How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 201 A Spark of Hope, Through Wind and Snow (Luo Luo will change the book title soon)

At the end of the first month of the third year of Chongzhen's reign, the weather did not warm up. Instead, a white blizzard swept down from the Mongolian Plateau, turning the world into chaos.

To the northeast of the Hetao region, bordering the Yellow River, lies an inconspicuous mountain valley. At this moment, however, the valley is crowded with uninvited guests.

Gao Yingxiang reined in his horse, which was panting heavily and pawing restlessly at the snow. Behind him were about a thousand brothers, all of them looking as if they had been pulled out of the mud, their cotton armor torn to reveal dirty cotton wadding, and their faces showing signs of hunger.

They had been wandering the vast grasslands controlled by the Ordos Ten Thousand Households, surviving on the grass and grain they ate while fighting the Tartars. Initially, they were doing quite well, but later, the Ordos Ten Thousand Households leader, Erlinchen, angered them and mobilized a large army to pursue and annihilate them. Although Gao Yingxiang's men were quite capable fighters, their numbers were ultimately too few, and they lacked cavalry; they were no match for the superior numbers of the Ordos people. Thus, he was forced to the banks of the Yellow River. Now, his group's food sacks were almost empty; if they couldn't find food soon, they would starve and freeze to death on this desolate wasteland, even without the Ordos Ten Thousand Households' troops.

Just then, another group of Mongols came rushing in from the east bank of the Yellow River. They looked equally disheveled, with few cattle and sheep, and hardly any yurts. Most of them could only dig holes in the frozen ground to shelter from the wind and cold. They looked even more miserable than Gao Yingxiang and his group!
Although they are poor, they have tough ideas that are hard to deal with!
Gao Yingxiang's men had clashed with them, and they were far more formidable than the Wanhu people of Ordos!

After several encounters, Gao Yingxiang figured out the origins of this group of Mongols. They claimed to be the central Chahar Wanhu, the legitimate rulers of the Great Yuan Dynasty, and that they had come to the Hetao region to protect the Empress Dowager of the Northern Yuan from the treacherous Jin army.
It's about the Yuan Dynasty and the Jin army. It doesn't sound like something from the Ming Dynasty at all!
However, Gao Yingxiang still figured out this fact—the other side was also eyeing the lucrative Ordos Wanhu area with envy!

Therefore, today's "meeting" took place.

"Brother, there are yurts in the valley, and quite a few people there!" The scout who was leading the way dismounted, his voice filled with surprise.

Gao Yingxiang squinted as he peered into the valley. He could vaguely make out some tents and dilapidated vehicles, which didn't look much better than theirs. He spat, "Show them your weapons first, let them know what we're made of, then we can talk about terms!"

The starving bandits let out a shout and surged into the mountain valley.

The valley erupted in chaos. Screams and the neighing of horses filled the air as over a hundred Mongolian men brandished their scimitars, protecting a few of the better-looking tents in the center, poised for a desperate fight. But outnumbered, they were quickly surrounded by Gao Yingxiang's men.

Seeing that the two sides were about to clash, Gao Yingxiang whistled to restrain his men, then drew his sword and rode off. At that moment, the curtain of the largest tent wagon was lifted, and a woman stepped out.

The woman was wrapped in a thick fur robe, her face weary, and her hair somewhat disheveled, but her eyes shone like knives, staring directly at Gao Yingxiang's face. She stood there, her back ramrod straight, and the panicked Mongols around her quieted down slightly when they saw her appear, indicating that she was in charge.

Gao Yingxiang thought to himself, "Huh?" and waved his hand, signaling his men to hold off for now.

The woman spoke, in Mongolian, her voice not loud, yet carrying an air of superior authority.

Gao Yingxiang couldn't understand, but one of his old soldiers leaned over and whispered, "Brother, she said she is... the First Consort of Ligdan Khan, Nangnang."

Gao Yingxiang clasped his hands in a slight fist salute and shouted, "I am Gao Yingxiang! I'm a beggar from northern Shaanxi! I have no other intention than to ask you, Madam, for some grain and fodder."

He's just testing the waters, even if there's no guarantee of success.

The Lady Consort clearly understood. She sneered and replied in accented but clear Mandarin, "Gao Yingxiang? Never heard of him. Do we look like we have any surplus grain?"

She pointed to the emaciated, pale-faced her followers and the few emaciated cattle and sheep around her. "We have no grain, but we have one life."

Gao Yingxiang looked around, his heart sinking. Their situation wasn't much better than his own. Was there any future in cooperating with them?

A wave of despair washed over him. He gritted his teeth and stared at Consort Nangnang: "Then let's just wait it out! Let's see who freezes or starves to death first!"

Princess Consort Nangnang met his gaze without flinching. The two stared at each other in the wind and snow, the air seeming to freeze.

After a long pause, Gao Yingxiang finally spoke, his voice laced with ruthlessness: "The Princess Consort is a noblewoman, surely she has a way out? If this drags on, we'll all die!"

Princess Consort Nangnang paused for a moment, the wind and snow whipping against her face, and she squinted. "A way out? Yes. It all depends on whether Chief Gao has the guts."

She raised her hand and pointed southwest: "The Ordos Ten Thousand Households. They are currently internally divided and outwardly strong but inwardly weak. The grasslands there can support millions of cattle and sheep, and the land along the Yellow River can also grow good crops. That's enough to settle us down."

Gao Yingxiang's eyes lit up, then he shook his head: "Ordos? What a great place! But with my small force, a direct attack would be suicide."

"Who told you to fight so recklessly?" A mocking smile appeared on Consort Nangnang's lips. "I, Nangnang, am still the First Consort of Ligdan Khan! Although the Chahan tribe has dispersed, its title remains. I can contact those in the Ordos tribe who are dissatisfied with the current Jinong, and we can coordinate an attack from within." She looked at Gao Yingxiang, her gaze sharp: "Let's join forces and swallow up the Ordos 10,000 households together. After it's done, the pasture tribes will belong to me, and the fertile land along the Yellow River will be yours. If we join forces, we might just be able to build a foundation in this chaotic world."

Gao Yingxiang's heart pounded. A base! The base he had dreamed of! The pie in the sky that this woman was painting looked incredibly appealing.

But once the forces are united, who will be the leader? This woman is none other than the "Empress Dowager of the Great Yuan Dynasty," so the people of Ordos would surely pledge allegiance to her.
"Your Highness is quite the schemer! You're trying to get something for nothing!" He paused, then offered his own bargaining chip, "To tell you the truth, the area inside the border wall is already a living hell! Every year there's a severe drought, the land is barren for miles, and the people are resorting to cannibalism! As long as I, Gao Yingxiang, can establish a foothold in the Hetao region, cultivate the land, and raise the recruitment flag..."

He raised his voice, laced with inflammatory rhetoric: "We have no shortage of starving people coming to join us! Where there are people, there is food and soldiers!"

He's also making empty promises, and he's doing it quite well.

The Yellow River is harmful in every way, but beneficial in everything!

Unfortunately, apart from Ningxia Town, the Hetao region is now under the control of the Ordos Ten Thousand Households of Mongolia. They don't farm much, so large tracts of fertile land at the foot of the Yin Mountains and along both banks of the Yellow River are left barren.

If Gao Yingxiang could take this place, he would be rich. Just by absorbing the refugees from northern Shaanxi, he could fatten himself up.

As Consort Nangnang listened, her breathing quickened slightly. An endless supply of manpower… this was what she lacked most.

She immediately replied, "If Chief Gao has such ambition, I, Nangnang, will not be stingy either! As long as we establish a foothold in the Hetao region and raise the banner of my Central Chahar Ten Thousand Households, the scattered Chahar veterans will surely come to join us! With Mongol warriors, we can rebuild our iron cavalry! At that time, you, Chief Gao, will have land and grain, and I will have strong troops. Who in this northern grassland will dare to underestimate us?"

The two of them, chatting away, somehow managed to create the most delicious pancake in the world amidst this desolate, snowy landscape.

One side fielded elite troops, while the other focused on reputation and cavalry, both with their sights set on Ordos.

After annexing the Ordos Wanhu, they each gathered their own forces to farm and herd livestock, thus expanding their operations together.
Looking at the woman before him, Gao Yingxiang saw that even in her current predicament, she still possessed such insight and courage. His initial contempt vanished, replaced by admiration and a strange, indescribable feeling. This woman was no ordinary person.

Consort Nangnang was also sizing up Gao Yingxiang. Tall and imposing, with a fierce and valiant look, and most importantly, a fierce and unyielding air of a hero. In chaotic times, this kind of man was far more reliable than a docile sheep. He also seemed more dependable than that good-for-nothing Lin Danhan.
"Good!" Gao Yingxiang slapped his thigh. "Let's do it! My wife, let's swear an oath of brotherhood in this snowstorm! We'll share wealth and honor, and never betray each other, even in life and death!"

He drew his dagger and, without hesitation, slashed his palm, drawing blood. He then took a water pouch and poured some turbid wine into it.

Consort Nangnang was equally decisive. She took off her hairpin, pricked it with her fingertip, and dripped a drop of bright red blood into the wine.

The two took the water pouch, and Gao Yingxiang declared loudly, "Heaven above, earth below! I, Gao Yingxiang, today form an alliance with Consort Nangnang to plot a great undertaking! May those who break this oath be condemned by heaven and earth!"

Princess Consort Nangnang also solemnly replied, "Heaven and man bear witness!"

After saying that, the two took turns tilting their heads back and gulping down the strong liquor mixed with blood. The liquor was spicy, and the blood was pungent, but a surge of heat rose from their stomachs, dispelling the bitter cold.

After drinking the blood wine, Gao Yingxiang tore off a strip of cloth and wrapped it around his palm. He grinned at his wife, Nangnang, and said, "From now on, you are my sister, Gao Yingxiang's sister! Anyone who dares to bully you will have to get past the knife in my hand first!"

Looking at his magnanimous demeanor, Nangnang Fujin's face showed a rare genuine smile, and she nodded: "Brother Gao."

With the alliance established, Gao Yingxiang immediately ordered his men to distribute the remaining fried noodles and dried meat to the elderly and weak in Nangnang Fujin's tribe. Nangnang Fujin also gave orders to have the few remaining cattle and sheep slaughtered and to give half to Gao Yingxiang.

The two remaining troops joined together and had a hearty meal. Although they were still in a sorry state, there was a different atmosphere in the ranks—this was a fight to the death for Ordos Wanhu!
The wind and snow gradually subsided. Gao Yingxiang and his wife, Nangnang Fujin, stood side by side on a small slope, gazing southwest.

"Let's go, girl," Gao Yingxiang said. "The road ahead is fraught with danger, but it's better than waiting to die."

"Hmm." Consort Nang Nang tightened her fur robe. "Go find Erlinchen Jinong."

The two teams joined together and stealthily made their way towards the winter camp of Wanhu in Ordos.

In the chilly spring of the third year of the Chongzhen reign, two groups of people abandoned by fate were bound together, trying to carve out a way to survive in the cracks of this chaotic world.
(End of this chapter)