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

Almost simultaneously, the heavy curtain was lifted slightly, and two Mongolian maids who had been waiting outside, quick and efficient and fluent in some Chinese, entered silently with their heads bowed, carrying warm water, clean cloths, and salt.

They had clearly been instructed beforehand, and their movements were light and agile as they helped Zhu Cilang dress, wash, and comb his hair. The entire process was almost silent, and their eyes remained lowered, never daring to look directly at him.

Zhu Cilang accepted it calmly.

In this grassland far from the capital, a "bride" appeared overnight. Naturally, there were no eunuchs or palace maids from the Eastern Palace to accompany and serve her. It was only natural to use Mongolian maids. Although their movements were not as delicate as those of the palace maids, they had the straightforwardness of grassland women.

Qiqige was also gently awakened shortly afterward, and dressed and made up with the help of her maids.

When Zhu Cilang finished getting ready and stepped out of the tent, the bright sunlight made him squint slightly.

The fresh, icy air rushed into my lungs, instantly invigorating my spirit.

In the camp, under the command of their officers, Ming soldiers began to pack their belongings in an orderly manner, dismantling some tents and re-covering the "Shenji Iron Fortress" with a huge tarpaulin, preparing to load it onto wagons. Everything was proceeding in a tense but orderly manner, preparing for the breakup and return journey.

Upon seeing His Highness the Crown Prince emerge, Ma Xianglin, Zhang Shize, and other Ming generals who had been waiting nearby immediately gathered around him.

The expressions on everyone's faces varied, some were gratified, some were relieved, and some had an indescribable complexity.

The events of last night had already spread throughout the camps of both armies. Most of the generals had not slept all night, not entirely because of vigilance, but more because they found the matter too dramatic and unbelievable—they had come with overwhelming force to intimidate and negotiate the military and national affairs of the allied forces to destroy the slaves, how could it have turned into the Crown Prince's "Grassland Wedding" overnight?
This turn of events was truly unexpected, and some even privately felt that the Crown Prince's actions were unpredictable and whimsical.

However, despite their complaints, no one dared to utter a single word.

Now that the Crown Prince has made his decision and consummated his marriage with Qiqige, the matter is settled. Moreover, upon calm reflection, for these generals commanding troops in the field, this marriage may not be a bad thing. Since ancient times, marriage alliances have been an effective means of stabilizing the borders and reducing the risk of war.

When the crown prince married a princess from the Khorchin tribe, Abunai became the prince's brother-in-law, instantly transforming their relationship from "potential rivals and allies" into "relatives." With this marriage ties, at least during Abunai's lifetime, the likelihood of a large-scale war breaking out between the Khorchin tribe and other Mongol tribes influenced by them and the Ming Dynasty would be drastically reduced.

This undoubtedly cleared a major obstacle for the upcoming war to exterminate the slaves and for the stability of the northern frontier after the war.

In ancient times, exchanging a marriage for two or three decades of relative peace on the border seemed like an incredibly worthwhile deal.

Therefore, the initial surprise in the hearts of the generals was quickly replaced by a feeling of "welcoming it" or even "Your Highness is brilliant".

Ma Xianglin stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and spoke in a loud voice:
"Your Highness, the army is fully prepared and ready to depart at any time. The supply wagons and 'divine machinery' are also loaded. Your Highness, shall we set off immediately to return to Xuanfu?"

Zhu Cilang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the already bustling camp, and said:

"Preparations are quick. No need to rush, let me bid farewell to Abunaitaiji before we set off."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Zhu Cilang strolled towards the direction of Abunai Khan's tent.

After a night's rest and the successful "marriage," Abunai looked radiant, all traces of gloom and anxiety gone, replaced by a sense of peace and ease. Upon seeing Zhu Cilang arrive, a genuine, warm, and even somewhat familial smile immediately spread across his face as he greeted him from afar.

"Brother-in-law! Did you sleep well last night?"

The way Abuna is addressed has changed, and the tone is natural.

Zhu Cilang paused slightly, then readily accepted the new title and smiled:
"Very good. Thank you for your trouble in making the arrangements, brother."

The word "brother" made Abunai even happier.

After a few pleasantries, Zhu Cilang got down to business, his expression becoming more serious:

"Brother, everything here is settled, so I will not linger any longer. I will lead the army back to Xuanfu today. I hope you will make preparations for the agreement next spring and strengthen your troops. Once the imperial decree and specific strategies arrive, our two armies will join forces in Liaodong to carry out a great undertaking and wipe out the enemy's stronghold!"

Abunah's smile vanished, and he slapped his chest forcefully, his voice ringing out:

"Brother-in-law, rest assured! I, Abunai, swear to the Eternal Heaven that since I have made this promise, I will do my utmost! The warriors of Khorchin will surely assemble on time and cooperate with the royal army to completely wipe out that Jurchen puppet regime! See you in Liaodong!"

"Okay! It's a deal!"

Zhu Cilang extended his hand and gave Abunai a three-fold high-five. The crisp sound echoed in the morning air, symbolizing the final signing of the alliance.

Zhu Cilang had already exceeded his objectives for this trip, so naturally he would bring Qiqige back with him.

He knew that the brother and sister must have something to say to each other, and that his presence would be inconvenient. So he said to Abunai:

"Qiqige will come to say goodbye to her brother later. I will go to arrange military affairs first and wait for him at the front."

Abuna understood and nodded repeatedly:

"Brother-in-law, please do as you please."

Zhu Cilang turned and left, leaving the space to the brother and sister who were about to part ways.

Not far away, Qiqige had finished washing and dressing, and was wearing a thick mink cloak. Accompanied by two maids, she walked towards her brother. The sunlight shone on her, and although her eyes were still slightly red, her complexion had improved considerably. Her brows were now brighter and she possessed a delicate charm befitting a bride. However, the look in her eyes as she gazed at her brother was still filled with reluctance.

As Abuna watched his sister walk towards him, a mix of emotions welled up inside him, and the bittersweet feeling he had been suppressing surged back to his nose.

Yesterday she was a little girl following behind him, needing his protection; overnight, she's a wife, about to be married off to a foreign land thousands of miles away, becoming a future empress. Time flies, it feels like a lifetime ago.

Qiqige walked up to Abunai, stopped, looked up at her brother, a thousand words stuck in her throat, ultimately turning into the simplest and most sincere words of advice, her voice slightly choked:

“Brother…I’m leaving. You…you must take care of yourself. Even if we besiege the Jurchens next year, swords and spears have no eyes, you must not always be at the forefront. Take care of yourself and the people…I…I will pray for you in the capital.”

Hearing his sister's tearful pleas, Abunai felt a pang of sorrow, his tiger-like eyes reddening. He forced a smile, reached out and ruffled Qiqige's hair, saying in as light a tone as possible, "Alright, my dear sister, I know, I've remembered. When you go to the Ming Dynasty, you'll need to take even better care of yourself in the palace. The rules there are strict, and people are complicated; it's not as comfortable as it was on the grasslands. He…" He glanced in the direction Zhu Cilang had left, lowering his voice.

"If he treats you badly or makes you suffer, you can come back anytime! The Horqin Grassland will always be your home, and your tent will always be here with me!"

Qiqige finally couldn't hold back her tears and they streamed down her face.

She nodded vigorously, then stepped forward, opened her arms, and embraced her dearest brother in the world tightly. Abuna hugged his sister back tightly, gently patting her back, just as he used to lull her to sleep as a child, and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Your father and mother... are watching you from heaven. Seeing that you have found a good home, seeing that you can bring peace to the grasslands, they... will definitely be happy for you, and proud of you."

These words completely shattered Qiqige's defenses. She buried her face in her brother's thick fur robe, weeping silently, her shoulders shaking violently. Abunai's eyes also reddened; he tilted his head back, blinking hard to keep the tears from falling.

After a long while, Qiqige slowly stopped crying and let go of the hug.

She took a step back, giving her brother a deep look, as if trying to etch his image into her heart. Then, she abruptly turned around, never looking back, and strode quickly towards the Ming army camp, her red cloak drawing a resolute arc in the snow. She feared that if she turned back, she would never be able to leave again.

Abunai stood there, watching his sister's figure gradually blend into the Ming army's assembling ranks until she was no longer indistinguishable. He stood there for a long time until a trusted general came to inquire about the dismantling of the camp. Only then did he slowly exhale a long breath of white air, turn around, and walk towards his tent. His back looked somewhat lonely in the sunlight, yet exceptionally upright.

Around 3:45 AM, a deep and drawn-out bugle call sounded from the direction of the Ming army camp.

"Ugh——"

The 15,000 Ming soldiers, already fully equipped and ready to go, began to slowly move like a giant steel dragon awakening.

At the very front of the procession were elite cavalry leading the way, followed by infantry and supply wagons. The "Divine Iron Fortress" component vehicles, covered with tarpaulins, were tightly protected at the heart of the procession.

Zhu Cilang rode a white warhorse, positioned in the center of the army.

A short distance behind him was a specially made, spacious, and warm carriage, inside which Qiqige was already seated. The carriage curtains were drawn low, only being slightly lifted by a slender hand as the procession moved, revealing half of a pretty face gazing at the northern camp, on the verge of tears, before being quickly lowered again.

The army marched slowly, traversing the snow-covered plains, heading south towards the Great Wall and towards Xuanfu.

The wheels and hooves left deep, clear marks on the snow, as if drawing a long ellipsis leading to the future for this grassland journey full of shock, twists and turns and surprises.

The north wind swept across the empty valley, stirring up a few snowflakes that gently covered the fresh traces, as if tenderly smoothing the marks left by this brief but fierce battle, waiting for the spring breeze next year to bring new life to the plants.

Although the trip to the grasslands was brief, it completely changed the strategic landscape of northern Xinjiang.

Zhu Cilang only stayed in Xuanfu for one day.

On this day, instead of resting, he held an intense and efficient meeting with Ma Xianglin, the general of Xuanfu, and other generals from Datong, Shanxi, and other towns who had rushed to the scene, to discuss specific matters such as the coordination of the Western Route Army next spring, the logistics supply routes, and the liaison mechanism with the Khorchin tribe.

Military matters are urgent and cannot be taken lightly.

The next morning, with heavy frost, Zhu Cilang bid farewell to Ma Xianglin and the others, boarded his carriage, and, under the protection of elite guards, left Xuanfu and embarked on the official road back to the capital.

Qiqige rode in the same car as him, but most of the time she silently watched the northern landscape rushing past the car window, gradually becoming more and more wintery, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

Zhu Cilang was happy to have some peace and quiet, so he closed his eyes to rest in the carriage and sorted out his next plan.

The submission and marriage alliance between Abunai and the Khorchin tribe was only the first step.

Next, the imperial decree must be conveyed quickly and clearly to all Mongol tribes that have submitted to the Ming Dynasty, such as the Tumed, Ordos, and even some smaller tribes further west.

The decree not only specified the number and timing of troop and warhorse mobilization, but also conveyed the Ming Dynasty's firm determination to "ally with the Mongols to destroy the Jurchens, share the spoils, and achieve common prosperity after the war" through the marriage alliance with the Khorchin tribe, in order to completely dispel the wait-and-see attitude of these tribes.

This required close cooperation between the Cabinet, the Ministry of War, and the Court of Colonial Affairs to draft a well-written edict that combined both kindness and severity, and to select capable officials to carry rewards and deliver the edicts to various ministries.

These tasks all require him to push forward immediately upon returning to the central command.

The wheels rolled on, and the horses' hooves clattered.

In the northern winter, the official roads freeze solid, making them more conducive to the rapid travel of carts and horses than when they are muddy.

However, the journey was long, and by the time Zhu Cilang and his party arrived in Beijing, it was already early November.

This year's winter seems to have arrived exceptionally early and exceptionally fiercely.

When Zhu Cilang left, the capital was still in the late autumn, but now it has been completely covered by the silver robe of the winter general.

The sky was low and the leaden clouds seemed within reach. Large, goose-feather-like snowflakes were falling silently, transforming the majestic city walls, layered palaces, crisscrossing streets and alleys, and even the bare tree branches into a crystal world of porcelain.

The snow was already quite thick, and the vehicles and horses made a dull creaking sound as they passed by.

Crystal-clear icicles hung from the rooftops lining the streets. The air was crisp and cold, carrying the clean scent unique to snow. The entire capital was covered in silver, its usual hustle and bustle replaced by tranquility and solemnity, evoking a unique winter charm reminiscent of the northern landscape, where "birds have vanished from a thousand mountains, and human tracks have disappeared from ten thousand paths."

However, Zhu Cilang was in no mood to appreciate the snow at this moment.

The convoy entered the city through Deshengmen without causing much of a stir. His trip north was ostensibly for "border inspection," and the details of the "marriage" were not made public. Moreover, the trip was short, and the people of the capital simply assumed that the Crown Prince was returning from a routine official business.

Those who came to greet them at the city gate were only a few cabinet ministers and a handful of key officials, including the Duke of England, and the ceremonial procession was simple.

Emperor Chongzhen did not attend in person, which was understandable, as it was neither a triumphant return nor a formal inspection tour. (End of Chapter)