Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 291: Solid border! Solid border!
The city of Beijing was still hot in late August, and the 76-year-old Mr. Xiao felt even hotter.

I looked up at Zhengyang Gate. It’s been so long since I last saw it!

When he left, he was Shen Yi Guan's right-hand man, and he carried with him the emperor's distrust of him.

Who could have thought that he would be able to come back six years later and become the Governor-General and Minister of State in the Executive Yuan!

But it is not easy for him to be the Governor-General's Minister of State.

Firstly, he didn't know how long his body would allow him to do this, and secondly, he had to shoulder a heavy responsibility - while he was on the way, the eunuchs of the Duzhijian kept sending him secret letters through the post stations.

Some are from the emperor, and some are from the Privy Council.

Outside the Zhengyang Gate, Xiao Daheng simply exchanged some pleasantries with his colleagues and old friends who came to greet him, and then immediately rushed to the Forbidden City.

He is still given such an opportunity at such an old age, so of course he has to go to the emperor to express his gratitude as soon as possible.

Everyone understands.

In the Forbidden City, Zhu Changluo was in front of Empress Dowager Li.

After listening to his explanation for a long time today, Empress Dowager Li finally put aside her worries.

After a while, she had someone call Yehenala Dongge over and said in a very serious tone: "Since the emperor has asked you to serve me, then you should stay here and do your duty. Don't bring harm to our clan!"

Zhu Changluo watched her reaction quietly.

After seeing it, what can I say?

This is Zhu Changluo’s opinion.

Perhaps because her facial features are different from the Jurchens who have relatively long and narrow horse faces and higher cheekbones at this stage, her facial features are more harmonious and beautiful overall.

Another characteristic is her bluish-gray eyes. Nalinbulu boasted that this was the most noble eye color, and was particularly dazzling under the night light.

But was it necessary for Zhu Changluo? Especially since the woman knew that the emperor only gave the Jianzhou and Yehe tribes "50 lashes each", she immediately showed her temper, which made Zhu Changluo understand what Nalinbulu's euphemistic advice meant.

He also knew that this woman hated Nurhaci too deeply, and now he was afraid that she would anger the emperor in the emperor's forbidden palace.

Yehenala Dongge knelt on the ground, staring at the ground indifferently, and said softly: "I will remember the teachings of the Empress Dowager."

"Put away your wildness! You are noble in the clan, but you must remember your status here. The emperor has his own considerations for military and national affairs. I keep you in the palace only to reassure your clan. If you insist on causing trouble, I will kill you!"

Zhu Changluo stood up and bowed: "Grandmother, I'll trouble you to take care of her. This girl dares to be so frivolous and eager in front of me. If she is placed in the harem, I'm afraid she will not have peace. The concubines in the palace are younger than her, so let her temper here first. If she can serve Grandmother, her family will know that I don't despise her."

After that, he looked at Yehenala Dongge and said, "Compared to your insistence on revenge, the Yehe tribe is more concerned about the future of the tribe. If you can figure it out soon, you can talk about the rest of your life."

"I will remember your majesty's teachings."

Yehenara Donggo spoke in a respectful tone, but felt ashamed and angry inside.

In the emperor's palace, she was brought before the emperor by Nalinbulu.

The emperor had no intention of taking this opportunity to attack the Jianzhou tribe, and it seemed that he was not impressed by her appearance.

Afterwards, the emperor asked her and Nurhaci's daughter to temporarily serve as palace maids, doing some odd jobs during the journey.

Working with her enemy's daughter, she couldn't directly harm the girl.

Seeing that the emperor seemed to be more friendly to the little girl, Dong Ge climbed into the emperor's bed the night before returning. What could Zhu Changluo say? Was their custom too wild, or something else?
After being scolded, she kowtowed and cried, but she kept recounting Nurhaci's crimes and her hatred.

This is how the current arrangement came about.

Both of them had to stay in the palace. For the Yehe tribe and the Jianzhou tribe, this was a symbol that the emperor was willing to "ally" with them.

For Zhu Changluo, why should a clear result be given now? Both of them have the excuse of being familiar with etiquette.

Donggo's identity and experience, and Nurhaci's fourth daughter Mukushi's age, made it impossible for them to immediately gain status under the Ming Dynasty's ritual system.

To put it bluntly, the Ming Dynasty is more powerful, and the two ministries need to first take actions and produce results that satisfy the emperor, and then everything else will be easy.

The reason why he had to explain things to Empress Dowager Li several times was simply because he still did not directly eliminate Nurhaci this time.

In the eyes of Empress Dowager Li, since the Bodhisattva had given the warning, that guy would of course have killed An Xin long ago.

Zhu Changluo walked from the Cining Palace to the Qianqing Palace.

A blacksmith must be strong himself. As long as the Ming Dynasty is strong, what does Nurhaci matter?
In comparison, the success of this operation is crucial.

He and Xiao Daheng arrived at the Qianqing Palace one after another to express their gratitude to the emperor, but it was just a formality.

"You have done a good job in Nanjing. The tax revenue in Jiangnan has been growing steadily in recent years. Jiangnan has not had any major chaos after all." Zhu Changluo gave him a seat. "As long as you have made contributions, I will never forget it. How is your health?"

"I have no distractions in Nanjing, and my spirit and energy are getting better and better." Xiao Daheng lowered his head and replied, "I have no major health problems."

Zhu Changluo laughed: "Governor Xiao, you will have to spend more energy from now on, and it may even shorten your life. If you say so, do you want to achieve some achievements?"

Xiao Daheng choked up a little: "Since I passed the imperial examination in the 41st year of the Jiajing reign, I have been an official since I was a county magistrate. For the past 45 years, I have always wanted to achieve great things and serve the country. As a third-class scholar, I thought my life was over. I am already 76 years old, and Your Majesty still trusts me. Every extra thing I do is an extra blessing. How dare I not die for the country?"

"That's good. Who says you can't make more achievements at the age of 76?"

Zhu Changluo hired him because of his rich experience, his resume and his age.

After becoming an official, Xiao Daheng set up most of his local government in border areas. Shaanxi, Shanxi, Xuanfu...

He also dealt with the Tatars. When he was the governor of Xuanfu, he personally went out of the border wall to intimidate the northern barbarians who were harassing the border. Later, he was promoted to the right vice minister of the Ministry of War and the right censor-in-chief, and he was in charge of the three towns of Xuanfu, Datong and Shanxi.

Before becoming the Minister of Punishments, he had served as the Minister of War. In the 26th year of Wanli, he also managed the affairs of the Ministry of War for a while until Tian Le took over.

After guarding the border for many years, he published a book called "Records of Barbarian Customs".

What made Mr. Xiao so excited was, of course, that even at his old age, he still had the hope of going down in history with this last train of his life.

He asked in disbelief: "Your Majesty, from what I heard on my way to the capital... this time, Your Majesty really intends to recapture the Daning Metropolitan Area and Kaiping Guard in one fell swoop? Liaodong... can you really take over the three tribes of Haixi Jurchen?"

"That's right!" Zhu Changluo stood up. "Since Governor Xiao has arrived, let's move to the Huangji Palace. Now the Liaodong border troops are just watching the movements of the Jurchen tribes. Whether they will do as I ask will be clear this year! You are knowledgeable about military affairs, so you are the most suitable person to be the governor right now. You should take on the responsibility! It is easy to expand territory but difficult to defend the border. The Jinxian Academy must select talents, and the Shizheng Academy must find ways to mobilize the people to defend the border. There is also the transportation of food and fodder, and the repair of post roads..."

Over at the Huangji Palace, Tian Le, Ye Xianggao, Shen Li and Li Tingji were all waiting for them.

Time is indeed very tight. After dealing with the affairs of the Jurchen tribes in Zunhua at the end of July, the Ming Dynasty must be prepared to deal with any developments that may occur next.

Ever since the leaders of the Doyan tribes were captured and executed within the Ming border walls in front of the emperor, the gears of history began to turn and accelerate.

As long as you can succeed, you will have visible achievements and posthumous reputation in front of the five ministers.

The Ming Dynasty's northern border defense line east of Hetao is expected to be restored to Kaiping, Daning, and Liaohe areas in one go, and the entire north and northeast will gain greater strategic depth!
(End of this chapter)