My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 284 Let the Grassland Be Great Again

Third Sister showed a sorrowful expression. After dismissing everyone around her, she said:
"I understand the reasoning you have given, but given the current situation, Huang Taiji will not listen to me."

Third Sister made it clear that Huang Taiji, the successor of Anda Khan, opposed the tributary system.

Then Third Sister said:
"Your Excellency can rest assured that I will do my utmost to ensure the safety of the mission."

Wang Shizhen's mind raced, and he asked:

"If Third Sister can guarantee our safety, then who can guarantee Third Sister's safety?"

Third Sister's face showed a somber expression, and she finally said:
"Then I will go and guard the Great Khan's tomb."

Wang Shizhen was very familiar with the customs of the grasslands. At the level of San Niangzi, the so-called "guarding the tomb" actually meant being buried alive with the deceased.

Wang Shizhen said:
"I have a plan that can ensure the safety of Third Sister and also safeguard the stability of the Ming Dynasty and the grasslands."

Third Sister hurriedly asked:
"Please enlighten me, Your Excellency!"

Wang Shizhen said:
"Please ask Third Sister to marry Huang Taiji, and then persuade him to accept the throne of the Prince of Shunyi!"

Third Sister paused for a moment, then said hesitantly:

"I understand your meaning, Your Excellency, but Huang Taiji already has a wife. How could he abandon her to marry me? Besides, when the Khan was alive, he was my enemy at every turn. How could he possibly marry me?"

Grassland women don't usually have much of a psychological burden when talking about remarriage, but it's impossible for San Niangzi to take the initiative to tell Huang Taiji that she wants to marry him.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. Your Excellency should go and pay your respects to the old Khan."

Third Sister stopped discussing the topic, leaving Wang Shizhen at a loss for what to do.

The delegation then arrived at the place where Anda Khan's body lay in state. After completing the mourning ceremony, Wang Shizhen and Shen Yiguan still did not see Huang Taiji.

On that day, the delegation stayed at the guesthouse in Banshung Castle.

Shen Yiguan said anxiously:

"Lord Wang, Huang Taiji has been delaying our meeting, and his rebellious intentions are obvious. We should report to the court immediately and prepare our troops as soon as possible!"

Wang Shizhen's mind was also in turmoil at this moment, and he said:

"Immediately dispatch your capable men to send the message back."

Shen Yiguan immediately wrote down the situation on the grassland, put it in an urgent letter, and dispatched a courier from the mission to send it back.

Wang Shizhen paced back and forth, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said:
"If Huang Taiji refuses to come out, then I will find a way to make him come out!"

Shen Yiguan asked:
"Does the Grand Herald have a good idea?"

Wang Shizhen stood up, walked to the desk, picked up his pen, and said:

"I can only do my best. As for whether it will succeed, that's up to fate!"
-
Wang Shizhen worked tirelessly all night, almost collapsing from exhaustion. Early the next morning, Shen Yiguan immediately ordered the members of the delegation to distribute the manuscript written by Wang Shizhen.

As a renowned scholar of his time, Wang Shizhen was not only well-versed in Han Chinese history and legends, but also highly knowledgeable about Mongolian culture.

What Wang Shizhen wrote overnight was a collection of Mongolian throat songs.

Throat songs are a form of Mongolian opera, usually accompanied by the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), and tell legendary stories through specific melodies.

The earliest Northern School of Yuanqu originated from throat singing.

Wang Shizhen's throat song is called "Hulando".

"Hurandot" is set against the backdrop of Khuran, Genghis Khan's concubine. It tells the story of how she assisted Genghis Khan and, after his death, fell in love with Ögedei Khan, Genghis Khan's successor, and then went on to assist Ögedei Khan.

One of the passages is about Hulan Fei and Ögedei expressing their feelings, but she is worried that Ögedei will not accept her feelings. Shen Yiguan was greatly impressed after listening to it. He thought that she was indeed a literary master of the time, and even her throat singing was so amazing.

Shen Yiguan also understood Wang Shizhen's idea: to bring together San Niangzi and Huang Taiji by spreading the novel "Hurandot".

As for whether Huang Taiji will show up, that depends on fate.

As Shen Yiguan had predicted, with Wang Shizhen, the contemporary literary emperor, personally taking action, "Hurandot" immediately became a sensation in Bansheng City.

Throat songs are the most traditional art form of Mongolians, and any herdsman who can play the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) can sing them.

Wang Shizhen's lyrics are catchy and easy to remember. Although they are written in Chinese, the grasslands and the Central Plains have been intertwined for hundreds of years, and there are many grassland people who can speak and sing in Chinese.

This throat song was sung throughout the entire city of Bansheng, praising the love of Princess Hulan.

Although those familiar with the history of the Golden Family know that Wang Shizhen's story is purely an artist's fabrication.

Although Khulan was Genghis Khan's concubine in history, she did not have such a relationship with Ögedei Khan, but she did assist Ögedei Khan in ruling for a period of time.

However, beautiful love stories only exist in works of art; the more something doesn't exist in reality, the more it is praised by the world.

Huang Taiji, who had remained in Bansheng City and refused to meet the Ming envoy, naturally heard this song as well.

Kheshig Volunchi, who was beside Huang Taiji, said to Huang Taiji:

"Your Majesty! Such a throat song is being sung in Bansheng City, fabricating and slandering the Golden Bloodline. Your subordinates have sent men to assassinate the Ming envoy!"

However, another Kheshig Wulachi said:
"Your Majesty, this throat song was circulated after the Ming envoy met with Third Lady. Could it be that Third Lady is keeping watch?"

The Kheshig were the bodyguards of the Mongol Khan.

Of course, they were not just guards. The Kheshig (imperial guards) came from large tribes and were the heirs of those tribes. They were more like close advisors to the Great Khan of the Mongols.

Many prime ministers in the Yuan Dynasty came from the Kheshig (imperial guard).

The same applies to these two. Both Volunchi and Wulachi are heirs to two major tribes on the grassland. They were selected into the Kheshig (imperial guard) from a young age and grew up alongside Huang Taiji.

Warrenchi was brave and Wulachi was intelligent; the two were Huang Taiji's right-hand men.

The most exquisite part of this throat song is the section where Khulanfei expresses her feelings to Ögedei after Genghis Khan's death.

For some reason, the image of Third Sister appeared in Huang Taiji's mind.

He actually wasn't interested in Third Sister at first.

Third Sister was the most steadfast advocate of paying tribute, and during Anda Khan's lifetime, he continuously supported Third Sister's power to suppress himself.

Older rulers often cultivate factions to suppress younger successors.

The differences between the two sides are not merely about political lines.

However, Huang Taiji also knew that Third Sister was a charming woman.

Otherwise, Anda Khan wouldn't have exchanged his grandson's woman for San Niangzi.

After listening to "Hurandot", Huang Taiji felt as if he could see San Niangzi pouring out her heart to him, which aroused inexplicable feelings in him.

Men always have a special desire to conquer women of high status.

In name only, Third Sister is Huang Taiji's mother.

Although there is a tradition of levirate marriage on the grasslands, the feeling of immorality still made Huang Taiji's heart itch.

What if Third Sister really has feelings for me?
Huang Taiji began to consider this possibility.

Huang Taiji quickly realized the benefits of marrying San Niangzi.

The tribute faction surrounding Third Sister was very powerful; these were groups that profited from trade with the Ming Dynasty.

Regardless of the circumstances of the lower-class herders, the lives of the upper classes on the grasslands improved after trade with the Ming Dynasty was opened. They had delicious and sweet sugarcane wine, luxurious silk clothing, treasures from the Ming Dynasty, and all sorts of convenient daily necessities.

Thinking back to the days when we were enemies with the Ming Dynasty, every time the grasslands raided south, we couldn't get anything of value. If we wanted something good, we had to buy it from smugglers at high prices.

The Ming Dynasty also produced a constant stream of fine products, such as black tea, soap, charcoal stoves, and sugar cane, which quickly won over the hearts of the Mongol upper class.

Products from the Ming Dynasty are so useful that no one can live without them!

This is why Huang Taiji was unwilling to completely break with the Ming Dynasty.

His choice to avoid meeting the Ming envoy was precisely to maintain ambiguity on this issue.

There was no other way; the forces that originally supported him were all opposed to the policies of the previous Khan, that is, opposed to the tributary system.

If he abandons them, he, the Khan of the Steppe, will have no supporters.

But things are different now. What if I could marry Third Sister?
Then I can secure my position as the Khan of the grasslands.

There are also beautiful women.

Thinking of this, Huang Taiji began to have wandering thoughts again.

Huang Taiji left Wulachi behind and said to him:
"I am sending you to test Third Sister's intentions."

Wulachi naturally understood Huang Taiji's meaning, and he rushed towards the royal palace of Bansheng City under the cover of night.
-
In the palace.

Third Sister, her pretty face cold, looked at Wang Shizhen and said:
"What does your esteemed envoy mean? To slander a woman's chastity out of thin air—is this the behavior of our Celestial Empire?"

Wang Shizhen sipped her milk tea and said calmly:

"What I am writing is a story from the past, why does Your Highness say such a thing?"

Third Sister, naturally unable to win an argument with these scholars, gritted her teeth and said:
"Do you think that by humiliating me like this, Your Excellency, you can force Huang Taiji to accept tribute?"

Wang Shizhen put down the milk jug and said:
"That naturally depends on Third Sister's wishes."

"What are my feelings?"

Wang Shizhen said:
"Third Sister, are you willing to marry Huang Taiji?"

As expected, the Third Sister showed displeasure upon hearing this.

She had absolutely no liking for Huang Taiji.

She and Anda Khan were an older man and a younger woman, and their marriage was also a political alliance, but Anda Khan was indeed a heroic figure.

Even the elderly Anda Khan could see the situation clearly and make the right decisions.

However, Huang Taiji was the kind of reckless and brainless grassland man who only knew how to charge headlong into danger.

This is also what Third Sister dislikes the most.

Wang Shizhen then said:

"Even the fiercest horse on the grassland can be harnessed with reins, and you, Third Sister, are those reins."

"Where the grasslands go depends on your choice."

Just then, a maidservant came to announce that Kheshig Wulachi, who was by Huang Taiji's side, was requesting an audience.

After a moment of silence, Third Sister said, "Please invite Wulachi in."

Then, Third Sister looked at Wang Shizhen with a complicated expression and said:

"Since Your Excellency has helped me arrange the marriage, you should give me a gift. Please leave the original manuscript of 'Hurandot' on the grassland."

Wang Shizhen knew that his plan was halfway complete, so he immediately said, "Then congratulations on your marriage, Third Sister."
-
The next day, while the old Khan was still lying in state, news spread from Bansheng City that the new Khan, Huang Taiji, would follow grassland tradition and take San Niangzi as his principal wife.

When the news first broke, many Mongolian nobles thought it was fake news. It wasn't until Huang Taiji and San Niangzi met with the Ming court's envoys to offer condolences that everyone realized it was true.

In an instant, cheers erupted throughout Bansheng City.

Bansheng City is a city.

Every city needs trade to sustain it. The nobles in Bansheng City consumed the most goods from the Ming Dynasty. They were the group least willing to sever trade ties with the Ming Dynasty and were also the core supporters of San Niangzi.

Those who shout about making the grasslands great again are mostly herders from remote and harsh areas. They have nothing left to lose, so they naturally don't care about destroying everything.

These people thought Huang Taiji would become their savior, but they forgot that Huang Taiji was also a Ban Sheng person.

Huang Taiji was unwilling to give up Bansheng City and return to the nomadic life of the Mongols a hundred years ago.

Now that Huang Taiji has secured the loyalty of the tribute faction, there is no need for him to continue trying to win over these impoverished border tribes.

As expected, Huang Taiji announced his marriage to the Third Lady and accepted the investiture from the Ming Dynasty, becoming the new Prince of Shunyi.

Immediately afterwards, the Ming Dynasty released an updated trade agreement.

This agreement was the one that Su Ze gave to Shen Yiguan.

This agreement was no different from the original trade agreement, except for one additional clause: in the future, sugarcane wine merchants in the Central Plains could not sell sugarcane wine directly to herdsmen, but had to sell it to nobles and merchants designated by the King of Shunyi.

As expected, the newly appointed Shunyi King Huang Taiji was very satisfied with the agreement.

Soon, propaganda began circulating in Bansheng City that the great new Shunyi King had negotiated with the Ming Dynasty to stop dumping sugarcane wine onto the grasslands and instead sell it only to a few designated merchants.

This would allow ordinary herders to be saved from alcoholism.

Ban Shengcheng continued to praise the wisdom of the Shunyi King, saying that they had won big.

However, Shen Yiguan knew how powerful Su Ze's move was.

If there's still a demand for sugarcane wine, does that mean the people of the grasslands will stop drinking it?

If the sale of illicit liquor is prohibited, then these nobility merchants from the grasslands will not sell it to them.
This was nothing more than allowing the nobles and merchants designated by Huang Taiji to make a fortune.

Huang Taiji can promote his achievements, enrich his people, obtain exclusive sales rights out of thin air, and appease people within his own faction.

In short, Huang Taiji can promote his victory in the hemp trade, and the sugarcane wine trade of the Ming Dynasty will not be greatly affected.

They only needed to transport the goods to the places where Mongolian merchants gathered and sell them directly to them, no longer responsible for the final sales.

For most businessmen, since the market has already been established, it doesn't matter who they sell to.

Shen Yiguan even harbored malicious thoughts, thinking that the Ming Dynasty's trade in sugarcane wine with the grasslands might even increase, which would be too ironic.

However, for Shen Yiguan, this trip to the grasslands was a complete success.

The tribute mission continued, and this mission was a great success. Shen Yiguan's gaze towards Wang Shizhen changed.

With this achievement, Wang Shizhen is one step closer to joining the cabinet.

Even if he doesn't get into the cabinet this time, he should still be able to rise from one of the Nine Ministers to one of the Six Ministries.

It should be noted that the current Minister of Rites, Gao Yi, has refused to take office for many years and has repeatedly asked the emperor for permission to resign.

Could that lead to a further advancement in his official career?
At the same time, Su Ze also received the system's settlement report.

(End of this chapter)