Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 314 The Woman at the Core of Power

The core power of the Tumed tribe, which once dominated the grasslands, is now related to two women. They have been involved in the power struggle within the Tumed tribe since the death of Altan Khan.

One of them is naturally the third lady.

Sanniangzi was a woman who was good at riding and shooting, and had followed Altan Khan in his battles, but she was also a woman who longed for a stable life and admired the Ming culture.

In the Ming Dynasty, many anecdotes about Sanniang were circulated among officials and gentry, and even Shu Baiqing had heard of them in Jiangnan.

For example, Wu Dui, who once served as the governor of Xuanfu and the governor-general of Xuanda.

He is from Shaoxing.

It is said that before Altan Khan died, the power of trade was in the hands of Sanniangzi, and he often went to the Ming Dynasty in person to conduct tribute trade.

At that time, Altan Khan had many conflicts with her eldest son, so Sanniang stayed overnight in Wu Dui's army when she paid tribute and told Wu Dui about her troubles.

According to the anecdotes Shu Baiqing had heard, Sanniang went in and out of Wu Dui's bedroom, and Wu Dui gave her many things she liked, such as the Eight Treasures Crown, the Hundred Phoenix Cloud Robe, and the Red Bone Cloud Skirt; and Sanniang would dance for him, and was good at circling around his knees to show her affection...

It is said that after Wu Dui returned to Shaoxing, he said seriously that he was already in his fifties at that time, and that he was doing this out of consideration for the overall situation of the trade, and he also felt sorry for her situation, and that they were just like father and daughter.

His fellow townsman, the great talent Xu Wei, was also invited by Wu Dui to Xuanfu, and wrote six poems for Sanniangzi.

In short, when Sanniangzi personally presided over the trade in her early years, with the deliberate "management" of the border officials of the Ming Dynasty, the trade created an atmosphere of "drunk and full, singing and dancing, and forgetting to leave" between the two ethnic groups.

This is naturally because Sanniang is a woman.

But there was another person who suffered from Sanniang's "harm".

How could Shu Boqing, a senior official, not know this? That was Cai Kexian who asked Shen Shixing to help write the epitaph.

[Andan was a cunning man. Whenever he came to the market, he would invite the border towns to meet him. The cowards were afraid to leave, so he would give them a lot of gold and silk to escape. When the Duke arrived, he said with emotion: The country is whipping the four barbarians to show people that they are cowardly and unwarlike. The barbarians have already lost. If we claim to be foreign ministers but resist their deception and distrust, we will only allow the barbarians to threaten us and look down on China...]

To put it bluntly, he was praising Cai Kexian for his righteousness and bravery. He did not want to give Tumed more money and goods to avoid risks, but went to negotiate with the chieftain in person.

But the problem is that he was impeached and resigned. Until the Ningxia campaign, the Ministry of War requested to use him, and some people said it was not appropriate to use him. The Ministry of War refuted that "Cai Kexian has been frivolous in his life, but he is brave and capable, and he is sure to rebel!"

What is obscene? Flirtatious and obscene.

The Ministry of War refuted others' claim that he was useful, saying that he was indeed capable, but he only had talent and courage!
Think about it again, after Longqing's meeting, the trade was actually presided over by Sanniangzi...

So Shen Shixing was trying to whitewash Cai Kexian. As for the epitaph, the tomb owner had to look after his dignity, so he replaced Sanniangzi with Altan.

The truth seems to be that Cai Kexian was too handsome. "He passed the imperial examination at a young age, with a handsome and fair figure like a god." At that time, he was the deputy envoy of the Shanxi Kelan Military Preparations Department, but in fact he was already a man in his thirties.

But a handsome uncle.

At that time, Sanniang was only in her early twenties. At the beginning of the trade, trust had not yet been established, so the Ming border officials were probably asked to go out of the border wall first to connect. It was a way of expressing sincerity, but also like being a hostage.

Cai Kexian went there with great righteousness. How could Sanniang stand such a brave and handsome Ming Dynasty Jinshi border official?

She is the most favored one in the palace, and she is so proud of her petiteness that she does not know sorrow. Who can stop the black water and Yinshan Mountain from sighing about her white hair?

This is a poem that Cai Kexian wrote for Sanniangzi that was circulated privately. Shen Shixing said that he wrote "Song of the Frontier" and carved it on a stone in Mashi. Anyway, the process...

Whether he was raped by Sanniangzi or the two of them had a passionate relationship, it was not good. At that time, Altan was still alive, so Cai Kexian was impeached and resigned from his post, and he was never reused in his life.

Now when Shu Baiqing met them, he would first give them a poem, but he didn't want to do anything.

You’re almost sixty years old, Miss San.

But I know she'll fall for it.

He immediately said to the other woman, "I heard on the way that Dacheng Biji built this gate in less than a month. She is truly a heroine. In the past, your respected husband, General Zhaoyong, sent Hanji to Guihua City to learn Chinese characters and translate classics. Your wife is no less capable than him. Guihua City has become a prosperous city. Is this your son, General Su Nang, who controls the people of Bansheng?"

Dacheng Biji's face changed, wondering if the emperor's envoy had other intentions.

She has already remarried to Sanniangzi's biological son, so why is she bringing up Bahan Naji now?

Hannaji's surrender to the Ming Dynasty was the opportunity for Altan to negotiate peace with the Ming Dynasty.

The military power within and outside the Tumed headquarters and Guihua City was originally held by Hannaji.

The struggle for the Khanate position is inseparable from military power.

The reason why Hanji was able to hold the military power was that he was the most knowledgeable among the Tumed people. However, the Tumed people who had settled down could no longer manage the "capital" of Guihua City as before. The city's security and guards, as well as the management of various industries, were not something that those who only knew how to manage herdsmen or lead troops in battle could handle.

After Banahanji died, his wife, who was also skilled in this field, inherited the power.

But she is a woman, and therefore like Sanniangzi she is inevitably drawn into the power struggle.

Sanniang wanted Dacheng Biji to remarry her son back then, and Chelike's father also wanted Dacheng Biji to remarry his son.

After Altan died, several battles took place outside Guihua City, and the conflict was finally resolved in this way: Dacheng Biji married Sanniangzi's son, and Sanniangzi married Chelik and his son. Su Nang's mother was Dacheng Biji, and his father was the biological son born to Sanniangzi and Altan.

Now that Chelike is dead, Su Nang has the support of both Sanniangzi and his mother, who actually still controls the military power of Guihua City and Tumed headquarters.

It seemed that Shu Baiqing was just exchanging pleasantries first, and when it came to greeting Bu Shitu, Bu Shitu was of course pitiful, weak, and helpless in front of the strength of his opponent.

He only has the advantage of bloodline and identity, and only has the support of those lords who are worried that Sanniang's lineage is too powerful.

To get this support, Bu Shitu also needs to obtain the benefits and strength from Sanniangzi and Dacheng Biji to meet their needs.

How easy is it?

Bu Shitu felt even more depressed when he saw the Ming envoy praising Sanniang and Dacheng Biji.

The area outside the city was not a place to discuss matters, so the group first entered Guihua City and then went to the palace in the inner city.

Shu Baiqing came with a small group of cavalry. Although he was older and not as handsome as Cai Kexian at that time, he was also brave and a well-educated man who had graduated from the Jinshi degree.

The third lady looked at him with admiration and said gently, "The envoy has been exhausted on the journey. I wonder if Wulubaduer has neglected him. He has been regretting it for the past few years. If the envoy can say a few good words to let Wulut reopen the border market with the upper country, we in Tumed will be grateful for your kindness."

She had been dealing with the Ming Dynasty for many years and was particularly interested in learning, so speaking Chinese was no longer a problem for her.

"Opening a border market is a small matter." Shu Boqing smiled, "However, Madam holds the seal, and this border market still needs the title of Shunyi King. If the successor king is uncertain, I am afraid that the incident in the 13th year of Wanli will happen again."

The third lady's expression changed slightly and she sighed slowly.

It was before Chelike was conferred the title of King of Shunyi. At that time, she had not married Chelike yet. Sanniangzi gave the seal to her son to go to the market, and Chelike sent troops to attack him. Finally, she and Chelike were married, Chelike was conferred the title of King of Shunyi, she was conferred the title of Lady Zhongshun, and she and her son and daughter-in-law obtained the military power of Guihua City and Bansheng.

"Is the imperial envoy here for this matter?" She looked at Shu Baiqing.

"Of course. If there is another dispute in Tumed, I am afraid that the border will be in turmoil again." He looked at Sanniang and said, "Now the court is sending troops to Chahar, Kharchin, Khalkha, and Khorchin. Your Majesty sent me here to ask Tumed what choice to make in this matter."

He spoke so bluntly that Sanniang's expression changed again.

After restraining herself for a moment, she looked at Dacheng Biji and Su Nang, and then asked, "Does His Majesty the Emperor have any orders?"

"The decree will be issued after the successor king is determined. Your Majesty has spoken the order."

As it concerns whether her grandson can become the Khan of Tumed, Sanniangzi has received many imperial edicts and is skilled in performing the rituals.

Shu Baiqing nodded with satisfaction: Your Majesty is right. It will only benefit Tumed if these women hold the real core power.

"Madam Zhongshun, I asked Shu Boqing to bring you a message. I want to wipe out Chahar, Kharachin, Khalkha and Khorchin. Are you willing to let the northern steppes of Mobei return to the Tumed and set up a new Khanate? You can gather all the remaining tribesmen. If they can settle down in the north of the Xilamulun River and Dashawo and live in peace with the Ming Dynasty, the border city will survive in the future, and salt and iron will not be banned."

The third lady knelt there and suddenly her body trembled slightly. She raised her head and looked at Shu Baiqing: "... establish a new Khan's court?"

"Madam Zhongshun, do you think the Ming Dynasty can't do it?" Shu Baiqing asked her to stand up first, after all, the oral order had already been read out.

Then, he said to Sanniang, "My two guards are outside the palace because they are carrying new guns. They are not preventing you from harming the imperial envoy, but want you to see the new firearms of the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty is wise and brave, and has learned everything from ancient times to the present. You have worked hard for seven years to govern the country and train the army. Now that the Ming Dynasty has abundant weapons and money, Lindan Batur will definitely defeat Yanshan this time! General Wulubaduer, General Su Nang, you can take them to an open place to test fire and see their power."

After that, he said to the third lady, "Let's talk about the gains and losses since the alliance, and they will come back to report."

Shu Boqing only brought two guns, but they were the latest type of flintlock rifles.

Of course there are people in Tumote who can see the trick, and then Shu Baiqing can play his role.

Only by making the Tumed believe in and fear the strength of the Ming Dynasty can they be tempted by the pie in the sky drawn by the Ming Dynasty.

Sanniangzi and Dachengbiji were absent-minded, while Wulubaduer, Su Nang and others all looked unhappy after they came back.

Shu Boqing then spoke slowly: "Your Majesty said that he is willing to be friendly with his neighbors. But the hatred between the two tribes has been more than a hundred years. It is important to let the neighbors in the north know that the Ming Dynasty is now truly capable of valuing peace. Since the tribes under the Khan's court have been governing themselves, the Ming Dynasty has crippled the left wing. Whether the right wing is willing to take over the power of the entire tribe depends on Tumed's decision."

Wulubaduer felt a chill all over his body. He didn't know how many of the new guns the Ming army had been equipped with.

But the frequency with which the two guards loaded and fired their weapons was much faster than he had imagined.

If the cavalry faced this new gun, they would have to suffer at least two or three times more casualties before they could engage it.

The key is not just two or three times, but morale.

If an elite army suffers more than a certain percentage of casualties, it will no longer be able to fight well, unless everyone would rather die than kill the enemy.

Does the Khanate have such elite troops? How many are there? How many are there in Tumed?
He finally understood what the Ming envoy meant by what the Ming emperor wanted to give Tumed.

"In the past, Shunyi King Altan had a will, appointing the eldest son as his successor." Shu Baiqing looked at Wulu Baduer, "I have known about the current dispute along the way. Madam Zhongshun, with the dramatic changes in the grassland, the Khan's court in the future will be able to accommodate a number of princes, each with a border market seal, and border markets can be opened from Ningxia all the way to Xuanfu and Kaiping. The benefits are more than ten times. If Tumed is willing to seize this opportunity, then he should end the dispute and make preparations early."

"...a king...all the nobles?"

(End of this chapter)