Huangming

Chapter 354 Alliance with the Mongols against the Jin, Using One Tiger to Devour Another

On the snow-covered plains at the foot of Abagahara Mountain, a city built of adobe bricks and wooden fences stands quietly.

The city walls were not very tall, with the highest point being only a few feet high. The walls were mottled and bore the marks of years of wind and snow erosion, appearing quite simple in the eyes of the Han people.

This was Chakhanhot, the winter residence of Ligdan Khan of the Chahar tribe and the nominal capital of his khanate.

"Chahan" means "white" and "Hote" refers to "city and settlement". Together they mean "White City". But at this moment, the city is shrouded in a gray and cold fog, which makes it look a bit desolate.

Outside the city, thousands of yurts, like scattered white mushrooms, spread out along the foot of the mountain.

The cold wind swept by, carrying snowflakes and lifting the felt curtains of the yurts. Occasionally, one could see herdsmen wearing heavy fur coats, hunching their necks and peeking out of their tents, their eyes gazing blankly at the distant snowfield.

That place used to be their pasture, but now, due to a lack of food and grass, even cattle and sheep are hard to find.

This winter was just as difficult for the Chahar tribe as it was for the Jurchens.

This summer, the Jurchens, suffering from defeat in Shenyang and lacking food supplies, vented their anger on the Chahar tribe and launched a surprise attack on the pastures surrounding Daban City.

The Eight Banners cavalry swept through the region like locusts, looting 100,000 head of cattle and sheep, burning hundreds of yurts, and abducting many young herders to serve as slaves.

That raid severely damaged the Chahar tribe, plunging the tribe, which already relied on animal husbandry, into an unprecedented survival crisis.

"Father, I'm hungry..."

Inside a dilapidated yurt, a young child, wrapped in a thin sheepskin coat, huddled in his mother's arms, his voice weak.

The mother could only hug her child tighter, her eyes filled with helplessness.

The sheepskin coat was worn down to the point of revealing the downy hair, and what was boiling in the pot was nothing more than a wild vegetable soup mixed with snow water, without a trace of meat.

Such scenes can be seen everywhere around Chahanhot.

If Ligdan Khan hadn't gritted his teeth and offered up the Chahar tribe's warhorses after being plundered, exchanging them for a batch of grain with the Ming Dynasty's border guards, half of the Chahar tribe would probably have starved to death that winter.

Even so, the grain and fodder were just a drop in the ocean. What each herder household received was barely enough coarse grain to survive. It would be extremely difficult to last until the vegetation turned green again next summer.

According to old customs on the grasslands, if the winter was too harsh, the tribe would gather cavalry and head south to either plunder villages on the Ming Dynasty's borders or seize supplies from other small tribes in order to survive the famine.

Ligdan Khan often did this in previous years as well.

The Ming army's defenses were loose, and the border villages were prosperous. Often, a single raid was enough to allow the Chahar tribe to survive the entire winter.

But this year, the situation is completely different.

The Ming army not only defended Shenyang, but also captured Hetu Ala, the capital of the Jurchens, in a surprise attack by Mao Wenlong, and its momentum was unparalleled for a time.

In particular, Xiong Tingbi, the military commissioner of Liaodong, was known as "Xiong the Barbarian." He was strict in his military discipline and brave in battle. Since he took charge of Liaodong, the Ming army's defense line has been like an impregnable fortress, which even the Jurchens found difficult to break through, let alone the Chahar tribe, which was now severely weakened.

Ligdan Khan convened tribal leaders several times to discuss marching south, but each time the leaders rejected the idea, arguing that "the Ming army is too strong and it will be difficult to win."

No one wanted to risk the lives of their clansmen to confront Xiong Tingbi head-on.

"boom!"

Inside the Khan's tent in the center of Chahanhot, Lindan Khan suddenly smashed the silver bowl in his hand on the ground, spilling wine all over the floor and wetting his luxurious sable robe.

He stood up and paced restlessly in the tent, his face full of anxiety and anger.

"We can't even get enough to eat, why do we care about the strength of the Ming army!"

Lin Danhan roared angrily.

"If this continues, we'll starve to death before the Ming army even comes to attack! At that time, how will I, the Great Khan, have the face to meet my ancestors on the grasslands!"

The tribal chiefs inside the tents all lowered their heads, not daring to meet Ligdan Khan's gaze.

How could they not know about the food shortage crisis?

But the thought of Xiong Tingbi's well-equipped Ming army and the cannons that could blast open city walls made them tremble.

"Great Khan, it's not that we dare not fight, it's just that the Ming army is too strong."

An elderly leader with white hair spoke in a trembling voice; he was none other than Tubajinong, a senior official of the Chahar royal family.

"The Xiong barbarians have set up three lines of defense in Liaodong, and they also have firearms battalions to support them. Even if we send out all our forces, we may not be able to break through the first line of defense. Instead, we may lose all of the tribe's elite troops!"

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Lin Danhan stopped in his tracks, his eyes sweeping fiercely over the crowd.

"Are we waiting to starve to death? Or are we waiting for the Jurchens to come and annex us?"

The atmosphere inside the tent grew even more somber upon mentioning the Jurchens.

Everyone knows that the Jurchens are also short of food. If the Chahar tribe falls into internal strife, Nurhaci or Huang Taiji will definitely take the opportunity to lead their army to attack.

At that time, the Chahar tribe will not only lose its pastures, but its people will also likely become slaves of the Jurchens.

Seeing everyone's silence, Lin Danhan grew increasingly anxious.

Since his rivalry with Nurhaci over the grasslands, Ligdan Khan had been at a disadvantage. It was precisely because he could not dominate the grasslands that his position as the chief ruler of the grasslands became very unstable.

If the food problem cannot be solved quickly, the tribal leaders under their command will definitely have ulterior motives. Some may defect to the Jurchens, while others may set up their own tribes. The Chahar tribe, once the overlord of the grasslands, will eventually fall apart.

"We must find a way! We must get the food before spring, no matter what!"

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent, and a guard lifted the curtain and entered, bowing as he reported:

"Great Khan! The Ming envoy has arrived! He says he was sent by Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong military commissioner, to discuss important matters with the Great Khan!"

"An envoy from the Ming Dynasty?"

Lin Danhan was stunned, then a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

"What is the purpose of Xiong Tingbi sending an envoy?"

The tribal chiefs inside the tents also looked up, their eyes filled with surprise.

No one expected that at this critical juncture, the Ming army would take the initiative to send envoys.

Lin Danhan took a deep breath, suppressing his doubts, and said in a deep voice, "Bring him in! I want to see what that barbarian has to say!"

Before long, steady footsteps were heard outside the tent, and a middle-aged man dressed in an envoy's robe slowly walked in.

This man had a resolute face and wore an exquisite curved sword at his waist. He was Liu Xingzuo, who had been sent as an envoy to the Chahar tribe.

Ignoring the tense atmosphere inside the tent, he walked to a spot three zhang away from the throne, bowed respectfully to Lindan Khan, and spoke in a steady voice:

"Liu Xingzuo, envoy of the Liaodong Military Commission of the Great Ming Dynasty, pays his respects to Prince Shunyi."

"Prince of Shunyi" was a title conferred upon Ligdan Khan by the Ming Dynasty. As for Ligdan Khan's self-proclaimed title of "Great Khan of the Mongols," the Ming Dynasty never recognized it.

Liu Xingzuo addressed him as "King Shunyi" from the outset, both in accordance with court etiquette and as a veiled reminder to Ligdan Khan that the tributary relationship between the Ming and the Mongols had never changed.

Lin Danhan's face darkened slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the title, but he did not react.

He leaned forward, his hands resting on the armrests of the throne, staring intently at Liu Xingzuo, his tone tinged with wariness:

"The angel has come from afar, not to assist the Xiong barbarian in training his troops in Liaodong, but instead to the royal tent of my Chahar tribe. What brings you here?"

Liu Xingzuo raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the tribal chiefs in the tent, each with a different expression, before finally settling on Lindan Khan. He cut to the chase:
"I have come here to help the Chahar tribe get through this winter."

Upon hearing this, a low commotion immediately arose inside the tent.

Liu Xingzuo traveled from inside the Great Wall to Abagahara Mountain, and saw everything clearly:

The yurts along the way were dilapidated, the herders wore thin fur coats, and their faces were full of hunger. You could even see the corpses of children who had starved to death by the roadside.

There were very few cattle and sheep on the pasture, most of them thin and bony, too weak to even bend down and graze.

Liu Xingzuo knew that given the current situation of the Chahar tribe, if there was no source of food, at least 30% of the herders would starve to death this winter.

Lin Danhan's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Help our tribe get through the winter? Does the Ming Dynasty intend to give us grain for free?"

Although he didn't believe the Ming army would be so generous, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

If they could receive food aid from the Ming Dynasty, the Chahar tribe could avoid the risk of raiding southwards and preserve the tribe's vitality.

Liu Xingzuo slowly shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of certainty: "The grain, our Great Ming will not give away for nothing. But I know of a place where enough grain and supplies are hidden for the Chahar tribe to get through the winter. It remains to be seen whether the Prince of Shunyi has the courage to take it."

"where?"

Lin Danhan pressed on, a hint of urgency flashing in his eyes.

The tribal chiefs inside the tent also pricked up their ears, and even their breathing became rapid.

They desperately need food; even risking their lives is better than waiting to die.

Liu Xingzuo smiled slightly and said, word by word, "Fushun, Kaiyuan, and Tieling!"

"Hahaha!"

Lin Danhan suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter tinged with sarcasm.

"What a wonderful place this Khan must have gone to! It turns out to be Jurchen territory! Xiong Tingbi wants this Khan to send troops to help him attack Fushun and Kaiyuan, thus tying down the Jurchen forces so that he can take the opportunity to recover lost territory, right?"

Having spent many years mingling on the grasslands and the Ming-Mongol border, he had long since honed his skills in recognizing people and assessing situations.

As soon as Liu Xingzuo mentioned these three places, he immediately understood.

Xiong Tingbi's plan was to "use one tiger to devour another," leveraging the strength of the Chahar tribe to weaken the Jurchens—a two-pronged approach. "The Prince of Shunyi was astute and discerning."

Liu Xingzuo remained neither humble nor arrogant, and readily admitted it.

"Now Huang Taiji is leading the main force of the Jurchens to attack Korea. In the areas of Fushun, Kaiyuan and Tieling, only the remnants of Daishan and Mangultai remain to guard, leaving the defenses weak."

If the Prince of Shunyi could lead his army to raid the three regions, he could not only seize grain, livestock, and fodder from the Jurchens, relieving the Chahar tribe's immediate crisis, but also avenge the Jurchens' raid on the pastures of Daban City this summer. Why wouldn't he do something that brings both practical benefits and revenge?

Lin Danhan's smile gradually faded.

Did Hwang Tai-gil attack Korea at this time?

No wonder Xiong Tingbi wanted to recover lost territory; it turns out that the Jurchens were weak at this time.

Upon seeing the potential for profit, Lin Danhan immediately changed his tune.

"There must be some benefit in helping Xiong Tingbi fight, right? My cavalry can't just die for nothing. If I'm willing to send troops, what can the Ming court offer the Chahar tribe?"

"Of course there are benefits."

Liu Xingzuo was well-prepared and calmly said, "First, as long as the Prince of Shunyi is willing to send troops to harass the Jurchens, our Great Ming will immediately give him 10,000 taels of silver and 100 bolts of cloth as funds for sending troops."

Secondly, the Ming court did not question the grain and livestock that the Chahar tribe seized from the Jurchens after the war; they all belonged to Prince Shunyi.

Third, if the Prince of Shunyi is willing to continue the tea-horse trade with the Ming court, the Ming court can lower grain prices and supply grain to the Chahar tribe with the most favorable conditions.

These three conditions all hit Lin Danhan's weak points.

Silver and cloth could appease tribal leaders, the seized grain could solve immediate problems, and favorable trade could guarantee the long-term food supply of Chahar.

But when Ligdan Khan heard about the "warhorse trade," he frowned, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"Warhorses can no longer be traded. This year, I have already given Xiong Tingbi several thousand warhorses in exchange for grain. If we continue to trade them, the Chahar cavalry will become infantry and will not even be able to protect themselves."

Liu Xingzuo understood.

The Chahar tribe relied on cavalry for its survival, and warhorses were their foundation.

Getting more warhorses from them is no easy task.

He immediately said, “Your Highness Shunyi, rest assured, the tea-horse trade is not limited to warhorses. Our Great Ming is willing to purchase furs and medicinal herbs from the grasslands. As long as Your Highness Shunyi has something to exchange, the Ming court’s grain can be transported to the border at any time.”

Lindan Khan fell silent. He looked at the tribal chiefs inside the tent and saw the expectation in their eyes. He then made his decision.

This is the best opportunity for the Chahar tribe to get through the winter.

They could avoid going south to fight the Ming army to the death, seize supplies from the Jurchens, and establish a stable grain supply channel with the Ming court. It was a sure win.

"Alright! I, the Khan, agree!"

Lindan Khan slammed his hand on the armrest of the throne, his voice booming.

"Ten days from now, I will gather 20,000 cavalry and launch a surprise attack on Fushun and Kaiyuan! But I must declare in advance that if Xiong Tingbi goes back on his word and fails to keep his promise, the alliance between the Chahar tribe and the Ming Dynasty will be immediately null and void!"

"Rest assured, Prince Shunyi!"

Liu Xingzuo cupped his hands and smiled, "Our Great Ming has always been a man of his word. As long as the Chahar tribe sends troops as agreed, we will not shortchange you on any of the promised benefits!"

Lindan Khan scoffed at Liu Xingzuo's words.

You Ming people are the most cunning, yet you claim to be trustworthy?
Breaking one's word is the real problem!
But soon, the displeasure on his face disappeared.

With a wave of Liu Xingzuo's hand.

A dozen or so Ming soldiers carried several heavy wooden boxes into the tent. With a "clatter," they opened them, revealing piles of gleaming silver that shone brightly in the candlelight. The boxes were full, totaling a full ten thousand taels of silver.

The fabrics beside them were neatly folded, all of them top-quality silks woven in Jiangnan, with bright colors and a smooth feel.

The leaders of the Chahar tribe inside the tent stared wide-eyed, their breathing becoming rapid.

They spend their days exposed to the wind and sun on the grasslands; where have they ever seen so much silver and fine cloth?
Some leaders unconsciously took a half step forward, their eyes fixed on the wooden box as if they wanted to swallow the silver whole; others reached out and touched the cloth, their faces full of amazement.

Such fine items are rare even in Ligdan Khan's royal tent.

"Prince Shunyi, this is the 10,000 taels of silver and 100 bolts of cloth promised by the Ming court. Please count them."

Liu Xingzuo gestured to his soldiers to carry the box to Lindan Khan, speaking calmly.

He had long anticipated the desire of these grassland leaders for wealth, which was one of the reasons he dared to personally stay behind to oversee the battle.

Having received benefits from the Ming Dynasty, Lin Dan Khan had to consider the feelings of his subordinates even if he wanted to delay.

Lindan Khan's gaze lingered on the silver for a moment, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, but he still waved his hand: "No need to count it, I trust Xiong Tingbi's sincerity."

Liu Xingzuo dared to send so much wealth in person, so he must be very confident. If I were to be petty at this moment, it would only make me seem small-minded.

Seeing this, Liu Xingzuo nodded inwardly.

Although Lin Danhan was suspicious, he was also a smart man.

Only by associating with intelligent people can one have the opportunity to cooperate.

After all, for short-sighted people, an alliance is as worthless as toilet paper.

He immediately ordered someone to bring paper and pen, and handed over the treaty. Faced with silver and cloth, Ligdan Khan quickly signed the treaty.

After signing the alliance treaty, Liu Xingzuo quickly wrote a secret letter, briefly explaining the process of forming an alliance with the Chahar tribe and Ligdan Khan's plan to launch a surprise attack on Fushun and Kaiyuan ten days later. He then handed the secret letter and the alliance treaty to his trusted guards.
"Immediately return to Liaodong by fast horse and personally deliver the letter to Commander Xiong, making sure he knows the situation here and prepares for war."

"I obey my orders!"

The guard bowed and accepted the order, carefully hiding the secret letter and covenant in his bosom. He quickly left the royal tent, mounted his horse, and the dozens of riders galloped off toward the Great Wall.

After the guards left, Lindan Khan looked at Liu Xingzuo, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Why didn't the angel return with him? Does he not trust me and want to stay here to supervise?"

Liu Xingzuo readily admitted, his tone somewhat candid: "Prince Shunyi is joking. It's not that I don't trust you, but this battle concerns the interests of both the Ming and Mongol sides. By staying in Chahanhot, I can communicate with you in a timely manner about the details of the troop deployment, and also put General Xiong's mind at ease."

After all, I have some understanding of the customs of the grassland tribes, and without someone urging me, delays are inevitable.

These words, though blunt, made Lin Danhan somewhat embarrassed.

He did have the idea of ​​"taking it easy after receiving the benefits," but Liu Xingzuo personally stayed behind to supervise the battle, so even if he wanted to delay, he had no excuse.

However, Lin Danhan also had his concerns.

“The angel is indeed frank. But I, the Khan, will also speak the truth: the Ming court’s credibility on the grasslands is not very good. Most of the tribal leaders who believed in the Ming court’s promises back then are now just skeletons under the yellow earth.”

When Li Chengliang was stationed in Liaodong, many Mongol leaders were deceived by him, and that old scoundrel cut off their heads and took them as a reward.
Therefore, he warned from the side:

"My Khan sent troops to harass the Jurchens for the survival of the Chahar tribe. If Xiong Tingbi makes underhanded moves behind my back, such as launching a surprise attack on the Chahar tribe after I have eliminated the Jurchens in Fushun and the other three places, then I will make the Ming court pay the price, even if it costs me my life!"

Liu Xingzuo felt a chill run down his spine.

The Ming Dynasty had dealt with Mongol tribes for many years, and there were instances of betrayal and double-crossing, so it's no wonder that Ligdan Khan had such concerns.

He immediately said solemnly, "Your Majesty, rest assured! Our Great Ming Dynasty has formed an alliance with the Chahar tribe to jointly resist the Jurchens, and it is by no means an attempt to scheme against the Chahar tribe. If our Great Ming Dynasty breaches the agreement in the slightest, I am willing to guarantee it with my life!"

Lindan Khan looked at Liu Xingzuo's determined eyes, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Good! I trust you this time. Ten days from now, 20,000 cavalry will set off on time to launch a surprise attack on Fushun!"

The Chahar tribe has formed an alliance with the Ming army in Liaodong.

Even if this alliance is short-lived.

Meanwhile, in the territory of the Inner Khalkha tribe, southeast of the Chahar tribe, Chaohua Taiji was holding a letter sent by Xiong Tingbi, his brow furrowed.

In his letter, Xiong Tingbi spoke earnestly, analyzing the current internal and external troubles of the Jurchens and promising generous rewards, hoping that the Inner Khalkha tribe would send troops to assist the Ming Dynasty.

As Chao Hua Taiji looked at the letter, his heart was filled with conflict.

The five Inner Khalkha tribes were far weaker than the Chahar tribe and the Jurchens. Caught between three forces, they had long since learned to "survive in the cracks".

The Jianzhou Jurchens, the Chahar tribe, and the Ming army in Liaodong—none of them were people they could afford to offend.

If they send troops to help the Ming Dynasty, and the Jurchens win, the Inner Khalkha tribe will surely face retaliation; if they help the Jurchens, they will offend the powerful Ming court; if they help the Chahar tribe, they fear that Ligdan Khan will turn against them afterward.

"Taiji, what should we do? Should we reply to the Ming court?" a tribal chief asked cautiously.

Chao Hua Taiji threw the letter on the table, his tone tinged with annoyance: "Why reply? The situation is unclear right now. Taking sides rashly will only bring trouble upon ourselves!"

He stood up, paced around the tent for a moment, and a look of determination gradually flashed in his eyes.

"Issue the order: effective immediately, all Inner Khalkha troops shall be on high alert, defend their pastures, and no one shall send troops to support either side without authorization!"

He paused, then continued, "We'll just wait and see how the Ming court, the Jianzhou Jurchens, and the Chahar tribes fight. Then we'll only help the winning side!"
The winners need allies to consolidate their power, so they won't treat us unfairly; the losers are too busy taking care of themselves to bother us. Only in this way can the peace of the Inner Khalkha tribe be preserved!

Being a fence-sitter and a connoisseur of flowers is an experience one has.

Upon hearing this, the leaders all nodded in agreement.

In their view, this was the safest approach.

Don't get involved, don't take sides, wait for the situation to become clear, and then make the most advantageous choice.

Therefore, while the Ming-Mongol anti-Jin alliance was initially formed, the Inner Khalkha tribe chose to "remain neutral and observe".

Several days later.

Another group of envoys from the Liaodong Military Governor's Office crossed the vast grasslands and soon arrived at the territory of the Khorchin tribe.

As the maternal clan of Empress Zhe Zhe, a concubine of the Ming emperor, the Khorchin tribe was already a potential target for Xiong Tingbi!
after all
Before the current emperor, almost no emperor of the Ming Dynasty had ever taken a woman from the grasslands as a concubine.

His Majesty's indirect marriage has indeed added a new possibility and a variable to the situation in Liaodong!
(End of this chapter)