Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 193 Sharp Blades Clear the Way, Royal Envoys Follow
Although the sun gradually climbed higher, it had little warmth, merely spreading its cold light across the earth in vain.

At the mouth of the valley heading east from Qingcheng, the terrain suddenly narrows, with the narrowest point measuring no more than five hundred paces.

(Attached image: This is a modern satellite screenshot. The area should have been narrower during the Ming Dynasty. People generally assume the Mongolian grasslands are flat, and in most places they are, but Qingcheng Mountain is backed by the Yinshan Mountains, so it's definitely not entirely flat.)
At this moment, this place has become a battlefield of carnage.

Corpses, the bodies of men and horses, were piled up layer upon layer at the mouth of the valley, like a dam built of flesh and blood.

The blood had long since congealed, turning dark red, freezing the grass and soil into ugly scars.

Beyond the valley entrance, the corpses gradually thinned out.

Chahar cavalrymen, with two, three, or even four horses per rider, could easily overtake Ming cavalry once they left the valley entrance and entered the plains, as long as they abandoned their armor and weapons.

This is also why Ma Shilong and others went to great lengths to choose this battlefield.

Without the aid of terrain, it would be very difficult to inflict significant damage on the Mongol cavalry.

If they had chosen to fight at the flat and open Jining Lake, even if they had defeated the enemy temporarily, with Lindan Khan's resilience, he could have made a comeback after a short rest.

These 6,000 elite Ming cavalry were the best troops drawn from the nine border garrisons. It was fine if they were concentrated in one battle, but if they were separated for a long time, something could happen to each side. It was impossible for them to stay on the grassland for long.

If the Ming army were to encounter such a situation, they would be in an awkward position, not only alienating the Tiger Chieftain but also failing to achieve their strategic objectives.

……

"Pfft."

Jiang Mingwu first stabbed the corpse hard with his spear. Seeing that the corpse did not react, he then drew his waist knife and pressed it down hard on the corpse's neck.

The blade sliced ​​into the flesh, but was firmly stuck by the neck bone.

He clicked his tongue, had to adjust his angle, felt for the gaps in the bones, and pressed down with all his might.

With a "crack," a head rolled to the ground.

Jiang Mingwu bent down to pick it up; it felt cold and heavy in his hand.

He glanced at the man but couldn't tell his age. His face was a bloody mess, covered with marks from the gravel, indicating that he had landed face-first when he fell from his horse.

In the past, no one would want such a head.

The Ministry of War requires that the items be clearly visible during inspection; any items with scratches, blurriness, or that are unrecognizable will be rejected.

A head costs twenty taels of silver; that's a truly high-end item.

In terms of the rigor and meticulousness of the inspection process, it rivals the luxury goods inspection of later generations.

However, His Majesty has decreed that merits will not be awarded based on the number of heads taken, and the quality of the heads is irrelevant.

Cut more, and the reported figures will look better, giving His Majesty more face.

Jiang Mingwu shook his head, casually picked up the head, and threw it with all his might towards a cart that was used to store severed heads not far away.

The head drew a graceful arc in the air, but failed to land in the car. It fell to the ground with a "plop," rolled twice, and was covered in dust.

A young bodyguard standing nearby saw this and came over with a grin: "Chief Jiang, why are you so weak? You used to lift stone weights without even breaking a sweat, are you unable to chop them today?"

"Cut off your mother's head!" Jiang Mingwu cursed angrily, kicking the soldier in the buttocks. "Stop talking nonsense and get to work! We can get back to camp after we're done!"

The guard chuckled, not annoyed, and quickly ran off to deal with the next corpse.

Jiang Mingwu straightened up and rubbed his still somewhat sore lower back.

Looking around, the narrow battlefield was filled with busy Ming soldiers.

They were in groups of three or five; some were beheading people, some were gathering up the unattended warhorses, and some were searching the corpses, stripping them of anything of value, such as armor, weapons, bows and arrows, and fur coats.

In the distance, two cavalry units were driving a dark mass of prisoners and cattle slowly toward them.

Jiang Mingwu exhaled a long breath of white air, kicked the headless corpse at his feet away, and bent down to continue his bloody "work".

In order to ensure a decisive victory in this battle, the retainers of each cavalry unit were slightly reorganized.

Many warriors, horses, and armor were concentrated in the very first few formations.

This resulted in his own cavalry being mixed with soldiers from other places.

As a result, the fact that he led troops to pursue Tiger Chief Tu Han could not be kept secret at all.

Upon hearing this, Governor Ma, without saying a word, first rewarded him with ten strokes of the military rod, and then simply sent him and his entire personal guard to do the dirtiest and most tiring job of beheading.

They called it "taming his temper."

Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen...

Jiang Mingwu mechanically swung his waist knife, silently counting in his mind.

Looking around, countless soldiers wearing the Ming Dynasty's mandarin duck battle robes were bending over, busy on this land congealed with blood.

They are efficient and professional, much like the old farmers harvesting crops in the fields during the autumn harvest season.

……

Qingcheng.

The city gate, which had been tightly closed for less than an hour, finally opened slowly with a tooth-grinding creak.

After repeated discussions, the Mongol nobles felt...

Given the Ming army's siege and defense capabilities, keeping the gate closed seemed pointless.

After all, there were quite a few Hudun cannons in the small wagon formation left behind on the banks of the Heihe River; they just hadn't been used in the previous charge.

Moreover, the Ming army was ultimately there at their request, and they had some past ties in the Datong trade market, so it was unlikely that they would be wiped out as well.

Of course, most importantly, not only the east gate was open, but the west gate... was also opened.

If a fight really breaks out, we can just slip out through the west gate.

Wang Shide stood a short distance from the city gate, behind him were dozens of tall, well-armored elite cavalrymen, each with a grim expression.

"Now that you're here to issue the imperial decree, will that report of victory still be able to be transmitted normally?"

Ma Shilong spurred his horse to his side, his brows slightly furrowed.

Wang Shide was staring intently at the city gate, his palms sweaty, and for a moment he didn't hear clearly.

"Wang, the Vice Minister?"

"Wang, the Vice Minister?"

Ma Shilong had to raise his voice and ask twice.

Wang Shide then seemed to wake from a dream, suddenly regaining his senses, a hint of panic flashing across his face:
"Ah? Ah!"

"Governor Ma, rest assured, after receiving this imperial decree, Lord Tian of the Embroidered Uniform Guard personally ordered that the heads of radio stations along the route be promoted in turn, and there will be no delays."

He composed himself and added, "Right now, Zou Zhiyou should be in charge of sending messages. Zou Qianshi is a veteran in our radio station system, so he's very reliable."

Yes, old men. This group of Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) from the radio system, which has only been established for less than two months, already considers themselves old men, constantly proclaiming their difference from other Jinyiwei.

Ma Shilong nodded, relieved.

From waiting for the right opportunity to the final battle that decided the outcome, the entire battle took only a few days.

But Emperor Yongchang in the capital obviously wouldn't just issue one order.

He sent dozens of telegrams, some long and some short, to encourage the officers, to award them rewards, to authorize them to make decisions on the spot, to authorize them to carry out military affairs in Datong, and even to rebuke the local governors and generals for not cooperating.

Aside from not shifting the cavalry position ten centimeters to the left, everything else has been discussed.

The entire Beijing-Datong railway line has never been this bustling since it was laid out.

The henchmen then realized that the monthly salary of eight taels of silver was not so easy to earn.

Two days ago, Emperor Yongchang even sent a telegram in advance outlining how to explain the outcome of the battle—whether it was a victory, a draw, or a defeat—to the princes of the Right Wing of Mongolia.

As for the silk version of the imperial edict, we'll have to wait a few more days, since people and objects can't be transported by radio.

……

However, the war was progressing far too quickly.

Lindan Khan rested for only one day, and without even sweeping away the surrounding tribes, he directly led his troops to attack.

Then, in a dramatic fashion, they typed "GG" under the cover of Qingcheng.

Now, all we can do is issue an oral decree for the time being.

The one responsible for conveying the emperor's edict and turning this great military victory into a political achievement was none other than Wang Shide, the nineteen-year-old commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

As for why it was him, and not a civil official like the governor of Datong, Ma Shilong didn't know either.

But His Majesty must have his reasons.

Looking at the young man beside him, Ma Shilong couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

Sharp blades pave the way, and royal envoys follow; this has been the way since ancient times.

However, this "royal envoy" is far too young.

"Let's go, let's enter the city!"

Wang Shide took a deep breath, suppressing all the tension and trepidation in his chest. He suddenly pulled on the reins, spurred the horse's flanks, and with a long neigh, the warhorse took the lead towards the open city gate.

The dozens of riders behind him immediately roared into action and followed closely behind.

And the temporary commander of these dozens of riders was none other than Cao Wenzhao, who had broken through three battle formations today and whose murderous aura had not yet dissipated!

……

As the horses' hooves stepped through the city gates, the clamor of the cold grassland winds seemed to be instantly shut out.

Qingcheng, a city built by Altan Khan, is more of a town than a city.

The streets are not very wide, and most of the houses on both sides are made of earth and wood, resembling the style of a county town in Han China.

However, this appearance also reveals a sense of incongruous and presumptuous behavior.

Wang Shide's gaze swept across the area and he noticed that many houses had dragon and phoenix patterns carved on their eaves and lintels. However, the dragons looked like snakes with legs, and the phoenixes looked like plucked chickens, rough and ridiculous.

A barely perceptible sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

In barbarian lands, a monkey wearing a crown can only imitate the form without grasping the spirit.

From behind the doors and windows of the houses lining the street, pairs of eyes were secretly watching their group.

Wang Shide could clearly sense the emotions in those gazes: awe, curiosity, and unease.

He inadvertently made eye contact with a Mongolian man behind a window. The man recoiled as if stung by a snake or scorpion and disappeared into the darkness.

"Asura...it's Asura..."

Uncontrollable whispers came from the side.

Wang Shide knew without turning around that they were talking about Cao Wenzhao, who was on par with him.

The general's ferocity on the battlefield has long since become a nightmare, taking root in the hearts of these Mongols.

His gaze continued forward, and he saw a few more Han Chinese faces.

They often wore luxurious silk, making them stand out among the Mongolians dressed in fur coats.

These must be the Han Chinese landlords in Bansheng City.

Suddenly, Wang Shide's gaze met that of a child perched on the windowsill.

It was a chubby-faced Han boy, about four or five years old. He didn't seem to understand what fear was. When he saw Wang Shide looking over, he grinned and showed a toothless smile, and waved his little hand vigorously at him.

Wang Shide was momentarily taken aback, unsure of what expression to make.

In the end, he simply maintained his expressionless face and silently looked away.

Qingcheng is not large; in just a short while, a palace that is far more magnificent than the surrounding buildings came into view.

The architectural style of the palace is as presumptuous and ridiculous as ever.

Wang Shide dismounted, tossed the reins to his personal guard, straightened his flying fish robe, and climbed the steps.

……

Inside the main hall, dozens of Mongolian nobles were already lined up on both sides according to their rank, standing respectfully with their hands at their sides.

Leading the group were Bu Shitu, the Shunyi King of the Tumed, and Ahai, the Khan of the Haraqin tribe.

In the center of the hall, a tall incense table was already fully set up, with wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner, making it look quite impressive.

Wang Shide cleared his throat and didn't waste any words.

"His Majesty has decreed that you kneel down and obey orders."

There was no resistance, nor any resentment.

The long-standing tributary system had long since worn down the resentment of these nobility from the grasslands.

Robbery is robbery, and so is the name; they didn't have much resistance to kneeling.

With a whoosh, the Mongol nobles in the hall all knelt down.

However, this etiquette, having not been practiced, was ultimately not as uniform as that of the well-trained officials of the Ming Dynasty.

Some people kowtowed three times, some kowtowed five times; it was a complete mess.

After all the commotion, everyone finally finished their greetings.

Wang Shide's eyes twitched, but he pretended not to see it, coughed again, and spoke loudly.

"His Majesty has issued an imperial edict!"

These words immediately caused a stir among the crowd.

Cao Wenzhao frowned, took a step forward, and shouted like thunder, "Silence!"

The murderous aura emanating from the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood swept over us, and the entire hall fell silent instantly.

Wang Shide then slowly and deliberately spoke:

"I rule over all four directions, without distinction between Mongols and Han Chinese; all are my subjects. How can I stand idly by while my subjects attack each other?"

"The tiger chieftain is simple-minded and ambitious, and although he has been defeated this time, he may come back again. However, the Ming army's six divisions cannot be stationed here permanently."

"Your Tumed and Harachin tribes, together with the Ordos and Yongshao tribes, shall each select envoys to come to the capital. Each tribe shall send three envoys to discuss future regulations."

"Appreciate this."

The hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

After a moment, a series of uncoordinated responses rang out: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, we obey the decree."

The crowd bowed several more times in a disorderly manner before standing up at Wang Shide's signal.

Wang Shide and the other nobles looked at each other, and an awkward atmosphere filled the hall for a moment.

No? That's it?
After a moment, it was Prince Shunyi, Bu Shitu, who mustered his courage and spoke first: "My lord, may I ask... where is the imperial edict?"

Wang Shide glared and shouted sternly, "Isn't a verbal order enough? You only obey when you see an imperial edict? What are your intentions!"

Cao Wenzhao cooperated, frowning as he took a step forward, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

The oppressive pressure made Bu Shitu's face turn pale instantly.

Seeing this, Khan Ahai of the Haraqin tribe quickly stepped in to smooth things over, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Prince Shunyi had no intention of disrespecting us. However, in the past, imperial edicts were always accompanied by imperial decrees with yellow silk, but this time there is only a verbal order. We...we do have some doubts."

Seeing his respectful attitude, Wang Shide's expression softened slightly, and he snorted coldly:

"Our dynasty now has a long-distance telegraph system, and orders from the capital can reach Datong in an instant."

"Therefore, the oral edict arrived first, while the imperial decree with the same contents is still on its way and will naturally arrive in a few days."

"A thousand-mile lightning platform? It can be reached in an instant?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in uproar, whispering amongst themselves, their faces filled with disbelief.

What kind of divine power is this? It sounds so much like the White Lotus Sect's claims.
Khan Ahai and the Prince of Shunyi exchanged a glance and shook their heads slightly.

Judging from the young angel's expression and the imposing presence of the demon behind him, now is definitely not the right time to get to the bottom of things.

Suppressing his surprise and doubt, Khan Ahai asked again, "Your Excellency, when is the appointed time for our journey to the capital? May we discuss this with the Ordos tribe and then travel together to the capital to pay tribute before His Majesty's birthday?"

Wang Shide said, "You can discuss this matter yourselves. His Majesty has only one request: you must enter the capital this year."

"Yes, yes." Khan Ahai nodded repeatedly.

An awkward silence fell over the hall once again.

In fact, everyone still had countless questions in their hearts.

Why can't the Sixth Division stay for long? When exactly will they leave?

When and how should the two thousand warhorses and ten thousand cattle and sheep previously promised to the Ming Dynasty be handed over?
Furthermore, in the past, when tribute was paid, the Tumed tribe had a quota of 150 people, who could smuggle in a large amount of private goods to sell and purchase along the way.

Now that the limit is "three people per tribe," does this "tribe" refer to the entire Tumet region, or to the many small tribes of the Taijis below it?
If it's the former, then this trip to Beijing will be a huge loss.

However, these questions are ultimately inappropriate to ask in this kind of situation.

In the end, it was Prince Shunyi, Bu Shitu, who stepped forward and forced a stiff smile: "To celebrate the great victory of the royal army, we have prepared a small feast. We hope that the envoy and General Cao will do us the honor of attending."

Wang Shide shook his head: "No need. I still need to send a message to the Ordos tribe, so I cannot stay any longer."

“The angel has had a long and arduous journey and is unfamiliar with the route,” a Mongol nobleman quickly advised. “Why don’t we rest here for a day, and tomorrow we can send a guide familiar with the route to escort the angel? Wouldn’t that be more prudent?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Shide hesitated for a moment.

He truly did not know the way to the Ordos region.

More importantly, this banquet might provide a glimpse into the internal workings of the nomadic tribes.

That's what history books say! The general rode alone into the enemy camp, skillfully maneuvering and blunting their advance.

After a moment's hesitation, he finally nodded.

"...Alright, lead the way."

(End of this chapter)