Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 348: Three Thousand Foreign Concubines in the Harem?

The government and the people have already felt that the Ming Dynasty will be very different after the ninth year of Taichang, and they need time to digest it.

Zhu Changluo in the Forbidden City had also received news from Ma Gui and Yuan Keli, and he needed to make a decision.

The only one he called over was Tian Le.

After all, it’s only the third day of the first lunar month.

"What do you think of Korchin's petition?"

In the warm room of the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Changluo looked a little strange.

Tian Le smiled and said, "Guangshun Pass and Yehe tribe reported that the Jurchen cavalry that had intended to attack Yehe tribe in the east with Khorchin has returned to support them. Now they are the ones guarding Hada City. The Jianzhou Jurchens are busy with their own affairs, so Khorchin is naturally worried. Your Majesty asked me what I think, so I have to ask your Majesty. This tribe is in a relatively safe place. Does your Majesty want to subdue them, or just drive them out of Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains?"

Zhu Changluo thought for a while, then said, "The focus is still on the Jianzhou Jurchens. The border report reached the capital last night. After all, a fight broke out in Jiefan Village, but it was not Nurhaci who led the army personally. He has been very cautious since he retreated from Guangshun Pass to the south. This time, it is not certain that we can capture and kill him."

Tian Le nodded. "In terms of terrain and soil, although the Huifa and Ula tribes are further north, they are much wider than the area occupied by the Jianzhou Jurchens. The Jianzhou Jurchens are scattered among the mountains, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and they have many escape routes. If Nurhaci had not died, the Jianzhou Jurchens would have been able to make a comeback. But if they want to make a comeback, I'm afraid they have to go either south or north."

"What's strange right now is that Khorchin just lost the southern part of Liaohe River. Are they so afraid of Ming Dynasty sending troops to launch an expedition?" Zhu Changluo was a little puzzled. "Even if Nurhaci wanted to subdue them, it would not be a disaster to exterminate their clan. Instead, it would benefit them. Otherwise, wouldn't Ming Dynasty just sit and wait for them to waste their time?"

"I think they are begging for peace because they are worried about Chahar and think Jianzhou Jurchens will lose," Tian Le said. "Your Majesty, I think since this is a long-term plan and we need to manage the area south of Liaohe River in the next few years, it is better to agree to Khorchin's request while the war situation is still undecided. In this way, even if Nurhaci is defeated and then agrees with Khorchin to help each other, there will be an additional rift."

Zhu Changluo looked quietly at the map hanging in the warm room.

Nurhaci had fought for half his life and won most of them. This time, although he seemed impulsive, it was actually the best time for him to suppress his ambition. Having been to the Ming Dynasty and met Zhu Changluo twice, he knew that the longer he delayed, the less chance he would have.

Although it is now passive, the early capture of Hamgyong Province in Korea allows the Ming Dynasty to launch an offensive against the Tatars without any worries, and it can also use Hamgyong Province as a bargaining chip. Whether it is to provoke Korea to take action together or to use it as a retreat later, it is very good.

No matter how ambitious Zhu Changluo was, he had to face reality. The reality was that Changbai Mountain was indeed a natural barrier, and the mature border defense system of the Ming Dynasty was the existing Great Wall. For the Jianzhou Jurchens, who were used to suffering, they could attack when advancing and defend when retreating.

If he really couldn't win, he would first destroy the weak ones and expand his power recklessly - in the past, after all, they were controlled by the Ming Dynasty, which made them fearful. Now that they have torn their faces apart, looting, harassing, and destroying the small tribes in the future is nothing more than a waste of time.

In Zhu Changluo's memory, Nurhaci was unable to achieve great success against the Ming Dynasty at the beginning, but instead spent his main energy on unifying the Jurchens and conquering Mongolia.

It was precisely because of the manpower and material resources from Mongolia, coupled with the increasingly serious internal problems of the Ming Dynasty, that it was able to eventually gain the upper hand in the Northeast.

And the final entry into the pass was inseparable from the help of the Mongolian forces in the Laoha River and Luan River areas.

Now Chahar was seriously injured. Zhu Changluo thought about it from his own perspective. If Nurhaci was determined, he might give up some depth and spend his energy on helping Khorchin. He could help Khorchin recapture the Laoha River and even the Liaohe River, which had not yet formed a border defense system. He could even help Khorchin destroy Chahar and make them the leader of the entire Tatar left wing, laying the foundation for a simultaneous attack from the west, center, and east in the future.

As long as they can truly gain a foothold from the Ming Dynasty's conquest.

"Okay! Since I have set a precedent, let's make this a reality." Zhu Changluo made up his mind, "Assign it. The pace of things should be consistent. First, let the Jianzhou Jurchens suffer a great defeat and retreat step by step. Then announce to the Chahar, Tumed, Ordos, Khorchin, and Yehe tribes that my birthday will be celebrated in Tongliao this year. At that time, I will swear an alliance with the Tatar tribes to make peace, and I will also bring many precious goods from the Ming Dynasty to trade with them. In the future, the grasslands will not always be populated by troops, but by caravans."

After saying that, he thought for a moment and added, "Also, I will select some other children of the royal family and the children of nobles. Since they value marriage, I can arrange it for them."

"…What if they petition to marry some of the daughters of the powerful and influential people in the Ming Dynasty?"

"That's in the future." Zhu Changluo said without hesitation, "Their women will be well fed and well clothed when they marry here. But now they still lack etiquette and morality, which is different from the ethics of the Ming Dynasty. Apart from other things, they are far behind the Ming Dynasty in terms of culture and etiquette, so why bother to say this? If they have foresight and meet me in person, they will naturally know that I can treat them as one family. However, this family must follow the rules of the Ming Dynasty in many aspects."

"...I think they would be willing to use a girl from the clan to exchange for the Ming Dynasty opening border markets and stopping the war against them. But Your Majesty, does that mean you have to appoint several concubines?"

Zhu Changluo laughed: "When the Ming Dynasty really has a day when the four seas are as close as one family, all ethnic groups will naturally gather in my harem, and the government and the people will have to change their mindsets. Don't regard them as vulgar, respect them, and only then can we win their hearts. With a sword in one hand and honey in the other, the Ming Dynasty will let them choose!"

That's the benefit of actually getting a big win.

Throughout the northern border, all tribes will have a new understanding of the strength of the Ming Dynasty.

Facts have proved that the hasty response in the second half of last year did not achieve good results.

It doesn't necessarily mean they are truly surrendering now, but they are just not prepared enough, and they need to at least buy time to adjust and respond.

It has been many years since the Ming Dynasty launched such a large-scale offensive against the northern territory, and it has also demonstrated strong organizational and combat capabilities. Even if the various departments are mobilized and alert, it will take a long time.

Maybe it will be their turn?
Zhu Changluo realized that for them, "sacrifices" like Huang Taiji, Mukushi, and Tang Guda were something they would not hesitate to send out as long as they needed them.

Compared with the Ming Dynasty, their considerations in this regard were more primitive and crude.

Which of the Jurchen tribes and the Tatar tribes are not related by marriage? Is this useful?

On the contrary, it is unclear how much the Ming Dynasty will keep its word regarding the peace treaty that has already been signed.

High morals are also an advantage in certain situations!
(End of this chapter)