Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 381 A Smooth Kneel! A Peace Agreement with the Ming Army Must Be Reached!
Intense gunfire, deafening cannon fire, and the agonizing, terrified cries of elephants clashed wildly across the empty battlefield, creating a chilling symphony of death.

Every sound was like a heavy hammer of fate, striking the hearts of the Siamese army.

The Siamese army, which had been so aggressive and arrogant just moments before, and was so confident that it could defeat the Ming army in one fell swoop, collapsed completely the moment the guns and cannons roared.
As the elephants panicked and turned to flee, the Siamese soldiers behind them were terrified and ran away in a chaotic scene.

They were like headless flies, bumping around aimlessly, completely losing their composure.

Meanwhile, the soldiers ahead had already fallen in rows under the precise and fierce musket fire of the Ming army, their blood staining the earth red, and their corpses lying haphazardly across the battlefield.

Even more fatally, the Siamese army has long relied heavily on elephants in warfare, with elephants playing a pivotal role in their military system.

Just as generals in the Central Plains were accustomed to riding on horseback to command battles, most of the commanders and senior generals of the Siamese army sat high on the backs of elephants.

They were positioned on higher ground, believing it would make it easier to command their soldiers and control the overall situation.

However, at this moment, the elephant herd was thrown into extreme chaos due to excessive fear.

The elephants were rampaging and completely out of control.

The first to suffer were the generals of all ranks who were riding on the elephants. They were mercilessly thrown off the elephants and crashed to the ground, many of them dying on the spot.

Without the command of their generals, the entire Siamese army inevitably descended into chaos and disorder.

The soldiers were completely disoriented, their minds filled only with fear and the instinct to survive.

They scrambled to escape, and in their haste to get there faster, some even lost their minds, brandishing knives at their companions who tried to block their path.

As for those who accidentally fall to the ground, they will be mercilessly trampled over by the surging crowd behind them, letting out painful screams, which will soon be drowned out by the chaotic noise.

The army was defeated like a mountain!
The strength of an army comes from its tight organization and high morale.

Once these two key factors are lost—effective command and the will to fight—it can no longer be called a true army.

They were nothing more than a group of scattered soldiers fleeing for their lives!

Zhu Shou, standing in the Ming army camp, witnessed all of this and couldn't help but throw his head back and burst into laughter.

As a veteran who has fought on many battlefields, he has commanded countless battles, large and small. What kind of scene hasn't he seen?

But to achieve such an easy victory in a head-on confrontation like today is truly a first.

Before this, even when dealing with the weakest and most vulnerable armies, there was always a fierce battle that could last from a short while to several days.

But today, facing this seemingly powerful and numerous Siamese army, he was able to defeat them so easily, which was truly unbelievable to him.

"Compared to the soldiers of my Central Plains, the Siamese army is truly too vulnerable."

Zhu Shou shook his head slightly, his face full of disdain.

In his eyes, these barbarian troops, who had just been so imposing and arrogant, outnumbered the Ming army by dozens of times, were so fragile and easily defeated. They were nothing more than a rabble!
It was within Zhu Shou's expectations that the Siamese army could not defeat the Ming army, but the fact that it collapsed so quickly and so completely was still somewhat beyond his expectations.

The area is surrounded by dense tropical rainforests, and the terrain is complex.

Zhu Shou was well-versed in military strategy and understood that rashly pursuing his own troops in such an environment could easily plunge them into chaos or lead to other unforeseen events.

Zhu Shou did not order his soldiers to pursue, but instead had the cannons raised higher and the angle adjusted so that the shells could be fired at a greater distance.

His purpose in doing this was not simply to kill as many enemies as possible with artillery shells.

Rather, it was to instill fear in the Siamese soldiers, prompting them to flee longer and farther.

After all, the Siamese soldiers were already terrified, like frightened birds, seeing enemies everywhere.

As soon as they see a shell exploding nearby, they are terrified and dare not linger, only desperately continuing to flee for their lives.

The farther they flee, the more completely the army will collapse, and the greater the casualties will be.

What may seem like indiscriminate artillery fire that doesn't cause any casualties can actually cause far greater indirect casualties!
Only when no more Siamese soldiers could be seen in sight did Zhu Shou order the Ming army to cease shelling and proceed slowly to begin clearing the battlefield in an orderly manner.

After a brief reorganization, the Ming army continued its advance towards Ayutthaya.

It was as if the fierce battle they had just fought was nothing more than a small interlude in their journey forward.

On the hillside, Ramaputra II witnessed the entire war firsthand. His body trembled uncontrollably, and his face was filled with terror and despair.

"The Ming army... are the Ming army really that terrible?" he muttered to himself, his voice filled with fear.

"Those cannons, those fire dragons..."

Ramaputra II was still immersed in the shocking war scene he had just witnessed, unable to pull himself out of it.

He closed his eyes in anguish, his heart filled with despair.

The Siamese army suffered a crushing defeat, and the road from here to Ayutthaya is now unobstructed!
Once the Ming army successfully enters Ayutthaya, can his Ayutthaya Kingdom continue to exist?
This thought was like a sharp dagger, piercing his heart.

The attendants around him also looked increasingly grim, as if shrouded in a dark cloud.

The terrifying power displayed by the Ming army's firearms and cannons also deeply shocked their minds, filling them with fear and anxiety about the future.

"Your Majesty, the most urgent matter is to return to the Great City as soon as possible!" A follower, having finally calmed himself down, mustered the courage to speak up and advise him.

The situation is critical, and we must return to Ayutthaya as soon as possible to discuss countermeasures.

Ramaputra II nodded slightly, his eyes filled with helplessness and sorrow.

He immediately led his entourage and hurried towards the capital city.

……

Ayutthaya.

As large numbers of Siamese soldiers fled back to the city like a tide, news of the Siamese army's crushing defeat spread throughout the city in an instant.

Just a few hours earlier, the Siamese people in the city were still immersed in extreme excitement.

They spoke animatedly about the Siamese army's attack, as if they could already see the Ming army suffering a devastating blow and heading towards annihilation.

"The Kingdom of Ayutthaya is invincible!"

"The Ming army is nothing but a handful of troops; they can be pacified in the blink of an eye!"

“Ayutthaya is a Buddha-land on earth, protected by the Buddha. Anyone who attempts to invade Ayutthaya will be destroyed!”

Even the lowest slaves on the streets, or beggars who couldn't even get enough to eat, spoke of this with pride, holding their chests high and feeling genuinely proud of Siam's strength.

However, at this moment, they were all like stray dogs.

The Siamese army was routed in a single battle.

The Ming army was like heavenly soldiers descending from the sky, brave and invincible, and was advancing rapidly towards Dachengfu, soon to be at the city gates.

Whenever this matter was mentioned, everyone's expression changed drastically, and each person was filled with terror.

Many people have already begun to hurriedly pack their belongings, taking their entire families and fleeing the city in a panic.

Those who usually do evil deeds are driven to utter madness upon hearing that "the end of the world is coming."

On the streets, robberies, thefts, and all sorts of other evil deeds were constantly taking place, creating utter chaos.

The government had completely lost its ability to control the situation, and everyone in the entire city was in danger, caught in a state of panic and chaos.

The Royal Palace of Siam.

"Didn't you swear that once the Ming army landed, without the support of naval artillery, they would be no match for the Ayutthaya army?"

Above, Ramaputra II roared with fury, his eyes wide open: "Why is our army so easily defeated?"

The entire hall was deathly silent, not a sound could be heard.

All the ministers knelt on the ground, trembling with fear, and not one dared to utter a sound in response.

"Tell me!" Ramaputra II grew increasingly furious. "What should we do now?"

"Your Majesty, the Ming army's muskets and cannons are far too powerful. Our army simply cannot contend with them. Why don't we make peace?"

A minister kneeling on the ground offered his advice cautiously.

Ramaputra II gave him a cold, piercing look.

This person was none other than the minister who had previously spoken passionately and vehemently in court, advocating war against the Ming Dynasty. His words were like a spark, instantly igniting the oppressive atmosphere in the court.

The other ministers, as if they had found an outlet for their frustrations, couldn't wait to speak up.

"Your Majesty, the Ming army is simply a demon from hell; wherever they go, no one can stop them! We have no choice but to negotiate peace!"

An elderly minister, his body slightly hunched, spoke urgently, his voice trembling and tinged with tears.

"Yes, for the sake of Ayutthaya's lasting legacy, for the sake of the millions of people in Ayutthaya, and even more so for Your Majesty's safety, only by negotiating peace can we preserve everything we have!"

Another minister, his face full of worry, kowtowed heavily, his forehead touching the ground, and remained motionless for a long time.

"Your Majesty, our army has suffered a crushing defeat. The soldiers are demoralized and fleeing in all directions, making it impossible to organize any effective resistance. The Great City is now practically an undefended empty city. Once the Ming army besieges the city, the consequences are unimaginable!"

A younger minister knelt on the ground, his voice filled with fear and despair.

"Even if we manage to gather enough men, what then? How can our swords, spears, and halberds possibly withstand the Ming army's powerful firearms and cannons? Going up there would only be a pointless death!"

Another minister couldn't help but cry out in grief, beating his chest and stamping his feet.

“That’s right. The Ming army just wants us to arrest those human traffickers and release the slaves of the Ming Dynasty, right? We’ll agree. As long as we can get peace, what does this little request matter!” someone echoed.

"If we were to fight to the death with the Ming army for the sake of those human traffickers, and even lead to the downfall of our country, that would be a huge joke!"

In an instant, not a single minister in the hall advocated for war; they all tearfully pleaded for peace.

As for the gifts that the human traffickers had secretly sent before, those so-called "insignificant" benefits, they had long since become worthless in their eyes.

Faced with the choice between one's life and fortune and a meager monetary gain, the answer is self-evident.

What does it matter if there are no gifts from human traffickers?

As long as the Kingdom of Ayutthaya still exists and my life is safe, as a prince and minister, why should I worry about not finding new ways to make money in the future?
But if the kingdom falls and one's life is in danger, then everything will truly be for naught!

"Peace talks?" Ramaputra II's eyes widened as he glared at the ministers who had previously been shouting for war but were now trembling with fear. His anger burned fiercely, almost bursting forth. "Don't you think it's too late to talk about peace now? Do you think the Ming army will agree so easily?"

"Your Majesty need not worry!"

A minister with a fawning expression hurriedly said, "The Great Ming and my Ayutthaya are, after all, separated by mountains and seas, and are quite far apart."

"Even if they want to occupy our country, they will have to send troops to garrison it for a long time, and governing it will be even more troublesome and laborious. Why bother?"

He shook his head slightly, his face showing an expression of profound worldly wisdom.

"I have heard that when the Ming Dynasty previously conquered Japan, all it managed to do was force Japan to sign a treaty and pay tribute on time every year."

"The Japanese pirates have been burning, killing, and looting along the border of the Ming Dynasty for a long time, committing all kinds of evil deeds. The extent to which they have offended the Ming Dynasty is much more serious than ours."

He clicked his tongue, his tone tinged with relief.

"Now that the Ming Dynasty has sent troops on a distant expedition here, their demands are nothing more than to severely punish those despicable human traffickers and release the captured Ming slaves."

"Our army has been defeated and the situation is critical. All we need to do is submit to them and pay tribute on time."

"At most, the Ming Dynasty will just demand more money and valuables."

He waved his hand dismissively, "These requests are not difficult for us Ayutthaya."

"As long as the Kingdom of Ayutthaya can survive, submit to the government and pay tribute, what does it matter if we lose a little wealth?"

He knelt on the ground with his back straight and a righteous expression on his face.

Upon hearing these remarks, Ramaputra II's face instantly darkened, turning pale and then flushed, looking extremely unpleasant.

But the other ministers seemed to have found their leader and echoed their advice.

“Yes, Your Majesty! As long as the Ming Dynasty can accept the peace talks, preserve Ayutthaya, and protect our Ayutthaya, we should agree to even the most demanding requests!” an old minister with white hair said, his voice trembling.

“Perhaps, with the protection of the Ming Dynasty, the Ayutthaya Dynasty’s rule will be even more stable in the future,” another minister said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"That's absolutely right!" The crowd chorused, their voices of agreement echoing throughout the hall.

"The Ming Dynasty is powerful and unmatched. Although the peace talks are somewhat hasty, it is better late than never!"

Just as the ministers were pleading with each other to negotiate peace with the Ming Dynasty, a sudden and discordant voice rang out in the hall.

"You bunch of spineless cowards!"

A burly military officer with a full beard suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open, glaring angrily at the surrounding civil officials, and roared:

"You all swore an oath to go to war with the Ming Dynasty before, but now that you've suffered a defeat, you're all scrambling to surrender. You people have completely disgraced Ayutthaya!"

His voice echoed in the hall, filled with anger and resentment.

Then, he clasped his hands together and respectfully bowed to King Ramaputra II: "Your Majesty, if the Ming Dynasty insists on war now, then we will fight them to the death! How can we so easily bow down and surrender to the Ming Dynasty?"

His eyes revealed determination and resolve.

"Even if they temporarily occupy our great city, don't forget that Ayutthaya is a vast country with thousands of miles of beautiful landscapes and even more expansive lands."

"The Ming army has a limited number of troops. With such a small force, how could they possibly take over the entire Ayutthaya?"

"We will fight them to the death, even if it means fighting to the last man!"

"In the words of the Ming Dynasty, we Ayutthaya people would rather be shattered jade than survive as a broken tile!"

"I refuse to believe that the Ming army can hold out against us for long!"

It must be said that although his words sounded somewhat reckless and crazy, they were all true.

The Ming army had come from afar, and logistical supplies were difficult to obtain, making it difficult to sustain a prolonged campaign.

However, the problem is that once Ayutthaya is lost, the foundation of the Ayutthaya Kingdom will be shaken, and it will be able to continue to exist peacefully.

Thinking of this, Ramaputra II's face grew increasingly gloomy, like the sky before a storm.

"Utterly absurd!" A gaunt, weasel-faced civil official stepped forward impatiently. His voice was sharp and piercing, like the hooting of an owl: "Your Majesty, this man is trying to drag my Ayutthaya into an abyss of no return. His heart is utterly despicable!"

As he spoke, he pointed at the military officer, his face filled with disgust.

At this moment, the other ministers also spoke up.

"Your Majesty, this is a crucial time for negotiating peace with the Ming army, yet this traitor is spouting nonsense and arrogantly proclaiming war. If these words reach the ears of the Ming army, they will surely enrage them, and the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that this scoundrel be executed on the spot, so as to demonstrate to the Ming army the firm resolve of Ayutthaya to negotiate peace!"

"Kill him! Show our loyalty to the Ming army!"

"kill him!"

"kill him!"

In an instant, shouts rose and fell among the ministers in the hall, like a flock of enraged crows.

Ramaputra II took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently, and then slowly exhaled.

Before his eyes, the terrifying power unleashed by the Ming army's cannons roared again, the earth-shattering roar still echoing in his ears.

There was also the tragic scene of his own army collapsing like a tide, with soldiers fleeing all over the mountains and fields.

Those scenes, like a nightmare replaying themselves, deeply pierced his heart.

"The Ming army is too powerful and cannot be defeated, and Dachengfu must not be lost!"

Ramaputra II gritted his teeth, his facial muscles twitching slightly, and finally made up his mind.

"Guards, drag this madman who dares to defy the Ming army to the death away and behead him as a warning to all, to demonstrate Ayutthaya's firm resolve to seek peace!"

His voice was deep and cold, as if it came from the deepest hell.

"Immediately dispatch envoys to the Ming army camp to negotiate peace with them, and be sure to reach a peace agreement!"

……

(End of this chapter)