Huangming

Chapter 373 Using a Forged Imperial Edict to Intimidate: Ban Chao of the Ming Dynasty

Inside the tent, a stove burning pine wood cast flickering flames that projected the shadows of the two figures onto the felt wall, creating an intermittent glow.

Liu Xingzuo stared intently at the fried flowers.

He noticed the hesitation in the stir-fried flowers.

"Stir-fried flower taiji"

Liu Xingzuo's voice was not loud, but it carried a deep meaning.

"Providing help in times of need is the only way to earn the Ming Dynasty's lifelong gratitude; but if you wait until the outcome is decided before trying to add to their glory, the Ming Dynasty doesn't need you as an ally, and there's no need to give you any extra benefits."

"You should know that the current stalemate in Red River Valley is precisely due to the strength of your five Inner Khalkha tribes."

If you send troops and the Ming army wins, you will be a first-rate hero; if you don't send troops and the Ming army still wins, it won't be so easy for you to curry favor with them in the future.

His eyes darted around nervously.

Liu Xingzuo is right, but the grassland tribes have always "worshipped the strong and remembered kindness," and they are also afraid of "choosing the wrong side and being purged."

Sending troops to their aid would bring many benefits if successful, but if they lost, the five Inner Khalkha tribes would likely incur Nurhaci's wrath and find it difficult to establish themselves on the grasslands in the future.

After a long silence, Chaohua finally spoke.

"Please give me three days to consider this, Mr. Wilhelm."

The old fox's tone carried a hint of pleading.

"The dispatch of troops concerns the survival of the five tribes. I need to discuss it with the leaders of each tribe and cannot make a decision on my own."

Liu Xingzuo's lips twitched suddenly.

Three days?

The battle in Red River Valley was changing rapidly, and the outcome had already been decided in just three days.

He suppressed his anxiety, a hint of anger flashing across his face.

But then I thought, I'm still a prisoner. If I push Chao Hua too far, it's not impossible for me to chop his head off.

Liu Xingzuo took a deep breath, his tone softening slightly.

"Three days is three days, but I hope Taiji won't miss the opportunity."

Then, as if he had thought of something, Liu Xingzuo asked again:
"By the way, does Taiji know anything about the whereabouts of the Khorchin tribe?"

Upon hearing this, Chao Hua's eyes flashed with surprise, then he nodded:

"Their camp is only twenty miles north of our unit. Yesterday, they sent someone to inform us that they wanted to 'discuss the important matter of aiding Jin.' However..."

He paused, his tone tinged with amusement.

"It seems there are some internal problems among them. Last night, there were arguments heard in the camp, and the words 'help Ming' and 'help Jin' could be vaguely heard. I heard that they almost came to blows."

"Oh?"

Liu Xingzuo's eyes lit up instantly.

"What do you mean? How could there be disagreements within the Khorchin tribe?"

Seeing that Liu Xingzuo was interested, Chao Hua no longer hid it.

In any case, revealing this intelligence will not harm the interests of Inner Khalkha, and it will also do Liu Xingzuo a favor, leaving a way out for the future.

"The Khorchin tribe had marriage ties with the Jurchens and submitted to Nurhaci in their early years; they were pro-Jurchens."

However, in recent years, the Ming army has grown stronger in Liaodong, and with the Khorchin tribe's Zhe Zhe becoming a concubine of the Ming emperor, many Khorchin nobles no longer wanted to be controlled by the Jurchens and desired to submit to the Ming dynasty; these were the pro-Ming factions.

He picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, and continued, "Yesterday, I heard that Fushun had fallen and Daishan had died in battle. The two factions started arguing. The pro-Ming faction said that we should take the opportunity to side with the Ming Dynasty, while the pro-Jiangnu faction insisted on sending aid to Jin as originally planned. Neither side would give in, and they almost went to war."

"I see!"

Liu Xingzuo slapped his thigh, his disappointment instantly replaced by ecstasy.

Chaohua was unwilling to send troops, but there were pro-Ming factions in the Khorchin tribe!
If we can persuade the Khorchin tribe to send troops, we can not only relieve the siege of the Red River Valley, but also take the opportunity to sow discord between the grassland tribes and the Jurchens. It would be a win-win situation!
He suppressed his excitement, his gaze returning to the fried flowers, his tone tinged with a hint of probing:

"Since Taiji knows the inside story of the Khorchin tribe, he must have a way to let me meet with their pro-Ming faction, right?"

Looking at the light in Liu Xingzuo's eyes, Chaohua understood his intentions perfectly.
He pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "It's not impossible. I can send someone to escort you there. But, Lord Wilhelm, if this matter succeeds, you must mention my Inner Khalkha to Commander Xiong, after all, I was the one who told you this news."

"That's natural!"

Liu Xingzuo immediately agreed, a long-lost smile appearing on his face.

"As long as the siege of Red River Valley can be lifted, I, Liu Xingzuo, will remember this favor from Taiji, and the Ming Dynasty will remember it too!"

"However, before Taiji sends a messenger to Khorchin, I need to borrow something from Taiji."

Chao Hua was pondering how to strike a balance between "not sending troops" and "establishing friendly relations with the Ming Dynasty" when he heard this. He paused, put down his wine bowl, and asked:

"Oh? What does Wilhelm want to borrow? As long as it's in Inner Khalkha, I certainly won't refuse."

He thought Liu Xingzuo wanted to borrow horses, provisions, or guards, but what he said next shocked him.

"A royal decree, or a piece of yellow cloth, anything that can be made into the shape of a royal decree would be fine."

A faint smile appeared on Liu Xingzuo's lips.

"hiss!"

Chao Hua gasped, his hand holding the wine bowl paused slightly, and a few drops of wine spilled onto the wool blanket.

He instantly understood Liu Xingzuo's purpose.

This is an attempt to falsely convey an imperial edict and use the name of the Ming Dynasty to persuade the pro-Ming faction in the Khorchin tribe!

You should know that falsely conveying an imperial edict is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan. Even if those law-abiding officials from the Central Plains had a hundred times the courage, they wouldn't dare to do it.

But Liu Xingzuo, standing before them, could say it so casually, which truly showed some of the ruthlessness and decisiveness of a man from the grasslands.

"Wilde is indeed not like those conservative officials from the Central Plains; he has more of the mannerisms of us steppe people."

But he asked pointedly:

"But falsely conveying an imperial edict is a crime punishable by death and the extermination of nine generations of one's family. Aren't you afraid that the Ming Dynasty will hold you accountable afterward?"

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

Liu Xingzuo downed the wine in one gulp, slamming the bottom of the bowl heavily on the table with a resounding thud.

“Right now, Commander Xiong is trapped in the Red River Valley. Every moment of delay increases the danger. I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's favor. As long as we can defeat the Jurchens, it is time to pursue them. I am willing to accept the death of Liu Xingzuo.”

Liu Xingzuo's loyalty to the Ming Dynasty far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

"Although the pro-Ming faction in the Khorchin tribe wanted to help the Ming, they lacked a 'legitimate' pretext."

If I can go there with the 'Imperial Edict of the Great Ming,' they will have a reason to send troops, which will both persuade their people and silence the pro-Jiangsu faction.

Someone has to break through this barrier.

He stared at the fried flowers and urged, "Do you have any, Taiji? If you don't have yellow cloth, then yellow-dyed linen will do, as long as it looks decent."

Chao Hua admired Liu Xingzuo's loyalty, but still shook his head and frankly said, "There really is no imperial edict."

He explained, “As you know, the five tribes of Zhalute, Bairin, Onggirat, Bayud, and Uziyet have always only dealt with the Ming Dynasty through ‘trade’ and ‘rewards’.”

You give us silver, cloth, and tea, and we help you restrain the Jurchens. To put it bluntly, it's a military cooperation, not a formal vassal state.

"The Ming Dynasty has never issued an imperial edict to us, nor has it bestowed any titles upon us. Where did this imperial edict come from?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xingzuo's expectation faded slightly, but he was not completely disappointed.

He didn't really expect the flower-frying to be based on an imperial decree; he was just trying it out.

Just then, Chaohua seemed to remember something, and his eyes lit up: "However, there is no imperial edict, but there are several decrees issued by the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty."

He waved to a personal guard and ordered, "Go to my tent and bring me that sandalwood box. Inside is an imperial edict from the Ming Dynasty."

The guards responded and went off, returning shortly with a roughly carved sandalwood box.

Chao Hua opened the box and found three or four yellowed sheets of paper inside. The edges of the papers were embroidered with simple cloud patterns, and the upper right corner was stamped with the vermilion seal of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty. These were edicts issued by the Ming Dynasty to the five tribes of Inner Khalkha in order to coordinate military cooperation. The contents were mostly words such as "order your tribe to restrain the Jurchen cavalry" and "go to the market on time for delivery".

"But the contents of this edict are fixed, and I can't change them."

Chao Hua picked up an imperial edict and handed it to Liu Xingzuo.

"This is neither an imperial edict nor does it concern the Khorchin tribe. What do you need it for?"

Liu Xingzuo took the imperial edict, his fingers tracing the large vermilion seal on the paper. A gleam flashed in his eyes, as if he had obtained a treasure, and he couldn't help but laugh:
"This is enough! The contents are not important at all. What matters is the seal of the Ministry of War on it. As long as the people of Khorchin see this seal, they will believe that my visit to persuade them to send troops was authorized by the Ming government and was not my personal idea."

He carefully folded the imperial edict, then took the bright yellow cloth, rolled it up to resemble an imperial decree, put it in his robes, and bowed respectfully to Chao Hua.

"Thank you, Taiji! With this, our chances of persuading the Khorchin tribe have increased even more."

"It's good that Wilhelm has made up his mind. I wish you a safe journey, brother!"

"If this succeeds, Taiji will have made a great contribution!"

Liu Xingzuo picked up his wine bowl, clinked it against Chaohua's, and began to plan how to persuade the Khorchin tribe to send troops.

As Chao Hua drank a cup of wine, he looked at Liu Xingzuo's profile and began to make his own plans.

If Liu Xingzuo can truly persuade the Khorchin tribe, even if the five Inner Khalkha tribes do not send troops, they can still establish a relationship with the Ming Dynasty by virtue of this "intelligence contribution".

In short
No matter how the battle unfolds, he won't lose out by selling flowers.

After quickly eating roasted mutton and drinking two bowls of warm mare's milk wine in his tent, Liu Xingzuo bid farewell to Chaohua, mounted his horse, and was followed closely by twenty Inner Khalkha cavalrymen.

This is the guard that Chao Hua "lent" to him.

"drive!"

Liu Xingzuo suddenly spurred the horse's belly, and the warhorse, in pain, let out a neigh, its four hooves flying, leaving deep hoofprints on the snow.

He wanted to whip him to the very end, even though it was only a twenty-mile journey.

The biting wind stung his cheeks, but he was oblivious, his eyes fixed on the faint outline of a campfire in the darkness ahead.

Although the twenty cavalrymen behind him were familiar with the grassland terrain, they were also panting heavily as he urged them on. The breath of the warhorses condensed into white mist in the cold air, and the sound of their hooves was as dense as a sudden rain.

In less than an hour, the camp of the Khorchin tribe suddenly appeared before them.

Liu Xingzuo reined in his warhorse and scanned the camp layout with his eyes.

According to Chaohua, the pro-Ming faction of the Khorchin Right Wing tribe was stationed in the south.

He took a deep breath, dismounted, and strode towards the camp gate, his voice booming:
"The Ming envoy Liu Xingzuo is here! Quickly inform your chief that the two Okens previously sent to the Ming have returned with their messages!"

"Oken's reply?"

The guards exchanged glances, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.

Previously, the two daughters of the Khorchin Right Wing sent Bu and Taiji to test the Ming Dynasty, intending to rely on them. Now that they heard that a reply had arrived, how could they dare to be negligent?

A centurion immediately turned and ran towards the central command tent. The other guards instinctively put away their weapons. Although they were still staring at the twenty Inner Khalkha cavalrymen behind Liu Xingzuo, they no longer harbored any hostility.

A moment later, a series of hurried footsteps came from the direction of the central command tent.

Mangus, Ming'an, and Kongguer walked out quickly, followed by Bu and Taiji.

These four were the core of the pro-Ming faction on the right wing of Khorchin. At this moment, their faces were full of urgency and excitement, and their steps were faster than usual.

But when they saw that Liu Xingzuo had only twenty grassland cavalrymen behind him, with neither Ming army ceremonial guards nor accompanying officials, their smiles froze instantly, and a hint of doubt flashed in their eyes.

"Is this the angel from the Ming Dynasty?" Mangus stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Liu Xingzuo. Although he remained respectful, his tone was more probing.

"Why are there no Ming guards or clerks?"

Liu Xingzuo was already prepared, but his face remained expressionless. Instead, he frowned slightly, and his tone carried a hint of displeasure:
"The journey was rushed, and in order to deliver the message before Nurhaci noticed, I only brought a light cavalry. Do you not trust my Great Ming?"

Upon hearing this, Mangus was speechless.

The Ming army had just executed Daishan; how could he dare say he "couldn't trust him"?
Mangus chuckled awkwardly twice, then quickly stepped forward and stepped aside, saying, "Angel, you jest! We've been eagerly awaiting your reply, and I misspoke. Please forgive me! Come, let's talk inside the tent!"

Liu Xingzuo was escorted into the central command tent by the crowd.

Inside the tent, a thick tiger-skin blanket was laid out, and a copper brazier burned in the center, the warmth of the burning pine wood dispelling the chill; bows and arrows and scimitars hung on the tent walls, revealing the ruggedness of the grassland tribe.

Mangus invited Liu Xingzuo to sit on the wool cushion to the left of the main seat, while he and Ming'an and the others sat on either side. As soon as they were settled, he couldn't help but ask eagerly:
"Angel, where are the replies from the two Okens? Is the Ming Dynasty... willing to accept my Khorchin Right Wing?"

Liu Xingzuo picked up the mare's milk wine offered by the maid, but did not drink it. Instead, he slowly put down the bowl, a hint of helplessness on his face.
"The reply has indeed arrived, but it was not brought with me. Fearing that it might be lost on the way, the Shenyang authorities have temporarily stored it in the treasury. They only sent me with a verbal message and tokens to summon you and your people and announce the decree of the Great Ming."

"Stored in Shenyang?"

The three Mangus brothers exchanged glances, their eyes filled with even greater confusion.

How can a messenger deliver a "verbal message" without a reply?

Ming'an couldn't help but press further: "We...we really find the angel's words unbelievable. Without a reply as proof, the Taijis in the tribe are afraid they won't accept it!"

"You need not believe me, but you must believe the imperial edict of the Great Ming Dynasty, and this decree from the Ministry of War!"

Liu Xingzuo suddenly stood up and took out two things from his pocket.

First, there was the bright yellow cloth that Chao Hua had prepared for him, rolled up in the shape of an imperial edict, which immediately gave it a "royal air".

Secondly, there was the imperial edict bearing the vermilion seal of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty.

He held the imperial edict above his head, unfolded it, strode to the center of the tent, pointed to the large seal on the edict, and his voice suddenly rose:
"Look carefully! This is the seal of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty! If the court did not intend to accept you, why would it send me here with an imperial edict and decree?"

The eyes of everyone inside the tent were instantly drawn to the vermilion mark.

Although the grassland tribes were unfamiliar with the official system of the Central Plains, they knew the weight of the "seal". The seal was bright red and the lines were clear, which was not something that an ordinary person could forge.

In addition, there was a bright yellow imperial edict.

The crowd, who had initially been filled with doubt, gradually became serious, and even their breathing became lighter.

If there really were edicts from the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty and imperial decrees from the Ming Emperor, then Liu Xingzuo's words would have some credibility.

Seeing that everyone was intimidated, Liu Xingzuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his tone became even more authoritative:

"Mangustaiji, Buhetaiji! Immediately summon all the leaders of Khorchin to the tent!"

This envoy is about to publicly announce the 'Imperial Edict,' which concerns not only whether the Ming Dynasty will accept you, but also the rise and fall of the Khorchin tribe for the next hundred years.

"Whether we are buried with the Jurchens or enjoy wealth and luxury with the Ming Dynasty, we shall settle this today!"

Mangus and Buhe exchanged a glance, a brief exchange that seemed to convey a wealth of information.

If they could truly gain the support of the Ming Dynasty, their Khorchin tribe would be set for great success!

Mangus immediately stood up and loudly ordered towards the outside of the tent: "Pass down the order, all leaders must immediately come to the central command tent for a meeting! Tell them that the Emperor of the Great Ming has issued an imperial edict, coming to give us benefits!"

Not long after the message was sent.

The felt curtains of the central command tent were repeatedly lifted, and the leaders of the various Khorchin tribes poured in one after another, numbering more than twenty.

Mangus, Ming'an, and others, who were pro-Ming, looked solemn and occasionally gave Liu Xingzuo meaningful glances, revealing a hint of tension.

The leaders of the pro-Jiangnu faction were full of hostility, their gazes sweeping over Liu Xingzuo like knives, especially Obama standing in the crowd.

He was the core of the Khorchin left wing and had always been close to the Jurchens. At this moment, he crossed his arms and sneered, clearly not taking this "Ming envoy" seriously.

Liu Xingzuo sat upright on the wool cushion, a calm smile still on his face. His gaze slowly swept across the tent, pausing slightly when it landed on Obama, before he asked loudly:

"I've heard that Obataji of the Khorchin tribe is here? Please show yourself."

"I am Obama!"

Obama took a step forward, his tone full of disdain. He looked Liu Xingzuo up and down, and seeing that although the other man was wearing a cotton robe, he had no official robes or regalia, his contempt grew even stronger.

"So you're the envoy sent by the Ming Dynasty? With neither an imperial edict nor any ceremonial regalia, are you just here to freeload?"

Liu Xingzuo was not annoyed. Instead, he smiled and nodded, taking out the yellowed cloth from his bosom and slowly unfolding it.

"Obataiji, please calm down. This is the imperial edict of the Ming Emperor."

He glanced at everyone in the tent, his voice suddenly rising.

"You are all leaders of the Khorchin tribe. Today, in the presence of the imperial edict, please kneel down to receive it and do not be disrespectful."

Obama frowned, instinctively wanting to refuse.

He had already knelt before Nurhaci and was already filled with resentment, so how could he possibly kneel before a Ming envoy of "unknown origin" now?
But then I thought, if I could really get some benefits from the Ming Dynasty, such as special privileges in the trade market or winter provisions, kneeling down wouldn't hurt. It's just a matter of bending over backwards, and there's no need to go against the benefits.

He glanced at the pro-Jiangnu leader beside him, and seeing that everyone was also hesitating, he gritted his teeth and knelt down first: "We...receive the decree."

Seeing this, the other leaders also knelt down. The pro-Ming faction was full of expectation, while the pro-Jiangnu faction had stiff expressions. Only Obama still had a bit of arrogance. Although his knees were bent, his back did not completely collapse.

Liu Xingzuo, holding a yellow cloth, walked to the center of the tent, cleared his throat, and began to solemnly "read":
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Taiji of the Khorchin tribe are brave warriors of the grasslands, and have long maintained friendly relations with the Ming Dynasty. Now, Nurhaci of the Jurchens has rebelled, invaded Liaodong, and slaughtered the people..."

His tone was calm and his words were clear. He vividly described the "emperor's" "appreciation" and "expectations" for the Khorchin tribe, and also implied that as long as troops were sent to help the Ming, there would be a great reward afterward.

Cloth, tea, silver, and even the right to protect grasslands and pastures—each and every one of these things struck a chord with the leaders.

Everyone inside the tent listened intently, even Obama couldn't help but prick up his ears, thinking that if they could really get these benefits, it would be worth turning against the Jurchens.

But at that moment, Liu Xingzuo's eyes suddenly narrowed, and his calm smile vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling ruthlessness!

No one could see how he moved.

A flash of cold light passed by his waist, and Liu Xingzuo's right hand was already gripping a sharp short knife.

He moved like a leopard, suddenly leaping forward, his target being Obama, who was kneeling in the front row!
Obama was startled and was about to look up when a sharp pain shot through the back of his neck.

Liu Xingzuo's knife was incredibly fast and his strength was astonishing. The short knife sliced ​​across Obama's neck as easily as cutting tofu, and blood gushed out instantly, splattering all over Liu Xingzuo's face and body. Crimson blood beads slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the yellow cloth, like blooming red plum blossoms.

"Pfft!"

Obama's head slammed heavily to the ground, rolling a long way away, his eyes still wide open, filled with shock and resentment, without even having time to let out a scream.

Then, Liu Xingzu shouted, "Mangustaiji, make your move!"

Warm blood splattered onto the bodies and faces of the surrounding leaders, the scalding touch freezing everyone in place.

The deathly silence inside the tent lasted only a moment before being shattered by the chaos that erupted with a deafening explosion.

The pro-Jiangnu leaders froze on the spot, then their eyes turned bloodshot.

"You Mangus! How dare you collude with the Ming people and murder your own people! Are you trying to sell the Khorchin tribe to the Ming?!"

"Traitor! You traitor who sold out your people for personal gain!"

Another pro-Jiangnu Taiji roared and was about to rush forward to fight Mangus, but was held back by the people around him.

Mangus stood there, his face ashen.

Looking at the chaos before him, with the angry curses of the pro-Jiangnu nobles ringing in his ears, he felt a deep sense of frustration.

He never made any agreement with Liu Xingzuo to kill Obama, but Liu Xingzuo's words have nailed him to the label of "colluding with the Ming people," leaving him with no way to defend himself.

Ming An, Kong Guoer, and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, their eyes filled with panic, unsure of how to end the situation.

Just then, Liu Xingzuo's voice rang out again, exploding in everyone's ears like thunder: "Mangus Taiji, Ming'an Taiji! What are you waiting for?!"

He gripped the dagger and stepped forward.

"Today, we invited the pro-Jiangnu Taiji here, isn't it just to use the name of the Ming Dynasty to eliminate internal troubles?"
Now that Oba is dead, if you hesitate any longer, the Taiji who are close to the Jurchens will come to their senses, and the civil war in the Khorchin tribe will break out tonight!

"At that time, perhaps the Khorchin will quell its internal strife without anyone else needing to intervene!"

Liu Xingzuo's words were full of temptation:
"If we take action now and control the pro-Jiangnu Taiji, you will be the sole rulers of the Khorchin tribe!"
The Ming Dynasty will provide you with grain and cloth, and will support you in ruling the grasslands.

"By then, the Khorchin tribe will be the most powerful tribe in the southern steppes. Isn't that what you want?"

These words immediately stirred something within Mangus.

He suddenly looked up, and the hesitation in his eyes gradually faded.

Liu Xingzuo is right. Once Obama dies, even if he doesn't want to, he has no way out.

The pro-Jiangsu faction will never give up easily. They will either completely control the situation now or wait to be purged by the other side. There is no third option.

"it is good!"

Mangus suddenly drew his scimitar from his waist and shouted orders to his personal guards behind him.

"Guards! Seize all the pro-Jiangnu Taijis in the tent and imprison them on the spot! No one is allowed to resist. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes!"

The guards who had been waiting outside the tent rushed in instantly, wielding curved swords, and surrounded the leaders of the pro-Jiangnu faction.

Although the leaders of the pro-Jiangnu faction wanted to resist, they were no match for the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. In addition, Obama's death had greatly demoralized them. In no time, they were all pinned to the ground and tied up tightly with ropes. The shouts and struggles echoed in the tent, but they could no longer stir up any trouble.

Mangus, panting heavily, looked at the bound pro-Jiangnu leader, then at Liu Xingzuo, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Angel, what should we do next?"

Liu Xingzu waved his hand and wiped the blood from his face.

"The most urgent task is to take control of the military power of the various Khorchin tribes. You must immediately lead your men to the camp of the Qin Jurchen faction, take over their people, and tell those steppe warriors that the traitor Obatongjin has been executed. Those who are willing to submit will be pardoned; those who are unwilling to submit will be treated as traitors!"

Mangus nodded.

现在
Mangus had no other choice but to cling to the Ming Dynasty.

The Taijis immediately obeyed and left. The chaos inside the tent gradually subsided, leaving only the bound pro-Jiangnu leaders cursing in resentment.

Liu Xingzuo walked to the tent entrance, lifted the felt curtain, and looked at the chaotic camp outside in the night, his heart filled with boundless pride.

He still vividly remembers the story in historical records of Ban Chao abandoning his pen for the sword, beheading the Xiongnu envoy in the Western Regions, and forcing the King of Shanshan to choose sides.

today.

By falsely conveying imperial edicts, beheading Oba, and forcing the Khorchin tribe to submit to the Ming Dynasty, wasn't he doing something similar to Ban Chao?

Despite being in a dangerous situation, he relied on his courage and decisiveness to win the most important ally for the Ming Dynasty on the grasslands.

"Ban Chao was able to pacify the Western Regions back then, and I, Liu Xingzuo, can also stabilize the grasslands for the Ming Dynasty today! I will bring a surprise force to completely turn the tide of the war!"

Less than an hour.

The chaotic left wing of the Khorchin tribe, with its leaders imprisoned and left leaderless, was quickly brought under the control of Mangus and his forces.

The wind direction in the Khorchin region changed completely that night.

Neither Xiong Tingbi nor Nurhaci, far away in the Red River Valley, would know this.

A formidable force from the grasslands will soon be speeding towards the Red River Valley.

This is a game-changing weapon!
ps:
7100 big chapters!

(End of this chapter)