Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 74 Enemy Attack
The Khan's tent.

After many days, Anda Khan hosted another banquet instead of dragging him out to be beheaded. How could Yan Maoqing and the others not understand what this meant?
The coal mine must have been found!
At this moment, Gao Gong's face still bore traces of tears of joy and relief from surviving a disaster. He felt that the ups and downs of life had happened too quickly and were too exciting.

Although Shen Lian remained calm and composed, he could not hide his excitement and had already torn the half-written will from the notebook and burned it.

After all, it was a suicide note, and keeping it would be unlucky. If others saw it in the future, it would make him look cowardly.

And at this moment.

Yan Maoqing, however, held up four fingers to Anda without any room for argument:
“I had already told Altan Khan that day that the 400,000 taels plus the three things I had previously proposed must not be less than one coin, and not one thing can be missing, otherwise it will be impossible to succeed.”

"you……"

Seeing that Anda frowned, as if he wanted to express his dissatisfaction.

"I'm easily frightened, don't try to intimidate me, don't haggle, don't waste my time, otherwise... pay more!"

Yan Maoqing immediately interrupted him again, adding firmly,
"Anda Khan, please don't think I'm acting impulsively and trying to raise the price. In fact, all the money I'm asking for has a legitimate source, and I'm fair to everyone, young and old!"

"Please recall carefully, Altan Khan, when I first communicated with the Tatar envoy detained in Datong, did I reveal that the Emperor of the Great Ming intended to retake the Tatars?"

“If Altan Khan chooses to believe us after receiving the secret letter for the first time, we can easily nip the matter of Futao in the bud and facilitate the establishment of tribute relations.”

"Such a difficult task is not a problem for us, therefore I ask for 100,000 taels!"

"But Anda Khan refused to believe it and insisted that we come to Fengzhou Beach in secret to discuss it in person."

"While we were on our way here, the restoration of the city had already been put on the agenda, and all the officials and civil servants knew about it, and the people were in high spirits."

"Under these circumstances, preventing the re-entry of the tributary system has become twice as difficult, as has facilitating the establishment of tributary relations. Therefore, I demand 200,000 taels!"

"However, even then, Anda Khan remained skeptical and insisted on finding a coal mine first before discussing cooperation."

"This has delayed us for more than half a month. If I am not mistaken, the matter of restoring the Ordos must have escalated to a point by now. Several court discussions have already been held, and the restoration of the Ordos is almost a done deal. No one dares to mention the matter of tribute."

"If we were to turn the tide now, the effort we would need would more than double?"

"Therefore, my asking price of 400,000 taels is just as reasonable, and I have even given Altan Khan a discount."

"If Anda Khan continues to be obstinate, and the Ming army's provisions and pay are allocated, and the re-establishment of the system becomes inevitable, then it will probably no longer be a matter of whether or not to increase the amount of money. I urge Anda Khan to make a decision as soon as possible!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Gao Gong and Shen Lian exchanged a glance, and they found themselves admiring Yan Maoqing once again.

Not to mention Anda, even the two of them felt that Yan Maoqing's asking price was reasonable. If Anda didn't make a decision and take the money soon, he would be at a loss.

"..."

In addition to sending people to search for coal mines, Anda has also been keeping a close eye on the situation in the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, he already knew through secret reports that what Yan Maoqing said was true. The Ming court had already held two court discussions on the matter of restoring the Tao, and the pro-war faction had always been in the lead. It was probably difficult to reverse the trend.

Just as his subordinates returned to report the good news, the trusted leaders present also urged him to expedite the establishment of the tribute agreement.

Otherwise, once the Ming Dynasty takes action, it will be impossible to reverse the course of the war.

The leader even gave a vivid example that all Tatars could understand: "If an arrow is fired into the air, it will injure both the person and the bow."

Once the recapture of the Hetao region officially begins, even though the Hetao region is not Anda's territory, as the leader of one of the three Wanhu (ten thousand households) on the right wing, he must obey Ji Nang's orders and lead his troops to meet the enemy.

Even if he chose to disobey orders, in the hearts of the people of the Ming Dynasty, all Tatars were a whole, and it was impossible for them to single him out and treat him differently.

Thus, the possibility of establishing a tributary relationship became even more impossible, and he could only continue living his previous life of hardship, clutching his "gold brick"...

This is the outcome that Anda absolutely did not want to see after the coal mine was actually found.

Therefore, after consulting with several trusted leaders, he decided to cooperate with Yan Maoqing.

Now all he had to do was suppress his elation and bargain with Yan Maoqing to get more benefits, or at least not make too many concessions, so as not to lose face in front of these tribal leaders.

After much thought, he quickly found a small flaw in Yan Maoqing's words, and then stood up and asked:
"Envoy Yan, there is something I don't understand. You stayed at my Fengzhou Beach for more than half a month, during which time there was neither communication nor messenger exchange. How can you so readily assert that the matter of Futao has escalated?"

"Did I say that the people in the capital who are currently pushing hard for the re-establishment of the city are not our people?"

Yan Maoqing picked up the silver cup, took a sip of mare's milk wine to moisten his throat, and asked with a smile,

"Does Anda Khan think that you can't make money by playing the game?" "Ku...cough cough!"

Shen Lian was also drinking when he heard this and immediately choked on his throat.

What's the meaning? !

Could it be that the group of insects behind Yan Maoqing are prepared for both offense and defense?

This is what they call "the devil is one foot taller than the saint".
He felt a strange itch in his head, as if his brain was starting to grow... He needed to grow his brain more, otherwise how could he possibly fight against these corrupt officials who were so clever they seemed like demons?

"That's a decisive statement; there's no more suspense left!"

Gao Gong was so shaken that he almost cheered.

Once these words are spoken, Anda will surely understand completely that the initiative in this matter has always been in Yan Maoqing's hands, and the options of returning to the same place or paying tribute can be changed at any time.

Now it is they who need to beg Yan Maoqing to cooperate, not the other way around. If they do not compromise, they will be the ones who suffer. Even if they kill Yan Maoqing, it will be of no use. This is a crushing defeat of "strength"!

really.

"Hahahaha, the methods of the Ming Dynasty officials have truly broadened my horizons!"

After a moment of surprise, Anda suddenly burst into laughter.

"Four hundred thousand it is. Bring me the command token and shield, and I will swear an oath with the envoy from Yan!"

……

Datong, Yanghe Sai.

Why haven't you come back yet?

"Why haven't we received any news yet?"

"Is there really anything wrong?"

In recent days, Guo Xun has been climbing the walls of Yanghe Pass almost every day, standing on the walls and staring at the boundless wilderness for three hours at a time, his eyes filled with longing.

Ever since he used that memorial to fob off the emperor, no more secret edicts have been sent from the capital.

Based on his understanding of the Emperor, he was probably truly angry this time, and the current silence was the calm before the storm...

Just like when you're sighing and complaining.

"Master, something terrible has happened... Someone from the capital has arrived. This person claims to be Yan Changping, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and is waiting for you at the city gate."

Zhang Xian, a trusted servant, came to Guo Xun's side and whispered something in his ear.

"This is...it's all over!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Xun's heart clenched, his face turned deathly pale, and his body swayed weakly twice.

The Assistant Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was an official of the Embroidered Uniform Guard second only to Commander Lu Bing. Among the Assistant Commanders, Yan Changping was the most ruthless and was privately known as "King Yama".

The fact that the Emperor sent this person here is enough to explain the situation.

This is a direct order for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest someone...

"Owner……"

Zhang Xian quickly helped Guo Xun up and was about to speak to him when he suddenly caught sight of a cluster of dark dots on the desolate plains beyond the Great Wall. He quickly pointed in that direction and said...
"Master, look, aren't there many people coming over there?"

"Th-that's...could they be Tartars?!"

Guo Xun stared intently, and his deathly pale face instantly turned ashen. He was so shocked that he cried out in alarm.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! The Tartars are raiding the pass! Quickly order the city gates closed, light the beacon fires, and hold the city walls!"

"Hurry up, why aren't you joining me in issuing the warning?!"

Zhang Xian was about to shout, but then doubt arose in his heart, and he couldn't help but ask:
"But master, why didn't the Tartars launch a surprise attack on horseback when they raided the pass? Why did they just stroll over here so leisurely?"

　Thank you to [Taeyeon 1.7m] for the generous donation.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)