Old stories

[huy.duong@ctsu.ox.ac.uk]

Dear friends,

Lam mentioned Gia Long and Quang Trung.

The Macmillan Asian Histories Series' The History of SEA
mentioned that when Gialong stayed in Siam, he fought the Burmese
for the Siamese and won the Siamese king's respect. Later, when Gialong
became king of Vietnam, the book has this to say:

`Relation [between Vietnam and Siam] were never cordial, for
Siam never abandoned her hope of regaining control over Cambodia.
But she would not risk a clash with a monarch who had given such ample 
demonstration of his ability to wage war.'

Good as Gialong and his men were, Quangtrung and his men were even better.
 
The war between Gialong and Quangtrung was such a waste. There
has rarely be a time when Vietnam had so many men and women of 
talents, but so many fine leaders on both sides died. And Gialong
killed his own best general (the man who took an oath of brotherhood with the 
founder of the present Thai dynasty).

Wasted opportunities, and repeats of such.

Huy