I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

February 25th, near dusk.

Shen Nian and his party arrived at the final destination of their northern tour, Datong Town.

East Gate, outside Heyang Gate.

Shen Nian was greeted by Zheng Luo, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and Governor-General of the Three Border Regions (Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi, also known as the Central Three Border Regions).

He was very familiar with Shen Nian's way of doing things and was qualified to represent all the officials in Datong.

Zheng Luo is fifty-three years old this year. He became a Jinshi in the thirty-fifth year of the Jiajing reign. He once assisted Wang Chonggu, the former Grand General of Xuanfu, in facilitating the tribute mission to Anda. He made great contributions to the three border regions of China and enjoyed a very high reputation.

"Zheng Zhongcheng, it's been a long time!"

After Shen Nian stepped down from the carriage, she spoke first. The last time the two of them met was in the seventh year of the Wanli reign.

"It has indeed been a long time. Your humble servant Zheng Luo greets Grand Secretary Shen!" Zheng Luo said respectfully, cupping his hands in greeting.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two boarded a carriage bound for Datong City.

……

Inside the carriage, Shen Nian asked, "Minister Zheng, how is the Tumet tribe doing?"

Before Shen Nian left the capital, he asked Zheng Luo to contact the Tumed tribe to arrange a meeting between the two sides to further consolidate the results of the tribute system, but there has been no result.

"Ugh!"

Zheng Luo sighed and said, "I just received news the day before yesterday that Third Sister refused to marry Huang Taiji and left Guihua City with her three sons and ten thousand elite cavalry. Her whereabouts are currently unknown. Huang Taiji is holding Guihua City and wants to succeed as the leader of the Tumed tribe. However, many lords have objected, saying that he must marry his stepmother, Third Sister, and let Third Sister take charge of the military and politics before he can succeed as the leader. Guihua City is already showing signs of internal strife!"

"Third Sister ran away?"

Shen Nian never expected this outcome.

Guihua City was built by Anda and San Niangzi together. It was named by the Ming Dynasty. Many people of the Tumed tribe called Guihua City San Niangzi City, which shows San Niangzi's prestige in the Tumed tribe.

With San Niangzi gone, Huang Taiji had no way of controlling the various tribes under the Tumed tribe, given his abilities.

Once the Tumet part splits.

The northern border defense line, including Xuanfu, Datong, and Gansu, will definitely be harassed by the Mongols.

If Shen Nianruo wants to stabilize the situation, she either has to let San Niangzi marry Huang Taiji, or she has to replace Huang Taiji.

Shen Nian looked at Zheng Luo.

“Zheng Zhongcheng, based on your understanding of Third Sister, which is more likely: that she marries Huang Taiji or replaces him?”

Zheng Luo hesitated for a moment.

"According to the customs of the Tumed tribe, if San Niangzi does not marry Huang Taiji, she will not be qualified to become the leader of the tribe. However, given San Niangzi's personality, she is probably unwilling to compromise any longer, as Huang Taiji is too old!"

"Hmm? Huang Taiji is too old? How old is Huang Taiji? How old is Third Sister?" Shen Nian only knew that Anda was seventy-four years old, and he thought that Third Sister should be at least fifty years old or older.

"Huang Taiji is sixty-one years old this year, and Third Sister should be thirty-two!"

"what?"

Shen Nian had never paid attention to San Niangzi's age, but he was surprised to find that San Niangzi was only thirty-two years old and was born in the same year as Shen Nian.

She had three sons with Anda at the age of thirty-two and was able to handle military and political affairs, commanding all the tribes to obey her orders. It is highly likely that she had been following Anda since she was a teenager, and must have been a woman with great wisdom but a tragic fate.

"These...the Mongols...they're so chaotic! They really treat women like commodities. Third Sister is a heroine for resisting this custom. She must have been influenced by the customs of our Great Ming Dynasty!"

Zheng Luo nodded and said, "During the Longqing era, the Third Sister played an indispensable role in reaching the peace agreement. She was a friend of our Great Ming Dynasty, but unfortunately, she was unable to break free from the old customs of her tribe!"

"I intend to first send an envoy to find Third Sister. If she is unwilling to come to Datong Town to discuss resolving the internal strife within the Tumed tribe, then I will seek out Huang Taiji!"

Shen Nian nodded in agreement.

Currently, although Anda's eldest son, Huang Taiji, is the most qualified to succeed as the tribal leader, San Niangzi is clearly the person in charge of the Tumet tribe.

In addition, the Third Daughter showed a greater desire for peace and a stronger hope that the trade between Tonggong and the mainland could continue than Huang Taiji.

……

About half an hour later, Shen Nian arrived at Yunzhong Post Station in the center of the city.

Because he stayed in Datong Town for a long time, and the facilities at Yunzhong Inn were very complete, Zheng Luo arranged for Shen Nian to stay at Yunzhong Inn so that Shen Nian could go out at any time.

If Shen Nianruo were to convene a meeting of officials, it could be held at the General Headquarters, which is located one street away from Yunzhongyi.

After a quick wash, Shen Nian...

He had already met Dong Daheng, the governor of Xuanda, Liu Fengnian, the imperial inspector of Xuanda, Shi Gong, the eunuch in charge of the garrison in Xuanda and Shanxi, and Guo Hu, the general of Datong, whom he had not yet met. A group of deputy generals and guerrilla generals came to pay their respects to Shen Nian.

There's no need for a welcome or a banquet, but they must introduce themselves so that Shen Nian can recognize them.

After exchanging pleasantries with them for a while, Shen Nian dispersed. She planned to visit the seventh Prince of Dai, Zhu Naixuan, early the next morning, accompanied by Zheng Luo.

……

An hour later.

Just as Shen Nian was about to lie down and go to sleep, his guard captain, Qi Hu, a commander of the Imperial Guard, suddenly knocked on the door.

"Your Excellency, I have an urgent report to make!"

Shen Nian opened the door, looked at Qi Hu, and said, "Speak!"

"This evening, when Gao Peng, the garrison commander of Datong Town, was ordered to burn wasteland, he was attacked by a group of Mongols who had left from the horse market in Deshengbao. They shot and wounded two of our soldiers. Enraged, Gao Peng ordered a counterattack, wounding and capturing eighteen people. However, two of them escaped. The wasteland burning team has now returned to camp. The eighteen prisoners are being held at the Datong Vanguard Headquarters. It is known that these Mongol prisoners belong to the Dalad tribe of Gelige Taiji, the sixth son of Anda!"

“Gelig Taiji?” Shen Nian murmured, he remembered this person.

The Tumed tribe consisted of more than ten tribes, each with its own leader, most of whom were Anda's sons, adopted sons, or sons-in-law.

The Dalad tribe, led by Gelig Taiji, was stationed behind Duolanwoken Mountain, more than 300 li outside Desheng Fort in Datong, and the nearby Mongols traded with the Ming Dynasty in Desheng Fort.

This conflict was clearly the fault of the Mongols.

The Ming soldiers burned the wasteland within twenty miles outside the city walls, which had nothing to do with the Mongols, as their pastures were still nearly a hundred miles away.

Their initiative was a provocation, a sign that they believed the Ming Dynasty was on guard against them, making it difficult for them to plan their plunder.

Conflicts of this type occur almost every year.

However, the Ming and Mongolian governments usually resolve issues through negotiation and control of the situation, rather than by instigating war.

But things are different now.

The Tumed tribe is currently embroiled in internal strife, and it is highly likely that some Mongols want to instigate war and then profit from it.

In the eyes of many Mongols, the most comfortable way to get along with the Ming Dynasty was not through trade, but through plunder.

The wealthier and more prosperous the Ming Dynasty became, the more they wanted to plunder rather than make money through honest trade.

This is a habit ingrained in their very being.

Shen Nian thought for a moment and said, "Tell Vice Minister Zheng that tomorrow morning, instead of going to the Prince of Dai's residence, summon General Guo to the General's Office for a meeting!"

"Yes!" Qi Hu replied. ...

The next morning.

Shen Nian, Zheng Luo, the governor of the three border regions, and Guo Hu, the general of Datong Town, gathered in the front hall of the general's office.

Shen Nian looked at the two men and asked, "Gentlemen, what are your plans regarding the Mongols captured yesterday?"

Guo Hu bowed slightly.

“Grand Secretary Shen, they were at fault in this conflict. According to precedent, I will first order them to be interrogated, and then have their confessions sent to the Dalat tribe of Golig Taiji. Only after Golig Taiji admits his mistake and states how he will punish them will we allow them to take the people away!”

Shen Nian shook her head slightly and said, "Let's try a different approach this time!"

"Let the leader of the Tumed tribe come and take them away. Let them decide whether it's San Niangzi or Huang Taiji!"

"Later, I will personally write a letter to the Tumed people, informing them that after the death of the Shunyi King, the various tribes of the Tumed have shown signs of opposing the Longqing Peace Treaty. I need their leader to stand before me and tell me whether they want peace or war?"

"If we want peace, we must severely punish the Mongols who started the conflict; if we want war, then we should each close our tribute markets and be ready to fight at any time. If no one gives us an explanation within a month, we will close our tribute markets and begin preparing for war!"

The closure of the tribute market had a far more severe negative impact on the Mongols than on the Ming Dynasty.

Shen Nian continued, "If Third Sister comes and sincerely advocates continuing the tribute and trade, but still refuses to marry Huang Taiji, we will help Third Sister become the head of the Tumed tribe and make her own son the second Shunyi King. If Huang Taiji comes and also sincerely advocates continuing the tribute and trade, we will help him secure his position as the leader of the Tumed tribe and apply to the court to appoint him as the second Shunyi King. If we rely on Third Sister marrying Huang Taiji to stabilize the Tumed tribe, it would make me seem too incompetent!"

Zheng Luo and Guo Hu looked excited; they both really liked Shen Nian's decisive and straightforward playing style.

By doing so, the Ming Dynasty suddenly shifted from a passive to an active position, and no longer placed the fate of war or peace on the shoulders of a single woman.

Guo Hu spoke up, "Grand Secretary, what if this move angers Huang Taiji and makes him want to start a war? The new policies of the court are underway, and as far as I know, His Majesty and the officials are unwilling to go to war!"

Shen Nian smiled slightly.

"For the Ming Dynasty, the purpose of war is not to plunder wealth, but to stop war with war. Sometimes, the more we express our willingness to negotiate, the more unreasonable and arrogant the other side becomes, and the easier it is for them to start a war! So we must express our attitude directly and make them give us an explanation quickly. If they like peace and anyone dares to provoke trouble in the future, then we will punish them severely!"

"I have read your reports and memorials on resolving the conflict between the Ming and the Mongols. You were too cautious, not daring to be too tough, yet not daring to be too lenient. It was too frustrating! You cannot guarantee the success of the Longqing Peace Treaty by being frustrating!"

Shen Nian's words immediately struck a chord with Zheng Luo and Guo Hu.

They knew that the court currently advocated peace on the border, so they kept wavering between being tough and not tough.

Shen Nian's decisive and efficient solution impressed them, suggesting that this might be a better approach to problem-solving in the future.

We must remain resolute, unafraid of war, willing to fight, capable of winning, and use war to stop war.

As the saying goes: What you fear most is what is most likely to come to pass.

Such a tough stance makes it less likely for war to break out.

On the contrary, showing a fear of war makes it easier for the other side to start a war.

……

After the three-person meeting, Shen Nian and Zheng Luo arrived at the Prince of Dai's residence.

Prince Zhu Naixuan inherited the title last year and is just 25 years old this year, still with a bit of baby fat on his face.

He was very friendly and polite to Shen Nian and Zheng Luo, and spoke very humbly and cautiously. The two of them did not originally intend to stay at the Prince of Dai's residence for lunch, but because the Prince of Dai was too enthusiastic, they left after finishing their lunch.

The princes and nobles of today are much more obedient than before, fearing that officials will return to the capital and complain about them.

……

Over the next few days, Shen Nian waited for news while inspecting the town of Datong.

Inspecting the army, granaries, officials, prisons, and people's livelihoods...

The problems in border towns are still the same old issues.

Military households suffered from poor treatment, with mid-level officers treating lower-ranking soldiers as their personal servants. Education and healthcare were mediocre, and desertion among military households was rampant.

These problems cannot be solved overnight.

Shen Nian could only systematically sort out these problems and then formulate a fundamental solution after returning to the court.

……

On the fifth day of the third lunar month, the weather was still very cold, and people still needed to wear cotton-padded clothes when going out.

After inspecting the various government and military offices in the city, Shen Nian, dressed in plain clothes, strolled with Zhang Jingxiu on the streets of Datong Town.

Several plainclothes Imperial Guards followed behind them.

He had already explored almost the entire city, and he planned to start tomorrow by going out of the city to learn about the official and private markets for trade between the Ming and Mongolian peoples.

There's a more lively atmosphere there.

This also reveals the shortcomings and prospects of border trade development.

He must be going to Deshengbaoma City.

That is currently the largest official horse market in the Datong Town defense line, and also the core trading area between the Ming Dynasty and the Tumet tribe.

Tens of thousands of horses are traded each year, in addition to trade in tea, books, porcelain, cloth, and other items.

The area has a very large flow of people, and there are also several smaller markets scattered around, as well as food stalls and performances.

If we could follow the example of Deshengbao and Mashi and develop all nine border regions in the same way, then the border regions would definitely become commercial hubs rather than battlefields fraught with tension.

……

About half an hour later.

Shen Nian was walking along when she suddenly stopped.

Following Shen Nian's gaze, Zhang Jingxiu looked ahead and couldn't help but reveal a bright smile on his face.

Directly in front of it, a large red wooden sign is hanging above a doorway.

The inscription above reads: Yaodong Trading Company, Datong Branch.

Currently, although Yaodong Trading Company is under the management of the imperial court and can be considered an official merchant or imperial merchant, its business model has not changed much, and most of the people operating within it are still merchants and ordinary citizens.

Currently, Yaodong Trading Company's main businesses still consist of two types.

One method was for Yaodong Trading Company to use its own fleet of vehicles to transport its own goods for sale and earn the price difference; another method was for Yaodong Trading Company to provide fleets to transport its employers' goods and earn freight fees.

The name of Yaodong Trading Company has become renowned throughout the world.

Whenever a convoy carries the flag of Yaodong Trading Company, thieves and pickpockets on the road will avoid it, and buyers will believe that the seller's goods are genuine based on the Yaodong Trading Company's signboard.

Although Yaodong Trading Company is a fleet of vehicles, it inspects the quality of goods. If the goods are of insufficient quality or are counterfeit, Yaodong Trading Company will refuse to transport them.

Shen Nian, the former young master of Yaodong Trading Company, has never actually entered Yaodong Trading Company.

This was also where his father and father-in-law had lived for more than three months, and he planned to go in and take a good look around. (End of Chapter)