Yang Ling sat down again and said in a low voice, "Two conditions? Hehe, Emissary Ba Mu Tu, please speak! "
Ba Mu Tu smiled slightly, his eyes flashing as he said, "The Three Duoyan Guards have received the favor of His Majesty the Emperor and have been granted the title of Khan. Of course, even if our Great Leader becomes Khan, he would not dare to be on the same level as His Majesty the Emperor Ming Destiny. He would be the same as the vassal kings of Ming Destiny. "
Yang Ling smiled and said, "Of course, but the Huadang Khan would control vast grasslands, land, cattle and sheep. Moreover, he would only need to pay tribute and would not need to pay taxes or provide labor services. How could the vassal kings of Ming Destiny compare?"
Hammu Mutu was moved by Yang Ling's beautiful blueprint, and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes. He calmed himself down, then pretended to be reserved and said: "It's just that the Khans of Wala and Tartar have both received the personal edict of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, so we hope that we can also receive the personal edict of His Majesty the Emperor, and be bestowed with a golden seal and talisman."
Yang Ling suddenly understood that this emissary was afraid that Ming Destiny would only agree verbally. They had the least influence among the three Mongolian tribes of Wala, Tartar, and Wuyangha. Without the public support of the Ming court, this Khan would not be able to continue being a Khan, at least not until they had enough power to suppress the other two tribes.
Yang Ling thought for a while and nodded, saying, "Your concerns are reasonable. I will report this matter to the Emperor. What is the second matter?"
Seeing that Yang Ling had agreed, Hemutu beamed with joy and sat down opposite him. He thought for a moment before saying carefully, "In the past, His Majesty the Yongle Emperor bestowed upon us the Great Peace Garrison (Chengde City, Pingquan County, Jianchang County, and the Laoha River Basin) the Great Peace Garrison (Chengde City, Pingquan County, Jianchang County, and the Laoha River Basin) to us.
However … I think Mr. Yang also knows that we, the Three Guards, live as nomads. Cattle and sheep are all we have. However, His Majesty Emperor Yongle doesn't allow us to stay in the Danning area. We have a large grassland, but we can't use it to graze cattle and sheep. Therefore, I hope that His Majesty will allow us to graze in the Danning Wei area. "
Yang Ling's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. When he was speculating about the conditions that the three guards of Duo Yan might put forward, he had already thought that the three guards of Duo Yan might put forward this condition. In fact, decades ago, the Three Guards of Duoyan had entered Daning City with the support of the Horqin Tribe, which was related to them by marriage. Then they passed through Huizhou (Pingquan, Hebei) and went straight to Kuanhe (Huihe, Hebei) and kept advancing southward.
Today, the Duoyan Wei has reached Xifengkou from Daning City, and is separated by a mountain from Xuanhua in Hebei Province. The Tai Ning Wei's power extends from Jinzhou and Yizhou through Guangning Wei to Liaohe. The Fu Yu Wei's power extends from Huangniwa through Shenyang and Tieling to Kaiyuan Wei. South of the Xilamulun River and Liaohe River, from Kaiyuan in the east to Xuan Fu in the west, a large area of land is actually in the hands of the Three Guards of Duoyan.
The Three Guards of Duoyan and Ming Destiny have joined forces to deal with the Tartars. All they want is a title that Ming Destiny publicly conferred by the imperial court and the recognition of the areas that they actually control. It seems that Ming Destiny will not suffer any real loss, but Yang Ling can't help but hesitate.
These places are not under Ming Destiny's control. In fact, they have fallen into the hands of the Three Guards of Duoyan. But publicly admitting their ownership is equivalent to ceding land. This problem will cause endless harm.
In the past, when Emperor Yongle gave the Three Guards of Duoyan's land to them, he had already made a fatal mistake. The Guards of Ming Destiny outside the Great Wall are connected as a whole. Each guard station is connected from a point to a surface. The loss of the Three Guards of Duoyan has broken this strategic system. Each guard station has lost an effective connection. The Liaodong Guard Station alone can't even resist the attack of a small tribe.
These areas are key strategic locations. Yang Ling is planning to stir up internal strife in the Tartars, and then drag the Three Guards of Duoyan into the water. After that, he plans to reinforce Liaodong and strengthen his control over this area. How can he be willing to give others an excuse?
Yang Ling immediately shook his head and said, "Emissary Jimutu, you must know that although the risk you are taking is great, the benefit is even greater. Once the Tartars surrender to you, you can choose the most fertile land to graze cattle and sheep. Even if you fail, you can retreat to the Three Guards of Duoyan. With Ming Destiny restraining the Tartars, they can't do anything to you. Liaodong is the barrier of Ming Destiny's capital. We can't give it up. "
Jimutu opened his mouth to speak, but Yang Ling raised his hand and said, "Emissary Jimutu, I don't need to ask His Majesty about this matter. There is absolutely no need to discuss it. Liaodong cannot be used for bargaining! "
Jimutu took a sip of milk tea and stroked his thick black beard. After thinking for a long time, he said, "Publicly breaking off relations with the Tartars means we are taking a great risk. If there is no guarantee, how can the whole tribe rest assured? Since Your Excellency has said so … can you reply to His Majesty that in order to show our sincerity, we, the Three Guards of Duoyan, will marry the imperial court? "
Yang Ling was startled. He didn't expect Jimutu to have the guts to propose a marriage. This was outrageous! Hua Dang hadn't even become the Great Khan, and the Three Guards of Duoyan already thought that they were the imperial court of Northern Yuan, which had four Khaganates under them? They actually dared to ask for a marriage with Ming Destiny.
Jimutu saw his face sink and hurriedly said, "The great leader of Hua Dang has a beloved daughter, Miss Yin Qi. She is the most beautiful flower in the Corinqin grassland. She is only 15 years old this year. If His Majesty doesn't mind, the leader of Hua Dang is willing to offer her to His Majesty Emperor Zhengde as a concubine …"
Yang Ling's face brightened. So it turns out that he wants to offer a beautiful woman. Haha, that's fine. In any case, it is a political marriage. It doesn't matter if she is ugly. Just offer her to the palace. In any case, even the Empress and the two Imperial Concubines are just decorations. Does the Forbidden City need one more person to eat? Besides … Corinqin? The most beautiful woman in Manchuria, Big Yu'Er, seems to be a girl from the Corinqin grassland. This Miss Yin Qi should also be good-looking.
Thinking of this, Yang Ling smiled and was about to agree to go back and report to Zhengde. Unexpectedly, Jimutu changed the topic and continued, "I'm glad to hear that His Majesty the Emperor has two younger sisters, Princess Yongfu and Princess Yongchun. The leader of Hua Dang is willing to marry one of them and make her his legal wife. He and Ming Destiny will become good friends. We will definitely cooperate with each other."
As soon as Yang Ling heard this, his face fell again. If you want to marry your daughter, then marry your daughter. Why do we have to spare another one? … That's not right. If Hua Dang's daughter marries Zhengde, then Zhengde is his son-in-law. He also wants to marry his son-in-law's younger sister … What kind of nonsense is this?
I heard that Hua Dang already has five sons and three daughters. He should be a bearded old man in his late fifties, right? Letting the gentle and lovely Little Princess Yongfu marry that old fellow Hua Dang? Thinking of this, Yang Ling suddenly felt a burst of discomfort in his heart.
How about changing it to that little girl Yongchun? As soon as this thought arose, Yang Ling shuddered, a burst of disgust ran down his spine. If he dared to agree, when he returned to Zhengde, he would be hunted down to kill him with a sword in his hand, just like how he hunted down his father's brother-in-law in the past.
Yang Ling took a deep breath and secretly reminded himself, "You are here to negotiate peace, to form an alliance. Even if you don't agree, you can say it tactfully. You can still achieve your goal. You must not learn from Guan Gong and say, 'My tiger daughter is willing to marry my dog son'."
Suppressing the anger in his heart, he put on a nonchalant expression and laughed out loud. Jimutu was stunned, "Why is Mr. Yang laughing?"
Yang Ling spread out his sleeves and laughed, "Does Emissary Jimutu believe that the fate of hundreds of thousands of people, the life and death of an entire clan, can really be tied to a woman? Ming Destiny and the Three Duoyan Guards have formed an alliance, trading and helping each other. Only real gold and silver can show sincerity.
I have long heard that the great leader of Hua Dang is one of the three great heroes beyond the Great Wall, with great talent and vision, not inferior to Bayan and Huo Xi. Why would he place his hope of forming an alliance through marriage? Could it be that Emissary Jimutu is acting on his own? Haha … Emissary Jimutu, when you return, do not mention this matter to the leader of Hua Dang, or else you will bring shame to the leader. "
Zimu Mutu's scarlet face flushed with blood, appearing a little black. He angrily said, "Peace marriages have existed since ancient times. Both the Han and Tang princesses have married to the people beyond the Great Wall, becoming a legend that has been passed down through the ages. If peace marriages cannot show sincerity, then what can Official Yang use to prove the sincerity of cooperation?"
Without hesitation, Yang Ling said, "Interests. Only common interests will allow us to cooperate."
He flicked his sleeves and walked to the front of the Haixi Jurchen emissary, Hu Chi, and said, "In recent years, Ming Destiny and the Jurchen have been trading more and more frequently. I will give you an example. Just the ginseng alone, because it is not easy to preserve, the Han merchants have been wantonly suppressing the price. Every year, you lose hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, right?"
As soon as this matter was mentioned, Hu Chi was filled with anger. They did not have anything to produce. They had to rely on hunting ginseng in the mountains to exchange for salt, tea, cloth, and iron pots from the Han people. Unfortunately, only the Han people recognized ginseng. Other places could not sell it for a high price, and there were not many buyers. The Han merchants had indeed cheated them. Hu Chi hurriedly stood up and respectfully said, "Daren is wise. This time, our tribe is willing to join the alliance, hoping that the imperial court will treat the Jurchen fairly."
Yang Ling nodded and said, "I understand. Just the ginseng alone, your Haixi Jurchen tribe exports more than 50,000 catties of ginseng through the horse market every year. Two years ago, we became enemies with each other, and our imperial court banned the trade for two years. Your ginseng must have rotted more than 100,000 catties, right? Because of this, countless people have died of poverty. If we form an alliance with our imperial court, we will not ban the trade. Moreover, we are willing to set the official price and lower taxes to subsidize the Han merchants. Is this the greatest sincerity? "
Hu Chi was overjoyed. He nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice. He repeatedly said, "Of course, of course. Many thanks to Mr. Yang, many thanks to Your Majesty. We are willing … willing to form an alliance with Ming Destiny forever."
Yang Ling nodded his head and walked to Ambassador Li Douli with a smile. He said, "Jianzhou Jurchen used to raise livestock and live by eating meat and skin. I, Ming Destiny, live by farming and eating grains.
But in recent years, you have been developing farmland day by day. You have bought cattle and iron from Ming Destiny. You have hired Han people to teach you how to farm. Your food and clothing are the same as the Han people. You are the wealthiest among the three Jurchen tribes. During the two years when the trade was banned, the men in your tribe had no shovels and the women had no needles and scissors.
Do you think that is the sincerity of Ming Destiny if we open more horse markets, change the trade on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month to the daily trade, and broaden the scope of goods traded? Or is it more sincerity to send a princess and a dowry of 100,000 taels of silver? "
As soon as Li Douli heard this, his eyes lit up. As long as the Great Ming Empire was willing to change the original three exchanges from twice a month to a regular one and relax the restrictions on exchanging goods, then they would wake up laughing in their dreams. They still wanted to open more exchanges? This was beyond their expectations. Without thinking, Li Douli immediately changed sides. He said, "Of course it is sincerity to open the trade markets completely. We don't want much. As long as Ming Destiny's imperial court is willing to trade with us, the Jianzhou Jurchen will forever be Ming Destiny's subjects and friends!"
The messengers of the Duoyan tribes were greatly moved and could not sit still. However, Hei Mutu of the Duoyan Guards was obviously the leader of the messengers of the Three Duoyan Guards. They all looked at Hei Mutu. Seeing this, Hei Mutu said in a low voice, "Your Excellency is right. But if this is the case, how can we trust the sincerity of the Ming Court?"
Yang Ling raised his finger and said, "First, it is also an open trade. I believe your tribe will benefit greatly from this. Second, it is military cooperation. Once we use our troops, Ming Destiny will send troops from Datong, Xuanhua, and Liaodong. They will form a triangular formation with the middle in the middle. If we do not cooperate, our Liaodong troops will be in danger. This should be enough to show our sincerity, right?
Third, just like how the First Grand Tutor of Wala was blocked in his attack on Yanjing. This time, Boyan's attack was thwarted. After returning to Tartary, there will be civil strife. We do not need you to send troops now. Both sides can open the horse markets first. When the troops are well-trained and the Tartary is in chaos, we can take them down in one go. You can act according to the situation and take the initiative. Can all the above show our sincerity? Yes, Envoy Hei Mutu. "
Hearing this, Hei Mutu raised his eyebrows and stood up with one hand on his chest. He said solemnly, "We believe in His Majesty's sincerity. I will report Mr Yang's words to Chief Hua Dang as soon as possible."
Yang Ling smiled and said, "Good. Then I will wait in Datong for your good news."
He walked back to the table, picked up the cup of milk tea, and drank it all in one gulp. Then he laughed loudly and said, "Next time, I will receive all the envoys in Datong. I hope that you will bring good news about Hua Dang. Everyone, farewell!"
Watching the hundreds of light cavalry gradually disappear into the valley, the various envoys were still standing at the mouth of the valley looking at each other. Wengniute envoy Gale Rilde walked to Hei Mutu's side and said respectfully, "Chief Hua Dang, do you think this Ming envoy's words can be trusted?"
Hua Dang, who had changed his name to Hei Mutu, had a shrewd look in his eyes. He stroked his beard and said with a faint smile, "If they are only using us, they will not keep their promises. Then, if I ask for a sky-high price, they can agree first. The alliance meeting is fake. Why would they care about fake marriage and land? This Ming Destiny envoy is so cautious. It seems that he is sincere. "
Gale Rilde breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and said, "It is good that he is sincere. To tell the truth, if our tribes oppose the Tartars, we will bring death to our people. But if we oppose the Ming Dynasty, we will not only bring death, but also poverty. That is more unbearable than death.
If the Ming Dynasty Emperor is not a cowardly ruler, but a great ruler like the Khagan of Hongwu Heaven and Yongle Heaven, then obeying the will of the Khagan of Zhengde Heaven might be the right choice for us. "
Hua Dang smiled slyly and said, "If Boyan is so easy to deal with, would the Ming Dynasty offer such generous conditions? Don't look at how Boyan suffered a great loss outside Datong City. This eagle will soon return to the grasslands and lick its wounds.
The golden signboard of being a direct descendant of the Gold Family would allow him to quickly replenish his troops and soldiers, unless … the internal strife that this Lord Yang spoke of would really occur. But Boyan's reputation was as high as the noon sun. Would there really be anyone in the Tartars who dared to oppose him?
Don't be in a hurry to tie yourself to this Ming Ting tree. When the sun is hot, you can borrow its shade. If it can't shelter us from the wind and rain, then ride a horse and run far away. Hahahaha … "
A pair of eyes as bright as the morning stars glared fiercely at him. This was a handsome "boy", but as a man of the grasslands, even though he was young, he was still a bit too thin, and his facial features were too delicate and delicate.
He wore a bearskin short robe, high-waisted leather boots, and a brown leather hat. Under his thick ink-like eyebrows, a straight nose, and small and full lips. The lines of his oval face were clear and perfect. He snorted unhappily and said, "If this is the case, why did father betroth me to the Ming Dynasty Emperor? What if that Ming Dynasty official agreed just now? "
This person was one of the eight guards in the tent. Just now, he was standing in the shadows and no one paid attention to him. Now that he spoke, it was obvious that he was a girl. Hua Dang was stunned for a moment. He laughed and put his arm over her shoulder and said, "Yinqi, isn't it good to marry into the Ming Court? The house of one of their centurions is even more luxurious than our big tent. An ordinary rich man's family's silver can buy all of our cattle and sheep. If she becomes an imperial concubine, it will be like living in heaven. "
The girl snorted disdainfully and said, "I don't care. My husband needs to ride fast horses and shoot sharp arrows. If he is the greatest hero of the grasslands, I will follow him to the ends of the earth. No matter how hard it is, I am not afraid. I heard that the Ming Dynasty Emperor needs a group of people to carry him from one house to another. God, just thinking about it makes me crazy. "
Hua Dang, Gale Rildei, Ahqimai and the others heard this and laughed loudly …
* * *
"Just now, when I heard Sir's loud laughter, I was relieved. Otherwise, after waiting for so long without any movement, I would have led my men to charge in." Xu Tai whipped the horse's buttocks and said with a smile.
"Your Excellency, have you reached an agreement with the envoy of the Duoyan Guards?" Liu Biao galloped closer and asked excitedly. Yang Ling reined in his horse just as it climbed over a small mountain ridge. Looking at the snowy mountains in the distance under the bright sunlight, he said, "It's hard to say. These people are very opportunistic. Even though they are tempted by the conditions we have promised them, I'm afraid it won't be easy to get them to work wholeheartedly for us."
Suddenly he laughed and said, "Luckily, my purpose was only to let them restrain Wala, and then use the trade fair to restrain them, the deciding bet for victory or defeat is not on this fence-sitter. Ha, ha, ha … Ben Guan was laughing because Hua Dang's envoy unexpectedly proposed to exchange marriage with our Great Ming, to marry Hua Dang's youngest daughter to His Majesty, and then let the current Emperor's imperial younger sister marry Hua Dang. The Duoyan Guards are becoming more and more arrogant. "
He turned around and looked at the overlapping mountains. His eyes flashed as he thought to himself, "The Duo Yan's three guards are disrespectful. It seems that leading them to the Tartars is the right thing to do. Looking at the attitude of the three Jurchen tribes, it seems that we can make use of them. In an unfair boxing match, we must find a helper for the weaker side. Only then will the fight be exciting."
Xu Tai heard this and said indignantly, "Bah! What kind of status does Hua Dang have? How can he marry Princess Ming Destiny? If it is a palace maid like Wang Zhaojun or an ordinary woman from the royal family, then it is more like it. Your Excellency must have flatly refused? "
Yang Ling turned around and said with a serious expression, "Xu Tai, you are wrong! Let alone a princess from the royal family, even if it is the most humble Han woman or even a maid, we cannot force a marriage between them. It is a disgrace to the country. "
He lifted the reins of his horse and walked a few steps on the mountain ridge. Facing the howling mountain wind and snow, he said loudly, "Marriage, marriage, is the most disgrace! Even the foreign tribes who have been in love with the Han people are actually on good terms with them because the Han people are not to be humiliated. How can they give up their greed for a woman?
Deceiving themselves and others, they built the safety of the country on the happiness of a woman and let her be trampled on by the foreign tribes. It is even against the customs of the Central Plains to let father, son and brother take turns to trample on each other. Younger brothers and younger brothers treat their children like animals and still call it 'marriage'. In reality, they are worse than pigs and dogs. They are simply cowards who swallow their teeth when they are beaten! "
He turned around and said sternly to Xu Tai, Jing Fuer, Liu Biao, Wu Hanchao and the others, "A man who does not know how to protect the dignity of his own woman is a useless man. A nation who does not know how to protect the dignity of their own woman is a useless nation.
Not only do we not want the marriage, one day we will kill our way to the desert and take back the stolen Han women. We will let those tyrannical barbarians who oppress the Han people bow at our feet! You are all the heroes of us Han people and should protect the dignity of us Han men. Can you do it? "
When Wu Hanchao and the others heard this, their expressions immediately became solemn. Xu Tai solemnly straightened his back and was about to open his mouth to reply when unexpectedly Liu Big Stick Chui, who was listening by the side with his blood boiling, raised his arms and shouted in a Lai Yang accent, "Marshal, we can do it! We will follow Marshal to kill the Tartars, snatch the women, f * * k them! Brothers, don't you agree? "
When the hundreds of officers heard this, they raised their arms and shouted in unison, murderously saying, "Yes! Follow Marshal, kill the Tartars, snatch the women, f * * k them! "
The mountains howled and echoed. The snow on the snowy peaks fell down with a loud crash, like a snow wave rolling into the valley.
Yang Ling almost vomited blood when he heard this, "His grandmother, why does this sound so weird coming from Liu Big Stick Chui's mouth?"
* * *
The twenty thousand troops of Taiyuan Central Guards and Taiyuan Left Guards marched majestically into Shanyin County with their banners fluttering and war horses neighing. By now the sky had darkened and the army was choosing a place to set up camp. Just as they were preparing to cook, two officers with messengers' flags on their shoulders hurriedly walked into the central army tent.
The commander of the Taiyuan Guards, Zhang Yin, smiled amiably and said, "The two messengers must be tired from the journey, please have a cup of hot tea first."
The two officers said solemnly, "With military affairs at hand, we dare not delay. Here is the military intelligence letter from Mr Yang, please sign for it."
Zhang Yin hurriedly took the letter and checked that there was no mistake with the wax seal. He stamped the receipt with his general seal. The two students didn't even take a sip of tea before they hurriedly took their leave. They left the commander's tent and mounted their horses.
Zhang Yin returned to the tent and opened the letter to read under the lamp. It was Yang Yiqing who wanted his army to move to the old Guang Wu Castle and wait for further orders. Zhang Yin flicked the letter a few times and smiled slightly. He instructed the Deputy Secretary to record the letter and file it. Then, he called over the Middle Officer and said, "Pass down the order. Set up camp here tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will depart for the old Guang Wu Castle."
There were two Guang Wu Castles in Shanyin County. The new Guang Wu Castle was built in the seventh year of Hongwu. It was next to the Great Wall and there was a garrison. The old Guang Wu Castle was west of the new Guang Wu Castle and was located inside the Great Wall. It was originally a garrison. The commander hurriedly went to pass down the order. Zhang Yin waved his hand and dismissed the soldiers. He held a cup of tea and frowned in deep thought.
The curtain at the back of the tent was lifted and a commander quietly walked in. Zhang Yin did not even turn his head. After thinking for a while, he sighed softly and said, "After so many years of painstaking planning, success or failure is right in front of me. I'm starting to feel uneasy."
The commander raised his head. It was the green-robed man who sat and drank with Guardian Yu in the 'Taibai Tavern' that day. He respectfully said, "Jiaozhu, our cult's flood of good fortune fills the heavens. Now Zhengde is in a desperate situation but he is not aware of it. I think this time he won't be able to escape even if he has wings."
Zhang Yin shook his head lightly and said, "I heard that he wanted to move to the Leopard House, so I asked someone to lure the great thief Yang Hu into the capital. Who would have thought that Guardian Liu would die in vain and the two hundred bandits would be captured by Yang Ling in one fell swoop while Zhengde was unharmed. When he arrived at Datong, Wang Long was found out by him and even Wang Hu was beheaded … "
He tiredly reclined on the marshal's chair and smiled lightly, "Even I am starting to believe those nonsensical stories. Could it be that this Yang Ling is the nemesis of our cult? Wang Hu plays an important role in this plan! We can't kill him. Without him, I'm afraid that Zhengde will have to return to the capital. Sigh!
I spent so much effort and so much silver to help him to the position of West City Garrison General, hoping that one day he will be of great use. With him as a spy at West City Gate, we can lure Boyan to launch a surprise attack on Mount Baishan, where the alliance meeting is held, and then lure the Fire Sieve to attack Datong. With two simultaneous attacks, Yang Yiqing will lose sight of one and be unable to respond to the other. We will have at least a seventy percent chance of success. Now that Datong is impregnable, we can only … "
He snickered and said, "Even if we fail, it will not be our cult's men who will suffer losses. But it would be a pity to waste such a great opportunity."
He suddenly raised his eyes and his gaze was like lightning, shooting straight at the commander. He said, "That ambush did not attract their attention, did it?"
The commander replied sternly, "No. Don't worry, cult master. In order to keep it a secret, no one in Datong knows his identity other than me."
Zhang Yin crossed his fingers and said with satisfaction, "Mm, Yang Yiqing ordered me to station here. Zhengde should have already made contact with Huadang. The only thing we can do now is to wait and see what happens. When the alliance meeting will be held, this Commander Yang will definitely rush to send me news. I've bowed eighteen times, now I'm just short of the last one … "
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