The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 372: Set up a Siamese Chinese Mutual Aid Association?

"We can set up this 'Siamese Chinese Mutual Aid Association,'" Zhang Chi said, smiling as he looked across the table at Hao Yi and Jin Xican. "But the name is a bit too flashy."

His tone was neither hurried nor slow, as if he was just chatting casually. He gently turned the porcelain teacup in his hand, and the aroma of tea rose.

The first batch of commercial vertical air conditioners produced in small batches for trial production has come off the production line. The subordinates are very considerate, and the first group of people to try them out naturally includes Zhang Chi's office.

So now in the corner of the office, the huge indoor unit that is more than one person tall and more than two people wide is blowing cold air, and outside the window is the outdoor unit of the air conditioner running desperately.

Zhang Chi didn't feel any stuffiness sitting in the office, but rather a little cold, so he drank some warm jasmine tea.

"Although I am the de facto emperor now, the entire palace is surrounded by the People's Security Army, and those 'noble councilors' of Siam are more respectful to me than to their king, we still have to be tactful and restrained in the methods we use." Zhang Chi said, raising his glass and taking a sip.

"Especially at this time, the more we must learn to hide our strength - it is far more lasting to convince people than to frighten them. It is not enough to just kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, we must also destroy their hearts."

This set of enamel teacups was specially custom-made by him from the porcelain factory opened by Huan Boyong. The initial order was for 10,000 pieces. Printed on the front is a pattern of Zheng He, the eunuch Sanbao of the Ming Dynasty, sailing to the West: Zheng He wears a black gauze hat and a flying fish robe, holding a sword in his right hand with a majestic expression. Behind him is the turbulent South China Sea, and huge treasure ships are lined up. The painting style is majestic and powerful.

On the back of the teacup is a line of vermilion slogans:

"Perform your duties faithfully and work hard for the rise of the Chinese nation."

Hao Yi picked up the teacup, took a look at it, and said with a smile, "This cup is quite good. It can boost morale when I drink water every day. I think it can be distributed to the army."

Zhang Chi hummed and nodded. "Civil servants have already started receiving the money. Military personnel, corporate employees, teachers, and doctors, no one should be left out. Don't underestimate this slogan. Just look at it every day while drinking water. It's just as effective as a lecture."

He gently put down his teacup, his tone a bit playful, "In general, the name 'Siamese Chinese Mutual Aid Association' is too straightforward. It will easily arouse the vigilance of all Siamese people, especially those old aristocrats and large landowners who still have lingering ambitions."

Although Jin Xican, the director of the Intelligence Department, also holds the rank of major general, he was still wearing a neat suit today instead of a military uniform. Upon hearing this, he immediately nodded and said solemnly:

"The commander-in-chief is right. It was my fault for not considering the matter carefully. Adding the word 'Chinese' does indeed make it sound alarming. If we change it to a name that is rich in meaning and has a touch of cultural flavor, it will be both solemn and subtle."

Zhang Chi smiled and nodded. "That's right. People in Siam are changing their minds right now. Even the royal family has to look to us for support. But if they see that we want to fully integrate the Chinese and replace them, they will definitely not be willing to accept it. It might even bring out their hidden hostility."

Jin Xican's face was serious. He took off his tie and suggested, "If you allow it, the Intelligence Department can monitor and eavesdrop on the Siamese Parliament and those nobles around the clock. If they are found to be in contact with external forces, they can issue an immediate warning."

With the transistor technology of the 1960s, even if Zhang Chi had not yet developed large-scale integrated circuits, the various equipment produced by Radio 6 in the intelligence field were far ahead of the current era. It can be said that Jin Xican's Intelligence Department is fully capable of doing all this without anyone knowing.

Zhang Chi nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Well, you two should keep a close eye on them, especially the old Siamese nobles in the provinces near the southeastern border. I heard that since the conflict between us and the John people broke out, some of them have been traveling back and forth quite frequently."

"Understood!" Jin Xican immediately stood up and saluted, his tone serious, "I will strengthen surveillance right away. If there is any suspicious contact, report it immediately!"

Zhang Chi gently waved his hand, motioning him to sit down, and changed his tone: "I thought of a name, it's called - Sanbaotang."

Hao Yi and Jin Xican looked at each other, then quickly sat up straight and waited for him to continue.

"'Sanbao', a tribute to the eunuch Zheng He, is a symbol of our Chinese people's peaceful diplomacy. We don't provoke trouble, but we are never afraid of it. Nowadays, it's popular to talk about Western-style 'civilization,' but Zheng He sailed across the oceans five hundred years ago. We Chinese people value benevolence, righteousness, trustworthiness, and the pursuit of a harmonious world through commerce."

Zhang Chi stood up, walked to the wall next to the conference table, pointed at the world map and said:

"We can also define the meaning of 'Three Guarantees' ourselves - safeguarding safety, safeguarding culture, and safeguarding trade routes. First, safeguarding safety means ensuring that the local Chinese community has its own self-defense capabilities and can no longer be bullied. Second, safeguarding culture means restoring Chinese education and respecting ancestors. If you don't even worship Lord Guan and the God of Wealth, what kind of Chinese are you? Third, safeguarding trade routes means controlling the Chao Phraya River shipping routes and the Yanhe freight station. Whoever controls the river is the backbone of Siam."

After hearing this, Hao Yi's eyes lit up with admiration: "Commander-in-Chief, you are wise. The name 'Sanbaotang' is much better than the 'Mutual Aid Society' that I had in mind. It has a deep cultural heritage and rich connotations. It makes sense both internally and externally. It's really wonderful!"

Jin Xican's eyes lit up when he heard this: "This is indeed good. It sounds much more modern than a 'mutual aid association', and it can also carry out some superficial public welfare activities."

Zhang Chi glanced at Hao Yi and said unhappily, "Stop flattering me."

He then said in a serious tone, "You two will be involved in the operation of the Sam Po Tong in the future, especially you, Hao Yi. You will have to lead the organization of the Sam Po Tong's joint security teams and patrols in various provinces of Siam. Local Chinese villages and communities must undergo basic self-defense training."

"Yes, Commander!" Hao Yi immediately stood up and agreed with a respectful attitude. "I will train a group of disciplined and eloquent veterans and equip them with civil defense equipment. On the surface, it will be a volunteer militia, but in reality, it can quickly switch to emergency combat readiness."

Zhang Chi looked at Jin Xican again and said, "As for the funding, part of it will go through the Intelligence Department's channels, and the other part will be contributed by local Chinese businessmen and landlords. Although the name of this Sanbaotang is not a mutual aid association, it is essentially a mutual aid association. It's their own business, so they should contribute money and effort, right?"

He placed his hand on the map again and said, "Our ancestors left behind more than just incense in Siam. Did you know? As early as the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the Chaoshan people controlled Siam's rice market and red-headed ship trade."

"During the Thonburi Dynasty, King Taksin, who was of Chinese descent, personally issued an edict to encourage the immigration of people from Chaoshan and Minnan. He knew that we Chinese were organized and trustworthy, and that we could enrich the country, so there were a large number of Chinese in the court."

Jin Xican continued softly, "Commander, I've checked the archives. Before the war, the Chinese in Siam reached 150 million, accounting for over 10% of the total population. Almost half of the people in Bangkok are from China. Teochew has become the lingua franca of commerce. Even Siamese pawnshops have to employ a Teochew accountant."

"Yes." Zhang Chi nodded, his tone more sentimental. "It's a pity that that mad dog Luang Phibun came to power and started this whole 'national assimilation' thing. He closed all the Chinese schools, changed all the household registrations to Siamese names, and even levied a foreign tax, forcing so many people to 'pretend they're not Chinese.'"

"If he wasn't as obedient as a dog right now, I would definitely take him to target practice!"

He turned around and sat down, his eyes determined. "But I know their hearts haven't changed. Their bloodline hasn't changed, their surnames haven't been forgotten, and even though they speak Siamese, they still eat Chinese food and worship Guan Gong and Mazu. As long as we are willing to organize and guide them, in just five years, the economic power of Siam will be back in our own hands."

Hao Yi nodded solemnly: "I understand, and I am willing to do my best to cooperate with the deployment."

"Okay." Zhang Chi picked up a pen and wrote the five big words "Prepare for Sanbaotang" on a document at hand and placed it between the two of them.

"From today on, this matter will be the responsibility of the two of you. Remember—be low-key in public, but be solid behind the scenes. Promote culture, charity, education... People's hearts aren't won by force. We have to make them feel: 'We Chinese are the most reliable. Only by sticking together and closely surrounding the Anmin Army can we live a good life.'"

"Understood!" The two responded in unison, their expressions solemn.