Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

The wind on the grassland is like a knife.

Yue Qian wrapped his fur coat tighter around himself.

He has been out of Juyong Pass for more than a month.

For more than a month, he led his delegation to search for Esen's camp all over the grasslands.

I walked north for ten days from Yefuling, but couldn't find it.

They turned northwest and traveled for another ten days, but still couldn't find it.

He kept in mind Zhu Qiyu's advice before he set off to "find it slowly".

So he traveled on and off along the way.

If you encounter a river, you need to rest for two days; if you encounter wind and snow, you need to seek shelter for three days.

Sometimes they could clearly find out the approximate location of Esen's camp.

He also deliberately took a detour, going somewhere else for a few more days.

Li Yan was fully aware of this, but never asked any questions.

But every time Yue Qian said, "Let's go further north,"

He then led his hundred guards on horseback ahead.

They scouted the route, set up camp, and maintained vigilance, arranging everything perfectly.

A few days ago, the group had just returned to Juyongguan to replenish their supplies.

After enjoying two days of warmth, we set off again.

The mission was camping in a valley when suddenly the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

Li Yan immediately became alert and waved his hand, and more than a dozen guards quickly dispersed, drawing their bows and arrows.

A moment later, a group of Mongol cavalry appeared in sight.

There were about thirty people, and the leader was a man wearing a mink coat, who was none other than his old acquaintance, Boyan.

Bayan rode up to him, his expression a mix of anger and helplessness: "Minister Yue! You've made me search so hard!"

Yue Qian smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "Envoy Boyan, how have you been?"

This envoy was sent to the Oirat Mongols by imperial decree, and his journey was to find the Grand Tutor's camp.

However, the grasslands were so vast that they could not find a way in.

I was just thinking about whether to send someone back to ask the Grand Tutor for the exact location.

Then Bayan's envoy arrived; what a coincidence!

Boyan's lips twitched.

skillful?

What a load of rubbish!

Not long after he returned to the grasslands, he heard that the Ming Dynasty delegation had left Juyong Pass.

I thought it would take at most ten days to reach the main camp.

But after waiting and waiting, no one showed up.

The Grand Tutor sent people to inquire everywhere and found out that Minister Yue had been wandering around the grasslands for more than a month but had not been able to find the place.

Esen was so angry that he smashed his wine bowl: "Is he unable to find it, or does he simply not want to look?!"

Bayan had no choice but to personally lead a group of people out to greet them.

After searching for another seven or eight days, they finally stumbled upon this valley.

Suppressing his anger, Bayan spurred his horse forward to guide him: "Minister Yue, please follow me."

Yue Qian nodded, then looked at Li Yan: "Li Qianhu, order your men to pack their things and follow Envoy Bayan."

Li Yan grinned: "Okay!"

Guided by Bayan, the delegation headed northwest.

This time, we didn't take a detour.

Five days later they finally saw the Oirat camp.

Yue Qian reined in his horse on a hillside and looked at the campsite before him with a sense of surprise.

The camp was huge, with tents stretching for miles, but the atmosphere was completely different from what he had imagined.

There was no imposing formation, no valiant morale, only a deathly silence.

Many tents were dilapidated, and the edges of the camp were piled with the frozen carcasses of cattle and sheep.

Some emaciated women and children huddled inside the tent, staring at them with numb eyes.

Li Yan whispered, "Minister Yue, this...this is Esen's camp?"

Yue Qian nodded without saying anything.

He recalled what Zhu Qiyu had said: "Esen will have a hard winter."

Seeing it with my own eyes now, I finally understand what "not having a good time" means.

In the battle beneath Beijing, Esen lost more than 20,000 elite troops.

Arachibana broke his promise and left, while Toghtobhuwa stood by and watched.

They brought back very few supplies in the end.

Yue Qian didn't know how many people froze to death on the grasslands that winter.

But the scene before him told him that there was so much, so much.

Boyan said from the side, "Minister Yue, please, the Grand Tutor is waiting for you."

Yue Qian followed them deeper into the camp.

They soon arrived at Esen's main tent, where Esen himself came out to greet them.

Yue Qian bowed and said, "I am Yue Qian, the Minister of Rites and envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty, here by imperial decree to pay my respects to the Grand Tutor."

Esen looked at him with complicated emotions, feeling a mix of feelings in his heart.

The person in front of me came here once last September.

He came to discuss welcoming Zhu Qizhen back.

She deliberately made harsh demands and then ignored him.

Now, it's my turn to beg him to come...

Yesen replied, "Minister Yue must be tired from your journey. Please come into the tent and let's talk."

Yue Qian nodded and then entered the main tent.

A brazier was burning inside the tent, making it much warmer than outside.

Several Oirat nobles sat on either side, staring at Yue Qian with hostile eyes.

Yue Qian calmly sat down in the guest seat.

Yesen returned to the main seat: "Minister Yue, my teacher sent an envoy with a letter of state last year."

We wish to return to your former emperor and end the war with the Ming Dynasty.

Why did it take so long to come?

Yue Qian: "Grand Tutor, you are unaware of this."

The envoy left Juyong Pass a month ago.

Heading north in search of the Grand Tutor's camp.

Unfortunately, the grassland was vast, and they searched for a long time without finding it.

If it weren't for Bayan's envoy arriving in time...

"I'm afraid this envoy is still wandering around the grasslands right now."

Esen's face darkened.

He understood the meaning behind Yue Qian's words: It's not that I don't want to come, it's that I can't find it, so you can't blame me, right?

Sitting to the side, Batel couldn't help but say, "Minister Yue, although the grasslands are vast, the location of the Grand Tutor's camp is not a secret."

"You've been searching for over a month and still can't find it. Who would believe that?"

Yue Qian glanced at him and said indifferently, "This general has an interesting way of speaking."

There are no road signs or rest stops on the grassland.

It's not surprising that I got lost on my first trip outside the Great Wall.

If the Oirat envoy enters the pass, without a guide, will he be able to find Beijing?

Batel, his face flushed red with embarrassment, shouted, "We left Bayan in Beijing to guide you, it was you..."

He waved his hand, signaling Battul to step down.

He didn't want to dwell on this topic any longer: "Now that Minister Yue has arrived, let's discuss the important matters."

"If we send you back to your former emperor, what conditions can the Ming Dynasty offer?"

Yue Qian asked, "What conditions does the Grand Tutor desire?"

Esen said, "Last year I sent an envoy to discuss the matter of trade."

The markets in Datong and Xuanfu were opened, and a certain amount of grain, cloth, and ironware were traded each year.

This is my bottom line.

Yue Qian shook his head: "Grand Tutor, regarding the trade, Arazhiyuan and Toghtoa Bukha Khan reached an agreement with the Ming Dynasty last year."

If the Grand Tutor wishes to open a business, he might as well learn from them.

Esen's expression changed.

He knew, of course, that Arazhiyuan had been granted the title of Shunyi King and Tuotuo Buhua had been granted the title of Zhongshun King.

It was the betrayal of these two people that led him into his current predicament.

Esen's voice turned cold: "Minister Yue, are you mocking your master?"

Yue Qian remained neither humble nor arrogant: "This envoy is merely acting on imperial orders to discuss with the Grand Tutor the matter of welcoming back the Emperor Emeritus."

Whether or not to engage in trade is not within the scope of this envoy's authority.

If the Grand Tutor wishes to discuss trade, he may send another envoy to Beijing to discuss it with His Majesty in person.

The atmosphere inside the tent immediately became tense.

A nobleman from the Oirat tribe suddenly stood up and said in Mongolian, "Grand Tutor, this Han man is clearly making excuses!"

Why not detain him and force the Ming Dynasty to offer terms in exchange?