How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 267 Alliance Meeting, Execution, Feeding the Wolves, and Recruiting the Dogs
The first day of the eleventh month of the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign.

The winds from beyond the Great Wall whipped up sand and dust, lashing fiercely against the high platform of the Jinlianchuan Alliance. The white banner with nine tassels fluttered in the wind, like a leopard ready to pounce. Empress Dowager Sutai, holding Altan Hongtaiji in her arms, sat on a tiger-skin chair in the center of the platform, her eyes slowly sweeping over the dark mass of Mongol tribal leaders below.

Sun Chuanting, dressed in official robes, sat imposingly to the side. Cao Wenzhao, with his hand on his sword, stood in the shadows at the corner of the platform, his face expressionless. Wei Zhongxian, holding the imperial sword in both hands, stood at the front of the platform, reciting Emperor Chongzhen's edict in a shrill voice.

"The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty decrees: All those who accompany Empress Dowager Sutai in presenting the tribute of 'Nine Whites' will be considered loyal vassals of the Great Ming, rewarded with tea and iron, and granted access to border markets. Those who hesitate, delay, or spread rumors will be considered enemies of the Great Ming."

A commotion immediately arose in the audience. The Taiji of the Kharachin tribe was the first to step forward, put his right hand on his chest, kneel on one knee, and loudly proclaimed, "The Kharachin tribe is willing to accompany the Empress Dowager to the capital to present the tribute of nine white coins!" The leaders of the smaller tribes behind him looked at each other and then knelt down in a scattered manner.

But the leaders of the Khorchin tribe remained rooted to the spot, their eyes darting around. Suddenly, a burly man with a fierce face shouted, "Your Majesty! Rumors are circulating on the grasslands that Altan Hongtaiji is of noble lineage... If this isn't clarified, how can we dare to follow?"

The stage fell silent instantly. Empress Dowager Sutai's fingers dug into the tiger skin, but she forced a cold smile onto her face: "Oh? Then, in your opinion, how should it be considered clear?"

The man, with his neck stiff, said, "At least we need to invite the other widows of the Great Khan and the elders of the royal family to verify his identity!"

Before he could finish speaking, Wei Zhongxian suddenly shouted in a shrill voice, "How dare you!" He thrust forward his imperial sword, "His Majesty has long ago decreed: anyone who questions Hong Taiji's lineage is considered a traitor! Commander Sun."

Sun Chuanting stepped forward in response and swung his right hand sharply.

Immediately, a rapid clatter of hooves erupted from behind the platform! Su Chahar Bai led two hundred elite cavalrymen of the Chahan tribe, sweeping towards the man like a gust of wind. The gleaming sabers flashed coldly in the sunlight, their tips pointing directly at the man's nose.

"Verify my identity?" Su Chahar Bai grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "This knife in my hand is the best proof of my identity!"

The man's face turned deathly pale, and he staggered back a few steps. The other tribal chiefs below the stage all lowered their heads deeply, not daring to utter another sound.

Queen Mother Sutai slowly stood up and carried Altan to the front of the stage. The child was quite bold; his eyes were wide open as he curiously looked at the unfamiliar faces below the stage, with a hint of schadenfreude in his expression.

"On the grasslands, the rule has always been that the sword speaks louder than words." Su Tai's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced everyone's ears like shards of ice. "Anyone who thinks my son's bloodline isn't pure should first ask the sabers of the Chahan tribe if they agree! Then ask the cannons of the Ming Emperor if they agree!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a muffled thunderous cannon boomed from afar. It was a six-pound bronze cannon that Sun Chuanting had set up five miles away beforehand, specifically for the purpose of bolstering the prestige of this alliance meeting.

The sound of cannon fire made the high platform tremble slightly. Several leaders who had been hesitating suddenly knelt down and shouted, "Your subjects are willing to pledge allegiance to Altan Hong Taiji!"

Wei Zhongxian squinted and tightened the imperial sword around his neck. He leaned close to Sun Chuanting's ear and whispered, "Supervisor Sun, it seems it's time to clear the area."

Sun Chuanting nodded and winked at Su Chahar Bai.

That night, the camp of the troublemaking men from the Khorchin tribe was stormed by the cavalry of the Chahar tribe. Heads were hung at the camp gate, and corpses were thrown to the wolves. Su Chahar Bai spread the word: "This is the consequence of slandering the legitimate bloodline of the Golden Family!"

The news spread like wildfire across the grasslands. Early the next morning, the Jinlianchuan meeting place was packed with tribes coming to offer tribute. No one dared arrive empty-handed; cattle, sheep, horses, and hides were piled up like small mountains. Queen Dowager Sutai sat on a high platform, receiving the worship of each tribe in turn.

Wei Zhongxian stood to one side, pondering how to send the "List of Loyal and Obedient Officials" back to Beijing. He noticed Sun Chuanting staring at the distant horizon and couldn't help but lean over and ask, "General Sun, what are you looking at?"

Sun Chuanting didn't turn around, but pointed to the northeast and whispered, "Huang Taiji's scouts were already fifty miles away last night."

Wei Zhongxian's heart tightened: "Does he dare to interfere?"

“He doesn’t dare to do anything big now,” Sun Chuanting sneered, “but he’ll let the dogs on the grassland keep barking.”

Sure enough, a few days later, new rumors began to circulate on the grasslands. They said that the Ming emperor intended to use the "Nine White Tributes" to annex Mongolia, and that Empress Dowager Sutai was merely a pawn in Chongzhen's hands.

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Sutai simply said, "Issue the order: anyone who spreads this rumor will have their entire clan executed." The Chahan tribe's cavalry once again galloped across the grasslands. This time, they not only killed people but also robbed grain and livestock. Sun Chuanting deliberately indulged them, occasionally sending Ming cavalry to feign "accidental" attacks on a few pro-Later Jin tribes.

Now the winds were blowing faster across the southern grasslands. The small tribes that had previously been hesitant were now rushing to surrender, driving their cattle and sheep to their aid, fearing they would be branded "traitors" if they were even a step too late. Wei Zhongxian's name on his list of achievements grew longer and longer.

On the same day as the Jinlianchuan Alliance, an uninvited guest arrived at Gao Yingxiang's camp on the banks of the Yellow River in the Hetao Reclamation Area.

Badali Taiji (son of Obateiji) of the Khorchin tribe arrived at the gate of the village with a dozen or so close followers. Just as the Gao family army guarding the village was about to stop him, Badali Taiji took out a gold medal engraved with an eagle. This medal was issued to various tribes on the grassland when the Chahan tribe was still powerful in the early years: "Quickly go and inform King Gao Chuang that our friends from the grassland have arrived."

Gao Yingxiang was discussing military affairs with Namchung, the wife of the Grand Prince, in his tent when he heard that it was an envoy from the Khorchin. His brows immediately furrowed: "Huang Taiji's men? Coming at this time can't be good."

But Consort Nangnang's eyes lit up: "Let them in. It'll be good to hear the wind on the grasslands."

After Badali Taiji entered the tent, he first bowed deeply to Nangnang Da Fujin: "Greetings, Fujin. Khan Huang Taiji asked me to convey a message to you, saying that the direct bloodline of Hudun Tu Khan cannot be ruined by that woman Sutai."

Gao Yingxiang sneered, "Just say it, what exactly does Huang Taiji want?"

"Chuang Wang is truly a man of few words," Badali Taiji said in a low voice. "The Khan's intention is that the young prince under your care, Your Highness, is the true posthumous son of Hudun Tu Khan. As long as Your Highness nods in agreement, the Khan is willing to make the young prince the supreme ruler of the Mongols and help you reclaim the Chahan tribe!"

Both Consort Nangnang and Prince Gao were stunned. Su Tai was conceived before Hudun Tu Khan's death, so the timing seemed a bit off. But Consort Nangnang's belly was pregnant several months after Hudun Tu Khan died. If this was Hudun Tu Khan's child, then it would be a ghost story!

Gao Yingxiang slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Bullshit! Does Huang Taiji think I'm a three-year-old? He wants me to fight Chongzhen to the death so he can reap the benefits!"

Badali Taiji replied calmly, “Your Majesty, please calm down. Think about it. Now that Chongzhen is fully supporting Su Tai, his next step will definitely be to deal with the Hetao region. Once they recover, do you think you can remain unscathed?” He leaned closer and lowered his voice, “The Khan said that as long as you agree, he will send five hundred warhorses and three hundred suits of armor. After spring, he can also send troops to assist in the battle…”

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent, and a scout rushed in: "King Chuang! Something happened at the Jinlianchuan Alliance! The Khorchin people publicly questioned Altan's bloodline and were beheaded by Wei Zhongxian!"

Badali Taiji's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "The rebel king heard it all, didn't he? Chongzhen's methods are far more ruthless than Huang Taiji's."

Gao Yingxiang stared at Badali Taiji, then suddenly laughed: "Go back and tell Huang Taiji that I can consider it. However..." He drew his sword and slammed it on the table, "You must first send a thousand warhorses as a deposit! Less than one, and it's all off the table!"

At the end of the month, Emperor Chongzhen received an urgent message in Beijing. Fang Zhenghua read the memorial aloud: "The Jinlianchuan Alliance has been completed, and forty-six tribes in southern Mongolia have submitted. Empress Dowager Sutai requests permission to bring Altan Hongtaiji to the capital for an audience."

Emperor Chongzhen stared at the grassland circled in vermilion on the map, and a smile slowly crept onto his lips.

"Tell Wei Zhongxian that I am waiting for him and his mother in the capital." He tapped his finger lightly on the imperial desk. "Also, have Sun Chuanting build the Kaipingwei Fortress as soon as possible. Kaiping City is Kaiping City, and Kaipingwei is Kaipingwei!"

Furthermore, there should still be many valleys in the Yanshan Mountains that can be cultivated and inhabited; these should be utilized as soon as possible!

The winds of the frontier still blow, but the high platform of the Jinlianchuan Alliance is now empty. Only the nine-pronged white banner still flutters wildly in the wind, like a battle flag, deeply embedded in the heart of the southern grasslands.

Meanwhile, in the Hetao region, Gao Yingxiang gazed at the endless fields already sown with winter wheat and smiled at his wife, Grand Princess Nangnang, saying, "Let Huang Taiji and Chongzhen fight it out. Let's see how this drama unfolds..."

Grand Consort Nangnang held the child in her arms tightly, gazing at the rising sun in the east, without saying a word.

She knew that an even bigger storm was brewing.

(End of this chapter)