How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 269 Zhang Xianzhong goes ashore to Korea, and Hu Tudun Khan has another son.
On the winter solstice of the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign, Beijing was bitterly cold.

Before dawn, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was already packed with people. Civil and military officials, nobles, and members of the imperial family stood in complete silence, according to their rank. Their breath condensed into a cloud in the cool air before dissipating.

Below the steps outside the palace, a dense mass of people knelt. They were all Taijis and envoys from various tribes of Southern Mongolia, dressed in fur robes of various colors, their necks hunched against the cold wind.

Empress Dowager Sutai, dressed in a brand-new Mongolian noble's robe, had a tense expression. She held little Altan tightly in her hand. The child was wrapped in a thick mink fur coat, with only his small, red face showing. His big eyes were wide open, curiously surveying the majestic palace and solemn ceremonial guards around him.

The high-pitched voice of the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs echoed through the empty hall.

"Tribute—the Gift of Nine White Flowers—"

Sutai took a deep breath, composed himself, and, holding Altan's hand, walked step by step up the steps of the imperial palace. Behind them followed his attendants, leading eight white horses and a white camel, symbols of submission.

The ceremony proceeded slowly, with an air of tension. Every step had to be performed according to the Ministry of Rites' rules, with no room for error.

The ceremony was about to be completed.

Suddenly, one of the Kharachin envoys kneeling in the Mongol delegation raised his head sharply and shouted in broken Chinese, "Your Majesty! I have a doubt!"

That shout was like a stone thrown into a stagnant pool. Everyone was startled, and their eyes immediately turned to look.

The envoy ignored everything and shouted at the top of his lungs, "It's all over the grasslands! They're saying that Altan Hongtaiji isn't a descendant of Ligdan Khan at all! Someone has...someone has switched the bloodline and confused the lineage of the Golden Family!"

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was extremely malicious. A suppressed gasp and gasps immediately filled the hall. Several censors' eyes lit up instantly, exchanging glances.

Sutai's face instantly turned pale, and his fingers dug into Altan's fur coat. The child winced in pain, his mouth trembled, and he was about to cry.

On the throne, Emperor Chongzhen, who had remained expressionless until then, suddenly darkened his face.

He didn't even let the messenger finish speaking.

"shut up!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling aura that instantly silenced all other noises in the hall.

"How dare you utter such rebellious and absurd words in the Golden Palace, before me, to frame the imperial family and sow discord between the Chinese and the barbarians!"

His gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping over the envoy and then over the dark mass of Mongols below.

"Palace warriors!"

"Here!" Several burly Jinyiwei generals in full armor responded in unison.

"Seize him! Take him to the imperial prison and interrogate him severely! I want to see who ordered him to disrupt the ceremony and sow discord between me and the loyal and obedient vassal!"

The order was given swiftly and decisively. The warriors pounced like wolves. The Mongol envoy, probably a suicide soldier, was risking his life, still shouting, "Chongzhen! Altan is your bastard child with Sutai... It's all over the grasslands... Waaah..."

His mouth was gagged, and he was dragged away, but he had already blurted out everything he should and shouldn't have said.

The hall was deathly silent. The Mongol envoys hung their heads even lower.

Emperor Chongzhen then slowly stood up and walked to the edge of the imperial steps. He first glanced at Su Tai, whose face was deathly pale, his gaze lingering for a moment on her tightly clasped hands with Altan's, before turning to the crowd.

"Loyal King Altan is a legitimate descendant of the Golden Family. My will is clear, and the heavens and earth bear witness! This is testified by Empress Dowager Sutai, the widow of Huduntu Khan, and witnessed by all forty-six tribes in the southern desert! Anyone who dares to speak out again," he paused, his voice icy, "will be punished for treason, and their entire clan will be exterminated!"

These words landed on the ground, reeking of blood. No one dared to utter another sound.

Just when everyone thought the storm had passed and the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial were preparing to continue chanting rites.

In the Mongolian delegation, yet another person stepped forward.

This man was more robust than the average Mongolian, his face weathered by time, and his eyes held an untamed fierceness. His greetings were impeccable, and his voice was loud and clear, with a slightly peculiar accent.

"Your Majesty the Emperor! I am Zhang Xianzhong of the Ordos!"

Zhang Xianzhong? Emperor Chongzhen was startled. Why was this guy here? Should he be captured immediately?

Zhang Xianzhong continued, "I am acting on the orders of Consort Nangnang of Hetao and General Gao Yingxiang, and I hereby request the grace of Your Majesty to bestow an official title upon my young mistress, 'Bater' Taiji, the posthumous son of Hudun Tu Khan, born to Consort Nangnang!"

These words caused another stir in the recently quiet hall. The officials exchanged bewildered glances. Hetao? Gao Yingxiang? Had Consort Nangnang given birth to another child with Huduntu?
Emperor Chongzhen was somewhat speechless. Hudun Tuhan had no children while he was alive, but after his death, he had a large family.

The man who stepped forward was none other than Zhang Xianzhong, disguised as an envoy from the Chahan tribe in the Ordos region. After the defeat and death of Ligdan Khan, the Chahan tribe scattered to various places. Su Tai and Nangnang each gathered a portion, while some scattered forces remained. Zhang Xianzhong, acting on the orders of Nangnang and Gao Yingxiang, impersonated one of these tribes and infiltrated Beijing.

Ignoring the gossip of others, he loudly proclaimed, "My wife, Nangnang, has a handwritten letter here! She is willing to use the dying words of the late Khan Huduntu Khan as proof, which states: 'If Sutai has a son, he will be the ruler of the Han Dynasty, and Nangnang, you must assist him wholeheartedly!' This dying wish is sufficient proof of Altan Hongtaiji's legitimacy! If anyone does not believe it, they can go to the Ordos region and ask Nangnang's wife!"

Judging from Zhang Xianzhong's posture, it seemed as if he had come to help... Upon hearing this, Chongzhen suppressed his intention to capture him.

Nangnang Dafujin was Ligdan Khan's chief wife; with her endorsement, even falsehoods could become truth.

Zhang Xianzhong abruptly changed the subject: "However, Hudun Tu Khan has more than one son. My young master, Batel Taiji, is also a son of Hudun Tu Khan, and rightfully deserves a place to settle down. I humbly request Your Majesty to grant Batel Taiji the title of 'King of Hetao,' ruling over the Mongol tribes of Hetao, and working in concert with the Loyal King of Southern Mongolia to protect the northern border of the Ming Dynasty. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" This was a bargaining tactic. He was using the recognition of Altan Khan's legitimacy to exchange for the throne of Hetao, and incidentally, to get Chongzhen to acknowledge Batel's identity. It seems that Gao Yingxiang, who had fled to Hetao, wanted to use the names of his Mongol wife and posthumous child to find himself a legitimate territory.

All eyes were once again focused on the young emperor on the throne.

Su Tai watched him nervously. Zhang Xianzhong also narrowed his eyes slightly.

Emperor Chongzhen finally spoke, but he addressed Su Tai first, his tone softening: "Consort Nangnang is deeply righteous and diligently follows the late Emperor's will, which greatly pleases me. Empress Dowager Su Tai has raised the Prince of Loyalty and Righteousness, a contribution to the nation. I hereby bestow upon Su Tai the title of 'Empress Dowager of Loyalty, Assistance to the Nation, Benevolence and Wisdom,' grant her a golden seal, and double her annual stipend."

Su Tai was taken aback, then pulled Altan aside and kowtowed deeply: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace!"

Only after establishing the status of the southern desert did Chongzhen turn his attention to Zhang Xianzhong, his gaze sharpening.

"Bater, the son of Consort Nangnang, is of the bloodline of the Hudun Tuhan, and I shall also grant him favors. I hereby approve your proposal to confer upon Bater the title of 'Prince of Shunyi of the Hetao,' equivalent to a Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty, and ranking below the Prince of Zhongyi!"

Zhang Xianzhong was overjoyed and was about to express his gratitude.

But Chongzhen didn't finish his sentence.

“However,” he suddenly emphasized, “the Hetao region is inhabited by both Han and Mongol people, and the people are impoverished. Prince Shunyi is young and needs a capable person to assist him. Therefore, the ‘Hetao Pacification Commissioner’ shall be established immediately, with Gao Yingxiang temporarily serving as the Pacification Commissioner to assist Prince Zhenshuo in governing the Hetao region, pacifying the displaced people, and opening up border markets.”

Now Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong have both been exonerated and are now part of the Ming Dynasty's feudal ruling group!
He stared at Zhang Xianzhong and said, word by word, "Tell Gao Yingxiang that since he has received an official title from the Celestial Dynasty, he must strictly abide by the laws of the Great Ming, pacify the local areas, and jointly resist foreign invaders. If there is any rebellion, the Heavenly Army will arrive immediately and will not tolerate it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhong was even more delighted. His "Chuang Wang" (a powerful figure in the rebel army) now had official status, his control of the Hetao region was secure, and it would be much easier to recruit people from northern Shaanxi in the future.

He quickly knelt down and kowtowed: "On behalf of General E'erjia and Prince Shunyi, we thank Your Majesty for your great grace!"

Emperor Chongzhen surveyed the entire hall one last time, his voice solemn: "The Loyal and Righteous King of the Southern Desert and the Righteous King of the Ordos region are both bulwarks of the Great Ming. They should unite as one to resist foreign aggression. I am the ruler of the land and also your arbitrator. From this day forward, each should guard their own borders, pacify their peoples, and refrain from mutual aggression. This is my decree!"

A storm was quelled before it even really started. Those in the southern desert and the Hetao region have each found their place.

After the court session, in the West Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

The heated floor was quite warm, dispelling some of the chill, but it couldn't quell the panic in Su Tai's heart. She pulled Altan along, following the leading eunuch, her steps unsteady as she entered the warm chamber where the emperor routinely handled state affairs. Compared to the spacious and imposing Hall of Supreme Harmony, this place was much more compact, with bookshelves and cabinets piled high with memorials and documents, the air filled with a mixture of ink and a faint scent of sandalwood.

Emperor Chongzhen had changed out of his heavy court robes and was now wearing only a dark blue casual robe. He sat on a heated couch by the window, holding a huanghuali wood thermos in his hand. When Su Tai entered, he pointed to the embroidered stool opposite the couch.

"sit."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Sutai carefully sat down sideways, holding Altan tightly in front of him. The child seemed to sense his mother's unease, clinging close to her, his big, dark eyes secretly observing the young emperor opposite him.

Emperor Chongzhen didn't rush to speak. He first blew on the steam rising from the rim of the cup, took a small sip, and then slowly said, "Were you frightened by what happened today?"

Su Tai quickly lowered her head: "I'm... alright. It's just that I never expected that the madman from the Kharachin tribe would dare to be so presumptuous..."

“A clown, not worth mentioning.” Chongzhen put down his cup, his gaze falling on Altan, his tone softening somewhat. “But that Zhang Xianzhong, he arrived suddenly, and what he said was quite interesting.”

Su Tai's heart jumped again. Zhang Xianzhong, representing Nangnang and Gao Yingxiang, suddenly appeared, which was completely unexpected.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at her, his eyes sharpening: "Sutai, today in court, I gave you and your son the official title of Monan, and also took advantage of the situation to temporarily stabilize the Hetao region. But you must understand that this stability was ultimately won with swords and spears, and it will also need to be maintained with swords and spears in the future."

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "Huang Taiji failed to disrupt things today, but instead had Nangnang step forward to legitimize your son. How can he be content with that? I have stripped him of most of his Mongol legitimacy. Once his troops recover next spring, he will surely seek revenge."

Sutai held his breath and listened.

"I suspect he won't dare to easily provoke the hard spot in Liaonan again, but he'll likely turn west and head straight for Jinlianchuan, heading straight for your Kaiping!" Chongzhen tapped his finger lightly on the kang table. "He wants to raze your royal tent to the ground, break that nine-pronged white banner, and let all the Mongol tribes see clearly who the true master of the grasslands is!"

Su Tai's face turned pale, and her hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes: "Your Majesty, then... what should I do?"

"Train the troops, build the city, and stockpile grain!" Chongzhen said decisively. "I will have Sun Chuanting expedite the construction of Kaiping's defenses, and I will also allocate a batch of firearms and provisions to you. But your Mongol cavalry must be trained into combat-ready soldiers as soon as possible! Don't expect me to send a large army across the border to rescue you at any time. The nine border fronts are too long, and my forces are stretched thin. Many times, you'll have to hold on on your own! Only if you hold on in Kaiping can Altan truly secure his position as the ruler of southern Mongolia, and only then will your position be truly secure!"

Chongzhen had another thought he kept to himself: if Su Tai held off a round of attacks on the grasslands, the Ming Dynasty could gain another year to continue accumulating strength.

"I understand!" Su Tai nodded emphatically. "After I return, I will definitely urge all departments to intensify their training and will never fail Your Majesty's trust!"

"Hmm." Chongzhen nodded, but then suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat unpredictable, "And there's the Hetao region... Nangnang and Gao Yingxiang, they now have official titles, 'King of Zhenshuo in Hetao'... Heh, Bateltaiji."

Su Tai's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up at Chongzhen.

Chongzhen's gaze was deep, as if he could see into one's heart: "Sutai, you are a wise man. Today, Zhang Xianzhong seems to be speaking for you, but in reality, he is fighting for territory and legitimacy for himself. Nangnang is the Grand Consort of Hudun Tu Khan, and her son, in terms of seniority, is more qualified to succeed to the throne than Altan... If something were to happen to Altan in the south..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning couldn't be clearer.

Su Tai's back instantly broke out in a cold sweat. She immediately left the embroidered stool, knelt down, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty! Altan is the Loyal and Righteous King personally appointed by Your Majesty, the ruler of the Southern Desert! I... I will risk my life to protect my son and will never... will never allow anyone else to take advantage of him!"

Emperor Chongzhen looked at her for a moment before slowly saying, "Get up. I'm just reminding you that wolves on the grasslands don't become guard dogs just because they change their dens. Gao Yingxiang is a ruthless and ambitious man, and Nangnang is no ordinary woman. You are both now serving as bulwarks under the Ming Dynasty. You must maintain appearances, but in private, you cannot relax your vigilance in the slightest. Do you understand?"

(End of this chapter)