Page 278 - A History of Siam

262 A HISTORT OF SIAM

In 1769 the third Chinese invasion of Burma since the
accession of KingMengra had been successfully repulsed,
and between Burma and the Chinese
peace formally
concluded. This left Burma free for further
aggressions
her eastern In an under
against neighbours. 1771 army
a celebrated General named Bo was sent to inter-
Supla
fere in a between the Princes of and
dispute Wiengchan
on the invitation of the former.
Luang P'rabang, Luang
P'rabang submitted without any fighting, leaving this
army free to molest Siam, In 1772 a small force was
sent to but was driven back. At the
capture P'ijai,
end of 1773 Bo Supla himself led an army to attack P'ijai
This time the Siamese were and after a
again. ready, very
fierce engagement drove the whole Burmese army back
across the frontier.
In 1774 KingMengra was busy making preparations
for a final blow at Siam. His was to make,
dealing plan
as in a double invasion from and the
1767, Chiengmai
west Taksin was to
simultaneously. King getting ready
defend his new when he heard that a rebellion
capital
had broken out in and that the rebels had taken
Pegu,
Martaban. He therefore determined to take the initi-
that if he wished to unite the Lao States to
ative, realising
his Kingdom he must do it now or never. In November
1774 he marched to the north at the head of 20,000
men. On reaching Raheng he heard the disquieting
news that the Peguan rebels had been quelled. For
a brief he hesitated. But if the news from Burma
space
was bad, that from Chiengmai was very encouraging.
The Burmese Governor was at with Bo
loggerheads
1 and a man of had
Supla, P'ya Chaban, great influence,
quarrelled with them both. Lampang was known to
*This was the General who took command of the Burmese army after the
death of Maha Nohrata, and was responsible for the capture of Ayut'ia and
subsequent barbarities.