Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 377 Meeting the King of Siam! The people of a superior nation do not bow to the ruler of a inferior nation!
Li Sicong threw his head back and laughed heartily, his laughter sounding particularly bold in the sea breeze.

"His Majesty declared in the court, before all the civil and military officials, that the people of the Great Ming need not have the slightest fear when they travel overseas, because behind them stands an incomparably powerful Great Ming!"

His eyes were firm, and his words were full of pride and arrogance, as if the majesty of the Ming Dynasty was embodied in him at that moment.

"Moreover, I am a dignified envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty."

Li Sicong slightly raised his chin, his expression solemn, his tone resolute and brooking no argument.

“I have come here on His Majesty’s orders to negotiate with Siam and Pagan, so why would I be afraid of them?”

"General, please rest assured, when I go to see the King of Siam, I will certainly not disgrace the Ming Dynasty, and I will demand an explanation from them!"

Zhu Shou nodded slightly, his eyes revealing the sharpness of someone who had been through many battles: "This time, our approach of using courtesy before resorting to force is mainly to ensure we have a legitimate reason for our attack."

"Otherwise, with the military strength of our Great Ming, it would be as easy as turning one's hand to wipe out Ayutthaya, the capital of Siam."

His voice was deep yet powerful, revealing absolute confidence in the strength of the Ming army.

"Ji Gang was quite efficient. In such a short time, he solved the case thoroughly in Fujian and sent over a dozen boxes of confessions and testimonies."

He frowned slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "With these things, the evidence is irrefutable and cannot be denied by the Kingdom of Siam."

"The Siamese deliberately protect those human traffickers who abduct and kidnap our Ming citizens. Such despicable acts are truly hateful!"

Zhu Shou lightly tapped the cannon barrel beside him with his finger, and a metallic tremor rang out. Zhu Shou said coldly:

"His Majesty's benevolence has given them a chance to make amends."

"If they know what's good for them, they will accept the letter of credence, immediately arrest the human traffickers, release the imprisoned Ming citizens, and the matter will be dropped."

"Your Majesty means that your trip is not only to crack down on those ruthless human traffickers and rescue the imprisoned people of our Great Ming, but also to sign a friendly trade agreement with them, so as to facilitate the exchange of goods and cooperation between our Great Ming and Siam and Bagan."

"If they are not sensible and insist on protecting those human traffickers, then don't blame me for being impolite."

His eyes instantly turned cold, revealing a murderous aura, as if he were about to order a battle at any moment.

The two chatted and laughed, then lowered a small sampan from the large boat and sent a guide familiar with the area and fluent in Siamese to shore in the small sampan.

At the same time, the naval fleet entered a state of combat readiness.

The soldiers sprang into action, taking their positions and working busily and methodically. Shells were loaded onto the gun emplacements, and the cannons were polished to a gleaming shine, all in preparation for any potential battle.

The coastline in this area, not far from the capital of Siam, is defended by local indigenous troops.

They had spotted the large ship approaching from the sea long ago and had been keeping a close watch on it.

The native soldiers looked tense, their eyes fixed on the warships on the sea.

As soon as the guide landed, a general led soldiers to inquire about his whereabouts.

"We are the navy of the Great Ming Dynasty, and we are here to escort the envoy to Siam on the orders of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty. We have important matters to discuss with your King of Siam. Go and report to him immediately."

The guide stood tall, his expression solemn, his voice booming, conveying the majesty of the Ming Dynasty.

Siam had long-standing relations with the Chinese dynasties and was naturally aware of the existence of the Ming Dynasty.

Especially in the last year or two, the number of Ming Dynasty merchants coming to Siam by sea to do business has been increasing, and this general had heard of it.

It is said that people from the Ming Dynasty were mining in Siam and brought Ming slave laborers to work there.

In order to gain asylum, these people also gave Siamese generals and officials many benefits.

Unfortunately, it wasn't in his garrison area, so he didn't benefit from it.

However, how did the Ming army end up in Siam?
The general was filled with doubt, his brows furrowed and his expression grave.

"Our Ayutthaya Kingdom does not welcome armies from foreign tribes."

His tone was forceful, his eyes revealed vigilance and rejection, and he crossed his arms, looking like he wouldn't allow any negotiation.

"The sun of Ayutthaya cannot illuminate the sails of the Ming Dynasty's warships!"

“Your Ming Dynasty may send envoys, but your troops are not allowed to land.”

The guide's face darkened, and he stopped wasting time with pleasantries, saying directly, "The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty heard that some of his subjects were being imprisoned as slaves in Siam, and was furious, which is why he dispatched a large army here."

He looked directly into the general's eyes without fear: "The reason we sent the envoy to visit first is out of consideration for the past friendship between our two countries. We do not want to break off relations, so we will proceed with courtesy before resorting to force."

"You're just a lowly general, what right do you have to decide such things?"

"You'd better hurry and report to your king."

His tone was somewhat contemptuous and commanding.

Upon hearing this, the general flew into a rage. As a native commander, he was used to being arrogant and domineering. Now, being suddenly rebuked, he could no longer suppress his anger and immediately shouted:
"How dare you! No one has ever dared to speak to me like that on my turf. Guards, seize them!"

His face was flushed, veins bulging, and he angrily waved his arms. Soldiers quickly surrounded him, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Seeing the situation change drastically, the guide remained calm and composed. He slowly raised his gun, pointed it at the sky, and decisively pulled the trigger.

"Beep!"

A sharp and strange gunshot pierced the sky.

Immediately afterwards, there was another loud "bang".

In an instant, bright and dazzling fireworks exploded in the sky like splendid flowers, bursting out in all directions.

It turns out that the gun in the guide's hand was not an ordinary military rifle, but a specially made "signal gun".

The ammunition inside is essentially no different from fireworks.

next moment.

Not far from the coast, the Ming Dynasty's naval fleet, which had been waiting in full force and ready for battle, unleashed a barrage of cannon fire like a beast awakening.

boom!
boom!
boom!
Countless shells, carrying the force of thunder, slammed into a desolate forest not far from the guide and the general.

In an instant, countless trees were blasted into the sky by the powerful explosion, and dirt flew everywhere.

The earth-shattering roar seemed to shatter the sky and the earth together.

The terrifying scene, resembling the end of the world, instantly stunned the Siamese generals and soldiers.

They stood frozen in place, staring dumbfounded at the chilling sight before them, their faces filled with disbelief.

After the shelling ended, the scene returned to silence, with only the lingering smoke and the smell of burning gunpowder in the air.

"This is merely a small warning. If anything happens to me, the Ming navy's cannons will blast your army to dust and raze your great city to the ground."

Every word the guide spoke was filled with a chilling threat, even more impolite than before.

However, the previously hot-tempered general did not get angry this time.

"By the Buddha Shakyamuni, do the Ming Dynasty warships possess such terrifying divine power?"

He gazed into the distance at the dense array of cannons pointing menacingly at the sky aboard the Ming warship, praying silently in his heart. His scalp tingled with fear, and he dared not be arrogant in the slightest.

Previously, he had always heard how powerful the Ming Dynasty was, how invincible the Ming army was, and how no enemy country could defeat them.

But he always felt that it was just an exaggeration by those Ming Dynasty merchants.

Although he acknowledged that the Ming Dynasty was quite powerful, he believed that the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was a country blessed by Buddha and "invincible".

He was confident of victory should they truly go to war with the Ming Dynasty.

This is his pride and confidence as an Ayutthaya general!
But at this moment, this idea was easily extinguished, like a candle flame in the wind.

Faced with the terrifying power displayed by those cannons, he couldn't even muster the slightest thought of resistance. If those shells were to rain down on his own army… he didn't dare think any further!

"Honorable envoy from the Great Ming Dynasty, Ayutthaya has always been a land of warm hospitality. We have long admired the name of the Great Ming Dynasty, and today we are honored to witness the might of the Great Ming army. We are truly filled with admiration."

"What I said just now was merely a test, because I was worried that someone might be impersonating me."

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I believe that the envoy from the Celestial Empire is magnanimous and will not hold my recklessness against me."

His attitude suddenly took a 180-degree turn, and his tone became extremely respectful, almost humble.

The guide nodded in satisfaction.

That's how barbarians are.

They have always been afraid of authority but not of virtue.

Only by using the roar of cannons as "reason" can we instill a sense of awe in them.

"Then you should go and report to your king immediately!"

The guide issued an order without any politeness: "Our angel from the Great Ming Dynasty is about to land, and your country should welcome him with the most honorable ceremony!"

……

Ayutthaya.

This magnificent city was the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

When Li Sicong led his men into this land, his eyes were immediately drawn to the unique Buddhist temples.

The entire nation of Siam is Buddhist, and every inch of its land is filled with devout believers.

This is why countless Buddhist temples stand densely packed on this land.

However, unlike the Mahayana Buddhism revered by the Central Plains dynasties, they believed in Theravada Buddhism.

Theravada Buddhism has many schools, and many of them have no taboos regarding women or meat.

This is worlds apart from the strict rules and regulations followed by monks in the Central Plains dynasties.

Li Sicong strolled slowly, carefully observing the surrounding buildings, scenery, people, and customs.

Upon arriving at the accommodations arranged by the other party, and presenting their credentials as customary, they remained silent for the next two days, as if their mission had vanished without a trace, and were not summoned by King Ayutthaya.

Li Sicong's anger gradually flared up.

At this moment, tens of thousands of citizens of the Ming Dynasty are still imprisoned in dark and gloomy prisons. Every day that is delayed, these compatriots will suffer another day of torment, and perhaps even more innocent lives will be lost.

Saving lives is like putting out a fire; not a second can be wasted.

Without hesitation, he immediately approached Siamese officials and launched a strong negotiation.

"Our king is extremely busy and it is impossible for him to receive you so soon."

The Siamese official wore a fake smile and spoke in a bureaucratic tone: "Your Excellency, if you have any complaints about our hospitality, please feel free to speak up."

"We will do everything we can to make you satisfied."

"Why don't you eat, drink, and have fun to your heart's content in Ayutthaya and enjoy yourself to the fullest?"

"If any of the maids serving you take a fancy to you, feel free to enjoy them."

"They are all gifts from my Kingdom of Ayutthaya to you!"

Li Sicong's expression hardened, and he said with a serious and solemn look: "I have only one request, and that is to meet with the King of Siam immediately."

The Siamese official shook his head again, the fake smile on his face still there: "I'm really sorry, the King is too busy. If you want to see the King, you will have to wait at least three months."

"what?"

Li Sicong's face instantly turned ashen, and he was certain that the other party was deliberately stalling.

The reason for treating his group to good food and drink was simply to buy more time to investigate the strength of the Ming army and even prepare for their own troop deployment.

At that moment, Li Sicong shouted sternly, "Today, it has to be today."

“If the King of Siam does not see me today, I will leave immediately.”

"At that time, it will be the Ming army that will come to reason with you."

The Siamese official's face instantly darkened, his previous fake smile vanished, replaced by a cold and displeased expression.

Li Sicong was no longer willing to waste words with him, so he immediately and decisively ordered his men to pack their bags and leave as if they were about to depart.

He knew that only by taking strong action could he break the deadlock in the face of such a delaying and perfunctory attitude.

Seeing this, the Siamese officials looked helpless, knowing that the situation was out of their control, and had no choice but to report it to their superiors immediately.

Just as Li Sicong was about to step out of his residence, the official hurriedly turned back.

"Your Excellency, I have brought you good news."

The official forced a fawning smile: "The King has decided to take time out of his busy schedule to meet with you."

Li Sicong responded coldly, secretly sneering to himself: These people are indeed bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. If you don't really confront them, they'll just resort to "playing the rogue."

He nodded calmly, but inwardly he was filled with contempt for these people's behavior.

Afterwards, Li Sicong accompanied the official to the royal palace of Siam.

Along the way, countless Siamese soldiers, armed with weapons, lined up neatly on both sides of the road.

From their residences to the palace, the crowd stretched endlessly, densely packed, roughly estimated to number in the tens of thousands.

Li Sicong understood perfectly. This was clearly a deliberate show of force by Siam, attempting to demonstrate its military strength and make the Ming Dynasty take it seriously.

However, upon closer inspection, most of these soldiers were bare-chested, with only a few pieces of cloth covering their bodies.

Forget about proper military uniforms, there wasn't even a trace of basic armor; they looked exactly like warriors from a primitive tribe.

Although he appears menacing, he is actually all bark and no bite and is utterly vulnerable.

Li Sicong was completely unafraid of this, remaining calm and composed, treating the tens of thousands of troops as nothing, and striding confidently into the royal palace of Siam.

At this time, all the civil and military officials of Siam had already gathered together.

King Ramathebhumi II of Siam sat high on the throne in front, adorned with countless jewels that shone brightly under the lights, exuding wealth and majesty at first glance.

But in the eyes of Li Sicong, a scholar deeply influenced by Confucianism, this jewel-encrusted attire was utterly incongruous and rather comical, resembling a monkey wearing a crown.

Li Sicong stood steadily not far from Ramathebhu II, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a humble yet assertive manner: "Li Sicong, envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty, has come to meet the King of Siam on the orders of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty."

"How dare you!" As soon as he finished speaking, a Siamese minister jumped out, pointed at Li Sicong, and glared angrily.

"Why do you not kneel before the King of Ayutthaya? Are all the people of Ming so ignorant of manners?"

Li Sicong remained calm, his gaze unwavering, not even glancing at him, and said indifferently, "According to etiquette, the people of a superior nation do not bow to the ruler of an inferior nation."

He paused slightly, then emphasized, "Moreover, I am an envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty, here on the orders of the Emperor of the Great Ming. Every word and action I take represents the majesty of the Emperor of the Great Ming."

"Your King of Siam, by all accounts, should bow to me!"

……

(End of this chapter)