Tyranny of Steel

Zhu Zhi sat atop his carriage with a proud smile on his face as he strode through the streets of the southern capital of Indochina as a victorious conqueror. For the past few months, the Ming Dynasty had been waging a war in the region to unite it under the tributary system. Previously, only the northern half of the region paid tribute to the Ming Emperor, however, with the fall of Panduranga, the south had officially entered into the Chinese sphere of influence. 

The Ming Prince was visibly ecstatic as he waved to the various onlookers with a friendly smile. Though he had come as a conqueror, he had no intent to punish the defeated for their resistance. After all, he was not a petty man, and understood that the Indochinese had fought for their sovereignty, which was a respectable cause in Zhu Zhi's eyes.

While the Ming Prince strolled through the southern capital, a beautiful young Vietnamese woman tossed flowers towards him. This immediately caught the prince's eye as he blew a kiss to the woman, which caused her to blush in embarassment. Despite his flamboyant nature, Zhu Zhi had no real interest in taking the woman as a concubine. 

It was only after the troops came to a stop outside the Indochinese King's palace did the Ming Prince step off from his carriage and approach the man who had submitted after months of brutal warfare. An interpreter translated Zhu Zhi's words as he greeted the defeated King with a tone filled with respect. 

"Thảo Khải Tâm, your people have fought well, but in the end, it was a foolish endeavor to resist our kind offer. I hope that after your defeat, you have learned to be more humble towards my father..."

The once proud King of South Indochina bowed his head respectfully. Though he gritted his teeth in frustration over his defeat, he did not dare voice his discontent. Instead, he forced a pleasant smile to appear on his face as he greeted the Ming Prince as his conqueror. 

"Prince Zhu Zhi, I have heard rumors of your legendary experience as a battlefield commander. It was my foolishness to believe that I could ever resist a brilliant general such as yourself."

Though Khải Tâm spoke these words, he knew in his heart that the only reason the Ming had so easily trounced his resistance was because of the advanced weapons that they wielded. Nonetheless, his defeat was certain, and if he could retain his title as King, then he would gladly kneel before the Ming Crown. However, Zhu Zhi's lighthearted response has startled him.

"I believe I warned you before my invasion that it was in your best interest to submit to my father. However, you stubbornly refused my advice and caused this unecessary suffering to take place. Still, I respect your spirit, which is why I am speaking to you here in front of your palace, rather than having you bound in chains. 

I want to make this clear to you and all your people that we are not your enemies. We merely came into your lands as your protectors. If the Japanese were to have invaded your country as they have done to the Joseon, the Ryukyu, the Ainu, and most recently the island of Mindanao, then believe me when I say that you and your people would not have been treated with such kindness after your defeat."

It startled the Indochinese King to hear of this news. Though he had heard rumors of Japanese expansion, he had never thought in his life that his land would be the target of their greed. However, from what Zhu Zhi told him, it sounded as if the Ming invasion of his lands was done as a countermeasure to the rapid expansion of the Japanese Empire.

If that were the case, then the Ming Dynasty must have some sort of proof that the Empress Itami eyed these lands with avarice in her heart. As a result, he could not help but ask for this evidence, even if it could be viewed as inappropriate on his part. 

"You must have some evidence to support the claim that the Japanese intend to invade my lands? Just because they are invading their neighbors does not mean that they have any intent to annex my lands!"

Though Khải Tâm's tone was overbearing, Zhu Zhi did not take offense, and merely reached into his satchel and pulled out several photos taken by agents of the German Empire. They were of bauxite deposits located within southern Indochina. After handing the photographs over to the Indochinese King, Zhu Zhi wore a smug smile as he responded to the man.

"These are images taken by our friends in the German Empire. In case you don't recognize this resource, it is plentiful within your borders, and the Japanese Empire will soon be looking for an alternative source of this mineral.

While Empress Itami does not realize it yet, the Germans soon enough will defeat her proxies in India. When this happens, she will need to search elsewhere for this mineral, which is critical to her plans of industrial expansion. 

If you were to remain independent, she would surely strike at your lands, and enslave your people to mine this resource, as she has done to those in the southern half of the Joseon peninsula. By subjecting you to our tributary system, we have given you a shield. Which will force the Japanese Empire to decide between attacking the Ming Dynasty, or the Majapahit Empire. 

Based upon our calculations, it would be much easier for her to take Borneo, and transport this mineral back to her homeland, than it would be for her to secure it from a Ming controlled Indochina. Thus, by subjecting your petty Kingdom, we have spared you a great deal of suffering, more than you have already endured during our brief campaign."

Though Zhu Zhi's words were convincing. Khải Tâm did not understand what Bauxite was, or what possible use it had. Thus, he had a hard time believing that the Japanese Empire would invade his lands for such an obscure resource.

If the Ming Prince was being honest, he himself doubted whether these claims were true. However, they were spoken by the Kaiser, and if anyone knew what the Japanese were up to, it would be the Germans. Despite Zhu Zhi's unwavering belief in Berengar's words, Khải Tâm was far from convinced, and quickly voiced his doubt. 

"What evidence do you have that the Japanese would invade my lands for this mineral?"

If Zhu Zhi were a less intelligent man, this question would have stumped him for sure, but unlike his now deceased little brother, he had a sharp mind and a quick wit. Thus, he did not even need to think of a satisfactory answer as he gave voice to it.

"Only the word of the Germans, but if anybody knows what Empress Itami is planning, it would be them. After all, the Germans have long since infiltrated the Japanese mainland, so much so that they were able to get their hands on many secret weapons designs. In fact, the Kaiser recently gifted my father a rather large warship that is a complete replica of what Empress Itami is currently constructing for her fleets."

To the Indochinese King, this news was utterly shocking. While German merchants had long since made their way to his lands, and brought with them many items that could only be acquired via trade with the Reich. He had never expected the Germans to infiltrate the Japanese Mainland, and conduct espionage to such a level that they could recreate Japanese warships. 

After all, the Indochinese King had seen the German and Japanese fleets pass by his territorial waters, and was deeply frightened by what he witnessed. He honestly did not know which of the two great powers would emerge victorious if they ever came to blows. 

Neither Zhu Zhi, nor Khải Tâm were aware that Germany had only recently infiltrated the Japanese Mainland within the last year, and had been extremely cautious in their clandestine operations. Rather, the replication of the Japanese Cruiser was achieved by taking in Japanese refugees who had worked on the project prior to their defection. 

Despite this ignorance, it was this misconception that thoroughly convinced the Indochinese King to fully lay down any resistance that he might still harbored in his heart, and accept the Ming Dynasty as his new overlords. If this was an era of Great Empires who controlled large swaths of the earth, then he would rather be swallowed up by the Ming than the Japanese or Germans. At least his people had a long history of contact with the Chinese. 

Thus, just like this, the last resistance in Indochina came to an end, and the Ming had successfully subjected the entire region as a tributary state to their mighty Empire. In doing so, they had played right into the hands of Berengar, whose goal was to deny the Japanese Empire a valuable source of bauxite. 

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