The Desperate Lancang

Liu Rengui from the west and Gao Yuan from the east, two rested armies charged toward the exhausted people of Lan Xang.

Only then did Nam Khao Pan Phao realize that the strength of the Nanzhou Army was not diminished in the slightest, and furthermore...

"Iron armor... it's actually iron armor! Where did they get iron armor from?"

Nam Khao Pan Phao's instinctive exclamation startled the people of Lan Xang.

At that moment, the blinding light reflected off the lamellar iron armor caused the Lan Xang soldiers to lose the courage to resist.

Although leather armor was lightweight, its defensive capabilities were certainly inferior to iron armor, and it would still sustain damage when faced with armor-piercing awls and horizontal sabers.

As for their own weapons trying to pierce the defense of the lamellar iron armor, that was truly a pipe dream.

This army of Lan Xang was originally composed mainly of private soldiers and death squads that had been cobbled together.

After training for over a month, they had barely managed to establish some military discipline.

However, during the previous battle for spoils, this little bit of military discipline had long been thrown to the back of their minds.

Now, facing a sudden and powerful enemy, these people were instantly thrown into a panic.

It was pure chaos; commanders couldn't find their soldiers, and soldiers couldn't find their commanders. Everything was devoid of order.

No matter how arrogant he was, Nam Khao Pan Phao understood at this moment that he had already lost.

Without discipline or formation, an army is no longer an army; it is just a pile of loose sand.

Just as he had thought, the Lan Xang army collapsed at the first touch, and soon this battle turned into a one-sided slaughter.

Gao Yuan, carrying the Leaders Aura, became the ultimate buffer, causing the spirits of the soldiers around him to soar.

And with the buff of pressing the attack, Gao Yuan felt increasingly invigorated the more he fought.

"What a divine skill! It's a pity it can't be upgraded!"

Two quarters of an hour—they only resisted for two quarters of an hour before the slaughter turned into the task of capturing prisoners across the mountains and plains.

The previously high-spirited Lan Xang General, Nam Khao Pan Phao, tried to flee but failed.

Now, tied up like a rice dumpling and thrown in front of Gao Yuan, his face was filled with dejection.

However, when he saw Gao Yuan, a glimmer of hope for survival erupted in his eyes.

"General Gao, General Gao, it is I, Nam Khao Pan Phao. Don't worry, don't worry, I will definitely have my King send plenty of ransom money over."

Gao Yuan wiped the blood from his face and revealed an innocent smile.

"Easily done, easily done. As long as you cede Vientiane City and Thanh Hoa to me, that will suffice."

Once Gao Yuan's condition was stated, Nam Khao Pan Phao understood that Gao Yuan had not come to loot this time; he had come to destroy the kingdom.

"You... you want to break the alliance? If you do this, you will be, you will be reviled by the world!"

"Simple. Whoever dares to talk nonsense, I will cut them down with a single stroke."

Looking at the General who lay before him like a dead dog, Gao Yuan revealed a smile.

"However, even if that day really comes, you won't be around to see it. Guards, execute him!"

"Spare my life! Spare my life!"

"Spare your life? What benefit would I get from sparing your life?"

"I... I can help you call out for the gates of Location, Location, and Location to be opened."

Gao Yuan thought to himself, "Good grief. The Ming Dynasty had the 'Gate-Calling Emperor,' and you Lan Xang people have a 'Gate-Calling General.'"

However, being able to take the three places without shedding blood, Gao Yuan was still quite satisfied.

"Then you had better do a good job. If you do well, I will ensure you live the rest of your life without worry for food or clothing."

"Many... many thanks, General!"

With Nam Khao Pan Phao as this turncoat, Gao Yuan took the three places of Location, Location, and Location in just ten days.

In this way, Lan Xang's territory was cut into two sections by Gao Yuan.

The regions south of Thanh Hoa, such as Nghe An, Tan Binh, and Hue, lost contact with the Lan Xang capital.

Upon learning this news, the Eastern Governor of Lan Xang, Lakhon, immediately declared independence and established the Lan Xang Kingdom.

At the same time, Lakhon announced his submission to the military governor of diannan circuit of the Great Qian, Gao Yuan, promising to pay annual tributes and come to court every year.

The Lan Xang royal capital, Vientiane City, also lost its barrier and was directly exposed to Gao Yuan's military might.

Furthermore, because of Lakhon's submission, Wen Pin's army was liberated, and the Third Division was deployed to Location, to threaten and contain Place name.

This made the situation in Vientiane City, which had already lost twenty thousand troops, increasingly tense.

Khon Kham had not failed to consider putting up a struggle; before Gao Yuan's army arrived at the city gates, he had sent people to various places to mobilize troops.

Although the turncoat Lakhon had stabbed him in the back, Khon Kham still had quite a few supporters.

Reinforcements from Location and Location arrived one after another.

The result, well, the reinforcements that arrived in such a hurry naturally fell into Gao Yuan's trap of besieging a point to strike at reinforcements.

Over a thousand people were beheaded, and more than five thousand became Gao Yuan's prisoners.

After patrolling the city walls once more, Khon Kham knew that he was finished, and Lan Xang was finished.

Even if Gao Yuan were to have a change of heart and retreat at this moment, they would have no future.

The ripe rice fields outside the city had already been completely harvested, which meant the people of Lan Xang, accustomed to a lazy life and lacking the habit of storing grain, were destined to go hungry.

More importantly, the able-bodied men across Lan Xang were either dead or captured.

The core labor force of this country was gone, and it was not far from collapse.

"my son, how is it?"

Facing the current situation, Nan Jiaopi Pa no longer had her usual poise; she seemed to have aged a dozen years in an instant, giving off a feeling of being on the verge of death.

Khon Kham looked at his mother, who had aged significantly, and shook his head dejectedly.

"There is no hope left; the various reinforcements have all been defeated."

As he spoke, he gritted his teeth and slammed his fist hard onto the desk.

"I was wondering why Gao Yuan was dragging his feet and allowing us to send people out to seek reinforcements. It turns out his goal from the very beginning was to strike at the reinforcements."

If Gao Yuan were here right now, he would definitely give him a thumbs up.

"Correct. Very clever, but unfortunately, there is no prize."

As the capital of Lan Xang, Vientiane City was famous for its high walls and deep moats. How could Gao Yuan be so foolish as to launch a direct assault?

In any case, his goal this time was to take Vientiane City, so he could afford to wear them down slowly.

Since he wanted to mess with their mental state, what could be more despair-inducing than giving them hope only to personally shatter it?

Seeing the various reinforcements annihilated, Location, Location, and Chai Yapeng also became items in Gao Yuan's pocket.

Inside Vientiane City, a feeling of despair was spreading.

Entering September, seeing the grain outside the city all become spoils for the Nanzhou Army, this sense of despair deepened.

Now, Khon Kham no longer held court; he really did not want to see the desperate eyes of those noble ministers.

Sitting in the empty great hall for a long time, Khon Kham finally made up his mind and went to the inner palace.

"Mother, I want to open the city gates and surrender. This way, at least our family will be able to live the rest of our lives without worry for food or clothing."

Behind the pearl curtain, the white-haired Nan Jiaopi Pa was stunned for a moment, and it was a long time before she spoke.

"Since my son has decided, then do it. The Nanjiao Clan will fully support you."

In fact, there was no need for the support of the Nanjiao Clan at all, because once Khon Kham expressed this intention, almost everyone chose to support it.

Khon Kham was surprised for a moment, but he quickly understood the reason behind it.

Nowadays, the only thing in the entire Lan Xang that was still under their control was Vientiane City.

To put it bluntly, things like the population and the land had long ceased to exist.

Therefore, the only remaining interests were the wealth they had hidden in their mansions in the city, and of course, their lives.

It was only because the Imperial Guards were still in his hands; otherwise, these people would have long ago cut off his head to curry favor with Gao Yuan.

"Since everyone supports it, then I will send people out of the city tomorrow to negotiate with Gao Yuan."

The crowd showed joy and flattered him.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Khon Kham truly felt very desperate; these nobles were all fence-sitters.

That night, Khon Kham selected two people from the Nanjiao Clan to act as envoys, taking a basket out of the city to find Gao Yuan.

Upon learning that Khon Kham wanted to negotiate, Gao Yuan was not very surprised.

"Finally, you've come. That was quite a bit slower than I imagined!"