Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 484 The Devil's Oath: Using Someone Else to Kill!
Zhu Su then added fuel to the fire: "Especially those tribal leaders with ulterior motives, who have long regarded Lord Zaisang as a thorn in their side, but dare not make a move because they are afraid of his power and influence."

"If this matter leaks out, they will most likely take this opportunity to kick someone when they're down."

"If we do not plan ahead, the situation will get out of control and we will be unable to salvage it."

These words not only revealed the perilous nature of the situation, but also cleverly instilled in Huda the sense of urgency of being attacked from both inside and outside.

The political system of Beshbali was different from that of the Ming Dynasty.

In Beshbaliq, the Khan's power was not absolute.

Many of the princes and nobles in the court came from various tribes; they were both important officials in the court and tribal leaders.

They wielded real power, each commanding their own troops, and held absolute authority within their respective tribes.

If the situation changes drastically, they may turn against each other and become fickle.

Huda's expression was uncertain, and after a long while he asked in a deep voice, "In your opinion, how should I deal with this?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Su immediately bowed and said, "The only solution at present is to remove the fuel from under the fire."

"Lord Zaisang might as well secretly send his elite troops, disguised as bandits, to intercept and kill the entire Ming delegation on their way."

He slowly raised his hand, making a beheading gesture, his tone as somber as night: "If the envoy sent by Zhu Yunwen dies on the way, he will be furious."

"At that time, the Ming Dynasty and Beshbaliq will inevitably turn against each other."

"As a result, those nobles who originally tended to submit to the Ming Dynasty no longer dared to easily surrender."

“Once hatred is formed, war is bound to break out. You can then stabilize the situation and devise a plan for the future.”

After hearing this, Hu Daida remained silent, his expression somber and speechless.

His fingers were sometimes open and sometimes clenched, the rhythm slightly disordered, revealing that he was not at peace.

After a long silence, Hu Daida finally spoke in a low voice, his tone cold:

"I have long heard that the Ming army now relies on muskets and cannons, whose power is terrifying."

"The tribes of the grasslands were defeated by weapons like these back then."

"The once invincible warriors of the grasslands were utterly defeated in one battle under the bombardment of firearms and cannons. They lost their armor and weapons, and their army collapsed like a house of cards, and they had no choice but to submit and become vassals."

His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, fixed on Zhu Su, his tone tinged with doubt: "If I were to truly engage in battle with the Ming Dynasty at Beshibali, what would I use to withstand their firearms and cannons?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Su's expression remained unchanged. Instead, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted, and his eyes revealed a sense of calm and composure, as if he had expected all of this.

“Lord Zaisang’s concerns are indeed valid.” He said calmly, “But the Ming army relies on its firearms and cannons. If it loses these weapons, it will be like a tiger with broken teeth or an eagle with broken wings, unable to exert its power again.”

He paused slightly at this point, his gaze fixed firmly on Huda:
"Beshbali is more than 3,000 li away from Jiayuguan on the border of the Ming Dynasty. The entire route is Gobi Desert with yellow sand, barren of grass, and sandstorms."

"Such a natural barrier is difficult to traverse without elite troops and strong logistics."

"If the Ming army really dares to come from afar, regardless of their strength, the endless yellow sand alone will be enough to trap them and kill them on the way."

He then changed the subject, saying, "Furthermore, while muskets and cannons are powerful, their biggest weakness is their heavy reliance on ammunition."

"Ammunition was consumed extremely quickly after the start of the war."

"Without sufficient supplies, those seemingly powerful firearms are nothing more than a pile of scrap metal, easily destroyed."

"The reason why the tribes of the grasslands were defeated and routed was that they were completely unprepared when they first came into contact with the new firearms of the Ming Dynasty. They thought that the firearms were still the same as before and continued to follow the old cavalry warfare tactics. Naturally, they collapsed at the first contact, lost their courage and abandoned their weapons."

"But by today's time, the Ming army's firearms are no longer a mystery."

"If we set up ambushes along the way, harassing them day and night, cutting off their grain transport teams, destroying their supply wagons, and severing their rear and supplies, then no matter how many elite troops the Ming army has, they will eventually be trapped in the desert and buried in the yellow dust!"

After listening to him, Huda slowly raised his eyes and stared intently at the seemingly ordinary Han man in front of him.

That gaze was devoid of emotion, yet extremely profound, as if trying to see through a person's skin to uncover the hidden sharpness within.

Zhu Su remained unmoved. He knew that although these words hit the nail on the head, they also exposed him to the light.

As the powerful minister of Beshbali, the head of the prime minister, and the commander of the army, Huda was well-versed in the art of war and had also studied the military system of the Ming Dynasty and firearms and artillery.

Zhu Su's words today coincide with his previous deductions.

How could this not arouse his suspicion?
The Han Chinese man before me, who called himself a "commoner," was merely a folk doctor, yet he possessed profound knowledge of such crucial military and national affairs, key military routes, and even the advantages and disadvantages of firearms and logistics.

Is he really just an ordinary doctor?
Just how many secrets is this person hiding that he has yet to reveal?
Zhu Su noticed the fleeting suspicion in Hu Daida's eyes, but remained outwardly calm, though he had already made up his mind.

He smiled slightly, feigning composure and fearlessness, his tone sincere and calm:
"Lord Zaisang should understand that all those who have wandered from the Central Plains to the Western Regions have their own hidden stories. This humble one is no exception."

"Those past events are too painful to recall; I hope you will not delve into them further."

He raised his eyes and looked directly at Huda, his expression solemn and his tone earnest: "I swear by the Lord’s holy name that I have no disloyalty to Lord Zaisang or to Beshbalik."

"If there is even the slightest falsehood or deceit, may the Lord punish me, send me into the fire of hell, torment me day and night, so that my soul may never find peace and I may never be reborn."

Upon hearing this, Hu Daida was slightly taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, walked forward, patted Zhu Su heavily on the shoulder, and said with a smile:
"Haha, what a loyal man! I certainly trust you!"

He then changed the subject and became more frank: "To be honest, I had no intention of making Beshbalik submit to the Ming Dynasty."

"Leaving aside other things, the fact that they have different beliefs alone makes it difficult for them to coexist."

“We believe in the one and only supreme God, not the ‘saint’ you speak of.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Su's lips parted slightly. He wanted to explain that the "sages" of the Ming Dynasty were completely different from the "lords" they believed in.

But then I thought, how could the deep-rooted beliefs of these nomadic tribes be shaken by just a few words?

They also couldn't understand the difference between the two.

Zhu Su swallowed his words back, only nodding slightly as if to agree.

He knew that the most important thing at this moment was not to argue, but to maintain Huda's trust.

The two then continued their conversation, discussing everything from the political situation to the border region, before gradually turning to casual conversation about everyday matters.

The atmosphere became more relaxed once the topic changed.

As a son of the royal family, Zhu Su was exposed to the tastes and elegance of princes and nobles from a young age, and was knowledgeable about food, local products, hunting, horsemanship, and rare treasures.

What's even more remarkable is that he had conducted a thorough investigation of Huda before his arrival, catering to Huda's preferences in every way, and speaking appropriately yet warmly and naturally.

Before they knew it, the two found themselves getting along very well, laughing and chatting frequently, as if they were old acquaintances reunited.

When it was time to part, Hu Daida personally escorted Zhu Su to the hall, his words no longer showing the wariness and coldness he had shown at their first meeting.

However, just as he watched Zhu Su's departing figure gradually disappear into the twilight, Hu Daida turned back into the hall, the smile on his face vanished. His expression suddenly darkened, his gaze turned icy, sending chills down one's spine.

A moment later, he whispered the order: "Execute the two maids who were serving in the hall just now in secret."

Although the maid was exceptionally beautiful, she had overheard confidential information and therefore could not be allowed to stay.

His orders were cold and decisive.

Immediately afterwards, Huda summoned several trusted confidants and held a secret meeting in a private room.

One of them said in a deep voice, "Cao Zhu is ultimately just a doctor, and a man from the Central Plains. His words may not be credible."

Another person scoffed, "The people of the Central Plains are most adept at flattery and deceit, their words are honeyed while their hearts are daggers, and they have no faith to speak of. Even if they swear an oath to the Lord, it is no different from an oath made by the devil, and it is not credible."

Hu Daida listened quietly, his eyes like a deep pool, without a ripple, yet it was impossible to discern his true judgment.

To outsiders, Huda always appeared crude, savage, lecherous, and reckless, much like a typical grassland warrior.

But those who truly know him know that it's nothing more than a carefully crafted facade.

The real Huda was an extremely profound and meticulous person, skilled at concealing his sharpness and adept at appearing dull-witted.

Otherwise, how could he have stood out in the bloody power struggles of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, ultimately securing his position as the most powerful minister, wielding military and political power, and becoming second only to the emperor?

At this moment, a trusted aide spoke up: "I think that the Han Chinese doctor Cao Zhu may not be truly thinking of Lord Zaisang's best interests, but his words do make some sense."

He continued in a solemn tone, “The Ming Dynasty has always adhered to the so-called ‘Way of the Sage,’ emphasizing ‘the ruler is a ruler, the minister is a minister, the father is a father, and the son is a son.’ It is a concept that highly values ​​the power of the emperor and suppresses the power of the ministers.”

“People of high rank and power like Lord Zaisang are often seen as threats in their eyes and are the targets of their suppression.”

"I have read novels written by their scholars, which tell the story of the Three Kingdoms period."

"Among them, the famous powerful minister Cao Cao is depicted in the novel as a ruthless and cunning villain."

"This book was widely circulated in the Ming Dynasty and was widely recited by the people."

"The characters in the book have long been deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people of the Ming Dynasty,"

"This shows that the Ming Dynasty could not tolerate powerful ministers, which was indeed a widely accepted principle among them."

At this point, he changed to a more relaxed tone, revealing a hint of sarcasm: "As for the reputation of the current Ming emperor for being a womanizer, it is by no means just idle gossip carried back by a bird in the wind."

"Among the Han Chinese merchants in Beshbali, rumors had already been circulating privately about the emperor's infatuation with women and his excessive favoritism towards his concubines. The stories were vivid and detailed."

"These things, though merely rumors circulating in the marketplace, are mostly not unfounded. Lord Zaisang must be wary."

Another confidant chimed in, "If Beshbalik really submits to the Ming Dynasty, that emperor, in order to establish his authority in the desert, and given his long-standing prejudice against Lord Zaisang, will likely be the first to strike, sir."

"At that time, let alone keeping power and position, I'm afraid even my life might not be safe."

Everyone expressed their opinions, and the discussion was lively.

Another trusted aide frowned and said, "However, I still feel that sending troops disguised as thieves to attack the Ming Dynasty delegation is ultimately too risky."

He said in a solemn tone, with concern, "If this matter is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"The leaders of all the tribes will think that it is really wrong of Lord Zaisang to offend the Ming Dynasty in this way."

"The Great Khan will surely be furious."

"Furthermore, Lord Zaisang's actions have completely severed ties with the Ming Dynasty, leaving no room for maneuver."

"I dare to speak frankly, but this plan must not be implemented hastily."

As soon as he finished speaking, another trusted confidant who had been silent suddenly looked up and calmly said:
"I have a plan that would allow Lord Zaisang to take action without personally leading the troops."

"We can simply borrow a knife from someone else."

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Hu Daida's eyes.

"Oh? Tell me, whose knife do you need to borrow?"

“Mahamay!” A sinister glint flashed in the confidant’s eyes as he coldly said, “He has always been ambitious and has long coveted the position of Great Khan.”

“He had no respect for his elder brother, Shamichagan, and no brotherly affection whatsoever.”

"This time, the Great Khan ordered Shami Chagan to lead his troops to welcome the Ming Dynasty delegation. He must have felt resentful and indignant, thinking that the Great Khan was favoring his elder brother."

"Just send someone to whisper something in his ear at the right time, saying that if Shamichagan makes a mistake while receiving the delegation, he will be held responsible for the mistake, and the Khan will definitely punish Shamichagan severely."

“In this way, the Great Khan will have no choice but to use him, give him power, and pass the throne to him… Mahama will definitely be tempted.”

"Let him send troops to impersonate bandits, intercept and kill the Ming envoys, and then frame Shamichagan. If the plan succeeds, it will severely damage his brother's reputation."

"With his simple-minded and eager-to-achieve nature, Mahama will surely regard this plan as a brilliant strategy, thinking that he can get away with it without anyone noticing."

“Once he actually takes action and kills the Ming delegation, we will immediately report to the Great Khan, exposing his crimes. This will not only eliminate Mahama, this major threat, but also allow Shamichagan to rightfully obtain the right to succeed him.”

“Even if Mahama fails and the matter is exposed, he will still become the target of public criticism.”

"Furthermore, this matter can make the Great Khan completely lose faith in the Ming Dynasty and no longer have any intention of submitting."

He changed the subject, his expression becoming even colder: "To put it another way, if the Ming Dynasty is enraged and raises an army, if our army can resist, we can take advantage of the situation to rise up."

"If we are truly outmatched, we cannot stop the Ming army."

"At that time, we can hand over Mahama to the Ming Dynasty for disposal and then seek peace with the Ming Dynasty. This would still be a good way to turn danger into safety."

"This will also make Shamichagan's position as secure as ever."

Although the Great Khan's son, Khoja, was still alive, Shamichagan and Mahama, as the Great Khan's sons, had long been locked in a fierce and irreconcilable struggle for the future Khanate.

Its intensity was no less than the struggle for the throne in the Central Plains imperial family.

As the most powerful minister in Beshbalik, Huda had always fully supported Shamichagan.

If this opportunity can be seized to eliminate Mahama, this major threat, it will not only solidify Shamichagan's position but also ensure that he continues to wield power after the new Khan ascends the throne.

Upon realizing this, Hu Daida slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Excellent! This plan can be used for both offense and defense. If it succeeds, all will be well; if it fails, no harm will be done. It is flawless and foolproof!"

"If that's the case, then proceed with this plan!"

……

(End of this chapter)