Southern Ming, my destiny is too abstract

Chapter 2 Gentleman’s Agreement
Mang Bai looked directly into Zhu Cixuan's eyes, which were clear and pure, like those of the novice monks who had been studying palm-leaf scriptures in the Buddhist temple and were ignorant of worldly affairs.

Both sides understood this, and the war broke out and became a melee.

Sixty miles to the north, most of the Han troops were fighting against Mangbai's 50,000-strong army on both sides of the Jinsha River.

Li Dingguo and Bai Wenxuan led a small group of elite troops to roam around, looking for a gap in the defense of the Hongsha army, hoping to attack the city of Ava to rescue the king.

In the southwest, the Marquis of Bimyu led his troops to guard the important roads from Shizhi and Pagan counties to Ava, the capital of Hongsha State, and Li Dingguo had already captured the Marquis of Pagan.

Earlier, another army led by Binxi Hou attacked Chiang Mai, which was occupied by the Han people, but was defeated in one battle. The remnants of the defeated army were now reorganizing near the city of Ava.

Apart from the army of Lower Hongsawadi Pegu County guarding against the Arakan Kingdom, at present only his Toungoo Prince Mangbai has troops that can be withdrawn.

Only he could stage a coup and seize the throne.

Mang Bai pondered for a moment and then said, "Prince Ming, please wait outside. I will give you an answer before the afternoon bell rings."

"I await the prince's reply."

After saying that, Zhu Cixuan got up and went out.

Mang Bai stood up and walked to the window, watching the Crown Prince of Ming admiring the golden-domed pagoda with great interest.

The temple where the two men had their secret meeting was just ten miles outside the city of Ava, and only six miles away from where the Ming emperor and his ministers were imprisoned.

At this time, the hot summer has passed, the heat has gradually dissipated, and the breeze blows the golden and silver bells on the pagoda, making them ethereal and crisp.

After a while, when the weather has completely cooled down, it will be time for the large-scale army to break camp and attack.

Can the 50,000 troops in the north really stop the main force of the Ming army?
Mang Bai had the answer in his heart.

Last year, the 100,000-strong army of Hongsha Kingdom was easily defeated by Andy Wen (Bai Wenxuan)'s several thousand soldiers.

He just relied on the wooden city that he had hurriedly built over the past year to fortify the city and clear the countryside.

"Adayun, how true do you think it is?"

There was an official named Yun in Hongsha Kingdom. Ada Yun was the minister of Hongsha Kingdom who led more than a hundred soldiers to supervise the monarch and his ministers of Ming Dynasty. Because the kings did not meet, he was also responsible for all matters of communication between Ming court and the palace of Hongsha Kingdom.

The third person in the room was Mangbai's old acquaintance, Adayun, who instigated him to have a secret meeting.

Adayun, who had been waiting for a long time, finished the last bit of mixed tea in the bowl, looked up and said seriously.

"Not really."

"Last year, our king, Pingdali, didn't hand over the Ming emperor to Gong Xinwen. Wasn't it because he was afraid these Han people would occupy the land and even unite Luchuan and occupy Ava, making us all in Hongsha pay taxes to them like the Shan people did during the Ava Dynasty?"

"They levied taxes and conscripted soldiers, then plotted to reclaim Middle-earth."

Ada Yun, who had received Zhu Cixuan's gold, showed his dark teeth: "But, my brother."

"What have you got to lose by following the treacherous schemes of the Ming prince?"

"The Ming emperor was supposed to be in Luchuan. The Shan people were harmed. Last year, Pingdali sent a boat to take them to the city of Ava, and then Gong Xinwen and others led troops to rescue them."

"For the past year, the war has been incessant, and the local leaders have suffered heavy losses of their Ahmutan (military soldiers) and slaves. The Atai farmers have all fled into the mountains."

"However, the gold, silver, and food needed for war will not be reduced by the casualties of the leaders."

"Right now, Ava City hasn't been affected too much. If the war continues like this, Yunji and Yundao of Ludao (the central government) will no longer be able to stand our king."

"As the Ming crown prince said, if it succeeds, it will be a revolution that conforms to the will of heaven and the people's hearts."

Mang Bai frowned: "What if they really occupy the place and refuse to leave as Ping Dali thinks?"

Adayun was still thinking about the 100 kilograms of gold after the deal was done. According to the agreement he had made with Zhu Cixuan, he waved his hand and said:

"They haven't left yet. The Crown Prince of Ming is also trying to imitate Militipa and kill his father to seize the throne. He wants to exchange it for the Emperor of Ming and his freedom."

"We will continue to detain the Ming Emperor and wait for them to start a civil war. If that doesn't work, we can use the Ming Emperor to gain the support of the Qing court, the new masters of China."

"These Ming troops have been driven out of China. As long as the Qing government intends to send troops, they will definitely flee to Siam or even Annam."

"When you become king, it would be best if you can reorganize your troops and hold Ava. If not, you can just move the capital back to Pegu."

"At the very least, you can go from being a prince of Toungoo County to becoming the Toungoo King of Lower Hongsha."

"You can even continue to detain the Crown Prince of Ming after the deed is accomplished, and violate the agreement between the two parties."

Mang Bai spat out the betel nut bag and sighed.

He still had many worries in his mind.

Was this really the sole plot of the Ming crown prince? Would Gong Xinwen and Andiwen seize the opportunity to attack Ava? If the Ming crown prince escapes, will the Qing court in China be enraged and launch an attack?
But as Adayun said, the Han army's attacks everywhere have exhausted the people's resources and food supplies. Several counties around the capital Ava now rely on food transported from the south by water.

Although he was in the north, he had heard about the situation of the army of Bimbisara in the south.

This time, the Han army invaded, but unlike last year, they withdrew after receiving the Ming emperor's order to withdraw.

The Toungoo King Pingdali had asked the Ming emperor to issue twelve golden edicts, but the Han generals remained indifferent and attacked with all their might, as if they were determined to reach the city of Ava and force a surrender.

The Ming people have already stationed themselves in villages throughout the south, and the waterways for transporting grain may not be able to be held for long.

The food that the army obtained by defending against the enemy was becoming less and less. Mangbai had heard on the way here that 100 copper coins in Ava city could only buy six Hongshasheng of food.

His close friend Lu Daoyunji said that the nobles in the royal capital of Ava were still hoarding grain and raising prices.

Those nobles are like vultures in the sky. As long as they can eat their fill, they never care about the lives of common people.

Mangbai had already anticipated that the soldiers in Ava City would mutiniate in the near future.

Even though the Crown Prince of Ming was alone, without soldiers or food, Mangbai was still willing to come here for a secret meeting and negotiation for the promise to withdraw troops from Siam.

If they don’t retreat now, Hongsha Kingdom will not be able to hold on any longer.

Mangbai watched the crown prince of Ming, chatting cheerfully with a young novice monk beneath the pagoda, his eyes narrowed slightly. He seemed to see the Saturday of the year 1012 in the Hongsha calendar ten years ago, when the King of Toungoo gifted his younger brother Mingye Kyaw Ting with gilded bridge railings, a gold belt, a gold-painted elephant sedan, and a gold-covered betel nut box.

He was also granted the fief of Toungoo City.

"When Gong Xinwen (Li Dingguo) withdraws his troops to Siam, I will certainly abide by the agreement."

……

[Gentleman's Agreement (Han Renzong, Junior General): When two parties make an agreement, the other party will be more likely to trust your promise.]

I don't trust your mother.

Retreat, retreat your ass.

The best strategy might be to go through Siam, go to Annan and join up with Zheng Yanping on the southeast coast, and capture Yizhou and Guangdong and use it as a base.

But will Li Dingguo listen to me?
The Kingdom of Hongsha has mobilized its troops for fear that the exiled regime of Yongli Dashi will usurp the throne. Will Siam and Annan allow them to pass through for grain?

How much of the remaining 20,000 troops of Li Bai and his two vassals would be left after they marched around the Indochina Peninsula?

I have awakened the system and can endure the humiliation inflicted by Hongsha Kingdom on Ming Dynasty this year.

Zhu Cixuan spat out the betel nut, spit a few times, and clicked on the system interface that only he could see.

If the system wasn't a garbage mini-game, I would have turned into the Cao County Superman who shoots planes with guns and hits satellites with stones.

Character: Constantine Cixuan Zhu (Crown Prince of the Yongli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty - Daxi Regime)

Age: 17 (fictitious)
Government: Absolute monarchy

Religion: Catholicism, Confucianism

Treasury: -61.03k (food and fodder, each k represents one thousand taels of silver)

Manpower: 225k (each k represents one point of destiny)
Orthodoxy: -15
Territory: Mubang Tusi, Kuidong
Mandate: 0
Command: 40 Military Strength: 27 Intelligence: 65 Politics: 35
Mandate of Heaven: Gentleman's Agreement

[As the Yongli Crown Prince, you are trapped in the Hongsha Kingdom. Outside, Wu Sangui and Hong Chengchou's armies are eyeing you covetously. Inside, treacherous officials like Ma Jixiang and Li Guotai are deceiving the court.]

[Right now, loyal officials like Mu Tianbo want to rescue you and allow you to escape. Break through the barriers and seek refuge with Li Dingguo, seeking a way to survive.]

Perhaps it would be a good idea to sail to Fujian, join Zheng Yanping, and seize control of Penghu. Alternatively, he could follow Li Dingguo to Southeast Asia, accumulate grain, and proclaim himself emperor, using Annan, Siam, and Hongsha as his base while quietly awaiting the Three Feudatories Rebellion.

[There's a top-notch diplomat in the court, Chen Ande, who's been on diplomatic missions throughout Europe. Perhaps, as a Catholic, living alone in Europe as the Chinese emperor, marrying into a powerful royal family and opening up a new world would be a good option.]

[You draw the initial destiny and obtain the destiny - Gentleman's Agreement (Han Renzong).]

You vaguely remember the history of Yongli's hunting expeditions in Hongsha and the Southern Ming regime's exile abroad.

You choose to conspire with Mu Tianbo, Duke of Qian, Wang Qilong, Li Dingguo's former general, and Deng Kai, the Imperial Guard Commander, to eliminate the treacherous and evil, purge the court of the treacherous and corrupt, and break out.

You secretly colluded with loyal and righteous men and slowly plotted your plan. Used Hongsha people as envoys to inform Li Dingguo that the court has been controlled by treacherous officials and the emperor is unable to influence his decrees. Don't worry about the withdrawal edict or the emperor's safety. Plunder the counties of Hongsha, at least in exchange for a chance to break through and surrender.

[Gentleman's agreement, Li Dingguo believes in the agreement with you.]

You recall the historical materials you read in your previous life. Wu Sangui used a trick to capture and kill Yongli, promising him wealth and honor, and then supported Mangbai, the Prince of Toungoo in the Hongsha Kingdom, to kill his brother and usurp the throne.

You decided to strike first, and after learning Hongsha language, you gave gold to the guard Adayun.

[Gentleman's agreement: He believed that you could not tolerate the powerful ministers monopolizing government affairs, bullying the emperor and the crown prince, and wanted to use military force to seize the throne.]

Zhu Cixuan’s mind flashed through the collapse, resentment, struggle, and grievances he had experienced over the past few months.

If I hadn’t seen Hongshaguo’s short video before, and learned about the remnants of the National Army who fled to the northern part of Luchuan, I would have known that similar things happened in the late Ming Dynasty.

He almost thought that it was someone who pretended to be a member of the Ming royal family, hiding in the mountains and proclaiming himself emperor.

That’s the start.

There are not many last emperors in history who could fall to the level of Yongli.

Not even that.

After all, there were not many emperors who were imprisoned by vassal states and abused both physically and mentally.

I was looking forward to loading the system.

The Mingguang Plan had been completed, with one year of preparation, two years of anti-Qing resistance, three years of expulsion, and five years of success.

As a result, the system loaded, but it was just a historical simulation game similar to Life Simulator that he had played before crossing over.

Play as characters from real history or fictional history, and obtain destiny points to extract various monarch destinies.

The initial destiny drawn at the beginning of the game is still a young general who is a scum of the world.

Fortunately, we were able to win over a group of people through a gentleman's agreement, and also established trust with the remnants of the Dashi Army, such as Li Dingguo and Bai Wenxuan, who were raising troops outside to rescue them.

Zhu Cixuan's personal struggle has almost been completed.

Next, it depends on whether Mangbai, the King of Toungoo of Hongsha Kingdom, will follow the course of history?

While Zhu Cixuan was thinking, new text popped up on the interface of the Golden Finger System and Historical Simulation Game.

[Gentleman's agreement. Due to pressure from both inside and outside Hongsha, the Hongsha Kingdom's Toungoo Marquis and the Toungoo King's younger brother, Mangbai, agrees to your request and is determined to stage a coup to seize the throne.]

Zhu Cixuan turned around and saw Adayun, who had taken several hundred taels of gold from him, standing at the door of the stilt house, smiling and waving at him.

……

The Burmese chief, having received Sangui's order, decided to surrender. His brother, knowing this, said, "No! Taking advantage of someone in distress is unrighteous. Moreover, their army has arrived. They are a nation established by Heaven and supported by China. If I cannot help them but instead harm them, I am defying Heaven. Defiance is ill-conceived; it is better to spare them and leave their fate to their descendants." The Burmese chief then tied up his brother and killed him. — "Xingzai Yangqiu"

(End of this chapter)