My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 272 Great Khan of the Mongols, kneel down to receive the imperial edict from the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!
As night deepened, the fire in the tent gradually died down, leaving only a few wisps of smoke drifting away. Only then did the brother and sister part ways.

Qiqige returned to her tent, lay on the soft blanket, and sighed softly, her mind filled with many thoughts.

She knew that tomorrow would be the crucial moment to decide this matter.

Whether Zhu Cilang will agree to his brother's request, and whether the cooperation between the two sides can proceed smoothly, remains to be seen.

As she pondered these thoughts, she gradually drifted off to sleep.

Before we knew it, it was the next morning.

That morning, before it was fully light, Zhu Cilang got up early. He quickly washed up, changed his clothes, and prepared to welcome Abunai's arrival.

Even the civil and military officials were on high alert and arrived at the city gate early to wait.

They all knew the importance of this matter, and their expressions were serious. However, as they waited and waited, and the sun gradually rose higher, Abunai's army did not arrive.

The civil and military officials at the city gate began to get restless, whispering among themselves and discussing the matter, none of them knowing what was going on.

Just as everyone was getting impatient, suddenly, a cavalry force of several hundred men rushed towards Xuanfu like a black lightning bolt.

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves exploded in the silent air, raising a cloud of dust.

However, the visitor was not Abunai, but Qiqige.

At this moment, Qiqige was riding on horseback, her eyes filled with unease.

Seeing that Abuna had not come, but his sister had, the civil and military officials standing at the city gate were all astonished.

But Qiqige didn't explain anything. After entering Xuanfu, she went straight to the Xuanfu government office. Seeing this, the crowd at the city gate followed her.

A moment later, the group arrived at the Xuanfu government office and met Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang was originally waiting for Abunai, but when he saw that only Qiqige had arrived, he couldn't help but ask in confusion:

"Why are you the only one here? Where's your brother?"

Qiqige hesitated at first, but finally mustered up her courage and said:
“My brother didn’t come. He was afraid that this was all another Ming army scheme, and that you actually wanted to lure him to Xuanfu and then kill him.”

"So he told me to tell you that if you are really sincere, you should go to the grasslands to see him in person."

"He's right there waiting for you!"

what?
Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang did not react, but Qin Liangyu, who was standing to the side, suddenly couldn't help but speak up.

She strode forward, her eyes blazing with anger, and shouted:
"This is utterly outrageous! Our Great Ming has shown the utmost sincerity this time, bringing not only His Majesty's imperial edict but also having His Highness the Crown Prince personally deliver it. How can you presume to know our sincerity with such intentions?"

"The Ming Dynasty has always kept its promises; how could it commit such a treacherous act!"

Although Qin Liangyu was a woman, she was tall and wore armor, exuding a majestic aura that was in no way inferior to that of a man.

As soon as she finished speaking, the whole scene fell silent.

Although she had prepared herself mentally, Qiqige still took a step back in fear, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.

Following this, other civil and military officials also began to criticize Abunai. Some were indignant, while others shook their heads and sighed. In short, they all firmly opposed Zhu Cilang's decision to leave the city to meet Abunai.

"Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable! Abunai's rudeness clearly shows that he doesn't respect our Great Ming Dynasty."

"If you go to the grasslands to see him in person, it could be dangerous if he has any ulterior motives!"

An old minister said with a worried expression.

“Yes, Your Highness, we absolutely cannot take this risk. We can continue to wait here or think of other ways, but we must not let you put yourself in danger.”

Another military officer echoed this sentiment.

There was no other way. Abunai was afraid that the Ming army would ambush and assassinate him in Xuanfu City. Similarly, the Ming army was also afraid that Abunai would ambush and assassinate Zhu Cilang on the grasslands!

For a time, the two sides seemed to be at a stalemate, with neither side willing to give in.

Upon seeing this scene, Qiqige was at a loss for words.

She felt as if she were in the eye of a storm, being pulled by two powerful forces, and she didn't know what to do.

Before setting off, she had actually told Abunai that Zhu Cilang might not agree to his request.

After all, Zhu Cilang was the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, a man of noble status. How could he possibly risk coming here?

But Abunai insisted that if they wanted to cooperate, Zhu Cilang had to come in person to discuss it; otherwise, there was no point in talking.

To be honest, Abunai was just gambling; he was betting that Zhu Cilang would come to see him in order to facilitate this cooperation.

Of course, if he loses the bet, he has a backup plan.

That is to lead the army forward another ten miles, and then talk to Zhu Cilang.

If all else fails, then we can talk outside Xuanfu City.

In short, we can talk, but it must be on the grasslands. If we let him into Xuanfu, then there's no point in talking.

Because Abunai was afraid that he would really become the "turtle trapped in a jar"!
Listening to the discussions and glancing at Qiqige's somewhat embarrassed expression, Zhu Cilang raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.

At the same time, Fang Zhenghua, who was standing to the side, also shouted loudly:

"Everyone, please be quiet! His Highness the Crown Prince has something to say!"

Upon hearing this, everyone gradually stopped and focused their attention on Zhu Cilang.

Ultimately, only His Highness the Crown Prince can make the final decision.

Only after the scene had completely fallen silent, and everyone's gaze, including Qiqige's, was fixed on Zhu Cilang, did Zhu Cilang smile and say:

"Please don't be angry, everyone. I can completely understand Abunai's concerns. After all, it's always good to be cautious. It's only right that he be careful."

"Moreover, the reason he was afraid to come to Xuanfu was because he feared the Ming Dynasty, and he feared the Empress and all the soldiers."

"In this respect, Abunai has lost to us in both spirit and mentality. In that case, what harm is there in me going to see him in person?"

"General Qin, you may personally lead 20,000 cavalry to accompany me, and we will go together to meet this Mongol Khan."

Upon hearing this, the anger in everyone's hearts gradually subsided, but some still felt that Zhu Cilang should not have taken such a risk.

Qin Liangyu hesitated for a moment, but she knew she couldn't disobey Zhu Cilang's orders, so she simply asked:
"Your Highness, 20,000 cavalrymen may not be enough, right? I suggest that we bring all 30,000 cavalrymen and 20,000 infantrymen from the vicinity of Xuanfu."

"After all, the situation on the grassland is complicated. If something goes wrong, we'll have a plan to deal with it."

Zhu Cilang shook his head upon hearing this and said:
"No need. We're not going to fight this time, we're just here to discuss cooperation. I believe Abunai isn't that stupid to attack us at this time."

“If we bring too many people with us, it will make Abunai feel that we are not sincere, which will not be conducive to the cooperation.”

"Besides, given the current situation, 20,000 cavalrymen are more than enough to deal with Abunai's 35,000 cavalrymen."

Qin Liangyu didn't know what to say after hearing this. She knew that Zhu Cilang was always opinionated, and since he had already made his decision, there was no point in trying to persuade him further.

Then, she cupped her hands in greeting to Zhu Cilang and went to prepare.

Seeing that Zhu Cilang had already made his decision, the other officials could not say anything more and could only stand silently to the side.

Even Qiqige has become well-behaved at this moment, just standing aside without saying a word.

Before long, all 20,000 cavalrymen had assembled.

Subsequently, led by Qin Liangyu and Zhu Cilang, the 20,000 cavalrymen slowly advanced towards the grassland.

Qiqige was also accompanying them, but at this moment her feelings were very complicated. She hoped that the two sides could cooperate smoothly, but she was also worried that something unexpected might happen.

In addition, Xuanfu has also entered a state of high alert, with 10,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry remaining on high alert.

The soldiers on the hot air balloon were also constantly observing the situation on the grassland.

If anything unexpected happens, all the troops will immediately come out in full force to completely annihilate Abunai's army!

Meanwhile, the scene shifts to Zhu Cilang.

Since they were all cavalry, it didn't take long for them to arrive at a place less than three miles away from Abuna's army.

At the same time, a cavalry unit came into view.

Before them stretched cavalry across the mountains and plains, their figures seemingly connecting heaven and earth, an endless expanse in sight.

The dust kicked up by the horses' hooves, illuminated by the sunlight, formed a yellow mist, making it difficult to see the road ahead.

In fact, at this moment, in Abunai's view, Zhu Cilang's team was in a similar situation.

Abunai had already received news that Zhu Cilang was coming to see him. To be honest, Abunai was initially quite surprised, seemingly not expecting Zhu Cilang to agree so quickly.

He originally thought that Zhu Cilang would hesitate or propose some other conditions, but he did not expect that Zhu Cilang would agree so decisively.

But at the same time, he became even more certain that Zhu Cilang genuinely wanted to cooperate this time.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to risk coming to the grasslands himself.

The two cavalry forces stopped about two miles apart, and then each sent a detachment to negotiate cautiously.

After the negotiations were completed, a group of people from Zhu Cilang's side stepped forward and placed a table and two stools in the area between the two groups.

They also placed some drinks, fruits, snacks and other food on it.

Then, Zhu Cilang led Qin Liangyu and a group of military officers slowly over. His steps were steady and firm, and his eyes revealed a sense of confidence and composure.

On the other side, Abunai also slowly walked over with some military officers, but their faces showed a hint of tension.

At that moment, an autumn breeze blew by, carrying a slight chill, making the scene even more tense. The soldiers on both sides gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes fixed on each other, as if they would rush forward at the slightest disturbance.

A moment later, Zhu Cilang and Abunai finally stood in front of the table.

In an instant, the atmosphere around us seemed to be gently manipulated by an invisible hand, becoming subtle and complex.

On the Ming army's side, the generals closely following Zhu Cilang all wore arrogant expressions and their eyes were as cold as frost, as if these Mongols in front of them were nothing more than ants in their eyes and did not take them seriously at all.

They stood tall and straight, like unshakeable mountain peaks, exuding an aura of dominance over all others.

On the other hand, the situation was quite different for the Mongols.

They all looked timid and hesitant, their eyes revealing deep fear and unease.

Some unconsciously hunched their necks slightly, while others unconsciously rubbed their hands together, as if this would give them a sense of security.

There was no other way. In the previous Battle of Songjin, the Ming army defeated the Jurchens with lightning speed. The Jurchens had also defeated the Mongols many times. This series of battles caused the Mongols to feel a deep fear whenever they mentioned the Ming Dynasty.

They were well aware of the Ming Dynasty's power and understood that they were at a significant disadvantage in the power balance against it.

In an instant, Abuna also keenly noticed this peculiar change.

He frowned slightly, his heart filled with helplessness.

He longed for his soldiers to be as proud and spirited as the Ming army, but reality left him powerless to change that.

After all, the soldiers' confidence came from winning one battle after another, while the Mongols had not won a battle for a long time.

Even their previous great victory was merely a result of them benefiting from the Ming Dynasty's advantage.

Under such circumstances, where did they get the confidence to challenge the powerful Ming Dynasty?
Just then, Zhu Cilang finally spoke.

He first slowly surveyed his surroundings, then glanced at the tense-looking Mongols opposite him, before speaking unhurriedly:

"You really are something, why did you have to choose this place instead of Xuanfu, which is a perfectly good place?"

Upon hearing this, Abuna felt a surge of resentment and immediately retorted:

"I am a child of the grassland, the grassland is my home, and this is the place we are most familiar with and feel most at ease in."

"Isn't it better to be here than to leave my life in someone else's hands after going to Xuanfu?"

"Who knows what other schemes you might have once you arrive in Xuanfu?"

Abuna had a stubborn look on his face, trying to save face for himself.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang merely raised an eyebrow slightly but did not respond immediately.

After all that fuss, Abunai was still worried that there might be some kind of conspiracy involved.

Of course, there's no point in talking about this now.

The next second, Zhu Cilang turned his head to look at Fang Zhenghua, who had been standing quietly beside him.

Fang Zhenghua instantly understood Zhu Cilang's meaning, and then walked over directly, respectfully holding a bright yellow imperial edict in his hands.

The imperial edict shone brightly in the sunlight, as if it carried a sacred power.

Immediately afterward, Fang Zhenghua coldly glanced at Abuna and said in a loud voice:
"Great Khan Abunai of Mongolia, receive the decree!"

Abunai was momentarily stunned upon hearing this.

He immediately thought of what had happened before; when the Ming emperor had conferred upon him the title of Great Khan of the Mongols, he had also knelt down.

This time, it was clear that the other party wanted him to kneel down and receive the imperial decree!

But now, in front of so many people, can he still kneel before the imperial edict of the Ming Emperor?
Although he had indeed knelt down before, it was only a temporary measure, a helpless act to protect his tribe and people.

But if I kneel down now, wouldn't that be too shameful?
But if they don't kneel, it doesn't seem right either.

After all, even he, the Great Khan of the Mongols, was appointed by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Now, the Mongols are also a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, so they should kneel down for both reason and duty.

For a moment, Abnai was caught in a deep dilemma. His expression was uncertain, and his hands unconsciously clenched and unclenched.

Upon noticing this change, the expressions of the military officers behind Zhu Cilang instantly turned serious.

Some even unconsciously placed their hands on the hilts of their knives, as if they would immediately draw their swords if Abuna dared to make any disrespectful move.

Upon noticing this, the generals standing behind Abunai quickly whispered words of advice:
"Great Khan, kneel down. It is not advisable to make enemies with the Ming Dynasty now. After all, the Ming Dynasty's strength is undeniable, and we are no match for them."

"For the sake of our people, please bear with this. If we anger the Ming Dynasty, our entire tribe may face annihilation."

The military officer's voice was low, carrying a hint of anxiety and helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Abunai gritted his teeth. Despite his resentment, he ultimately chose to compromise for the sake of the tribe's safety.

The next second, he slowly bent his knees and reluctantly knelt down.

Immediately afterwards, the other generals behind Abunai also knelt down.

Upon seeing this, Fang Zhenghua cleared his throat and then began to read the imperial edict:

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"
I have been ordained by Heaven to rule over all nations. My benevolence extends far and wide, and I have shown kindness to all barbarians. Since my ascension to the throne, I have always governed the world with benevolence and virtue, and I have treated the barbarians of all directions with both kindness and severity, hoping that they can live in peace and harmony.

However, the northern tribes, having benefited from the great favors of our dynasty, do not think of repaying it. They have been protected by our country but harbor ulterior motives. Their actions are contrary to the will of Heaven, and their wolfish ambitions are obvious. They are truly a disgrace to the Ming Dynasty and a scourge to the world!
I hereby appoint Crown Prince Zhu Cilang to lead the expedition in my stead, bearing the imperial insignia and the tiger tally, and commanding the elite army. I also appoint the Great Khan of the Chahar tribe, Abunai, to cooperate in the battle and jointly carry out this righteous cause.

We must make the bandits tremble with fear, and the villains lose their nerve, so that they know that the might of the Celestial Empire is inviolable and the wrath of the Holy Dynasty is unyielding!
Admire this! "

After the imperial edict was read, Abunai slowly stood up.

His face looked rather grim, and he was filled with mixed emotions.

However, he didn't care about the contents of the imperial edict. What he cared about was which tribes to target next and how the spoils of war would be distributed after the war.

After all, this is a major issue that concerns the vital interests of their tribe.

At the same time, after the imperial edict was read aloud, Zhu Cilang took the lead and sat down at the table.

His movements were elegant, and his expression was calm, as if everything was under his control.

Immediately afterwards, Abunai also sat down, but his posture was somewhat restrained, and a hint of unease was revealed in his eyes.

As for the other generals, they remained standing behind the two, their eyes warily watching everything around them, as if ready to deal with any possible emergencies at any time.

Abner broke the silence first, frowning as he asked:

"There are so many tribes on the grasslands. Which tribe will the Ming Dynasty target this time? They can't possibly wipe them all out, can they?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang's lips curled into a slight smile, and then he slowly and deliberately said:

"Of course we can't sweep through the whole area, after all, the grassland is too big and there isn't enough time, so for now we can only target one tribe."

"What are your thoughts? Let's discuss it together."

Upon hearing this, Abuna immediately said:
"If you ask me, I think we should target the Yarkand Khanate this time. Firstly, it is relatively close to Mongolia and the Ming Dynasty, and it won't take long to travel back and forth. If we send troops, our logistics and supplies can keep up, and we can also return to defend in time if anything happens."

"Secondly, they are a large tribe, and attacking them would allow us to obtain more resources, which would benefit both of us."

As Abuna spoke, a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

His choice of the Yarkand Khanate was mainly because he had failed to raid it before, which left him with a lingering resentment. Now, he could take advantage of the Ming Dynasty's power to defeat the Yarkand Khanate again.

He even felt that he could annex the Yarkand Khanate if possible, thereby expanding the sphere of influence of his tribe.

However, Zhu Cilang shook his head upon hearing this.

"Compared to the Yarkand Khanate, I think the Oirat Alliance is more suitable."

what?
Upon hearing this, Abnai was instantly dumbfounded, his mouth slightly agape as if an egg could fit inside.

Even the Mongol generals behind Abunai were shocked. They stared at each other, their eyes wide, seemingly unable to believe their ears.

It's important to understand that the Oirat Alliance was extremely far from the Ming Dynasty; to be more specific, it was roughly located at the border between Xinjiang and Mongolia in later times.

They simply couldn't understand why the Ming Dynasty would choose to attack the furthest Oirat alliance instead of the Khoshut, Yarkand Khanate, and Tumed tribes that were closer to them. It just didn't make any sense!

In their view, choosing a nearby tribe would save time and energy, and allow them to obtain spoils more quickly, so why not?

Seeing the surprised expressions on everyone's faces, Zhu Cilang then began to explain:

"The Khoshut tribe, the Yarkand Khanate, and the Tumed tribe had all been plundered by the Jurchens before. The Jurchens were like a pack of greedy wolves, leaving nothing but desolation wherever they went."

"So their land has not much food and livestock left for us to obtain. Even if we defeat them, we will not be able to get more supplies."

"However, the Oirat Union is an exception. The Jurchens did not cause them much damage before, which shows that the Oirat Union has plenty of cattle, sheep, people, and wealth."

"Therefore, attacking the Oirat Alliance is the most cost-effective strategy. Once we defeat the Oirat Alliance, we can obtain a large amount of resources."

Upon hearing this, Abna fell into deep thought.

He found that Zhu Cilang was right; although the Jurchens had nominally defeated the entire Mongol Empire, they had only actually conquered a small part of it.

The more remote Oirat alliance was not included in this list. Although the Jurchens had attacked them before, they did not suffer much damage due to the distance and insufficient manpower.

This resulted in them having abundant cattle, sheep, and wealth.

If we really defeat the Oirat Alliance, then the resources we obtain will be enough for our people to live on.

(End of this chapter)