Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 593 Matters Beyond the Letter
Hearing this explanation, Yuan Keli's expression seemed to soften somewhat. "According to you, this letter was written by 'Amin' and 'Urhutai' in consultation. When they met in secret, you were outside the secret room and didn't participate closely, so you didn't know what was written in the letter?"

“Yes, yes, yes! ‘Master Yuan Keli’ is wise, that’s exactly what this servant meant!” Mangku nodded hurriedly.

"Then why you of all people?" Yuan Keli stared intently at Mangku.

"Why did they send you and not someone else to deliver this letter?" Lu Wenzhao added in his own interpretation.

Mangku suddenly remembered that Ergigen had asked a similar question earlier. But the answer he gave was clearly not satisfactory to the gentlemen before him. "Perhaps," Mangku blinked and speculated, "it's probably because this servant is both a member of the Bordered Blue Banner and an old member of the Hada tribe."

"He said he was both a member of the old party in Nanguan and belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner," Lu Wenzhao translated simply.

"How old are you this year?" Yuan Keli carefully examined Mangku's face.

"Probably around thirty-four or thirty-five years old." Mangku didn't even know exactly what year he was born. As for details like birthdays or birth anniversaries, those were things he had never even heard of.

Yuan Keli then asked, "There must be quite a few people like you who are both under the Bordered Blue Banner and belong to the old party of Nanguan, right?"

When Lu Wenzhao was translating, he smoothly changed "Nanguan Old Party" to "Hada Old Troops," which Mangku immediately understood. He carefully calculated and said, "Actually, there aren't that many. There are only two and a half Niru of the Bordered Blue Banner that were reorganized from the Hada tribe. One is the Warka Niru, and the other is the Mushtun Niru where I am. The remaining half is in the Aldai Niru. All in all, there should only be about seven hundred households."

"Where are the other old members of the South Gate Party?" Yuan Keli knew that before the fall of the South Gate Party, there were at least several thousand households and tens of thousands of people.

“The others will naturally be scattered among the other seven banners,” Mangku said.

"How exactly were they divided? How many members of the old party from Nanguan are still around?" Yuan Keli pressed.

Mangku shook his head. "This servant doesn't know about these things. Anyway, each banner has them."

In fact, the submission of the Hada tribe was directly related to the establishment of the Niru system and even the Eight Banners system. It could even be said that Nurhaci created the precursor to the Eight Banners system, namely the "Four Banners system," precisely in order to completely annex the Hada tribe.

Twenty years ago, in the twenty-ninth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, Wu Ergu, beset by internal and external troubles, surrendered all his followers to Nurhaci, leading to a significant increase in the population under his rule. To facilitate administration, Nurhaci reorganized and reorganized his expanded forces into Niru (military units). He "reorganized three hundred men into one Niru," with each Niru headed by a "Niru Ejen" (Niru Commander) and assigned to a separate banner of a particular color.

At that time, although the Hada tribe had been destroyed twice, the Huifa, Ula, Yehe and other tribes remained independent, so Nurhaci only established four banners: yellow, white, red and blue. In any case, the Hada tribe was dismembered after this reorganization, and Wuergudai gradually and irreversibly transformed from the last Beile of the Hada tribe into a nominal Wuergudai Efu (son-in-law of Wuergudai).

"What position do you hold in 'Amin's' army?" Yuan Keli's eyes flickered slightly. "How many soldiers do you command?"

“I have no official position, I don’t have any military duties, I’m just an ordinary scout,” Mangku shook his head again.

"Then why did they send you?" Yuan Keli asked the same question again.

Lu Wenzhao translated it word for word, leaving Mangku completely bewildered. "My lord. As I just told you, I am both a member of the Bordered Blue Banner and an old resident of the Southern Pass."

“No, you didn’t understand what I meant.” Yuan Keli waved his hand and said, “You just said that the old party in Nanguan under the Bordered Blue Banner has at least seven hundred households. You don’t speak Chinese and you don’t hold any official position. Why did they send you instead of someone with a higher status?”

"This..." Mangku was stumped by the question. "Perhaps, perhaps it's because this servant has always admired the Celestial Empire."

“He said he admired the Celestial Empire and was wholeheartedly devoted to its modernization.” Lu Wenzhao’s lips twitched slightly.

"Heh," Yuan Keli couldn't help but laugh, this reason was simply not convincing. "Then why do you admire the Celestial Empire and yearn for its civilization?" Yuan Keli smoothly transformed his distrustful sneer into a warm smile.

With fervent enthusiasm, Mangku said, “When I was young, the Hada tribe was conquered by the Jianzhou tribe. My family was first captured, and then classified as bondservants. Fortunately, the Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty sent an envoy to proclaim his support for Prince Wuergu to restore Hada, and my family was able to regain our freedom. It can be said that it is precisely because of the grace of the Celestial Dynasty that my family no longer has to live among cattle and horses, or be among slaves.” After saying this, Mangku kowtowed to Yuan Keli again.

"I see, very good!" Yuan Keli quickly showed an approving expression. But his doubts remained undiminished.

Yuan Keli was certainly aware of the Hada tribe's restoration, after all, Wang Shizhong was essentially a hostage brought to the capital by the court as a backup after the Hada tribe's restoration. But even if the story told by the man in front of him was entirely true, it only meant that this messenger was too ordinary, too commonplace, so ordinary that even he himself didn't know why he had been sent here.

“Commander Lu.” Yuan Keli turned to look at Lu Jianxing.

Lu Jianxing was completely taken aback when Yuan Keli suddenly spoke to him. He paused for a moment, then instinctively replied, "Yes!"

"Please untie the ropes binding this righteous man," Yuan Keli said with a smile, pointing to Mangku, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"Isn't this a bad idea?" Lu Jianxing glanced at Lu Wenzhao subconsciously, but didn't make a move.

“Please untie all the ropes binding this ‘righteous man.’” Yuan Keli also looked at Lu Wenzhao, emphasizing the word “righteous man.”

"The master wants you to remove the unnecessary restraints on this 'righteous man'," Lu Wenzhao quickly understood Yuan Keli's meaning, and then gave the order to Lu Jianxing in Jurchen.

"Yes." Since Lu Wenzhao had also nodded, Lu Jianxing had no choice but to comply. "This servant Mangku kowtows to thank Master Yuan Keli for not doubting him!" Mangku was overjoyed and immediately kowtowed to Yuan Keli several times after being released.

"Stand up and speak," Yuan Keli said with a smile, waving upwards.

“Master Yuan Keli!” Mangku kowtowed again before getting up from the ground.

In fact, Yuan Keli wanted to offer the Tartar messenger a stool, but Lu Jianxing's true identity was that of a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so he couldn't really treat him like a servant and order him to bring a stool to the Tartar.

"How are you all doing?" Yuan Keli asked Mangku with a smile.

"What do you mean by this?" Not to mention Mangku, even Lu Wenzhao, who was in charge of the translation, couldn't quite understand this abrupt turn of events.

"I mean, how have you been living since Nanguan was annexed by Jianzhou?" Yuan Keli slowly adjusted his posture. By the time he finished speaking, he had completely shed his aggressive and stern demeanor, looking like a concerned elder. If someone were to suddenly barge in and see Yuan Keli in this state, they would never imagine that just about fifteen minutes ago, he was slamming his fist on the table and glaring at the person in front of him.

“Life? That’s just how it is.” Mangku shook his head with a bitter smile. “In good years, we eat our fill; in bad years, we eat less. Even the ancient Beile of Wuer can only live cautiously and rely on others. How much better off are we ordinary people who have to fend for ourselves?”

If I had to name a time, there were good days. Those were the times when I followed Nurhaci on his eastern and western campaigns and reaped great rewards.

The Hada tribe of Nanguan was the first of the four Hulun tribes of the Haixi Jurchen to be annexed by Jianzhou. In the following twenty years, the Hada tribe, which was integrated into the four banners of Jianzhou, followed Nurhaci in annexing the Huifa tribe, the Ula tribe, and the largest Yehe tribe two years ago.

During this period, Nurhaci even launched a war of annexation against the various "Wild Jurchen" tribes living in the Heilongjiang River basin to the north. The most recent and largest of these wars occurred in the 44th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, or the year Nurhaci established his state and proclaimed himself Khan. After establishing his state and becoming Khan, Nurhaci was eager to demonstrate his military prowess to stabilize the hearts of the people, but he dared not openly rebel against the Ming Dynasty, or launch a general offensive against the Yehe tribe, which had absorbed the remnants of the Hulun three tribes. Therefore, Nurhaci used the pretext of "massacring a merchant envoy" to launch a large-scale offensive against the Sahalian and Huha tribes among the "Wild Jurchens."

This series of conquests was undoubtedly successful, and successful foreign wars inevitably bring spoils sufficient to improve one's life. However, even if Mangku had experienced and understood these things, he dared not speak of them. Because once the topic of conquests was discussed in depth, it was very likely to shift to the conquests of the Ming Dynasty in recent years.

Yuan Keli nodded, then asked, "How have you been lately? How have you been doing?"

Upon hearing the translation, Mangku's heart sank. His eyes darted around, and he said cautiously, "This is bad, very bad. At the beginning of spring, the Great Khan ordered the requisition of grain, requiring every household to bring out their livestock and surplus grain to supply the army. But with years of war and disasters, where is there any surplus grain left? What we have left are just enough for our own rations. My family, for example, only kept enough for three months; the rest was all handed over. It's almost May, and our grain sacks are almost empty. If it weren't for the fact that my brother and I both have jobs and receive two rations, it's hard to say whether my mother and the children in the family could survive until the autumn harvest."

“They’re pitiful people too.” Yuan Keli controlled his expression, putting on a look of pity and sympathy.

This sentiment was difficult to translate, and Lu Wenzhao didn't translate it. He didn't want to.

Yuan Keli glanced at Lu Wenzhao and continued, "You just said that the chieftain of 'Urhutai' is also having a hard time and can only live cautiously under someone else's roof. But as far as I know, didn't the chieftain of 'Urhutai' marry the daughter of the slave chieftain, 'Mangguji'? The slave chieftain and the chieftain of 'Urhutai' are in-laws, so their relationship should be very good, right? How can you say he's living under someone else's roof?"

“Master Yuan Keli, you are unaware of the following,” Mangku shook his head and said. “Although the Great Khan and Wuergudai Beile are related by marriage, the Great Khan has more than one daughter, Mangguji Gege. Among the Great Khan’s many children, Mangguji Gege has never been the most favored. Moreover, just last year, Moluhun Taiji was executed by the Great Khan, and Gundai Fujin also passed away.”

Lu Wenzhao thought Mangku had finished speaking and was about to translate when Mangku suddenly added, "The story of Consort Gundai is said to be because she had an affair with Prince Daishan, so she was executed by the Great Khan. With these things in mind, how could Princess Mangguji be favored, and how could the Great Khan extend his affection to Prince Wuergudi?"

Lu Wenzhao's translation was accurate, but Yuan Keli was still confused. "Who is this 'Mo Luo Hun Tai Ji'? And who is this 'Gun Dai Fu Jin'?"

“Moluhun Taiji is the younger brother of Wuergudai Beile, and Gundai Fujin is the mother of Mangguji Gege,” Mangku said.

"Then what about that 'evil goodness' you just mentioned? Is he the crown prince of the slave chieftain?" Yuan Keli asked urgently.

“Yes, Daishan Beile is the Khan’s crown prince.” Mangku nodded.

"I heard that the Crown Prince's position is unstable and he has already been deposed. Is that true?" Yuan Keli's face showed a look of sudden realization. Son taking his father's concubine—that's much more plausible than some story about a fight over land causing discord between father and son.

“It’s true,” Mangku nodded. “However, there have been rumors recently that the relationship between the Great Khan and Daishan Beile has been restored to normal. Perhaps he will be reinstated sometime soon.”

"Restored to its original state? Why?" Yuan Keli frowned.

"This servant does not know."

Yuan Keli opened his mouth, clearly wanting to ask something more. However, in the end, he swallowed the question that was about to come out. It was already quite an achievement for an insignificant figure like Mang Ku to know even the superficial details of matters of national importance; even if he could glean some insight from him, Yuan Keli wasn't sure he would believe it.

Yuan Keli pondered in silence for a moment. When he spoke again, his gaze returned to the letter: "I believe what you said is true, but if 'Amin' and 'Urhutai' intend to rebel, why do they keep sending troops to attack our border?" Yuan Keli gradually put away his smile, and his scrutinizing gaze shifted from the letter in front of him to Mangku's face as he spoke.

Lu Wenzhao sensed the change in Yuan Keli's emotions and lowered his tone accordingly.

Before the translator had even finished speaking, Mangku's nerves tightened. His eyes widened, his hands clenched, and he said, thinking, "This...this is unavoidable. In Kuandian, there are not only Amin Beile's Bordered Blue Banner, but also Dudu Taiji's Bordered White Banner and Yuetuo Taiji's Bordered Red Banner. With these troops distributed everywhere, even if Amin Beile wanted to, he wouldn't dare to act rashly. Furthermore, around Kuandian Fortress, there are two Niru of the Plain Yellow Banner and two Niru of the Bordered Yellow Banner stationed," Mangku spoke faster and more confidently. "You may not know, but the Plain Yellow Banner and the Bordered Yellow Banner are personally commanded by the Great Khan. They came specifically to monitor Amin Beile's army! To avoid arousing the Great Khan's suspicion, Amin Beile can only feign deployment."

(End of this chapter)