Di Ming

Chapter 491: An alliance is formed, Princess Nari Xuan is presented, and Zhu Zhihu is installed as a puppet to depose the Burmese king.

Even Zhu Yin had to admit that Princess Devi truly lived up to the title of "Siam's Number One Beauty" as described in Huya's intelligence reports.

Dewi's maternal grandfather was a Han Chinese from Zhejiang, and her maternal grandmother was a Han Chinese from Siam. By blood, she is considered half Han Chinese.

Because she grew up with her mother, she knows Chinese characters and speaks Chinese, and she enjoys reading Chinese books. Recently, she has been reading "The Chronicles of Summer," a book that has been circulated overseas.

However, Zhu Yin had absolutely no interest in this Siamese princess.

Zhu Yin was a man with extreme self-control regarding women and no desire for them whatsoever. In modern internet slang, he would be considered an absolute 'ascetic male god'.

Without this kind of personality, it would have been impossible for him to be selected by the intelligence headquarters to become an elite spy carrying out important missions.

"So it's Your Highness the Princess." Zhu Yin said with a light smile, "Princess, you may rise."

Narixuan had been secretly observing Zhu Yin's expression. As a ruler who had reigned for many years, Narixuan was very good at reading people. He noticed that when Zhu Yin saw his daughter, his eyes did not light up, his expression was as indifferent as a cloud, and he only maintained a polite smile.

Nari Xuan couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. It seemed the Regent hadn't taken a liking to Dewi.

Alas, if the Regent had taken a liking to Dewi, then Siam could have used the power of the Ming Dynasty to reclaim the three northwestern prefectures that had been occupied by Burma.

Without such a relationship, it would be difficult to persuade the regent.

He did love his daughter very much, but he loved the kingdom of Siam even more. No matter how good his daughter was, she couldn't compare to the three northwestern provinces in his heart.

Princess Daiwei was somewhat surprised to see that Zhu Yin's gaze was as calm as still water, without the slightest ripple.

Which man wouldn't have his eyes light up, his expression one of amazement, or even be captivated when he first sees her?

However, when this regent of the Ming Dynasty met her, although he was very polite and courteous, he seemed to be looking at her as an ordinary woman. She was a very sensitive person and immediately realized that Zhu Yin did not care about her.

To put it bluntly, they didn't like me!

How can this be?

Princess Dewi had always been proud, but for the first time, she felt a little inferior. She suddenly realized that compared to the man before her, who shone like a star, her pride was truly insignificant.

Her mood suddenly plummeted. She had been poised and confident, but now her hands trembled with unease.

Zhu Yin exchanged a polite greeting with the Siamese princess, then looked at the Burmese prince Mangluo with a gleam in his eyes.

It was obvious to anyone that His Highness the Regent was more interested in Prince Manglu than in Princess Dewi.

“Mang Luo…” Zhu Yin’s tone was somewhat cold, “Your father is Mang Zhuo, isn’t he?”

The interpreter quickly translated, and Prince Manglu trembled upon hearing it, his face turning pale as he bowed and said, "Your Highness the Regent of the Upper Kingdom, my father is indeed Mangzhuo."

"Do you know your crime?" Zhu Yin said coldly, "The Burmese Kingdom does not respect the Celestial Dynasty, is arrogant and conceited, bullies its neighbors, and even dares to invade the territory of the Ming Dynasty. Your Mang clan has a lot of guts."

After listening to the translation, Mang Luo looked bitter and said with great grievance:

"Your Highness, please allow me to explain. My father was the most beloved by the late king and should have succeeded to the throne. However, the tyrant poisoned the late king, and my father was also killed by the tyrant. My mother and brother also died at the hands of the tyrant. Mang Yingli is my uncle, but he murdered my father and brother. He is my mortal enemy."

"In recent years, Burma has disrespected the Celestial Empire and acted tyrannically and cruelly. This is entirely the work of Mang Yingli and his ilk, and has nothing to do with me. I have long since ceased to be a member of the Burmese royal family, having sought refuge in Siam..."

He was naturally very aggrieved. He couldn't enjoy wealth and luxury, and now that the Ming army had invaded Burma, he was being forced to take the blame for Burma's actions?

Is this fair?

Thinking of this, Mang Luo suddenly kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the ground with a "thud," and choked out:
"Your humble servant Mang Luo harbors a deep-seated hatred for the tyrant. I humbly beseech the Celestial Empire to uphold justice for me, to kill the tyrant, to restore order, to avenge my grievances, and to restore peace and tranquility to Burma..."

"I see," Zhu Yin sighed insincerely, feigning concern.

"Your whole family died at the hands of a tyrant, which is truly pitiful and lamentable. It's remarkable that you still hold onto the hatred for your parents. As the saying goes, those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune. You are a blessed person."

Mang Luo respectfully clasped his hands together and said, "Your Highness, I thank you for your mercy."

Zhu Yin nodded and said, "Since you have earnestly requested the Celestial Empire to uphold justice for you, then I will do my best to avenge you and restore peace and tranquility to Myanmar."

Mang Luo quickly bowed in gratitude, seemingly weeping with joy, "Thank you, Regent, for upholding justice! Thank you, Celestial Dynasty, for taking charge! Your subject, Mang Luo, will serve the Great Ming for eternity!"

"Your Highness, please rise. No need for formalities." Zhu Yin suddenly became amiable towards Mangluo. He glanced at the King of Siam without making a sound, and met Naresuan's meaningful gaze.

Haha, this King of Siam was quite a clever man. No wonder he was hailed as the "Great Emperor" in later generations. He certainly had the abilities of a ruthless leader.

This person actually guessed my thoughts and even went out of their way to deliver a pillow.

Zhu Yin was very clear-headed; installing Mang Luo as a puppet king of Burma was the best course of action for him at present!

The Toungoo Dynasty, which lasted for sixty years and had four rulers, still maintained its foundation and the support of its people. Historically, Toungoo was not replaced by the Konbaung Dynasty until the reign of Emperor Qianlong.

At present, the Southern Ming Dynasty simply does not have the strength to annex Burma. At least for the next few years, it will not be able to station a large army in Burma.

At that time, Burma was a large country, and only by using a puppet regime could it be effectively controlled. Without this transition period, the Burmese people would continue to resist, constantly weakening and tying down the Ming Dynasty. How many elite troops could the Southern Ming station to suppress them? It was simply unrealistic.

Especially since Burma has a tropical rainforest climate, the Ming army was not used to it. They could manage for a few months, but they would definitely not adapt if they stayed for a long time, making it difficult to suppress the indigenous resistance.

He was able to annex Luzon and establish it as Jingzhou Province because the Spanish had been cultivating it for twenty years; it was like a half-ripe peach. Moreover, Luzon lacked a unified and powerful government, its tribes were very backward, and its population was only a little over one million.

Even so, the Jinghai Army has spent a lot of effort suppressing resistance and clearing out hostile natives. The peacekeeping war has not stopped to this day, forcing him to leave troops in Jingzhou.

What's more, Myanmar? Myanmar is much more difficult to deal with than Luzon; they're not even comparable.

But he was unwilling to give up the prize he had already swallowed. What to do? There was only one workaround: establish a puppet regime as a proxy to buy the Ming Dynasty a few years of transition time.

Is there anyone more suitable to be this puppet than Prince Mangluo?

No more.

After capturing Bago, he arrested hundreds of members of the royal family, almost wiping out the entire Toungoo royal family. More than one person was qualified to be the king of Burma.

However, these people were all part of Mang Yingli's faction, beneficiaries of the system, and at least not Mang Yingli's enemies.

Mangluo was different. He was not only the grandson of Mangyung Long and the nephew of Mangyung Li, belonging to the direct line of the family, but also had an irreconcilable feud with Mangyung Li. At the same time, he had been in exile in Siam for many years and had no faction of his own in the country, leaving him isolated and powerless.

It's perfect for being used as a puppet.

Otherwise, how can we say that Nari Xuan is a smart person?
Well, let Mang Luo do it for a few years first, step by step. When the time is right, it's not too late to swallow him up directly!
Princess Devi was dismayed to discover that Zhu Yin valued Mangluo, the down-on-his-luck prince, more than herself, the pearl of Siam. Feeling frustrated, she couldn't help but feel anxious and uncertain.

Before meeting Zhu Yin, she was very resistant to her father sending her to the regent of the Ming Dynasty. But after meeting Zhu Yin, she found him very appealing and even hoped that he would accept her.

To her disappointment, Zhu Yin really didn't take a liking to her!

So angry.

Father, it's all your fault! I want to go back to Ayutthaya!
Seeing her daughter's expression, Nali Xuan knew exactly what she was thinking. No one knows a daughter better than her father.

He planned to gently bring it up to Zhu Yin after entering the city, hoping that Zhu Yin would take his daughter back to the Ming Dynasty.

...

Zhu Yin then led Nari Xuan and the others into the city and arrived at the Mah Aung Myat Temple.

After being seated and served tea, Naresuan, through an interpreter, solemnly said, "Your Highness, I have come here with a heart as if guided by the divine bird Garuda, toward the light."

He made a gesture, as if tracing the trajectory of the divine bird.

“Mang Yingli’s heart is like a venomous snake. He has been entrenched in the land of gold, not only harassing the territory of the Celestial Empire, but also repeatedly trampling on the land of Siam like stalks of rice. His evil deeds cannot be washed away by the Mekong River.”

"Fortunately, the Regent led the mighty army of the Ming Dynasty, descending like a divine warrior, punishing the demons like a thunder god, just like the holy Hanuman, upholding justice in the land of gold."

His words were imbued with a Siamese accent, which, through the elegant translation of the interpreter, conveyed the meaning while retaining the unique charm. "Therefore," Naresuan continued, his gaze piercing, "I, the King, am willing to dedicate the strength of Siam to gather forty thousand warriors, to become the ivory of the Celestial Empire's army, to serve valiantly and diligently, and to assist the Celestial Empire in annihilating the Demon King Mangyingli!"

"The 40,000 elite troops that I brought are now on the east bank of the Nu River, a hundred miles to the east. As long as the Regent agrees, I will allow the Siamese troops to cross the river."

Nari Xuan was a very sensible man. Although he led 40,000 elite troops to join forces with the Ming army, he left the main force on the east bank of the Nu River and only brought a few hundred men to Ava City to meet Zhu Yin.

This not only demonstrates sincerity but also shows great courage.

After listening to the translation, Zhu Yin laughed and said, "How could I refuse? I couldn't be happier. Prince Xuan is so loyal to the Ming Dynasty, I will certainly report to the Emperor and commend Prince Xuan for his loyalty to the imperial family."

“With the 40,000 Siamese warriors brought by the King of Xuan, I am like a tiger with wings, and Mangyingli is even more vulnerable.”

He knew that Siam was still recovering from its defeat, with only about 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers in total. Naresuan brought 40,000 men, leaving only 10,000 to 20,000 men stationed in the country, which showed his great sincerity.

Nari Xuan proudly described their military strength at that moment:

"Our army has over five hundred war elephants, clad in rattan armor, charging like Indra's chariots, unstoppable. We also have ten thousand rattan shield soldiers, their shields as solid as rocks, fighting like tigers in close combat. We have twenty-five thousand forest infantry, moving through the jungle like Nagas swimming in water. And five thousand sharpshooters, their arrows seeking the enemy's throat as easily as rain seeking rice paddies."

He was quite confident in his troops and wanted to show Zhu Yin that he had brought only capable elite soldiers, not just a motley crew to make up the numbers.

After a detailed explanation, he respectfully clasped his hands together in a prayer-like manner:

"But the Siamese army, however fierce, is merely a tiger or leopard in the jungle. How can it compare to the dragon of the Celestial Empire? Their swords are all willing to be guided by the Regent. I and my forty thousand soldiers are willing to be the vanguard, only asking that the Celestial Empire grant us the honor of serving them, so that we can wash away the shame of being invaded, slaughtered, and having our three provinces annexed by Burma!"

This Siamese king not only demonstrated great power but also adopted an extremely humble posture, clearly expressing his willingness to obey orders.

But when he mentioned the three prefectures, his tone became particularly emphasized.

Zhu Yin, upon hearing this, naturally understood the situation.

The tent fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Yin simply nodded and smiled, remaining silent for a moment. Na Lixuan, however, seized the opportunity and pointed at Dai Wei, saying:
"My daughter, Daiwei, whose mother is also Han Chinese, has always admired the Celestial Empire since childhood, revering its culture and nobles, and has always hoped to marry into the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of bringing her to meet the nobles of the Celestial Empire. Your Highness, Regent, is my daughter perhaps worthy of your favor?"

Zhu Yin certainly couldn't refuse outright, as that would offend the King and his daughter of Siam, but he had already planned ahead and smiled happily:
"Princess Daiwei is truly a goddess of the South, worthy of being called the Pearl of Siam. Looking across the entire Golden Land, only a hero like King Xuan could have given birth to a woman like the princess."

Daiwei understood Chinese, and upon hearing Zhu Yin's words, she couldn't help but feel happy and a little proud again.

But Zhu Yin's tone changed as he continued, "Previously, I sent an envoy to inform the Zheng family of Annam that I wished to offer their daughter as a concubine to the emperor. The Zheng family dared to disregard the Celestial Dynasty. Not only did they not express their gratitude and offer their daughter, but they also formed a marriage alliance with Burma, marrying their daughter to the son of Mangyingli. They are truly deceiving the emperor and courting their own death. I will surely destroy them!"

At this point, Zhu Yin suddenly smiled again, and his icy tone softened once more:

“But Prince Xuan is different. He offered his daughter as an imperial concubine, which is a hundred times better than Zheng Song. The emperor is only sixteen years old, truly a beautiful age. If he could have Princess Daiwei as his concubine, it would be a great story for the imperial family.”

As Zhu Yin said this, he thought to himself, "Chang Luo, oh Chang Luo, you can't possibly handle such good fortune. Since you're offering this to your teacher, just accept it on my behalf. Anyway, you're the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, so having a few more women won't hurt."

What? To become a concubine of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty? Upon hearing this, Nali Xuan was taken aback.

He offered his daughter to the regent, not to the emperor.

He already knew that the Southern Ming emperor had no real power, and that the regent made all the important military and national affairs.

However, I've heard that Emperor Taichang was a disciple of the regent. And even if the emperor didn't have great power, he was still the supreme Son of Heaven of the Ming Dynasty, and his status and position were undeniable.

Even if Dewi marries into the royal family, she will still be a princess. Besides, the Regent has already said so, how could she refuse?
The three prefectures are important!

Thinking of this, the shrewd Nali Xuan didn't hesitate and quickly followed Zhu Yin's words:

"I am truly flattered and overwhelmed by the Regent's favor in selecting my daughter as a consort for the Emperor. This is a blessing my daughter has earned..."

Huh? Daisy was stunned when she heard she was to marry the emperor. How could this be…

But then her father said, "Dewi, kneel down now and thank the Regent for choosing you as his consort!"

Daisy trembled and quickly knelt down.

Zhu Yin immediately stopped her, saying, "Since the princess is destined to enter the palace as a concubine, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise!"

Dewi was both amused and exasperated, and could only pitifully reply, "Yes."

Nali Xuan suddenly became a little nervous, looking at Zhu Yin with anticipation.

Zhu Yin pondered for a moment, then looked solemnly at Na Lixuan and slowly said:

"Prince Xuan's loyalty and courage are evident to Heaven and Earth. Since Prince Xuan is willing to share the burdens of the court and rid the southwest of this scourge, I, on behalf of the Great Ming, grant your request! From this day forward, we shall join forces to punish the rebels!"

“Once we destroy Mangye, we will naturally set things right. These three provinces, including Chiang Mai, which were annexed by Burma, are former Siamese territory, so let's return them to Siam.”

Nali Xuan was overjoyed and breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly bowed and said:
"The Regent is the King, a great benefactor of Siam! The people of the three provinces were able to return to their homeland thanks to the Regent!"

Nali Xuan's voice choked up as she spoke.

Zhu Yin's promise made him even more grateful for his choice. As long as it could avenge Siam and reclaim the three former territories, all these sacrifices would be worthwhile!
Nariel's face lit up with excitement. He bowed deeply to Zhu Yin with the utmost respect, and through the interpreter, exclaimed with emotion:
"Naresuan and Siam will not betray the trust of the Celestial Empire! Our swords are ready to fight for the Celestial Empire!"

"I humbly request that we form an alliance with the Heavenly Army and march together!"

Zhu Yin laughed heartily, "Very well, there's no better time than today! Let's swear an oath of brotherhood today!"

Then, Zhu Yin ordered preparations for the alliance ceremony.

...

Soon after.

The throne of the Ming Emperor was placed high on the incense table, and Zhu Yin stood beside it on behalf of the emperor.

As the master of ceremonies announced the rites, Nari Xuan faced the memorial tablet and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows, her expression extremely solemn and dignified.

After the ceremony, Naresuan, through an interpreter, knelt and recited the Siamese scripture, referring to himself as "the vassal of the land" and the Ming Dynasty as "the sovereign ruler."

Zhu Yin then read out the imperial edict approving the alliance. Of course, as the regent, what he wrote was considered an "imperial edict."

When exchanging credentials, Naresuan respectfully accepted them with both hands before presenting her own gold-leaf credential.

With the oath taken, Zhu Yin ordered a banquet to be held, and both host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely. During the banquet, Naresuan spoke with Zhu Yin through an interpreter, maintaining the proper etiquette of a vassal throughout. It was as if Zhu Yin, the regent, were the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

After the banquet, Zhu Yin ordered that the King of Siam and his entourage be taken to another temple in the city to rest.

As soon as the King of Siam left, the shrewd and resourceful Mao Wenlong immediately said to Zhu Yin:
"My lord, the King of Siam is a man of exceptional talent. He is flexible and knows when to advance and retreat, and he understands the overall situation. His submissiveness is not out of cowardice, but rather a result of strategic brilliance. If he were to rise to power in the future... could he become the second Mangyelong?"

Zhu Yin watched the Golden-Winged Bird King's Banner disappear into the distance and laughed:
"If handled well, he will be a powerful weapon for our Great Ming in the South Seas. As for Mangyinglong... from this day forward, no country in the Jin region is allowed to produce such a formidable figure again, and there can be no second Mangyinglong!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals couldn't help but smile.

Then, Zhu Yin gave the order: "Summon Mang Luo to see me!"

……

The next day, astonishing news suddenly spread from the Maha Aung My Temple, where the Ming army's headquarters were located, shocking all the Burmese in the city:
"Zhu Yin, the regent of the Ming Dynasty, has established Prince Mangluo, the grandson of the late king, as King of Burma, Lord of Toungoo, and Lord of the White Elephant! The capital will be Ava!"

"Depose the current Burmese king, Mangye, and demote him to...the Marquis of Wrath!"

"All provincial governors, chief ministers of major monasteries, and tribal leaders, come to Ava City immediately to pay homage to the new king! Those who fail to arrive by the deadline will be considered traitors!"

Mangying, who was leading his troops back to Shan State from the high plateau, never expected that he would be crippled!
...

P.S.: A puppet king has been created in Myanmar. How long will this puppet king last?
(End of this chapter)