You have truly caused me great suffering!

The ruler of Champa was not even a puppet.

The reason no one has bothered with him all these years is simply because it was unnecessary.

His actual territory was a city called Buddhabhadra.

This city of Bhagavad was conquered by King Ly Thai Tong ninety years ago, shortly after the establishment of the Ly Dynasty.

It was later conquered by Li Qiande.

Even earlier, it was conquered by the Le Dynasty of Jiaozhi.

In the south, local powerful clans held military power and refused to pay tribute; in the north, they were infiltrated by powerful clans from Jiaozhi, who were in fact a group of compradors.

The king's request for annexation was his last resort, and at this point in history, he asked the Southern Song Dynasty for help.

King Jayaindravarman II sent envoys to the Southern Song Dynasty to seek help in resisting Jiaozhi, but the Southern Song Dynasty was preoccupied with dealing with the Jin army and only granted him the honorary title of "General Huaiyuan" without providing any substantial support.

The only fortunate thing is that King Suryavarman II of Khmer had no intention of expansion, was focused on building Angkor Wat and conquering Champa in the west, and had no time to look eastward.

Otherwise, his country would have been destroyed long ago.

Chen Shao ordered that Wu Lin, the Duke of Wei who was stationed in Annam, be in charge of the affairs of Champa's submission and to protect the king and royal family as they traveled north to the Central Plains.

Seven days after the imperial edict was issued, it reached Wu Lin's hands, and ten days later, the sea surface in the harbor was filled with large fleets of ships.

From a distance, it looks like a town rising from the ground.

The warships, densely packed with Annamese soldiers, were all excited about their upcoming expedition.

After Annam was brought under the control of the Da Jing army, the Annamite soldiers quickly inherited the Jing army's boundless desire for military merit.

Because they discovered that after surrendering to the Great Jing, military merits could actually be redeemed.

It has been proven that as long as military capabilities are fulfilled, the combat effectiveness of any army will increase exponentially.

When the Annamese army conquered Java and Srivijaya, they were similar to the Tang Dynasty army, bringing their own food and weapons to fight, and relying entirely on looting to maintain morale.

Now that logistics are handled by the An'nan Road government, as long as they conquer cities and territories, what they seize is still their own, which motivates them even more.

As for the elite troops stationed in Annam, they did not participate in the battle; the hot and humid climate there was not suitable for them.

The terrain was rugged with mountains and trenches, which didn't suit the Jing army's all-cavalry composition; only the artillery battalion participated.

The news of Champa's surrender was like a bombshell in this small town.

For the kingdoms of the Southern Wilderness, the terrifying aspect of this matter was not what happened to Champa, but that the tentacles of the Great Jing had reached even closer to their doorstep.

Zhenla was already afraid, and now it's all over; they're about to become a neighboring country.

As Da Jing's influence expands into the South China Sea, Srivijaya, a region relying on shipping trade for its livelihood, is on high alert.

In particular, the soldiers they sent were the most hated and despised Annamite soldiers. These Annamite soldiers killed wherever they went, and their image in the Southern Wilderness was already that of tyrants. After joining the Great Jing, they became even more of a tyrant.

At this moment, the people most afraid were not them, but the local powerful families of Champa, who were the masters of this land.

Now, an even more powerful force has emerged, and they are undoubtedly the ones who suffer the greatest losses.

What's even more terrifying is that the people who came were the notorious Annamese soldiers.
-
The transition from summer to autumn in Hangzhou is a beautiful time of year, with lush vegetation and vibrant life, but signs of decay are already emerging.

Sitting beside the sloping corridor of the palace, with only a few trees, birds lingered, chirping and chattering among the branches and leaves.

Chen Shao, standing there, listened to the birdsong and had the illusion that he was in a secluded and quiet place.

Although this place is not in a bustling area, it is still located in the center of Hangzhou and is densely populated.

Soon, someone came to report on the military situation in Champa, which was nothing more than Wu Lin's arrangements.

Chen Shao didn't care much about these things. Champa was important, but it was practically meat on a chopping board.

It was destined to be annexed by Jiaozhi (Vietnam) in the first place.

Having conquered Jiaozhi, the submission of Champa was only a matter of time.

What Chen Shao was really looking forward to was Dali. If Dali could be incorporated into the Grand Scenic Area, the situation would be very different.

Chen Shao was determined to take over the Indochina Peninsula. If he could conquer the entire peninsula, his achievements would far surpass those of Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Taizu of Song.

The difficulty of this matter is not the short-term conquest, but the long-term assimilation of the barbarians into the Han Chinese.

Chen Shao originally thought that as long as he laid out a strategy and waited patiently, he would be fine. However, he gradually discovered that he was not as patient as he had imagined.

For example, right now, he's getting impatient.

Listening to the birdsong and surrounded by the fragrance of flowers, Chen Shao pondered earnestly how to accelerate the process.

He even had a faint urge to resort to force.

My iron cavalry is invincible!

After thinking it over, Chen Shao sighed.

Relying on force may seem like pressing the accelerator button, but it could actually have negative consequences.

Chen Shao stood up and said to Li Wanshu, who was standing beside him holding a wine pot, "People sometimes know what is right and what is wrong, but they still want to make mistakes."

Li Wanshu was puzzled and could only nod awkwardly.

Chen Shao pinched her cheek and found this palace maid from a scholarly family to be quite adorable.

These ladies, raised in scholarly families, may not be strikingly beautiful at first glance, nor do they possess any seductive charms, but they are very pleasing to the eye and well-suited for long-term companionship.

Some people may seem very pleasing at first glance, and you may know how to please them in a subtle way, but over time they will start causing trouble, so you should not spoil them, otherwise they will become even more difficult.

Li Wanshu was by his side every day, but she showed no interest in even learning about national affairs. This was a sign of her being well-behaved.

Unlike Wu Zetian, who would eavesdrop on the emperor and his ministers' discussions from behind a curtain, and would even jump out to curse them when they were upset.

Ultimately, Chen Shao, with great self-control, suppressed his impulse to send troops south and completely unify the entire Indochina Peninsula.

Just as he was about to go to the inner quarters for a meal, Chen Chong ran over and said that Kim Bu-seok, a minister of Goryeo, was requesting an audience.

Chen Shao knew perfectly well what his purpose was. After a moment's thought, he nodded and said, "Let him wait in the hall. I will be there shortly."

At this point, more than half a month had passed since they arrived in Hangzhou to help Wang Kai relax.

Wang Kai put on a real show for the Goryeo officials, making them forget their homeland.

When he was in Nanjing, he was somewhat wary because he was in the imperial city.

Arriving in Hangzhou was a complete escape from the crowds. I spent my days lingering amidst the beautiful scenery, engaging in refined conversations with cultured individuals, admiring the authentic works of famous calligraphers, and indulging in poetry, literature, and music.

When Chen Shao arrived at the flower hall, Jin Fushi looked worried and troubled.

Upon seeing Chen Shao, he hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Chen Shao nodded and sat down in the chair. "What brings Doctor Jin to see me?"

"Your Majesty, my king has been in Dajing for more than half a month. I have come to inquire after Your Majesty's well wishes upon hearing of the disaster in Qinzhou. Now that I have been away from the country for so long, I am deeply afraid that chaos may break out in Goryeo, and I wish to advise Your Majesty to return north."

"Unfortunately, His Majesty is reluctant to leave Your Majesty and the Great Jing. We beseech Your Majesty to consider the importance of national affairs and persuade His Majesty to return to Kaijing. We, your humble servants, will be deeply grateful." Chen Shao sneered inwardly, thinking, "You aristocratic families don't respect His Majesty at all."

Otherwise, who would dare to resort to such methods!
Don't you guys like fighting amongst yourselves?

Just wait, wait for my humble scholars to return home, then you'll have someone to compete with.

With so many years of rigid social stratification in Korea, the anger and resentment pent up at the bottom are probably no less than those in Japan.

Both countries share a common trait: they are extremely adept at keeping their people ignorant.

Few ordinary people spontaneously rebelled.

Although he despised their behavior, Chen Shao did feel that Wang Kai could no longer stay in Dajing.

Those who know you say you stayed voluntarily, enjoying the scenery and not having had enough fun.

Anyone who didn't know better would think I had detained you.

This is why the Great Jing has stationed troops here; otherwise, with the king not returning for so long, chaos would have long since broken out in the country.

With the Jing army stationed there to deter them, and the king already in Jing, any rebellion would likely provoke an attack from the Jing army.

Nobody dares to take that risk now.

In fact, the Goryeo clans are quite flexible. After their initial fierce opposition failed, they are now trying to coexist peacefully with the Daegee garrison.

They even gradually accepted the fact that the Great Jing army was stationed there, and at gatherings, they often said that the Great Jing army was sent by the Great Jing to protect them and guard their homes.

Looking at the silent Chen Shao, Kim Boo-seok had no other options left. Only this man could change the king's mind.

He was a man who valued his reputation highly and would never want to be known as someone who had forced his lord to stay away from the country.

Chen Shao finally spoke, "I am not unaware of what you have done in the country."

Kim Boo-seok was so ashamed that he lowered his head and dared not speak.

Chen Shao continued, “What you have done is contrary to benevolence, violates propriety, and harms the relationship between ruler and subject! I originally intended to punish you, but considering that Goryeo has its own national circumstances, I will refrain from further discussion.”

"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Today, I will help you persuade Minister Wang to return to Goryeo. From now on, you must serve the king well, uphold the duties of a subject, and never again engage in such presumptuous acts. Otherwise, I will not forgive you!"

Kim Bu-sik prostrated himself and said, "Your Majesty, I humbly obey your decree. Thank you for your mercy!"

"Get up!"
-
In the southern part of Champa, there is a city surrounded by walls; this city is called 'Bin Tong Long City'.

The city was jointly ruled by local Ponagar priests and military chiefs, forming a "theocratic-military" joint rule. The city lords appointed by the royal family were merely symbolic and were essentially rotating county magistrates.

Only Hindu priests and local chiefs are the unwavering Lord Huang.

Now that they are surrounded, they are pushing the 'county magistrate' to seek peace and negotiate.

The city lord of Bin Tonglong, whose name was Wu Yata, came to the Annamese army's camp with the intention of visiting a grave.

The Champa people feared the Annamese the most.

Annam considers itself "Little China in the South," regards Confucianism as the orthodox doctrine, and views Champa as barbarians.

I think these Hindu barbarians are so backward that they can hardly be called human.

So they really didn't treat the Champa people as human beings, and would come and beat them up every now and then.

This time, they arrived pushing a gleaming golden bronze cannon.

You should know that bronze only turns green when it gets rusted; the bronze artifacts we see today were originally golden.

The Annamese themselves have experienced the power of these cannons. Adhering to the principle of simple hospitality, they believe that if they have tasted something that you haven't, they should let you taste it too.

So they didn't even want to negotiate; they just wanted the artillery battalion to open fire so they could rush in, civilize the barbarians, and maybe grab some stuff to take back and exchange for money.

Unfortunately, the Grand Jing military supervisor accompanying the army disagreed and insisted on negotiating first, because this time it was their Champa king who took the initiative to submit, and he had the moral high ground, so there was no way he could take the initiative.

They would definitely first label them as disobeying the king's orders and accuse them of treason before they could take action.

This move would certainly be met with no opposition in the Central Plains, but in the eyes of the Annamese, it was completely unnecessary.

Why don't you just take him down directly? That's what we've always done.

This also shows that 'Little China in the South' is not the real China after all.

When Wu Yata arrived at the Annam camp, he saw squads of Annam soldiers standing on both sides, holding swords and watching him walk in with cold smiles.

He hadn't walked more than a few steps when he started trembling. In his mind, he had already cursed High Priest Bologna and Yang Luo and the others.

Inside the camp, Li Puhe, the military commander of Haiyun Pass in An'nan Road, was discussing matters with Li Shiyan, the military commander of Lingwu Army, who had been sent by Wu Lin to supervise the army.

Upon seeing Wu Yata enter, Li Puhe immediately jumped up and began cursing in fluent Champa language.

Li Shiyan stood to the side, completely bewildered, not understanding a single word, but she could tell that the insults were very harsh.
Wu Yata's face turned ashen, and he dared not raise his head. Li Puhe, caught up in the urge to curse, grabbed a stone from the table that was used to weigh down a map and threw it.

Li Shiyan quickly stopped him.

"What did he say that made you so angry?"

Li Puhe said, "Commander Li, this kid is not honest. He's been in here for so long without saying a word. He's clearly not convinced."

Li Shiyan was speechless. Why don't you give him a chance to speak?

"Ask him why he defied the king's orders, and whether he intended to rebel!"

Li Puhe coughed lightly, turned around, and immediately his expression changed. He shouted in Champa language, "Speak! Who told you to rebel!"

"I'm innocent!" Wu Yata said desperately, "I am the city lord appointed by the king. How dare I disobey the king's orders? It was they who resisted the heavenly army!"

"I don't think you're any better!" Li Puhe glanced at Li Shiyan, and seeing that he really didn't understand, he felt even more at ease. "If you ask me, I'd rather just blast you barbarians into the sky and turn you into mincemeat than satisfy my hatred!"

"A bunch of molted beasts, clawless monsters, creatures devoid of humanity, their very existence is a sin!"

Uyatta hurriedly begged for mercy. He knew all too well these Annamese; if they were allowed to storm into the city, the people would suffer no better than being minced meat.

What is he saying?

Hearing their heated exchange, Li Shiyan quickly asked.

Li Puhe laughed and said, "Reporting to the commander, this kid is not honest. He actually dared to say that their king was forced to submit and did not want to surrender."

"Really?" Li Shiyan frowned and said, "Judging from his appearance, he doesn't seem like someone with that much guts. You're not lying to me, are you?"

"I wouldn't dare!" Li Puhe said, sweat beading on his forehead, a little frightened.

The Champa people feared them as much as the Annamese army feared them. No matter how brutal the Annamese were, or how ruthless their foreign wars had been in recent years, they seemed like bodhisattvas compared to the Red River massacre.

The Ly Dynasty of Dai Viet, with its fists and feet, invaded countless places over a hundred years, killing perhaps as many people as the Jing army did in the few months of the Red River Massacre.

Li Shiyan thought to himself that since he didn't understand their language, as long as he settled on a legitimate reason, he didn't care about anything else.

In his opinion, Bin Tonglong's city defenses were inferior to those of a small county town in the Central Plains, and using artillery would be a waste.

However, firing can have a strong deterrent effect, making subsequent combat much easier. (End of Chapter)