I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 240 Peace Talks or War? The Outwardly Strong but Inwardly Weak Barbarian Tribe

On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, the festive atmosphere in the capital was growing stronger.

Outside Zhengyang Gate, crowds surged like a tide.

Carts selling goods lined up in long queues, restaurants and teahouses were packed without reservations, and the sound of firecrackers echoed from the depths of the alleyways.

Various government offices in the capital.

Except for officials on duty, most people have already started their annual leave, which will last until January 20th of next year.

Shen Nian, who holds multiple positions, has no duties at the yamen during the New Year holiday except for participating in the New Year's Day court assembly.

This was approved by the Cabinet.

Officials like Wang Xijue, Wang Jiaping, and Zhao Zhigao, whose performance this year was exceptionally outstanding and whose hard work and dedication are evident to all, also enjoy this treatment.

at the same time.

Those money-grubbing Siamese merchants have been executed.

After the Ministry of Rites has compiled their identity information, it will send it to Siam and express condolences for the victims of the Siamese mission.

The Tumans who participated in the assassination have been sent to the northern border, where they will be personally handed over to the Anda tribe by General Qi Jiguang of Jizhou.

……

It was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, in the afternoon.

Five horse-drawn carriages carrying goods were parked in front of the Shen residence. Each carriage had a wooden sign hanging in front of it with four characters engraved on it: Yaodong Trading Company.

Currently, these four characters are extremely well-known north of the Yellow River.

Without being modest, if this sign were hung up, no thief in the north would dare to rob.

Robbing Yaodong Trading Company's goods is tantamount to destroying the livelihoods of countless ordinary people.

The five carriages were carrying New Year's goods prepared for the Shen residence by Shen Nian's father, Shen Yaoshan, and father-in-law, Gu Dongyi.

In their letter, the two stated that they were too busy with business to return to Beijing for the holidays.

They will return to the capital before May next year, before Shen Nian's second child is born.

These two men were extremely enthusiastic about doing business, and in their letters to Shen Nian, they often talked about the joy of leading a group of people to prosperity.

They thoroughly regarded the Northern trade as an attempt to help all the people of the North become wealthy, and had already won the trust of countless people.

……

The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month is Lunar New Year's Eve.

At noon, in the front hall of a house in Liaodong.

Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Liaodong, Li Chengliang, the general of Liaodong, and Shen Maoxue, the trade commissioner, gathered together.

They knew all the details of the assassination of the Tuman people in the capital and had received an imperial decree ordering them to demand compensation from the Tuman people.

General Qi Jiguang of Jizhou was on his way to deliver people to the Anda tribe, so he had not yet arrived in Liaodong.

On the table.

Li Chengliang frowned and said, "These damned barbarians dare to provoke us like this. If the imperial court weren't currently unwilling to attack, I would have wiped them all out long ago!"

“Ruqi, to deal with these Tatars, we must annihilate them all. Destroying one tribe is useless and will only benefit other tribes. We will act in accordance with the imperial decree. If they refuse to pay compensation, we will beat them up again!” Zhang Xueyan said.

Li Chengliang nodded and said, "What should we do next? The mountains are currently blocked by ice and snow, so if we want to negotiate with them, we probably won't be able to do so until at least after the tenth day of the first lunar month!"

Shen Maoxue thought for a moment.

"Governor Zhang, General Li, I suggest that we first spread the word about this matter widely, then reorganize our troops and let the people on the border spread the word that we intend to attack the Tumans, so as to intimidate them. After we learn from the Anda tribe that their special envoy has been killed by the Tumans, we will put pressure on the Tumans, and then we will take the stance of fighting and negotiate with them!"

Li Chengliang nodded in agreement.

“That’s wonderful!” Zhang Xueyan said with a smile.

“The court’s minimum claim is 400,000 taels of silver, but I think we should negotiate based on a minimum of 500,000 taels, not a single tael less! What do you think?” Li Chengliang said.

"I agree!"

"I agree!"

Zhang Xueyan and Shen Maoxue couldn't help but smile and subconsciously picked up their wine glasses.

The Ming Dynasty had been in constant conflict with the Tuman tribes, winning more often than losing, and was not afraid of them at all. In addition, they were in the right this time, which gave them such confidence.

"Happy New Year!"

The three of them clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

The imperial court's confidence determines their confidence. This time, the Tu barbarians provoked first, and they are fully confident that they can control their opponents.

……

On the first day of the first month of the seventh year of the Wanli reign (1588), at the fourth watch of the night.

The civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty lined up and walked toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Last year was a year of rapid progress in the new policies and reforms for the Ming Dynasty.

At the current pace, the nationwide land survey will certainly be completed by the end of this year, after which the imperial court can implement the Single Whip Law to further resolve the financial problems.

Let's get through this year.

Shen Nian has officially entered her thirties.

Thirty years old is not considered too young for men these days, but for a third-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, Shen Nian is far too young.

Many officials had already anticipated that if Shen Nian were given an opportunity this year to demonstrate his abilities, he would surely be admitted to the cabinet.

On the throne, the young Wanli Emperor had grown taller and more mature.

Wearing the dragon robe, he looked remarkably like the newly enthroned Jiajing Emperor, full of vigor and ambition.

Soon, the New Year's Day court assembly officially began.

The Office of Transmission read out the New Year's message from the young Wanli Emperor, Zhang Juzheng spoke on behalf of all civil and military officials, followed by officials kneeling in obeisance, and foreign envoys and local vassal states paying tribute. The affairs were tedious and boring.

Some officials need to constantly pinch their palms to maintain their composure, while others just stare wide-eyed, enjoying this kind of formalized court assembly.

As noon approached and the court session ended, the officials finally began to relax.

Looking sleepy, Shen Nian was hoping the luncheon would end soon.

After lunch, and then being rewarded with several good dishes by the young Wanli Emperor, Shen Nian's task for the day would be complete, and she could begin her annual leave.

At this luncheon, Shen Nian, dressed in a scarlet official robe, was seated at the exclusive table for the heads of the six ministries.

Meanwhile, in a corner, at the table where the Hanlin Academy members were reviewing and editing.

Zhao Yongxian, a seventh-rank Hanlin scholar, looked at Shen Nian, who was clinking glasses with a group of ministerial officials, and couldn't help but say to Wang Zudi beside him, "Three years ago, Ziheng was eating and drinking at the same table as us. I never imagined that the difference between us now would be like heaven and earth. However, Ziheng deserves his current position!"

“Yes! Thinking back to when Ziheng was in the review hall, we were chatting and laughing, talking about dreams and justice. Those were truly happy times!” Wang Zudi couldn’t help but sigh.

Of the five former Hanlin Academy members who served as self-criticism officials, only Wang Zudi and Zhao Yongxian remain in the self-criticism hall.

Liu Kezheng, a native of Panyu who spoke Mandarin poorly, was appointed as a sub-prefect in a local area.

Liu Chuxian, a fellow townsman of Zhang Juzheng and a master of interpersonal relationships, was first appointed as an editor, and then transferred to the Court of State Ceremonial at the end of this year. Wang Zudi and Zhao Yongxian were once the most mature and hardworking people in the Hanlin Academy's Review Office. The reason they remained stagnant was because when Zhang Juzheng was in mourning two years ago, the two acted too impulsively and were punished, resulting in poor performance.

However, Zhang Juzheng, Yin Zhengmao, Shen Nian and others have all seen their abilities. If they can maintain their current form, they will most likely be promoted this year.

About half an hour later.

After the young Wanli Emperor left, the three Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet also left, and the officials began to rise from their tables to toast each other and wish each other a Happy New Year.

As the most "popular" person in the court, Shen Nian was sought out by many officials for drinks.

Before long, he was slightly drunk.

He carried the wine bottle to the Hanlin Academy review table where Wang Zudi and Zhao Yongxian were, pulled up a chair and sat down between the two of them.

The two men and the official standing nearby immediately bowed and paid their respects.

"No need for formalities during the holidays! Come, let's have a few drinks, and we'll find another opportunity to get together in a couple of days!"

After saying that, Shen Nian picked up the wine bottle and poured wine for Wang Zudi and Zhao Yongxian.

This made the officials standing nearby quite envious.

In Shen Nian's eyes, most officials were colleagues to him, but Wang Zudi and Zhao Yongxian were his friends.

Friends interact in different ways than colleagues.

After chatting for about fifteen minutes, Shen Nian quietly slipped out of the banquet and got into the carriage driven by Aji to go home.

The imperial dishes bestowed upon the Shen residence by the court were delivered to Shen Nian's home by the Embroidered Uniform Guard as early as noon.

Shen Nian went home and fell asleep immediately, not because he was drunk, but because he had gotten up too early and was too tired from socializing, and he was too sleep-deprived.

……

The sixth day of the first lunar month.

Just as the officials and common people of the Ming Dynasty were celebrating the New Year in high spirits.

The leader of the northern barbarian tribe, Tuman Khan, was so depressed that he felt as if he had lost his parents.

Tuman tribe.

Five people sat around a large wooden hall covered with animal hides and hanging with animal bones, with a roaring charcoal fire burning in the stove in the center.

Sitting on the large chair at the very front was Tuman Khan, who was about fifty years old.

To his lower left sat Heishitan, the uncle of Tuman Khan, and Buyantai Zhou, the son of Tuman Khan; to his lower right sat Subahai, the chief of the Taining tribe, and Chang'ang, the leader of the Duoyan Guard.

The reason why the Tuman tribe was so arrogant.

In addition to its own powerful tribe, it also has several allies, among which the Taining tribe and the Duoyanwei tribe are the two tribes with the best relationship and the strongest strength.

They mobilized their entire force, capable of deploying at least 100,000 troops.

"Alas! That fool Liku (i.e., Damosa) told me that he had made thorough preparations to not only kill the special envoy of the Anda tribe without a sound, but also Zhang Juzheng, and even the young emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Now that his deeds have been exposed, the Anda tribe is hostile to us, and the Ming Dynasty is preparing its northern border to wage war against us. What should we do next?"

Tuman Khan looked melancholy.

"Father, let's beat them up! We'll gather a large army, march straight to Liaodong, plunder extensively, and then we'll be free from famine by spring!" said Bu Yantai Zhou, the son of Tuman Khan, excitedly.

He was a bloodthirsty maniac who loved nothing but war.

"Assemble a large army? Do you know how much food and supplies a large army needs? In recent years, the Ming Dynasty has been building fortresses and walls to guard against us. Moreover, they have cavalry whose fighting power is in no way inferior to ours. How can we fight? Regardless of whether we win or lose this battle, the Ming Dynasty will further isolate us in trade. If we cannot obtain food and cloth, how can we strengthen our tribe?"

"Father, the current situation isn't that we want war, it's that they're amassing troops on the border and want to attack us. Shouldn't we fight back?"

Tuman Khan rolled his eyes at his brave but reckless son and said nothing more.

At this time.

Tuman Khan's uncle, Black Stone Coal, an elderly man with gray hair and around sixty years old, slowly spoke up: "The chieftain wants to make peace through compensation, doesn't he?"

Tuman Khan looked helpless, then nodded.

The Tuman tribe had always wanted to be friends with the Ming Dynasty, but their strategy was to use war to promote peace.

They wanted to replace the Anda tribe's position, to establish trade relations with the Ming Dynasty, and to obtain more silver, grain, cloth, and even ironware from the Ming Dynasty.

However, they were too weak, and the more they fought, the more they lost, and the more the Ming Dynasty looked down on them.

Now that they want to seek peace, they must offer the Ming Dynasty some compensation, otherwise the Ming Dynasty will certainly not accept it.

Tuman Khan was very clear about this.

If a war breaks out now, the Anda tribe will definitely cause trouble. If a full-scale war breaks out and the two sides fight to the death, other tribes will surely divide up the Tuman tribe.

Even the chieftain of the Taining tribe, Subahai, and the leader of the Duoyan Guard, Chang'ang, would cancel their military agreements with the Tuman tribes and choose to protect themselves.

Black Coal looked at the leaders of the other two tribes.

"Chief of Hai and Chief of Chang'ang, do you think we should pay compensation and seek peace, or fight a war with the Ming Dynasty?"

The chieftain of the Taining tribe, Subahai, was a man around forty years old with a thick beard and a particularly rugged appearance.

He thought for a moment and said, "If we go to war, even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. After the war, we are very likely to be annexed by the Anda tribe, and we will be in danger of extinction. I suggest that we seek peace by paying compensation. If the amount of compensation demanded by the Ming Dynasty is too large and the Tuman tribe is unable to afford it, our tribe can help out!"

"That's what I thought too!" said Chang Ang, the leader of the Duoyan Guard.

Even before the war began, these two were already trying to distance themselves from the Tuman tribe.

Their military oath clearly stipulated that they would share hardships, but when it came to compensation, their idea was that the Tuman tribe should pay first, and if they couldn't afford to pay, they could help out to some extent.

In the blink of an eye, one family became two families.

The leader of the Doyan Guard, Chang Ang, seemed to realize that his words were inappropriate, and immediately added, "The Ming Dynasty probably doesn't want to destroy us. They are also afraid that the Anda tribe will become stronger. We can use this as a reason to lower the amount of compensation we are demanding!"

"Who will go to negotiate?" Tuman Khan asked.

Swish!
The chieftain of the Taining tribe, Subahai, and the leader of the Duoyan Guard, Chang'ang, looked at Heishitan, the uncle of the Tuman Khan, almost simultaneously.

Black Coal slightly pursed its lips.

He is old, he is senior, he is good at debating, and he knows the Ming Dynasty better than anyone else.

Even if he didn't want to go, he was the most suitable candidate at the moment.

"Alright, I'll write to them first to see if they're willing to talk. If they agree, then I'll talk to them face to face!"

……

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, just as Li Chengliang was preparing to move some Ming soldiers towards Kaiyuan City in Liaodong and fire a few cannons to intimidate the enemy, a letter seeking peace from Heishitan arrived.

Black Stone Coal first apologized to the Ming Dynasty on behalf of the Tuman Khan, saying that the assassination was carried out by a group of unruly Tumans without the Khan's knowledge, but that the Khan was guilty of failing to properly control them.

He hoped to talk to Ming officials outside the city gate of Kaiyuan City in Liaodong to clear up any misunderstandings.

Clearly, this is an attempt to seek reconciliation through compensation.

Shen Maoxue, the top scholar in the fifth year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, immediately picked up his pen and first denounced the shamelessness of the Tuman people. Then he said that the court intended to send troops to destroy the Tuman tribes, but since the ice and snow had not yet melted, he planned to listen to the Tuman people's apology first.

In short: first listen to the Tuman people's apology, but do not promise to resolve the matter through negotiations.

(End of this chapter)