Huangming

Chapter 391 A Life of Debauchery and Schemes

The harsh winter of the southern grasslands blankets the pastures of Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner with a thick layer of silver.

This land, once occupied by the Jurchens and now returned to Khorchin, is bustling with activity at this moment.

The rows of yurts, like white mushrooms, dot the vast snowfield. Countless cattle and sheep leave messy hoofprints around the tents, and the occasional bark of a shepherd dog carries far in the cold wind.

A small portion of these cattle and sheep were originally owned by the Khorchin tribe, while the majority were "spoils of war" received from the Chahar tribe.

After Ligdan Khan was defeated by Nurhaci in Kaiyuan, the Chahar tribe scattered, and nearly half of the herdsmen took their cattle and sheep to Khorchin.

After all, the Khorchin were now a "favorite" in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty. They not only had a marriage alliance with the Ming royal family, but also received support from the court. Following the Khorchin was better than wandering on the grasslands and being plundered by the Jurchens.

This is why the leaders of the Khorchin tribe have recently become immersed in the fantasy of being the overlords of the grasslands, and have long lost their former vigilance.

A few days ago.

When the Ming Dynasty's delegation arrived at the Horqin Grassland, they not only formally conferred the title of "Shunli King" upon the tribal leader Mangustaiji, but also brought dozens of cartloads of gifts.

There were jars of fine wine, tightly compressed green brick tea, brightly colored silk from Jiangnan, and even a few fine horses from the Western Regions.

At the victory banquet, Mangus, holding a silver bowl filled with fine wine, drunkenly shouted to his followers.

"With the Ming Dynasty backing us up, and with Zhe Zhe and Hai Lan Zhu whispering sweet nothings in the emperor's ear!"

"What is Ligdan Khan? What is Huang Taiji? From now on, this southern grassland will belong to our Khorchin!"

These words drew enthusiastic responses from the leaders inside the tent, and for a moment, toasts, cheers, and laughter mingled together.

The people of the grasslands have a long tradition of drinking, and now that they have received the fine wine bestowed by the Ming Dynasty, they cherish it as if it were a treasure, holding banquets every day and reveling every night.

Mangus leaned back on a couch covered with tiger skin, holding a beautiful woman he had captured from the Chahar tribe in his arms. She was wearing a silk dress bestowed by the Ming Dynasty, and her face showed a hint of fear, but she dared not resist.

Mangus gulped down his wine, then casually tossed a piece of golden-brown roasted mutton into his mouth, mumbling indistinctly:

"Fill my cup again! This wine from the Ming Dynasty is much stronger than the mare's milk wine from our grasslands!"

A chieftain nearby quickly picked up a wine jar, filled Mangus's silver bowl, and said with a fawning smile:
"Your Majesty is right! Now we have the rewards of the Ming Dynasty and the cattle and sheep of Chahar. Our future will only get better and better!"
"When spring comes, we'll conquer a few more small tribes. Then, even the people of the northern deserts will have to listen to us!"

"Hahaha! Well said!"

Mangus laughed loudly, drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp, threw the empty bowl on the ground, then hugged the beauty and kissed her on the cheek.

"Come, have another drink with me! We won't leave until we're drunk!"

The others inside the tent also found their own enjoyment.

Some frolicked with beauties, some played drinking games, and some played with the silk in their hands, discussing how to give these "rare items" to other tribes on the grassland and show off the glory of Khorchin.

Inside a smaller yurt, several young herders were gathered around a campfire, drinking and singing songs of the grasslands.

One of the herdsmen put down his wine bowl and said with some worry, "The chieftains drink every day and have even removed most of the sentry posts. What if the Jurchens suddenly attack?"

But someone next to him patted him on the shoulder and said nonchalantly:

"What are you afraid of? We have the Ming Dynasty backing us up, who would dare to cause trouble?"

Lindan Khan is now a stray dog!
The Jianzhou Jurchens have just suffered a defeat, and Huang Taiji can barely hold onto Hetu Ala. How dare they provoke us?
Besides, with such heavy snow, even if they wanted to come, they wouldn't be able to walk!

"that is!"

Another person chimed in, "We're now relatives of the emperor, and the Ming army is right here in Kaiyuan. As long as we send a message, the Ming army will come to our aid immediately! Don't worry, drink up, nothing will happen!"

Hearing this, the worried herdsman gradually calmed down, picked up his wine bowl again, and joined the jubilant crowd.

The entire grassland of Horqin Left Rear Banner was immersed in this "peaceful" revelry.

The chieftains were intoxicated by the Ming Dynasty's favor and the hegemony of the grasslands, while the herdsmen enjoyed a rare period of food and comfort. No one realized that a catastrophic disaster was quietly approaching this enchanting grassland with the howling cold wind.

time flies.

The sun set very quickly.

The grassland was plunged into darkness.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and even the waning moon was gone.

As the clamor of the victory banquet gradually subsided, the chieftains, reeking of alcohol and tipsy, returned to their respective tents.

Some of them fell fast asleep the moment they touched the bed, their snoring so loud that the felt on the tent roof trembled slightly.

Some were embracing beauties captured from the Chahar tribe, engaging in ecstatic acts of lovemaking inside their tents, completely oblivious to the howling cold wind outside.

Inside Mangus's large tent.

He lay half-reclined on the bed covered with a white bear skin, embracing two beauties on his left and right. The two beauties in his arms had a forced tenderness in their eyes and brows. They were Namuzhong, the first wife, and Suqin, the third wife, who had been separated from Lindan Khan when he was defeated in the Battle of Kaiyuan.

Namuzhong wore a bright yellow silk dress, which Lindan Khan had specially made for her, but now it had become Mangus's plaything.

Su Qin was wearing a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with the Chahar tribe's totem embroidered on the hem, but it was now crumpled and wrinkled.

Mangus had one arm around each woman, his hands roaming freely over their smooth skin, while he uttered smug, drunken ramblings:

“When Lindan Khan was powerful, I had to be mindful of his mood. I didn’t even dare to look at these two wives of the emperor.”

And now? He, Ligdan Khan, is a stray dog. You, the finest women of the grasslands, are now forced to serve me obediently!

The beauty that Lin Danhan had been searching for so long was now lying in another man's bed.

Namuzhong and Su Qin lowered their eyes, not daring to refute, and could only endure the humiliation, letting Mangus do as he pleased.

The Khorchin tribe is now at its zenith, while the Chahar tribe has long since disintegrated. They are nothing more than the spoils of war of the defeated, with no room for resistance.

Seeing the two obey, Mangus became even more pleased with himself. He picked up the wine bowl beside him, took a big gulp, and then leaned close to Namuzhong's ear, his breath, reeking of alcohol, brushing against her neck.

"Serve me well, and when I become the Khan of the grasslands, I will make you my concubines. It's much better than following that good-for-nothing Lindan Khan!"

Namuzhong and Suqin had no choice but to suppress their discomfort and do their best to serve this Mongolian nobleman who smelled strongly of mutton.

Soon, Mangus let out a pleasant and comfortable sound.

Unlike Mangus's revelry, the atmosphere inside Engdel's tent was heavy despite the bright candlelight.

Engdel, dressed in light leather armor with a scimitar hanging at his waist, stood in the center of the tent, his fingers tightly gripping a secret letter.

That was a message sent by a scout dispatched by Huang Taiji, containing only a few words:

"Half an hour later, the army will arrive at the main camp of the Left Wing Rear Banner, launching a pincer attack from both inside and outside, and massacring the Horqin people."

Engdel's eyes gleamed with fanaticism, and a ruthless smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

If this battle is successful, the Great Khan will establish the Eight Banners of Mongolia in the Great Jin Dynasty and appoint him as a Mongolian Beile.

For this goal, he endured humiliation and hardship, pretended to defect from Khorchin, and watched Mangus and others act arrogantly and domineeringly every day. Now the time has finally come to fulfill his promise!
"Somebody come!"

Engdel gave a low command.

Two trusted guards immediately entered the tent and knelt on one knee: "Your subordinates are here!"

"Pass down the order to have our men prepare. Half an hour from now, if we hear the sounds of fighting coming from the main camp, we will immediately take action, seize control of the Khorchin's grain routes and pastures, and not let a single person escape!"

Engdel's voice was cold.

"Also, send someone to inform Tiancong Khan that the defenses in the Khorchin camp are lax and the chieftains are all drunk, so we can launch a surprise attack without worry!"

"Yes!"

The guard accepted the order and quietly left the tent.

Engeder walked to the tent entrance, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked towards the direction of the main camp of Khorchin.

Inside the main camp, a few candles still flickered, and the faint sounds of women's laughter could be heard—the "last revelry" of the Khorchin.

He gripped the curved sword at his waist, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
"Mangus, your good days are over! Today, you will pay the price for underestimating the Great Jin!"

Half an hour later, a dark mass of figures appeared on the snowfield outside the Khorchin camp.

Huang Taiji led tens of thousands of Jurchen cavalry, appearing like ghosts in the night.

Their horses' hooves were wrapped in thick felt, and they even deliberately suppressed their breathing.

They traveled day and night from Hetu Ala to this place, which took them three days and three nights.

Even with one person and three horses, taking turns riding them, many warhorses still died from exhaustion.

Just at this time.

A scout strode out from the shadows, knelt on one knee before Huang Taiji's horse, and whispered:
"Your Majesty, Engedertaiji has sent word that the Khorchin camp is poorly defended, the chieftains are all drunk, and most of the outer sentries have been withdrawn. Only a few drunken herdsmen are patrolling, ready to launch a surprise attack at any time!"

Huang Taiji reined in his horse, his gaze sweeping across the camp ahead like that of a hawk.

He immediately confirmed that the scout's message was true.

Outside the vast Horqin camp, however, there was not a single scout in sight.

Mangus didn't even set up any scouts!

snort!
Huang Taiji snorted coldly.

Mangus, Khorchin
Do you really not take me, Huang Taiji, seriously?

Huang Taiji's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he said, "Living a life of debauchery and arrogance! Mangus, you think you have the Ming Dynasty backing you up, so you dare to be so disrespectful. You are already courting death!"

He slowly drew the dagger from his waist, the cold blade flashing a chilling light in the night.

Seeing this, the cavalrymen behind him gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust. They were ready to charge into the enemy camp like tigers at the Khan's command.

"Send the order!"

Huang Taiji's voice was deep yet powerful.

"The left-wing cavalry circled around to the rear of the camp and cut off their retreat; the right-wing cavalry attacked the supply lines and forbade the release of a single cattle or sheep; the Khan himself led the central army to strike directly at Mangus's main camp!"
Remember, this battle is one of victory only, defeat is not an option!

Today, we will show the Khorchin that the sword of the Great Jin has never rusted!
The masters of this grassland are still us, the descendants of the Eight Banners!

"Whoo!"

Tens of thousands of cavalrymen shouted in unison, their voices soft yet carrying a chilling killing intent.

Huang Taiji spurred his horse and charged towards the main camp of the Khorchin, his black figure like a bolt of lightning, breaking the silence of the snowfield.

The cavalrymen followed closely behind, their hooves pounding through the snow, launching a deadly attack on the still-enchanted camp.

now.

Inside Mangus's tent, candlelight flickered, and the air was filled with the smell of alcohol and an ambiguous atmosphere.

He was sweating profusely as he pressed the beauty in his arms onto the tiger-skin-covered bed, relentlessly taking what he wanted. His rough hands caressed her smooth skin, and he was panting heavily, completely unaware of the commotion outside the tent.

suddenly!

A series of chaotic sounds seeped in through the gaps in the tent flaps, followed by a slight tremor in the ground. The clatter of hooves grew louder and louder as they approached, as if a vast army was closing in.

"Ok?"

Mangus's face was still flushed from the alcohol, but his brows furrowed unconsciously.

He waved his hand impatiently and tossed the beauty beneath him aside. The beauty cried out in surprise and fell to the corner of the bed, her eyes filled with terror.

"Where did these cavalrymen come from? How dare they make a racket outside my camp!"

Mangus's anger at having his fun interrupted at such a crucial moment is understandable.

He got up cursing, grabbed a mink coat draped over the tent post, haphazardly put it on, and shuffled out of the tent in his boots.

As soon as he lifted the tent flap, a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed towards him, making him shiver.

Before he could even see what was happening outside, a guard scrambled over, his face contorted with terror, his voice broken by rapid breathing:
"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"
The Jianmen... the Jianmen slaves attacked us!
There's an inside man in the camp!
That traitor Engeder, he's already sided with the Jurchens!
"Run! It'll be too late if you wait any longer!"

"what?!"

Mangus sobered up almost instantly, his flushed face turning deathly pale. He grabbed his bodyguard by the collar and demanded an answer in a stern voice:

"The Jurchens? Wasn't Huang Taiji about to surrender to the Ming Dynasty? Why would they launch a surprise attack on us? Where are our scouts? Why didn't our scouts report this?!"

The guard, struggling to breathe and his face flushed red, said with difficulty:

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten? A few days ago you said the snow was heavy, and with the Ming Dynasty backing us up, you ordered us to withdraw all the outposts on the outer perimeter..."

The camp is in complete chaos! Engeder's men are setting fires everywhere, and the Jurchen cavalry have already stormed in!

Mangus then suddenly remembered.

A few days ago, he was intoxicated by the rewards from the Ming Dynasty and the fantasy of being the "overlord of the grasslands." He felt that with the Ming Dynasty backing him up, Huang Taiji would not dare to invade. He also complained that sending out sentries in the snow was too hard, so he ordered the withdrawal of most of the sentries.

Looking back now, it turns out that we had completely exposed our camp to the Jurchen army!
"Idiots! They're all idiots!"

Mangus shoved his guards away, only one thought remaining in his mind:
escape!
He turned and rushed into the tent, wanting to take some gold, silver and valuables, and even wanted to take away the two beauties, Namuzhong and Suqin.

But after running only two steps, they heard screams, sounds of fighting, and crackling sounds of yurts being set on fire coming from inside the camp.

"It's too late! Your Majesty, mount your horse quickly!"

Another guard led his warhorse over, the horse startled and pawing restlessly.

Mangus didn't care about anything else; gold, silver, valuables, and beautiful women were not as important as his own life!

He flipped himself onto his warhorse, spurred it on, and charged toward the western exit of the camp.

That was his chosen "escape route," leading to another pasture in Horqin.

But after running only a few steps, a troop of cavalry suddenly rushed out of the snow ahead, the word "gold" on their banners particularly eye-catching.

It was the Eight Banners cavalry of the Jurchens!
The leading general, clad in bright yellow armor, with a stern face, was none other than Huang Taiji.

"Mangus, you treacherous traitor!"

Huang Taiji reined in his horse, his gaze sharp as a knife as he stared at Mangus. He snorted coldly, pointed his sword forward, and shouted sternly:

"Kill them all! Leave no survivors!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than several arrows shot toward Mangus like meteors.

Mangus was so terrified that he dared not resist.

He clung tightly to the horse's back, frantically whipping its rump with both hands, and roaring, "Giddy up! Giddy up!"

The warhorse, in pain, let out a long neigh, its hooves flying as it galloped wildly toward the snowy ground to the west.

Arrows whizzed past his ears from behind, some striking the horse's rump, others embedding themselves in the snow, kicking up plumes of snow.

Huang Taiji watched Mangus's disheveled retreating figure, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, but he did not order a pursuit.

His goal this time was to plunder the cattle, sheep and people of Khorchin, not to hunt down a stray dog.

Besides
There have been people waiting for this Mangus for a long time!

"Pass down the order," Huang Taiji calmly commanded the general beside him.
"We divided our forces into three groups, one of which controlled the pastures and gathered the cattle and sheep."

They were to search for and capture all the leaders of the Khorchin tribe, ensuring that no one escaped.

The third force will accompany Ben Khan to join Engeder and completely eliminate resistance within the camp!

"Whoo!"

The generals responded in unison and led their cavalry in different directions.

the other side.

Mangus lay sprawled on his swaying warhorse, the cold wind stinging his cheeks. The firelight and sounds of battle from the camp behind him gradually faded, but the fear in his heart did not diminish in the slightest.

He whipped his warhorse desperately, hoping to escape to another pasture in Khorchin as soon as possible, gather his remaining troops, and then ask the Ming Dynasty for help.

As long as you survive, there will always be a chance for revenge.

however.

Just as the warhorse galloped over a low hill, a troop of cavalry suddenly emerged from the snow ahead. The leader was none other than Engeder, whom he had "trusted" not long ago!

"Stop him!"

Engdellema raised his hand, and the cavalry behind him immediately formed a fan shape, completely blocking Mangus's path.

The horses' hooves pounded on the snow with a dull thud, like the drumbeats of death striking Mangus's heart.

Mangus suddenly pulled on the reins, and the warhorse reared up, letting out a terrified neigh.

Looking at the densely packed cavalry in front of him, his last hope was extinguished, but his strong will to survive still made him unwilling to give up.

He dismounted, staggered forward two steps, bowed to Engdel, and pleaded in a trembling voice:
“Engedeltaiji! It was I, Mangus, who took you in, gave you followers, and gave you pastures. I have done you a great favor!”

If you spare my life today, I, Mangus, will remember this kindness for the rest of my life! I will repay you a hundredfold in the future!

Upon hearing this, Engdel suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, his laughter filled with mockery and disdain.

He patted his horse's belly, slowly walked up to Mangus, looked down at him, his eyes as cold as frost:

"Take them in? Mangus, you're too naive!"

From the very beginning, I was an inside agent sent by Tiancong Khan. The so-called "defection to the Great Jin and surrender to the Khorchin" was nothing but a pretense of surrender!

"You're blind! You believed my nonsense and even considered me a confidant. How laughable!"

Immediately afterwards, the smile on his face disappeared, his tone became more and more sharp, and he looked at Mangus as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Do you think that by submitting to the Ming Dynasty and becoming the 'Prince Shunli,' you can become the ruler of the grasslands?"
dream!

The Khorchin tribe is nothing but a lackey of the Ming Dynasty, and will be crushed by Tiancong Khan sooner or later!

Only Tiancong Khan is the true master of the grasslands!

Mangus's face turned deathly pale, and his whole body trembled.

Only now did he fully realize that he had fallen into a trap set by Huang Taiji and Engeder from the very beginning.

The so-called "surrender to the Ming Dynasty" and "lowering vigilance" were all deceptions set up by the Jurchens in order to launch a surprise attack on the Khorchin!

He was trembling with rage, pointing at Engdel and shouting in a hoarse voice:

"You traitor to the Mongols! You colluded with the Jurchens and slaughtered your own people. You will surely die a horrible death! The Eternal Heaven will punish you!"

"The Eternal Heaven?"

Engdel scoffed, his eyes full of disdain.

"What I want is wealth and the title of Mongol Beile, not the blessing of the Eternal Heaven!"

He suddenly raised his hand and shouted to the cavalry behind him, "Fire!"

“Swish swish!!”

Arrows shot out like locusts, whistling through the air, flying towards Mangus.

Mangus instinctively tried to dodge, but his mind was already overwhelmed by fear and despair, and his movements were slow and sluggish.

The first arrow struck his left leg, the second pierced his chest, and the third lodged in his throat…

Blood instantly stained his mink coat and the white snow beneath his feet.

Mangus staggered and fell into the snow, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he could no longer make a sound.

Finally, his gaze settled on the distant Khorchin camp, the place he was once proud of as the "King of the Grasslands," but now it was a sea of ​​fire.

Engdellema stood beside Mangus's corpse, glanced down at it, and snorted coldly:
"Life and death are preordained, wealth and honor are determined by fate. Who can predict the future?"
At least for now, Ben Taiji is one step closer to the title of Mongol Beile.

He turned his horse around and gave orders to the cavalry behind him:
"Leave some of you to clean up the battlefield, the rest of you follow me!"

Go to the camp to meet up with Tiancong Khan, and take the opportunity to take stock of the women, treasures, cattle and sheep of the Khorchin.

These are all spoils of war from my Great Jin!

"Yes!"

The cavalrymen responded in unison, and some of them cut off Mangus's head, dragged his body, and prepared to bury it on the spot.

The rest of the group followed Engeder and sped off toward the Khorchin camp.

By this time, the Horqin camp had already become a living hell.

Jurchen cavalry burned, killed, and looted everywhere. Yurts collapsed in the flames, and the cries of women and children, the roars of the rebels, and the neighing of warhorses mingled together.

In less than half a day, the once bustling camp was reduced to ruins.

Huang Taiji stood in the middle of the ravaged main camp, his brow furrowed as he watched his soldiers count the cattle, sheep, and prisoners they had plundered.

Although the raid went smoothly, it took a lot of time. Now, he was thinking about how to bring these spoils back to Hetu Ala.

"Sweat!"

not far away.

A rapid sound of hooves approached, and Jirgalang rode up to Huang Taiji with a smile that seemed to be seeking credit. He dismounted and quickly reported to Huang Taiji.

"Your servant found two women in Mangus's tent. They seem to be of unusual status, so I have come to report to the Great Khan!"

"She's just a woman, what does she matter?"

Huang Taiji's tone was somewhat displeased, but his gaze remained fixed on the distant herds of cattle and sheep.

"The most important thing now is to take stock of the supplies and gather the prisoners. We can talk about these men and women's matters later."

In his view, even the most beautiful woman at this moment was not as valuable as ten thousand cattle and sheep or a thousand slaves.

Having suffered a major defeat, King Kong urgently needs resources to sustain his survival and combat, not toys to entertain others.

Jirhalang, however, remained calm and composed. He stepped forward and added in a low voice:
"Great Khan, these two women are no ordinary women."

One was Namuzhong, the primary consort of Ligdan Khan, and the other was Suqin, his third consort!
Mangus hid them in his large tent, clearly treating them like treasures.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing the words "Lindan Khan's wife," Huang Taiji's previously calm eyes instantly lit up, his body leaned forward slightly, and his tone became urgent.

"Are you telling the truth? Are they really Ligdan Khan's wives?"

His previous displeasure had long since vanished, and he quickly began to make plans in his mind.

He wasn't particularly interested in Namuzhong and Suqin's appearances; what truly mattered to him was the "identity" of these two women.

The identity of a married woman!
Although Ligdan Khan was defeated at Kaiyuan and his people scattered, he was still the nominal Great Khan of the Chahar tribe and still had a certain degree of influence among the Mongol tribes.

More importantly, the Ming Dynasty now holds absolute power in Liaodong, and Ligdan Khan is almost losing his foothold in the southern steppes. The Jin Dynasty also urgently needs allies to restrain the Ming Dynasty.

If we can use these two wives to establish contact with Ligdan Khan, we might be able to facilitate an alliance between the Jin Dynasty and the Chahar tribe!
"Quickly, take me to see this!"

Huang Taiji dismounted and strode towards Mangus's tent, with Jirhalang following closely behind.

Inside the large tent, the candles had long since gone out, leaving only the light filtering in through the tattered curtains.

Namuzhong and Su Qin were huddled in the corner of the bed, their silk dresses torn to shreds, their faces filled with terror and despair.

Upon hearing footsteps, the two instinctively hugged each other, trembling all over.

They had just escaped from the clutches of Mangus, but unexpectedly fell into the hands of the Jurchens.

Huang Taiji entered the tent, his gaze falling on the two people, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

Namuzhong has skin as white as snow, and her eyes and brows exude a mature charm.

Su Qin was beautiful and charming; though she looked fearful, her delicate beauty was undeniable.

He clenched his fists instinctively, his body reacting instinctively, but he forced himself to suppress the distracting thoughts and refocus his attention on their "usefulness".

He walked slowly to the bedside, reached out his right hand, pinched Namuzhong's chin, forcing her to raise her head, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips:
"Lindan Khan's primary wife? She's quite a beauty."

He released his grip, turned around, and shouted towards the outside of the tent, "Guards! Prepare a warhorse for each of these two consorts, keep a close watch on them, do not neglect them, and take them back to Hetu Ala!"

"Whoo!"

The soldiers outside the tent quickly responded.

When Namuzhong and Suqin heard "bring Hetu Ala back," their faces showed even greater despair.

For the past month, they have been treated like living commodities, snatched from the defeated soldiers of Chahar by Mangus, and then wantonly humiliated as playthings.

Now that it has fallen into Huang Taiji's hands, who knows what kind of treatment it will suffer.

They watched Huang Taiji's departing figure, their eyes filled with sorrow.

If they hadn't followed their incompetent husband, Ligdan Khan, and if the Chahar tribe hadn't been defeated, how could they have ended up in such a state?

The soldiers outside the tent quickly brought two thick fur coats and helped them out of the tent.

Namuzhong and Su Qin supported each other as they walked towards their warhorses, their feet sinking into the snow.

The cold wind stung their faces like knives, but their hearts were even colder than the winter.

They had no idea what the future held for them; all they knew was that their fate was no longer in their own hands, and they could only be manipulated at will by these powerful figures of the grasslands.

Perhaps this is the fate of beautiful women on the grasslands.
Huhuhu~
The wind still howled.

On the snow-covered ground of the Khorchin camp, cattle and sheep stretched as far as the eye could see, emitting low moans. The captured Khorchin tribesmen, linked together by ropes, huddled together, shivering in the cold wind.

Several Jin officials, holding ledgers, were counting the spoils of war one by one; their crisp voices echoed clearly across the silent grassland.
"The Khorchin tribe captured 11,000 adult men, 15,000 women, elderly and infirm, 100,000 head of cattle and sheep, more than 80 boxes of gold and silver jewelry, and 20 carts of silk, tea and other supplies..."

Huang Taiji stood on the high slope, looking down at the densely packed prisoners and livestock below, his eyes gleaming.

These spoils of war represent the hope for the revival of the Great Kim dynasty.

More than 10,000 able-bodied men could bolster the Eight Banners army, 100,000 cattle and sheep could solve the winter food shortage, and gold and silver could be used to bribe Mongol tribes and forge weapons.

But the more he looked at these "wealth" things, the more intense his anxiety became.

How to safely bring them back to Hetuala has become the biggest challenge at present.

"Great Khan, now that the spoils of war have been counted, it is time to return to Hetu Ala."

Dudu Lema, the banner chief of the Bordered White Banner, arrived at the foot of the hill, his tone somewhat urgent.

He was Chu Ying's son, and was known for his caution; at this moment, his brows were furrowed.

"Xiong Tingbi is exceptionally shrewd. We have been launching a surprise attack on Khorchin for three days now, and the news has probably already been leaked."

If we delay any longer and the Ming army sends troops to intercept us, we might not even be able to escape unscathed, let alone bring back these spoils!

As soon as Dudu finished speaking, Bayara, the banner chief of the Bordered Blue Banner, also rode forward.

This half-brother of Nurhaci, his face full of worry, repeatedly echoed:

“Dudu is right! With the heavy snow blocking the roads, our marching speed will inevitably be greatly reduced as we carry so many prisoners and cattle and sheep.”

"Great Khan, please order the march immediately! Bring back as many as you can; it's better than having them intercepted by the Ming army!"

The princes and generals around him nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with approval.

Everyone knew that Da Jingang had suffered a crushing defeat and was short of troops. If he were to engage the main force of the Ming army head-on, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

Huang Taiji did not respond immediately, but instead looked up at the snow falling all around him.

Snowflakes, as fine as goose feathers, kept falling, already piling up to a layer more than half a foot thick on the ground. Horses would sink into deep snowdrifts when they stepped on them, slowing down their march even further.

He quickly calculated in his mind:
If they were to march with more than 10,000 prisoners and 100,000 cattle and sheep, they could only travel a maximum of 30 li per day. It would take at least seven or eight days to return from the Left Wing Rear Banner of Khorchin to Hetu Ala.

However, Xiong Tingbi had deployed a large force in Fushun, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard was also gathering intelligence, so it was impossible for them to have seven or eight days.

Within three days at most, the Ming cavalry will catch up.

"If we insist on taking all the spoils of war with us, we will surely be caught up by the Ming army."

Huang Taiji muttered to himself, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes.

"At that point, not only will we lose the spoils, but even the last of the Jin cavalry might perish here. But if we abandon it..."

These men, cattle, and sheep are all things that the Great Jin Dynasty desperately needs. Abandoning them would further deplete the Great Jin's vital energy.

He dismounted and paced back and forth on the snow, constantly pondering a solution.

Dudu and Bayala stood aside, not daring to disturb them, and could only wait anxiously.

All eyes were on Huang Taiji, waiting for him to make a decision.

Suddenly, Huang Taiji stopped, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and a calculating smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He turned abruptly and said to the crowd, "I have a solution!"

Dudu and Bayara quickly stepped forward: "What brilliant plan does the Great Khan have?"

Huang Taiji smiled slightly.

"This brilliant plan requires someone to work with us."

Seeing the puzzled expressions on everyone's faces, Huang Taiji's lips curled up slightly.

This person is no one else.

It was Lindan Khan!
Although I am prepared to give you two green hats, it will not affect my cooperation with Ligdan Khan.

And that's what he used.
It's human greed!

ps:
A long chapter of 8700 words!
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(End of this chapter)