to Southeast Asia.

Precisely because of such origins and ties, Siam was the country with the closest ties between Southeast Asia and China before the late Qing Dynasty.

During the reign of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He sailed to the West, and his confidants Fei Xin, Ma Huan and others went on diplomatic missions to Siam many times, and the King of Ayutthaya also treated them with respect.

Fei Xin wrote in his records, "When Siamese women meet Chinese men and fall in love with them, they will treat them with wine and respect, sing and sing, and stay overnight."

Ma Huan's account was even more explicit: in this situation, "her husband remained calm, not surprised but proud, saying: 'My wife is beautiful, and the Chinese love her.'"

Later, European explorers who arrived in Siam also wrote accounts with jealousy.

'The King has entrusted all maritime and commercial affairs, both in Siam and overseas, to Chinese managers.

They are often easily granted official positions and titles, and are freer to act, as if the Chinese are super citizens.

By the middle of the Ayutthaya dynasty, the laws promulgated by the dynasty simply stipulated that Westerners and Indians were not allowed to marry Siamese women.

The Chinese were not subject to this restriction. Not only could they marry Siamese women freely, they could also travel freely and do business in Siam.

You should know that at that time Siam was practicing the Sakdina system, a slavery system. The vast majority of the people in the country were slaves, and only a small number of Thais became Pan, that is, free people.

Slaves were tightly bound to the land, and many lived under strict restrictions from birth to death.

As for the Chinese, regardless of gender, age or status, as long as they arrive in Siam, they will automatically become Pan.

Because of slavery, local men were in a very low position in the marriage market. After the arrival of the Chinese, they were often able to get married quickly and gain a foothold.

In return, the Chinese managed the finances of the Ayutthaya Dynasty, governed the local area, developed the swamps on both sides of the Chao Phraya River into fertile fields, and served as diplomats to their motherland to obtain numerous benefits for Siam.

Among the more than twenty Siamese envoys recorded in the Ming Dynasty, it is said that more than 70% were Chinese officials or had Chinese ancestry.

So much so that during the more than 400-year history of the Ayutthaya Dynasty, except for very few periods of time, the Chinese were the most reliable subjects and allies of the royal family for most of the time.

During these four hundred years, there were many royal conflicts and Thai ethnic rebellions in the Ayutthaya Dynasty, but there were basically no such incidents among the Chinese.

After the Ming Dynasty defeated the Toungoo Dynasty and indirectly helped the Ayutthaya Dynasty to restore its country, this connection became even closer.

Later generations said that more than 50% of the people in Bangkok, Thailand have Chinese ancestry. This is actually an understatement. More than 90% of the people in Bangkok are basically mixed with Chinese.

The only difference is whether it is more or less, and paternal or maternal.

As for why this closeness was not passed on to later generations, it was due to China's decline after 1840, especially in the late Qing Dynasty.

Who would be willing to acknowledge a shabby country like yours, a semi-slave, semi-colonial society, as their ancestor? Not only does it bring no benefits, it's also shameful.

Even later, Siam, in an effort to dispel the Chinese stigma, launched Pan-Thaiism and made territorial claims over Yunnan and other parts of my country. Whether this was a bad thing or not is beyond the pale; you'll know by looking at who pushed for it.

Its promoter was the great dictator who actually controlled Thailand from 1934 to 1957, Field Marshal Phibunsongkhram. Because he had the title of Luang, he was also called Luang Phibunsongkhram.

This person's ancestors are of the same clan as Luang Siwarakhan, who is currently with Taksin, and are from Chaozhou.

Even his father has a Chinese name, but he only knows his surname as Wu and does not have a Chinese name. This is a standard paternal Nazhen.

At the same time, Priti Panomrong, his lifelong enemy who opposed Pan-Thaiism and military dictatorship and served as Prime Minister of Thailand three times, was also a Teochew, with the Chinese name Chen Jiale.

After the failure in 1949, he returned to his hometown and lived there for 1970 years until he went to Paris, France in .

Looking at the history of Thailand, since the position of Prime Minister came into being, there have always been Chinese among every Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister or Prime Minister. Among them, there are 21 Prime Ministers who are documented to be Chinese.

This is still the paternal Nazhen, the maternal Nazhen is not counted at all.

It was precisely because of these circumstances that Taksin, a descendant of Chinese, was able to ascend the throne of Siam in the future.

It is precisely because of this existence that the Chinese in Siam disappeared so completely in later generations, because they had been integrating with the Thais in this way for hundreds of years.

Historically, if China could maintain the strength of Tsarist Russia, Thailand would never have escaped its control, and Chinese might even have become the official language. What a pity.

And Mo Zibu seems to be the one who will change the course of history.

Facing the rising sun, he led his fleet eastward, heading straight for Rayong.

On land, Zheng Xin personally led 7,000 people, including Mo Zi Bu's army, and headed towards Rayong City with flags flying all the way.

Seeing a team of such size, Phraya of Rayong City immediately became timid.

In history, Taksin was unable to make a strong impact due to the lack of support from Mo Zi Bu, so Taksin's support only came after he had taken Chanthaburi with great difficulty.

So in history, when Taksin arrived at Rayong City, there were only more than 3,000 people. What greeted him was not the kneeling begging for mercy by the lord of Rayong City, Phraya Rayong, but a conspiracy to eliminate him.

Fortunately, the Chinese in the city discovered the conspiracy and risked their lives to inform Taksin, so Taksin was able to take the initiative to kill Phraya Rayong, successfully enter the city and raise the flag.

Mo Zi Bu once again led his fleet to land by water, with not only his fleet but also Zheng Xin's fleet behind him, a total of more than 30 warships.

Before passing through the Rayong fortress, even though Phraya Rayong had surrendered, Mo Zi Bu still sent the Marines ashore to disarm all the defenders of the coastal artillery positions and beat the officer who ordered the bombardment of him that day to death with sticks.

Taksin knew that Mok Tsit Buk had been bombarded by Phraya Rayong last time, and understood that he still had some resentment.

So he immediately pulled him into the palace in Phraya Rayong, and soon, three beautiful girls in Thai long skirts came in.

Taksin pointed at the three and said with a smile, "These are Phraya Rayong's daughters, none of whom are promised to anyone. If Zi Bu likes her, he can pick one of them to sweep the bed and warm it. Just spare Phraya Rayong's sins."

When Mo Zibu took a look, he was shocked. The three beauties were all the type that bore great fruit on slender branches. Their waists were so slender that they could be held in one hand, and their breasts were swaying like waves.

I’m so greedy!

Mo Zibu felt his heart wavering and couldn't help but want to choose one or two, but he still remembered his original goal in his heart and immediately shook his head with great perseverance.

"How can I return home until the Xiongnu are defeated? Now the Burmese army is pressing in, and the people are suffering. It is really inappropriate to indulge in such pleasure-seeking activities. I will wait until we recover our country, and then I will ask my uncle to give me more beauties and precious jades."

"Hahaha!" Zheng Xin laughed and waved his hand to let the three little beauties go down with their waists and hips swaying.

"Zi Bu is indeed my kindred spirit. I will then distribute these women to others, and we, uncle and nephew, will work together to figure out how to capture Chanthaburi."

Mo Zibu could only nod heavily, but Zheng Xin seemed to suddenly remember something and said to Mo Zibu:

"Send someone to bring Ah Hui over. My wife and children will be here soon. Ah Hui once helped take care of Shi Shi at my house. We have a very good relationship. With Shi Shi around, Ah Hui will be in a much better mood."

Mo Zibu was cheered up, the protagonist was finally about to appear!

Now we just have to wait and see how to turn the matter around into an agreement between father-in-law and son-in-law.

As long as Taksin agreed to the marriage, then even if he didn't have a large harem, he could at least end this ascetic life.

(End of this chapter)