Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 560 Songkhla Changes
The ocean-going fleet stopped in Hawaii because of the changing situation. The situation in the South Seas also changed with the changes in Han Dynasty's policies.

The news that Lan Fang was about to hold a referendum to join the Han Kingdom and become an autonomous kingdom under the name of the Han Kingdom spread to Thailand after several months of fermentation.

The status of Songkhla is not much different from that of Lan Fang. Although it is named as Thai territory, it is actually an independent kingdom. Since the garrison stationed in Songkhla Province was expelled, the Thai government has controlled all aspects such as taxation and official appointments, except for the unchanged share of tribute received each year.

The Thai government did not try to regain control of Songkhla, but several efforts all ended in failure. Seeing that Lan Fang was taken into the hands of the Han Kingdom, Songkhla's sovereignty would be completely lost.

Rama V, who was trying to revitalize the country, finally could not sit still and summoned his important ministers to discuss countermeasures.

“Your Majesty, Songkhla City Lord Wu Jin passed the city lordship to his son Wu Chong without the kingdom’s permission. I heard that after Wu Jin passed the throne, he will move to South America Han Kingdom with his family at the end of the month.

Wu Jin's move was a sign that the four states and one prefecture of Songkhla would be completely handed over to the Han Kingdom. If the kingdom remained indifferent, it would completely lose the four states and one prefecture in the south, covering more than 30,000 square kilometers of land.

Your Majesty, the kingdom has been patient and compromised for many years, and we can no longer retreat!"

Chief of Military Affairs Chao Phraya Surivong advised.

"If we lose the four states and one prefecture of Songkhla, the kingdom's land routes to Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis will be completely cut off, and the three places will become enclaves. Given the nature of the British, they will not miss the opportunity to annex the three places.

The Songkhla issue not only concerns more than 30,000 square kilometers of local land, but also affects the sovereignty of Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis and even the entire southern peninsula. Your Majesty, you should not sit idly by and watch Songkhla continue to act on its own."

"Songkhla's total population has exceeded 300 million. The neighboring provinces of Satun, Phattalun, and Trang have also been infiltrated and controlled by Songkhla. It is estimated that the number of Chinese in the entire southern peninsula (excluding Songkhla) exceeds 40, which has exceeded the number of local Malay indigenous residents.

Your Majesty, the situation in the southern peninsula has deteriorated to the current state. It is no longer a matter of the kingdom actively intensifying the conflict, but Songkhla is pressing forward and infiltrating step by step, and the kingdom has to deal with it head-on! "

A group of ministers gave their advice and it was obvious that they had reached a consensus on the Songkhla issue.

King Rama V sat at the top seat, frowning and silent.

What the ministers said makes sense. Songkhla, or the Chinese infiltration into Thailand, has reached a dangerous situation.

Since he inherited the Thai throne in 1868, excluding the four states and one province of Songkhla, Thailand's population grew from 500 million to 900 million in more than years. This was due to Rama V's promotion of reforms and domestic political stability, but the greater influx of Chinese people brought about a population explosion.

1868 was the first year of Rama V's accession to the throne. It was also the year when Li Mingyuan led the Chinese to establish themselves in South America, influencing dramatic changes in the situation of overseas Chinese.

In parallel with Thailand's reform and renovation, a large number of Chinese were guided by a unified approach and headed for South America along routes such as the Far East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific. Among them, Thailand, which was located along the immigration route and had many entanglements with the transit station Songkhla, became an alternative and buffer for insufficient ocean-going shipping capacity. More and more Chinese who did not get immigration quotas smuggled in groups of dozens or hundreds along the border of the Malay Peninsula to Trang, Phattalung, Krabi and other places. In the later period, under the instruction of the Han Kingdom, Songkhla even blatantly used the Yongxing-class light cruisers purchased from the Han Kingdom to escort shiploads of stranded Chinese immigrants to Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan in the north.

In addition to smuggling and infiltrating through sea routes using Songkhla as a base, some poor people under the rule of the Qing court also spontaneously and illegally crossed the border from the southwestern border area into Thailand.

The surge in Chinese immigrants has driven the development of Thailand's economy, especially the large number of Chinese businessmen with certain capital who came with the immigrants. These Chinese businessmen used the superior industrial products produced in China to enter the Thai market and gradually penetrated into various industries.

In 1868, when King Rama V ascended the throne, the Thai government's fiscal revenue was only a few million thai baht, but by 1890, it had grown to 2000 million thai baht, equivalent to about 1200 million Chinese yuan. In 22 years, fiscal revenue increased several times, and the most important factor was the influx of Chinese merchants and Chinese goods, which drove economic development and activity.

The presence of Chinese people and Chinese businessmen has greatly promoted Thailand's economic development. The improvement of economic development has increased fiscal revenue, and the doubled fiscal funds have been invested in railways, industry, military, education and other aspects.

It can be said that during this period, Chinese businessmen, Chinese people and Thailand complemented each other and had consistent economic interests.

With the support of relatively abundant fiscal revenue, Rama V was able to carry out institutional reforms according to his own ideas, imitating industrial countries such as Han, Britain and Germany.

In terms of politics, slavery was abolished, government agencies were reorganized, and the original central government departments were integrated into 12 first-level departments, with the heads of each department collectively referred to as the ministers of the department.

In terms of education, funds were invested to establish professional schools such as police, normal schools, and drawing schools. In terms of transportation, capital from Britain, France, and Germany was introduced to build railways and highways.

In terms of military, 10 new army divisions were formed, and the total standing strength of the army increased to 7. The total strength of the navy was more than 3000 people, with more than 10 gunboats, gunboats, and ironclad ships of various types, among which the main force was two medium-sized cruisers with a displacement of 3000 tons.

With the advancement of Thailand's reform and the increase in the number and influence of Chinese people, the conflicts between the two sides have gradually intensified.

Firstly, the surging Chinese population exceeded the upper limit of Thailand's assimilation capacity. Moreover, with the support of the Han Dynasty, the influx of Chinese and Chinese businessmen lived in clusters. Special Chinese schools and hospitals were established within the settlements. The internal affairs of the Chinese were all decided by external organizations such as the Taiping Society. It was difficult for the Thai government to find an opportunity to intervene, and it did not dare to force the assimilation policy.

Secondly, Chinese forces represented by Chinese businessmen and some pro-China people or those who are of Chinese descent have infiltrated various economic fields. They used the new machines purchased from China to invest in building factories. A large number of light industrial factories such as printing and dyeing factories, textile factories, rice mills, canning factories, flour mills, etc. sprang up, gradually occupying the main market share. The interests of groups that originally belonged to the Thai upper class or relied on the Thai upper class were damaged, and their resentment towards Chinese infiltration became deeper and deeper.

Finally, the improvement in military capabilities brought about by reform and economic development gave Thai senior officials a certain degree of confidence. They believed that the new army and navy modeled after those of various countries were capable of fighting. Therefore, they were eager to resolve or curb the infiltration of Chinese forces and take back the lost economic benefits from the Chinese.

Rama V was born in 1853, one year younger than Li Mingyuan. He always admired the achievements of his peer Li Mingyuan. Deep down in his heart, Rama V was unwilling to conflict with Li Mingyuan or the Han Kingdom. After all, the Han Kingdom had experienced several wars since its founding. The basic strength of the Han Kingdom could be inferred just from the warring countries.

Thailand and Han Dynasty were not opponents of the same level at all. Rama V also understood that in terms of military strength alone, Thailand had no chance of winning against Han Dynasty.

However, unlike Li Mingyuan, Rama V, who ascended the throne as a teenager relying on blood inheritance, could not go against the wishes of most nobles and officials and force his own will.

Not to mention the enmity with the Han Kingdom, even if he had to make enemies with Songkhla, which had already developed to a certain level, Rama V did not have full confidence in winning. However, the Chinese problem pointed out by the ministers was also a reality. If he continued to allow the Chinese to infiltrate, when the number of Chinese grew to a certain scale, even if Rama V wanted to start a resistance, it would probably be too late.

Rama V hesitated for a long time and could not make a decision, so he turned to his uncle Rajanuka for help.

"Your Majesty, the railway leading to the southern peninsula has been completed and opened to traffic. The officers and soldiers of the navy fleet have also been trained by British instructors and have the ability to fight. The Songkhla matter can't be delayed any longer. I suggest taking advantage of the handover of the position of Songkhla City Lord and the opportunity that the Han Kingdom's ocean-going fleet has not yet arrived to launch a surprise attack on Songkhla City, collect as many transport ships as possible, and then dispatch all naval fleets to escort them. While the enemy's defenses are relaxed, forcibly land in Songkhla Prefecture and control the Wu father and son. Then, in the name of the Wu father and son, recruit the garrisons in various places to surrender, and try to regain control of the four southern states and one prefecture in a peaceful way."

“As long as we successfully regain control of the four states and one prefecture in Songkhla, we can cut off the channels for the Chinese to infiltrate the kingdom.

After taking control of Songkhla, in order to avoid angering the Han Kingdom, the Kingdom can continue to grant Songkhla's four states and one prefecture autonomous status, but the local military, diplomatic, economic and other powers must be controlled by the Kingdom. "

Chief of the Armed Forces Chao Phraya Surivong added.

"General Chao Phraya Ratan Apodin, what do you think?"

King Rama V looked at Major General Chao Phraya Ratan Apodin, who was in charge of the overall military defense of the southern peninsula, and asked.

“I agree to launch a surprise attack on Songkhla, but before the attack, it is necessary for the kingdom to consult the British Straits Settlements in advance.

The southern peninsula borders the British Straits Settlements. If the kingdom cannot gain support or understanding from Britain, even if it takes control of Songkhla through a surprise attack, it will be difficult to hold on to it later.”

"Then let's fight. The Kingdom has no intention of being an enemy of the Han Kingdom, but the Han Kingdom has disregarded the Kingdom's good intentions and has supported Songkhla and the Chinese in their continued infiltration of the Kingdom. Since there is no way to retreat, let's fight."

Since ascending the throne, Rama V has been struggling to maneuver between major powers, taking advantage of conflicts between countries, striving to maintain Thailand's independence, and trying his best to avoid direct conflict with major powers. However, blindly compromising and giving in is not a long-term solution. Moreover, unlike the two Western powers, Britain and France, the Chinese, or the Han Kingdom behind them, have a profound historical connection with Thailand. The two sides have the same skin color and similar cultural customs. If the Han Kingdom is determined to use its population advantage to assimilate Thailand, the chances of success will be much higher than the colonial rule of Britain and France.

“Uncle, please send someone to negotiate with the British and try to gain their support or understanding.

General Chao Phraya Surivong, General Chao Phraya Ratan Apodin, the dispatch of transport ships, the gathering of troops, and the fleet are entirely your responsibility, but I want to emphasize that when you raid Songkhla, you must ensure the safety of the Wu father and son and their families. "

"Yes, Your Majesty."