Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

"Your Highness, Tian Ganlin has sent his eldest son Tian Shunnian to the camp." As the sky gradually darkened, when Li Xun reported to Melas, Melas's tense face finally relaxed.

He wanted to lead his army northward from Shizhou to attack the bandits in Kuidong, but the powerful Rongmei Tusi in the east was always a hidden danger. Everyone knew that the Rongmei Xuanfu brothers Tian Ganlin and Tian Shanglin had always been pro-Ming, and Rongmei Tusi was also the last Tusi in Shizhou to surrender. If he cut off his food supply while his army was heading north, things would be troublesome.

While they were worrying, the demoted official Li Xuan offered a suggestion: in the name of sending their children to study at the Imperial Academy, they asked the chieftains in various places to send their eldest sons or eldest grandsons who were under the age of 20 to Dadu. It was clear that they were asking for hostages. When the news spread, the chieftains who knew the truth offered hostages one after another, but Tian Ganlin did not move. This made Mailas even more anxious, and the army that was ready was reluctant to set out, and even planned to eliminate the Rongmei chieftain first and then go north to Wushan.

Now, Rongmei's envoy Tian Ganlin has finally sent his favorite eldest son to his camp. This shows that Rongmei has no intention of being an enemy of David. He can finally breathe a sigh of relief!

"Pass the order down and send these sons of local officials to Dadu immediately. Send someone to tell Tian Ganlin that the imperial court's decree to confer him the title of first-class Rongmei Earl and hereditary Rongmei Xuanfu Envoy is on the way." Mailas paused for a moment and spoke slowly: "Order Sangzhi Pacifier Xiang Ding to lead his troops to station in Gaoluo to guard against Rongmei local soldiers."

"Yes," Li Xun took the order and left. This man was a university scholar in the Hongwen Academy during the Qing Dynasty, but he only held an idle position in the Mailas Army to draft military orders and make suggestions. He should be dissatisfied, but he was happy with it. There was no other reason. His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi was famous for his love of promoting surrendered officials and generals. Alinbao was promoted to the high position of admiral in his hands, Zhong Jida was promoted to general, Yu Jiqing was the governor, Xue Chenwei was the provincial governor, and Zong Yi was the deputy provincial governor. Although Chen Hongzhu, who was the most respected, had not been seen for a long time, there was a faint news that Hu Maozhen was about to be promoted to the governor-general of Huguang, and the post of governor of Huguang would belong to Chen Hongzhu. If he could gain the trust of the Prince of Qi, it would be like stepping on the ladder to heaven. How could he not cherish the opportunity in front of him? Therefore, he was very cautious in flattery on weekdays.

Looking at Li Xun's departing back, Melas couldn't help but think of his trusted adviser Chen Hongzhu's evaluation of him: "This man has the talent of Chen Ping. Although he is a little sinister, he is just what Your Highness can use."

Tian Ganlin sent his eldest son, which put his mind at ease. His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi rubbed his sore eyes and prepared to undress and go to bed.

"Your Highness, Baojing Xuanwei Envoy Peng Ding requests to see you," suddenly a personal guard came to report.

"How strange! It's so late, why does Peng Ding want to see me?" Melas was a little annoyed that his sleep was disturbed, but the 7,000 Baojing soldiers under Peng Ding's command were brave and courageous, and they had a grudge against Kuidong. They worked very hard in the fight against the Kuidong army. They were the ones he relied on, and it was not easy to offend them, so he ordered in a bad mood: "Call him in."

"Greetings, Your Highness." Upon seeing the King of Qi, Peng Ding bowed deeply, being three times more respectful than usual.

Melas' eyes flickered, and he asked kindly, "Why did the envoy come here so late at night?"

"When Your Highness sent Mao Gong to Baojing, he said: If Baojing sends troops to help David attack the Kuidong bandits, Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong belonging to Yongshun will be divided to Baojing. You know that I have twenty-three sons, three of whom are born to my principal wife. The eldest son Zehong will inherit the Baojing family business in the future, and the second son Zeao and the third son Zejiao have no support so far. Every time I think about this, I am very worried. I wonder if Your Highness can accomplish this?" After saying this, Peng Ding kept glancing at Melas.

The chieftains of Baojing and Yongshun were connected by marriage. Peng Ding married the two daughters of Yongshun Xuanwei Envoy Peng Hongpeng, Peng Yuanying (official wife) and Peng Deying (township wife), who were also the two elder sisters of the current Yongshun Xuanwei Envoy Peng Zhaoxiang, as his principal wives. They had three legitimate sons, Peng Zehong, Peng Zeao and Peng Zejiao. On the surface, this was to ask for fiefdoms for his sons, but in reality, he was afraid that the King of Dawei would not keep his word after pacifying the Kuidong bandits and would not give him the promised lands of Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong.

This fellow is so bold! He chooses to ask for benefits when I am about to pacify Kuidong. It is clearly a threat to me! Melas was furious when he heard this, but suddenly he realized that Peng Ding was observing his expression. He came to his senses: this man has always been overbearing. If he does not agree to his request, he will definitely retaliate. At the very least, he will lead his troops back to Baojing, and at the worst, he will turn against me and attack. Now is the critical stage of destroying the Ming Dynasty. We must not allow any unnecessary trouble! Thinking of this, he had to give him a reassurance, "Don't worry, Envoy. I always keep my words. Tomorrow I will adjust the fiefdoms for your two families." "Thank you, Your Highness", Peng Ding was overjoyed, and said goodbye after thanking him profusely.

After he left, Mailas could not help but feel worried. If Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong were really given to Baojing, the chieftain of Baojing would be happy, but the chieftain of Yongshun would be unhappy. In this attack on Ming, Peng Zhaoxiang, the envoy of Yongshun, sent 8,000 troops. Although their fighting power was not as good as that of the Baojing local soldiers, they were also a force that should not be underestimated. Alas! These chieftains had their own ulterior motives and their interests were intertwined. They were like spring flowers, dazzling to the eyes!
He was so irritable that he couldn't sleep, so he called his advisers Chen Hongzhu and Li Xun to discuss the matter.

"This is not difficult. Didn't you kill the Maogang pacification envoys Tan Yingchang and Tan Hongzhi, father and son? Now that Maogang has no owner, why not replace the land of Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong with the land of Maogang?" Li Xun suggested.

"If you directly propose to exchange land, Baojing may not be satisfied and Yongshun may not be grateful. Tomorrow you will first tell Peng Zhaoxiang that Peng Ding wants to ask for Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong. Peng Zhaoxiang will definitely oppose it strongly. Then propose to replace Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong with the land of Maogang. Peng Zhaoxiang will definitely be grateful, and Peng Ding will not be able to say anything," Chen Hongzhu also came up with an idea.

"Well, I'll do as you say," Melas agreed happily.

The next day, the chieftains of Baojing and Yongshun were summoned for discussion. As expected, when Peng Zhaoxiang heard that Peng Ding wanted to claim Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong, he flatly refused despite his weak character.

"When Peng Tingyu and his son rebelled, I sent troops to help you restore your throne. Now your two nephews have nowhere to live, and you, their uncle, won't allow them to help?" Peng Ding was furious. As soon as he finished speaking, the deputy generals of the five battalions, Peng Zejiao, Peng Zeqiu, Peng Zeao, Peng Fu, Peng Xun, Yu Daji, etc., drew their swords.

"It is precisely because my brother-in-law has done me a favor that I acquiesced in your occupation of Liangjiangkou. Now you are greedy and want to take over Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong. I'm sorry that I can't do whatever you say!" Peng Zhaoxiang refused with a stern face.

"If you want Nanweizhou, you have to crawl over my dead body," said Peng Linggao, the local governor of Nanweizhou, who drew his machete. The chiefs of Laredong, Tian Shichao, Tianjiadong, Tian Youcheng, Maizhehuangdong, Huang Zhengqian, Baiyadong, Zhang Zonglue, Shirongdong, Wang Qi, and Luchidong, Xiang Bo, also drew their swords.

The two sides were on the verge of a fight, and Melas was secretly happy. After this incident, the friendship between Baojing and Yongshun was gone, and it was just the right time to divide and conquer. He shouted sternly: "Draw your sword in front of me, and treat me as nothing?"

As soon as these words came out, the chieftains drew back their swords. Mailas said slowly, "I eliminated the rebellious chieftain of Maogang a few days ago. In order not to hurt the relationship between your two families, how about this, Peng Ding, I will send your two sons to Maogang. Is that okay?"

Seeing that it was difficult to claim Nanweizhou and Tianjiadong, and Maogang was a fertile land after all, Peng Ding had no choice but to accept it. Since it did not harm the interests of Yongshun, Peng Zhaoxiang was naturally happy. The storm was resolved, and His Royal Highness the King of Qi breathed a sigh of relief and resolutely decided to lead his army north. (End of this chapter)