Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 380 War! War! War! The Mad Elephant Army!
Squads of Ming soldiers, clad in bright armor, moved swiftly across the golden beach.

Their steps were synchronized, their slogans were loud, and the muskets in their hands gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

They established a strong position at an extremely fast pace.

The soldiers had clear divisions of labor: some were responsible for scouting further afield, some were busy transporting supplies, and others were setting up sentry posts around the perimeter. Everything was proceeding in a tense but orderly manner.

Accompanying the warships were not only elite soldiers, but also scientific researchers with special missions.

They came to investigate the customs, geography, and resource distribution of Siam and Bagan, hoping to gain more valuable information from this unfamiliar land.

At the same time, a large number of doctors also came on board.

Zhu Yunwen attached great importance to this expedition. In his view, the biggest enemy facing the expeditionary army was not the army of Siam and Bagan.

The equipment and tactics of those armies were simply not enough to pose a fatal threat in the face of the advanced military power of the Ming Dynasty.

What truly worried him was the soldiers' adaptation to the local environment.

In particular, various diseases caused by acclimatization problems and difficulty adapting to the local climate.

Looking back at the true history, a certain Western empire, which claimed to be the "empire on which the sun never sets," once established a vast hegemony on a global scale by virtue of its powerful naval force.

Their colonies covered an area of ​​over 30 million square kilometers, almost encompassing every corner of the world.

In the process of expansion, relying on their powerful ships, cannons, and advanced firearms and gunpowder, they often swept through relatively primitive and backward indigenous colonies with ease, like autumn winds sweeping away fallen leaves.

Moreover, this so-called "empire on which the sun never sets" was actually just a small island nation, which was simply unable to send out a large-scale expeditionary force.

However, with only a very small army, they were able to sweep across the entire world.

In most of their conquests, their casualties were minimal.

Only when vying for hegemony and resources with other nearby European countries would they suffer heavy casualties.

In other parts of the world and countries, the British Empire typically sent only a few hundred to a few thousand troops during its conquests.

The price they pay is often just the death of a few people, or a few dozen.

This fully demonstrates the enormous advantage that advanced technological civilization has over primitive and backward countries.

This advantage is almost overwhelming, and underdeveloped countries simply cannot withstand it.

Many people, when studying history, often feel puzzled and angry about the Qing Dynasty's performance.

Why could the Qing army, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, be defeated by a mere few thousand Western expeditionary force?
However, a deeper understanding of the world historical context at the time reveals that the corrupt Qing Dynasty was not actually a very bad country when facing Western powers.

Among all countries except the Western powers, the Qing Dynasty's military strength could be described as "powerful"!
Or rather, it was not merely the military strength of the corrupt Qing Dynasty, but rather the astonishing resilience and tenacious fighting ability that the Chinese nation displayed when facing foreign aggression and oppression.

The Chinese nation has weathered thousands of years of trials and tribulations, possessing profound cultural heritage and an indomitable spirit.

Even in the most difficult times, they can demonstrate a powerful fighting spirit.

To give a simple example, the United Kingdom of that time fabricated the "Black Ships Incident" in order to conquer Japan.

The United Kingdom of the United States sent only four warships, along with sailors, totaling less than a thousand men, and forced Japan to sign a "treaty of amity".

These four ships and a thousand men overwhelmed Japan, leaving them with no chance to fight back. They could only kneel down and beg for mercy, and were forced to sign a treaty and open their country's borders!
Similar examples were not isolated cases in that era, but rather a common phenomenon.

Understanding these historical facts and the global situation at the time reveals that the Qing Dynasty's military strength was not as weak as it appeared on the surface.

After all, the Qing Dynasty had withstood attacks from thousands or even tens of thousands of foreign troops.

This fully demonstrates that no matter how corrupt the Qing Dynasty was, the Chinese nation remained powerful.

The Chinese nation has always been a great nation that foreigners could not rule or conquer.

However, some countries, after being defeated, are able to quickly reflect on their shortcomings and embark on the road to prosperity and strength through hard work and dedication.

However, the Qing Dynasty, as the ruler, showed no remorse and was unwilling to reform and strengthen itself. Instead, it remained stubborn and inflexible, causing the country to stray further and further down the path of backwardness and ultimately fall into an even deeper crisis!
Zhu Yunwen understood this history, so he was very clear that disease was the greatest enemy of the Ming Dynasty's expeditionary force.

The British Empire, on which the sun never sets, has already proven this point with a painful lesson.

When waging war against primitive and backward countries, the number of people killed directly on the battlefield is often not large.

But disease is like a terrifying killer lurking in the shadows, easily taking the lives of thousands of elite soldiers.

Especially since this expedition is to a tropical country.

The weather here is hot and the sun is scorching. Bacteria and viruses multiply extremely quickly in such an environment, leading to a proliferation of various diseases.

Therefore, although the Ming Dynasty only sent a few thousand expeditionary troops for this expedition, it also equipped a large medical team of more than one hundred people.

At the same time, they also carried countless kinds of medicinal materials and formulated very strict hygiene disciplines to protect the health of the soldiers to the greatest extent.

The moment the Ming army set foot on this unfamiliar land, someone rushed to deliver the news.

"Siam is making intensive troop deployments, attempting to set up multiple defensive lines on the only route the Ming army can take to attack Ayutthaya, in order to block the Ming army!"

This information naturally came from intelligence personnel secretly dispatched by the Ming Dynasty's intelligence agency.

They lurked in every corner of Siam, like hunters hidden in the shadows, constantly watching Siam's every move.

In addition, they risked their lives to deliver detailed maps of the corresponding maps.

These maps clearly display key information such as mountains, rivers, towns, roads, passes, and fortresses.

This greatly facilitated the Ming army's subsequent military operations.

It must be said that with ample funding and the meticulous training and guidance of the cunning "demon monk" Yao Guangxiao, the Ming Dynasty's intelligence bureau has acquired an extremely powerful intelligence-gathering capability.

Like an invisible net, it takes in all the movements of Siam.

Upon receiving the news, Zhu Shou naturally made corresponding strategic arrangements quickly.

Ayutthaya Province in Siam is only about 160 miles from the coast.

After landing, the Ming army did not rush to advance, but chose to rest for one night.

The soldiers seized the time to recover their strength, clean their weapons, and check their equipment, making full preparations for the upcoming battle.

The next morning, as dawn broke, the Ming army left the beachhead in an orderly fashion and headed towards Ayutthaya.

……

Siamese Royal Court.

The atmosphere was as tense as the sky before a storm, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

"Didn't you swear that the Ming army couldn't possibly launch a amphibious landing operation? How come they've landed now?"

Ramaputra II glared angrily, his face flushed red with rage, and smashed a priceless, exquisite glass cup in his hand to the ground.

With a loud bang, the glass cup shattered into pieces, scattering fragments everywhere, as if foreshadowing the impending crisis facing Siam.

"Your Majesty, the Ming army is truly invincible!" An old minister said, his voice trembling, almost on the verge of tears. "When the Ming army landed, I witnessed their terror firsthand."

His eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if that terrifying scene was replaying before his eyes.

"The cannons on those warships were like ferocious fire dragons, spewing out flames powerful enough to destroy the heavens and the earth!"

He waved his hands, trying to describe the terrifying scene: "I have lived most of my life and have never seen such a terrifying divine weapon in the world."

“Once the Ming army pushes their cannons to Ayutthaya, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

The old minister knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "For Ayutthaya, for the safety of Ayutthaya, for the safety of Your Majesty... I beg Your Majesty to grant the Ming envoy's request, arrest those traffickers who transported Ming people to my Siam as slaves, and hand them over to the Ming army for punishment."

He kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud: "Only in this way can I protect my Ayutthaya!"

Previously, this minister had personally gone to the coast, hid in a secluded spot, and carefully observed the Ming army's warships.

Just then, the Ming army landed, and he was fortunate enough to witness the awe-inspiring scene, which terrified him.

He was well aware of the vast disparity between the Siamese army and the Ming army.

Realizing that Siam was no match for the Ming army, he was extremely anxious and risked his life to advise Ramaputva II.

"Is it really that terrible?" A flicker of doubt crossed Rama Bodhi II's eyes as he began to struggle internally.

On the one hand, the earnest advice of veteran officials made him deeply wary of the strength of the Ming army.

On the other hand, as the ruler of a country, his dignity and pride made him unwilling to bow his head easily.

"Your Majesty, I believe this traitor deserves to die!"

Just then, another minister strode forward, his face full of anger. He pointed at the weeping old minister who was trying to remonstrate, and shouted in a stern voice, "Spreading heresies to mislead the public, boosting the morale of others, and diminishing the prestige of our own people."

"With a formidable enemy at hand, someone like you should be killed as a sacrifice to the flag!"

The sound was sharp and piercing, echoing throughout the hall.

He turned and bowed to Ramaputra II, saying, "Your Majesty, we just refused the Ming envoy's request, and the Ming army immediately landed."

"If our army were to back down and admit defeat at this point, it would be a disgrace to the nation."

He said confidently, "So what if the Ming army has strong ships and powerful cannons?"

"The cannons on their ships can't reach the Great City!"

"As for the Ming troops that landed, they were able to land because of the bombardment from the cannons on their ships." He analyzed logically: "As long as these Ming troops leave the coast and go deep inland, they will lose the support of the cannons on their ships."

"The number of our army is dozens of times that of theirs."

"Moreover, the Ming army that landed from the ships were all infantry."

"As long as the elephant corps is sent to launch an attack, the Ming army will surely collapse."

His tone was resolute, and he seemed completely confident, as if he could already see the Ming army's defeat.

"Your Majesty, I have already ordered troops to be deployed along their route, waiting for the Ming army to enter our ambush."

Rama Bodhi II couldn't help but give this person a deep look.

Previously, Ramaputra II had indeed issued orders to the military to mobilize troops for war.

However, he did not expect that the army could be mobilized so quickly.

These words were immediately echoed by the other ministers.

“Good idea. The Ming army is small in number. Without the support of shipboard cannons, they are no match for our army.”

A young minister jumped up excitedly, waving his arms and shouting.

"Yes, I heard that the Ming army only has a few thousand men, while our army has dozens of times more troops."

Another minister echoed.

"We still have elephants! Hundreds of elephants, just by trampling them, they could easily crush thousands of Ming soldiers to death!"

An obese minister patted his belly and laughed heartily, as if Siam had defeated the Ming army and won a victory.

"We're bound to fight the Ming army eventually, so how can we back down before the battle even begins?"

Everyone started talking at once, their voices grew louder and louder, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

In the imperial court, the ministers who advocated war quickly gained the upper hand.

This is partly because quite a few people accept bribes from human traffickers, and in order to protect their own interests, they naturally advocate for fighting against it.

On the other hand, it is also because in any country, before experiencing defeat, the "hardliners" are often the majority.

People are all prone to arrogance.

Especially before any real confrontation, people tend to unconsciously overestimate themselves and underestimate their enemies.

Ultimately, a nation is also made up of people.

The ministers in the imperial court are also human beings, and their mentality is naturally no exception.

Of course, if they are defeated, many people will quickly change their mindset and become "kneeling tribes" to the outside world, which is another matter.

Just like before the Opium War, the rulers of the Qing Dynasty looked down on foreigners, believing themselves to be the Celestial Empire, capable of anything, and that foreigners were not worthy of carrying the shoes of the Qing Dynasty.

Until they were defeated again and again.

Only then did they begin the humiliating operation of "using the resources of China to win the favor of foreign powers."

They've started to fawn over foreigners!
Unlike the three Jurchen tribes, Siam was much farther away from the Ming Dynasty and did not yet have a deep understanding of the Ming Dynasty's great prestige.

Coupled with the ministers' blind confidence, they naturally wanted to test their skills against the Ming army and see who could prevail.

"Then let's give it a try!" Ramaputra II gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes, and finally made up his mind.

However, despite this, a deep sense of unease lingered in his heart.

It was as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his heart.

After the court session, Ramaputra II did not waste a moment. He led a group of elite guards and quietly left the bustling Ayutthaya to head to the front lines.

However, he did not go to the main camp of his country's army.

Siam is a theocratic country. As the king of Siam, Ramaputri II was not only the holder of secular power, but also the incarnation of God on earth.

This unique position means that he generally does not directly participate in the military's combat command.

Moreover, he came secretly this time without the knowledge of all the officials, so he was even more cautious.

He stood on a hillside not far away, overlooking the land that was about to become a battlefield.

Soon, they saw the Ming army marching forward in neat formation, heads held high and chests out.

We also saw the Siamese elephant army standing guard not far away; hundreds of elephants were enormous, like moving hills.

tread!
tread!
tread!
Hundreds of elephants, driven by the shouts and whips of the Siamese army, slowly marched toward the Ming army with heavy steps.

Each step seemed to make the earth tremble and raise a cloud of dust.

However, what happened next was completely unexpected by Ramaputra II. Faced with such a massive and menacing beast, the Ming army showed no sign of disturbance or panic.

The soldiers stood tall and unyielding like ancient pine trees, their eyes filled with determination.

It was as if what they were facing was not a ferocious elephant, but a flock of docile lambs.

Upon witnessing this scene, Rama Bodhi II felt a strong sense of foreboding.

The Ming army's composure was so unusual that it sent chills down his spine.

He clenched his fists instinctively, his nails digging deep into his palms, but he felt no pain.

Ramaputra II was unaware that the Ming army had already obtained full information about the Siamese elephant army through its intelligence personnel.

Moreover, the Ming generals provided their soldiers with detailed psychological preparation and educational information in advance.

This gave them a thorough understanding of the habits and weaknesses of elephants.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Therefore, when the soldiers saw the elephant army, they were not surprised or taken aback. On the contrary, they were somewhat excited because everything was within their expectations.

"kill!"

The Siamese general in command of the operation was completely unaware of the Ming army's unusual behavior.

At this moment, he stood triumphantly atop the elephant's high back, overlooking the battlefield, and issued the order to attack.

Tatata!
Tatata!
Tatata!
Driven even more fiercely by the Siamese soldiers, hundreds of elephants surged towards the Ming army like a raging tide.

The earth trembled beneath their feet, and a tense and ominous atmosphere filled the air.

Inside the Ming army camp, Zhu Shou watched the approaching elephant corps, snorted coldly, and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

Elephants do look quite frightening; their massive bodies seem capable of crushing anything in their path.

But he knew in his heart that the Ming army was well prepared. For this landing, they brought many wheeled artillery pieces, which were easy to move and extremely powerful.

At the same time, Ming soldiers were equipped with extremely advanced and powerful firearms.

Faced with guns and cannons, even a massive elephant is nothing more than a moving mountain of flesh.

Under guns and cannons, all people are equal!
Elephants are no exception.

"Fire!" Zhu Shou decisively gave the order.

"boom!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

The Ming army's cannons, which were already prepared, instantly spewed out angry dragons of fire, with flames soaring into the sky and smoke billowing everywhere.

Immediately afterwards, the Ming soldiers in the front row of the position raised their guns in perfect unison and fired. The gunshots rang out like popping beans, deafeningly loud.

The moment the guns fired, the situation on the battlefield instantly reversed.

One by one, the elephants fell helplessly to the ground under the powerful firepower.

Faced with powerful firearms and cannons, the seemingly majestic elephant was as fragile as paper, easily punctured!
Their massive bodies, originally intended to intimidate enemy troops, have now become a nightmare for the Siamese army.

When the elephants fell and were killed by muskets and cannons, they also crushed a group of Siamese soldiers who were following the elephants.

Many soldiers were mercilessly buried under the elephant's body before they could even let out a scream.

Even more fatally, the remaining elephants quickly went out of control.

They were terrified by the roar of guns and cannons and the smoke of gunfire, and panicked.

No matter how hard the people on the elephant's back shouted or how desperately they waved their whips, the frightened elephant wouldn't listen at all.

They leaped haphazardly, violently throwing the people off the elephants' backs one by one.

The elephants quickly turned around and began to trample and flee towards the Siamese army behind them!

……

P.S.: My dad was suddenly hospitalized today and spent the whole day at the hospital before returning home in the evening, so I'm only updating now. Please forgive me!
(End of this chapter)