A meeting that was friendly on the surface but actually contradictory ended unhappily, and even the banquet afterwards left everyone in a mixed mood. The generals of the Ming Dynasty were not used to the food cooked too crudely by the Jurchens. Even though the ingredients of those dishes were not bad and mostly consisted of fresh game, they could not win the favor of the Ming generals.
The Jurchens themselves were accustomed to eating, but it was a pity that Cao Yu, the commander-in-chief of the Ming army, was not in any hurry to help them regain Xicheng, but made them eat nothing.
After the banquet, Bellena Linbulu from the east city smiled and sent Cao Yun and his entourage to the temporary camp. Cao Yan declined his good intention to invite him to live in "Baylor Mansion" and insisted on living in the camp. Nalinbulu tried to persuade him for a while, but when he saw that he was unwavering, he had to give up.
After setting up the camp of the Ming army, the east city became more crowded. Nalinbulu told his subordinates some precautions, especially not to easily interfere with the illegal activities of the Ming army soldiers. When encountering disputes, do not deal with them in a hurry. They must deal with them as quickly as possible. Report to him as quickly as possible, etc.
Then, exhausted, he returned to the west courtyard of Baylor Mansion to meet Bu Zhai. The west courtyard is the guest courtyard of Baylor Mansion. Bu Zhai has lived here since he broke out of the siege of Xicheng.
Seeing Nalinbulu coming over in low spirits, Bu Zhai stood up to greet him, took Nalinbulu's hand and said, "Ah Hun, Cao Yun refuses to send troops to help me, are we just waiting like this?"
Nalinbulu sat down tiredly, leaned back weakly, closed his eyes and said, "Otherwise, can we put a knife on his neck and force him to send troops?"
Since Bu Zhai came to Dongcheng, the main force of the Mongolian army also moved to Dongcheng. In order to avoid being secretly dug tunnels to bury gunpowder at the foot of the city wall like Xicheng, Nalinbulu patrolled the city these days, checking several times a day, and commanding the occasional defense against the Mongolian attack. He was already exhausted.
After the Ming army entered the city, as the landlord of Dongcheng, he had to work hard to "accompany the guests", prepare banquets and arrange accommodation as quickly as possible, and was so exhausted that he felt weak when speaking at this time.
Bu Zhaiyu said angrily: "The Ming people can't be trusted after all. I think they are hanging on in Dongcheng. I'm afraid they want to overwhelm us, Ye He!"
It is not easy to provide food for 20,000 strong soldiers. The Jurchens, including Ye He, currently have no such thing as an out-of-service army. Most of the soldiers usually eat their own food, and only do so when the leader summons them to fight. Part of the rations will be distributed. But even this part of the ration is more like a wartime subsidy, a supplement rather than a regular meal.
Therefore, if Cao Yu's two thousand capable and capable army really eats Ye He, Nalin Bulu and Bu Zhai will both go bankrupt within a month.
But in fact, the 20,000 Ming army did not really rely on Ye He to provide food and drink, and Cao Yu did not dare to relax his vigilance so much. If the Ye He brothers had a sudden brain attack and poisoned the food or ingredients, who could afford to kill 20,000 elites? Digging up the ancestral graves of the eighteenth generation of the Cao family is not enough to relieve the imperial court's hatred.
So in fact, Ye He was only responsible for "improving food." Although Ye He had a lot of cavalry, he was still a Jurchen after all. Not to mention the two Baylors, even in each household, there was probably some dried game. Other Jurchen tribes are reluctant to buy salt for pickling, so unless hunting occurs in winter, they cannot be stored for a long time, but Ye He is different.
They controlled Beiguan and snatched many imperial edicts from the Hada tribe. Although these edicts were later taken back by Gao Pangshi and redistributed, considering their trading capabilities, Ye He still got a lot. In this way, the living standard of the Yehe tribe is actually relatively high among the Jurchen tribes, and they can at least afford salt.
By the way, since the Liaonan Salt Farm was jointly operated by the emperor and Gao Pragmatic (the emperor took the dry shares and Jinghua was responsible for the operation), the supply of salt in Liaodong has been relatively sufficient. Although the price has not changed much under Jinghua's deliberate control, the quality is stable and seasonal supply fluctuations no longer occur.
Therefore, to some extent, the supply of salt has begun to become another means for the Ming Dynasty to control the Jurchen ministries, but the Jurchen ministries have not yet experienced it personally - after all, no one has been sanctioned yet, and they don't know the pain yet.
In short, Ye He currently mainly provides some meat and game, which is also an improved supply. It is difficult to say what the specific demand is. But no matter what, the generals and their trusted servants will definitely be supplied. Considering that Tumen is entrenched in the west city and the Mongolian scouting horses are quite elite, it is not easy for Ye He hunters to go out to hunt in the mountains. This job is indeed not easy, but The word "eating down" is obviously an exaggeration.
Of course Nalinbulu knew the truth of what he said, so he just closed his eyes and rested his mind, and did not speak immediately.
Bu Zhai was unhappy and asked, "Is Ahun going to let Mingren bully him like this without saying a word?"
Nalinbulu still didn't speak, but who knew that a clear girl's voice came from the door: "Did the Mingren officials bully me, Hun?"
Ahun means "brother" in Jurchen language. The girl called Nalinbulu Ahun, obviously her sister.
Bu Zhai turned around and saw a girl of thirteen or fourteen years old walking in holding a girl of about five years old. This girl has bright eyes, good looks, and is delicate and dignified. If she were not wearing the clothes of a Jurchen woman, her gait and behavior would look more like a lady from a Han official family at first glance.
The girl was also extremely cute, with a pair of watery eyes that flickered, smart and innocent, and her small cherry lips were like two early spring petals. She became happy as soon as she saw Bu Zhai, broke away from the girl's hand and threw herself into his arms.
Bu Zhai quickly squatted down, held the little girl in his arms, and said to the girl: "Nuan (Manchu transliteration, sister.) Why are you here?"
The girl smiled lightly and replied: "Brother Dong missed Amma, so he brought her to you."
After hearing this, the girl crawled into Bu Zhai's arms again.
Bu Zhai hugged her tightly and said with a smile: "The shaman said that she can bring prosperity to the world or destroy it. I can't see that. I just think that the little girl is very annoying." After saying this, there was something in his eyes. All love and affection.
At this time, Nalinbulu suddenly opened his eyes, looked at the girl in Buzhai's arms, and then looked at his sister, showing a thoughtful look.
"What is Ah Hun thinking about?" The girl felt her brother's gaze and tilted her head slightly and asked.
Nalinbulu didn't shy away from it and said bluntly: "Menggu, have you ever thought about your marriage?"
It turned out that this girl was Meng Guzhezhe, the young daughter promised to Nurhaci by her father Yang Jiniu a few years ago. She was already thirteen years old at this time.
Nalinbulu's question was a bit abrupt, but Meng Guzhezhe's expression didn't seem to be much surprised, nor was he even shy. She just frowned slightly, remained silent for a moment, and said, "Ama was killed by Nurhachi, so why bother mentioning this marriage again?"
Before Nalinbulu could continue to speak, Bu Zhai next to him became a little surprised and said to Nalinbulu: "What's going on? Is Ahun still planning to marry Meng Gu to Jianzhou?"
Nalinbulu shook his head and said: "Nurhachi is very ambitious. The reason for sending troops to Hada this time is to come to my east city to marry Menggu."
Bu Zhai sneered and said: "Marrying Meng Gu? He just went to Hada to rob Nanguan. It's just that Mingren was more cunning than him. I don't know what tricks he used, but he was able to stabilize him. In my opinion, Nurhachi is probably sitting on pins and needles in Hada now, looking at us eagerly. If the Ming army kills Tumen with a blast of artillery, Nurhachi may start pretending to be a grandson soon."
Nalinbulu thought deeply and said, "Do you think that if the Ming army defeats Tumen, they will turn around and attack Jianzhou again?"
Bu Zhai shook his head and said: "How do I know this? If it were me, I would definitely beat him, but Akira has many other things on his mind, and I don't know what nonsense they are thinking."
Nalinbulu thought for a moment and shook his head slightly: "I don't think Mingren will fight him - they may force Nurhaci to do something, but they are unlikely to fight him."
"Why is this?" Bu Zhai said in surprise: "The Ming army was powerful. Wang Gao Te was so powerful back then. Wasn't it true that Uncle Li (Li Chengliang) defeated the entire army and even Gule Stronghold was breached? Ama They...were also in great power at that time, but Grand Master Gao (following the Mongols, the governor of the border town used to be called Grand Master) gave an order and they were gone. We didn't even dare to bear this grudge... "
He sighed: "In the final analysis, Ming Dynasty cannot afford to offend."
When Nalinbulu heard him talking about Qing Jia Ni and Yang Ji Ni, he couldn't help but feel short of breath. After a while, he said: "Brother Ama broke the rules of the Ming Dynasty at that time. For the matter of Master Gao... I can't blame him. I can only blame Nurhaci." That guy, with a lot of help from me, Ye He, went so far as to repay kindness with hatred. If we don’t avenge this, how can we convince the public?"
These words were obviously to divert his hatred, but Bu Zhai also fully agreed and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Ahun is absolutely right. That time when Grand Master Gao...he also had the pressure of the court rules, so he can't rely on it." He, but Nurhachi is different, he repays kindness with hatred, and he obviously did not consider Menggu's feelings when he did this, Menggu must not marry such a villain!"
Nalinbulu didn't know if Buzhai understood the meaning of his change of subject, but in any case, Buzhai's statement was correct, so he turned to Meng Guzhe and asked: "Menggu, what do you think? "
Meng Guzhezhe still didn't have much expression and just nodded: "When Ama was here, I listened to Ama. Now that Ama is gone, I will listen to Ahun. Ahun doesn't have to ask me what I think."
There is actually nothing wrong with this statement in theory. Not only the Han people are like this, but the Jurchens are also the same, and they even adhere to the tradition more than the Han people. In a Han family, if a woman is not married and her parents die, she can still enjoy part of the inheritance (but the vast majority of it still belongs to the eldest son). However, there is no such thing in Jurchen. Only brothers can share the inheritance, and sisters all rely on it. The "conscience" of the brothers has changed.
However, because the Jurchens valued both betrothal gifts and dowries, it is difficult to say how this account was calculated. It was probably less like a marriage and more like a business.
Since it is more like "buying and selling", Meng Guzhezhe himself is regarded as a "trading object", and his views are indeed unimportant. No matter what she thought, it was ultimately Nalinbulu who made the decision, and even Buzhai's cousin's right to suggest was more important than her own right to vote.
However, Ye He actually attaches more importance to family ties. The reason why Nalinbulu asked for his sister's opinion also shows this. Such a comparison makes Meng Guzhezhe's words a bit too indifferent.
However, Nalinbulu couldn't say anything. After all, this was the rule. Secondly, he also knew that Meng Guzhezhe's "indifferent" didn't just appear today. She has been like this ever since she learned that Nurhaci killed her Ama. .
Nalinbulu had been beating around the bush for so long, and he hesitated for a long time before saying: "I think there is no hero among the Jurchens who can match Meng Gu's integrity."
As soon as these words came out, not only Bu Zhai next to him was confused, but even Meng Gu Zhezhe, who had always been indifferent, was startled, looking at Nalin Bulu with doubts in his eyes.
Only the little girl in Bu Zhai's arms was quite happy to hear this, clapped her hands and said with a smile: "Anbu (aunt in Manchu) is going to marry a great hero, Anbu is going to marry a great hero!"
Bu Zhai glared at her: "Little girl, what are you arguing about? I, the Jurchen..." He suddenly couldn't speak anymore, because after thinking about it, he found that among the leaders of the Jurchen tribes, he really didn't particularly like him. The "big hero" in his eyes.
As soon as the little girl interrupted, the embarrassment on Nalinbulu's face faded a lot, he coughed lightly and said: "Meng Gu, Ye He is in critical condition now and urgently needs help from the Ming Dynasty. Although Marshal Cao has driven away the Tumen, he still needs help from the Ming Dynasty. My east city is a little safe, but he said at today's banquet that he is not in a hurry to conquer the west city. I thought about it with you and Buzhai Ahun, and I always felt that his mind was unpredictable. I don't know if he wanted to ask for some benefits, but Ye He lost this time Xicheng has suffered great losses, and in this moment..."
Meng Guzhezhe finally frowned a little this time and asked: "So A Hun wants to give me to Marshal Cao?"
Nalinbulu's face turned red and he argued: "How do you say it's a gift? Of course it's a marriage, it's a get-out!"
Buzhai opened his mouth next to him, and wanted to say something, but when he thought that Nalinbulu's move was ultimately to help him regain the West City as soon as possible, he swallowed the words. It's just that he has a quick temper and a good reputation. Now he couldn't help but feel shameless, so he simply lowered his head and pretended to coax the child.
Meng Guzhezhe sighed and said: "Ah Hun, how old is Marshal Cao?"
Nalinbulu said awkwardly: "I didn't ask about this... it seems like it's about five... that, about forty."
Meng Guzhezhe lowered his eyes and said softly: "Han people taking concubines is not considered marriage."
Nalinbulu said: "They count it as theirs, and we count it as ours. Think about it, even if you marry to Jianzhou now, you are not Nurhaci's wife. In the fifth year of Wanli, he had a wife, Tong Jia's Haha Na Zhaqing. , the current eldest wife is her adopted cousin-in-law, the Fucha family. If she follows the customs of the Han people, she will also be a concubine."
Nalinbulu earnestly advised: "When Amma promised you to Nurhachi, Haha Nazaqing was Nurhachi's wife, but Amma still did it. Why? We Jurchens don't care about this, as long as the man is a hero , What does it matter if you become a big woman or not? If you can win the favor of a man, if you are not a big woman today, won’t you be able to be a big wife tomorrow? "
The truth is this truth, at least for the Jurchens at this time, this is not only a truth, it is simply the truth. Of course Meng Guzhezhe also understood, but she didn't expect that her "prepared husband" suddenly changed from Nurhaci, who was in his twenties, to "Marshal Cao" who was said to be "forty or so", but was actually more than fifty. This is really...
But Meng Guzhezhe knew that she had no ability to object. Since her brother insisted, she could only agree: "Ah Hun will take care of it."
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