As Minkhaung refused to submit or counterattack, Razadarit roamed freely in the upcountry until he was persuaded to withdraw by a Buddhist monk mediator in early 1402.

He fully withdrew only when he learned that Ava's southern forces had defeated the Hanthawaddy army outside Prome (Pyay), and captured his daughter, Princess Tala Mi Kyaw, in the process.

[13][15] Ava even sought Chinese help in containing their common enemy Maw,[note 4] but found no relief as the Ming government itself could not establish firm control of its Yunnan borderlands until 1398.

Unlike Tarabya who had been trained since his youth to succeed the kingship,[23] Minkhaung had little experience dealing with the powerful court, or the myriad vassal rulers of the kingdom.

[note 5] In all, outside of appointing Prince Theiddat at Sagaing, the new king was able to install his loyalists only in a few small districts: Thihapate at Taungdwin, Thado at Myohla, Baya Gamani at Singu, and Yazathingyan at Siboktara.

"[27] Knowing that he needed to strike before Minkhaung could consolidate power, Razadarit ordered his court to prepare for a full scale dry season invasion.

The main force was a large naval armada, which according to the Razadarit Ayedawbon, consisted of 13 flotillas, some 4000 vessels of all types, carrying 5000 (or 7000) troops[28] as well as horses and even elephants.

[31][32] Prome's governor Letya Pyanchi, a son-in-law of Hanthawaddy Viceroy Laukpya of Myaungmya as well as an experienced commander, was to lead the defenses.

[30] The high command now drew up a plan to maintain the siege, and set up an alternate supply station at Myede, 70 km north of Prome.

Their new plan called for the armada to sail directly towards Ava, and rely on their naval prowess to secure the riverine supply lines.

When they reached Pagan (Bagan), Razadarit was tempted to take the ancient capital for symbolic reasons but quickly decided against it after seeing the city's heavy fortifications.

[50] After briefly inquiring why Razadarit had come to the upcountry, the monk proceeded to deliver his prepared sermon, preaching the Buddhist doctrines regarding the "wickedness of war", and "the sin of bloodshed".

[43] After the sermon, Razadarit announced that he had indeed come to conquer the upcountry but now that he had a better understanding of the dhamma, he would return home as soon as his upriver naval squadrons got back to the base.

[11][51] In the meantime, as gestures of goodwill, the king freed over 20 prisoners of war to the monk's custody, and ordered the construction of a zayat (pavilion) on the premises of the Shwe Kyet-Yet Pagoda.

[51] When the Hanthawaddy navy finally left, a somber Minkhaung lamented that Razadarit had invaded his country without "breaking a sword or a lance", and that he would surely return again.

Shin Zawtayanta as well as Byat Za and Dein had to dissuade the king, stating that "demerits accrue to the one who set fire to a good deed".

But when Razadarit's men tried to take away a Buddha statue which they believed had been taken from their southern homeland by King Anawrahta of Pagan (r. 1044–1077) some three and a half centuries ago, Ava troops finally intervened.

He had just received the news that his Prome Area Army had been defeated at Khaunglaunggya, and that his daughter Princess Tala Mi Kyaw had been taken prisoner and sent to Ava.

[note 15] Hanthawaddy forces quickly seized Gu-Htut and Ahlwe as those governors had already evacuated to the Hlaing fort south of Prome.

Only in late November did the Ava king finally manage to send a supply convoy (2000 pack ponies, each carrying two tins (~82 liters, ~2.25 bushels) of rice) to Prome.

[65][66] Guarded by a regiment led by Governor Thado of Myohla, the convoy managed to slip through the Hanthawaddy lines north of the city, and reached Prome.

When Thado's regiment broke through the Hanthawaddy lines again, and got back to Ava, the commander reported that the situation in Prome was still extremely dire, and that Minkhaung needed to send military help right away.

While Dein agreed with Byat Za's assessment, another faction, led by senior minister Zeik-Bye, remained confident that they could hold the tide.

At the dawn of 26 December 1402,[note 16] Ava forces planted their scaling ladders on the riverside walls of the Nawin fort, overpowered surprised Hanthawaddy troops, and opened the gates.

[75][76] After the king had calmed down, Dein and Byat Za proposed sending the navy to attack Ava's supply lines up the river.

[80] Minkhaung sent a diplomatic mission across the river, carrying a letter addressed to Razadarit alongside gifts including two rare breed horses.

In the letter, Minkhaung proposed a peace treaty if the "royal elder brother Razadarit" agreed to return all the occupied territories, and leave his kingdom.

By using diplomatic and military means, Minkhaung began acquiring eastern Shan states of Onbaung (1404/05), Yatsauk and Nyaungshwe (1405/06),[94] and northern Maw/Mong Mao territories of Bhamo and Mohnyin in 1406.

The Chinese Ming court, which considered the Shan states its tributaries, dispatched an embassy to Ava in August 1406, issuing a warning to end the "aggression".

[note 44] (Fernquest Spring 2006) has the war starting "c. 1401",[22] expanding into 1402,[75] the main battle of Nawin being fought on 4 January 1401,[75] and the final peace treaty being signed in 1406.