The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 204 My father is taken care of, and there is also my maternal father

Siam, Long Live Buddha.

This city, which has just been renamed Chonburi, is full of flowers. The royal white elephant that came from Thonburi is leisurely eating fruit under the service of servants.

Teams of royal guards patrolled the streets, wearing battle skirts with a strong Siamese style and iron hats with Nanyang characteristics that were derived from the Ming Dynasty flying saucer helmets.

Of course, the most eye-catching thing is a team of warriors wearing red battle jackets, vermilion lacquered helmets with the word "勇" on them, and holding flintlock rifles.

They looked very nervous and stood straight outside the Wansui Buddhist Temple in the city.

On a seaside platform of the Buddhist temple, Zheng Xin and Mo Zibu sat opposite each other, and Mo Zibu was skillfully making and boiling tea.

And at the bottom of the platform, standing on the left were Mo Zibu's guards, led by Pei Shixuan.

Including Pei Changwu, Wang Wuchu, Chen Guangzu, Li Quan, Liang Wenying, Yuan Kaidao and others, all of them are fierce men who can fight ten people at the same time on the battlefield.

Zheng Xin's side was not far behind, with Pai Jingyin, Phraya Pilat, Chu Zhi, Nai Wen, and several Zheng family members with excellent martial arts skills.

Zheng Xin looked at the people below the stage and suddenly felt a little bitter in his heart. He looked at the sea with a desolate look.

This sight made him feel even worse.

The sails of ships were faintly visible on the sea; it was Mo Zibu's fleet cruising near the coast.

At this time, Mo Zibu's navy was still very strong. The pirates of Li Xianwen's army were good at fighting. He also had three large European armed merchant ships and a regular fifth-level sailing cruiser.

They could not defeat the Dutch in Batavia, but they could still defeat Siam, which was in a state of disrepair, and Burma, which had almost no navy.

"Zi Bu, since when has it become necessary for us, the father-in-law and son-in-law, to meet like this?" Zheng Xin felt very uncomfortable.

Mo Zibu also sighed softly and stopped what he was doing.

"Father, I don't believe that Tong, Chen Sen, and Lin Wu have never persuaded you to kill me.

Similarly, some of my subordinates also felt that I should at least incorporate the Andai region into Ha Tien. If I didn't come with a fleet, they wouldn't let me land at all."

Zheng Xin was so angry that his eyes rolled back and he slammed his fist on the coffee table, "But I didn't agree, because I, Zheng Guoying, am not someone who kills meritorious officials, not to mention that you are my son-in-law.

You have made great contributions to the establishment of Siam and the Thonburi Dynasty. As long as I don't agree, no one can do anything to you!"

Mo Zibu nodded and said, "Of course I know how my father-in-law treats me, but I also know that human nature is unpredictable.

It's not your heart or mine that's hard to fathom, it's the hearts of those below you that are hard to fathom."

As he spoke, Mo Zibu pointed at the soldiers below, whose eyes were full of gunpowder.

"Their wealth and prosperity, and even that of their descendants, all depend on us, the father-in-law and the son-in-law. Such huge benefits are enough for anyone to do anything crazy."

Mo Zibu glanced at Zheng Xin and said, "Father, you should pay more attention to this in the future."

What he said was a little obscure, so Zheng Xin naturally didn't understand.

The King of Siam was in turmoil. He still couldn't accept that Mo Zibu had suddenly changed from his most important right-hand man to what he is now.

Compared with Zheng Xin, Mo Zibu, who is cold, sober and able to suppress his emotions with reason, is more like a king who can do great things and a political machine.

Zheng Xin, like Mo Zibu, rose to prominence unexpectedly, and then, through various coincidences, he quickly, even easily, acquired something that most people would never have in their lifetime.

In this rapid process, Zheng Xin's psychological development never kept up with the power and status he gained, which led to his inability to separate personal feelings from national interests at critical moments.

Historically, a large number of Teochew people poured into Siam, and he failed to handle it well, which led to the split between the Najin Group and him.

At the critical moment, he chose to be soft-hearted. He clearly had the upper hand, but he took the risk of promising to become a monk, hoping to persuade the other party to resolve the conflict, instead of immediately eliminating the rebels. As a result, he was held hostage by the ambitious man.

These are the concentrated manifestations of Zheng Xin’s biggest weaknesses.

He is a good man, a good leader, a good elder, and a hero. If he was born in a stable period of the Central Plains dynasty, he might have become a good emperor like Emperor Ming of Han or Emperor Renzong of Song.

But fate chose him to live in Siam in the 18th century, a country with extremely complicated circumstances.

If this kind of person with a very strong emotional side were an ordinary person, at best he would be just a somewhat pretentious intellectual, or an artist who likes to act.

But for kings, it can sometimes be very fatal, greatly reducing the tolerance for errors in governance.

This kind of personality can easily go to extremes in another direction after suffering setbacks in one aspect.

As expected, Zheng Xin felt that his thoughts were very confused, and suddenly he looked into the distance with a sense of indignation, and then said:

"Zi Bu supported me so much in the past. Did he have in mind this day?"

Zheng Xin was referring to splitting off the An Dai region.

Mo Zibu could only smile bitterly. He had indeed thought of it, but it was not because of anything else, but because he had opened his third eye.

"Father, who can predict the future? Zibu followed you because he wanted to build a Taiping Heavenly Kingdom for us Tang people stranded in Southeast Asia.

I originally thought that if I could become a Phiya, marry Shishi, and pass on my wealth to my descendants, my life would be complete.

But today, I have conquered Lower Burma, killed the White Elephant King, and tens of thousands of elite soldiers have followed me through mountains of swords and seas of fire across thousands of miles.

If I only become a Phraya, what about them? What should they do? Should they make such great contributions only to become a small Kun or even a Wan in the end?
It's not that Zibu must become an emperor, but I have to become an emperor so that the people below can become dukes, marquises, generals and ministers."

Throughout history, there has probably never been another father-in-law and son-in-law like Zheng Xin and Mo Zibu, who, under such circumstances, could explain things so simply and straightforwardly.

Hearing what Mo Zibu said, Zheng Xin's attitude softened. He thought for a long time and suddenly said:
"If so, I can appoint you as Viceroy. I will allow you to establish a government in Andai, grant you titles and official positions, and you will also rule over the regions of Tanasarin and Pegu.

Zibu, we, the father-in-law and son-in-law, will work together to take over the Burmese territory and build a great empire. In the future, your descendants and Shishi's descendants will all be vice-kings of the dynasty."

Mo Zibu was still a little touched. As a king, Zheng Xin had already offered all the prices he could.

Although it is a bit naive, it is indeed true love.

If Mo Zibu wasn't a time traveler, he would have accepted this proposal. But unfortunately, Mo Zibu knew very well that this was the last chance for the Chinese in Southeast Asia.

Because, after the Napoleonic Wars were over in Europe.

In terms of productivity, the Industrial Revolution arrived with Watt's improvement of the steam engine in 1785, Fulton's manufacture of the steam ship in 1807, and Stephenson's invention of the steam locomotive in 1814.

At that time, Europeans had a stronger motivation to develop colonial markets and had more terrifying coal and iron production capabilities. The European situation was temporarily stable, and they could free up their hands.

By then, not only will the Chinese in Southeast Asia be doomed, but even the Qing government will fall completely behind the world, and the entire East will be beaten as well.

"My son, I thank you for your kindness, father, but Myanmar is too far away, too far from my homeland, and it is difficult to satisfy my soldiers.

Moreover, my maternal grandparents live in Jiading and are constantly being bullied by the Ruan family. The people of Mingxiang in Hoi-an also saved my life, and I am looking forward to their return.

Zibu cannot go to Burma. I swear to go north, protect my relatives, capture and kill Zhang Fuluan, and wash away the shame on my body with the blood of the entire Zhang family."

Zheng Xin was stunned by what he said. He suddenly remembered that Mo Zibu was still carrying an injustice and there was still a big green hat on his head that had not been completely cleared.

Well, Zhang Fuyue and Nguyen Thi Yuan were killed, but Zhang Fuyue’s father Zhang Fuluan is still alive.

According to Mo Zibu's temper, he would definitely have to kill this man to end the matter. Moreover, if he didn't kill Zhang Fuluan, Mo Zibu wouldn't even be able to get ashore and would be a wanted criminal in Guangnan for the rest of his life.

It's also my fault that King Mo developed too quickly, so that people often overlooked his bitter and resentful "background".

However, Zheng Xin glanced at Mo Zibu and thought that since his son-in-law spoke frankly, he, as his father-in-law, did not need to hide anything.

“The Andai region has been a Siamese territory since ancient times. It’s fine for you to govern it under Chao Phraya, but it’s definitely not okay for you to govern it under Ha Tien.

Just like the soldiers under your command do not want you to be just a Chao Phraya. The people of Siam cannot tolerate the loss of the Andai region.

"I know." Mo Zibu nodded and handed a cup of tea to Zheng Xin, "So, I'll need my father-in-law to worry about me.

Siam felt that it could not lose the Andai region simply because its space for expansion was blocked.

Because to the north of Siam, apart from the Three Kingdoms in the South, there is the Qing Dynasty. The former is poor and useless, while the latter is the overlord.

As for the Khmer to the east, even without mentioning my Mo family, the Khmer do not like being ruled by Siam and are difficult to tame. So we can only go south. If we lose Andai, there will be no room for expansion."

This analysis was correct, and Zheng Xin nodded in agreement, because the Andai region had been under tributary rule for hundreds of years.

Siam insisted on taking this place, but in fact it was still thinking of expanding in the direction of Johor and Malacca. It didn't have to take it quickly, but it must have the possibility of expansion.

"But things are different now." Mo Zibu used a tea bowl to lay out a map of the situation, "Now, including the great Danasarin in Mawlamyine, Pegu, and Yangon are all under our control.

If my father-in-law is willing, I can give up all the areas except Myeik and Toungoo, and you can also appoint the position of the General who Suppresses Myanmar.

I can also give up the eleven tax-farming vassals in Pyin Oo City, headed by Balamindin, and all their interests, allowing my father-in-law to expand the territory, settle the people from the mainland, and establish land close to Siam."

Zheng Xin suddenly stood up and looked at Mo Zibu intently, feeling that he really couldn't see through this son-in-law.

Mawlamyine, Bago and Yangon are located in the delta where the Irrawaddy and Salween rivers meet the sea. They have fertile land and convenient irrigation. They have always been a prosperous place that is not inferior to the Chao Phraya River (Chao Phraya River) estuary plain.

Anyone who controls such a place would not be willing to give it up. The previous grant given by Mo Zibu to General Su Ji and others could be seen as a temporary measure when they could not control it.

Now that I’ve given it to him so generously, will he be willing to give it up?

Looking at Zheng Xin's shocked expression, Mo Zibu chuckled.

Reluctant? What is there to be reluctant about?

Because this place will belong to Mo Zibu sooner or later.

Judging from the surface situation, Mo Zibu has already sealed off the good places in Lower Burma.

There are three marquises and five earls above him, and a large number of Han, Meng, and Karen vassals below him. The mechanism of the general to suppress Myanmar has also been initially established.

Even if Taksin accepted it, according to Siam's Mandala system, he could only follow the rules and regulations, and at most place three or five vassals in Lower Burma and settle some Thais there, which could not change the overall situation.

But Taksin, especially the Siamese nobles under him, could never tolerate this situation, so they would definitely stir up trouble in Lower Burma, thus causing a backlash from the locals.

It’s not that Mo Zibu looked down on them. Even if they tried for ten or twenty years, they would not be able to subdue these areas far away from the mainland of Siam. Instead, they would most likely cause major incidents.

Culturally speaking, the Burmese, Mon, Thai, and Karen peoples all migrated south from China. Except for the Mon chieftain, the others have only been around for a few hundred years, not even a thousand years.

We are all the same, and no one's culture is richer, more inclusive, or more civilized than anyone else's.

Then why should the Burmese, Mon, Karen and other ethnic groups support you Thais as their boss?

To put it bluntly, Siam's heritage and Thai culture make it impossible to assimilate these ethnic groups.

Only Chinese civilization, with its advantages in productivity and the power of the times, can bring benefits.

Only then can we melt and unite these ethnic groups and bring them into the system of the great Chinese nation or the great Eastern nation. No one else can do it.

Let them do it first, and after they are covered in dirt, Mo Zibu will have to clean it up in the end.

What's more, Mo Zibu didn't want to completely cut off ties with Siam. How could he influence the Thais in the future?

Now Myanmar is an excuse for Mo Zibu to interfere in the future affairs of Siam.

Only when there is a conflict can you mediate and intervene.

Of course, Mo Zibu looked at Zheng Xin with some longing. Without adding something, it would be impossible for the Andai region to be directly exchanged for Myanmar.

Zheng Xin naturally understood, but the shock Mo Zibu gave him today was too great, and he was unable to respond for a while, so he needed to go back and discuss it.

But then he thought of a problem, "Shishi is fifteen years old this year, your marriage can't be delayed any longer."

(End of this chapter)