Huangming

Chapter 389 Undercurrents of Border Troubles, His Majesty's Wiseness

November 25th, the first year of the Tianqi reign.

Kaiyuan City was enveloped by a continuous heavy snowfall.

Snowflakes, as white as goose feathers, poured down from the leaden sky, landing on the broken city walls, the frozen moat, and on the rooftops of newly built houses in the streets and alleys. In just ten days, the snow piled up on the roads was already more than half a person high.

Every day before dawn, snow-clearing teams composed of laborers and soldiers would carry shovels and push snow carts to clear the snow from the official roads.

If the supply lines are not cleared in time, the transport of provisions and the transmission of military intelligence will come to a standstill, and this newly recaptured city will be completely isolated from the outside world in the dead of winter.

"This year's snow is more than twice as heavy as in previous years."

Xiong Tingbi stood under the corridor of the governor's mansion, gazing at the swirling snowflakes, his brow furrowed.

He recalled the heavy rains in Liaodong a few months ago, which lasted for half a month and caused the Liao River to swell so much that it almost breached the dikes in Fushun.

Meanwhile, reports came from Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Shandong that "there has been no rain for months, and the fields are cracked and parched."

On one hand, there is the threat of flooding, and on the other hand, there is the disaster of drought. Such extreme weather is exactly the same as the natural disaster of the "Little Ice Age" that His Majesty mentioned in his secret letter.

“Natural disasters are merciless. If human governance doesn’t keep up, the people won’t even be able to fill their stomachs, and they might rise up in rebellion.”

Xiong Tingbi muttered to himself, his resolve to "establish local farms and stabilize people's livelihoods" growing stronger.

When Kaiyuan was first recovered, less than one in ten people remained in the city. Although some refugees have returned, most of them are short of food and clothing. If we cannot provide them with a way to survive in the cold winter, even if we drive out the Jurchens, we will find it difficult to defend this city.

Just as he was pondering, a commotion arose outside the governor's mansion.

Following the sound, Xiong Tingbi saw dozens of Ming soldiers leading cattle and sheep, haggling with merchants at the temporary market outside the city.

"This ox is worth at least five taels of silver! You're only offering four taels, isn't that bullying?"

A young soldier, his face flushed, clung tightly to the cow rope, refusing to let go.

The traveling merchant beside him smiled and waved his hand:

"Young man, it's not that I'm trying to lower the price, but the whole city is selling cattle and sheep now. Your cow may be fat, but it won't sell for more than five taels."

"Alright, I'll add another two hundred cash, four ounces and two taels. If you agree, we can settle the transaction now."

The soldier hesitated for a moment, glanced back at his companions who were also leading cattle and sheep, and finally gritted his teeth:
"Alright! Four taels and two cents it is, but you have to pay in cash, not IOUs!"

Such scenes of bargaining are common at temporary markets.

These cattle and sheep were not spoils of war that the soldiers had hoarded, but rather gifts bestowed upon them by Xiong Tingbi.

The soldiers made great contributions in the three battles of Honghe Valley, Tieling, and Kaiyuan, but the imperial reward money was delayed in reaching Liaodong due to transportation difficulties.

In order to stabilize the morale of the army, Xiong Tingbi decided to "reward with goods" and distribute the captured Jurchen cattle, sheep and livestock to the soldiers according to the military merit list, which was converted into part of the reward money.

"The soldiers shed blood and sweat; we can't let them lose heart."

Xiong Tingbi thought to himself.

"The imperial court's reward will arrive sooner or later, but right now it's the dead of winter, so giving them something tangible is better than just waiting for promises."

He also gave the soldiers a choice:

If you do not wish to have cattle or sheep, you can register them and receive the full amount of silver from the imperial court once it arrives.

If you prefer cattle or sheep, you can choose "half silver, half food".

Half of the reward money was converted into cattle and sheep, and the other half was allocated by the imperial court.

Ultimately, most soldiers chose the latter.

Having experienced the hardship of delayed pay and wages, they believe even more strongly that "only what you have in your hands is real."

No one knew how long it would take to receive the imperial reward, but a cow or a few sheep could be slaughtered immediately for meat to replenish their nutrition, or sold to traveling merchants for cash to send to relatives far away in their hometown.

But problems also arise.

Tens of thousands of soldiers sold cattle and sheep at the same time, leading to an oversupply in the market and a continuous drop in the price of cattle and sheep.

At first, a strong ox could be sold for five taels of silver, but within three days, the price dropped to four taels. Some merchants even took the opportunity to lower the price to three and a half taels.

The soldiers were dissatisfied, but they had no other choice.

Cattle and sheep are difficult to raise in the cold winter, and they have no experience in raising them. If they don't sell them, they will freeze to death and their value will be greatly reduced.

Upon learning of this, Xiong Tingbi immediately ordered an intervention.

He first set a "bottom price" for cattle and sheep:
A strong ox must be purchased at a price no less than 4.5 taels, a fat ox at a price no less than 4 taels, and a sheep at a price no less than 5 mace. If any merchant dares to purchase below this price, they will be treated as "hoarding and speculation" and all their goods will be confiscated.

He then sent a message to the imperial merchants in the capital, instructing them to send men with cash to Kaiyuan to purchase the cattle and sheep held by the soldiers.

Backed by the imperial court, the imperial merchants had abundant funds and could not only purchase goods at the bottom price but also pay in cash on the spot, which greatly alleviated the soldiers' predicament.

At the same time, this was also Xiong Tingbi sharing the emperor's burdens.

after all
This resounding victory has resulted in an astronomical reward.

If we can save His Majesty some money, then let's save some.

The imperial merchants were the emperor's men, and the money they earned went directly into the imperial treasury.

Xiong Tingbi claimed to be ignorant of officialdom, but he certainly understood human relationships and social dynamics.

They directly bribed the emperor with money.

Furthermore, Xiong Tingbi's act of distributing rewards ahead of time not only did not demoralize the troops, but also made the soldiers deeply grateful to him.

"Thank you so much, General! If it weren't for the rules you set, we cattle and sheep would have been ripped off by the merchants!"

An old soldier who had just sold his cattle, carrying a heavy sum of silver, made a special trip to the governor's mansion to express his gratitude, his face full of thanks.

Xiong Tingbi stood under the eaves, waved to the veteran, and said in a gentle tone:
"This is what you deserve. Take good care of the money. If you miss home, send some back; if you don't want to send any, don't spend it recklessly. In the cold winter, buy more cotton clothes and food. Taking care of your health is the most important thing."

The veteran nodded heavily and turned to blend into the crowd at the market.

Xiong Tingbi watched his retreating figure, then looked at the swirling snowflakes, and felt a little more at ease.

Stabilizing morale was only the first step. Next, they had to organize the people to reclaim wasteland and repair houses, deal with possible counterattacks from the Jurchens and disturbances from the Mongol tribes, and fight for a way out for the people of Kaiyuan and Liaodong during the natural disasters of the "Little Ice Age".

The sounds of the market still faintly drifted into the governor's mansion. A path had just been cleared of snow from the eaves when a soldier in armor rushed over, wading through the puddles, and knelt urgently on one knee before Xiong Tingbi.
"Reporting to the General, the sentry post outside the city reports that the Jurchens have sent an envoy who claims to be on the orders of Huang Taiji to request an audience with you!"

"An envoy from the Jurchens?"

Xiong Tingbi paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, as he gripped the pillar.

He looked down at the ankle-deep snow on the ground and recalled the message sent back by the scouts more than ten days ago.

Huang Taiji had just succeeded to the throne in Hetu Ala and was busy reorganizing the internal affairs. Logically speaking, the Jurchens should have been busy stabilizing the people's hearts at this time, rather than taking the initiative to send envoys to Kaiyuan.

"Huang Taiji has only just declared himself Khan, yet he hastily sent an envoy. Could it be that he intends to issue a declaration of war, declaring a decisive battle with our Great Ming?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a hearty laugh came from behind him.

Lieutenant Ma Shilong strode over, his face full of disdain:

“General, you are overthinking it! Nurhaci raised his army with the ‘Seven Grievances’ back then, but now Huang Taiji’s father and brothers are all dead, and even his wife has become His Majesty’s woman.”

In my humble opinion, he's probably trying to gather up a list of "Nine Great Grievances" to bolster his courage!

But even if he dares to issue a challenge, so what?
"We've captured Fushun, Tieling, and Kaiyuan in quick succession, and our soldiers' morale is high. If he dares to come, we'll just be able to slay another of his generals!"

"Military Advisor Ma is right!"

Lieutenant General He Gang also came over, his tone carrying a hint of contempt.

“Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare to actually issue a challenge! Now our Great Ming is strong and well-equipped, and Hetu Ala is just an isolated city. It’s hard to say whether Huang Taiji can even defend it, so how can he have the confidence to provoke us?”

In my humble opinion, this envoy has most likely come with ill intentions and is trying to stall for time.

General Li Bingcheng of Fengji Fort's eyes flickered, but he said:

"I think the Jurchen chieftain can't hold on any longer! After this great defeat, the Jurchens have lost all their elite troops and are short of food. I'm afraid they won't even be able to gather enough food for the winter."

Sending an envoy at this time might be a ploy to feign surrender, trick them into giving up some provisions, and then turn around and bite them back in the spring.

We've seen this kind of trick countless times!

The generals and officers under his command spoke one after another, their words filled with contempt for the Jurchens.

Since the Battle of Red River Valley, Zhu Wanliang had killed Nurhaci outside Hetu Ala and subsequently recovered Tieling and Kaiyuan. The Ming soldiers had long since lost their former fear of the Jurchens.

The winning streak was like a raging fire, igniting the confidence in everyone's hearts, and even adding a bit of disdain for Huang Taiji, who had just succeeded to the throne.

In their eyes, the Jurchens who had lost Nurhaci were nothing more than a pack of stray dogs, not worth fearing at all.

Xiong Tingbi listened to the crowd's discussion but did not respond.

He looked up in the direction of Hetu Ala, his brows furrowing even more deeply.

He recalled the Emperor's special instructions in the secret letter:
"Huang Taiji is a man of deep cunning and ruthless methods, far surpassing Nurhaci. He may seem reckless, but every step he takes is calculated. The generals of Liaodong must remember this and not underestimate him because of his recent defeat, or they will surely suffer the consequences."

Is Huang Taiji truly as Your Majesty describes?

Xiong Tingbi didn't know the details, but he did understand one principle:
The more favorable the situation seems, the more vigilant we should be.

Arrogant soldiers will be defeated!

His generals' disdain was understandable, but he could not underestimate the Jurchens.

What did His Majesty say again?

Strategically underestimate the enemy, but tactically take them seriously!
Thinking of this moment, he turned to his personal guards and gave the order:

"Pass on my order to take the Jurchen envoy to the White Tiger Hall, keep a close watch on him along the way, and forbid him from talking to anyone."

Furthermore, have Lieutenant General Ma, Lieutenant General He, General Li, and Mr. Zhou all wait at the White Tiger Hall.

"Yes!"

The guards obeyed and left.

Half an hour later.

The atmosphere inside the White Tiger Hall was solemn.

Xiong Tingbi sat in the main seat, with a map of Liaodong spread out on the table in front of him. On either side of him sat generals such as Ma Shilong, He Gang, and Li Bingcheng. His strategist, Zhou Wenhuan, stood beside Xiong Tingbi, his sharp eyes fixed on the door of the hall.

With a creak, the hall door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man dressed in Jurchen clothing walked in slowly, escorted by guards.

He was of medium height and had a sallow complexion. Although his fox fur coat was luxurious, it was covered in snow water, indicating that he had been traveling in a hurry.

This man was none other than Tulun, the son of Shurhaci, who was sent by Huang Taiji as an envoy.

As soon as Turen stepped into the hall, he felt dozens of sharp gazes fall on him.

Ma Shilong's eyes were filled with murderous intent, He Gang's lips curled into a cold smile, and Li Bingcheng scrutinized him from head to toe, as if trying to see right through him.

The hostility and contempt in that gaze were like a cold winter wind, making Turen shiver involuntarily, and fine beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.

Call ~
He exhaled a breath of stale air, composed himself, and strode into the hall, bowing respectfully to Xiong Tingbi, who sat in the main seat.

"Emperor Aisin Gioro Tulun of the Great Jin Dynasty pays respects to the Grand Coordinator of Liaodong of the Great Ming Dynasty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Xiong Tingbi held his teacup, slowly blowing away the foam, without even lifting his eyelids.

Zhou Wenhuan, standing to the side, spoke first, his tone icy:

"Great Jin? It's nothing but the Jianzhou Jurchen tribe. How dare you call yourselves 'Great Jin'? Before my Great Ming, it's not your place to establish your own country!"

Tulun felt a pang of anxiety, realizing he had said the wrong thing.

He dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction and quickly corrected himself, bowing even lower: "Yes, it was the envoy who misspoke. Tulun, the envoy of the Jianzhou Jurchens, pays his respects to the Grand Coordinator!"

Only then did Xiong Tingbi slowly put down his teacup, his gaze falling on Tulun, and he spoke:
"Get up. Tell me, what is Huang Taiji's purpose in sending you here?"

Feeling the murderous gazes from within the hall, Turen took a deep breath before speaking in a trembling voice:
"My Great Khan sent me here primarily to represent the Jianzhou Jurchens and request surrender to the Ming Dynasty!"

"Surrender?"

These two words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples throughout the White Tiger Hall.

Ma Shilong was taken aback at first, then slapped his thigh and burst out laughing:
"I knew it! Huang Taiji couldn't hold on any longer! Without Nurhaci, he's just a headless fly. What other way out can he have but to surrender?"

He Gang also breathed a sigh of relief, his tone tinged with smugness:

"That's for the best! It saves us the trouble of trekking through mountains and rivers to fight Hetu Ala, and it also reduces the number of brothers we have to sacrifice."

However, surrendering is not a simple matter. Their so-called "Great Jin" state name must be abolished, and the army must be downsized, with at most a few thousand people left to guard the pastures.

Those beasts who burned, killed, and looted in Liaodong must be handed over to us for punishment; otherwise, their surrender would be too lenient!

"General He is right!"

Li Bingcheng echoed, "And all the Han Chinese civilians who were abducted by them should also be released."

Furthermore, a portion of their cattle, sheep, and grain should also be used to compensate the people of Liaodong for their losses!

The generals started talking amongst themselves, and the discussion grew louder and louder.

Some were planning how to handle the surrender, some were remarking on the impending end of the war, and others were whispering about whether to take the opportunity to demand more benefits. The entire White Tiger Hall instantly became as lively as a marketplace.

"Quiet down, everyone!"

Xiong Tingbi suddenly raised his hand, instantly silencing the noise in the hall.

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Turen, who was still standing with his head bowed, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Tulun, is Huang Taiji truly surrendering, or is he using a feigned surrender as a tactic to buy time?"

"If you tell me the truth, I can give you wealth and honor, and in the future, I will let you rule over the Jianzhou Jurchens!"

This question plunged the hall into dead silence once again.

All eyes were on Turen, and everyone subconsciously held their breath.

Tu Lun felt a chill run down his spine under Xiong Tingbi's gaze. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, his legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice filled with obvious fear:
"My lord, you are wise! My Khan has no intention whatsoever of feigning surrender; he truly wishes to surrender to the Ming Dynasty!"

He kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the cold ground with a dull thud, and continued:
"Since the beginning of spring this year, our Jianzhou Jurchens have suffered a series of major defeats."

The Battle of Fushun resulted in heavy losses, the Khan died in the Battle of Honghe Valley, and Tieling and Kaiyuan were recovered by the Ming Dynasty.

Now, the number of capable warriors in the Eight Banners is less than 10,000. The Mongol tribes that had previously submitted to the Eight Banners have long since scattered and fled when they saw the situation was not good. Even the Han people in the Han Banners are in a state of panic, and many have secretly fled to Fushun.

My Khan understands that if we continue to resist, the Jianzhou Jurchens will disintegrate on their own without the Ming Dynasty even needing to send troops. At that point, everyone will face certain death. It's better to surrender to the Ming Dynasty; at least then, we can secure a way for our people to survive!

Tulun spoke with tears streaming down his face, even managing to squeeze out a few tears, and lay on the ground trembling, looking utterly pitiful.

As for Xiong Tingbi's claim that he would be given control of the Jianzhou Jurchens if he told the "truth," he didn't believe a word of it.

But Xiong Tingbi remained vigilant. He slowly stood up, walked to Tulun, looked down at him, and spoke in a cold tone:

"Since he is truly surrendering, has Huang Taiji forgotten that Nurhaci died at the hands of our Great Ming, and Daišan also died in battle under the swords of the Ming army? Doesn't he want to avenge the murder of his father and brother?"

Turen lay on the ground, swallowing hard, his heart pounding wildly.

He knew that if he didn't answer this question well, all the groundwork he had laid would be for nothing.

He composed himself, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness, yet deliberately tinged with bitterness:

"My lord, on the battlefield, life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by heaven."

The Khan and the Great Prince died in battle, and my Great Khan was naturally grieved and wanted to avenge them.

But the situation is different now. The Jianzhou Jurchens are no longer the Jianzhou Jurchens who could contend with the Ming Dynasty. They are struggling to survive, let alone take revenge.
"My Great Khan suppressed his hatred and chose to surrender to the Ming Dynasty for the sake of his people!" These words neither denied Huang Taiji's hatred nor explained why he "gave up revenge."

Xiong Tingbi stared at the back of Tulun's head, his brows furrowing slightly, a thought forming in his mind:
If Tulun had said that Huang Taiji had completely given up on revenge, he would have certainly believed it was a feigned surrender.

After all, the hatred of killing one's father and brother is not something that can be easily let go; but Tulun's words now, admitting that Huang Taiji harbored hatred but was "forced" to surrender due to insufficient strength, made him somewhat hesitant.

He secretly plotted:
If Huang Taiji truly chose to surrender because he was powerless to resist, it wouldn't be unacceptable.

After all, to conquer Hetu Ala, the Ming army needed to cross snow-capped mountains and traverse dense forests, which not only consumed a lot of food and money, but also cost the lives of many soldiers.

If the Jianzhou Jurchens could be subdued without bloodshed, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for the Ming Dynasty.

But His Majesty's admonition echoed in my ears again.

Huang Taiji was far more cunning than Nurhaci.

Could it be that he deliberately feigned weakness, trying to lull the Ming army into complacency by surrendering, so that he could take the opportunity to recover his strength and then turn against them?
Tulun noticed Xiong Tingbi's hesitation and immediately said:

"As long as the Duke of Jinglue is willing to cease his invasion of Hetu Ala, our Great Jin Jianzhou Jurchen will absolutely not cross Fushun Pass to invade Liaodong!"

Although Tulun was still flustered, he knew he couldn't show weakness at this crucial moment.

He took a deep breath, slowly pulled out a scroll wrapped in bright yellow silk from his robes, held it high with both hands, and spoke with increasing respect:
"My lord, you are wise enough to see that my Great Khan has personally written a letter of surrender to show his sincerity in surrendering. Please take a look!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a guard stepped forward, took the surrender document from Tulun's hand, carefully checked it, and after confirming that there were no foreign objects hidden in it, turned around and handed it to Xiong Tingbi, who was sitting in the main seat.

Xiong Tingbi accepted the surrender document, but his gaze never left Tulun's face.

He tried to catch a trace of panic or pretense in the other person's expression.

But Tulun kept his head down and his shoulders slightly hunched, appearing submissive and "at the mercy of others," leaving no room for doubt.

Xiong Tingbi slowly unfolded the surrender document, on which were neatly written lines of blood-red characters in Chinese.

The opening line reads, "Huang Taiji, leader of the Jianzhou Jurchens, respectfully bows in blood to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty and Lord Xiong, the Liaodong Military Commissioner," expressing extreme humility.

In the main text, Huang Taiji not only admitted that "Jianzhou has long offended the imperial majesty and repeatedly disturbed Liaodong, deserving to die ten thousand times," but also promised to "abolish the name of 'Great Jin' and become a vassal state of the Great Ming forever."

What surprised Xiong Tingbi even more was that the surrender document explicitly stated that "more than 3,000 Han people who had been abducted over the years should be released immediately and placed under the control of the Ming Dynasty."

He even volunteered, saying, "Huang Taiji is willing to go to Fushun in person to meet with the Grand Marshal, apologize in person, and discuss the details of the surrender."

Between the lines, there is a sincere intention to "submit and submit," and even the wording is cautious, as if afraid of displeasing the Ming Dynasty.

Xiong Tingbi repeatedly flipped through the surrender document, his hands and eyes becoming increasingly darting.

This reduction in the quotation was too "perfect," so perfect that it felt unreal to him.

But he quickly calmed down, his gaze sweeping across the snow falling outside the window, and he thought of the tired expressions on the faces of his soldiers.

After days of fighting, the soldiers were exhausted, both physically and mentally. Now, in the dead of winter, heavy snow blocked the mountains, making the transport of supplies difficult. The soldiers were all hoping for rewards from the imperial court and were simply not in a position to go out of the city to launch a distant expedition to Hetu Ala.

Even if we were to wage war, we would have to wait until the snow melted in the spring and we had enough food and supplies.

'Since that's the case, why not see Huang Taiji's sincerity?'

Xiong Tingbi secretly pondered: 'If Huang Taiji is truly sincere in surrendering, sending him to Fushun to apologize will allow me to keep him firmly under my control and eliminate the major threat to Liaodong in one fell swoop.'

If he's feigning surrender, as long as I make preparations beforehand, strengthen the defenses of Fushun, and send people to closely monitor Hetu Ala's movements, I'm not afraid he can cause any trouble.

Thinking of this, Xiong Tingbi slammed the surrender document shut, his voice ringing out loudly in the silent White Tiger Hall:
"Very well! I will trust Huang Taiji this once! Within ten days, I will have Huang Taiji come to Fushun City in person to apologize and discuss the terms of surrender!"

If he arrives on time, the Ming Dynasty will spare his life; if he dares not come, or tries any tricks, don't blame this general for leading his army to raze Hetu Ala to the ground!

Surrender is certainly not something that can be done casually.

You, Huang Taiji, should sign several more humiliating treaties that strip the country of its sovereignty!

Upon hearing this, Turen felt a sense of relief, and his tense body relaxed slightly.

He quickly looked up, a relieved expression on his face.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, General! The envoy will immediately return to Hetu Ala and report to my Khan, who will surely order him to come to Fushun to apologize within ten days!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Xiong Tingbi again. When he stood up, he quickly glanced at the generals in the White Tiger Hall. Seeing that although they still had doubts, they did not raise any objections, which reassured him.

His purpose in this trip was not to truly convince Xiong Tingbi of his sincerity in surrendering, but to buy time and keep the Ming army's attention firmly focused on the "surrender" matter, thus creating a valuable opportunity for the Jin Dynasty to attack the Khorchin tribe.

In retrospect, this task has been successfully completed.

"The envoy takes his leave!"

As soon as Tu Lun's figure disappeared outside the White Tiger Hall, Xiong Tingbi's brows furrowed into a knot.

The unease that had been suppressed earlier surged up like a tidal wave.

His right eyelid was still twitching wildly. That familiar feeling of palpitation was an intuition he had developed over many years of leading troops in battle, which often foreshadowed potential crises.

"I have a feeling that this matter is probably not that simple."

He whispered to himself.

The humble words on the letter of humility still echoed in his mind, but the more "perfect" the sincerity, the more uneasy he felt.

If Huang Taiji was truly as "disunited and powerless to resist" as he claimed in his surrender document, why did he bother to restore morale and do so many useless things in Hetu Ala?

"Somebody come!"

Xiong Tingbi turned around abruptly and summoned his personal guards.

The guard stepped forward quickly: "Your subordinate is here!"

"Issue my order to immediately dispatch more scouts towards Hetu Ala."

Not only should more patrols be deployed, but the frequency of patrols should also be increased from once a day to twice a day, morning and evening. It is imperative to ascertain the movements of the Jurchens, including even their movement of provisions and the increase or decrease of sentry posts; everything must be recorded and reported to this military governor daily!

Xiong Tingbi paused, then added, "In addition, have scouts keep a close watch on the border between the Jurchens and the Khorchin tribe. If any unusual activity is discovered, report it immediately!"

"Yes! This subordinate will make the arrangements immediately!"

The guard accepted the order, turned around, and strode away.

Xiong Tingbi still felt uneasy and then thought of another person.

Buhe Taiji of the Khorchin tribe.

Now, the Khorchin tribe borders the Jurchens and has recently taken in many Mongol soldiers who had fled from the Jurchens. They must know more about the situation in Hetu Ala than the Ming army.

"Go and invite Buhe Taiji here again, and tell him that I, the strategist, have some border matters to discuss."

Xiong Tingbi gave instructions to another guard.

About half an hour later.

Buhe's figure appeared at the entrance of the White Tiger Hall.

Unlike in the past, today Buhe was wearing a Mongolian brocade robe with gold trim and a jade belt bestowed by the Ming court around his waist. His gait was less humble and more arrogant than before.

He entered the hall, glanced at the Ming generals on both sides, and then bowed slightly to Xiong Tingbi, saying in a calm voice, "Buhe greets the Commander-in-Chief."

The posture, though still considered a bow, lacked the usual deference; even the head was slightly raised, carrying a sense of superiority befitting royalty.

Xiong Tingbi frowned slightly.

He noticed the changes in Buhe and remained secretly vigilant, but he didn't point it out.

Now that the Ming Dynasty needs the Khorchin tribe to restrain the Jurchens and control the grasslands, it is inconvenient to argue with them over such a trivial matter.

He gestured to the seats below the hall: "Please sit, Your Excellency. I have summoned you here today to inquire about something."

After Buhe sat down, he picked up the green tea offered by his guards, gently blew away the foam, and then slowly asked:
"Please do not hesitate to speak if you have any orders, General."

"Just now, Huang Taiji sent an envoy to Kaiyuan to request surrender and submit a letter of surrender."

Xiong Tingbi cut to the chase, his gaze fixed on Buhe, and asked:
"I would like to ask Taiji, based on your understanding of the Jurchens, how likely is there that his surrender is genuine?"

Buhe paused, a hint of surprise on his face, then lowered his head, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his brocade robe, as if deep in thought.

After a moment, he raised his head and said with certainty, "I think it's probably true."

"Oh? How do you know?" Xiong Tingbi pressed.

Buhe put down his teacup and slowly said:
"Understood by the General, the chaos in Hetu Ala has never ceased since Nurhaci's death in battle."

My Khorchin tribe has been receiving people who have escaped from the Jurchens every day recently.

There were soldiers from Mongol tribes, Han Chinese who had been captured, and even many Jurchen civilians.

They all say that the Jurchen granaries are mostly empty, nearly half of the Eight Banners soldiers have deserted, and even Huang Taiji himself is reducing the palace's expenses.

"Now that the Ming Dynasty's military might is at its peak, Huang Taiji has neither troops nor supplies. What other option does he have but to surrender?"

He spoke with great conviction, even mentioning the refugees who had recently fled, as if it were true.

Xiong Tingbi's eyes flickered, but he did not fully agree:

“What Taiji said may be reasonable, but His Majesty once mentioned in a secret letter that Huang Taiji is a very shrewd and calculating person, unlike Nurhaci.”

This strategist believes that even if the Jurchens are truly weakened, we cannot let our guard down.

Your Khorchin tribe borders the Jurchens, so you must remain vigilant and increase the number of sentries. Do not underestimate them and fall into their trap.

"Rest assured, General, Buhe is satisfied."

Buhe responded respectfully, but a hint of disapproval flashed in his eyes.

The Khorchin tribe of today is no longer the small tribe it once was.

Taking advantage of his status as a member of the imperial family, he received continuous rewards from the Ming court and also took in the scattered members of the Chahar tribe and the soldiers who had fled from the Jurchens.

Today, the Khorchin army has grown to over 30,000, its grasslands have tripled, and surrounding small tribes have flocked to join it. After the decline of the Chahar tribe, the Khorchin is probably the most powerful force in the southern steppe.

Huang Taiji was just a nobody, with only a few thousand remaining soldiers. He could barely hold onto Hetu Ala. What kind of trouble could he possibly stir up?
What Buhe was thinking about was no longer "preventing the Jurchens," but how to further expand his power with the support of the Ming Dynasty, and when the time was right, break free from the control of the Ming Dynasty and become the common ruler of the grasslands like Genghis Khan did.

He picked up the teacup, took another sip, and silently calculated in his mind:

The Ming Dynasty now needs the Khorchin to restrain the Jurchens. As long as they outwardly submit and do not openly oppose the Ming Dynasty, the Ming court will not take action against the Khorchin.

If Huang Taiji had truly surrendered, the weakened Jianzhou Jurchens would certainly not have been a match for the Khorchin tribe.

If Huang Taiji's surrender was a ruse and he was defeated by the Ming Dynasty, then there would be no force on the grasslands capable of contending with the Khorchin.

Regardless, the rules of the grasslands should be set by the Khorchin tribe, the Marquis of Kaichun.

Xiong Tingbi looked at Buhe's outwardly respectful but actually absent-minded appearance and felt a sense of unease.

Although he couldn't fathom Buhe's true intentions, he could sense that the "father-in-law of the emperor" was growing in ambition.

However, given the current complex situation, he could only temporarily suppress his doubts, gave a few more instructions to "take strict precautions," and then let Buhe leave.

"In that case, Buhe will take his leave!"

Xiong Tingbi watched Buhe's departing figure with a furrowed brow.

As His Majesty said, the nature of the grassland tribes has always been "to be subservient to the weak and to turn against the strong when they are weak."

Even if they are given the honor of being the "father-in-law of the emperor" and the rewards of grain and silk, once their power grows, they will develop the ambition to break free from control. They are truly ungrateful wretches.

"It seems that His Majesty's policy of 'removing bones, changing minds, and cutting off pathways' to govern the grasslands is the key to long-term stability."

Xiong Tingbi sighed softly.

Although he had previously agreed with His Majesty's strategy, he still harbored some thoughts of "using kindness and righteousness to influence" him. But after seeing Buhe's ambition today, he finally understood.

For the grassland tribes, appeasement and checks and balances alone are far from enough. Only by dismantling their power at its root, reshaping their perceptions, and cutting off their escape routes can the grasslands truly become a shield for the Ming Dynasty, rather than a threat.

He walked up to the map, his eyes gradually hardening.

Regardless of whether Huang Taiji's surrender was genuine or feigned, and regardless of Buhe's ambitions, he had to be fully prepared.

Send more scouts, strengthen city defenses, and enforce military discipline. If the Jurchens make any moves after spring, wipe them out in one fell swoop.

If the Khorchin tribe dares to harbor disloyal intentions, sufficient strength is needed to suppress them.

at the same time.

Hetu Ala.

Tulun rode back from Kaiyuan at top speed.

After that, the journey was unimpeded, and they entered the council chamber of the Hetu Ala Palace.

As soon as he stepped into the council hall, he saw Huang Taiji standing in front of the map, his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the mark of "Khorchin Tribe", his expression full of anxiety.

"Sweat!"

Turen quickly stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"Your servant is back!"

Huang Taiji turned around abruptly, a hint of urgency flashing in his eyes, and strode over to him, reaching out to help him up:
"What was the result? Did Xiong Tingbi believe the surrender document you brought? Did he realize the Khan's intentions?"

Turen shook his head, took a breath, and quickly reported:
"Your Majesty, Xiong Tingbi is an extremely vigilant man. He did not fully believe the surrender and repeatedly questioned whether you were lying."

But… this servant carefully observed his expression; he seemed to only doubt the authenticity of the surrender document, not realizing that Your Majesty intended to take this opportunity to send troops to Khorchin!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Huang Taiji said "good" three times in a row, his tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and a long-lost smile appeared on his face.

He raised his hand and patted Turen on the shoulder, his tone full of approval:

"Well done! As long as Xiong Tingbi doesn't consider sending troops, our plan is half successful!"

He walked to the table, picked up a wolf-hair brush, and circled the core pasture of the "Khorchin Tribe" on the map, his eyes gradually hardening with murderous intent.

"There are many Ming Dynasty spies hiding in Hetu Ala City. They think they can spy on my movements, but little do they know that they have become our tools for spreading false information."

"Go and spread the word now that I am grateful for the kindness of the Ming Dynasty and have decided to personally lead my cattle, sheep and slaves to Fushun to apologize in five days. At that time, I will also formally abolish the name of the 'Great Jin' in front of Xiong Tingbi."

"The Khan is wise!"

Tulun bowed in response, instantly understanding Huang Taiji's intention.

Once this false news spreads, those Ming insiders will immediately report it to Xiong Tingbi, causing the Ming army to completely lower their guard against the Jurchens and believe that the Great Khan is really going to surrender. They will never expect that they will launch a surprise attack on Khorchin at this time.

"This servant will take care of it immediately!"

After Turen left.

A flame of revenge gradually ignited in Huang Taiji's eyes.

Xiong Tingbi, Zhu Wanliang...

You beheaded my father and killed my brother. I will avenge this blood feud sooner or later!

But for now, let's take the grain, fodder, cattle, and sheep from Khorchin first.

Once we plunder Khorchin and replenish our troops and supplies, the Great Jin will be able to recover most of its strength. At that time, I will lead the Eight Banners warriors to fight you again!
My deep-seated hatred for the Jin Dynasty!
I, Huang Taiji, will report this!

PS:

Another long chapter!

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(End of this chapter)