Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 376 Isn't this a form of restraint?
In the northern mountainous region bordering Annam and Siam, the Ailao Mountains gradually slope down, forming a relatively open valley filled with jungles and streams. This is the traditionally ambiguous border between the two countries.

At this moment, the atmosphere in this once tranquil valley, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, is as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.

On the north side of the valley, on a slightly higher, gentle slope, black armored trees grow like a forest.

The Tian Ce soldiers did not set up camp, but stood silently in a disciplined and awe-inspiring formation.

Tens of thousands of eyes calmly gazed upon the rolling green mountains to the south, belonging to Siam.

The unwavering silence and the fierce, murderous aura of the battlefield permeated the air, even silencing the chirping of insects and birds in the valley, which had long been completely dispelled by this invisible, chilling atmosphere.

At the forefront of the army, Xu Changhai sat astride his magnificent steed, Ta Xue Zhui, gazing in the direction of Siam.

"Report!"

"General, Annam has fallen."

"The strategist has divided his forces into 20,000 troops to guard various parts of Annam, and has led more than 8,000 troops to detour to the southern border battlefield of Siam. They are ready to join us in forming a pincer movement from the north and south to jointly attack Siam."

The report from the Tian Ce scouts caused Xu Changhai's sharp, hawk-like gaze to pierce through the mountains and forests, heading towards the direction of Siam. A faint smile gradually appeared on his face.

The next moment, another scout emerged silently from the dense forest ahead like a ghost, his figure so fast that he left only a faint afterimage in everyone's eyes.

In a few leaps, he arrived in front of Xu Changhai, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in salute: "General, the number of troops stationed along the important northern Siamese towns of Phitsanulok and Ban Chin has surged! Large numbers of laborers have been driven to reinforce the city defenses and dig trenches! The Siamese Royal Court's 'War Elephant Battalion' has also set off from Ayutthaya and is heading north day and night!"

"King Phanalai of Siam issued a death order to conscript all able-bodied men into the army."

"Conscript all able-bodied men?" Xu Changhai finally showed surprise. "Is this a desperate gamble? Are we really going to wage war with the whole country? We've lost our minds."

All able-bodied men were conscripted for a nationwide war.

It sounds easy, but in reality, it's not something that can be accomplished in the short term.

If we consider the actual situation, Siam might have already fallen into internal strife before it had even finished conscripting all its able-bodied men.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Changhai looked at the scout in front of him and ordered, "Go and tell Military Advisor Jianqiu that we will be attacking Banqing at the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM) today. Tell him to hold back the army in the southern border of Siam."

"Hahaha."

"He conquered Annam in one battle, achieving the feat of destroying a nation. As for Siam, I will not be so polite."

"Yes, I will pass on the order immediately."

Upon hearing this, the scout vanished from Xu Changhai's sight like a ghost.

Each of the scouts serving in the Tian Ce Mansion possesses unparalleled lightness skills and masterful movement techniques, coupled with formidable cultivation. Even in the most challenging mountainous terrain, they can effortlessly ascend to the heavens and soar into the clouds using the Tian Ce Mansion's Soaring Dragon Step.

At the same level, unless you are above the Celestial Phenomenon realm, it is basically very difficult to catch up with them after they soar into the clouds.

"General, Commander Yang Qingyi of the Sichuan Provincial Military Command has sent a message inquiring whether we need assistance?"

"No need."

Xu Changhai quickly waved his hand and snorted coldly, "Tell him to take care of himself. Japanese pirates have suddenly appeared in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian, and troops are constantly being raised in various places. The White Lotus Sect, various cults and folk uprisings have broken out more than ten times in less than five days."

"With people raising armies even in Sichuan, how can he possibly have the mind to come here and steal credit from me?"

"If we withdraw our troops and then cause trouble in Sichuan, it will truly become a laughing stock for our colleagues."

The day before yesterday, upon hearing intelligence from the secret guards that someone in Sichuan was using the pretext of His Highness's brutality and wanton slaughter of loyal ministers to raise an army, and was therefore a traitor to the country, Xu Changhai was so angry that he almost abandoned the front lines in Annam and Siam and led his troops back to suppress the rebellion.

Fortunately, Yang Qingyi was not one to be trifled with.

He swiftly suppressed the minor disturbance.

All those who had colluded with or were involved with him were exterminated and their families wiped out by Yang Qingyi and his secret guards that very day.

Whenever he thought of this, Xu Changhai couldn't help but glance in the direction of the Ming capital, feeling a deep sense of regret for those civil officials and aristocratic families who were at their wits' end, making one foolish move after another. It was one thing for other places to raise armies, but the entire Sichuan province had just been ravaged by the Tian Ce Prefecture.

The Sichuan Provincial Military Command was indiscriminately and brutally beaten by the Tian Ce Mansion. Not long after, all the gangs and factions in the martial arts world, regardless of whether they were on the black or white side, were visited by the secret guards for a "friendly greeting".

Subsequently, the various guards in Shaanxi took over all military defenses of the Sichuan Provincial Military Command.

Furthermore, five thousand Tian Ce soldiers were left to guard the area.

In this situation, those who dared to raise an army under such a suicidal pretext, and weren't executed, are only spared because they had clean backgrounds and Yang Qingyi showed them mercy.

But once there is one, there will be two.

Even though Tian Ce and the Secret Guards were conducting overt and covert inspections of the entire Sichuan region.

Xu Changhai dared not say that there wouldn't be another foolish person or a scapegoat who would be coerced or manipulated into being pushed out again.

At this point, he naturally scoffed at the suggestion that Yang Qingyi had sent a letter offering assistance.

Of course, there is another reason.

Xu Changhai already considered Siam to be his for the taking, so there was no need for Yang Qingyi to spare a hand to help him while the rear was not yet fully secured; that would make Yang Qingyi seem somewhat incompetent.

after all……

Xu Changhai's sharp gaze swept over the more than ten thousand Tian Ce soldiers and some Ming soldiers behind him. The faint smile on his lips deepened, and he thought to himself, "No matter how much power Siam has, it cannot change its fate."

When Xu Changhai's gaze returned to the tense mountains to the south, he let out a long, thunderous roar that seemed to shatter the clouds and split the rocks: "Break camp and set off!"

"Yes, sir!" The 30,000 Tian Ce soldiers and the Ming army responded in unison, their voices like thunderclaps from a clear sky, echoing through the valley and causing the trees to rustle. The deafening sound traveled far and wide, causing many of the nearby Siamese scouts to tremble like leaves, quickly crawling into the tall grass or mud, not daring to show their faces.

……

The mountain ranges in the southern border region of Annam and Siam.

Zhu Jianqiu soon received orders from Xu Changhai.

"A check?"

"His Highness once said that the highest level of assassination is to kill everyone who sees him carry out the assassination. If no one sees him, then it is a perfect infiltration."

"Then... if I swallow up all 70,000 Siamese troops on this southern border defense line, it can be considered a kind of... restraint, right?" Zhu Jianqiu gazed at the distant city wall, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

The reason he and Xu Changhai split up their forces.

This was because, according to the intelligence constantly transmitted by the secret guards and Zhu Jianqiu's estimates, if they marched in an orderly manner, even if they could take Burma, Siam, and Annam before Zhu Jinzhen ascended the throne, there was a high probability that they would not have enough time to return.

Zhu Jianqiu glanced at the pairs of eyes behind him yearning to achieve merit, his smile deepened, and his resolve strengthened.

Although he brought more than 8,000 Ming soldiers, only about 3,000 were actually Tian Ce soldiers; the rest of the elite troops were left in Annam to guard the entire territory.

But what if the opponent is a monkey from Siam...?

Zhu Jianqiu did some calculations and felt that the advantage was still on his side.

With only 10,000 Tian Ce soldiers and 20,000 Ming soldiers, he was able to strategize and conquer 13 cities of Annam in one night, and destroy Annam in one day, leaving the King of Annam, Le Duy Truong, no time to surrender before Annam was conquered.

Even now, I only have three thousand Tian Ce soldiers and five thousand Ming generals by my side.

Zhu Jianqiu was also fully confident that he could swallow all the soldiers on the southern battlefield of Siam whole.

After all, he had already conquered Annam.

How can Siam, a mere country, compare to Annam?

(End of this chapter)