Di Ming

Chapter 21 Burial
Nurhaci felt a great sense of regret.

If this boy had a girl as a companion, that would be a blessing for him.

The possibility of a young boy and girl from afar, accompanied by a baby and a dog, is too small.

Nurhaci snapped out of his thoughts and realized that it was this boy who had persuaded Li Rubai.

Who exactly is this Niu Niu, that he could persuade Li Rubai?
But then Li Rubai laughed and said, "Tong Nu, don't underestimate Young Master Zhu just because he's young. If it weren't for some inconvenience, I would love to call him my brother."

As Li Rubai finished speaking, he couldn't help but look down at his leather shoes, quite satisfied.

These shoes are stylish!
Zhu Yin revealed a mysterious and aloof smile, adopting the air of a young nobleman, and said calmly like a little adult:

"The young general and I are like brothers."

To Nurhaci and others, it seemed that he was very familiar with Li Rubai and Li Chengliang.

Seeing that the arrogant Li Rubai was so polite to Zhu Yin, Nurhaci couldn't help but have all sorts of thoughts.

He thought to himself: This Han Chinese guy's surname is Zhu, could he be a member of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family? It's very possible!
He had been a slave in the Li family for several years and knew Li Rubai's arrogance and rudeness all too well. As a boy, he had suffered no shortage of beatings and humiliations at Li Rubai's hands.

Now he is a commander and a Shule Beile, possessing two and a half tribes, but when Li Rubai sees him, he still beats and scolds him as before.

However, Li Rubai was a little too polite to this dignified young boy.

This is enough to show that the boy is no ordinary person.

We must not offend him. Nor should we underestimate him because of his youth.

Nurhaci was shrewd and flexible; a strong and tough man could be as gentle as a finger.

Without hesitation, he crossed his hands in a Han-style salute to Zhu Yin and said in Chinese:

“Nurhaci has met with Young Master Zhu. With Young Master Zhu in charge, how dare my clan elders defy the might of the Great Ming Dynasty?”

In the blink of an eye, Nurhaci had the idea of ​​befriending him.

Even if the other person is a child, as long as they are useful to you, you should cultivate a good relationship with them!
Holding Ning Qingchen, Zhu Yin was unable to return the greeting and could only nod in acknowledgment:
"General Tong is too kind. General Tong is the Commander of the Jianzhou Left Guard and also Prince Shule. They should submit to him. If they don't, then represent the court and speak to them with your sword."

Li Rubai said, "Young Master Zhu, just go ahead and do it. My thousand-plus cavalry will stay here and keep watch, let's see who dares to act recklessly."

He didn't want to take direct action, but he couldn't just walk away either.

Once the matter is resolved and he has received gifts from both sides, it's not too late for him to leave.

Nurhaci also said, "Young master, young master Zhu, my uncles are all in the ancestral city of Hetu Ala now. The people and livestock they have captured are definitely hidden in the city."

With the Ming army involved, even just a hundred men, it would be enough to intimidate those old fogies. As long as they dare not resist, there will be no civil war within the tribe.

Ultimately, Nurhaci wasn't afraid of them; he simply didn't want a civil war.

Zhu Yin said, "General Tong, please lead the way. However, before we go to Hetu Ala, there is one more thing I need to do."

Nurhaci's rugged and sturdy face revealed a kind and gentle smile. "Please give your orders, young master. Do you need my assistance?"

He was well-versed in the Three Kingdoms period and was one of the few Jurchens who understood the Central Plains. When necessary, his language style could also be very Sinicized.

Zhu Yin patted Ning Qingchen in his arms, "My sister is too hungry and wants to nurse. Is there a wet nurse nearby?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Qingchen couldn't help but smile again.

I'm so hungry! I'm about to faint from hunger!
You said I'm your sister, so hurry up and feed me duck!

As for the past incident where she forced Zhu Yin to resign... sorry, she subconsciously filtered it out.

These past few days, Zhu Yin has been taking care of her, feeding her and changing her diapers, and she's gotten used to it.

Once you've developed a dependency, why think so much?
She's so small, what are you going to do with her?
“Yes, yes!” Shurhaci, who also understood Chinese, quickly replied, “My wife just gave birth to Amin, and her breast milk is still adequate. If Young Master Zhu doesn’t mind…”

"Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law." How could Zhu Yin refuse?
Immediately afterwards, he and Xue Cheng led a hundred cavalrymen and followed Nurhaci and his brothers into the city of Fuala, which was under construction.

At this very moment, thousands of people are busy at the construction site.

Groups of bare-chested Jurchen men with shaved heads and braided hair, wearing animal teeth around their necks, were working enthusiastically.

Many people sing: "A girl twists and turns in the woods, a widow swings her big finger by the river, brave hunters and fishermen, how happy they sleep when they're tired! Hey ya ya! Hey ya ya! Hey ya hey ya hey ya ya!"

Huge trees were being transported to the construction site amidst shouts of encouragement. A city surrounded by mountains and rivers was about to rise from the ground.

Judging by its size, it was at most a county town in the Central Plains. But among the Jianzhou tribes, it was definitely a large city.

The first city built by Nurhaci is almost complete.

In reality, his construction of the city of Faara was out of necessity.

What he truly desired was the city of Hetu Ala, where his ancestral homeland was located.

Unfortunately, the clan elders seized control of the ancestral land of Hetu Ala, and the city lord was also the sixth uncle, Bao Shi.

Nurhaci had no choice but to abandon Hetu Ala and choose a piece of land nearby to build his own city, which he named Ala City.

Nurhaci's Beile Mansion was not yet completed, and his brothers and their entire family were temporarily living in a tent at the corner of the city. At first glance, it looked like a Mongol felt tent.

Nurhaci and his brothers are rough and burly in appearance. Today, when they greeted Li Rubai, they were dressed in Han Chinese clothing, which looked out of place and like nouveau riche. They did not look like nobles at all.
"Nana!" Shurhaci called out to his wife in a loud and boisterous manner, completely unlike the Manchu nobles depicted in movies and TV dramas.

“Little Wild Boar Hide!” A plump woman dressed in silk stepped out of the tent. “Why do you look like your horse has been stolen today?”

"Sister-in-law!" Nurhaci glanced at her ample bosom. "There is a little noble lady's sister who needs you to breastfeed! You should act like a nanny and let her eat her fill so she can sleep peacefully beside you."

Zhu Yin carried Ning Qingchen forward and said in Jurchen:

"Sister-in-law Nana, thank you for your hard work. When I'm not around, please take care of her like a mother."

"Fine!" Nana, who wasn't very gentle, pouted and muttered reluctantly in a low voice:

“My poor son Amin, a little princess is going to steal your milk.”

Then, taking Ning Qingchen's hand, he exclaimed in surprise:

"Mama Foduo! Is this little princess the child of a fairy? She's unbelievably beautiful!"

He clicked his tongue in amazement and touched Ning Qing's little face.

Shurhaci, an impatient man, stamped his foot and said:

"Alright, Nana! Quickly unbutton your coat and give her the kiss! Can't you see she's starving!"

"Oh dear!" Nana's eyebrows shot up. "Brother Wild Boar Skin is here, how can I take off my clothes to breastfeed!"

Nurhaci turned and left, and Shurhaci quickly followed.

Zhu Yin smiled at Nana and then turned to leave.

Nana then unbuttoned her clothes and stuffed the kiss into Ning Qingchen's mouth, who was bubbling with desire.

Ning Qingchen felt that her milk was not as sweet as Jilan's. She was used to Jilan's milk and would never forget it.

But I'm hungry right now, so all I can do is eat until I'm full.

Damn it, this is tough for me.

I hope Zhu Yin can save his sister as soon as possible!
……

Hetu Ala City.

In the main hall of the western city, a group of Jurchen nobles dressed in Han Chinese silk, covered with mink fur, and wearing fox fur on their heads were gathered.

Three elderly men sat in the center, their expressions sorrowful.

In the hall, there was a huge wooden coffin with the coffin hollowed out, inside which was a dead old man in his seventies, covered with a white cloth with star patterns.

There were several dog carcasses next to the coffin.

According to the customs of some Jurchen nobles, when their master died, their beloved dog was also to be buried with him.

Beneath the altar of the shrine, a little girl dressed in a gorgeous mink coat was tied to a pillar.

This young girl had skin as smooth as jade, and her eyebrows and eyes were as beautiful as painted pictures. She was none other than Ning Caiwei, who had been kidnapped three days ago.

Not long ago, she was taken out of the prisoner-of-war cell, washed her face, took a bath, changed her clothes, and burned incense.

Then they were taken to this shrine.

She had learned some basic Jurchen and knew her fate was to come.

To be buried alive with one's spouse!

Indeed, at this time, the Jurchen customs still retained the cruel practice of funerary sacrifice.

However, this custom was only practiced by Jurchen nobles; those of lower social classes were not eligible.

Ning Caiwei's face turned pale as she tried her best to suppress her fear and maintain her ability to think calmly.

calm down!

Ning Caiwei, you need to calm down!

"Brother Dekushi!" an old man cried out in anguish, opening his arms wide.
"You went to Changbai Mountain to serve Master Cuohazhan and Mother Foduo, and became the Mani God (household god) worshipped by the tribe. Sixth brother, I'm so happy for you!"

"But all our brotherhood of so many years has come to an end, hehe... boohoo!"

When he cried, a large group of Jurchen nobles wept together.

This person was none other than Baoshi, the sixth great-uncle of Nurhaci, the Lord of Hetu Ala City, the Jueercha clan's Mukunda, the Ningguta Beile, and Nurhaci!

With his elder brother dead, the younger brother naturally had to choose the best woman to be buried with him, to express his affection for his brother.

This little Han princess is perfect for her!
(End of this chapter)