I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 484: Arrange for Altan Khan!
Wang Daokun, who was sitting down, replied, "Your Highness, in October, Altan Khan ordered the nobles of the Mongolian right wing to gather at Daqing Mountain in the name of his birthday. However, this time he mainly summoned his sons, nephews and grandchildren."

Zhu Yijun frowned, "Another birthday party? Last year, the birthday party forced Huo Bian to rebel, killed Jinang, and messed up Ordos. Then Huo Bian and Huo Jing defected to the Ming Dynasty.
His reputation in Datong was ruined and his prestige was greatly reduced.

He is going to hold a birthday party this year, what does he want to do?"

Wang Daokun quickly replied: "Your Highness, after receiving the news, I am also puzzled. I have ordered all the secret agents to speed up the collection of intelligence.

However, after the battle outside Datong, Altan Khan became suspicious and no longer trusted outsiders. Now he trusted Sanniangzi the most, and he was somewhat distant from the rest of his close ministers, even Bosihaer.

Therefore, it became very difficult for us to collect intelligence. After many twists and turns, we collected some intelligence, first checked the truth, and then compared and analyzed it.

Your Highness, we have compiled and analyzed the intelligence and have already sent it to the Supervisory Office 600 miles away."

Zhu Yijun nodded, "I got it. After thinking it over, I have some things to discuss with you, so I urgently summoned Mr. Wang to Beijing."

"Your Highness, please give me your instructions."

"Now Fengning Marquis Qi Yuanjing has led a large force to station in Fengning and Xinghua, and often conducts drills with the Mongolian Left Six Wings in the Sanbulachuan area. Our army's six strategic mobile cavalry divisions are stationed in Datong, Ningxia and Fugu respectively.

It formed a three-sided encirclement of Ordos, Tumoed and Yongshebu.

Moreover, Xiao Wenkui, the general of Liaodong, and Malu, the general of Haixi, successively launched military operations against the Wuliangha and Khalkha Mongolian tribes in the northern desert. Half of the Mongolian tribes in the northern desert had already surrendered, and the rest fled northwards and westwards.

Do you think Altan Khan felt the pressure from the Ming Dynasty?"

Wang Daokun thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, although the Ming Dynasty and the Tumed tribe have restored peace and reopened border trade, the exchanges are no different.

But Altan Khan must have received messages from all over, knowing that the Ming Dynasty was taking every step carefully, and the noose around his neck would become tighter and tighter. "

Altan Khan was a great leader in the southern desert and he would certainly not sit still and wait for death.

It's just that it's different now.

Our Ming Dynasty took over Jianzhou and Haixi, wiped out the Chahar tribe, and won a great victory in the eastern front strategy.

Liaodong and Liaoxi became hinterland, not only expanding a large area of ​​territory, but also more than half of the troops on the eastern front could be transferred to the western front, and there were also powerful armies such as the Mongolian Left Six Wings and the Sushen Army.

In Datong, Xuanhua, Shaanxi, and Ningxia, our Ming cavalry and infantry are on full alert. In the east, at Sanbulachuan, nearly 100,000 Mongolian left six-wing cavalry and infantry are waiting covetously.

Easy to attack and defend.

If Altan Khan dares to turn against us, our army can besiege the Mongolian right wing on three sides and attack the Daqing Mountains directly.

Altan Khan must also be aware of the situation. So what will he do? Will he stop fighting or fight to the death? I dare not speculate.

Zhu Yijun stood up and said to Wang Daokun, "Mr. Boyu, please accompany me for a walk, bask in the sun, and feel the lake breeze. Maybe you will have an idea and understand Altan Khan's careful thoughts."

Wang Daokun stood up and replied with a smile: "Yes!"

Qi Yan held a cloak and helped Zhu Yijun put it on. Another eunuch held a cloak and handed it to Wang Daokun with both hands.

"It's a bit windy near the lake, so I'll give this cloak to you, sir."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

A cloak is a straight-collared, double-breasted coat with double sleeves that can be worn or put on.

A cloak is a sleeveless coat, some with a hood, and can only be worn on the body.

Zhu Yijun and Wang Daokun got dressed and slowly walked onto the path beside the lake.

As winter approached, the West Garden became increasingly desolate. The trees were completely bare, with only branches baring their teeth and claws in the air. The verdant green of spring and summer had long since disappeared.

The yellow of autumn is gradually fading away, leaving only a dark gray.

On the lake, several small boats were sliding slowly. The eunuchs of the Inner Palace were working together. Some were rowing, while others were stretching out long poles and nets to scoop up dead leaves and branches that had fallen on the lake.

"If Altan Khan were ten years younger, I believe he would fight the Ming Dynasty to the death in this predicament. But he is old and I don't know how much courage he still has."

Zhu Yijun put his hands in the large sleeves of his cloak, looked at the lake, and spoke slowly.

Wang Daokun was half a step behind and immediately replied: "Your Highness is wise. We also think that Altan Khan does not have the courage to fight to the death with our Ming Dynasty. We have also analyzed the intelligence we have collected and verified from all aspects that your Highness and we should be right in our guess."

Zhu Yijun continued, "The Ming Dynasty should hold back for now and not attack the right wing of Mongolia because we have pacified Annan in the south and the left wing in the north. If we open our mouths to attack the right wing, I am afraid we will be overwhelmed.

Moreover, in the past two years, although the Ming treasury has been well-off, it is not rich enough to squander at will. The wars in the north and south have consumed a lot of money and grain. Now the Eastern Expedition is going on again. Although the movement is not big, money and grain are also being spent like water.

If we launch another war against the right wing of Mongolia, I am afraid that Gao Ge Lao will go to Chengtian Gate to beg for alms with a bowl in his hand. "

Wang Daokun chuckled twice but did not express his opinion.

Since it involves a big shot in the cabinet, he, a small minister, has no right to comment.

Just a couple of chuckles along with the prince were enough.

"But Altan Khan's current state has put us in a dilemma. What if Altan Khan gets carried away and follows Tumen Khan's example and finds a shaman to come up with some earth-shattering tricks? That would be very troublesome for us!"

Wang Daokun echoed, "Your Highness is right. Altan Khan still has a lot of cards in his hand, and it is hard for us to judge how he will play them. But Your Highness mentioned that Altan Khan was looking for a shaman, and I received news from Master Xuanchi that Altan Khan has been going to temples to worship Buddha more and more frequently during this period."

Zhu Yijun slowed down his pace, turned around and asked, "Master Xuanchi, the abbot of the famous Chongshan Temple in the south of the desert, a monk that Altan Khan trusts very much, and the illegitimate son of Ding Rukui, the former Minister of War of our dynasty?"

"Your Highness has a very good memory. He remembered this monk."

"What did he say? Tell me in detail." "Yes, Your Highness. Monk Xuanchi said that after Altan Khan returned from Datong City in defeat, he gave a large amount of gold and silver to Chongshan Temple to cast a golden body for the Buddha and make silver Buddhist vessels. Then every three to five days, he would go to the temple to worship the Buddha and listen to the monks chanting.

After September, Altan Khan went to the temple almost every day, worshipped Buddha more devoutly, and donated a large amount of money. "

"Altan Khan went to worship Buddha. Did Sanniang follow him?"

Wang Daokun replied, "Your Highness, Sanniang didn't go with us the first few times, but she has been with us every time since September. This is very strange. Your Highness, do you think there is some mystery behind this?"

Arriving at a pavilion, Qi Yan, receiving a signal from Zhu Yijun, hurriedly laid two thick cotton mats on the stone bench with the two eunuchs.

Zhu Yijun sat down and pointed to another cushion and said, "Mr. Wang, please sit down too."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhu Yijun continued, "Praying to the Buddha for blessings shows that Altan Khan is willing but unable to do anything. He may have secretly discovered that he has lost control of the Mongolian right wing, but he is unwilling to accept it, so he places his hope on the Buddha."

Wang Daokun was very smart and immediately understood what Zhu Yijun meant. "Your Highness, do you mean that Altan Khan lacks confidence in what he is about to do, so he hopes for Buddha's blessing?"

“The Emperor Qin and Emperor Wu of Han conquered the six kingdoms and drove the Xiongnu to the north. Did they ever ask for Buddha’s blessing?
Did Temujin, the ancestor of Altan Khan, ever pray to Buddha for protection? Did Emperor Taizu, who conquered the country and unified the country, ever pray to Buddha for protection before sending out his troops?

It is better to rely on yourself than to rely on God!

The one who can control his own and others' destiny is God! "

Wang Daokun was shocked.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince does not worship Taoism, Buddhism, or Tianxuan Xiu. It turns out the root cause is here.

It is indeed so. Those great rulers in history books all believed that it was better to rely on themselves than on God, and that they believed in themselves more than God.

Without this confidence, they would never have been able to achieve those unprecedented achievements that will go down in history.

In comparison, Altan Khan, who worshipped Buddha for blessings, was far worse. He placed his hopes for success on Buddha, which indeed showed that he was not sure about success.

Thirty years ago, when Altan Khan roamed the grasslands south of the desert and dominated the left and right wings of Mongolia, there was no record of him worshipping Buddha, and he rarely worshipped shamans. He was full of self-confidence and believed in himself as a god.

Not anymore.

But what does he want to achieve?

Wang Daokun asked hesitantly, "Your Highness, what is Altan Khan praying to Buddha for? I can't guess."

"Guess from human nature. Altan Khan is already sixty years old, which is considered a long life on the grassland. He certainly doesn't expect to revive Mongolia now.

He was more concerned about what happened after his death.”

"What will happen after death?" Wang Daokun's eyes lit up and he said happily, "Mrs. San and the child he had with her are the two people that Altan Khan is most worried about.

But Bu Ta Shi Li is only a little over a year old. Even if Altan Khan follows the old Mongolian custom of letting the youngest son inherit the family business and pass most of the tribes and troops to Bu Ta Shi Li, he has so many brothers and nephews who are as fierce as wolves and tigers, and he and his wife will not be able to keep them."

Zhu Yijun continued to ask: "Are there any changes in the Tumed tribe and pastures?"

Wang Daokun thought for a moment and said, "Altan Khan transferred 5,000 tents of his people to live in the area of ​​the Little Yellow River (Xilamulin River) north of the Daqing Mountains; he transferred 3,000 tents of his people to live in the area south of the Daqing Mountains to protect the royal tent; and he transferred 4,000 tents of his people to live in the area of ​​the Yin Mountains.

We, the ministers, originally thought that after Altan Khan suffered a defeat outside the city of Datong, he became suspicious and no longer trusted others, so he mobilized these close followers and confidants to guard the royal tent.

Your Highness enlightened me, and I suddenly realized that these tribesmen, in addition to guarding the royal tent, should be left by Altan Khan to Sanniang. "

"Where is Chongshan Temple?"

"Your Highness, Chongshan Temple is located in the heart of Daqing Mountain, 70 miles away from Altan Khan's tent." Wang Daokun suddenly realized, "Your Highness, I understand. Altan Khan left the tent under the pretext of worshiping Buddha, took Sanniangzi and Bu Tashili to Chongshan Temple, and secretly summoned these tribesmen in batches, asking them to swear allegiance to Sanniangzi and Bu Tashili."

"That should be correct. Chongshan Temple is seventy miles away from Dabansheng. Daqing Mountain is high and long, and it is vast from north to south. No one knows what tricks Altan Khan is doing there."

Wang Daokun quickly calculated, "Five thousand, three thousand, four thousand, a total of twelve thousand tents, which can be counted as fifteen thousand cavalry. They are all elite troops who have followed Altan Khan in battles for many years, and their strength should not be underestimated."

The third lady is also very smart and can win over people from all sides. With the help of other hidden men deployed by Altan Khan, she might be able to save his family business.”

"Although Altan Khan left his inheritance to Sanniangzi and Bu Tashili, whether they can keep it or not is not up to them. It depends on whether the Ming Dynasty is willing to give it to them."

Zhu Yijun waved his hand, and Wang Daokun quickly stood up, bent down, leaned forward, and listened attentively.

"Mr. Boyu, you have done this and that since you returned to Datong. Please make arrangements for Altan Khan with all your heart!"

Zhu Yijun whispered something in his ear.

Wang Daokun's eyes flickered, and he immediately bowed after hearing this: "I will obey your orders. I will do my best to complete the task."

"Okay, you go to the Rong government first, discuss this strategy with Lord Ruzhen and Feng Wu of the General Staff Bureau, and check for omissions. Besides, the war situation in the south of the desert is like a chess game. If Altan Khan makes a move, we have to move with him, east, west, south, and north.

After the discussion, Mr. Boyu will return to Datong immediately. The Rong government and the General Staff will present the military strategy. I will take a closer look at it then."

"Yes!"

After sending Wang Daokun away, Zhu Yijun turned to Qi Yan and said, "Go to the secretariat and ask if the Supervisory Office has received any urgent reports from the Beihai Xuanwei Envoy Office?

Have my Eastern Expeditionary Army captured Pyongyang and Seoul now? "

(End of this chapter)