Call of the Heroes of Chaos in Another World

Chapter 2148 The Golden Tent: Alliance with the Manchus, Defense against the Tuoba

In August of the third year of the Yuan Shi era, Wang Ying saw the Yellow River and traveled upstream to the Golden Horde royal court.

The Golden Horde can help the Han Dynasty restrain the Wu and Tuoba tribes. If the Han Dynasty wants to take further initiative, it must get the Golden Horde's help.

If the Golden Horde cannot play its role, then next year's military operations will be difficult to carry out as planned.

On the 23rd day of the 12th month of the third year of the Yuan Shi era, Kuai Tong was the chief envoy, and Lin Xiangru, one of the prefects of Henan Province, and Su Li, the military advisor, assisted him. Together they went on a mission to Nurhaci, the Manchu leader, north of Tianlang Pass.

At this time, Songtsen Gampo had already colluded with Yelü Abaoji, and at the same time, his other mission successfully established diplomatic relations with Nurhaci.

According to the information obtained by Luo Wang, in addition to the marriage alliance, both sides have been strengthening their commercial trade by establishing mutual markets in the Suyuan area.

Based on this, it was only a matter of time before these three companies, which were originally colluding in pairs, became completely intertwined.

After Yelü Abaoji and Gaoyuan reached a marriage alliance, Nurhaci, who had previously hesitated, finally agreed as well.

Just based on this sequence of events, Wang Yu already had enough grounds to suspect that Nurhaci's agreement with the plateau might have had some influence from the plateau itself, but it definitely also had influence from the Eastern Yi people.

Both of these alliances contained clauses for establishing trade markets in the Suyuan region, which Wang Yu did not believe was a coincidence.

These three companies, although located right next to each other, are currently in somewhat awkward situations.

The plateau region is currently in a state of division. Even if it is reunified, given its current underdeveloped state, it will take a certain amount of time to develop. Expanding beyond the plateau is not something that can be done in a short time.

In the Eastern Yi region, the formidable Sun Kingdom is crossing the sea to the east, while the mighty Han Dynasty to the west poses a significant threat.

The prolonged battles had exhausted Nurhaci's forces, and with the intervention of various external powers, these three families were finding it difficult to easily defeat the remaining two.

In fact, the year before the Battle of Henan, Nurhaci had to rely on the Han Dynasty to some extent, and even Huang Taiji was sent over as a hostage.

At that time, the three families in the northern part of Tianlang Pass were affected by the snow disaster.

Moreover, the three families were locked in fierce fighting, and Nurhaci, unlike others, received help from the Tuoba tribe.

The family of the two-not-like Luan Di was relatively less affected by the snow disaster, and they also had a relatively large fortune.

At that time, unable to sustain themselves any longer, they could only seek help from the Han Dynasty, trading grain with them and even sending Huang Taiji to them in return.

Each of these three companies faces its own difficulties. Wang Yu believes that if he were one of these three companies, he might also consider forming a community of shared interests, relying on each other to radiate outwards and solve their own problems.

Although the three companies are located next to each other, they are not each other's expansion direction. At least, not yet.

Even if the three families might become enemies in the future, at least for now, if given the opportunity, they need to rely on each other to avoid being attacked from all sides and to concentrate their strength to break through in one direction.

If these three families collude together, Nurhaci is very likely to be incited by the Eastern Yi and join them in attacking the Han Dynasty, thus affecting the Han Dynasty's next steps.

Therefore, Wang Yu had to find something for Nurhaci to do.

During the Battle of Henan in the Han Dynasty, Wang Yingkan entered the Northern Di territory, once again igniting a major war between the three families north of Tianlang Pass.

In fact, even with the support of the Tuoba tribe, Gan Bushi is now in a state of near collapse, facing a two-against-one situation. They were already the weakest in terms of resources.

However, Nurhaci and Luan Di had been fighting for so long that they could no longer hold out, and thus they ceased hostilities at the beginning of this year.

The delegation led by Kuai Tong, Lin Xiangru, and Su Li went to Nurhaci, essentially to incite another major battle between Nurhaci and Wobusi, in order to prevent Nurhaci from influencing the next action of the Han Dynasty.

The mission departed on the 23rd day of the 12th month of the third year of the Yuanshi era. Along the way, they traveled day and night in troop transport vehicles. They first arrived at Tianlang Pass, and then rode swiftly into the Northern Barbarian lands. After making contact with the Manchus, they once again traveled in troop transport vehicles and arrived at Nurhaci's location on the 16th day of the 1st month of the 4th month of the Yuanshi era.

Inside the palace of the Northern Barbarians, a strong, pungent odor permeated the air, a mixture of the smell of aged leather and fresh mare's milk.

Nurhaci sat cross-legged on the main seat covered with a thick tiger skin, a hideous scar across his right cheek, which looked like a lurking purplish-black centipede in the firelight.

This was caused by Tuoba Langsima during the great battle last year. If it weren't for Shanshituo saving his life, he would have almost been left behind in that snowy field.

His thick fingers gripped a small butcher knife as he slowly and methodically removed the bone from a leg of lamb on the grill in front of him. The fat dripped into the fire, sizzling softly and sending up wisps of smoke.

He didn't even lift his eyelids, as if the few Han Chinese envoys in front of him, who were travel-worn and dressed in loose robes and wide sleeves that were out of place in the grassland climate, were nothing more than a few eyesores.

After a night's rest, which only slightly alleviated the fatigue from nearly a month of almost non-stop travel, Kuai Tong took the initiative to request an audience with Nurhaci.

The chief envoy of the delegation, Kuai Tong, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites of the Han Dynasty, took a deep breath of the intense, almost suffocating air, stepped forward, placed his right hand on his chest, and performed a standard steppe salute.

His voice was clear and steady as he said, “Great Chanyu, the north wind is like a knife, and the warriors are like wolves. The Han envoy Kuai Tong, on the orders of my emperor, brings divine revelation and the sincerity of our allies for the prosperity of the Manchus and the peace of the Northern Di.”

Nurhaci raised his eyelids, his sharp gaze sweeping across Kuai Tong's face like a knife scraping through bone.

He snorted a short, sharp syllable through his nose, laced with heavy mockery: "The mouths of the Han people are smoother than those of foxes on the grasslands. Allies? Is your sincerity just watching from afar as the warriors of the Eternal Heaven tear each other apart, shedding their last drop of blood?"

They had already experienced the same thing once.

Yao Guangxiao's counter-espionage scheme, using grain as a pretext, ignited a bloody conflict between the three families.

Later, under the influence of Wang Yingkan's envoy, another great war against Wobushes was launched.

Now, the Han people want to do it again!
What did they take Nurhaci for?

Nurhaci was expressing his dissatisfaction and anger. He no longer needed the help of the Han Dynasty as he had shortly after the Battle of Tianlang Pass.

Even though he was still facing difficulties, he had recovered from the most challenging period and was about to form a tripartite alliance with the Plateau and the Eastern Yi.

At this point, there's naturally no need to be obsequious to the big man.

Moreover, even if they still need to rely on the other party, it doesn't mean they have no bottom line. Kuai Liang's expression remained unchanged, his gaze meeting Nurhaci's scrutinizing blade with composure.

"Your Majesty, the Han and Manchu people are separated by mountains and rivers, and there is no dispute over pastures. The Suborian is different. The Tuoba are even more different."

"The purpose behind Subon's acquisition of Tuoba's assistance is something Yuandu must be well aware of!"

"Now that the Chanyu is weak, if the Tuoba invade in the future, how will the Chanyu resist if he does not strengthen himself as soon as possible?"

Kuai Tong suddenly took another step forward, almost touching the brazier, the scorching heat baking his robe sleeves.

Kuai Tong pointed to the vast night outside the tent, his voice carrying a chilling insight into fate: "Great Chanyu! The wolves of the Tuoba tribe are growing wildly!"

"Their king is a once-in-a-century tyrant of the grasslands! He works diligently to strengthen his power and sharpen his claws, but what is his purpose? Is it merely to seize a few insignificant pastures?"

Kuai Tong surveyed the weathered faces of the Manchus, their features flickering in the firelight, and said, enunciating each word clearly, "No! He wants the entire grassland! The entire Northern Barbarian lands! He wants all the felt tents to bow down to him!"

"When Tuoba Changping's horse hooves crushed the Manchu tents, the Han lands were still far away, and the descendants of the Manchus would forever lose the right to chase the sun!"

If the Han Dynasty launches another war of unification next year, the Tuoba tribe could send troops to the central defense line at that time to interfere with the Han Dynasty's actions.

If things go smoothly for Wang Yingkan, then the western part of the Tuoba tribe will still be constrained by the Golden Horde. As a result, the assistance that the Tuoba tribe can provide to Subon will definitely decrease by several levels.

This was Nurhaci's and his men's opportunity.

Kuai Tong intended to use this point to persuade Nurhaci to send troops to Subon again the following year.

As Kuai Tong continued his eloquent speech, Nurhaci remained silent, but his calloused, thick fingers slowly and with an almost pious weight occasionally stroked the scabbard of the golden sword, finally resting on the cold blade.

Clearly, Nurhaci was not as calm as he appeared at this time.

“Envoy Kuai, our people are well aware of the Han's purpose, and the Han are surely equally clear about our situation!”

"Even if Tuoba Changping is unable to assist Subon next year, our clan will be powerless to help!" Nurhaci's seventeenth son, Xuan Ye, said with great anticipation but also great regret.

Undeniably, Xuan Ye was also tempted at this time.

There's no other reason than that what Kuai Tong said was indeed reasonable, and it was indeed an opportunity for the Manchus.

When envoys like Wang Yingkan go on missions, they cannot possibly achieve their goals purely through deception.

They all present facts and evidence to persuade others, naturally exaggerating or downplaying some of the content to achieve their goals.

It was precisely because Kuai Tong spoke the truth that Xuan Ye was truly moved.

Of course, he was even more aware that the Han people were about to make a big move.

Therefore, they wanted to provoke another major war among the Northern Di, so that they would not only be too busy to look south and attack Subonian, but it would also affect the Tuoba tribe in the same way.
Xuan Ye's mind raced, considering all the forces from the Han Dynasty to the Northern Barbarians, and from the Northern Barbarians to the Eastern Barbarians.

"The Han Dynasty is a land of propriety and etiquette, and naturally it will not allow its allies to fight on an empty stomach!"

"However, the grasslands have their own laws! The Han people also have their own rules! Your Majesty, out of compassion for the warriors of the Eternal Heaven who have endured hardship in battle and whose cattle and sheep are weak, has granted special favor by offering Han grain in exchange for the cattle and sheep of the Northern Barbarians!" Kuai Tong said with a smile.

His mission was aimed at reigniting conflict on the steppes.

And that is another purpose.

At the same time, the second objective is also to facilitate the first objective.

By exchanging grain for the enemy's cattle and sheep, Nurhaci would have the resources to wage war. Otherwise, even if he were persuaded, it would be useless.

At this time, the Han Dynasty was not short of food and fodder. Over the past few years, the Han Dynasty had planted large quantities of corn and potatoes.

Furthermore, corn and potatoes are not only edible, but corn stalks can be used to feed livestock, and potato vines can also be used.

In fact, in the Han Dynasty, potato vines were not wasted and were indeed used as food.

In feudal times, with limited productivity, feeding people was always a huge issue for social stability. How could ordinary people possibly waste anything that could be eaten?
Not only the common people, but the imperial court as well!
Potato vines, after being dried or pickled, were used as military rations along with wheat or rice.

In other words, those that are not easy to preserve are given priority for consumption, while those that are relatively easy to preserve are stored in granaries as reserves for future use in wars or disaster relief.

In fact, the Han Dynasty had already prepared a large quantity of dried potato vines, ground into powder, and mixed with corn and wheat, to be used in exchange for cattle and sheep with Nurhaci.

If the Great Han wants to launch another major war after the spring of next year, it must train its new recruits into capable soldiers in the remaining few months.

As a result, the soldiers' training intensity increased significantly, and Wang Yu agreed with Zhuge Liang's suggestion to provide the soldiers with a certain amount of meat during these months.

Therefore, this transaction took place.

If they were to exchange cattle and sheep, the cattle would certainly not be given to the soldiers to eat; Wang Yu himself had hardly ever eaten beef since he was a child.

These cattle will definitely be used as draft animals after the trade.

However, these sheep, along with the pigs, chickens, and ducks purchased by the Ministry of Commerce from the common people, were used to support the soldiers' daily training expenses.

The Han people have grain, but not enough meat, while the Northern Di can obtain the cattle and sheep they desire.

At the same time, by using these grains to put Nurhaci in a state of war again, not only will it not affect the next step of the Han Dynasty's conquest, but it will also help the Great Khan to restrain their enemies, making clear arrangements for Nurhaci and his men.

If Nurhaci hadn't helped the Eastern Yi, would they have dared to go all out at that time? It's not certain!

Therefore, this has already alleviated the pressure on their northeastern region as much as possible.