Huangming

Chapter 356 A peerless beauty, her sword pointed at Fushun

After leaving the Khan's tent in Gelezhuergen City, Mangus, Ming'an, and Kongguer mounted their horses and galloped towards the right wing of the Khorchin garrison.

The biting wind whipped up snowflakes, which pelted their fur hats and cloaks, quickly accumulating into a thin layer of white snow.

Hundreds of horses galloped across the snow-covered plain, their hoofprints leaving deep and shallow marks on the snow, which were quickly covered by falling snowflakes.

About two hours later, a row of tents came into view.

Along the Tao'er River, countless white yurts, like scattered pearls, spread out along the frozen riverbank; this is the territory of the Mangus.

The once surging Tao'er River is now completely frozen over, with a thick layer of ice covering the surface. Occasionally, one can see herdsmen chiseling holes in the ice to fish, but the scene is unusually desolate.

"Xu~"

Mangus reined in his horse, and the steed neighed and came to a stop.

He dismounted, patted the snow off his body, and the snow fell down, revealing the thick mink coat underneath.

Ming'an and Kongguoer dismounted one after another, their faces showing some fatigue, but their eyes revealing excitement.

They changed horses three times on their way from Gerdzhurgen to this place, and now they have finally arrived.

In front of the main tent in the center of the camp, several guards were already waiting. Upon seeing Mangus return, they quickly stepped forward, took the reins, and bowed in greeting.

"Taijitsu, you're back!"

Mangus nodded and strode into the main tent.

The tent was warm and cozy, the cow dung in the brazier was burning brightly, and the air was filled with the aroma of milk tea.

A young man wearing a mink cloak strode forward to greet them. He had a handsome face and a dashing air about him, and he was none other than Mangus's son, Borjigit Buhe.

"Father, didn't you go to Gelezhurgen City for a meeting? Why are you back so soon?"

Buhe stepped forward, took the cloak that Mangus had taken off, and spoke with a hint of doubt in his voice.

In the past, discussions would take anywhere from ten days to a month, but today it was all so rushed.

Mangus walked to the brazier, sat down, picked up the hot milk tea handed to him by the guard, drank it down in one gulp, and the warmth instantly spread throughout his body.

He put down his teacup, his face flushed, clearly in a very good mood, and said with a smile:

“The situation has changed. By the way, what about your two daughters, Hailanzhu and Benbutai?”

Upon hearing this, Buhe felt a slight unease.

He knew perfectly well who his father was.

The eldest daughter, Hailanzhu, was only twelve years old when she blossomed into a beautiful and charming young woman, already displaying the gentleness and vivacity of a grassland woman, and could be described as an unparalleled beauty.

Although the second daughter, Benbutai, is only nine years old, she is intelligent and quick-witted, with a tenacious spirit in her eyes.

However, they are too young, and it is too hasty to talk about marriage.

"They are learning Tungusic in the tent."

Buhe's voice lowered, tinged with reluctance.

"Father, are you... planning to marry them off to the Jianzhou Jurchens, to Huang Taiji?"

As a father, how could he not feel sorry for his daughter?
But he also knew that for noblewomen of the grasslands, marriage was their innate destiny.

Compared to ordinary grassland women who have to milk cows, deliver lambs, store winter grass, dig grass roots, and shear fur and tan pelts, Hailanzhu and Benbutai were already incredibly fortunate to have grown up in luxury and to have been able to learn to read and write and to be polite.

Even though he was reluctant, he did not resist excessively.

This is the law of survival on the grasslands: individual will must ultimately give way to the interests of the tribe.

"Huang Taiji?"

Upon hearing the name, Mangus suddenly snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain, as if he had mentioned some insignificant person.

"Who does he think he is? A mere Beile who relies on Nurhaci's remaining power and can't even defeat Korea, dares to marry my granddaughter?"

Buhe was stunned, his eyes filled with confusion.

Although my father had some dissatisfaction with Huang Taiji before, he had never looked down on him like this. Could it be that something happened during the Khan's tent meeting that he was unaware of?

Before Buhe could think it through, Mangus suddenly burst into laughter, slapping his thigh and saying, "Silly boy! We don't need to pretend with Huang Taiji anymore! This time, the Ming court sent an envoy who promised us countless benefits and even allowed us to offer our daughters to the palace! I will marry your two daughters to the Ming Dynasty, to the current Ming emperor!"

"what?!"

Buhe was so startled that he took a step back, nearly dropping the teacup in his hand.

"Father, what did you say? Marry... marry the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty? This... how is this possible?"

He never imagined that his daughter would have the opportunity to marry the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming emperor was the supreme ruler, possessing a vast empire and governing hundreds of millions of people. How could a mere Jianzhou Jurchen prince compare to him?
If Hailanzhu and Benbutai could become imperial concubines of the Ming Dynasty, not only would they personally gain unparalleled glory, but the entire Khorchin tribe would also benefit from it.

after all.

With the Ming emperor as their backer, the threat from the Chahar tribe and the oppression from the Jianzhou Jurchens would be easily resolved.

"How is it impossible?"

Mangus's smile faded, and his tone became serious.

"The Ming court's messenger brought a letter from Xiong Tingbi, promising that if we form an alliance with them to jointly attack the Jianzhou Jurchens, they will allow us to offer our daughters to the palace. Now that Zhe Zhe has gained favor in the Ming palace, with her taking care of things, Hailanzhu and Benbutai will surely be treated well after entering the palace. At that time, our Khorchin tribe will be related to the Ming by marriage, so why worry about not having a good life?"

Buhe stood there dumbfounded, his shock gradually replaced by excitement.

Looking into his father's determined eyes and recalling the innocent faces of his two daughters, he suddenly felt that his previous reluctance and worries had become unimportant.

If their daughters could marry into the Ming Dynasty palace, it would not only change their fate but also bring hope to the entire Khorchin tribe. This would be the best outcome.

"Father is wise!"

Buhe bowed deeply, his waist bent very low, his tone full of admiration.

However, as a father, he was still reluctant to part with his daughters and worried about their future.

“But… Hailanzhu is only twelve years old, and Benbutai is only nine. The two children haven’t fully grown up yet. If we send them to the palace now, they probably won’t even be able to learn all the court rules, let alone establish themselves in the deep palace…”

"It doesn't matter."

Mangus raised his hand and waved, interrupting Buhe.

“We don’t need to rush to bring them into the palace. First, send an envoy to Liaodong to meet with Xiong Tingbi. One reason is to finalize the specific terms of the alliance, such as the amount of the annual reward and the location of the trade markets; the other is to mention the matter of offering women to the palace and to find out the Ming court’s true attitude.”

"More importantly, you will personally escort Hailanzhu and Benbutai to Liaodong and hand them over to Xiong Tingbi. We will see how he arranges things. If he can truly keep his promise and safely deliver the two children to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, then it will prove that the Ming court's words are credible and the alliance will be foolproof."

If he makes excuses or secretly sabotages us, it means this is all a delaying tactic by the Ming court, and we can then withdraw in time and make other plans.”

Buhe looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock.

Only then did he fully understand his father's intentions. It wasn't about "arranging for his daughters to enter the palace" at all; it was clearly about using the lives of his two daughters to test Xiong Tingbi and the entire Ming Dynasty!

"Father, isn't this...isn't this too dangerous?"

Buhe's voice trembled; the usually composed grassland man was now thrown into disarray by the safety of his daughter.

"Han people have always been cunning. You know how Li Chengliang was back then! What if this story of offering a daughter to the palace is a lie, and Xiong Tingbi just wants to use the two children as hostages to blackmail us? What about Hailanzhu and Benbutai's lives..."

He dared not say any more. The thought of his daughter possibly falling into danger made his heart ache as if being struck by the cold wind on the grassland.

They are his flesh and blood, his precious treasures, how could they be used as pawns in a test?
Mangus's smile vanished instantly, and his tone turned stern: "What do you know!"

"If the lives of these two women can secure a stable future for the Khorchin tribe, then that will be their greatest honor and a blessing for our Borjigit family! They are your daughters and my granddaughters. Would I joke about their lives?"

"The Khorchin tribe is now beset by internal and external troubles. To the south, the Jianzhou Jurchens are oppressing us, and to the west, the Chahar tribe is eyeing us covetously. If we cannot grasp the Ming court as our lifeline, our entire tribe will become slaves to others in less than two years! At that time, not only Hailanzhu and Benbutai, but the lives of all the Khorchin people will be in danger!"

Buhe fell silent; he knew his father was telling the truth.

The law of the grasslands is the survival of the fittest. If the tribe is destroyed, even if the daughter stays by his side, she will not escape the fate of being kidnapped and sold.

But to send his daughter into unknown danger was a choice even more difficult than facing the enemy's blade on the battlefield.

But looking into Mangus's determined eyes, he knew in his heart that there was no room for compromise on this matter.

Once his father made a decision, not even nine oxen could pull him back.

"Then...when do we leave?"

Mangus said expressionlessly, "We will depart tonight. You will personally take the two children and follow Xiong Tingbi's envoy, passing through the Chahar tribe to Liaodong."

Firstly, you can protect the child's safety, and secondly, you can personally observe the Ming court's true strength and weaknesses, which is more reliable than sending someone else.

Upon hearing this, Buhe nodded heavily in his heart.

But soon, new worries arose.

The Chahar and Khorchin tribes had a long-standing feud, and Ligdan Khan was particularly eyeing the Khorchin tribe's pastures. Passing through Chahar would be like lambs to the slaughter.

"Father, will Lindan Khan let us pass?"

Buhe couldn't help but ask, his tone full of anxiety.

“The Chahar tribe previously raided our pastures. Now that we are passing through with children, what if they take the opportunity to attack us…”

"Don't worry, they don't dare."

Mangus waved his hand, his tone resolute.

"Lindan Khan has already formed an alliance with the Ming Dynasty. Xiong Tingbi promised him many benefits in order to jointly attack the Jianzhou Jurchens."

We are currently on our way to Liaodong to discuss an alliance with the Ming court, making us essentially 'guests' of the Ming court. Even if Ligdan Khan had the greatest courage, he wouldn't dare to make things difficult for us at this time.

If he dares to touch us, he'll be slapping the Ming court in the face, and Xiong Tingbi will be the first to not let him off!

Upon hearing that "Lindan Khan has formed an alliance with the Ming Dynasty," Buhe's worries were somewhat relieved.

Although Lin Danhan was domineering, he did not dare to easily offend Xiong Tingbi, who was currently enjoying great power.

"I understand."

"I will make preparations tonight and ensure that Hailanzhu and Benbutai are safely delivered to Liaodong."

Buhe turned and walked out of the main tent. The biting cold wind instantly enveloped his figure, and the snowflakes hit his face, but they cleared his chaotic mind slightly.

He took a deep breath, stepped through the thick snow, and walked towards his tent.

As you lift the heavy wool curtain, a wave of warmth washes over you.

Inside the tent, a copper oil lamp cast a dim yellow light, illuminating the small space.

In a corner, a woman dressed in Jurchen clothing sat on a felt mat, holding a tattered book, teaching two girls to read Tungusic script.

His wife, Boli, sat beside them, needle and thread in her hands, mending fur coats for her daughters, her eyes gentle.

Hearing the rustling of the tent flap, everyone looked up. The Jurchen woman, seeing that it was Buhe returning, quickly rose and bowed.

"Greetings, Taiji!"

Bo Li put down his needlework, a smile appearing on his face. Just as he was about to ask a question, Bu He raised his hand and waved, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "You can go out now. That's all for today's lessons."

The Jurchen woman dared not say much, bowed in agreement, picked up her belongings, and tiptoed out of the tent.

"Echige (Father)!"

Before Buhe could sit down, a small figure rushed over and hugged his leg, her soft voice carrying the innocence unique to children.

It was Benbutai, who was only nine years old. She was wearing a pink Mongolian noblewoman's robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. Her hair was styled into two small braids that hung over her shoulders. Her round face was full of smiles, and her eyes sparkled with innocent light.

At this moment, she was just a child who could act spoiled with her father, showing no trace of the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang who later assisted three generations of monarchs and held immense power.

Buhe bent down and gently stroked his daughter's head. His fingertips touched the soft strands of hair, and a pang of sorrow welled up in his heart.

He looked up at Hailanzhu beside him.

The twelve-year-old girl had blossomed into a graceful young lady, dressed in a pure white mink coat. Her skin was as white as snow, and her oval face held a touch of girlish shyness. Her beautiful eyes were clear and captivating.

Seeing Buhe looking at her, Hailanzhu quickly stood up, curtsied according to the etiquette of the grasslands, and said softly, "Father."

Looking at his two daughters, one innocent and carefree, the other gentle and beautiful, Buhe felt a complex mix of emotions.

He slowly released Benbutai's hand, sat down on the felt mat, and sighed heavily.

Boleyn keenly sensed her husband's unusual behavior. She walked over to Buhe and asked softly:

"Why are you sighing so much after just returning from the main tent? Did the meeting not go well?"

She had been married to Buhe for many years and knew her husband's character well; he would never act like this unless he encountered a difficult situation.

Buhe looked up at his wife, his eyes heavy, and slowly said, "Tonight, I will pack my things and take the two of them to Liaodong."

Liaodong?

Bo Li's smile froze instantly.

"Weren't we supposed to send the children to Hetu Ala to marry Huang Taiji? Why did it suddenly change to Liaodong? That's Ming territory, what are we going there for?"

She was filled with doubt and unease. Liaodong was a strange and dangerous place for the grassland tribes. Moreover, the Ming people and the Khorchin tribe had many old grudges.

Buhe did not answer his wife's question directly, but turned his gaze to his two daughters, his voice low but clear: "The person they are going to marry is not Huang Taiji, but the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

"The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"

Benbutai tilted his head, his eyes full of curiosity, and his childish voice uttered.

"What is the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty? Is he more powerful than an eagle on the grasslands?"

In her mind, "emperor" was just an unfamiliar word, far less real than the cattle and sheep on the grassland or the eagles in the sky.

When Hailanzhu heard the words "Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty," she paused slightly, biting her lip, and a hint of unease gradually appeared in her originally clear and beautiful eyes.

Although she was young, she had heard many stories about the Ming Dynasty from the elders of the tribe.

It was a powerful dynasty with a vast territory and a large population, and the Ming emperor was the ruler of that dynasty.

I heard that the current emperor of the Ming Dynasty has only recently ascended the throne and is only a few years older than her.

Seeing her daughters' reactions, Buhe felt a pang of reluctance, but she suppressed her emotions and shook her head.
“You don’t understand what I’m saying now. All you need to know is that this trip to Liaodong is for the future of our Khorchin tribe, and also for your future.”

He didn't explain much, partly because he was afraid his daughters wouldn't understand, and partly because he himself wasn't sure whether this "marriage" would bring good or bad fortune.

"Let's make some simple preparations. Just bring some necessary clothes and dry food. We'll be setting off soon."

Buhe stood up, his tone returning to its usual composure, but only he knew the depth of his worry at that moment.

He walked to the tent flap, lifted a crack, and looked out at the vast snowfield, his brows furrowed.

This trip to Liaodong with his daughter via the Chahar tribe is unlikely to be smooth.

Obataji was already close to the Jianzhou Jurchens, and now that he knew the Khorchin tribe was going to form an alliance with the Ming court and send their daughters to the palace, he would definitely be dissatisfied.

It's hard to guarantee that he won't sabotage things along the way, secretly sending people to ambush and intercept them, or even attempt assassination, in order to undermine the alliance between the Khorchin tribe and the Ming court.

Even if they successfully pass through the Chahar region and reach Liaodong, they cannot be completely at ease.

Although Xiong Tingbi made generous promises, how much of what a wise person says can be trusted?

If that promise was just a lie, the lives of the two daughters, and the future of the entire Khorchin tribe, would be ruined.

"I hope... what Xiong Tingbi said is true."

Time passes slowly.

Soon, the sun set.

Night fell like a thick piece of black velvet, completely enveloping the Horqin Grassland.

At this moment, the camp outside Buhe was brightly lit, and Xiong Tingbi's envoy convoy was already waiting there.

Three carriages covered with thick felt were parked side by side, their wheels wrapped in non-slip linen. The drivers and guards, all dressed in Ming army armor and holding torches, stood solemnly in the wind and snow.

Buhe stood beside the carriage.

He raised his hand and patted the leather armor of the cavalrymen beside him, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, be alert! One person, three horses, take turns riding, and make sure to protect the carriage. There must be no mistakes!"

The thousand Khorchin cavalrymen behind him echoed in unison.

"As ordered!"

They were all elites under Buhe's command, each equipped with two bows, fifty arrows, and a sharp scimitar hanging at their waist, with enough dry rations and water bags for five days tied to their saddles.

To ensure his two daughters' safe arrival in Liaodong, Buhe mobilized almost a third of his private army.

"Echige, it's so warm in the car."

Benbutai peeked out from the gap in the felt curtain of the carriage, his little face filled with curiosity, clutching a fluffy fox doll in his hand.

Boli was gently tucking her daughter's fur coat in, and when she saw Buhe looking at her, her eyes were full of worry.

"Safe travels."

Buhe nodded and reached out to touch his daughter's cheek.

He turned to Hailanzhu and said, "Take good care of your sister. If you need anything, just knock on the car wall. I'll be right outside."

Hailanzhu sat in the car, looking at her father's resolute back through the crack in the window, and nodded gently, her voice trembling slightly:

"Don't worry, Echige, your daughter will."

Although she didn't know how many dangers lay ahead, she could sense from her father's expression that this journey was no ordinary one.

Buhe said no more and waved for the convoy to set off.

The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly started moving. The wheels rolled over the snow, leaving two deep tracks.

A thousand cavalrymen were divided into four groups, front, back, left, and right, tightly protecting the carriage in the middle, and galloped towards the Xilin Gol Grassland of the Chahar tribe.

The torchlight stretched into a long, fiery dragon in the wind and snow, like a serpent of light slithering through the darkness, gradually disappearing into the depths of the grassland.

Buhe rode at the very front, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

He had concerns in his heart.

Obama will not let this go. If that Taiji who is close to Jianzhou knew that they were going to send their daughter to the palace to form an alliance with the Ming court, he would definitely send someone to ambush them on the way.

Furthermore, the Xilin Gol Grassland has a complex terrain, with both dense pine forests and crisscrossing ravines, making it an ideal place for ambushes.

"I hope that Ligdan Khan's people can keep their word..."

Buhe silently recited the mantra, but his gaze sharpened even more.

Anyway.
If anyone dares to lay a finger on his daughter, he will fight those beasts to the death!

Meanwhile, in Shenyang, a thousand miles away.

Inside the White Tiger Hall of the Liaodong Military Governor's Office, candles burned all night. Xiong Tingbi, dressed in a scarlet official robe, stood before a huge map of Liaodong, his brows furrowed, his fingers repeatedly stroking the locations of Fushun and Kaiyuan.

"My lord! The envoy of the Earl of Weilu has returned!"

A guard rushed in, his voice tinged with excitement.

Xiong Tingbi turned around abruptly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Let him in quickly!"

Before long, a weary knight entered the council hall. His armor was covered in dust, and his face showed fatigue, yet he still stood tall and knelt on one knee to report:

"Reporting to the General, I have returned from the Chahar tribe on the orders of Lord Weilubo! Ligdan Khan has agreed to send troops, and in three days he will dispatch 20,000 cavalry to launch a surprise attack on the Jurchen garrison in Fushun and Kaiyuan, in coordination with our army's operation!"

"Good! Great!"

Xiong Tingbi slammed his hand on the table, a long-lost smile appearing on his face.

Ligdan Khan's dispatch of troops was undoubtedly a timely help, which not only tied down the Jurchen forces but also shook the Jurchens' prestige among the Mongol tribes.

"What about the Taiji of the five Inner Khalkha tribes? Has he replied?" Xiong Tingbi asked immediately, his tone filled with anticipation.

The envoy shook his head and reported truthfully: "Chaohua Taiji has not replied, but I have learned from the front that the five tribes of Inner Khalkha have not only failed to gather their herdsmen, but have instead shrunk their sphere of influence and withdrawn their people back to their original garrisons, adopting a posture of self-preservation and neutrality."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Tingbi was not disappointed at all. Instead, he clapped his hands and laughed: "Neutral? What a fine neutrality! By not helping the Jurchens, he is helping us! Without the support of the Inner Khalkha, the power of the Jianzhou Jurchens in Liaodong has been weakened even further!"

He walked up to the map, his eyes becoming increasingly sharp:
"Now Huang Taiji is leading his elite troops to attack Korea, while the main force of the Jurchens is far away in Korea; Daišan and Mangultai are stationed in Fushun and Kaiyuan, with their forces depleted; Ligdan Khan has sent troops to harass their rear, while the Inner Khalkha remain neutral; as for the Khorchin tribe... even if there is no news from them for the time being, it is of little importance!"

"Lord General, when shall we make our move?"

General Chen Ce, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but ask, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Xiong Tingbi turned around, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the hall, his voice booming like a bell: "Move out immediately! Chen Ce, I hereby appoint you as the vanguard, leading five thousand elite troops from the capital garrison. Set off at dawn tomorrow, marching towards Fushun. First, set up camp twenty miles outside Fushun city to contain the city's defenders and prevent them from leaving the city to seek reinforcements!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Chen Ce bowed and replied in a firm and powerful voice.

"The rest of the generals, immediately take stock of the troops and prepare siege equipment! Cannons, siege ladders, gunpowder and arrows must be ready by today!"

Xiong Tingbi continued to issue orders: "Tomorrow, I, the General, will personally lead a large army to Fushun to join forces with Chen Ce! This time, we will not only recover Fushun, Kaiyuan, and Tieling, but also drive the Jurchens out of the east of the Liao River and take back every inch of the land that the Ming Dynasty has lost over the years!"

"Reclaim the lost territories! Revitalize the Ming Dynasty!"

The generals in the hall shouted in unison.

A fierce fighting spirit burned in everyone's eyes.

Whether it was to save face or to secure a good future for his wife and children, he made a great contribution!

They all have to fight this battle brilliantly!
ps:
6600 big chapters!

(End of this chapter)