The prosperity of the empire cannot be reflected in the vast territory of the empire.
The Ming Dynasty was thousands of miles away and had nine borders. Under the Great Wall, there were hundreds of thousands of frontier soldiers. They could not bathe in the glory before the empire's heyday, nor could they feel the warmth of the extremely rich material in Yingtian City of the capital.
In Ningxia Mansion, Shaanxi Province, three thousand miles away from the capital, the ground is also covered with white snow at this moment, and the eyes are boundless.
As one of the nine important towns in the Ming Dynasty, controlling the west side of the Yellow River and sitting on the Helan Mountain, Ningxia Prefecture has numerous fortifications and military camps on the northwest bank of the Yellow River.
This ancient capital of the Western Xia Dynasty enjoys the reputation of being the land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River. The Yellow River, which has changed its course due to constant flooding, gives Ningxia Prefecture a rare and rich water system in this northern part of the country.
But at this time of year, the rivers were frozen, the mountains were covered with snow, and there were very few people outside the city and fortress.
In the northernmost part of Ningxia Prefecture, where the northernmost part of Helan Mountain meets the Yellow River, Zhenyuan Pass guards the gate to the northern part of Shanxi Road.
Zhenyuan Pass is located at the closest point between the mountains and the Yellow River. The Great Wall is built with rocks quarried on the spot and resists the invasion of enemies from the north.
But now, the Ming Dynasty is at its peak, and the area outside the pass to the north of the Hetao is the border between the Tatar tribe and the Oara tribe. In recent years, there have been few major wars breaking out here.
But even so, the court could not relax and did not dare to relax even a moment.
The Zhenyuan Army, numbering up to 3,000, is stationed at Zhenyuan Pass all year round.
In previous years, Zhenyuan Pass could be said to be a bitterly cold place among the nine bitter colds.
It's just that this year is a little different.
There was no other reason than that the imperial court sent the Yi official who had negotiated mutual trade with the Oara tribe in the early stage. As an imperial envoy, he not only brought officials from Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites, but also brought pro-army troops and a large number of supplies.
Heavy snow held down the mountains.
But behind the border wall of Zhenyuan Pass, there is smoke curling up.
The aroma of food can be smelled everywhere at this pass.
Opposite the Yamen of the Guarding General is the Yamen of Zhenyuan Pass.
The Guarding General's Yamen is responsible for commanding the three thousand border troops at Zhenyuan Pass, and is in charge of a third-rank commander sent by the Ningxia Guard.
The chief official of the Guansuo Yamen is only an eighth-grade governor. But he is in charge of all matters in Zhenyuan Pass except military matters.
But now, because of the arrival of the imperial envoy, the Guansuo Yamen has been vacated.
Hu Yongning, the governor of Zhenyuan Pass, who was wearing a green robe, was carrying a bamboo basket. The bamboo basket was covered with indigo floral cloth, but it could not cover the exposed fish tail.
Holding a bamboo basket in one hand and an official robe in the other, Hu Yongning carefully walked into the customs office from the south and arrived in front of the customs office.
The imperial envoy accompanying the officers and soldiers guarding the yamen gate only glanced at the governor indifferently and let him pass freely.
Entered the Yamen.
Hu Yongning continued to walk inside.
Not long after, they passed through the main hall in front and arrived at the back Yamen, a courtyard with little decoration and only a few rare fir trees planted there.
In the corner of the courtyard, a greenhouse was built, with a charcoal stove lit and windows on the wall. It was also a good place to enjoy the scenery.
Hu Yongning arrived in front of the greenhouse with a natural smile on his face.
"Fan Shaoqing, the big carp from the Yellow River that Xiaguan just ordered people to dig out the river and fish out is a good ingredient for cooking pots and wine. It was specially sent to Fan Shaoqing."
Hu Yongning introduced with a smile, and he had already walked into the greenhouse carrying a bamboo basket.
I saw only the greenhouse.
Fan Chong, the first foreigner in the Ming Dynasty to be awarded an imperial official position, was wearing a green robe with rolled-up sleeves. He held bamboo chopsticks in his hands and sat at the table, scooping out the cooked mutton soup from the pot on the table. Tofu.
right.
Fan Chong has now been promoted.
In order to facilitate the discussion of mutual trade with the Oara tribe, he was promoted to the official position of Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, so he came to Zhenyuanguan to discuss various matters with Mahamu, the envoy of the Oara tribe.
As a fifth-rank young minister of Honglu Temple, Fan Chong looked more presentable now when he put on the green robe.
He looked at Hu Yongning who came in with a basket, and gently put down the chopsticks in his hand with a faint smile on his face.
"Thank you, Governor Hu. I have been here for a long time, and Governor Hu has been taking care of me, which makes me ashamed."
Being in the Ming Dynasty and in the officialdom, Fan Chong consciously learned the Ming Dynasty's officialdom practices.
With a smile on his face, Hu Yongning carefully placed the bamboo basket on the edge of the table. While he was busy taking out the big fish that had been cleaned long ago, he cut it into small pieces in front of Fan Chong. Put the chunks into the mutton soup and tofu pot.
He said diligently: "What are you talking about, Fan Shaoqing? Shaoqing is an imperial envoy by decree. The people who come to our Zhenyuan Pass are all imperial envoys, and they don't know how to do other things besides being an official. Naturally, We can only take good care of Shaoqing and never dare to cause any trouble to Shaoqing's body in Zhenyuan Pass."
When Fan Chong saw that Hu Yongning had already put half of the fish into the pot and sprinkled a handful of his favorite coriander into the pot, he picked up his chopsticks and nodded at the stool that had been reserved beside him: "Brother Hu Please take a seat quickly, it would be boring for me to drink here without you."
Obviously, this was not the first time for the two of them to drink and eat like this.
Fan Chong looked at Hu Yongning's face and poured him a glass of wine.
Hu Yongning was half sitting on the stool as usual, holding the wine glass in both hands.
"I respect you, your Majesty."
Fan Chong waved his hand: "Drink together."
After the two drank a glass of wine, Fan Chong picked up a spoon and scooped another bowl of mutton and tofu soup into the bowl for Hu Yongning.
"Eat some warm soup first to warm your stomach."
Hu Yongning did as he was told. After a bowl of mutton and tofu soup, along with a glass of wine, he immediately felt comfortable all over.
Wait until this time.
Hu Yongning straightened his back, approached Fan Chong, and whispered: "Shaoqing, there is news from Shanxi Road."
A flash of light flashed in Fan Chong's eyes: "But do you have any news about our noble Crown Prince?"
The corners of Hu Yongning's eyes twitched.
Fan Shaoqing, a foreign Ming official, was similar to Ming people in everything, except that when he mentioned his grandson, his flattery and obsequiousness were not disguised at all, and there was no Ming people's implicitness.
But Hu Yongning still nodded and introduced: "His Royal Highness is determined by heaven and earth. In one fell swoop, we will sweep away the rebels in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Road, and track down the officials of the Third Division of Shanxi Road. It can be said to be a thunderous method."
When Hu Yongning spoke, his eyes revealed a look of yearning.
However, he also knew that people like him who were serving as officials at the border would probably never see His Royal Highness the Emperor's Grandson in this life.
However, Fan Chong had a gloomy look on his face and whispered: "Your Highness has solved the Shanxi Road matter, and now it will be our turn to deal with the matter at the pass."
Hu Yongning thought about the majesty of these Beijing officials, but he kept saying: "It should be so, but it is just before the New Year, and the winter is covered with heavy snow. His Highness will probably spend this winter in Taiyuan City before arriving. Guankouwai and Ourabu will finalize the final details of mutual trading."
"Then we have to sort out everything before His Highness arrives!"
Fan Chong spoke plausibly, and deliberately took out the fish tail from the pot and put it into Hu Yongning's bowl.
On the wine table, we send each other fishtails, which means entrusting us with important responsibilities.
Hu Yongning glanced at Fan Chong, but he was not sure whether Fan Shaoqing knew what was said at the Zhongyuan dinner table.
But he still put a piece of fish tail meat into his mouth, and then sneered: "With Fan Shaoqing presiding over the mutual market, Mahamu is now like an ant on a frying pan. At most, it will only last for a long time. He They will agree to it in the end.”
Fan Chong also showed a smile: "Then let him dry out for a while. We must not put him back without squeezing out the last drop of blood from Walabu."
"With Fan Shaoqing sitting here like a mainstay, that Mahamu is only qualified to bow down to me, the Ming Dynasty."
Hu Yongning immediately presented a small horse.
He then added: "As long as this mutual trade is concluded, Fan Shaoqing will probably have to change the green robe he wears."
Throughout the ages, officials who presided over peace negotiations and exchanges with foreign countries would generally be promoted after the matter was over.
This is customary.
Fan Chong obviously didn't know much about this aspect, so he couldn't help but express doubts: "Huh?"
Hoping to establish a good relationship with this Beijing official and looking forward to the opportunity to serve as an official in Yingtian City in the future, Hu Yongning immediately explained in a low voice: "Young Master, I'm afraid you still don't know. Now our Ming Dynasty is here at the border." We have always tried to win over one faction and suppress the other."
Fan Chong nodded and said: "The imperial court is now trying to clear out the Tatar tribe in the east."
There was a little surprise in Hu Yongning's eyes, but he continued: "It is true as Shaoqing said, the imperial court has been mainly attacking the Tatar tribe in the east in these years. Therefore, this time, if Shaoqing can win over the Oara tribe in the west for the imperial court, , or even recruit them to surrender to my Ming Dynasty..."
Hu Yongning paused deliberately.
His face does not change even when he sees an insect.
He smiled faintly: "At that time, I can't guarantee that Shaoqing will be able to enter the ministry, but he will definitely be able to wear a big red robe!"
There was some thought on Fan Chong's face, and he slowly digested what Hu Yongning said.
Not long after.
He finally understood.
I have to pull out all the bones in Ourabu before I can complete this errand.
So Fan Chong smiled coldly.
"I will definitely bring back all the horse manure on the Ourabu pasture to the imperial court!"
…
Ah sneeze!
Also in Yuanguan, Ningxia Prefecture, Shaanxi Province, a loud sneeze sounded in a single-family house not far from the Guansuo Yamen.
Mahamu, the envoy of the Oara tribe who was born under the Immortal Heaven and had to experience the cold winter every year, sneezed with confusion on his face.
He grew up on horseback from the time he could run.
Even when it was the coldest time on the grassland, he could still be naked and fight in the snow with the warriors of the tribe.
The grassland is the most training place.
However, he felt unexpectedly cold in this Mingren's Zhenyuan Pass.
Several months have passed since we went north from Yingtian City to the border pass.
In the past few months, he and Ming Ting had conducted countless negotiations on the mutual trade between the two parties. However, the slow progress made Mahamu feel deeply tired.
What were originally just a few thin pieces of paper trading rules can now be bound into a volume, or a set of several volumes!
So much so that when necessary, the tribe and the Ming court jointly sent troops to conquer the Tatar tribe.
There are increasingly clear regulations on the number of herders and the number of cattle and sheep raised by each tribe on the grassland.
Mahamu couldn't understand.
It was obviously just a simple matter of mutual trading, so why did the Ming court unknowingly get involved in regulating the tribes that inhabited the grasslands.
However, the conditions offered by Mingting were so tempting.
Go down from Helan Mountain to this fertile and abundant pasture on the bank of the Yellow River!
From the Ujia River to the pastures on the north bank of the Yellow River!
This was one of the reasons why the Xixia Kingdom was able to grow strong back then.
As long as they can get these two grasslands on the west bank of the Yellow River Hetao Basin, the Oara tribe can become the most powerful force on the grassland in the shortest time.
This was an offer that Mahamu could not refuse under any circumstances.
Under the conditions set by the Ming Dynasty, no matter what the Oara tribe had to pay, Mahamu felt that the negotiation could continue.
only.
It has been more than half a month now, and that damned and cunning young minister of Honglu Temple has never looked for me again.
The accompanying guard brought a bowl of ginger soup to Mahamu.
Mahamu held the bowl and raised his head, but his palm suddenly hit the table hard.
He also put down the bowl of ginger soup.
Mahamu stood up under the guard's puzzled gaze.
"Where is that Fan insect now?"
The guard lowered his head and hummed: "I'm still living the life of a Ming Dynasty official in the Guansuo Yamen."
Mahamu said solemnly: "Follow me to find him!"
After saying this, Mahamu rolled up the big cloak hanging beside him and hurried out.
Less and more.
In the yamen of Zhenyuan Pass.
Mahamu stood under the main hall, holding the cloak in his hands and hiding it in front of his belly, looking calmly at the empty main hall.
There wasn't even a person serving tea.
This is how arrogant Ming people are.
Mahamu had a ball of anger building up in his heart, but when he thought of the conditions offered by the other party, he could only suppress the anger.
I don’t know how much time has passed.
Before Mahamu saw him, he already heard the sound that always made him feel harsh.
"The envoy on horseback is here, but he fails to greet you from afar. I am being negligent."
As soon as he heard that awkward name, Mahamu couldn't help but twitching at the corner of his eyes.
Then Fan Chong was seen walking over from the back office through the side door with his arms spread wide.
With a smile on his face, Fan Chong arrived in front of Mahamu and slapped his arm heavily with both hands.
"Hurry up, please sit down."
Fan Chong spoke, glanced around, and finally rushed to Hu Yongning who was following him and cursed: "These servants are really bastards. Even if the horse envoy is here, they don't know how to serve tea!"
Hu Yongning immediately echoed and yelled, "What a bunch of blind dogs! I will order someone to bring you tea right now."
As he spoke, Hu Yongxing walked to the front of the hall next to Mahamu.
"Where have all the dogs died? Can't people see them when they come?"
Mahamu sat aside with a sullen face.
Fan Chong glanced at Mahamu lightly.
Before Mahamu could speak.
Fan Chong spoke first.
"I also want the horse envoy to know that I have been waiting for orders from His Highness the Grand Sun these days."
"It's just a coincidence that His Royal Highness the Grand Sun's order has just arrived today."
………………
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