Huangming

Chapter 411 Internal Troubles and Foreign Invaders

Late February of the second year of the Tianqi reign (1622).

The snow in Liaodong has finally begun to melt.

The road surface was muddy from the melting snow, mixed with unmelted ice fragments, and made a "crunching" sound when stepped on.

Liaoyang.

The central city of this Liaodong town.

Although it was not yet warm, the city was already very lively.

On the main street paved with bluestone slabs, vendors carrying loads of goods called out, "Hot roasted chestnuts!"

Soldiers wearing newly washed uniforms walked side by side in twos and threes, with bulging money bags at their waists. Occasionally, they would stop in front of cloth shops or grain stores to haggle with the shopkeepers.

The aroma of tea wafted from the teahouse on the street corner. The storyteller, striking his gavel, recounted the tale of the Ming army's valiant fight during the recapture of Tieling last month, drawing cheers from the audience.

It's hard to imagine that just a year ago, this place was in a completely dilapidated state, with such a bustling scene.

At that time, Liaoyang was filled with refugees wrapped in tattered cotton wadding.

They huddled at the foot of the city wall, gnawing on bran cakes mixed with sand, and some starving children even peeled bark from trees.

Bankrupt military households, wearing old armor with exposed elbows, pleaded in front of grain shops, clutching empty rice sacks. Some, in order to survive, had no choice but to sell their young children to passing merchants.

Furthermore, Jurchen spies were mingling in the crowd, secretly gathering information about Liaoyang's defenses.

At that time, the Jurchen army once reached Fengjibao, which was only a few dozen miles away from Liaoyang.

The wealthy families in the city packed their valuables overnight, hired carriages and horses to flee towards Shanhaiguan, and the whole city was filled with the panic of "the end of the world".

All these changes began after the Tianqi Emperor ascended the throne.

The imperial court no longer "laissez-faire" towards Liaodong as it had in the past, but instead invested heavily in grain, fodder, and military supplies.

First, the Liaodong Army paid back the million taels of unpaid wages owed over the years in one lump sum, allowing the soldiers to finally send money home to save their lives.

Then, another 30,000 winter clothes and 500,000 shi of grain were allocated, relieving the urgent need for border defense.

More importantly, Liaodong won several consecutive battles:

Xiong Tingbi, the military commissioner of Liaodong, led his troops to recover Kaiyuan and Tieling, while Sun Chengzong, the governor of Liaodong, was stationed in Liaoyang to consolidate the defense line.

The soldiers not only eliminated the threat from the Jurchens, but also pushed the battle line a hundred miles north.

His Majesty's rewards followed.

Soldiers who kill enemies are rewarded with silver and promoted in rank, and the families of fallen soldiers receive double the compensation.

The people of Liaoyang also benefited, as the imperial court exempted Liaoyang from taxes for a year and encouraged everyone to cultivate wasteland.

Sun Chengzong, the governor of Liaodong, was also a man of great talent in bringing peace and stability to the people.

He led his men to traverse the wastelands around Liaoyang, distributing farm tools and wheat seeds to the displaced people. He also built "Anliu Village" outside the city, providing shelter from the wind and rain for the homeless.

They also checked the military household register, redistributed the tens of thousands of acres of military land that had been embezzled by the generals to the military households, and invited old farmers to teach everyone how to improve farming techniques.

When he encountered sick soldiers or civilians, he had "people-benefiting pharmacies" set up in the city to provide free medicine and medical consultations.

In just one year, the number of refugees in Liaoyang decreased, bankrupt military households were almost nowhere to be seen, and even the number of beggars on the streets decreased.

With money in their hands, everyone had smiles on their faces.

However, many of these soldiers who risked their lives on the frontier were alone on the Liaodong border, without family members to help manage their finances.

The cost of meat and wine was actually limited; a pound of braised meat and a pot of strong liquor would cost no more than half an ounce of silver.

When you suddenly have extra money, you want to find a way to spend it.

But there was one place in the city that could squeeze all the money out of these rough men like water: the "Manchunlou" in the south of the city.

This Manchunlou is no ordinary tavern.

A gilded plaque hangs above the vermilion gate.

The pimp at the gate, dressed in a silk jacket, smiled and led the person in military uniform inside.
"Please come in, sir. A new girl from Jiangnan has arrived; she sings beautifully!"

The building has three floors:

The first floor was a tavern, and every table was full of people. The soldiers were shirtless, drinking from large bowls and eating large chunks of meat, shouting about interesting things that happened on the battlefield, spitting all over the table.

The second floor was a place of mist and willows, with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drifting out from the carved windows. Maids in green jackets carried tea trays and moved about in the corridors. Occasionally, one could see women with painted eyebrows and eyes leaning against the window, throwing flirtatious glances at the soldiers downstairs, which would elicit laughter from the men.

The most secluded room was a side room in the backyard, where several gambling tables were set up, and the clattering sound of dice hitting porcelain bowls could be heard even through the walls.

Several soldiers sat around the gambling table, their faces flushed red.

Some people who won money stuffed it into their pockets, laughing so hard they couldn't stop their back teeth from baring.

Some people, after losing all their money, would slam their fists on the table and curse.

The pimp stood by, smiling, and advised:
"Don't worry, sir. I'll lend you another ten taels of silver. Maybe you can win it back next time!"

The constant flow of people almost wore down the threshold of Manchunlou.

There were soldiers who had just received their reward money and came to have some fun, merchants who had made money from trading, and even some minor officials who secretly came to gamble.

The bustling scene made people completely forget that at this time a year ago, the Jurchen cavalry were still whipping their whips outside Fengji Fort, and the people in Liaoyang City had to listen for any sounds outside the city even when they were sleeping.

All I can say is that these soldiers who braved mountains of knives and seas of fire know how to enjoy life to the fullest.

after all
Saving a lot of money is pointless if you don't live to spend it.

now.

The "Listening to Snow Private Room" on the second floor of Manchunlou is completely different from the hustle and bustle downstairs.

The carved wooden door was tightly shut, shutting out the sounds of dice and string music, leaving only a faint scent of incense inside.

It was incense brought from Jiangnan, mixed with the scent of cosmetics from a young girl's hair.

In the center of the private room was a rosewood dining table, on which a silver platter was filled with a dazzling array of Liaodong specialties.

The roasted deer leg, glistening with oil, was still steaming hot; a silver knife was stuck into a crispy smoked bear paw; chilled wild grapes were served on a crystal dish; and next to it, a warm tin pot contained the strongest liquor from Liaodong.

The wine is amber in color, and the room is filled with its aroma as soon as it is poured.

On the soft stools on either side of the dining table, Zhang Bingyi, the deputy commander of Liaoyang, and Wu Fengxian, the adjutant, sat facing each other, each with their arms around a young girl.

The girls were all newly arrived from Shandong and Henan, their features were youthful and their skin was fair; it was clear at a glance that they were virgins who had never been deflowered.

With money in hand that year, the soldiers of Liaodong began to search for young women in the brothel Manchunlou, with the highest bidder winning.

"Damn it!"

Zhang Bingyi abruptly released his grip on the girl's hand and slammed the silver wine cup he was holding onto the dining table.

Most of the wine spilled out, splashing onto the smoked bear paw in the silver dish.

"Even drinking can't ease the frustration in my heart!"

The girl, who had been released, quickly shrank into a corner, lowered her head, and secretly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

The other girl accompanying Wu Fengxian was also so frightened that she froze, almost dropping the wine pot in her hand.

Seeing this, Wu Fengxian quickly put down his wine cup, reached out and pressed Zhang Bingyi's arm, and lowered his voice to a very low hue:

"Zhang Shuai, calm down! This girl has delicate skin and can't withstand your abuse."

As he spoke, he furtively glanced outside the door to make sure no one was eavesdropping before continuing:

"I have something to discuss with you today."

"Have you heard that Commander Xiong, Governor Sun, and Chief Clerk Yang have been discussing matters at the government office these past few days?"

Zhang Bingyi frowned, grabbed the wine pot, filled his cup, and tilted his head back to drink most of it.

The pungent liquor burned his throat, but it couldn't suppress the unease in his heart.

"How come I haven't heard about it?"
The other day, news came that the garrison would be rotated, supposedly to "prepare for the spring campaign against the Jurchens." They said they would transfer troops from Shanhaiguan to relieve me, and also send the Liaoyang Left Guard to replace Sun Degong's troops from Guangning.

This isn't a shift change.
They're clearly coming for us!

"you do not say!"

Wu Fengxian's voice was filled with panic.

"Do you still remember what Yang Lian did in Jizhou?"
Last year, when he went to reorganize the Jizhou garrison, he uncovered those who were drawing salaries without working and those who were secretly colluding with the Mongols. He executed dozens of generals in one fell swoop, not even sparing the deputy commander-in-chief!

"The town of Ji was a scene of carnage and bloodshed!"

Now that he's come to Liaodong and led the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate for two months, how could he not know what we've done?"

These words were like a sharp knife, piercing Zhang Bingyi's sore spot.

He is the deputy commander-in-chief.

Call ~
"Damn it! So what if someone's getting paid without working?"

He slammed his hand on the dining table, causing the deer leg on the silver platter to wobble.

"I have five thousand soldiers under my command, but the roster says seven thousand. If I don't report two thousand more, where will I get the money to support these girls and run this brothel?"

"What happened to Zhan Juntian again?"
Those military farmlands were just lying fallow anyway, so why didn't I cultivate them to grow grain? Wasn't it for the military's benefit?

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and his voice unconsciously rose in pitch:
"There are also slave trade and arms sales."

Last winter, the army was short of food. If I didn't sell a few batches of arms to the Khorchin tribe in exchange for some cattle and sheep, wouldn't my soldiers rebel?

"Which of Sun Degong and Bao Chengxian didn't do it?"
Now, things have gotten really bad. The imperial court has paid the soldiers, but they've forgotten how we managed to survive in the first place, and now they want to use us as an example!

Wu Fengxian quickly reached out and covered his mouth, his eyes filled with panic:

"Zhang Shuai! Keep your voice down! This Manchun Pavilion is full of all sorts of people. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard spies hear us, we're all finished!"

Zhang Bingyi, panting heavily, shoved his hand away, his face ashen.

"over?

I'm about to die!

What do you think we can do?
Are we just going to sit here and wait for that bastard Yang Lian to use the imperial sword to behead us?

Wu Fengxian swallowed hard, his eyes suddenly turning fierce. He leaned closer to Zhang Bingyi, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear:

"Sitting idly by and waiting for death is certain! The only option now is to rise up and resist!"

"resistance?"

Zhang Bingyi narrowed his eyes.

"How can we resist? Our troops are about to be rotated out. Without command, we're like toothless tigers. How can we fight against Xiong Tingbi and his men?"

"Has Commander Zhang forgotten what happened in the thirteenth year of the Jiajing reign?"

Wu Fengxian's voice carried a hint of seduction.

"Back then, when Lü Jing implemented reforms, didn't he also target military officers?"

What happened in the end?
When the mutinous troops occupied Liaoyang and Guangning, the imperial court had no choice but to appease them.
We can do that now too!

He paused, then lowered his voice to state his plan:

"First, we should immediately send someone to contact Sun Degong, Bao Chengxian, and Zhang Cunren."

We're all in the same boat; they're definitely afraid of being purged. As long as we take the lead, they'll definitely follow.

"Second, before the troop rotation arrives, we should incite the soldiers below by saying, 'The court is going to target us and even take back our pay,' to stir up their anger."

"If someone takes the lead and a mutiny breaks out, who would dare to come to relieve the garrison?"

"third."

Wu Fengxian's eyes turned sinister, and his tone was filled with murderous intent.

"We will secretly send people to Hetu Ala to find Huang Taiji, and then to the Chahar tribe to find Ligdan Khan's son, and promise them benefits."

As long as they march south to attack Liaodong in the spring, the imperial court will be preoccupied with both ends and will certainly have no time to attend to our affairs!

"If things get out of hand, the court will have no choice but to pardon us, just like during the Jiajing era, and we'll still have to defend Liaodong!"

Zhang Bingyi's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing this, his hand gripped the wine glass tightly, and his palms sweated.

He had considered resisting, but he hadn't dared to think of such a ruthless move.

If word gets out that we're leading the Jurchens and Mongols south, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of our family!

But when he thought of the scene of Yang Lian beheading people in Jizhen, and of his vast wealth, the girls in Manchunlou, and the 20,000 mu of military farmland he had illegally occupied, he felt that this was the only way to survive.

"Introducing slaves... isn't that too risky?"

Although Zhang Bingyi had already made his decision, he was still somewhat uneasy.

"Take a risk? If we don't take a risk now, we'll lose our lives!" Wu Fengxian slapped the couch in his anxiety.

“Huang Taiji is currently short of food and weapons. If we offer him a batch of grain, he will definitely be willing to come.”

The remnants of the Chahar tribe have done business with us before. As long as we offer them enough benefits, they are willing to send troops!

Even that old fox who stirs up flowers can be bribed.

"If things get out of hand both inside and outside the court, the imperial court will have no choice but to compromise!"

Zhang Bingyi remained silent for a moment, then tilted his head back and drank the rest of the wine in his glass in one gulp.

The wine dripped down his chin and onto his clothes. He then slammed the glass to the ground with a loud crash, startling the two girls who trembled all over.

"Okay! Just do as you say!"

Zhang Bingyi's eyes turned crazed, like a gambling addict.

"Go and contact Sun Degong and the others now. I'll arrange for people to incite the soldiers and send someone to deliver messages to Huang Taiji and the Mongol tribes!"

"We can't just sit here and wait to die; we have to fight them!"

Upon seeing that he had agreed, Wu Fengxian's face lit up with ecstasy, and he quickly stood up:
"Good! Commander Zhang, rest assured, I will take care of it right away! As long as we work together, we will surely be able to make the court dare not touch us, just like during the Jiajing era!"

The two ignored the food on the bed and the trembling girl in the corner. They quickly straightened their robes, opened the carved wooden door, and strode out.

The moment the door opened, the sounds of dice rolling and laughter from downstairs rushed in, only to be quickly shut out by the closed door.

Only two girls remained in the private room. They huddled in a corner, looking at the shattered wine glasses on the floor and listening to the footsteps fading away outside the door. Finally, tears streamed down their faces.

the other side.

Hetu Ala.

February in Hetu Ala is colder than in Liaoyang.

The Suzi River outside the city was still covered with a thick layer of ice, and the cold wind, carrying snowflakes, crashed against the rammed earth city walls, making a howling sound.

The Jurchen sentries on the city wall, wrapped in animal skin coats, still had red noses from the cold.

But inside the palace in the city, there was a fiery heat that was completely different from the severe cold.

The candlelight burned from morning till night, and the sounds of footsteps, arguments, and the rustling of ink blended together, making the air seem to boil.

Since the siege of Hetu Ala was lifted last year, Huang Taiji has not had a single good night's sleep.

He often wakes up from nightmares in the middle of the night.

In his dream, he saw Ming army battering rams smashing through city gates, Xiong Tingbi's imperial sword at his neck, the people of Jianzhou Jurchen fleeing in all directions, and the flags of the Great Jin being trampled in the mud.

He knew perfectly well that the Ming army had only temporarily retreated, and Xiong Tingbi would never give the Jin dynasty a chance to catch its breath.

Before long, the well-equipped and well-supplied Ming army will once again besiege the city.

"I'm willing to do anything to keep Da Jin alive."

Huang Taiji said this more than once in court assemblies.

The Great Jin Dynasty had suffered defeats in Fushun and Kaiyuan, with more than half of its Eight Banners troops killed or wounded and its people displaced.

If we continue down the old path, we will collapse before the Ming army even attacks.

It was precisely because of this that, in just three months, he overcame all the pressure from the old nobles and launched a radical reform within the Jianzhou Jurchen.

The first blow of the reform was aimed at the old system of "joint governance by the four princes".

In his early years, Nurhaci established a rule that four Beile (princes) – Daišan, Amin, Mangultai, and Huang Taiji – would jointly hold power, and decisions could only be made after all four had reached a consensus.

However, such a decentralization of power will only slow down decision-making in times of life and death.

"The Great Jin Dynasty is now on the verge of collapse. If it continues to act independently, it will perish sooner or later!"

Three months ago, in the palace council hall, Huang Taiji slammed the dagger at his waist onto the table with a clang, his gaze sweeping over the Jurchen nobles.

"From this day forward, the co-rule of the four great beile is abolished. All matters concerning the military and government shall be decided by this Khan! Anyone who disobeys shall be punished for treason!"

Intimidated by Huang Taiji's prestige, the crowd dared not resist.

Actually.
Because so many people died, Huang Taiji's direct descendants now make up the majority of the forces in the Great Jin Dynasty.

Therefore, these reforms are much easier to implement than before.

Those nobles who were not direct descendants of Huang Taiji knew in their hearts that Huang Taiji was telling the truth. The fate of the Great Jin Dynasty depended entirely on him. If things really got out of hand, it would only benefit the Ming army.

In this way, Huang Taiji forcefully seized power, clearing away the biggest obstacle for subsequent reforms.

Immediately afterwards, he modeled the system of the Ming Dynasty and established the "Six Ministries" and "Eight Ministers". The offices of the six ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice and Works were set up in an old house next to the palace, with newly made wooden plaques hanging in front of the doors, with the names of the ministries written in both Han and Jurchen scripts.

The Ministry of Personnel was in charge of the appointment and removal of officials; the Ministry of Revenue was in charge of household registration, land and grain; the Ministry of Rites set the rules for rites and sacrifices; the Ministry of War was in charge of military and political dispatch; the Ministry of Justice adjudicated cases and punishments; and the Ministry of Works was in charge of engineering construction.

Each group was led by a Jurchen nobleman, with two Han officials assisting him.

"Fan Wencheng, you are appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, responsible for verifying the qualifications and achievements of officials."
"Ning Wanwo, you will be appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, responsible for inventorying the household registrations and grain fields of the Great Jin Dynasty."

Huang Taiji summoned the two Han officials to his presence, speaking with a tone of trust.

"Although you are Han Chinese, your hearts are with the Great Jin. I trust you."

Fan Wencheng and Ning Wanwo immediately knelt down to express their gratitude, their eyes filled with thanks.

Before this, Han Chinese in Jurchen tribes were either slaves or cannon fodder, and never had the opportunity to participate in politics.

Now, Huang Taiji not only appointed them to official positions but also entrusted them with important responsibilities. This kindness made them determined to serve the Jin Dynasty.

With their assistance, the six departments quickly got up and running.

The Ministry of Revenue discovered tens of thousands of acres of fertile land that had been privately occupied by nobles, the Ministry of War tallied the remaining troops of the Eight Banners, and the Ministry of Justice formulated new laws. As a result, the administrative efficiency of the Great Jin Dynasty improved significantly.

The most crucial reform lies in "people".

During Nurhaci's reign, captured Han Chinese were organized into "baoyi," which were slaves of nobles. They not only had to work without pay, but were also at risk of being executed at any time.

Such harsh treatment forced the Han people to either flee or rebel, making them completely unusable for the Jin dynasty.

Huang Taiji knew that to replenish his military strength, he had to win over the Han people.

With one decree, he abolished the system of "Han people being organized into estates as slaves," allowing Han people to live independently, own their own land, and only need to pay taxes per mu (unit of land area), no longer having to be oxen and horses for the nobles.

"As long as one is willing to serve the Great Jin, regardless of whether one is Jurchen, Mongol, or Han, all will be treated equally!"

When Huang Taiji issued his decrees from the city tower, the area below was crowded with Han Chinese civilians.

When the words "living independently" were heard, cheers erupted from the crowd.

There was a Han Chinese man named Wang Erzhu who used to be a bondservant of Daishan. He had to work for several hours every day and still couldn't get enough to eat.

Now he has been allocated two acres of land, built a thatched hut, and finally has his own home.

Riding on this momentum, Huang Taiji added the "Eight Banners of the Han Army" and the "Eight Banners of the Mongol Army".

He sent people to contact the Han Chinese refugees who had fled to the mountains, and to persuade the scattered tribes of the Khorchin and Chahar Mongols to "exempt them from taxes for three years and provide them with pensions if they die in battle."

In just one month, five thousand Han Chinese and tens of thousands of Mongols came to join them.

The Eight Banners army, which originally numbered less than 20,000, suddenly swelled to nearly 40,000.

There were many more flags on the city wall, making it look especially lively.

But behind this lively scene lay Huang Taiji's deep worries.

He frowned deeply as he looked at the ledger handed to him by the grain official.

It's written very clearly above:

Before the reform, Dajin had 30,000 farming households, cultivated more than 100,000 mu of fertile land, and harvested 150,000 shi of grain annually.

Now most of the young and middle-aged have joined the army, leaving only 10,000 farming households and 40,000 mu of cultivated land. It is estimated that only 50,000 shi of grain can be harvested this year.

An army of 40,000 would consume 30,000 shi of grain per month, which would not last for half a year.

"We have more soldiers, but less food."

Huang Taiji sighed softly.

"If this goes on for too long, there might be a famine within Dajin."

What troubled him even more was the issue of combat strength.

He had visited the drill ground to see the newly formed Han Chinese Eight Banners and Mongol Eight Banners.

Most of those Han Chinese were farmers, and they couldn't even hold a knife properly.

Although the Mongols knew how to ride horses, they were used to being undisciplined and did not understand military orders.

In contrast, the Jurchen Eight Banners were all seasoned warriors, skilled in archery and horsemanship, making them incomparable to the former.

"Give me another three years, and I will definitely be able to train these new recruits and restore them to the combat strength they had a year ago."

Huang Taiji spoke to Nurhaci's memorial tablet more than once at night.

But he knew in his heart that Xiong Tingbi would not give them three years.

The Ming army's troop rotation has begun, and the decisive battle will take place after spring.

"If we win, we can seize the Ming army's supplies, allowing the Jin dynasty to recover its strength and also solve the famine."

"If we lose, the Great Jin Dynasty will perish, and I, Huang Taiji, will become the last emperor of the Great Jin."

Huang Taiji clenched his fists, his eyes resolute.

He had no way out but to gamble.

I gambled that the newly formed 40,000-strong army could withstand the Ming army's offensive, that Fan Wencheng and Ning Wanwo's strategies would be effective, and that my own decision could carve out a path to survival for the Great Jin.

now.

The candles in the main hall of the Hetu Ala Palace were already more than half burned.

Huang Taiji had just returned from the training ground, and his body still carried the chill of the past.

He had barely sat down when he began dealing with military and state affairs.

They didn't even notice the soft footsteps behind them.

Until a faint milky aroma wafted over.

The fragrance, mixed with the warmth of the candlelight in the hall, brought him back to his senses.

Turning my head, I saw a woman dressed in a moon-white Mongolian robe walking slowly towards the main hall.

She was none other than Namuzhong, the principal wife of Ligdan Khan of the Chahar tribe in southern Mongolia, and now his concubine.

Namuzhong's Mongolian robe has silver thread embroidery on the collar and cuffs.

A bright yellow silk ribbon was tied around her waist, which made her figure appear even more slender.

She held a white porcelain bowl decorated with gold in her hands, with thin wisps of steam rising from its rim.

The bowl contained freshly brewed Mongolian milk tea, along with ghee and fried rice.

She walked very steadily, and the porcelain bowl in her hand barely wobbled.

"What troubles the Great Khan?"

Namuzhong walked to the table and gently placed the porcelain bowl beside Huang Taiji. His voice was soft and gentle, like melting snow in early spring.

When the Mongolian woman looked up, she met Huang Taiji's tightly furrowed brows, her gaze carrying a hint of probing.

Since she surrendered to Huang Taiji, she had rarely seen him so solemn.

Huang Taiji did not answer immediately, but looked at Namuzhong's eyebrows and eyes.

He recalled how he had captured her at the Khorchin tribe's camp a few months earlier.

At that time, Namuzhong looked flustered, her eyes filled with fear.

Now, when we meet again, the fear has long since faded, leaving only a sense of resigned calm.

Now that things have come to this, Namuzhong has long since given up any thought of returning to the Chahar tribe.

After Ligdan Khan's death, the Chahar tribe was fragmented.

The sons killed each other in a struggle for the Khanate.

If she goes back, she will only be snatched away by some tribal chief to become his wife.

They could not escape the fate of becoming playthings.

This is the fate of women on the grasslands.

Rather than drifting aimlessly in the chaos, it's better to stay by his side.

Although she was a concubine, she was able to live a peaceful life with no worries about food or clothing.

"Naturally, it's a matter of worrying about the survival of the Great Jin Dynasty."

Huang Taiji's voice softened somewhat.

He reached out and pulled Namuzhong in front of him, letting her sit on his lap.

Namuzhong's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed and obediently leaned into his arms.

Huang Taiji's palm slid upwards along the hem of her Mongolian robe.

When his fingers touched the silk ribbon around her waist, he gently tugged at it, and the ribbon came loose.

His movements were somewhat casual and playful.

This action naturally caused Namuzhong's breathing to become rapid and her cheeks to flush.

But she dared not resist in the slightest and could only bury her head even lower.

After a long while, Huang Taiji finally stopped moving.

Looking at the beautiful woman in his arms, her eyes sparkling with desire.

Huang Taiji gently lifted her chin with his fingertips, his tone becoming more serious:
"Have the people of the Abaga tribe contacted you yet?"

Upon hearing this, a complex expression flashed in Namuzhong's eyes.

She composed herself and replied softly:

“There is contact, but... they are unwilling to form an alliance with the Great Khan.”

She was born into the Abaga tribe of Mongolia and was the daughter of Borjigit Dorji.

The Abaga tribe was not an ordinary tribe; it was a tribe descended from the princes of the Yuan Dynasty.

The name "Abaga" means "uncle" in Mongolian, specifically referring to the descendants of Genghis Khan's brothers.

The core clan of the tribe was the Keke Wanhu, which was led by the descendants of Beligutai.

During the Jiajing era, this tribe was stationed east of the Greater Khingan Mountains.

Together with the Arukorchin tribe and the Sizi tribe, they formed the Aruk-Mongol Alliance.

After Dayan Khan's reforms, although it was placed under the jurisdiction of the Khalkha Ten Thousand Households, it maintained a relatively independent status and had considerable influence among the various Mongol tribes.

Huang Taiji initially took Namuzhong as his concubine because he coveted her beauty.

Namuzhong was a famous beauty on the grassland, with fair skin, bright eyes and a more delicate charm than the Jurchen women.

More importantly, it was for political considerations.

He wanted to use Namuzhong's background to win over the Abaga tribe.

In turn, they sought the support of the entire Khalkha Mongolian region.

Now that the Jin dynasty is in a stalemate with the Ming army, it would be helpful if they could get help from the Mongol tribes.

It can not only replenish troops, but also contain the Ming army from the side.

That will increase your chances of winning.

"Unwilling to form an alliance?"

Huang Taiji frowned again, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

But this disappointment quickly dissipated.

He raised his hand to stroke Namuzhong's hair, his tone calming down:
"It's good that we've made contact; whether we form an alliance or not is irrelevant."

"The most important thing right now is to keep the Abaga tribe neutral."

It is best not to collude with the Ming Dynasty, and even more so, not to be enemies with the Jin Dynasty.

As long as they don't cause trouble, I will defeat the Ming army.

Winning them back would be a piece of cake.

Namuzhong listened to his words and sighed inwardly:

Huang Taiji was indeed different from Ligdan Khan.

Ligdan Khan only knew how to conquer the Mongol tribes by force, and in the end, he was abandoned by his people.

Huang Taiji possessed both the ruthlessness of a warlord and the shrewdness of a ruler.

They know how to assess the situation and proceed step by step.

Only people like this can survive on the grasslands.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will send someone to contact the Abaga tribe again, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and perhaps we can persuade them."

Huang Taiji smiled with satisfaction, lowered his head and planted a light kiss on her forehead, then reached out and picked up the bowl of warm Mongolian milk tea, taking a sip.

The rich flavor of ghee mixed with the crispy aroma of fried rice, and the warmth slid down my throat and into my stomach, dispelling some of the fatigue and anxiety of the past few days.

He held Namuzhong in his arms, gazing at the dark night sky outside the palace, silently calculating in his mind:

Whether Abaga tribe remains neutral or not, at least they have one less enemy.

Next, all we need to do is focus on dealing with the Ming army's troop rotation.

When the decisive battle begins in the spring, we must defeat Xiong Tingbi in one fell swoop and carve out a way out for the Great Jin!
Just then, the voice of a guard came from outside the door.

The guard reported through the palace gate:
"Your Majesty, Fan Wencheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, requests an audience! He says he has important matters to report in person!"

Huang Taiji was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. He immediately released his arm from Namuzhong and stood up to straighten the collar of his black leather robe.

He turned to look at Namuzhong, his tone reassuring:

"My beloved concubine, please wait in the back hall. I will come to find you after I have finished dealing with state affairs."

Namuzhong nodded obediently, asked no further questions, lifted the hem of her Mongolian robe, and quietly left the main hall, turning into the rear hall.

Not long after Namuzhong left, footsteps could be heard outside the palace.

Fan Wencheng, dressed in a blue official robe and with a jade belt around his waist, walked in steadily.

Today's Fan Wencheng is no longer the petty official who was bullied by everyone during Nurhaci's time.

He had become the leader of the civil officials of the Jin Dynasty, entered the decision-making level, and was deeply trusted by Huang Taiji.

During Nurhaci's reign, he couldn't even protect his own wife and daughters. The noble sons of the Eight Banners often harassed him under the pretext of "investigating Han people," and his wife and daughters could only swallow their humiliation.

Now, however, he can enter and leave the palace without having to announce his presence, sit with Huang Taiji during meetings, and even the Jurchen nobles address him respectfully as "Vice Minister Fan."

No one dared to bully him anymore.

Huang Taiji sat on his throne and pointed to the brocade stool beside him:
"Fan Qing, please sit. What important matter has made you so eager to see me?"

Fan Wencheng did not sit down, but stepped forward, a smile on his face, and bowed to report:
"Great Khan, it's good news!"

"Xiong Tingbi, Sun Chengzong, Yang Lian, and the others have already begun to reorganize Liaodong Garrison!"

"Zhang Bingyi, the deputy commander-in-chief of Liaoyang, and Wu Fengxian, a deputy commander, are unwilling to surrender and plan to stage a mutiny in Liaodong!"

"Zhang Bingyi even sent someone to bypass the Ming army's defenses and deliver a secret letter, inviting the Great Khan to send troops to help.

"As long as the Great Khan is willing to send troops, they are willing to act as inside agents, working together to defeat the Ming army!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji suddenly sat up straight from his throne, his eyes lighting up with delight.

But this surprise lasted only a moment before his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

He stared at Fan Wencheng, his tone cautious:

"Is this true or false? Could Zhang Bingyi be bait sent by Xiong Tingbi to lure us into sending troops?"

Fan Wencheng shook his head, his tone resolute:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Zhang Bingyi and the others could never be Xiong Tingbi's pawns."

"They were receiving salaries without working, occupying military farmland, and colluding with foreign enemies; each and every one of these crimes was punishable by death."

Now that the Ming Dynasty wants to reorganize Liaodong, they dared to take the risk of launching a mutiny just to survive. How could they willingly become pawns of Xiong Tingbi?

"but……"

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more cautious.

"Xiong Tingbi is a shrewd and calculating man; he couldn't have been without preparation when he reorganized Liaodong."

Zhang Bingyi's mutiny may encounter obstacles, and the Great Khan should exercise caution if he intends to send troops.

Huang Taiji nodded slowly, already beginning to make plans in his mind:

If Liaodong is truly in turmoil, Zhang Bingyi could act as an inside agent...

Isn't this Huang Taiji's chance to turn the tide?
Previously, there were concerns about the Ming army's spring offensive and the Jin dynasty's lack of provisions. However, if the Jin dynasty could take advantage of the mutiny to defeat the Ming army and seize provisions, the crisis would be easily resolved!

just
Is it possible that Xiong Manzi can't even control his own men?
ps:
A long chapter of 9000 words!
Is there any author who updates more frequently than me?

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(End of this chapter)