In the blink of an eye, Jia Cong has been in Liaodong for three years.
Now, he is a fifteen-year-old boy.
After the truce with the barbarians, Jia Cong helped Borchi and Wang Shun defeat the returning Mongolian army and took control of the entire Khalkha prairie.
The next year, Hong Tai did not receive any news from his cronies in the grassland, so he sent people to the grassland to investigate.
Only then did he realize that his cronies had been killed, and that the entire Khalkha Mongols were out of his control and had nothing to do with him anymore.
Hong Tai was furious when he heard the news. He immediately ordered his troops and sent troops to the grassland again.
However, Hong Tai's prestige at this time was no longer what it used to be. Coupled with the fact that Amin and some of his subordinates were conserving their strength and not working hard, the war suddenly became a stalemate.
In addition, Wang Shun and Borchi were supported by Jia Cong.
He took the initiative to meet Hong Tai's army and took advantage of the speed of the war horses to start a mobile battle with Hong Tai. The two sides actually fought back and forth.
The war has been going on for several months without improvement, which makes Hong Tai anxious.
Someone was sent to Horqin to ask for reinforcements, but this time Horqin unexpectedly refused.
This made Hong Tai frown and began to doubt his own ability. Is he really not worthy of being the Great Khan?
I remember when Amin and a group of generals supported him and ascended to the position of Great Khan.
At that time, I had great ambitions and high spirits, wanting to conquer the Central Plains and dominate the world.
How did you get to this point step by step? Did you really do something wrong?
Wang Shun and Borchi, with Jia Cong supporting them with food and supplies, just focused on fighting, while Xu Hua was in charge of logistics at the rear, so they lacked nothing.
Hong Tai was different. He went deep into the grassland and had to transport grain and grass from the rear.
After Jia Cong got the news, he sent people to intercept him several times, which almost put Hong Tai in danger of running out of food.
Seeing that he could not win and that staying any longer would be meaningless and would be increasingly disadvantageous to himself, Hong Tai decisively chose to withdraw his troops.
He secretly made up his mind to thoroughly stabilize the situation in North Korea and China after returning, and then deal with all the unstable forces and opposition forces.
After two wars, he finally saw clearly that in order to fight against foreign aggression, one must first settle the internal affairs. Internal instability will cause trouble in everything you do.
You have no prestige, and even your allies no longer support you.
He learned his lesson this time and planned to pull a wave first, then hit a wave, and take his time.
Amin is the most powerful person besides himself. If the two of them get into trouble, it will easily split the barbarian tribe.
He decided to win over Amin first, wait until he had complete control of the overall situation, then slowly strip away his power bit by bit, and finally kick him out.
After more than half a year of fighting, Wang Shun and Borchi lost a lot of men. But it also allowed them to train an elite army.
Withstanding Hong Tai's attack this time, it means that the two of them have established a firm foothold on the grassland.
Jia Cong is also very happy about this. No matter what happens in the future, they still listen to him now.
Wang Shun's original camp also became a transit point for caravans.
The sheepskin, cowhide, medicinal materials and other items used for trading in the Wangshun and Borchi tribes are also stored in the warehouse of the camp.
Every time the caravan brought goods, they put them directly in the warehouse in the camp and took away the grassland materials stored there.
This saves a lot of trouble and time for the caravan. It can travel three to four times a year, which greatly improves efficiency.
It was troublesome to deal with such a large amount of supplies. Jia Cong asked Zhang Fu to open a large warehouse in the capital to sell various items on the grassland.
At the same time, he wrote to Xue Pan and transferred some of the supplies on the grassland to the Xue family at a low price, and used their shops in various places to sell them.
Xue Pan has been helping Jia Cong sell goods in the past few years. It can be said that he has made a lot of money, so naturally he will not refuse.
The Xue family will also make a lot of money every year for this, and they don't have to take risks. This is a good thing that benefits both sides.
Jia Cong also asked Wangcai to form two fleets.
Using the cargo ships owned by the Li family, an inland fleet was formed to run the road between the capital and the south. Various supplies from the south were transported to the capital by this fleet.
Goods from the north are also transported to the south by this fleet.
In addition, a maritime transport fleet was formed. Sailors and cargo ships were provided by Water Monkeys, and the old, weak, sick and disabled pirates were placed in the transport fleet.
This also has the advantage of not only transporting cargo, but also protecting the fleet.
This fleet, led by Wangcai, took the sea route to Liaodong and conducted secret transactions with Amin in a small coastal tribe.
With the help of Jia Cong, Amin's strength also increased rapidly, and he secretly hid a team of three thousand people in the mountains as his back-up man.
Jia Cong paid for Water Monkey to buy ten warships. Each warship was equipped with a medium steel cannon and two small steel cannons. Each cannon was equipped with a hundred ammunition.
This strength is enough to sweep across the surrounding sea areas.
After changing into a warship and installing artillery, Water Monkey led his fleet to defeat three groups of pirates and annexed them all.
In addition to the shipping fleet, there are now more than 1,500 combat troops.
In addition to the ten warships, there were more than 20 medium-sized warships, more than 50 small warships, and dozens of other ships, most of which were captured from the other three groups of pirates.
In addition, there are nearly a thousand shipwrights, craftsmen, sailors, and some experienced navigation personnel who repair warships.
The stronghold of one group of pirates is a small island with a radius of about ten miles. One side is a gentle slope and three sides are relatively steep. It can be regarded as a relatively good place to stay.
Water Monkey and the others directly occupied this foothold and used it as their new stronghold.
Jia Cong has no other ideas about Water Monkey for the time being, nor has he ever thought about going to sea. He can't spend all the money he makes in the mainland, so why take risks in the sea?
In addition to letting them complete their tasks, they have to do everything else by themselves.
For the time being, we will only use this place as a retreat to train a group of sailing personnel in advance to prepare for emergencies.
Amin also helped Jia Cong catch two young seabirds and had them delivered to him. He also gave Jia Cong a secret method of domestication.
Jia Cong worked on the secret method of taming for a month and tamed all two sea greens.
Then comes the daily feeding and training, which are all done by Jia Cong himself in order to cultivate feelings.
In addition, they must often be taken out hunting to train their hunting abilities, as well as their detection and warning abilities.
Now that the two sea greens are adults, when they go hunting, Jia Cong does not need to take action at all. When they find the prey swooping down, they directly catch it in the air and then throw it in front of Jia Cong.
This Haidongqing is big and strong. Whether it is a yellow sheep or an elk, it can catch it and fly it into the sky.
Since Hong Tai withdrew his troops from the grassland, Jia Cong has been at ease.
Every day, he and Qingwen go out hunting with a group of guards, hounds, and Haidongqing.
Sometimes I go to the grassland and stay there for more than half a month, visiting the entire grassland in Liaodong.
After returning from hunting that day, I saw Amin's confidant at home. This person's name was Erdu. He had been responsible for the contact between Amin and himself, and often traveled between Guangning and Hetuala.
Everyone is already very familiar with Jia Cong.
Erdu saw Jia Cong coming back and hurriedly came forward to greet him: "I pay my respects to the Marquis."
Jia Cong waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite, let's go to the study to talk."
When the two came to the study, Jia Cong asked, "Master Beile asked you to come here this time. Is there anything else that I need to do for him?"
"When I reply to the Marquis, Lord Baylor didn't say anything specific. He just asked me to send a letter to the Marquis. The Marquis can read it himself."
As Erdu said, he took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Jia Cong with both hands.
Jia Cong took it and checked that the seal was intact. Then he opened the envelope, took out the letter, and read it carefully.
Looking at it, Jia Cong couldn't help but frown.
The letter said that after Hong Tai withdrew from the grassland, he tried his best to win over Amin. In more than a year, he had eliminated many opposition forces and the court had gradually stabilized.
In order to win over and maintain the relationship with Horqin, Hong Tai planned to marry the daughter of King Horqin Khan. Horqin had already agreed and promised to send him over soon.
Amin didn't want to see Horqin support Hong Tai anymore and wanted to ruin this matter.
However, he did not want to offend Horqin. After all, he was a die-hard supporter of the barbarians, and he would need their support if he won the throne in the future.
If you offend them now, it will be difficult to talk to them later.
Therefore, he didn't want to take action himself, but wanted Jia Cong to come forward and destroy the bride-to-be team and ruin their marriage.
After Jia Cong read the letter, he couldn't help but think about it.
This matter is not difficult for me. I don't have to step forward, just let Wang Shun take care of it.
Hong Tai is now twenty-six or seven years old. With his status, he should have been married a long time ago. This marriage is purely for marriage and to win over and maintain Horqin's relationship.
If their relationship becomes closer again and Horqin sends troops to help, Wang Shun and Borchi will probably feel uncomfortable.
It seems that I can't do anything if I don't take action.
Whether it's for Amin or Wang Shun and the others, this matter must be destroyed.
"Go back and tell you Lord Baylor that I will definitely help him handle this matter. Let him wait for the good news at home."
"Yes, Lord Marquis, the younger one will go back and tell Lord Baylor."
Jia Cong asked Li Biao to send Ordu away, then turned and went to the backyard.
Qingwen said: "Master Hou, is something wrong again?"
Jia Cong nodded and said: "There is indeed something wrong. Hong Tai wants to marry Horqin to repair their relationship. Amin doesn't want to see this happen, so he wants us to destroy this marriage."
Qingwen said: "Then shall we go to Hetuala again? Is it too dangerous?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "No need to go to so much trouble. We will kill the wedding party on the way and snatch the bride away. As long as they fail to get married, our mission will be completed."
"Ah, the Marquis wants to get the bride back. Do you like the bride?"
Jia Cong smiled bitterly and said: "What nonsense are you talking about? I have never seen what the bride looks like. If I don't snatch her back, why should I kill her? If you can do it, I will leave this matter to you. I don’t care.”
Qingwen smiled and said: "Master Hou, this is what you said, don't go back on it. Just don't feel bad when the time comes. When will we take action?"
Jia Cong said: "No rush, there are still some days. Let's rest for a day and set off tomorrow. We will go to the grassland first. We will probably stay there for a few more days this time."
Amin had already told Jia Cong in the letter the time and route of seeing off his bride.
However, just in case, it is necessary to make some arrangements in advance, survey the surrounding terrain, and prevent them from taking a temporary detour.
Early the next morning, Jia Cong left Guangning City again with Qingwen and others, as well as a hundred personal guards.
Jia Cong came to Wang Shun's tribe and was welcomed into the tent by Wang Shun and Zhang Hu.
"My subordinates pay homage to the Marquis. The Marquis is here this time. What are your orders?"
Jia Cong waved his hand and said: "Get up, no need to be polite, Hong Tai is going to marry Horqin. Once they are reunited, if they attack from both sides, you and Borchi will be in trouble.
I came here this time to intercept the bride-to-be team and destroy the marriage between Hong Tai and Horqin. This is the time and route for the bride-to-be team to set off. You send out sentries to investigate this area clearly. We are ready to take action here. "
Wang Shun said: "I know Lord Hou, I will go down and arrange the manpower in a moment. There is no need for Lord Hou to personally come forward for such a small matter. It is enough for me and Zhang Hu to do it."
Jia Cong nodded and said, "Let Zhang Hu and Li Biao lead two thousand troops and follow Qingwen to handle this matter. There should be no problem if they take action."
Several people hurriedly stepped forward, cupped their hands and said, "I respect your orders and promise to complete the mission."
Jia Cong thought for a while, then turned around and said: "Chunlan, Dongmei, you two lead half of the bodyguards and go with Qingwen. Remember to be more careful."
"Yes, Lord Marquis, I honor your order."
Qingwen said: "Master Hou, aren't you going with us?"
Jia Cong smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you to leave it to you? Go ahead and be safe."
"Don't worry, Lord Marquis, I promise to complete the mission."
Zhang Hu ordered two thousand men and horses, and left the tribe with Qingwen and others.
Borchi got the news and rushed over with two thousand guards and Xu Hua.
"Greetings to the Marquis."
Jia Cong said: "No need to be polite, how is your development going now?"
Xu Hua has been helping Borchi manage the tribe, and is also responsible for the distribution of materials in the original Wang Shun camp. Xu Hua has been in charge of the material transactions here.
"Returning to the Marquis, the tribe has developed rapidly in the past two years. With the large amount of material support from the Marquis, the life in the tribe is much better than before. In the past two years, there have been no cases of people freezing to death or starving to death."
The most scarce thing on this grassland in winter is food. Except for a small part of the food produced by Heishanzhuangzi is transported to Guangning, most of it is transported to Wang Shun's camp, where Xu Hua manages and distributes it.
Although Shiwanshi didn't have much food, it was still no problem to help them survive the winter difficulties.
The four of them discussed together and analyzed and negotiated future development issues and possible situations they might encounter.
In the blink of an eye, on the third day, Qingwen and Zhang Hu came back with the team. There was also a red carriage and some tied prisoners in the team.
Qingwen ran forward and said with a smile: "Master Hou, we successfully completed the task and got back a beautiful girl for you. Come and see if you like it?"
Jia Cong said angrily: "What do you mean you brought them back to me? Didn't you say you wanted to kill them all? Why did you bring back so many people?"
Qingwen said: "Don't mention it. As soon as we rushed out, these people surrendered. Zhang Hu said it would be a pity to kill them, and he wanted to take them back to the tribe to be slaves, so he brought them all back."
At this time, the carriage stopped in front of Jia Cong, and a Mongolian girl stepped out of the carriage, supporting a girl in a red wedding dress.
Jia Cong looked her up and down. She looked like a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, with a bit of the bravery of a prairie girl. She was indeed very beautiful, no worse than Qingwen, but there was a hint of panic in her expression.
Jia Cong asked: "What's your name?"
"Da Yu'er."
