Seeing that all the naked men in the court were all potbellied, King Basatong had no choice but to temporarily stop thinking about starting a war.
It’s been more than 40 years since there was a war, and King Basatong himself doesn’t have that kind of skill! Now he only felt regret in his heart. Why did he get so obsessed with it that he ordered the evacuation of Hua? He still doesn’t know the virtues of those Chao Phraya, Phraya, Pha, Luang and Kun under his command?
It’s hard for them to drive out the Chinese who pay taxes and rent in their own territory. It’s been almost four months since the Chinese expulsion order was issued, and there seem to be quite a lot of Chinese on the streets of Ayutthaya... .
"Nare!" King Basatong said to his prince, Prince Nare.
A fat, naked man kneeling next to the throne quickly stood up and walked to King Basatong, the only one wearing clothes in the hall. Then he knelt down and prostrated, "Father, did you call me?"
"Go outside the city to meet the Ming Dynasty's envoys," King Basatong said. "Envoys from the Ming Dynasty must be treated with sufficient courtesy and cannot be treated as envoys from Burma, Chenla or Annan... After all, the Ming Dynasty is a celestial kingdom!"
This is the power of tradition! The Ayutthaya Dynasty has treated the Ming Dynasty as a state tribute for more than 200 years, and everyone is used to it. Although this state does not seem to be very valuable, no one can but admit it!
"By the way, prepare another generous gift," said King Basathon, "and tell the envoy that our Siamese delegation will soon leave for Nanjing to pay tribute."
King Basatong wanted to put things to rest.
The Siamese people are relatively clear about the temper of the Ming Dynasty, because Siam is one of the vassal states of the Ming Dynasty, and it is considered to be a relatively diligent country in paying tribute. From the establishment of the Ming Dynasty to the present (the Ayutthaya Dynasty was established earlier than the Ming Dynasty), the Ayutthaya Dynasty has paid tribute more than a hundred times. Although it has made a lot of money by taking advantage of the Ming Dynasty's principle of thin exchanges, but its attitude Still very respectful.
It was just that Zhu Cihong was a bit stingy after he came to power and did not give rewards to his vassal countries, so King Basatong did not send anyone to pay tribute for a long time.
But now that the Ming Dynasty's gunboats are blocking the door, it seems that they still have to pay tribute, even if there is no reward in return, but they won't send good things. Aren't they short of food? How about giving me tens of thousands of Siamese rice?
"Father," Prince Reina asked, "if the envoy asks about our expulsion of overseas Chinese, how should my son answer?"
This shouldn't be a problem, right? King Basatong thought to himself: We have already paid tribute, and we don’t even want rewards in return...
He thought for a while and said: "We asked the Ming people near Ayutthaya City away not to make enemies of the Ming Dynasty, but because there are many lawless people among these Ming people and endanger the city of Ayutthaya." of law and order.”
The excuse was good. If Siam was a sovereign and independent country, this excuse would be legal. The question is whether the property of the Ming people was damaged in the process of being taken away.
But the problem is that Siam itself recognizes that the Ming Dynasty is the suzerainty, so Siam does not have complete sovereignty!
This is undisputed!
Prince Reina didn't know how serious this matter was! He got his father's order, put on his clothes and left the city - he was naked in court and had to wear clothes when going out. Why else would Siam buy so much Chinese silk?
The costumes of the nobles of the Ayutthaya Dynasty are still very beautiful. The popular one is the local gold, called "golden brocade clothing", which is made of golden silk with beautiful patterns imported from China.
Wearing a suit of rich gold, a big gold medal hung around his neck, and sitting on an elephant covered in rich gold, Prince Reina was immediately obvious to be rich, and then he left the city in a crowd.
By the way, Prince Reina's entourage also brought gifts for Ji Kun and Li Shaoyou, and they were all golden and good things!
Ji Kun and Li Shaoyou did not enter the city. Instead, they waited in a noble villa south of Ayutthaya City and near the Chao Phraya River for the important ministers of Siam to come out to greet them.
Fan Diemen, who came with Ji Kun and Li Shaoyou, couldn't help but sigh when he heard a Siamese nobleman who received the Ming Dynasty delegation reported that "Crown Prince Reina will personally come to welcome the Ming Dynasty delegation"... .
This means that he has placed the Ming Empire in a superior position. Although this is true, Siam does not have to admit it. If you do not admit it, the great powers such as the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and England have reasons to interfere.
But they just don't have this awareness... They gave away half of their country's sovereignty before diplomatic negotiations even started!
What a nonsense to talk about next!
...
"Your Highness, I would like to ask you, does Siam recognize that the Great Tomorrow is your sovereign?"
In a magnificently decorated pavilion, Ji Kun had already accepted the gift and was asking Prince Reina what he wanted to say with a smile.
Van Diemen's heart was lifted!
The person who acted as translator at the scene was a Siamese immigrant of several generations. He had achieved aristocratic status and could speak fluent Cantonese Mandarin.
He translated Ji Kun's words into soft and waxy Siamese.
The Prince of Siam nodded and smiled: "Of course I admit it... We also plan to send a mission to Nanjing to pay tribute, and we will also send a hundred thousand shi of the best fragrant rice to the heaven!"
It's all over!
After hearing the answers from the princes who were translated by Siamese Chinese, Fan Diemen knew that Siam had jumped into the trap.
From now on, the Siam issue is the internal affairs of the Ming Dynasty!
"Only fragrant rice?" Ji Kun looked dissatisfied.
It’s not like you’re a beggar tomorrow, why don’t you just give me some rice?
The prince quickly added, "There are also ivory, agarwood, rhinoceros horn, teak... and gold!"
Siam is rich!
How much money can be made from selling rice, wood, ivory, and spices? Moreover, what they received was silk and porcelain, and they resold them to Westerners for additional money.
In addition, the King of Siam instituted a peasant-soldier system. Peasants who served as soldiers had no money and had to bring their own dry food.
So if I can spend some money to send Daming away, the matter will be complete.
"No!" Ji Kun's tone was already serious, "Do you think the Zhan and Zhenla people are unwilling to pay tribute?"
Are they willing?
Prince Reina said in his heart: Zhanren is a vassal of Annan, can he pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty? As for Zhenla, it has been in chaos since it was destroyed by the emperor (Nalixuan). How can he have time to pay tribute?
Ji Kun continued: "Champa and Zhenla were conquered by the Celestial Empire because they did not recognize the suzerainty of the Celestial Empire!
Prince, do you know what suzerainty is? "
Prince Reina shook his head: I don’t know!
Ji Kun explained: "The so-called suzerainty means that Ming Dynasty is the father, Siam is the son, Ming Dynasty is the clan, Siam is the vassal, Ming Dynasty is the king, and Siam is the minister. You, Siam, must abide by the secrecy of ministers and pay tribute to the heaven. In terms of conquests and foreign affairs, you must follow the Celestial Empire and do not act on your own initiative!
As for me, the Celestial Kingdom, we must keep Siam safe and peaceful, and we will not allow other countries to invade Siam, nor will we allow rebellious ministers and traitors to seize your family's throne.
By the way, have you heard about King Ananli? King Li is now the Lord of Shenglong, and no one dares to usurp and hold him hostage anymore. This is the benefit to the Celestial Kingdom as a vassal state! "
Reina was stunned for a while, still not understanding what suzerainty meant.
Ji Kun went on to say: "Our heavenly kingdom has prepared a "Treaty of Suspensions and Vassals". You can take it back to your father to have a look. If you have no objections, sign it quickly, and then take the treaty to Nanjing to pay tribute. Then The Kingdom of Siam will be protected by the Ming Dynasty from now on!"
The provisions of this "standard treaty" were drafted by Zhu Cixang himself, and Annan was the first to sign it.
Ji Kun was favored by Zhu Cixiang because he had taken the "Feudal Theory" course, and participated in the formulation of the "Standard Treaty". He also had a good memory, and on the way to Ayutthaya City, he used his memory to give Siam also drew up one.
In general, in addition to stipulating that Siam should follow the Ming Dynasty in diplomacy and military affairs, that the Ming Dynasty should ensure the security of Siam, and that the king of Siam should be canonized by the Ming Dynasty, it also added the "garrison of troops on the islands within the leased area" (if there are no soldiers, why? Protect Siam?), "Allow Ming citizens to rent land from Siam nobles" (Be content! All the citizens of the Ming Dynasty will be your tenants), "Let Ming help train the Siamese army", "agreed tariffs" and "protection" Confucian Academy of the Ming Dynasty" and other contents.
