Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

"Two hundred people is too few!"

The young man shook his head.

"Master Xiong, I won't hide it from you, Protector Li has discussed raising an army with me more than once."

The Taiyuan Left Guard only had a little over 5,000 soldiers. Even if they temporarily gathered more followers, the maximum number would be no more than 30,000 to 40,000.

Although its strength was ten times greater than the leader's previous two uprisings, it was still like a mantis trying to stop a chariot in a direct confrontation with the Ming court.

In my opinion, if our religion truly wants to succeed, it cannot succeed by fighting alone; it must utilize the strength of the Mongols.

But the Mongols were not exactly benevolent men and women; if things went wrong, they could end up doing all the work for them.

To cooperate, you need to have sufficient strength.

You've been in Ordos for a year now. Do you know which of the princes of the Right Wing Mongols is the most tolerant of the Han Chinese, and who has the largest number of Han Chinese under his rule, and who holds the highest status among them?

"If we were to say who was the most tolerant of the Han people, it would be Jinang's younger brother, Anda, the Tumed commander."

Master Xiong thought for a moment,

"This person is the second son of the previous Jinong Balsbolot, and his status and strength are second only to Jinang."

I have heard from some Mongol nobles that Anda took in many Han Chinese who had fled to the border regions, and even reclaimed land in Fengzhou Beach of the Tumed tribe, allowing the Han Chinese to build houses and live there.

These Han Chinese villages and towns under the rule of the Tumet were called "Bansheng".

When Altan Khan invaded the Ming Dynasty, he captured Han Chinese artisans and farmers, and settled them in "Bansheng" to farm, smelt iron, and weave cloth for the Tumed tribe.

Today, the number of Han Chinese in the Tumed tribe likely exceeds ten thousand.

Anda was also here recently, discussing with his elder brother Jinang the matter of sending troops to attack the Ming Dynasty.

"Master Xiong, please make arrangements. I want to personally pay a visit to this Tumed commander."

The young man considered it for a moment,

"Li Hufa is the son of the cult leader, so his intentions naturally reflect those of the cult leader."

I can't persuade them; I can only try to delay the uprising as much as possible.

After much persuasion, he finally agreed to let me personally travel to the Right Wing of Mongolia to discuss an alliance with Jinang and plan for a major undertaking.

"I'm afraid this won't work."

Master Xiong shook his head repeatedly.

"I've dealt with these Mongol nobles quite a bit, and they're all arrogant and disdainful of being on equal footing with the Han people, so forming an alliance with them is even more impossible."

They only accept submission and surrender.

The cult leader would never agree to such conditions.

"Who said they had to agree to an alliance!"

The young man snorted coldly.

"The leader was able to rise again after his two uprisings, thanks to his strategy of having three escape routes."

Since Zhao is the Right Protector, he should naturally devote himself to the survival of our sect.

What I really want to talk to Altan is about taking in my followers!

In this way, if the uprising fails, the followers will have a way out and a place to settle down.

. . .

In the capital, south of the Wenhua Hall, was the office of the Grand Secretariat.

"Grand Secretary Xia, this is the second time His Highness has rejected our proposals. What should we do?"

Zhai Luan sighed and placed a memorial in front of Grand Secretary Xia Yan.

This man was originally one of the three Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet. The Second Grand Secretary, Gu Dingchen, had just passed away, so he naturally became the Second Grand Secretary.

"Our first proposed charge was to hand over the so-called 'mission' to the Ministry of Justice for investigation on charges of 'falsely requesting an official title' and 'impersonating a foreigner.'"

Xia Yan picked up the memorial and looked at the two words "No" written in vermilion on the draft.

"The last time the Old Port Pacification Commissioner sent envoys to pay tribute was during the Zhengtong era, which is now a hundred years ago."

The old archives of the Siyiguan also record that as early as the reign of Emperor Yingzong, the Old Port Pacification Commission had been conquered by Java. The Shi family, the Pacification Commissioner of Old Port, surrendered to Java and the whole family was relocated to Java.

Where would any descendants of the Shi family be able to inherit the position?

Moreover, I also summoned the people from the Huitong Hall to ask them. Although the Han people in Southeast Asia can speak Chinese and write Chinese characters, their accents and habits are still somewhat different from those of the people in the Ming Dynasty.

There were indeed some such people in this "delegation," but they were all just attendants. The middle-aged man who claimed to be Shi Zeng, a descendant of Shi Jinqing, looked exactly like a person from the Ming Dynasty.

If it weren't for the Ministry of War's Military Selection Office verifying the authenticity of the seal and edict of investiture held by this person, it would have been confirmed that they were genuine.

These audacious madmen should have been arrested and punished long ago; this memorial wouldn't have even reached the cabinet.

I wasn't too surprised that the first draft was rejected by His Highness Prince Ying.

Although the genealogy presented by this person could not be verified as genuine, nor could it prove that he was truly a descendant of Shi Jinqing, the seal and the imperial edict of investiture were, after all, authentic.

Even if we determine that the seal and edict of investiture were not inherited from this person, but rather obtained through some other means, handing them over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation would indeed have both advantages and disadvantages.

"After His Highness Prince Ying rejected it, we drafted a second draft."

Zhai Luan's tone held a hint of helplessness.

"At the time, we thought that His Highness probably felt that being too harsh on the 'distant people' who came across the sea to pay tribute would damage the dignity of the court."

Therefore, the Cabinet's proposed opinion this time is to "reject the attack request and grant a reward for repatriation."

Since the Zhengtong era, the tribute mission of the Old Port Pacification Commissioner has ceased for a long time, and the lineage of the Pacification Commissioner Shi family is also untraceable. It is really inappropriate to let this person inherit the position.

However, since this person came from afar to seek enlightenment and brought some local products from Southeast Asia as tribute, it is appropriate to reward him with some colorful satin, silk, clothing, and official hats before sending him back.

However, His Highness once again wrote "No!" in vermilion ink.

"What exactly does Your Highness mean, Grand Secretary Xia?"

"Since His Highness Prince Ying began assisting the Crown Prince in overseeing the state, this is the first time he has come into contact with a chieftain's request to inherit the throne."

Xia Yan stroked his beard.

"Grand Secretary Cui, it suddenly occurred to me that when we drafted this memorial, we never considered His Highness's own background?"

"What does Grand Secretary Xia mean?!"

Zhai Luan initially looked puzzled, but quickly his expression changed to one of sudden realization.

"We definitely didn't think this through!"

His Highness Prince Ying had been living among the common people since childhood, and by the time he was recognized by his ancestors, he was already twenty-one years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning).

When Shi Zeng, carrying an imperial edict and the seal of a Pacification Commissioner from a hundred years ago, traveled across the ocean to the capital to request the inheritance of the hereditary title of Tusi (local official), our first thought is that due to the great distance in time, the authenticity of this person's identity cannot be verified.

But His Highness wouldn't think that way; he would first empathize with the situation and even feel a sense of shared suffering.

Our initial proposal to hand this person over to the Ministry of Justice for questioning has likely already displeased His Highness.

The second draft proposal, which simply involved giving some rewards and sending the person away, clearly did not satisfy His Highness.

In His Highness's view, since this person came to the capital with the imperial edict and seal that granted his ancestor the title of hereditary chieftain, His Highness naturally did not want him to leave disappointed.

However, the Old Port Pacification Commission was destroyed by Java a century ago and no longer exists. Even if the court acknowledges that he is a descendant of Shi Jinqing, where can he go to inherit the position?

"Where he goes to assume his post is none of the court's business."

Xia Yan picked up the teacup on the table and took a small sip.

"Third time's the charm. Your Highness has already rejected the draft proposals on this matter twice. If it is rejected a third time, some people may think that you and I are incompetent."

Since Your Highness wishes to grant this person's request, then let him inherit the position.

It was just a nominal title given to him by the imperial court, that of a third-rank Pacification Commissioner.

The local officials received no salary or actual pay in rice; they lived off the land they owned.

In the future, there will be no need for the imperial court to spend any money.