Late Ming Dynasty: From the Defeated Soldiers at Daling River to Ascending the Throne

Inside the wooden house, the brazier burned brightly, the pine resin crackling and casting four shadows on the rough wooden wall.

At this moment, Chen Feng, Wang Jie, Meng Changgeng, and Hao Dadao were sitting in a wooden house at the entrance of the Later Jin grain and fodder camp. They were not tied up like the real spies who were captured, but their weapons and personal belongings were confiscated, and five or six armored soldiers were watching them at the door.

Wang Jie crouched three steps to his left, his gaze seemingly lowered, but his peripheral vision was fixed on Chen Feng.

He remembered clearly that Zhao Sheng had told him personally two hours earlier that they had not found any evidence.

But the piece of silk that Chen Feng just pulled out clearly had Huang Taiji's dragon seal on it, which means Zhao Sheng was lying.

Wang Jie's back involuntarily tensed slightly.

But then he realized something. If he were in Chen Feng's shoes, he probably wouldn't easily show such crucial evidence to anyone.

After all, who wouldn't want to claim all the credit? To possess such a great achievement is to be guilty of a crime.

Just then, the sound of rubbing armor plates came from outside the door, and the wooden door was pushed open.

Orosechen strode in, followed by Gultai and a Han Chinese man dressed as a scholar.

The scholar was about forty years old, with a fair complexion and no beard. He had long, narrow eyes. After entering the room, he stood to the side with his hands at his sides, his posture respectful yet revealing a scrutinizing air.

"Is it them?" Oroseson's gaze first swept over the confiscated pipes, waist knives, water bags, and other items, then looked at the four people inside the house.

"Yes, it is." The guard knelt on one knee and presented the piece of silk with both hands.

Oroseson took it and unfolded it by the firelight.

The silk cloth was about one foot square, with a delicate texture and edges sealed with gold thread.

The inscription in the center, written in both languages, reads in essence: "To the Liang family of Shanxi merchants: Your contribution of grain, gunpowder, and ironware to the military supplies is a service to the nation. This edict is hereby granted. Whoever carries this edict may trade, travel, and transport goods within the territory of the Great Jin Dynasty without obstruction by officials or soldiers along the way. Once the empire is unified, this edict will grant free rein to trade throughout the land without any restrictions. Edict issued in September of the fifth year of the Tiancong reign."

At the end of the inscription, a large vermilion seal was neatly affixed, which was Huang Taiji's imperial seal.

Oroseson's pupils contracted slightly.

After Huang Taiji ascended the throne, there were indeed some rumors among the various princes that Han Chinese merchants were transporting important materials such as salt and iron for the Great Jin Dynasty, and that the Great Khan had promised these merchants many benefits.

However, this matter was kept extremely secret, and only a few princes and advisors around the Khan knew the inside story. Even Orosechen had only heard rumors about it and only saw the actual object today.

Orošević's gaze swept over the seated group, finally settling on Chen Feng, the best-dressed among them. He spoke in broken Chinese, "Who are you? How do you have this?"

Chen Feng looked up, first glancing at the Han scholar and Gultai, then shifting his gaze to meet Orosechen's eyes, before speaking in a Jincheng accent: "Who are you? I want to see the Great Khan."

"How dare you!" Before Chen Feng could finish speaking, the Han scholar who had been standing to the side shouted, "This master is Jiala Ejen Guoluo Orosechen, the son of Prince Consort Darhan! How dare you, a lowly Nikan, speak to your master like this!"

Orosechen didn't understand much Chinese, but when he heard this lackey mention his father's name, he felt a surge of displeasure. He kicked the scholar to the ground and cursed in Jurchen, "You lackey! Who gave you the right to speak!"

It wasn't that he had a bad relationship with his father, but rather that his parents were so outstanding that he often heard people compare him to his father when he was young.

He felt that with his own abilities, he could do very well even without his father's influence, so he never mentioned his father's name in front of others and only wanted to make a name for himself.

Moreover, his father was only loyal to Mangultai, clinging to the outdated thinking of the older generation with the banner chief at the core, and had not seen the general trend of the world.

The current Khan, Huang Taiji, is a powerful ruler of the world, and he is the one to whom warriors like them should serve. He is very dissatisfied with his father on this point, and there are often disputes between father and son.

As he himself had imagined, after Darhan lost power, Orosechen relied on his bravery to become the Gushan Ejen of the Plain Blue Banner of Mongolia and restore the glory of his family.

Of course, although Chen Feng knew some of the history of the late Ming Dynasty, he did not know who Orosechen was, only that Darhan was.

After being kicked to the ground, the scholar scrambled to his feet, knelt down, and kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die!"

Chen Feng looked at the Han scholar. Although it was not the first time he had seen a traitor in this era, no one had ever been so obsequious. He couldn't help but clench his fist in his sleeve.

Oroseson did not let the servant get up, and his gaze returned to Chen Feng. "My name is Oroseson. You can talk to me if you need anything."

"Is your father Darhan?"

"Yes." Orossen's face showed displeasure again, but he suppressed his anger and did not attack Chen Feng.

Chen Feng naturally noticed Orosechen's expression and glanced at the armored soldiers and Gultai behind Orosechen.

Oroseson understood Chen Feng's meaning, "All of you, step back."

Gultai hesitated for a moment: "Um, these people..."

"Retreat ten steps outside the door, turn your back and stand guard."

"Yes, sir."

Just as the Han scholar was about to leave, Orosechen stopped him, saying, "You stay, I don't understand Chinese very well."

"Yes, sir..." The scholar turned around and knelt down again.

Only six people remained in the wooden house, the light from the brazier flickering, casting dappled shadows on their faces.

Chen Feng then looked at the Han scholar kneeling on the ground. "Who is he?"

Orosechen kicked the Han scholar, who, though still kneeling, straightened up before Chen Feng. "I am Shen Qinghe, the quartermaster appointed by the Great Khan! Assisting with grain and fodder documentation!"

Chen Feng smiled at Shen Qinghe's comical actions and asked Orosechen, "Is it reliable?"

Orosesen nodded.

After a three-breath silence, Chen Feng spoke: "I am Liang Siye, the third son of the eldest branch of the Liang family in Guoxian County, Shanxi Province. I am here on orders from my father, Liang Jiabin, to escort 30,000 shi of grain and 5,000 jin of gunpowder to Yizhou for delivery."

His voice suddenly rose, his tone brimming with barely suppressed rage: "But on my way back to Yizhou after meeting the Great Khan, I was ambushed and attacked by bandits! Fortunately, my guards were loyal to their master and fought bravely against the enemy. In the end, only this scoundrel and two remaining soldiers managed to break through the encirclement!"

He suddenly pointed to the three people behind him, who were taken aback by Chen Feng's performance.

"The Great Khan personally promised that anyone who supplied provisions, fodder, and weapons to the army would be guaranteed safety and property within the territory of the Great Jin! And now?! I almost died on the official road less than thirty li from Yizhou! Is this the Great Khan's promise?!"

Shen Qinghe couldn't help but shrink back, never expecting this person to have such a background.

After listening to Shen Qinghe's translation, Oroseson's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Chen Feng, panting heavily, stared intently at Orosechen: "I demand to see the Great Khan! I want to ask him face to face whether his promise still stands!!"

Dead silence.

The only sounds were the crackling of the brazier and the faint shouts of diggers coming from afar outside the door.

Chen Feng was panting heavily with anger, his chest heaving violently, and his eyes were bloodshot as if they were about to bleed, looking as if he had suffered a great injustice and humiliation.

Meng Changgeng quickly stood up to help him catch his breath, while glancing at Orosechen from head to toe. "My lord, please calm down... This can't be blamed on the Great Khan..."

It's not the Khan's fault; it's the incompetent cowards in the Later Jin army who failed to suppress the bandits.

Oro Saichen also caught the sarcastic tone in Meng Changgeng's voice, glared at Meng Changgeng, and made a move to kick this lackey again.

Chen Feng grabbed Meng Changgeng and shouted, "What?! You want to silence me?!"

Wang Jie and Hao Dadao also stood up and quickly shielded Chen Feng behind them.

"Mr. Liang," Oroseson addressed him more politely, "this was indeed our oversight. However, with a great battle imminent, the Great Khan is preoccupied with affairs of state in the central army and it may be inconvenient for us to meet. Perhaps you should rest in the camp first, and I will report to the Great Khan before making further arrangements?"

Chen Feng sneered: "Inconvenient? I almost lost my life, and the Khan won't even let me see him?"

"Mr. Liang, please calm down." Shen Qinghe crawled to Chen Feng's side and kowtowed, saying, "This servant was blind and did not recognize your great lord. It is not that the Khan did not wish to see you, but the military situation is urgent. How about this—"

He turned to Orosechen, "Ejen first arranged for Mr. Liang to stay, and I will immediately write a letter to the central army to ask the Great Khan for a decision."

Oroseson nodded: "That's excellent."

He looked at Chen Feng, "What is Mr. Liang's opinion?"

Chen Feng stared at him for a long time before finally letting out a heavy sigh: "...Lead the way."

"please."