Huangming

Chapter 359 Marriage Alliance for Trust, Selfless Dedication to the Nation

As dusk settled, it gradually swallowed the snowfields outside Fushun City.

The stench of blood left from the daytime battles, mixed with the chill of melting snow, lingered in the camp, pungent and heavy.

Outside the central command tent of the Ming army camp, Buhe, dressed in a sable cloak with a scimitar inlaid with turquoise hanging at his waist, was pacing back and forth, waiting.

Behind him, Hailanzhu and Benbutai huddled close to the hem of his clothes, their small faces hidden in their father's shadow, their eyes timidly scanning their surroundings.

Outside the tent, Ming soldiers stood guard in twos and threes, their eyes fixed on Bu and his daughter with undisguised vigilance.

After all, the Mongol tribes and the Ming Dynasty were sometimes at war and sometimes at peace, and no one could figure out the background of these few Tartars who had suddenly arrived.

But when their gaze swept over Hailanzhu, a strange glint appeared in their wariness:
At twelve years old, Hailanzhu had already grown into a beautiful young woman with fair skin and dark hair. Her eyes and brows held the unique radiance of a woman from the grasslands, and even in simple clothes, she could not hide her dazzling beauty.

"Tsk tsk, this Mongolian woman is really pretty..."

A soldier with a full beard lowered his voice, his eyes darting over Hailanzhu, his tone full of frivolity.

Another soldier chimed in, "Once we take Fushun, the Military Commission might reward us with a few Mongol slaves. If only we could get such beauties..."

Before he could finish speaking, Buhe suddenly turned around, his hand slamming onto the hilt of his curved sword, a cold glint in his eyes.

More than ten Mongol guards behind him immediately surrounded him, their hands on their weapons, and confronted the Ming soldiers.

Hailanzhu and Benbutai were protected behind their father, their little hands tightly gripping Buhe's robes, their bodies trembling slightly.

Although they had witnessed tribal conflicts on the grasslands, they had never been looked at with such hostile eyes by so many unfamiliar soldiers. The fear was like icy snow water running down their spines.

Seeing that Buhe was serious, the Ming soldiers also restrained their frivolousness and gripped their spears, creating a tense atmosphere.

Just then, footsteps sounded from inside the tent, and a guard in a blue uniform quickly stepped out. Upon seeing this, he immediately shouted to stop them:

"What are you all doing! This is Buhe Taiji of the Khorchin tribe, a guest of the Duke of Jinglue. How dare you be so rude?"

Upon hearing this, the Ming soldiers quickly averted their gaze and retreated to the side, looking rather dejected.

Buhe then slowly released the hilt of his sword, his face still tense. He gently patted the backs of his two daughters and whispered a few words of comfort in Mongolian before turning around and nodding slightly to the guard.

"Buhe Taiji, I apologize for keeping you waiting. The General invites you into his tent." The guard politely stepped aside to lead the way, his tone becoming much more respectful.

Without hesitation, Buhe took the hands of Hailanzhu and Benbutai, and together with two guards, stepped into the central military tent.

As soon as I entered the tent, a wave of warmth washed over me.

In the brazier in the center of the tent, pine wood burned brightly, sparks crackling and dispelling the chill outside.

Unlike the somber atmosphere outside the tent, the interior was filled with a faint scent of ink and tea, creating an exceptionally tranquil ambiance.

Inside the tent, at the head of the table, sat a middle-aged man on a grand chair covered with a tiger skin.

He was dressed in a scarlet military governor's robe, with a jade belt around his waist. His face was resolute, his forehead was covered with fine wrinkles, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable. He was none other than Xiong Tingbi, the military governor of Liaodong.

On the table in front of him were several scrolls of documents, and on the shelf next to him hung maps of various places in Liaodong.

At one corner of the tent was a huge sand table, on which the terrain of Fushun, Kaiyuan, Shenyang and other places was marked with mud, sand and stones. Countless small flags were stuck on the sand table, clearly indicating the troop deployment of both sides, making the already not-so-spacious tent seem a bit crowded.

Upon seeing this, Buhe was secretly amazed.

Xiong Manzi lived up to his reputation. Just by looking at the arrangement of this tent, one could tell that he had a thorough understanding of the Liaodong war situation and was by no means an ordinary commander who could only talk about war on paper.

He dared not delay, so he quickly released his daughter's hand, stepped forward, and bowed slightly according to the etiquette of a nomadic tribe paying respects to an official from the Central Plains. He clasped his hands together in front of his chest and said in slightly broken Mandarin, "Buhe of the Borjigit clan of the Khorchin tribe pays respects to the Liaodong Military Commissioner of the Great Ming Dynasty!"

Hailanzhu and Benbutai followed their father, timidly curtsying, their little faces full of restraint.

Xiong Tingbi put down his brush and looked at Bu and his daughter. His eyes showed no contempt, but rather a gentle expression.

He raised his hand to indicate: "Bu and Taiji have come from afar and must be tired from their journey. Please have a seat. Someone, serve tea to Taiji and the two little Okens."

(Note: Oken is a title for a noblewoman, similar to a princess.)
The guards outside the tent soon came in carrying three steaming cups of milk tea.

He even had someone prepare milk tea, which is commonly drunk by Mongolians, instead of green tea from the Central Plains.

Buhe felt a warmth in his heart, his tense nerves relaxed slightly, and he led his daughter to sit down on the felt mat next to him.

After settling down, Buhe's gaze unconsciously lingered on Xiong Tingbi's face.

The Ming Dynasty's military commissioner before them was a figure feared by the Khorchin tribe.

Some say he was clad in heavy armor, charged into battle, and killed countless enemies, earning him the title of "Iron-Armored Yama."

Some say he was strict in disciplining his troops and showed no mercy to the enemy, like a "mad dog of the Southern Dynasty" that wouldn't let go once it bit down.

At this moment, however, Xiong Tingbi's face was full of gentle smiles, and there was no trace of violence in his eyes. Instead, his eyes revealed a sense of composure and sincerity, which was completely different from the image in the rumors.

This unexpected friendliness gradually relaxed Buhe's tense nerves.

He took a deep breath, stopped beating around the bush, and asked directly:
"Previously, the Duke of Jinglue sent an envoy to the Khorchin tribe and proposed the conditions for an alliance: in return for helping the Ming court to jointly defeat the Jurchens, they would receive pastures, annual rewards, and trade privileges."

Do these conditions still hold true today?

Buhe's tone was somewhat tentative, after all, when grassland tribes dealt with the Central Plains dynasties, there were too many instances of "empty promises without substance."

He must personally confirm these core interests before he can confidently tie the tribe's future to the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Tingbi's smile remained, but his tone became more serious:

"Buhe Taiji, rest assured, the Ming court always keeps its word. As long as the Khorchin tribe is willing to send troops to join forces with our army to attack the Jurchens, the conditions of the alliance will never be broken."

"The pastures in eastern Hulunbuir were originally the homeland of the Khorchin tribe. After defeating the Jurchens, I will definitely petition His Majesty to formally assign this grassland to the Khorchin tribe."

As for the annual reward, it consists of 10,000 taels of silver and 1,000 bolts of cloth, distributed in spring and autumn, with no delays.

The tea-horse trade will also resume, and the Khorchin tribe will be free to choose the border trading points. Our Great Ming will absolutely not interfere, much less suppress prices or monopolize the market.

A clear promise acted as a reassurance, putting Bu at ease.

But he knew there was an even more important condition.

He turned slightly to the side, his gaze falling on Hailanzhu and Benbutai beside him, his tone becoming exceptionally serious: "It seems that the Duke of Jinglue has forgotten that there is another requirement in the alliance: to send my two daughters into the Ming Dynasty palace to become the current emperor's concubines."

As he said this, Buhe stared intently at Xiong Tingbi, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid.

This matter is extremely crucial and important!
Only when the Ming Dynasty truly accepted his daughter did the Khorchin tribe dare to fully trust the Ming Dynasty and confidently send troops to assist in the battle.

If Xiong Tingbi shirks responsibility on this matter, then all his previous promises may have been nothing but empty words.

When Hailanzhu and Benbutai heard the words "enter the palace," their little faces were full of confusion, but they also vaguely sensed the heavy atmosphere and subconsciously clenched Buhe's clothes.

Xiong Tingbi's smile faltered slightly, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to agree, but sending women from Mongolian tribes into the palace was not something he, as a mere military commander, could completely decide.

The process required first requesting permission from His Majesty, followed by discussion of the rites by the Ministry of Rites, a complicated procedure.

But he also knew that Buhe was raising this matter now because he distrusted the Ming court, and if he refused, all his previous efforts might be in vain.

He remained silent for a moment, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind:

The support of the Khorchin tribe was crucial. With their cavalry, not only could the Mongol allies of the Jurchens be restrained, but the Ming army's momentum could also be boosted.

Conversely, if the Khorchin tribe sided with the Jurchens or remained neutral, the Ming army would face significantly greater difficulties in recovering Liaodong.

"The Jurchens supported by the Khorchin tribe and those without such support are completely different concepts."

Xiong Tingbi silently made up his mind.

"Buhe Taiji, rest assured, since it is part of the alliance, this strategist will naturally not breach the agreement."

Xiong Tingbi's tone became firm again.

"However, the matter of entering the palace requires His Majesty's consent. This Secretariat will immediately write a secret letter and send it to the capital to request His Majesty's permission."

"No, it has to be sent over now!"

Buhe shook his head.

"Only if my daughter enters the palace as soon as possible will the people of the Khorchin tribe feel at ease, and only then can I persuade the tribal leaders to send troops. If it is delayed for too long, something unexpected may happen."

This sudden show of force put Xiong Tingbi in an even more difficult position.

Although he could arrange for people to send the two girls to the capital, he could not guarantee that His Majesty would accept them, nor could he guarantee that the process of entering the palace would be smooth.

Looking at Buhe's determined eyes, Xiong Tingbi knew that if he refused, the Khorchin tribe would have a hard time submitting to the Ming Dynasty.

"it is good!"

Xiong Tingbi finally nodded.

"Tomorrow, I will arrange for a trusted guard to escort the two Oken to the capital. At the same time, I will send a secret message by fast horse to His Majesty explaining the situation and striving to bring them into the palace as soon as possible. Shouldn't Buhe Taiji be satisfied with that?"

Upon hearing "sent tomorrow," a glint of joy flashed in Buhe's eyes. He abruptly stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Xiong Tingbi, and spoke with great excitement:
"That's great! Xiong Jinglue is indeed a straightforward man!"

Then, he patted his chest and guaranteed, "As soon as my men confirm that Hailanzhu and Benbutai have successfully entered the palace, the Khorchin tribe will immediately send troops! I will personally lead ten thousand cavalry to raid the Jurchen's rear pastures and cooperate with the Ming army to attack Fushun and Kaiyuan!"

Seeing that Buhe had agreed to send troops, Xiong Tingbi felt a great weight lifted from his heart, and his smile became even more genuine.

Entering the palace was a source of trouble later on.

The key now is to eliminate the Jurchens.

After discussing the main issues, Xiong Tingbi recalled the attack on Buhe.

He picked up the milk tea on the table, took a sip, and then casually asked:
"I have heard that Buhe Taiji was robbed on his way from the Khorchin tribe? Could it have been the work of the Chahar tribe?"

These words, though seemingly unintentional, actually contain a hidden meaning.

If the Chahar tribe takes action, it would mean that Ligdan Khan might have second thoughts about the Ming-Mongol alliance, or even secretly collude with the Jurchens. In that case, the plan to jointly attack Kaiyuan would need to be reconsidered.

even
He also needs to guard against attacks from Ligdan Khan.

Xiong Tingbi stared intently at Buhe, awaiting his reply.

Upon hearing this, Buhe frowned slightly and shook his head.

"Reporting to the General, it was not the Chahar tribe who acted; it was our own Khorchin tribe who did it."

"One of our own from the Khorchin tribe?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Xiong Tingbi's eyes as he put down his teacup.

"That's strange. They're all of the same race, so why would they attack the Taiji?"

Buhe took a deep breath, a hint of helplessness on his face, and slowly explained:
"Understood by the General, our Khorchin tribe is not a monolithic entity. The faction led by Obataiji has always been close to the Jianzhou Jurchens and had a secret agreement with Nurhaci in the early years, receiving many benefits from the Jurchens."

Seeing that I was bringing my daughter to the Ming court to forge an alliance, they feared it would damage their relations with the Jurchens. Therefore, they secretly sent men to ambush us on the only route through the Xilin Gol grasslands, intending to plunder our carriages and horses and prevent us from reaching Fushun.

He paused, then added a hint of relief to his voice: "Fortunately, I was prepared and brought a thousand elite guards with me. We fought desperately and managed to drive them back."

It's a pity that several cartloads of furs and medicinal herbs intended as tribute to the governor were burned in the chaos of battle.

After hearing this, Xiong Tingbi suddenly realized what was going on and secretly rejoiced.

If His Majesty had not taken Zhe Zhe as a concubine, giving the Mangus brothers the confidence to curry favor with the Ming court, and had not offered such generous terms as those brought by the envoys, the Khorchin tribe would probably have already completely sided with the Jianzhou Jurchens and become their henchmen.

By then, the Ming army would not only have to face the Jurchen cavalry, but also guard against a surprise attack by the Khorchin tribe, making the recovery of Liaodong much more difficult.

"I see."

Xiong Tingbi nodded slowly, his tone tinged with emotion.

"I never expected there to be such a commotion within the Khorchin tribe. Obataji's actions almost ruined everything."

He looked at Buhe, his eyes filled with admiration.

"The fact that the Taiji insisted on coming to form an alliance despite the obstruction from his own people is truly remarkable in terms of courage and foresight."

Buhe waved his hand, his tone sincere: "You flatter me, General. My actions are not for personal gain, but for the future of the Khorchin tribe."

Although the Jurchens are temporarily powerful, they only know how to exploit the tribes. The Ming Dynasty is the only reliable source of a stable livelihood for us grassland people. As long as my daughter can successfully enter the palace, I will surely be able to persuade more chieftains to join forces with the Grand Coordinator to deal with the Jurchens.”

The two then talked for a long time about the movements of various tribes on the grassland.

Buhe detailed the wait-and-see attitude of the five Inner Khalkha tribes, as well as Ligdan Khan's control over the Chahar tribe.

Xiong Tingbi then revealed Ligdan Khan's plan to launch an attack on Kaiyuan, which gave Buhe more confidence in the subsequent battles.

Both of them gained something from the conversation, and their relationship grew closer during the discussion.

As they chatted, Xiong Tingbi noticed that Buhe's face gradually showed signs of fatigue, and his eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he had not had a proper rest after traveling for several days.

Looking at his two daughters beside him, Benbutai was already too sleepy to keep her eyes open, her little head nodding as she rested on Buhe's legs.

Although Hailanzhu was trying her best to stay awake, her eyes became glazed, and her little hands tightly gripped her father's robe, looking like she was about to fall asleep at any moment.

Xiong Tingbi immediately stopped talking and said in a gentle tone, "Buhe Taiji, you must be exhausted from your long journey. Tents and charcoal have been prepared for you in the military camp. Go and rest for now. If you need any supplies, just tell the quartermaster. The Ming court will never mistreat its allies."

Buhe felt a warmth in his heart and quickly stood up to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your consideration, General! I will take my daughter to rest first, and we will discuss the follow-up matters again tomorrow."

He bent down and picked up the sleepy Benbutai. The little girl snuggled against her father, mumbled a few words in Mongolian, and then fell into a deep sleep.

Buhe then took Hailanzhu's hand, bowed to Xiong Tingbi, and slowly led his daughter out of the tent.

As soon as Bu and his daughter disappeared outside the tent, the relaxed atmosphere inside the tent instantly vanished.

Staff Officer Zhou Wenhuan, who had been standing quietly at the corner of the tent, strode forward, his face filled with undisguised worry, his brows furrowed in worry.
"My lord, your decision to allow women from the Khorchin tribe to enter the palace is far too risky!"

He lowered his voice to a very low level, but could not hide his urgency: "Think about it, the officials in the court have already had many criticisms of your management of Liaodong. Now you have taken the initiative to send two Mongolian women into the palace. Isn't this giving them a handle to impeach you?"

"Indulging in foreign women to disrupt the palace" and "Abusing power and overstepping authority to arrange a marriage"—any one of these charges could plunge Your Excellency into utter ruin!

Zhou Wenhuan had followed Xiong Tingbi for many years and was well aware of the treacherous nature of court struggles.

In the past, Xiong Tingbi's strict military discipline and waste of military funds had already drawn impeachments from many officials. Now, with the involvement of the imperial harem, he has touched a sensitive nerve in the court. If he is not careful, he will suffer disgrace and ruin.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Tingbi's smile gradually faded; he too felt the same worry.

But things have come to this point, and there is no turning back.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety, and slowly said, "Wen Huan, you don't need to worry. His Majesty once gave me a secret letter, stating that I have full authority to handle matters in Liaodong and that I don't need to report to him on everything; moreover, the letter specifically mentioned that if there is an opportunity, we can win over the Mongol tribes through marriage to stabilize the Liaodong defense line."

"But this is just a secret letter after all!"

Zhou Wenhuan rushed forward, his face beaming with worry.

"A secret letter is not backed by an imperial edict. If there is widespread criticism in the court, and His Majesty, in order to appease the officials, were to renege on the order and claim that there was never such an edict, how would you handle the situation? At that time, you would be left with no way to defend yourself!"

These words struck Xiong Tingbi like a heavy hammer blow.

Has he never considered this possibility?

The mind of an emperor is unfathomable. Even though His Majesty is young and capable, all capable rulers throughout history have been ruthless.

Emperor Jing's betrayal of Chao Cuo, and Emperor Wu's execution of Zhu Fu Yan.
There are too many examples from previous dynasties.

Faced with pressure from the court and the pursuit of personal power, sacrificing a minister is not impossible.

A brief silence fell inside the tent.

However, after much thought...

Xiong Tingbi turned around, his eyes showing no sign of backing down, his tone resolute, as if he were trying to give himself some confidence.

"No, His Majesty is not that kind of person!"

He recalled his secret correspondence with the emperor during this period.

The emperor's absolute trust in him was absolutely genuine.

Moreover, given how His Majesty treats those around him, he wouldn't push him out as a scapegoat.

"Please think twice, my lord!"

Zhou Wenhuan was extremely anxious.

"If it comes to that, sacrificing you alone would quell the criticism in the court and solidify His Majesty's power. Do you think His Majesty would protect you, or...?"

Before he finished speaking, he had already made the stakes very clear.

Between imperial power and the loyalty of his subjects, most emperors would choose the former; this has been an unchanging rule for thousands of years.

Xiong Tingbi suddenly laughed, a laugh that carried a hint of nonchalance, yet also a touch of tragic grandeur:
"Wen Huan, you have followed me for many years, don't you understand me? What I, Xiong Tingbi, seek has never been personal fame and fortune, but to pacify Liaodong and recover lost territory!"

"I trust Your Majesty, not only because of Your Majesty's trust, but also because Your Majesty knows that the Liaodong war cannot be separated from me."

Even if we take a step back and one day I pacify Liaodong, and His Majesty, in order to appease the court, holds me accountable, I will not utter a single complaint!

"As long as we can defeat the Jurchens, as long as the people of Liaodong are no longer suffering from the ravages of war, as long as we can guard this northern gateway for the Ming Dynasty, what does it matter if I sacrifice myself?"

Looking at Xiong Tingbi's resolute profile, Zhou Wenhuan's eyes were full of admiration, but also tinged with a bit of bitterness.

Now, he understands Xiong Tingbi's thoughts.

His wise ruler had long since disregarded his personal safety; all he cared about was the war situation in Liaodong and the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

All men must die, but the meanings of life and death are vastly different.

It may be as light as a feather scattered by the wind, or as heavy as Mount Tai, which can stabilize the universe.

He was able to turn the tide and save the people from suffering, leaving behind a loyal heart that will shine through history.

For you, sir, this may be the best ending.

ps:
The extra chapter will be late, don't wait, come back tomorrow morning!
(End of this chapter)