Di Ming

Chapter 35 Central Plains
On the sixth day of the sixth month of the fifteenth year of the Wanli reign, Zhu Yin returned south.

We had a farewell dinner the night before, and we're setting off early this morning.

Nurhaci dispatched his general Eidu, under the pretext of trading at Fushun Pass, to lead 300 cavalrymen to escort Zhu Yin into the pass.

The battle is not a big one.

Zhu Yin and his entourage will enter Fushun Pass as Jurchen followers, along with the Han slaves to be returned to Li Chengliang.

On the morning of the sixth day, thousands of Jurchens saw off "I like Beile," a man they had become quite familiar with, at the gates of Ala City.

Princess Dongguo was very reluctant to part with her, and Chu Ying and Dai Shan were also in low spirits.

Uncle Tiger is about to fly away like a divine eagle.

The shaman lady danced the ritual dance of the sacred eagle, singing:

"The seven stars in the sky,"
He is the messenger of the star god Nadanarahu.

I tread upon the light of the seven stars,
Farewell to the Golden Eagle Goddess, Shindai Min…

As the shaman's wife chanted, many people began to dance.

Princess Dongguo personally led a small white horse adorned with willow branches, and with tears in her eyes handed the purple reins to Zhu Yin, saying:

"Dongguo hopes that Mother Fodo will always bless her adoptive father. As long as the magpies on the Solo pole continue to come to eat, Dongguo's longing for her adoptive father will never cease."

“Godfather, this little white horse was raised by me personally. It is the best foal. I am giving it to you, Godfather.”

"I hope it will carry my godfather and accompany him as he grows up. Every time my godfather rides it, he will think of Dongguo."

After she finished speaking, she knelt down and bowed.

Ning Caiwei tried hard to suppress her laughter, but her expression carried the melancholy of parting.

Although Zhu Yin appears mature and precocious, and is respected by everyone like a little adult, he is ultimately still a naive child.

Being called a godfather by a little girl is truly an eyesore.

Ning Qingchen, who was already six months old, almost laughed.

Nurha said with great melancholy:

"All good things must come to an end, and we must part ways no matter where we go."

"Little Tiger Brother, you are about to return to the Central Plains. I hope you will not forget Jianzhou, and you will not forget your Wild Boar Skin Brother."

"I don't know when we'll meet again after this parting."

"I really hope that one day soon, you will return to Jianzhou like Xiangyun. Even if you grow up to be a great hero, I will always remember you."

Zhu Yin also spoke with concern and in a clear, childlike voice:

"I already said my farewell last night. Brother Wild Boar Skin, please take good care of yourself. Tribal conflicts are fierce, and swords have no eyes. You must not again lead the charge and disregard your own safety."

"Brother Wild Boar Skin is a great hero, the first Baturu of Jianzhou. But there is a saying in the Han Dynasty: 'Even earthenware pots are bound to break at the wellhead, and even generals are bound to die on the battlefield.'"

"I hope that Brother Wild Boar Skin will live a peaceful and prosperous life, and that he will not have to gamble with his life or fight desperately."

Nurhaci nodded: "These are the heartfelt words of my little tiger brother, as true as gold in the sandy river."

"But a man should not live a life of mediocrity."

"This journey is long and arduous, with treacherous waves and a sea breeze as unpredictable as the bad temper at Yale. Little Tiger, you must take good care of yourself."

Zhu Yin said, "Although the sea is unpredictable when I go back this time, I'm not afraid if I get blown to Japan. In fact, I'd love to."

"I've heard that Japan is rich in gold and silver, and has many treasures that are not found in the Central Plains or beyond the Great Wall. If you were blown to the Japanese islands by a hurricane, that would be considered good luck."

“Is Japan really that good?” Nurhaci laughed. “Even if it is, Little Tiger Brother can’t be blown away by the wind. I’ll only feel at ease if he returns to the Central Plains smoothly.”

Zhu Yin said, "Isn't it wonderful? I've heard that Yingzhou, the fairyland overseas, is actually Japan. It's a pity I don't have the chance to go and see it."

"Actually, it's not far. It's just across a strait, only a few hundred miles by sea."

Upon hearing this, the Jurchen warriors around him couldn't help but have their eyes flicker.

After chatting for a while, it was finally time for them to part ways.

Many Jurchen people spontaneously bowed and bid farewell.

"I love Baylor! Rest in peace!"

"I love you, Prince! May Lord Cuohazhan bless you with a safe return to the Central Plains!"

"I love Baylor, grow up quickly and come back to see us!"

Zhu Yin waved goodbye to everyone, his gaze sweeping over several familiar faces.

He's made quite a few "friends" here over the past few months.

We agreed to stay in touch.

With these "good friends," he will be able to regularly receive intelligence about Jianzhou in the future.

Of course, these "good friends" also have no idea what they are doing.

They would unwittingly become the earliest informants in Zhu Yin's intelligence network outside the pass.

Zhu Yin had already discussed it with Nurhaci, and that he would regularly send people to Fushun Pass to purchase his ginseng and furs.

Then, Nurhaci personally helped Zhu Yin mount his horse.

"Let's go." Zhu Yin flicked his whip, and the little white horse trotted off.

Ning Caiwei and the others quickly followed.

Eidu's three hundred Jurchen cavalry, as fierce as dragons and tigers, escorted Zhu Yin and his companions southward in a winding procession.

"Father!"

As Dongguo Gege watched the little boy ride away on his white horse, tears streamed down her face.

"Uncle Little Tiger!"

Chu Ying and Dai Shan, with their small legs and pouting lips, chased after them.

These past few months, they've really loved Uncle Tiger so much, they're so reluctant to part with him.

"Uncle Little Tiger!" the two children shouted. "When we grow up, we'll come find you!"

Zhu Yin turned around, waved his hand and said, "Alright! I'll wait for you to grow up!"

Nurhaci watched Zhu Yin walk further and further away, remaining silent for a long time.

……

This time, Ning Caiwei brought a full five carriages of goods.

Many of the goods were gifts from Nurhaci.

Ginseng, mink fur, fox fur, otter fur, deer antler, wood ear fungus, pine nuts, hazelnuts…

Logically speaking, a single transaction could yield a profit of several thousand taels of silver.

But she naturally had her own business acumen. After listening to Zhu Yin recount the history of commercial management in the Ming Dynasty, she knew what to do.

These goods were not transported to the Central Plains for sale, because the Central Plains had a maritime ban, so she had no smuggling channels and could not bring them ashore.

The checkpoints were also very strict; there were no documents, customs certificates, or merchant permits.

Without these trade documents, it would be impossible to conduct transactions or even transport goods back to the Central Plains.

There is only one way.

They would earn less money by selling the goods to smugglers with connections.

Although this will result in earning significantly less money, it will solve the problem. It is also the only feasible solution.

A Jurchen merchant told her that after entering Fushun Pass, she should go directly south to Phoenix City in Dingliao Right Guard, and then go south to the seaside to see Zhangzi Island.

Zhangzidao Island was a smuggling hub for various tribes, including those from the Central Plains, Korea, and the Jurchen people.

Many smuggling and human trafficking vessels have used Zhangzidao Island as a transit port.

The surrounding garrisons had long been satiated with money and no longer cared about anything.

Like Zhangzidao Island, Daludao Island is also a smuggling hub, but it is further from the shore.

Upon receiving this business information, Ning Caiwei immediately made a decision.

……

Zhu Yin and his entourage traveled south along the fixed "tribute road" of Jianzhou Left Guard.

Several days later, we finally saw the Liaodong border wall.

The so-called Ming Great Wall includes the Liaodong Border Wall.

Soon, the majestic Fushun Pass came into view.

Looking at the tall, imposing, and heavily guarded Fushun Pass, Zhu Yin felt no pride, but rather a sense of disdain.

Fushun, Fushun, is it smooth?

what!
It took two hundred years and countless resources to cut down the forests of southern Liaoning to make bricks and build the Ming Dynasty version of the Great Wall, all to defend against the invasions of the Mongols and Jurchens.

Can it really stop it?
Is this what they call the emperor guarding the nation's gate?

Meanwhile, the Ming Dynasty opened two designated trading venues in Liaodong for the Jurchen tribes: the Horse Market.

One is Kaiyuan Pass, which is divided into north and south. The north pass is for the Yehe tribe, and the south pass is for the Hada tribe.

One is Fushun Pass. Inside the pass is the Liaodong Regional Military Commission, and outside the pass is the Nurgan Regional Military Commission.

Unfortunately, the Nurgan Commandery is now actually the territory of the Jurchens.

Although these two markets were called horse markets, they were not limited to trading horses. As long as the goods were not prohibited items such as ironware, sulfur, weapons, or books, they could be traded.

However, an imperial edict was required to trade through the customs.

The so-called imperial edict was a certificate issued by the Ming Dynasty to Jurchen nobles for tribute and trade.

It was also a blank official post.

An imperial edict permitted one person and one horse to enter the pass via the designated "tribute route".

Therefore, imperial edicts are an extremely important resource.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty tacitly permitted the theft of imperial edicts. They only recognized the edicts, not the person.

It seems like a very clever trick.

Thus, the various Jurchen tribes fought tooth and nail for the imperial edict representing trade rights.

In the end, as they fought and merged, they became stronger and stronger.

Trade can never solve the threat of force.

At this time, more than a thousand people had gathered outside Fushun Pass; they were all Jurchen tribesmen who had come to trade.

However, most people could only wait outside and were unable to enter the country.

Only those Jurchens with imperial edicts were allowed to enter the pass.

On the city wall, the lazy Ming soldiers, having removed their helmets and armor and wearing only thin clothes, were enjoying the cool shade.

The garrison commander guarding the city gate sat under the city wall, shirtless and with an air of nonchalance, eating melons and picking lice.

The general was very pleased.

They didn't even glance at the Jurchen savages coming and going.

Eidu left three hundred cavalrymen and Han slaves outside the city, then took out a stack of imperial edicts and demanded to enter the city.

The officials at the city gate checked the number of imperial edicts and, in accordance with the rule that each edict allowed one person and one horse to enter, let in several dozen people and horses.

Indeed, after five years of conquest, Nurhaci had already issued more than a hundred imperial edicts.

The horse market inside Fushun Pass was bustling with merchants from all over the country.

But who among those who can do business here doesn't have a powerful background?

They successfully entered Fushun Pass, and with the help of Eidu, they obtained a merchant permit that allowed passage only through Liaodong Commandery.

It was actually a violation of regulations. But this is a border area, so they're making an exception.

Then, Zhu Yin bid farewell to Eidu and the others, changed into newly purchased Hanfu, and quickly headed south.

Liaodong Commandery is a vast and sparsely populated area, mostly inhabited by military households and garrison troops. There are also Han Chinese households, but not many.

Road safety is generally well-assured.

As Zhu Yin traveled south, he familiarized himself with the military forts and garrisons along the way.

The group of eight people and one dog passed Phoenix City five days later. Three days later, they saw the sea.

Everyone was excited when they saw the sea.

Including Xu Xiaobai.

He said, "I was sold into slavery by the Jurchens along this route."

We hired a boat at the seaside and arrived at Zhangzi Island a few miles later.

Sure enough, this was a smuggling transit point. The nearby garrisons even made a living from it.

After paying an exorbitant island entry fee of ten taels of gold, I was able to successfully enter the island.

Without much effort, Ning Caiwei's goods were all sold to a smuggler with a southern accent.

There was nothing she could do; she had no smuggling channels and could only sell at a lower price.

He only earned 1,500 taels of silver.

But with money, Zhu Yin and Ning Qingchen felt more confident.

1,500 taels! That's a lot of money.

Fortunately, Lancha and others acted as guards; otherwise, the three children, carrying so much money, would not have been able to return to the Central Plains alive.

Not only the goods, but also the five carriages were sold, earning over a hundred taels of silver.

Next, Zhu Yin and his entourage spent a hefty three hundred taels of silver on a smuggling boat to select a relatively reliable vessel.

Three hundred taels of silver for the boat fare is outrageous.

But what they actually bought wasn't a ticket, but a connection to smuggling ships.

The Ming Dynasty had a maritime ban. No normal ships went out to sea. The Longqing Emperor's opening of the seas was a joke.

The owners of smuggling ships are all rich and powerful; why would they take you if you don't have enough money?
This smuggling boat is heading to Dengzhou, Shandong.

……

Sea travel is much faster than land travel.

And it just so happens to be a tailwind.

From Zhangzidao to Dengzhou, a waterway of over 500 li, it only takes two days and two nights to reach the destination.

Those smuggling boats really knew how to operate; they swaggered ashore without anyone bothering them.

The patrol boats of Dengzhou Guard, and the soldiers of the garrison on the shore, were completely oblivious to the smuggling boats once they saw what they were like.

It's really just a formality.

This was during the Wanli era.

This shows how rampant the smuggling activities of the coastal gentry and powerful were.

How weak was the government's control over the coast? The opening of the ports during the Longqing era was also self-deception.

Such a powerful interest group was beyond the control of even the high and mighty Emperor Wanli.

The eight men and one dog landed on the shore and immediately prepared to ride horses.

The Jurchens, including Lancha, had long since changed into Hanfu and wore hats, making them unrecognizable as Jurchens.

The moment they stepped onto the Dengzhou Wharf, Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Central Plains!

Finally, I've set foot on the land of the Central Plains.

This is the real Ming Dynasty.

Stepping on the bluestone slabs of the dock and looking at the boundless sea, Zhu Yin felt a lump in his throat.

He had been here before. In later generations, this place was called Yantai.

Ning Caiwei's eyes also reddened.

I'm finally back.

"Hahaha!" Xu Xiaobai suddenly burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down his face.

"I'm back, I'm back, hehe..."

Just as everyone was getting excited, they suddenly heard a man's anxious voice coming from the dock steps:

"Madam, Madam, please don't go! If you leave, what will become of me..."

A woman's voice said angrily:

"I don't care whether you live or die, Qi Yuanjing! You are now without official position and heavily in debt, all of which is your own fault for not listening to me! I can't control you anymore!"

Zhu Yin was astonished upon hearing this when he saw an old woman dressed in fine clothes and adorned with jewels, being helped down the steps by two maids in blue.

Two men in black shirts and carrying knives followed behind him.

The old woman in the fine clothes had gray hair, a frosty face, and a very resolute expression.

Immediately afterwards, a "tinkling" sound was heard from above, and a tall and imposing old man, leaning on a cane, walked down the steps with difficulty.

"Madam, wait! Wait!"

Although the old man had difficulty walking, he had a majestic appearance with a tiger's head and a swallow's jaw.

At this moment, his anger made him look even more dignified.

"Wang! Even if you want to abandon me, you should at least leave me some money!"

The elegantly dressed old woman snorted coldly, ignoring them completely, and shouted, "Everyone has their own fate! Get on the boat now!"

"I am old and feeble!" The dignified old man stamped his foot and sighed, "To be so humiliated by a mere woman like you!"

"We have no rice at home! The old house leaks! I'm sick but have no medicine! Are you going to abandon me too?"

"Enough! Enough! Enough!"

"Go take a break! Go take a break! Go take a break!"

(End of this chapter)