12 7 Manich states: “The letter [from Viceroy Tissa] said that the bearer [Phra Suryaphakdi] side with Tissa and should be sent to Bangkok on a secret mission to repatriate the Lao population in Bangkok.” Manich (1967), p. 207. It is difficult to imgine how Suryaphakdi could have arranged the removal of half of Bangkok’s population, even if he had intended to. Capture of the Emerald Buddha was more feasible, and therefore presented an irresistible temptation. A small commando group could have wormed its way through the Thai armies at Prachinburi and Tha Rua and entered Bangkok without a problem. The possibility explains why Rama 3 sealed off Bangkok when informed of the presence of the Lao at Khorat.