Daha is waiting for his father's reply in the Huitong Hall. It seems that he will stay here for a long time.
On this day, when Liu Long came here to greet them as usual, he saw a smaller official rushing here in a hurry. After Liu Long heard what he said, his expression changed.
"... Let's see how His Majesty and his advisers decide, and then let's see how the eldest uncle makes arrangements."
After Daha waited for Liu Long's doctor to leave, he asked: "Liu Shilang, what happened?"
Liu Long thought for a while, then looked at him with a half-smile: "It's not a big deal. The Ming Dynasty's soldiers shocked the grassland, and both the Khan Court and the right-wing Jinong sent people to the border wall to ask for tribute from the Ming Dynasty."
"Both the Khan Court and the Left Wing have sent people?" Daha was shocked.
Liu Long nodded: "Yes. Of course, now you are the only ones who have been allowed to come to the capital to start discussions. But the Khan Court and the right-wing Jinong both intend to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty to end the war. I don't know what will happen next. What happened to the Holy Will? This news is related to you Duoyan. Kuden Khan wants to consider himself a nephew and open a market in Jizhou. He also asked me about the Ming Dynasty’s attitude towards the three of you Duoyan’s invasion of the border last year. "
Daha's heart was shocked.
To the north of Jizhou, the closest place to the Ming Dynasty is the grazing land of their Duoyan tribe.
Lai Sun was actually willing to call himself his nephew's country, and wanted the Ming Dynasty to allow him to expel the Duoyan tribe so that the Chahar tribe could directly border the Ming Dynasty and open trade?
He didn't know whether the news was true or not, but it sounded like Liu Shilang was deceiving him.
But what if it's true?
"The Ming formation killed Bodi, how can we tolerate the Chahar tribe approaching the border wall of the Ming Dynasty? Although our Duoyan tribe was forced to station troops outside Gubeikou last year due to the power of the Khan's court, we never made any infringement. Liu Shilang clearly noticed , Duoyan tribe was once the Ming Dynasty Ping vassal, and now I am afraid that the news of the elimination of the three guards has been leaked, and the Khan Court actually came up with this poisonous plan!"
Daha was very nervous. When Your Majesty met with the Emperor of Heaven, the three guards of Duoyan had just been dismissed from their official positions. The emperor didn't have much patience with them when they went back on their word many times. The main reason seemed to be that he didn't want to go back on what Wang Shouren had promised and didn't want to break his promise.
Although letting the Chahar tribe expel the Duoyan tribe and directly approach Jizhou was a great threat to the Ming Dynasty, Nakuden Khan was still young after all, and now he actually considered himself a nephew. Who knew that the Ming Dynasty would not take Duoyan San Do you want to take advantage of the situation when the left wing of the Khan Court invades the three tribes of Duoyan? Not only weaken the three tribes of Duoyan, but also severely damage the Khan court again?
Liu Long heard the words and said without comment: "Your Majesty has to discuss these with the princes. I am a young minister and I am not qualified to make irresponsible remarks. If your envoy is worried, you might as well tell your father about the situation and ask him to consider it." "
In the Forbidden City, this news was naturally known to Zhu Houcong earlier, and several important ministers he had summoned had gathered in the imperial study.
In front of me, there are really two formal submissions.
One copy was a letter of credence handed over by Sun Yibei in the name of the Khan Court of the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
The other was a private message sent by Gunbilik in his capacity as Jinong.
Zhu Houcong's expression was complicated: "Everyone is full of bad intentions. What do you think?"
Yang Yiqing couldn't help but smile when he heard the words: "That's true. Gunbilik said that last year only Bodi had orders, and he had to obey as a minister, so the commander-in-chief of the right wing thought that he would support him and only attacked Datong. Now Kuden Khan named him Mergen helped farmers, and I was granted the title of Tuchechen Khan. Kuden Khan's intention to alienate his brotherhood was revealed. Now they are threatening the cessation of war between the three sides of Shaanxi and Xuanda, asking for tribute and peace. He is out of position to deal with the conquest of the Khan Court. In order to promote civil strife in the grassland, I, the Ming Dynasty, seem to be helping him. But isn’t it clear at a glance who is stronger and who is weaker on the left and right wings? Is he bullying the wisdom of the monarchs and ministers of my Ming Dynasty? "
"Both left and right are the same." Zhu Houcong shook his head and sighed, "Does Lai Sun and his advisers want to imitate Gou Jian? They actually want to call themselves nephews and hope that I will return Bo Di's bones. It's really weird to say that they invaded the border last year. The Duoyan tribe was instigated, which resulted in heavy casualties among the generals and civilians of the two countries. Speaking of which, it was indeed the Duoyan tribe that went back on its word and remained stationary outside Gubeikou, which allowed Bo'an to glimpse the chance of victory. However, he thought that I would listen. He calls himself a nephew and happily agrees to it? Doesn't he just want to test my attitude towards the Duoyan Tribe and prepare to invade eastward? If he can't fight the right wing, he can't fight the Duoyan Tribe? Is that what he thinks?"
"The right wing is powerful, and the Khan Court really wants to expand eastward. At present, I am afraid that it has begun to plan to attack the barbarians and the Haixi Jurchens. But in terms of fertile land, it is naturally better to have the Duoyan Tribe." Wang Xian was a little confused. , "This is Kuden Khan's battle to avenge his father and gain profits for the left wing. If the Ming Dynasty agrees, or if he sits idly by and does nothing, the three tribes of Duoyan will naturally be separated from each other and will be annexed by the left wing of the Khan's court. If the Ming Dynasty does not allow it, , why does he look down upon himself?"
The reason why the three tribes of Duoyan have been living well under the eyes of Khan Ting is that the tribes were actually in a period of division after the death of Dayan Khan, and also because Duoyan was still nominally the third guard of the Ming Dynasty before.
"It seems that the news that His Majesty killed the three guards and opened the market with them has been spread. Hua Dang seems to be surrounded by Khan Ting's informants." Yang Yiqing sneered, "The news has been spread back for many days, Hua Dang Now that I am old, I am hesitant. I am reluctant to give up the benefits of Ming Dynasty official position, and I am worried that I will not be able to have both sides as before. "
After losing the soil as a grassroots, it will be difficult for Duoyan Sanbu to hold on to the benefits of opening the market without being subordinate to any party - as Wang Xian said, this is the Kuden Khan's new successor to the throne. The battle to avenge one's father and gain profits for the left is a battle for survival of the left under the threat of the right.
"After receiving the news, Hua Dang is afraid that he will have to surrender again and hope that the Ming Dynasty will appoint officials and recruit people." Yang Yiqing continued, "Isn't the Khan Court worried that the three tribes of Duoyan will really surrender to the Ming Dynasty due to the military power?"
"Surrender?" Zhu Houcong disagreed, "Due to the situation, I took shelter for a while, over and over again. Isn't this the Duoyan Trilogy? I still kept it in mind when I violated the border last year. I'm afraid the Khan Court also thought that I would not go to the rescue. . He is willing to be humbled. Firstly, he is in the same line with the previous canonization of Gunbilik and Anda, and then shows weakness to the right wing; secondly, if I agree, wouldn't Gunbilik and Anda be lower than before the Ming Dynasty? How can they Can you bear this humiliation? There is a war on the Western Front, and I have no time to look eastward; thirdly, if I agree, he will lose his Duoyan Tribe, and he can rely on the benefits of trade to fight for Yongxiebu, which is closer to Jizhou. All the ministries.”
"...If you don't allow it, Bodi's bones will not be returned, and the Khan Court will be in mourning. Anyway, with the right wing growing, it will become more and more difficult for the Khan Court and the left wing. It would be better to have a common enemy and fight for the flower from now on. The direction of the land where Yan Sanbu is stationed. After all, he is still the leader of the Northern Yuan Dynasty. As long as he does not touch the right wing's sphere of influence, should the right wing not allow the left wing to go east to survive?" Yang Yiqing followed the train of thought and analyzed, "If we want to send troops to help Duo Yan Sanbu, the right-wing tiger dominates Xuanda and Shaanxi. Isn't the Ming Dynasty worried that Gun Bilik will avenge his humiliation and destroy Xuanda again?"
Zhu Houcong was a little confused: "Chahar is very close to the Duoyan tribe, but Gunbilik's letter came from the Yansui border wall. Counting the time, he didn't know that the Khan's court was going to be crowned first. My nephew asked for tribute. In this case, did he and Anda predict that the Khan Court would invade eastward and believed that the Ming Dynasty must protect the three tribes of Duoyan, so they thought that I must stabilize them first, even if they do not hesitate to trade to increase their strength? "
Yan Song said with a smile: "Their gesture is to ask for peace. I have to sacrifice my sister to His Majesty because of Bo Di's order to attack Yutailing last year. I'm afraid they haven't expected now that the little prince actually He will regard himself as his nephew. While he is willing to look down on us and hopes that we will turn the right wing into a big trouble, at the same time he is offering his sister and his wife to hope that we will be wary of the little prince with sinister intentions and determination for revenge. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the drama of the Beibei is the most exciting. It all depends on Your Majesty has the power to conquer the battle in person!"
Zhu Houcong glanced at the old cotton-padded jacket. He... spoke very nicely.
"Sister... I don't think I have anyone outside the border wall? Where did he get his sister?" Zhu Houcong complained, and then he was still confused, "As General Staff Yang said, are they bullying the wise kings and ministers of the Ming Dynasty?"
There was silence in the imperial study room, and Zhu Houcong became even more confused. He looked around at them and said, "What's wrong?"
Fei Hong coughed, and then said: "...It's not because the Holy Emperor is now on the throne like His Majesty. He fights in battles and captures the chiefs, the leader of a country calls his nephew, and the important ministers who have separatist regimes present their sisters and marry each other. I'm afraid that I The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is happy to see this happen. It is not your Majesty's reign. I have been watching the power of Heaven for several years. I understand your Majesty's ambitions well. I am afraid that I also want to stabilize the border town, so I unanimously agree with this proposal. Chief Lu is just I don’t know His Majesty’s temperament and ambitions…”
Zhu Houcong looked at Fei Hong speechlessly.
Although he could serve as prime minister for another three years, Fei Hong was even better at flattering him and seemed to obey his orders.
To tell the truth: if the emperor were changed, the monarch and his ministers would be different. The current situation was all brought about by you, and we all only follow your aspirations.
Yan Song also looked at Fei Hong: As expected of the chief assistant, this horse can be photographed better than me.
"...It's impossible. I set up a monument in Xuan Mansion to shoot arrows, how could they not know about it? My ambition is not hidden."
"I finally figured it out." Gu Dingchen said, "The right wing is jealous of the Khan's court, and the right is adjacent to the Ming Dynasty. Gunbilik and I have asked for an answer. If your majesty refuses to agree, naturally he will not let this go. It was an opportunity to inform the Khan Court of Gunbilik's letter. The Khan Court was weak, and if it did not reprimand it, wouldn't it have strengthened the right wing's momentum? Gunbilik attributed last year's defeat to Bodi's orders and had to go deep into Datong, which was a defeat. The dignity of the Ordos tribe has been restored. The Taolu captured our four major border towns in the Ming Dynasty. In the past, they invaded Gansu, Ningxia, and Yansui more."
A big change is coming soon, and Gu Dingchen, who has been the chief for many years, also wants to show off and is unwilling to be left alone.
After Zhu Houcong heard this, he nodded thoughtfully: "That is to say, why did the little prince confer him the title of Mergen Jinong? He will try one more step to see if the Khan Court can bear him to throw the blame on Bodi's head. , or even make him Khan again because he wants to ask for peace with the Ming Dynasty? Even if I don't allow it, he can still arouse anger on the right wing, at least within the Ordos tribe, and encourage small tribes to invade and plunder? "
Gu Dingchen said: "The Tatars often covet the good things of the Ming Dynasty. They are still not satisfied with the tributes and gifts, and often invade the borders. After the tribute is cut off, they rely on the military power and the timidity of the border generals to invade and plunder. Let the various tribes set up accounts and trade privately with the border generals. This time, Gunbilik and Anda must have used the jealousy of the Khan's court in the clan to ask for tribute, and even promised the tribes heavy profits. Only then can they make peace and personally ask for tribute. Do this without losing prestige. If Ming Dynasty refuses, they will naturally make the generals share the same hatred, thinking that Ming Dynasty only won one or two battles and then became arrogant."
Zhu Houcong laughed: "That's it. Jiuhe's words are very reasonable."
Gu Dingchen felt happy.
Zhu Houcong stopped smiling again: "Now that both sides are asking for tribute, what do you think we should do?"
The imperial study room was quiet again, and no one answered first. Fei Hong looked at Yang Yiqing: "This matter is closely related to military affairs. On one side, the Khan court intends to invade northern Liaoning and the Duoyan tribe from the east. On the other side, the right wing threatens Kou Xuanda and Shaanxi. There is also the opening of the Liaodong market. Let’s discuss. General Staff Yang, what do you think?”
Yang Yiqing was told that this matter was related to military affairs, so he naturally had to come up with a strategy first.
He thought for a moment and then spoke: "The Ming Dynasty originally planned to open a market in Liaodong, and only in this place. After all, there was a relationship between emperors and ministers with the Duoyan Tribe, and the opening of the market in Liaodong was because of trade with the Duoyan Tribe. Therefore, he is treated very favorably. We will wait and see the consequences and hope that he will find his way back. If the Khan's court annexed the land of the three tribes of Duoyan, but also had a grudge against the leader of the Northern Yuan Dynasty for killing his father, the Ming Dynasty would never easily believe that he was called his nephew. Please give Gong Zhicheng, even if you can give it a try, you will never be able to get the favorable conditions that are offered to Duoyan Sanbu now."
"On the contrary, if the Khan Court does not invade the Duoyan Tribes and Liaobei, then it is sincerely seeking peace. With slaves such as the Duoyan Tribes and the Haixi Jurchens, we, the Ming Dynasty, and the left wing of the Khan Court will not directly There is another dispute. Although Gunbilik and Anda intend to test the Khan's court, I thought that they could at least inform the Khan's court of the content of the letter first. There is a threat from the right wing. Kuden Khan and his conspirators should think The most important thing is how to increase its strength through the intermediary of Duoyan Sanbu."
Having said this, Yang Yiqing paused for a moment, and then said: "As for Gunbilik and Anda, naturally we cannot agree to their request. Those who negotiate with the Ming Dynasty to open the market for trade should at least be from a clan that does not belong to anyone. The lord of a country. Tagonbilik and Anda still respect the court of Khan. If the Ming Dynasty wants to talk, it is also with the lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty. We might as well apply this attitude to the three sides of Shaanxi and the Guangchuan grassland of Xuanda, and many people under 30,000 households on the right The tribe, I’m afraid they also have the intention of encouraging Gun Bilik and me to become khan.”
Yan Song was the first to praise: "Wonderful. Either the right wing will establish the Khan Court first and negotiate with the envoys of the country. Or, they will continue to respect the Khan Court as the main one, and they will not accept the little prince's request at the moment. Those on the right wing will The lords of the small tribes naturally lamented that Gunpilik and Anda were too timid to call themselves Khans, and they were also angry that the Khan Court refused to ask for tribute trade on the right wing bordering the Ming Dynasty."
Gu Dingchen also deeply agreed: "No matter what happens next, let the little prince know Gunbilik's words first. If it can attract the right wing to establish a separate Khan Court, that will be the best situation."
Zhu Houcong didn't say anything. After looking around at them, he asked: "Among the various tribes and chiefs of the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties, who is the most serious concern of the Ming Dynasty?"
There was no need to answer this point, everyone knew it by heart, so they concentrated on thinking about the emperor's intention.
"There can't be a fight between them, at least not for several years." Zhu Houcong expressed his judgment, "I have a good name. He has an elder brother and a nephew with a more distinguished status. . The ingenious plan led to the situation where the grassland tribes established themselves as Khans? No, Anda must have a more profound plan. This time it was Gunbilik’s letter, and it was Anda who offered his sister. He Now, don’t you just respect your brother and hide behind the scenes?”
Yang Yiqing had a different opinion: "There are two advantages. First, naturally because he was awarded the title of Khan, he wants to avoid Gunbilik's suspicion. Second, if the Ming Dynasty and Right Wing open the market, the best location will still be in Zhangjiakou , or the Xuanning Five Forts north of Datong. Being closer to the Tumote tribe, he can get better geographical advantages."
Zhu Houcong shook his head and looked at Wang Xian: "Last year, the Ming Dynasty only suffered a real loss from Anda. This man is brave and resourceful, and now that he has the title of Khan, if I were him, I would follow the royal path, but it would be to accumulate grain widely and slow down. To become king, you must first establish the reputation of this wise man who can be relied on."
Everyone thought about An Da's many operations last year, and everyone thought deeply.
Zhu Houcong continued: "As a young man, he will wait for Gunpilic to die first to avoid the stigma of killing his brother; he will wait until the little prince grows up, and all the left-wing tribes will actually rely on the benefits he brings and the people he shapes. Prestige, and the little prince will definitely do something to cause everyone to rebel. Only then will his chance come. It won't be long, only ten or twenty years, and I will only be forty at that time. Around 20 years old. What's more, although the position of the Great Khan is far away from him, my Ming Dynasty is too close to him."
"...Your Majesty, what does this mean?" Yan Song didn't understand for a moment, so he just complimented him.
"The Ming Dynasty is implementing new laws, and I don't know about it. The Ming Dynasty went from being beaten to being able to win miserably in the past two years. The way the Ming Dynasty made its country rich and its army strong, you can't fully understand it, but as Fei Qing said, it is After my painstaking efforts, I will try to help me with my whole heart and try to see if I can recreate the Ming Dynasty. With such a Ming Dynasty by my side, do I think that using force to dominate as in the past can make all the grassland tribes welcome and bring such a northern Yuan is better than my Ming Dynasty?"
Only then did Yan Song understand what it means that Ming Dynasty is closer to me... This statement does make sense. Could it be that I worked so hard to dominate the grassland just to take the lead and suffer a beating from the Ming Dynasty in the future?
"Among the other tribes in the Yuan Dynasty, who was the first to try to settle down and develop farming? He was just like me, thinking of a new way out for the tribe." Zhu Houcong said with great certainty, "Only the one who can truly unite the people of the grassland and work for them Bringing benefits to various tribes and finding a way to revive the Northern Yuan Dynasty is the way for him to become a figure like Dayan Khan, and it is also the safest way to the throne of Khan. Therefore, he persuaded Gunbilik to ask for peace this time. Shi Tong is sincere in his willingness to sacrifice his so-called biological sister. He is the real Gou Jian, even though he was not defeated last year."
Yan Song sighed: "Your Majesty sees clearly, and I admire you so much. I can't blame you. Your Majesty is a hero, so you can see through my answer with the heart of a hero."
Yang Yiqing turned a deaf ear to his new flattery to the emperor, and just asked: "If this is the case, does it mean that your majesty can open a market with him? I want to open a new road for Meng Yuan, how easy is it? He wants to learn from the Ming Dynasty, But painting a tiger cannot turn against a dog. As long as my new method of the Ming Dynasty is completed and the power of firearms reaches a higher level, it will be when his business is not successful and the middle path collapses. "
Zhu Houcong shook his head: "No, since this is what I really want to achieve, I can't let him get what he wants. I can't underestimate my intelligence. How could I know that he can't really make a way out? This plan to open the market still needs to be based on experience. Liaodong was planned and divided into the left and right wings of the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties. I told the envoy of the little prince that the two countries were still fighting last year. I can't trust the sincerity of the Northern Yuan Dynasty. I can tolerate the Duoyan tribe and the Haixi Jurchen, and I know how to rely on the geographical advantages to borrow Duoyan. The harmony of the three tribes will bring wealth. If there are no Khans or enemies in Jizhou and Liaodong for a few years, when he becomes an adult and can make decisions, that will be the day when I return Bodi's remains."
Yang Yiqing sighed silently in his heart.
If the market fails to open, border towns will still face great power. Privately, he felt that it was not impossible to open the market directly with three parties. It just depends on how it works later.
But His Majesty is very wary of An Da. If it were not for the opening of the market in Liaodong and the purpose of developing the Northeast, I am afraid that he would only try his best to improve the national strength and combat power of the Ming Dynasty under the current situation, and drive away the Northern barbarians openly in the future.
"In this case, the border town should step up its military preparations for war. The market cannot be opened, but the Tatars are increasingly inseparable from the good things of the Ming Dynasty, so they can only plunder the border areas."
"We suffered a big loss last year. Even if we invade Bian, there won't be a big war. Bian Zhen should train troops and focus on defending against the enemy." Zhu Houcong said resolutely, "The only thing I don't want to see is for me to go faster. The land will grow stronger. If he unified the grasslands, it would be twice as difficult to eliminate the northern invasion in the future! He wanted to grow secretly, but he was not allowed to do so."
In any case, now that Zhu Houcong has made up his mind, this group of veterans who are still in office will do the same.
This is a prestige that has been gradually established and stabilized over the past eight years. After all, judging from the results, most of His Majesty's decisions are correct.
Shortly after they left the imperial study, the map of the Ming Dynasty that Zheng Xiao had redrawn while temporarily helping at the military affairs meeting was completed and sent to the imperial study.
Zhu Houcong stood by the wall and watched intently.
Huang Jin looked at the map on the side, then looked at his expression, and asked: "Your Majesty, why did you draw this new map? The territory is much smaller..."
"Nuergandusi... not only Nuergandusi, but also Wuerzang, Hami, Turpan... Do my words matter in these places?" Zhu Houcong said lightly, "Even in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi, the Ming Dynasty is not included. To be able to govern completely, you still have to rely on the chieftain. For some things, just coax others, don't coax yourself."
After a pause, his eyes brightened: "But one day, the true territory of the Ming Dynasty on this map will return, and it will be larger, so that future generations will not lose some critical geographical advantages."
Zhu Houcong's eyes stayed on the Loop.
If we don’t take this place back, Shanxi and Shaanxi will never be stable, the Huanghuai floods will never be successfully controlled, and Mongolia will only have to face the pressure of the thousands-mile long border wall for a long time.
Zhu Houcong walked back slowly and sat down.
It's just that the Ming Dynasty's financial resources and efficiency could not support the northward expedition from the three sides of Shaanxi and Xuanda, and their combat power was not enough.
Last year's victory was achieved under favorable geographical conditions, but it still cost nearly twice as many casualties as the Tatars. If we go on an expedition, the damage ratio will be much greater.
Even if we spend a lot of money to get the Loop back, we still have to consider the cost of subsequent reconstruction and defense.
The best way is, of course, to find ways to weaken the right wing beforehand.
After the opening of the market in Liaodong, the private market was closed for good reason.
In addition to letting the right wing only fight against the border, and the Ming Dynasty can win more and more cleanly, is there any way to continuously weaken their power, eliminate the timidity of the border generals, and win rewards through rewards? The ambition and morale that inspired the frontier soldiers to expand overseas?
Guang Zhu Houcong and a few people have confidence and ambition, but it is useless.
If the Ming Dynasty wants to eliminate the Northern Troubles, it cannot think of peace, but can only think of war!
He knew very well that his real enemy was not the little prince who was willing to be humble and appear to be cowardly, but An Da in the northwest.
As long as I can recapture the Loop, can I still stay in Fengzhoutan?
I wanted to be a real king instead of a tyrant, but I had to force him to move north to seize the throne!
At least, under the condition of lack of iron and hair, we must first rob the face.
(End of chapter)
