Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 561: Songkhla Territory Expansion
In order to create a fait accompli and regain actual control of Songkhla before the arrival of the Han ocean-going fleet, the Thai side made intensive deployments and responses.

On September 1890, 9, Rajanuga took a ship to secretly visit the Governor's Office of the British Straits Settlements.

On September 9, Rajanuka returned to the Thai capital and informed King Rama V of the Straits Settlements Governor's Office's neutral or even acquiescent attitude.

On September 9, several new army units stationed in the central region gathered towards the Thai capital. The troops stationed in the southern Malay Peninsula also secretly changed their guard and advanced towards the border with Songkhla.

On September 9, Thailand's actions were conveyed to the Songkhla Palace by Chinese, Chinese businessmen and pro-China figures in Thailand.

"City Lord Wu, it seems that the Thais are ready to take action. What arrangements do you have?"

In the Songkhla City Lord's Mansion, Li Wencai looked at Wu Chong, who had just taken over the position of City Lord, and asked.

"My father said that Songkhla is also part of the Han Empire. All military and national affairs in Songkhla are arranged by General Li. General Li, you can just do it. If you need any assistance from the City Lord's Mansion, just tell him directly."

Wu Chong had a gentle temperament. Before taking over the position of city lord, he was repeatedly told by his father to obey the arrangements of the Nanyang Legion in everything. Therefore, he spoke in a humble tone and completely handed over the military leadership to Li Wencai.

"Thank you for your trust, Lord. I will try to give you some suggestions."

Li Wencai exchanged a few words of greeting and continued, "The Thai government is based on nothing more than 10 new army divisions and a small offshore fleet modeled after the Empire and Britain, France and other countries.

In order to guard against threats from the north, west and south, it is estimated that the total number of combat troops that Thailand can use on the front line of the Malay Peninsula will not exceed 5 divisions and 3.5 people.

In terms of the navy, Thailand may be able to dispatch its main fleet, including two 3000-ton ironclad ships, to threaten and attack Songkhla Province from the sea.

Therefore, it is suggested that 3000 troops be drawn from Pattani and Narathiwat, and 4000 from Kelantan, and secretly gathered in Songkhla Province to deal with possible threats from the sea.

"The three garrisons plus the troops deployed in Songkhla and the border with Thailand have a total strength of nearly 2, which should be able to deal with Thailand's offensive from land and sea."

Liang Xing, director of the Military Intelligence Department, analyzed: "Songkhla has 3.4 regular field troops and can mobilize 7 second-line troops. If Thailand takes the initiative to provoke a war, then after defeating the Thai offensive, they can take the opportunity to counterattack into the northern part of the Malay Peninsula and even the Thai mainland, on the one hand to expand Songkhla's territory, on the other hand to deepen control over Thailand and strive to transform Thailand into an economic colony of the empire."

"That depends on the quality of Thailand's new army and navy, and also on how big the appetite of Britain and France is."

Li Wencai smiled.

"It's hard to say what the attitude of the British is, but the French have a big appetite. If we defeat the main Thai army in a war and our troops enter the Thai mainland, the French may take advantage of the situation and swallow up Laos, the eastern part of the Mekong River and other areas in one gulp."

Liang Xing thought about it.

"That also depends on whether the French are that strong. France has a total force of about 5 in Annam and Cambodia, of which about 1.2 are white troops from mainland France. This is the result of the lessons learned from the Franco-Sino War, and France has dispatched additional troops to Annam to reinforce the 1.2 white colonial troops. The combat effectiveness of the 3 white colonial troops is at best second-rate, and the remaining -plus troops from Annam, Cambodia, and a small number of African blacks are even worse. The French can scare the Thais with this small number of troops, but if they dare to use this as a basis to snatch the interests of the Han Kingdom, we will have to fight them hard.

Give up control of Annan and let them enjoy the benefits of Annan alone. If they want to take advantage of it once, they will see the real tricks on the battlefield."

Li Wencai said with disdain.

"Laos and the eastern part of the Mekong River are not under the actual control of the Empire. If we really give them the territory, the Empire will not suffer any loss. The specific situation still depends on the outcome of the war. If the new army formed by Thailand has some combat effectiveness, then we may have to consider increasing mobilization efforts and seeking assistance from Lan Fang or the ocean-going fleet."

Liang Xing said cautiously: "According to the intelligence analysis collected and summarized by the various branches of the Taiping Society in Thailand, judging from the training and weaponry of the new Thai army, it seems to be similar, but I don't know what its actual combat level is."

"After a fight, the true colors will be revealed. The Thais were the first to stir up trouble. We should stay calm and wait for the opportunity. We will never go wrong."

"Then let's follow General Li's arrangements."

Liang Xing nodded in agreement.

On September 9, in response to Thailand's actions, Songkhla also made changes. The troops were secretly mobilized at night and arrived at the designated positions one after another. On September 13, three 9-ton Yongxing-class light cruisers departed from Lan Fang and sailed towards Songkhla under the cover of night.

In the early morning of September 9, a fleet consisting of more than 17 ships landed more than ten kilometers north of Songkhla Port and then marched south.

At 1 a.m., battles broke out in the northern and eastern port areas of Songkhla. The Thai naval fleet and landing team were suddenly attacked by Songkhla troops while on the march. There were constant gunfire and artillery fire, and the battle spread from land to sea.

On the morning of September 9, the Thai naval fleet panicked after being attacked by shore artillery and a fleet ambushed on one side of the coast. After paying the price of three gunboats, two 18-ton light cruisers sunk, and two gunboats captured, the remaining fleet, led by two 1500-ton ironclad ships, mistakenly believed that the Han ocean-going fleet had arrived ahead of schedule. In panic, they abandoned the transport fleet and nearly 3000 soldiers who had landed and fled in embarrassment.

On the afternoon of September 9, Songkhla troops pouring in from all directions blocked the land gap through which the landing troops escaped. Nearly 20 Thai troops were surrounded in an area of ​​less than 10 square kilometers.

On September 9, the Songkhla army launched a general attack on the besieged troops from both sea and land directions. The Thai army could not hold out for less than half a day. After paying the price of more than 21 casualties, its morale collapsed and it surrendered.

On September 9, Wu Chong, in the name of the Lord of Songkhla, issued a statement condemning the Thai government's invasion of Songkhla, and formally declared independence, established the Kingdom of Songkhla, and declared war on Thailand.

On the same day that the independence announcement was issued, the first batch of 3 militia troops that completed emergency mobilization, coordinated with 2.5 Songkhla regular troops to launch a counterattack against Thailand from land and sea.

On September 9, 24 Songkhla Army troops boarded transport ships and landed in the Bay of Bangkok under the cover of the South China Sea Squadron.

On September 9, the number of landing troops increased to 27.

On September 9, Rama V urgently mobilized 29 troops and went out of the city to counterattack, but was repelled.

On September 9, Rama V sent representatives to request a ceasefire, but was sternly rejected by Li Wencai.

On October 10, the number of Songkhla troops gathered in the area around Bangkok increased to 2. The Thai defenders attempted to launch several counterattacks, but were all repelled. The people in the city were in panic. Every day, nobles and officials secretly took their relatives and property and left from the northern gate of Bangkok.

On October 10, Rama V could not resist the persuasion of his ministers and hurriedly left the palace under the cover of night under the protection of thousands of troops.

On October 10, the third day after Thai officials and dignitaries fled, the remaining troops lost confidence in defending the city and were defeated by the continuous attack of the Songkhla army. The Thai capital Bangkok fell.

On October 10, after occupying Bangkok, Li Wencai separated 8 troops and attacked various parts of the Malay Peninsula from Ratchaburi Province to the south. On October 10, he joined forces with the attacking forces coming from Songkhla and completely occupied all the territory of the Malay Peninsula.

Just as the Songkhla troops were advancing rapidly and seizing areas near Bangkok, Thailand and various places on the Malay Peninsula, the Annan Colonial Governor-General found Rama V, who had evacuated to the central region, and demanded that Thailand recognize that the sovereignty of Laos belonged to France and cede the territory east of the Mekong River.

At the same time, the French Governor-General of Annan sent people to discuss the joint division of Thailand with Songkhla, and at the same time, it dispatched troops to launch an attack on northern and eastern Thailand along the Mekong River.

On October 10, the British Straits Settlements officially brought three areas in southern Thailand under its rule.

On October 10, the British side formally sent a diplomatic note to Songkhla, France and Thailand, demanding an end to the war.

On November 11, the four countries reached an agreement.

The content of the agreement is as follows:

1 Thailand recognized Songkhla's independence and ceded the territory of the Malay Peninsula south of Phetchaburi Province to Songkhla. The Songkhla army withdrew from mainland Thailand within one month.

2 Thailand terminated its vassal relationship with Laos, recognized France's sovereignty over Laos, and agreed to cede the territory east of the Mekong River to France.

3 Thailand ceded Perth, Terengganu and Kedah to Britain.

4 Thailand signed a most-favored-nation agreement with Han, Britain and France. Goods from the three countries can freely enter the Thai market.

The Songkhla War lasted only more than two months, but it destroyed the results of Thailand's twenty years of reform and innovation. After the signing of the armistice agreement, Thailand not only lost a large amount of territory, but also lost part of its economic sovereignty. To a certain extent, it became an economic colony of Han, Britain and France. Among the three countries, due to the number of Chinese in Thailand and the upcoming transfer of light industrial industries, Han undoubtedly has a leading advantage when competing with Britain and France.