Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 552 Six Strategies for Governing Burma

After thinking for several days, Meng Jun still believed that Myanmar could not be annexed directly because many surrounding countries were observing the Qian Dynasty's foreign policy. If the annexation was carried out now, it would inevitably cause concern among the vassal states.

Of course, this is not what Meng Jun is most worried about. Today, the Qian Dynasty is undoubtedly the most powerful empire in the East. Even if the surrounding small countries unite, they are still not enough to defeat the Qian Dynasty. However, the precedent of Annan's repeated rebellions during the Ming Dynasty forced Meng Jun to think carefully.

Annan was known as the Little China in the Southeast. Its national systems were modeled after those of the Central Plains, and Confucianism was prevalent there. But even so, it took the Ming Dynasty a long time to rule Annan, and finally it gave up Annan. Although Myanmar paid tribute to the Central Plains dynasty, Confucianism was not well-developed in the country, and it was extremely difficult to rule it directly.

Soon after, Wu Sangui's memorial was urgently sent to the palace, saying, "Myanmar has been conquered, and how to govern it should be decided by the emperor."

Afterwards, Meng Jun summoned his important ministers to discuss the decision on governing Burma. Most of them believed that Burmese should be used to govern Burma. In this way, local grievances would not be directly blamed on the Qian Dynasty. As long as the people were educated and mature, they would submit to the country when the time came. And the Qian Dynasty could afford to wait, whether it was ten, twenty, or even fifty years.

This was also what Meng Jun agreed with. Meng Jun then urgently dispatched more than 60 officials, including the Minister of Propaganda Wu Tai, to rush to Ava City under the escort of Zhang Bo, the Qingluan Guard.

Wu Tai's primary task was to select a person from Myanmar to be the King of Burma. After enthroning the King of Burma, he would use the King of Burma as a banner to gradually infiltrate and control Burma.

The six strategies for governing Burma included the establishment of a Burmese kingdom system, the abolition of the old Toungoo system, and the full imitation of the Central Plains system.

Secondly, the country became a vassal and paid tribute, and the Qian Dynasty was fully responsible for foreign affairs, with the officials of the Ministry of Rites being sent by the Qian Dynasty.

Third, a minister will be appointed to Burma, who can participate in Burmese political affairs at any time.

Fourthly, a general will be stationed in Burma. The general will lead 5,000 officers and soldiers of the Qian Dynasty and be stationed in the capital of Burma. All money and food will be paid by Burma. The general will be responsible for the safety of the entire Burma. He can use troops first and then report to the court. In times of crisis, he can dispatch troops from Burma.

Fifth, the Burmese crown prince shall enter the Qian Dynasty, learn Chinese, and know the Confucian classics. This shall be a permanent rule. Those who do not enter the Qian Dynasty to study cannot become the crown prince.

Sixth, within the territory of Myanmar, the native characters of foreign nations shall be abolished, Chinese characters shall be used, Confucianism shall be studied, and those who do not know Chinese characters shall not be allowed to serve as officials.

Meng Jun's six strategies were to fully control Myanmar from the political, military, diplomatic and cultural aspects, but on the surface, he still used the banner of Burmese people ruling Myanmar.

These six strategies were actually more stringent than the conditions originally given to Mangbai, but in the court's propaganda, these conditions were downplayed or not even mentioned. It was only said that the army was conquering Burma only to punish the rebellious people. Now, the rebel leader Mangbai has been captured, and the emperor rules the world with benevolence and righteousness. Soon, a wise king will be selected to re-establish the country of Burma and have the Burmese rule Myanmar.

By the beginning of the fourth year of Zhaowu, Wu Tai and other officials of all ranks had not yet entered Burma, but the Six Strategies for Governing Burma had already been delivered to Wu Sangui.

Afterwards, Wu Sangui ordered his people to spread propaganda, saying that the Qian Dynasty was not trying to seize land, but to rule the world with benevolence and righteousness, and that the military expedition was only to suppress disobedience. After the important officials of the court arrived in Ava, they would re-establish a new king and rule Myanmar with Burmese people.

As soon as the news came out, powerful groups in the East, South, West and Myanmar were delighted. Everyone said that the Celestial Empire was worthy of being the Celestial Empire. Mang Bai killed his brother, and the Celestial Empire's crusade was in line with the will of the people.

Soon after that, various places sent envoys to surrender, except for Pegu in the southernmost part, which refused to submit. Except for Pegu, all other Burmese places sent envoys to surrender on the surface.

Wu Sangui had no idea where Pegu was. He only knew that it was in the southernmost part of Myanmar, close to the sea. He knew that he could not ignore the people who refused to surrender. But Wu Sangui had no intention of running to the southernmost part to fight a battle with unknown natives.

Therefore, under the suggestion of Fang Guangchen, Wu Sangui ordered all the surrendered forces around Pegu to send troops to attack Pegu. At the same time, the Qian Dynasty would also send military supervisors to see who contributed more and who could get a higher position in the new country.

But Wu Sangui asked all the generals in the army, and no one was willing to go. Wu Sangui then settled for the second best and asked the middle-level generals to sign up. Finally, a captain named Xu Wu stood out.

Afterwards, Wu Sangui appointed Xu Wu as the joint military supervisor of all the troops, and led a hundred elite troops of the Qian army to march south immediately.

It is said that whoever contributes more will have more say in the new country, and powerful groups from all over the country rushed to send troops, fearing that they would fall behind.

The native official of Pegu refused to surrender for only one reason, that is, Mangbai's son was in his hands. Now the heir to the Toungoo royal family was the only one left. As the saying goes, rare goods are valuable. The native official of Pegu thought that the Qian Dynasty would definitely occupy Myanmar. By then, there would be countless rebels everywhere. If he held the prince in his hands, wouldn't he become the leader of all parties?

But he did not expect that the Qian Dynasty would actually return the Burmese land to the Burmese. He racked his brains but could not understand why the Qian Dynasty sent troops in the first place if they wanted to do this. Were they really doing this to punish Mang Bai who usurped the throne?

However, when all places surrendered, he was really unwilling in his heart. Therefore, when everyone sent envoys to submit, he was stubborn and refused to surrender to the Qian Dynasty.

However, this man's ambition was obviously not matched by his ability and luck. When Wu Tai and others from the Qian Dynasty just entered Myitkyina, Pegu was defeated by the extremely excited and powerful forces around it.

Not only was this man's entire family wiped out, but even Mang Bai's son died in the chaos.

In the city of Ava, there is a mansion covering a vast area.

Wu Sangui ate the local specialties while chatting with his trusted adviser Fang Guangchen.

Wu Sangui ate for a while, then wiped his mouth and said to Fang Guangchen: "Tingxian, now that Burma has been pacified, my mission has been completed, but I am still hesitant in my heart!"

Fang Guangchen naturally knew what Wu Sangui was thinking. Although he had returned to the capital and lived a life of wealth and glory, it was still the capital. A brick fell from the sky and knocked down five people, at least three of whom were officials.

Wu Sangui was born a surrendered general, so he could only behave himself in the capital, fearing that he would offend some meritorious official, let alone act arrogantly. But in Ava City, it was different. God was the boss and Wu Sangui was the second in command, so his life was indeed different.

After these days, Wu Sangui did have some ideas in his mind. It would be nice to stay in Ava City and be the emperor. If that didn't work out, after a few years, when he was tired, he would return to the capital to enjoy a peaceful life.

After a while, Fang Guangchen slowly said, "My Lord, do you want to stay in Burma?"

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