Huangming

Chapter 355 Choosing a Master Through Bribery and Offering a Daughter to Fawn Over

In the eastern part of the southern grasslands, the territory of the Khorchin tribe resembles a soaring eagle, stretching across the vast expanse of land and sky.

It borders the Zhalant tribe to the east, the Zhalute tribe to the west, the five Inner Khalkha tribes to the south, and overlooks the Heilongjiang River basin to the north. It stretches 870 miles from east to west and 2,100 miles from north to south. Grasslands, rivers, and forests intertwine to form this vast and fertile land.

This vast territory not only nurtured the formidable reputation of the Khorchin tribe, but also gave it a pivotal position in the power structure of the southern steppe.

The reason they were able to possess such a vast territory was because the people of the Khorchin tribe were of noble blood.

And it can be traced back to the most glorious era of the Mongol Empire.

When Genghis Khan unified the Mongol tribes, he enfeoffed his brave and skilled second brother, Khasar, in the Hulunbuir Grassland in the Ergun River and Hailar River basins, as well as in the vast lands of the Outer Khingan Mountains. Khasar thus became the most powerful of the "Eastern Kings".

To safeguard the safety and authority of the Great Khan, Genghis Khan specially expanded an elite guard of soldiers armed with bows and arrows, named "Khorchin".

In Mongolian, "Khorchen" means "archer" and symbolizes loyalty and bravery.

As time went by, the name of the military organization "Khorchen" gradually evolved into a general term for the various tribes belonging to the descendants of Khasar.

After hundreds of years of reproduction, growth, and tribal integration, the Khorchin tribe was eventually formed.

However, by the first year of the Tianqi reign, this tribe, which had once dominated the grasslands, was facing an unprecedentedly complex situation.

At this time, the Khorchin tribe was still the second largest power in the southern grasslands after the Chahar tribe, and it was said to have "100,000 archers". However, due to the dispersion of the tribe and the limitation of resources, the number of elite cavalry that could be truly mobilized was only 20,000 to 30,000.

Even more serious is that, under the strong suppression of Ligdan Khan of the Chahar tribe and the continuous infiltration of the Jianzhou Jurchens, the Khorchin tribe was already showing signs of internal turmoil and a clear tendency to split.

The pro-Jianzhou faction was the most active force among them, led by Obataiji, the lord of Nen Khorchin and a member of the Borjigit (Borjigin) clan.

Oba knew that the Chahar tribe had long coveted the Khorchin, and Nurhaci of the Jianzhou Jurchens had frequently shown goodwill, not only consolidating relations through marriage but also promising to provide support when the Chahar tribe exerted pressure.

In Oba's view, attaching himself to the increasingly powerful Jianzhou Jurchens was the most pragmatic choice at present, as it would both counter the threat from the Chahar tribe and allow him to expand his own power with the help of Jianzhou.

The wait-and-see faction was represented by figures such as Ming'an Taiji of the Khorchin Right Wing.

They were unwilling to completely side with the Jianzhou Jurchens, fearing they would become their vassals; yet they were also dissatisfied with the domineering nature of the Chahar tribe and unwilling to submit easily.

These leaders, like foxes on the grasslands, moved among the major powers, observing the situation and trying to secure the greatest benefit for their tribes amidst the chaos.

Their slogan is "Don't get involved in the conflict, protect the territory and the people first," but in reality they are waiting for the situation to become clearer before making the most advantageous choice.

As for the faction that submitted to Ligdan Khan, its influence has gradually waned.

As early as the time of Tumen Khan, the Chahar tribe and the Nen Khorchin tribe had a deep-seated feud over the tribute from the Jurchen, Nerigut (Ewenki), and Daur tribes.

When Ligdan Khan ascended to the throne, this ambitious Mongol Khan made increasingly harsh demands on the Khorchin tribe.

Not only did they demand the regular payment of large quantities of cattle, sheep, and horses as "tribute," they also attempted to bring the Khorchin cavalry under their direct control.

Lindan Khan's greed and oppressive policies completely eroded the last shred of respect the Khorchin tribe had for the Chahar tribe.

Many tribal leaders privately complained: "Ligdan Khan only knows how to take, but has never truly regarded us as Mongolian brothers. Following him, we will be squeezed dry sooner or later."

Discontent with Ligdan Khan, like weeds on the grasslands, grew wildly on the land of the Khorchin tribe, making the word "submission" increasingly jarring and distant.

It was precisely because the Khorchin tribe was wavering in its stance at this moment that the city of Gelezhuergen on the east bank of the Nenjiang River received a guest who would not normally come:
A messenger from the Liaodong Military Governor's Office!

The city gate guard looked at the banner embroidered with "Liaodong Military Governor's Office," his face turned pale, and he dared not make a decision on his own.

This letter may completely disrupt the current balance of power in the Khorchin tribe.

He immediately informed the important people in the city of this news.

The news quickly spread throughout the city.

Inside the main tent of the Nen Khorchin, Obataiji's face was particularly grim.

As the core of the pro-Jianzhou faction of the Khorchin tribe, he had a secret agreement with Nurhaci. Nurhaci promised to send troops to support the Chahar tribe when they attacked, and even sent ten fine warhorses and a hundred bolts of cloth as "gifts of alliance".

Now that the Ming court has suddenly sent a messenger, if we meet him, we will be disrespecting Nurhaci; but if we do not meet him, the Ming army under Xiong Tingbi is eyeing us in Liaodong. If we offend the Ming court, the supply lines for the Khorchin tribe to the south will be completely cut off.

Neither of these two forces could be resisted by the Khorchin tribe.

“Stop the messenger outside the city and say that no one will see the guest.”

He was certain that Xiong Tingbi's current focus was on dealing with the Jianzhou Jurchens and that he wouldn't turn against the Khorchin tribe for the sake of a messenger.

But before his order could be relayed, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent, and a trusted aide rushed in to report:
"Taiji! Ming'an, Mangus, and Kongguer, the three Taijis, have arrived with their men. They insist on seeing the Ming court envoy and also say... they want to summon the tribal leaders to the Khan's tent for a meeting!"

"what?"

Obama stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with astonishment and anger.

"They dare to disobey me?"

Ming'an, Mangus, and Konggor are all descendants of the Golden Family and have extremely high prestige in the Khorchin tribe. Mangus, in particular, commands the most elite cavalry on the right wing. If they join forces to oppose him, he will not be able to control the situation at all.

Left with no other choice, Obama suppressed his anger, put on his fox fur coat, and headed towards the Khan's tent.

He couldn't avoid this meeting.

Half an hour later.

Inside the tent, the atmosphere was already tense, as if swords were about to be drawn.

Seated in the main seat was Chegen, the nominal leader of the Khorchin tribe. He was nearly fifty years old, with white hair and beard, and his eyes were cloudy but revealed a hint of caution.

On either side of the lower seat, Oba, Baturu and other pro-Jianzhou faction members sat facing each other, while Ming'an, Mangus, Kongguer and other observers sat opposite each other. In the brazier in the middle, the charcoal crackled and sparks flew, reflecting the different expressions on everyone's faces.

"Everyone's here, so let's get started."

Chegen's hoarse voice broke the silence inside the tent.

"The Ming court's messenger has arrived. Should we see him or not? How should we meet him? You should all share your thoughts."

Oba immediately stood up, placed his hands on his chest, and said urgently, "Great Khan, you must not see him! The wise Khan has already shown us goodwill. He just sent us 500 shi of grain last month and promised to help us reclaim the pastures that were taken from us by the Chahar tribe after the spring!"
We should firmly rely on the Jianzhou Jurchens. If we were to meet with the Ming court's envoys, wouldn't we be breaking our promise to Nurhaci?

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone carrying a hint of threat: "Don't forget, Ligdan Khan of the Chahar tribe is eyeing us covetously, and the Inner Khalkha tribe is also watching from the sidelines. If we offend Jianzhou, who can save us if Ligdan Khan attacks? Do you expect the Ming people to cross the Liao River and come to the grasslands to rescue us?"

"Don't forget what happened to the Yehe tribe!"

These words struck a chord with many people's concerns.

In recent years, the Ming court's approach to the grassland tribes has been primarily "utilization with secondary support," far less substantial than Nurhaci's "immediate benefits."

Many tribal chiefs inside the tent nodded in agreement, their eyes showing approval.

"Hmph! Submit to Jianzhou? Oba, you've been blinded by Nurhaci's petty favors!"

Mangus slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

"What kind of good person do you think Nurhaci is? Ligdan Khan wanted to take advantage of us, and Nurhaci did the same!"

He strode to the center of the tent, his voice loud and clear, so that everyone could hear him clearly:
"Ever since Nurhaci took control of the Liaohe River grain route, our Khorchin tribe has had to exchange warhorses for grain with him, with one horse for one shi of rice!"

But you've forgotten that when we traded with the Ming people before, one horse could be exchanged for five shi of rice! Nurhaci pocketed the difference!

The tent fell silent instantly, and many chieftains looked somber as they recalled the plight of their tribes.

Ming An then stood up and took over the conversation.

“Brother Mangus is right! In the past, when we did tea and horse trade with the Ming people, we could sell five thousand warhorses a year and exchange them for salt, cloth and tea. Although the herdsmen were not rich, they were able to get by.”

After the Battle of Sarhu, Nurhaci monopolized our trade. Our warhorses could only be sold to the Jianzhou Jurchens, and he set the prices. He also sent special agents to forcibly buy our furs, cattle, and sheep at low prices; any resistance was labeled "treason against the Jin," and he directly sent troops to seize our pastures!

He pointed outside the tent, his voice growing more agitated: "Last month, my nephew's tribe had more than two hundred sheep forcibly taken away by the Jianzhou Jurchens for only ten taels of silver!"

Submitting to Nurhaci? This isn't submission; this is treating our Khorchin tribe like lambs to the slaughter! If this continues, we'll starve and be drained dry even before Ligdan Khan attacks!

"You...you're talking nonsense!"

Obama was visibly embarrassed and couldn't find a strong rebuttal.

What Ming'an and Mangus said were facts that everyone in the Khorchin tribe knew, but he had always been unwilling to admit them.

He opened his mouth, but only managed to utter one sentence: "But...but Lindan Khan is even more terrifying! If he comes, we won't even have the strength to resist!"

"That's why we need to see the Ming court's messenger!"

Kong Guer finally spoke; he had been sitting silently in the corner, but now his tone was firm.

"Xiong Tingbi's sending of a messenger must indicate his sincerity in seeking cooperation. If the Ming court is willing to trade with us, resume the previous tea-horse trade, and promise to send troops to help us if Ligdan Khan attacks, why can't we cooperate with the Ming court? It's better than being slowly drained dry by Nurhaci!"

"Do you really think the Ming people are any good?"

Obama slammed his hand on the table, his face contorted with rage.

"Don't forget the shady dealings Li Chengliang committed in Liaodong back then! Have you all forgotten those blood debts?"

For the Khorchin tribe, Li Chengliang's decades of managing Liaodong were a period steeped in blood and tears.

Obama's voice trembled, as if he were tearing open a wound that no one wanted to talk about.

"Back when Chief Kuimengtashara was still alive, Li Chengliang bribed the chief's younger brother, Burhai, with a large sum of money in order to weaken us. He promised him fertile land and silk, and persuaded him to lead his people south to the Liaohe River bend! That time, our Khorchin lost nearly 30% of our pastureland and population, and we went from being a mighty army on the grasslands to being bullied at will by the Chahar tribe!"

He took two steps forward, his gaze sweeping over the people in the tent, every word filled with hatred:

"Furthermore, during the reign of Khan Buyanchechen, Li Chengliang deliberately sent false intelligence to the Chahar tribe, claiming that our Khorchin were secretly colluding with the Jianzhou Jurchen and were going to join forces to deal with the Chahar!"

And what was the result? The Chahar army launched a surprise attack on our pastures, seizing tens of thousands of cattle and sheep, and killing hundreds of our people. The two tribes were locked in a ten-year feud, while Li Chengliang reaped the benefits! There are too many such stories.

Li Chengliang once set up a "horse market trap," deliberately raising the prices of tea and salt for the Ming court while lowering the purchase price of Khorchin warhorses, forcing many herdsmen to sell their only warhorses in exchange for a mouthful of salt.

They also secretly supported the Jurchen tribes in attacking the Khorchin caravans, causing the tribes' trade routes to be repeatedly disrupted.

These events serve as evidence that the people of the Ming Dynasty were treacherous and untrustworthy.

"These are all things from the past."

Ming An snorted coldly and interrupted Obama without any politeness.

“Oba, you only remember Li Chengliang’s bad deeds, but you can’t see that the Ming court has changed! What was the Ming army like in Liaodong before? They couldn’t even beat Nurhaci’s border troops, and they suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Sarhu.”

But what about now? After the new emperor ascended the throne, Xiong Tingbi was stationed in Liaodong. The Ming army not only defended Shenyang, but Mao Wenlong also launched a surprise attack on Hetu Ala, burning the Jianzhou Jurchen's grain supplies! The Ming court's strength is no longer what it used to be!

Mangus immediately picked up the conversation, his words even carrying a hint of pride.

This pride stemmed from his daughter Zhe Zhe, who lived far away in the Ming Dynasty palace.

“My daughter Zhe Zhe was previously married to Huang Taiji, and is now a concubine of the Ming Emperor. In recent days, she has sent three letters, in which she said that the current Ming Emperor is young but wise and powerful. He does not look down on her because she is a Mongol, but on the contrary, he dotes on her. He often hears her talk about the grasslands, saying that he wants to ‘pacify the Mongols and annihilate the Jurchens’! And he wants to make good use of the Khorchin tribe.”

Mangus's words carried a hint of persuasion.

"Which of our Mongol tribes doesn't yearn for a marriage alliance with the Ming Dynasty? But the Ming Dynasty had strict rules, and we had no chance to curry favor with them. Now, although Zhe Zhe is not a formally married woman, she has won the emperor's favor. Isn't this a godsend opportunity?"

"With the help of Zhe Zhe, if our Khorchin tribe can gain the support of the Ming court, with grain, salt, cloth, and the protection of the Ming army, what do we have to fear from the Chahar? What do we have to fear from the Jianzhou Jurchens?"

These words struck a chord with all the leaders of Khorchin.

Grassland tribes have always taken pride in "marrying into the Central Plains dynasties," as it not only meant wealth and resources but also the tribe's status.

Previously, the Ming Dynasty mainly suppressed the Mongol tribes and secondarily appeased them. Marriage alliances were a pipe dream. Now, Zhe Zhe unexpectedly entered the palace and became a link between the Khorchin tribe and the Ming emperor.

No one wants to miss such an opportunity.

"not to mention"

Mangus abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.

“Now that Nurhaci is seriously ill, the Jianzhou Jurchens are fighting fiercely for the Khanate, with Huang Taiji, Daishan, and Mangultai vying for it! If we continue to cling to the Jianzhou Jurchens, are we going to get dragged into their struggle for the Khanate?”

"Huang Taiji won, but we were nothing more than his pawns; Mangultai and Daišan won, won't our previous actions of getting close to Huang Taiji be punished?"

Obama opened his mouth, wanting to refute.

He wanted to say that the Jianzhou Jurchens were at least still providing food for now, and that the Ming court's promises might not be credible, but when the words came to his lips, he found that he couldn't find a strong reason.

Most of the leaders inside the tent had already sided with Ming'an and Mangus. Even the leaders of the small tribes who had previously supported him had lowered their heads and their eyes were darting around.

"All right."

Cargen, who was in the main seat, finally spoke.

“Oba, your concerns are valid, but the Mangus brothers are also right. We can’t just focus on past grudges; we must also look at the path to survival in front of us. Let’s do as they say and meet with Xiong Tingbi’s messenger first to hear what the Ming court has to offer before making a decision.”

Obama's face instantly turned ashen.

Everyone was inclined to see the messenger, and there was no point in me opposing it.

The interests of the tribe are ultimately more important than his personal prejudices.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his resentment, and gritted his teeth, saying, "...As the Great Khan commands."

Che Gen nodded slightly and called out to the outside of the tent, "Someone, go outside the city and invite the Ming court's messenger into the tent. Remember, treat him with courtesy and do not be negligent."

It didn't take long.

Outside the Khan's tent, a steady series of footsteps approached from afar. The messenger, dressed in a blue postal robe and carrying a document box, slowly walked into the Khan's tent.

His gaze swept over the Khorchin tribe leaders seated in the tent, finally settling on Chegen, who sat in the main seat. He bowed and said in a loud voice, "Messenger of the Liaodong Military Governor's Office of the Great Ming Dynasty greets General Longhu!"

Upon hearing the words "Dragon and Tiger General," a subtle commotion immediately arose within the tent.

This was the title conferred upon the leader of the Khorchin tribe in the early years of the Ming Dynasty, symbolizing the tributary relationship between the tribe and the Ming court. However, after Li Chengliang took charge of Liaodong, the Khorchin tribe and the Ming court became enemies, and this title was not mentioned for decades. As a result, the Ming Dynasty's conferment became a distant memory among the elders of the tribe.

Chegen paused slightly in his hand holding the scimitar, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—a mixture of reminiscence for the past and reflection on the current situation.

Obama, seated at the lower end of the table, was already seething with anger. He frowned impatiently, his tone harsh, as the messenger began to speak with his old title:

"Stop bringing up these old precedents! What exactly brings you to Geljurgen today?"

The messenger, neither humble nor arrogant, took a sealed letter from the document box and presented it with both hands:
"By order of Lord Xiong, the Liaodong Military Commissioner, I have come to deliver a letter to the leader of the Khorchin tribe to discuss the joint attack on the Jurchens."

Ming'an could no longer contain himself. Before Chegen could speak, he quickly stepped forward, took the letter, and tore open the sealing wax seal.

He unfolded the letter, his eyes scanning it rapidly. The more he read, the more excited he became. Finally, he couldn't help but slam his hand on the table, his face filled with ecstatic joy, and exclaimed:
"Great! Excellent! Xiong Tingbi is going to recover Kaiyuan, Fushun and Tieling. He has written a letter to invite our Khorchin tribe to send troops to help us fight the Jurchens! As long as we take Kaiyuan, we can trade with the Ming Dynasty."

"what?"

Obama stood up abruptly, his face full of shock. Ignoring his rudeness, he quickly stepped forward and snatched the letter from Ming'an's hand.

He read it word by word, his face initially turning ashen, but as his gaze moved downwards, his expression gradually became more complicated, and his fingers gripping the letter unconsciously tightened.

The benefits promised by Xiong Tingbi in the letter were far too tempting, far exceeding his expectations.

The letter stated that if the Khorchin tribe was willing to abandon the Jurchens and form an alliance with the Ming Dynasty to jointly attack the Jurchens, the Ming Dynasty would restore the annual rewards to the Khorchin tribe, and the annual rewards would be even more generous: 10,000 taels of silver, 1,000 bolts of cloth, and 1,000 catties of tea would be given to them every year.

In addition, the tea-horse trade was restarted, and the warhorses, furs, cattle and sheep of the Khorchin tribe could be traded at market prices at the Ming border. The Ming court would never lower prices or monopolize the trade.

In addition, the Ming Dynasty allowed the Khorchin tribe to "offer women to the palace." If the offered woman gained favor, the tribe would be given corresponding rewards and protection according to her rank.

What impressed Obama the most was Xiong Tingbi's promise that after defeating the Jianzhou Jurchens, he would return the eastern Hulunbuir pastures occupied by the Jianzhou Jurchens to the Khorchin tribe as a reward for his military contribution.

Annual rewards can alleviate the tribe's immediate needs, while trade can guarantee their long-term livelihood.

It should be noted that the annual rewards given to them by the Ming Dynasty were almost zero. Normally, they would only receive 10 bolts of colored silk and 30 bolts of cloth, which would amount to about 120 taels of silver, and this was only given to the leaders who were granted titles.

Now it has suddenly become ten thousand taels.

This is almost as close as the annual reward for the five Inner Khalkha tribes.

Ten thousand taels of silver!

How many things can I exchange for that?

Many people were tempted.

Not to mention, each of the subsequent conditions hit the Khorchin tribe's sore spots.

Offering daughters to the palace was a way to curry favor with the Ming imperial court, while pastures were the foundation of the tribe's survival.

Obama put down the letter, his heart filled with turmoil.

He had always thought that Ming'an and Mangus's claim that "the Ming emperor dotes on Zhe Zhe" was an exaggeration, but now it seemed that what Mangus said was not entirely false.

If Zhe Zhe hadn't been favored in the palace, how could Xiong Tingbi have been so generous in offering such favorable conditions to the Khorchin tribe?

The leaders inside the tent also gathered around, passing the letter around, their faces full of excitement and anticipation.

The leader, who had previously adopted a wait-and-see attitude, couldn't help but speak up: "If these benefits can be delivered, our Khorchin tribe will never have to depend on the Jianzhou Jurchens and the Chahar tribe again!"

"Yes! With the support of the Ming Dynasty, we can not only survive the winter, but also reclaim our lost pastures and restore our tribe's glory!"

Seeing everyone's excited expressions, and then looking at Obama's complicated expression, Chegeon slowly spoke:
"The benefits offered by the Ming court were indeed generous, but..."

There was a hint of hesitation on his face.

"We've been dealing with the Ming court for years. How many of their promises can they actually keep? Li Chengliang promised us many benefits back then, but in the end, didn't he turn around and scheme against us?"

Che Gen's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads.

The cheers inside the tent gradually subsided, and the excitement on the leaders' faces was replaced by doubt.

Oba took a deep breath, suppressing his inner turmoil, and his tone regained some composure: "The Khan is right. The Ming Dynasty has always put profit first. Now they need us to send troops to contain the Jianzhou Jurchens, which is why they have offered such good terms."

But once we recover Kaiyuan and other places, won't they turn their backs on us? If that happens, we won't only gain nothing, but we'll also offend the Jianzhou Jurchens and find ourselves caught in a pincer movement.

Mangus shook his head and retorted, "The Ming court today is no longer comparable to the one under Li Chengliang! The current emperor is wise, and Xiong Tingbi is a rare loyal minister. If they want to maintain stability in Liaodong for a long time, they will not easily break their promise to us."

Moreover, Zhe Zhe is still in the palace. She is both a concubine of the Ming Emperor and a member of our Khorchin tribe. With her mediating between them, even if the Ming court wanted to back out, they would have to consider saving face!

"But Zhe Zhe was a prisoner brought to the palace after all. How much say can she have in the Ming court?" Oba pressed, his tone still tinged with doubt.

Upon hearing this, Mangus immediately said, "Since one Zhe Zhe isn't enough, then send a few more into the palace. That should be enough, right?"

How many benefits could one gain from a marriage alliance with Nurhaci?

He's just a blond guy.

The Ming Dynasty emperor was the real "tall, rich, and handsome" man!

Now that we've latched onto a powerful patron, we have to fawn over him as much as possible!
ps:
6400 big chapters!

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(End of this chapter)