In a conference hall in the office building of the Tangshan Military Commission in Nanjing, there were already a few people sitting staggered at this time. There are Admiral Cheng Biguang, Minister of the Navy, Admiral Wu Shi, Director of Army Education, and Admiral Lan Tianwei, Chief of Staff of the Army, all of whom are second only to Chang Ruiqing in the National Defense Forces.

And sitting next to them were a few short, dark-skinned, Southeast Asian soldiers, all of whom were dressed in white naval uniforms. He wore a golden tassel on his shoulders and a beautifully decorated Western saber at his waist. It's just that these military uniforms and sabers that look quite bluffing, with the small heads of these people, plus the faces that are like dough and have no deterrent power, are really a bit funny. Uh, and it gives people a good feeling of bullying!

In fact, these Southeast Asians did come from a country with little fighting power, the Kingdom of Siam. At the head of them was a chubby middle-aged man in his thirties, who was the younger brother of King Rama VI of Siam and Admiral Prince Bripa, Minister of the Siamese Navy. He came to China as a special envoy of King Rama VI to ease the current tensions between the two countries, and also to explore the possibility of Siam joining the "Trilateral Non-Aggression Pact".

Speaking of Siam, since modern times, it has actually done quite well. Originally, it was also a semi-colonial country, and it was one step away from carving up the country. However, in the second half of the 19th century, the country has produced three Ming monarchs in a row, Rama IV, Rama V, and Rama VI. Among them, the Chulalongkorn reforms implemented by Rama V, known as Chulalongkorn the Great, lasted for 37 years, and forcibly developed a semi-colonial country on the verge of extinction into a weak capitalist country that was rich but not strong - but considering that Siam's population was only about 10 million, it was not easy to maintain its independent status and gradually abolish some unequal treaties.

After Rama V's son Rama VI ascended the throne, Siam's reforms began to shift from a rich country to a strong army, and Vacharaho (Rama VI), who had been a general (20-year-old general) before his accession to the throne, made it his goal to reform the Siamese army and build a modern regular army. A paramilitary armed Tigers (a bit like bandit armies) under the direct control of the royal family were established, and the Siamese Navy was also developed, forming the Army Flying Corps. By 1917, he had followed the United States in declaring war on Germany. It also sent troops to Europe to participate in the war, and after Germany surrendered, it swaggered into German territory with the Entente ** team, and also participated in the victory parades held in Paris, London and Brussels, which is a bit of a military power!

At the same time that Siam became a military power. King Rama VI also set off the first wave of Chinese exclusion in the history of Siam! A series of restrictions on the economic and political rights of the Chinese were introduced. Laws and regulations that restrict Chinese culture! In the history of a certain time and space, this kind of Cheng dù's exclusion of Chinese is nothing in Southeast Asia, and that China is also a soft persimmon that is bullied by others. But in this world, China looks like a sick cat no matter how it looks. In just two or three years, it has risen like a miracle! Also defeated the powerful Soviet Russian Red Army. Moreover, diplomats from the Chinese Nationalist Government had recently protested against the Siamese government's Chinese exclusion bill, which made Rama VI and his Siamese court a little panicked.

Although Siam's independence was now guaranteed by Britain and France, China did not share a border with Siam, and the Chinese navy was not strong. It should be unlikely that an invasion would be sent in the name of protecting the diaspora. But isn't there such a thing as exporting revolution? In 1912, the Xinhai Revolution in China spread to Siam, and some middle- and lower-ranking officers of the Siamese army organized a rebel group "Revolutionary Group" and plotted to launch an armed coup d'état to overthrow King Rama VI and establish a republic! Although this secret was shattered at an early stage, who can guarantee that there will not be a second or third rebellion plot? Moreover, if a big country like China came forward to support the Siamese rebels, it would probably be even more difficult for things to end - especially now that there are followers of leftist nationalism in Siam!

Therefore, Rama VI, who knew that his modern army was not very ineffective, hurriedly sent his younger brother to Nanjing to pay homage to the docks. Let's see if we can say something worthless to fool the Chinese dictator Chang Ruiqing, lest the other party and the Bangkok dynasty get along.

However, after coming to Nanjing for a few days, Prince Bripa didn't even see Chang Ruiqing's face! I finally got a notice from the Chinese side today. said that he could meet Chang Ruiqing in the office building of the Military Commission. But now, the planned meeting time has long passed, and Chang Ruiqing has been reluctant to show up for a long time - looking at this posture, this Chinese dictator is probably determined to find trouble with the Kingdom of Siam, right?

Just as Prince Brippa was thinking wildly, a roll call finally sounded outside the door: "The Standing Chairman has arrived!" "A room full of soldiers. Including the Prince of Siam stood up and turned his gaze to the door. Prince Brippa saw two giants come in one after the other. The one who walked in front was dressed in a straight Chinese Defense Army general's uniform, his cheeks were flushed, and his thick eyebrows were tightly twisted. looks like a fierce face, it is Chairman Chang Ruiqing!

Navy Minister Cheng Biguang also muttered a little when he saw Chang Ruiqing's face. Looks so fierce. What should I do if I stretch my face all day long and frighten the Siamese children? Thinking of this, he had to introduce the two sides with a smile on his face, he spoke English - the Prince of Siam was in English, and Chang Ruiqing could also speak fluent English, so the two sides simply conversed in English.

"Your Royal Highness, this is the Standing Chairman of our Military Council, and this is Prince Bripa, the Minister of the Navy of Siam, who has come to China this time in the hope of signing a non-aggression pact with us."

Chang Ruiqing barely squeezed out a little smile, shook hands with Prince Bripa, and sat down on a sofa without saying a word - he didn't mean to show the Siamese people, but he was worrying about whether Germany would rise early! He had originally planned to cooperate with Germany to "save the world", but now he had to think about it carefully.

Seeing the big dictator with a fierce face in front of him, the dwarf prince was really furious in his heart, and he was a little uncomfortable when he spoke.

"General Chang...... His Majesty King Rama VI, who represents our country, has come to China to explain to Your Excellency some of the policies currently being implemented in Siam, uh, these policies are not directed against the Chinese, nor are they intended to be Chinese exclusion, but only to protect us in Siam......"

Chang Ruiqing coughed, interrupted the prince of Siam, who was talking hesitantly, and said coldly: "We, the National Government of the Republic of China and the National Defense Force. It is obligatory to defend the legal rights of all Chinese citizens overseas! As for the Chinese diaspora in Siam, we believe that they should have rights no less than those of British, French and Japanese citizens. If the Siamese law that now restricts overseas Chinese with Chinese nationality also applies to expatriates from Britain, France, Japan and other countries, then we will not intervene! As for those ethnic Chinese who have renounced their Chinese nationality, we will regard them as Siamese citizens in accordance with international law. You want to restrict the political and economic rights of certain Siamese citizens. We cannot interfere. But to discriminate against Chinese expatriates is to infringe on China's interests, and now China is already a great power! ”

After listening to the statement of the fierce Chinese dictator in front of him, Prince Brippa of Siam only felt a tingling in his scalp.

The exclusion of Chinese or the restriction of overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese has always been part of the social and economic life of Nanyang! Although the economy and construction of the Nanyang countries (colonies) are fundamentally inseparable from those intelligent and diligent Chinese. But it is precisely because of these excellent qualities that the Chinese have. As a result, they can often quickly climb to the head of the indigenous people of the Nanyang countries and become the controllers of the economic lifeline of the colonies of the Nanyang countries. If it weren't for the anti-Chinese movement every once in a while, I am afraid that it would not be long before these Chinese people became the real masters of the Nanyang region -- didn't Marx just say that the economic base determines the superstructure? Therefore, the policy of the Western colonizers in Nanyang is to make full use of the diligence of the Chinese people to develop the economy on the one hand, to limit their power to participate in politics on the other hand, and on the other hand, to allow the indigenous people of Nanyang to launch violent anti-Chinese exclusions from time to time!

However, Siam's situation is different from that of the Western colonies. The Chinese in Siam were much more powerful than in the rest of the South Seas. In the eighteenth century, there was also the Thunliwu Dynasty founded by the Chinese Zheng Xin! Even the Rama royal family of the current Bangkok dynasty claims to be descendants of Zheng Xin (in fact, they are likely usurpers), and each member of the royal family has a Chinese name surnamed Zheng.

And all along, the Kingdom of Siam has been under the watchful eye of the great powers, and it may die at any time. Under these circumstances, the Rama royal family, who ruled the country, of course, had to unite the Chinese people, who were particularly important to Siam's political economy. So before the accession of Rama VI, there was no exclusion of Chinese in the Kingdom of Siam. It was only in recent years, after decades of hard work by the kings of King Rama IV and King Rama V that Siam's independence was finally guaranteed. Therefore, it can also free up its hands to exclude Chinese, or to limit the power of overseas Chinese.

In the eyes of the royal family of Rama and the indigenous Siamese magnates, and even some of the Siamese Chinese dignitaries, such restrictions were also necessary to ensure their rule. If the political and economic power of the Chinese people is allowed to continue to expand, it is really difficult to say who will be in charge of Siam in the future. Besides, the Rama royal family did not adopt any overly violent and bloody means to exclude the Chinese, but only adopted some of the mildest means to restrict assimilation! How can this Chinese dictator be so unreasonable. How can Siam be asked to give the overseas Chinese the treatment of British, French, and Japanese expatriates!

Who doesn't know that the diaspora of these great powers is the real first-class people in Siam! If overseas Chinese are made to be like them, won't Siam really become the world of overseas Chinese in the future?

But Prince Bripa didn't know how to refuse Chang Ruiqing's request. The current world order is whoever has the big fist and who makes sense! And after the "Four-Power War", China has already gained the status of an equal to Japan and Soviet Russia! So why should their diaspora in Siam be inferior to the Japanese?

There was silence in the conference room, Chang Ruiqing just kept a calm face and didn't speak, looking angry. Prince Brippa didn't know how to tactfully refuse. After a while, he said, "Mr. Chairman." Xiao Wang's intention this time is indeed for the friendship between China and Siam. For the common good of our Asian yellow peoples. Now China, Japan, and we, Siam, are the only three remaining independent countries in Asia, struggling to survive in a world dominated by Western powers. For the common interests of the Asian nations, what reason do our three countries have to unite without a thousand of them? We in Siam have always expressed great goodwill and enthusiasm to China and Japan, and in particular, we have placed very good wishes on your country's current momentum of prosperity...... But we, the Siamese nation, also have our own national interests! Like the current policy of resistance to the Great Powers in your country......"

Hearing this, Chang Ruiqing suddenly interrupted: "Wait a minute, Your Royal Highness, are you comparing our country's policy towards the Kingdom of Siam with the aggressive policy of the Western powers?" Are you treating the Chinese diaspora in Siam as Western colonizers? Could it be that the overseas Chinese in Siam are not the creators of social wealth, but robbers who plunder it? If that is the case, why did the ancestors of your Rama dynasty attract the Chinese to participate in the construction and development of Siam? The economy of the Kingdom of Siam can develop to the present level, I am afraid it is inseparable from the hard work and sweat of the Chinese, right? Now that your economy is growing, do you want to kick the Chinese away? How is this different from those Western colonizers? ”

His tone was somewhat gloomy. Prince Brippa hung his head and said nothing. And a room full of high-ranking Chinese defense forces are muttering in their hearts. What is the idea of their Standing Committee Chairman? The Prince of Siam is always a guest when he comes from afar, right? And it is indeed for the sake of friendship with China, although their policy of restricting the Chinese is a little bad, but the Chinese in Nanyang have long learned to survive in all kinds of restrictions, without the support of the motherland, they will not also develop well?

Besides. Now China doesn't seem to be able to reach Siam, right? If both sides really tear their faces. Maybe people will adopt a more drastic anti-Chinese policy, and then it will not be the overseas Chinese in Siam who are unlucky?

"Your Excellency, if we really want to do something for the rejuvenation of the Asian nation, then we should first be honest with each other. This is the basis for cooperation between China and Siam. What are the main threats you are facing in Siam at the moment? Is it the British and French colonists who constantly forced you to cede land and pay reparations, or the Chinese and ethnic Chinese who worked hard to build Siam and shed blood and sweat to defend Siam - if it were not for Emperor Zheng Xin, I am afraid that your Kingdom of Siam would have perished for almost a hundred and fifty years, right? Didn't your Rama royal family always claim to be descendants of Emperor Zheng Xin? From this point of view, His Royal Highness the Prince is also of Chinese descent!"

Prince Brippa listened quietly and did not interrupt Chang Ruiqing's words. And Chang Ruiqing seems to be confident, and his confidence in speaking is getting more and more confident: "How important the Chinese are to you Siam, I think His Royal Highness knows better than me, right?" If Siamese and Chinese are hostile to each other because of your anti-Chinese policy, and Siam and China are hostile to each other, who will hurt him more, and His Royal Highness the Prince knows it, right? ”

"It's going to be a lose-lose situation, there will be no winner!" Prince Brippa retorted with a blushing face.

Chang Ruiqing sneered, and looked at the Prince of Siam coldly: "Your Highness! The reason why you are now Your Highness is because the Kingdom of Siam is still there. Neither have you the royal house of Ramah perished! If you insist on a policy of exclusion of China, which leads to turmoil and even civil war in Siam, and is finally destroyed by the British and French powers, is your prince still there? Are you still worthy of King Rama VI? ”

A room full of Chinese defense generals have a little understanding of Chang Ruiqing's strategy - he is going to threaten the Rama royal family with both defeats! If the Rama royal family does not change the existing anti-Chinese policy, Chang Ruiqing is ready to incite the Chinese who support Siam against the Rama royal family. Even if they were finally suppressed by the royal family of Rama. The vitality of the Kingdom of Siam is bound to be greatly damaged.

Although the independence of the Kingdom of Siam was guaranteed by Britain and France, only God knows how valuable this guarantee was. If Siam had really experienced a violent civil strife and lost its ability to protect itself, how could Britain and France take the so-called assurances seriously?

At that time, even if the Rama royal family can keep the crown, it will become a puppet of the Western colonizers! How can there be such power and status now? So in the struggle between Siam and China, the Rama royal family is the ironclad loser. If you don't do it well, you will lose a qiē! And Chang Ruiqing's position in China will not be shaken by the failure of his Siamese policy! So this gamble. The Rama royal family can't afford to play!

There was silence in the room, and all eyes were on Prince Bripa. These Siamese princes remained silent, as if a fierce ideological struggle was going on in their hearts.

Chang Ruiqing continued to talk eloquently: "If you Rama royal family must see the Chinese as a threat, it is only a potential threat. And the threat of Britain and France to Siam is real. Don't think that Siam entered the world war and shed a few drops of blood for Britain and France, and they will give up their coveting of Siam! The reason why Siam was able to maintain its independent status was mainly due to its own strength! If the strength is gone, the country will also be gone, this is an eternal truth...... Now do you want to cooperate with our country and continue to strengthen the self-preservation of the Kingdom of Siam, or do you want to destroy the Great Wall and then willingly become a colony of Britain and France, please make a choice! ”

Prince Bripa seemed to hear something from Chang Ruiqing's words, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said to Chang Ruiqing: "Did Your Excellency the Chairman just mean that as long as Siam changes its policy of restricting Chinese, China can help Siam build a strong army?" ”

"Exactly!" Chang Ruiqing stood up, walked around the room a few times, and said loudly: "Judging from the map, Siam's location is at the forefront of the Asian yellow civilization against the Western white civilization, and it is also surrounded by British and French colonies!" If Siam were to fall, it would mean that the defense line of the Asian yellow civilization against the Western white civilization would suddenly retreat to South China and Taiwan...... And a powerful Kingdom of Siam will mean the beginning of our yellow civilization's counterattack against the white civilization!

Your Royal Highness, as the leader of the largest yellow nation in the world, I am very willing to guarantee the territorial and sovereign integrity of the Kingdom of Siam! What our two countries should sign is not a non-aggression pact - without which our two countries would not encroach on each other's territory, because our territory does not border at all. What we want to sign should be a treaty of alliance! China will regard the violation of the territorial sovereignty of the Kingdom of Siam as an infringement of its own territorial sovereignty!

At the same time, China could provide military assistance to Siam to help Siam train and equip a modern army. In addition, China will persuade Japan to provide the same guarantee to the Kingdom of Siam and help the Kingdom of Siam train and equip a modern navy! In this way, Siam will receive the security guarantees provided by the most powerful army nation in Asia and the most powerful naval power in Asia at the same time!

And the premise of these security guarantees is only to convince the Chinese people that Siam is our true friend and not a lackey who helps the Western powers bully us Chinese. ”

As soon as the words came out, everyone in the room was a little dumbfounded, what was this chairman thinking? After intimidating the Prince of Siam, he suddenly threw out a big cake and even talked to himself about involving Japan as well -- is it really to form an alliance of Asian yellow civilizations against the West? Or is there some other purpose?

However, Prince Bripa of Siam tapped his head a few times, stood up and said to Chang Ruiqing: "Your Excellency, the conditions you put forward are very attractive to us in Siam. However, the final decision is not in my hands, and I will do my best to convey your kindness to the king of our country, and establish cooperation with China. ”

Chang Ruiqing smiled with satisfaction: "Very good, I am looking forward to full cooperation with the Kingdom of Siam." He stood up and walked up to Prince Bripa, and shook his hand: "I hope that your King Rama VI will visit China at his convenience, and I would like to invite him to see our army, and at the same time I would like to discuss with him face to face the matter of cooperation—compared to England and France, we in China are genuinely willing to help Siam build a strong army." In this world of the jungle, a strong army is the guarantee of national independence, and we will help you, and only we will sincerely help you Siam. ”