Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

(Someone voted for me yesterday, so I'll be adding an extra chapter today.)

A day later, the guard at Andingmen received an urgent report.

A Mongol cavalry unit of about fifty men galloped in from the northwest.

They claimed to have come on the orders of the Araji Academy to negotiate peace with the Ming Emperor.

Half an hour later, a group of ten Mongol cavalrymen arrived at Xizhimen.

The messenger claimed to be an envoy of Toghtoa Bukha, carrying a letter from the Great Khan, requesting an audience in the capital.

When the news reached the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Qiyu was discussing military affairs with Yu Qian, Wang Zhi, and others.

Zhu Qiyu put down the report in his hand, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Two groups of envoys? Only half an hour apart?"

Yu Qian pondered and said, "Your Majesty, Arazhiyuan only parted ways with Esen yesterday to go north, and the envoy has arrived today. This is rather suspicious."

Meanwhile, Toghtog Bukha remained outside Juyong Pass, and Esen's envoys came to request an audience as soon as he withdrew.

This means his envoys had already entered the pass, and they were not far from Beijing when Esen attacked the city!

Wang Zhi frowned: "Could it be a trap? Is Esen deliberately sending two groups of fake envoys to sow discord among our troops?"

Zhu Qiyu laughed: "You'll know when you see it."

The imperial decree granted permission for the two envoys to enter the city.

The envoy of Arajiin was placed in the north courtyard of the meeting hall.

The messenger of Tuotuo Buhua was placed in the South Courtyard.

Don't let them see each other.

At 3:45 PM, I received separate audiences in the Wuying Hall.

Zhu Qiyu already had a general idea of ​​the purpose of the two teams of envoys.

However, he still asked, "What do you think are the purposes of the envoys, Toghtogbuhua and Arazhiyuan?"

Yu Qian spoke first: "Although Toghtog Bukha is the nominal Great Khan of the Mongols, his power is actually limited, and this trip south was not his wish."

The envoys they sent were mostly seeking peace.

Arachiin had the same purpose.

Chen Xunze said, "I'm afraid they're not being sincere."

Zhu Qiyu laughed and said, "Haha, great minds think alike."

Whether it's genuine or not, that's not important.

They want profits, we need time.

Once our Great Ming Dynasty overcomes this hurdle, they will forever remain 'sincere'!

At the beginning of the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), the two envoys entered the city one after the other.

The envoy from Arazhiyuan was a Mongolian nobleman in his forties named Batu, who spoke fluent Chinese and wore a magnificent sable robe.

He was placed in the North Courtyard, and his more than forty entourage had their weapons confiscated and were "protected" by a squad of Imperial Guards.

The envoy of Tuotuo Buhua was an unexpected figure.

A middle-aged scholar who looked like a Han Chinese, who called himself Zhang Wenbi, was originally a scholar from Datong Prefecture.

In the tenth year of the Zhengtong reign, he was captured and taken to the grasslands. Because he was literate, he was taken in as a staff member by Tuotuo Buhua. He only brought nine followers with him.

Upon entering the South Courtyard, the first thing he did was ask the junior officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard guarding him to help him buy clothes, saying he needed to tidy his appearance.

At 3:45 PM, in the Wuying Hall.

Zhu Qiyu first received Batu, the envoy of Arazhiyuan.

Batu performed the Mongolian rites and presented Arazhiyuan's handwritten letter.

There are two copies in total. One is the original text written in Mongolian, and the other is a Chinese translation made by a Ming Dynasty official after entering the city.

The letter was very simple. It first praised the Ming emperor for his greatness, for unifying the world and being invincible.

As Mongolians, they don't use many fancy words; they are just straightforward.

Then came their terms.

Arazhiyuan was willing to make peace with the Ming Dynasty, lead his troops back to the grasslands in the north, and no longer participate in Esen's southern invasion.

In exchange for the title of "Prince of Shunyi" bestowed upon him by the Ming emperor, and the opening of trade between Datong and Xuanfu, Arazhiyuan requested that the emperor grant him the title of "Prince of Shunyi".

Arachika was willing to offer 5,000 fine warhorses as tribute each year.

At the same time, they voluntarily returned the civilians and prisoners of war who had been looted during the southward expedition.

After reading the letter, Zhu Qiyu asked, "Where is Arazhiyuan now?"

Batu respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Censor has led his troops to set up camp thirty li outside Juyong Pass."

"As long as His Majesty approves the peace treaty, we will immediately head north through Juyong Pass and will not linger."

Zhu Qiyu stared at Batu: "What about Esen? Arazhiyuan is from the same clan and tribe as Esen. Isn't he afraid of Esen's retaliation?"

Batu smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty is wise. Esen was obstinate and disregarded the lives of the people of the tribe."

To protect his clan, the governor had no choice but to break with them.

"If Your Majesty would grant me a title and open trade, I, the Imperial Censor, am willing to defend the northern border for the Ming Dynasty and will never allow Esen to invade the south again."

Zhu Qiyu nodded noncommittally, then told Batu to leave and rest, and said he would reply the next day.

Half an hour later, Zhang Wenbi, the envoy of Tuotuo Buhua, entered the Wuying Hall.

This man's behavior was completely different from Batu's. He performed the etiquette of a Han Chinese subject, kneeling and kowtowing three times and calling himself "a sinful subject".

The official letter he presented was neatly written in both Han and Mongolian languages ​​and stamped with the gold seal of Tuotuo Buhua.

Zhu Qiyu unfolded the official letter, the contents of which made him raise an eyebrow slightly.

The conditions for Tuotuo Buhua were similar to those for Arazhiyuan.

He requested the Ming Dynasty to bestow upon him the title of Prince Zhongshun.

He also promised to restrain his followers and never cross the border.

He even proposed to relocate his three Uriyangkhai tribes to the Great Wall to guard the border for the Ming Dynasty.

They only requested that the Ming Dynasty open horse markets in Liaodong, Jizhou, Yansui, and other places.

The Mongols were allowed to exchange horses and furs for grain, cloth, and ironware.

Even more surprisingly, a detailed "statement of sincerity" was attached to the letter of credentials.

The text records how Tuotuo Buhua "outwardly complied but inwardly defied":

In August, Toghtoa Bukha responded to Esen's orders and attacked Liaodong.

In reality, they only sent a small group of cavalry as a show, and they withdrew after three days.

In September, they besieged Juyong Pass, but did not launch a single strong attack for more than ten days, only making feigned attacks each day.

Zhang Wenbi prostrated himself and said, "Your Majesty, although Toghtoa Bukha Khan is the common ruler of the Mongols, his power has long been usurped by Esen."

This invasion of the south was not the Great Khan's original intention.

The Great Khan often said that the grasslands and the Central Plains are like cattle and sheep and pastures; if they fight, both will suffer, but if they help each other, both will benefit.

The three Uriyangkhai tribes have been officially recognized by the Ming Dynasty for many years, and their people are well-fed and clothed, able to survive the winter without plundering—this is clear evidence.

Zhu Qiyu asked Zhang Wenbi to rise, and then asked, "Since you are a Han Chinese, why are you aiding the Mongol Khan?"

Zhang Wenbi frankly stated: "The criminals were captured on the grasslands for thirteen years, and at first, they longed to return home day and night."

However, over time, I learned that not all tribes on the grasslands were tigers and wolves.

The sinners knew that what they gained through war would not last, but what they gained through trade would be permanent.

The guilty people assisted the Great Khan in drafting this letter of state, hoping for an end to the war between the two countries and peace for the border people.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "I understand. You may return to the guesthouse to rest. I will discuss this with my ministers and give you an answer."

After the envoy left, Zhu Qiyu immediately summoned important officials such as Yu Qian, Wang Zhi, Hu Ying, and Chen Xun to the palace.

Zhu Qiyu circulated the two official letters among the attendees: "What do you think of the conditions offered by the two envoys?"

Hu Ying said first: "Your Majesty, the title of king requested by Arazhiyuan is similar to the title of Shun Ning King bestowed upon Mahmud, the leader of the Oirat Mongols, during the Yongle era. It may be granted."

However, its demand to open trade between Datong and Xuanfu requires additional restrictions.

The annual transaction volume and types of goods must be determined by us.

Wang Zhi was more concerned about Toghtog Bukha: "Toghtog Bukha said that he was willing to move the three tribes of Uriyangkhai to guard the border, but this is absolutely unacceptable."

Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts!

Yu Qian also spoke up: "Your Majesty, the arrival of the two envoys on the same day may seem like a coincidence, but in reality, it is the culmination of internal conflicts within the grasslands."

Esen's power was based on interests.

Now, having suffered a setback at the gates of Beijing and with Bayan Temur killed in battle, his prestige has been damaged.

It is indeed possible that Arazhiyuan and Tuotuobuhua will seize the opportunity to launch an attack and compete for dominance over the grasslands.

Their pleas for peace may be sincere, or they may be a way to lull us into a false sense of security.

None of that matters; all that's needed is for them to know that the other person is sincere.

Zhu Qiyu's eyes lit up: "A divisive tactic!"

Yu Qian continued, "We can immediately send an envoy to secretly inform Arazhiyuan."

They said that Toghtog Bukha had already submitted to our dynasty and was willing to act as an inside agent to jointly attack Esen.

At the same time, he secretly informed Tuotuo Buhua that Alazhiyuan had been granted the title of Shunyi King and was about to return north.

The two will inevitably become suspicious of each other and dare not act rashly.

Meanwhile, our dynasty has dispatched envoys to renegotiate the terms of peace talks.

"Excellent!" Wang Zhi clapped his hands and exclaimed, "I hereby order General Yang Hong of Xuanfu and General Guo Deng of Datong to each lead 5,000 elite troops to quickly reinforce Juyong Pass."

Thus, with troops stationed both inside and outside the pass, Arazhiyuan and Tuotuo Buhua dared not make any untoward moves.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhu Qiyu nodded and said, "Let's proceed with this plan. But I want to revise the terms of the peace treaty."

He looked at Hu Ying: "Minister Hu, draft two imperial edicts."

To Arazhiyuan: He is granted the title of Prince of Shunyi, but the trade market shall be opened only in Datong.

The types of goods that can be traded each year are limited, and ironware and gunpowder are not allowed to be traded.

Furthermore, he was ordered to return north immediately and was not to linger at Juyong Pass.

"To Tuotuo Buhua:"

He was granted the title of Prince Zhongshun and ordered to open two commercial markets in Liaodong and Jizhou.

Trading in gunpowder and other military equipment is prohibited, but trading in iron pots, farm tools, and medicinal herbs is permitted.

In addition, he had to do one thing: immediately lead his troops westward to cut off Esen's route back north to Zijing Pass.

If Esen is captured and killed, I will reward him even more!