Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 77 Open the City Gates! (Two Chapters Combined)

In other words, did that ingenious plan actually succeed?
Guo Xun's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, but until he met Yan Maoqing, he still couldn't quite believe it!

This was because it differed greatly from the ingenious scheme he knew, and far exceeded his expectations.

They released prisoners, beheaded traitorous generals, offered nine white tributes, and even sent a hostage prince's letter...

Is this a tribute exchange?
This is clearly kneeling and begging for surrender!

If the Tartars could be so easily subdued, then what about the more than 100 years of raids before that? And what about the long-standing feud left over from the Yuan Dynasty?

Is it possible that from the time of Emperor Taizu to the present day, the entire Ming court, from top to bottom, has been filled with incompetent officials except for Yan Maoqing?!
Moreover, the possibility that the Tartars were feigning surrender cannot be completely ruled out.

Throughout the previous hundred years, even when the Tartars paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty, their various tribes still frequently raided the Ming people from the south, always saying one thing and doing another.

Despite Yan Maoqing's ingenious plan, once the Tartars found open-pit coal mines, they would have a safer and more profitable way to make money than plundering the Ming people in the south.

He will take the initiative to restrain his tribes, even if it means resorting to violence to suppress them, and will do his utmost to eliminate all disputes that hinder the tribute exchange. This will not only bring a century of peace to the northern border of the Ming Dynasty, but also make the Tartars dig their own graves and bring about their own destruction.

But if Guo Xun's memory serves him correctly, it should have been a mutually beneficial cooperation between the Ming Dynasty and the Tartars, rather than a unilateral submission and surrender by the Tartars...

"Shen Lian, do you know the consequences of the Embroidered Uniform Guard betraying the Ming Dynasty?"

Even Yan Changping couldn't help but peek out from the city wall, looking down at Shen Lian and asking loudly in a warning tone.

"So it's Commander Yan. Of course I know!"

Upon seeing that his direct superior had also arrived at Yanghe Pass, Shen Lian was surprised, but also felt even more at ease.
"The Embroidered Uniform Guards are the Emperor's henchmen, responsible for investigation and seizure. They are not under the jurisdiction of the Three Departments. If they harbor any disloyalty, they will be severely punished, their entire clan wiped out, leaving not a single blade of grass behind!"

"..."

Looking at Shen Lian's open and honest expression, Yan Changping couldn't make a judgment for a moment.

Shen Lian was promoted by Lu Bing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had thoroughly investigated his background beforehand.

Therefore, Yan Changping also knew about Shen Lian.

Besides being upright, incorruptible, and hating evil, this person's filial piety is also deeply moving.

In the twelfth year of the Jiajing reign, his mother, Lady Yu, fell ill and was bedridden. For three consecutive months, Shen Lian stayed by her bedside day and night without taking off his clothes, burning incense and praying to heaven to transfer his mother's illness to him.

Later, Yu recovered, and the villagers all said that Shen Lian's filial piety had moved Heaven. This matter was known to everyone in his village.

Yan Changping had reason to believe that, even disregarding Shen Lian's character, just considering the safety of his family, he wouldn't dare to easily betray the Ming Dynasty...

While talking.

A striking white figure emerged from the crowd outside the city.

"Wow——!"

"Is that the legendary tribute of the Nine Whites?!"

An uproar immediately erupted among the soldiers and civilians of Yanghesai.

Those were the nine white camels, nine white horses, and nine white oxen that Shen Lian had just mentioned, which were the so-called "tribute of the nine whites".

The soldiers and civilians of Yanghesai had dealt with the Tatars for many years, and especially during previous trade exchanges, they had learned about some of the Tatars' customs. Therefore, many of them knew the meaning of "the tribute of nine whites" to the Tatars.

This was the most sublime tribute the Tatars could offer to acknowledge their suzerainty. Offering this tribute was tantamount to submission, which was equivalent to formally recognizing the Ming Dynasty's suzerain status!

They had only heard of the "Nine White Tributes" before, but had never witnessed it with their own eyes.

For them, who yearn for peace but can only stop war with war, this is simply a fantasy that can only happen in a dream!

Could it be true that the Tatars are truly willing to submit this time?
But why is this?
The Tartars had just recently marched south, plundering the Shuozhou and Shizhou areas and returning with a full load of loot, with almost no casualties. Why did they suddenly surrender, and so willingly at that?
Who can tell us what exactly happened?
at the same time.

"Everyone, please see!"

Shen Lian also turned around and walked towards a carriage behind him, and with a "whoosh" he lifted the tarpaulin on it.

A bloody and horrifying scene was immediately presented to the eyes of the soldiers and civilians of Yanghesai!

There were dozens of bloody heads, some with their eyes wide open in death, some with hideous and terrifying expressions, some twisted in terror, and blood was even dripping down the carriage onto the ground.

"This is?!"

Everyone's eyes widened.

Shen Lian then took out a folded document from his robes and read its contents aloud:
"Jia Jing, the former deputy commander of Taiyuan, surrendered to the Tatars in the thirteenth year of the Zhengde reign. He was beheaded and his head was sent to the capital!"

"Shang Jianming, the former military commander of Datong, surrendered to the Tatars in the Datong mutiny in the third year of the Jiajing reign. He was beheaded and his head was sent to the capital!"

"Pang Tongfu, formerly the guerrilla commander of Datong, led his men in a mutiny in Datong in the third year of the Jiajing reign (1543) and surrendered to the Tatars. He was beheaded and his head was sent to the capital!"

"Former Xuanfu guerrilla commander, Shi Tai, eleventh year of Jiajing..."

As Shen Lian recited each name, it represented the deaths of one general after another who had previously betrayed the Ming Dynasty.

The soldiers and civilians of Yanghesai may not know about the traitors in other places, but most elderly people cannot possibly be unaware of the traitors who rebelled during the Datong Mutiny in the third year of the Jiajing reign.

Perhaps it was somewhat understandable for the lower-ranking soldiers to betray the Ming Dynasty, but these generals were all vested interests who oppressed the soldiers to seek personal gain.

Their defection had nothing to do with the plight of the lower-ranking soldiers. Most of them were secretly communicating with the Tartars during the mutiny, or their previous corruption was exposed and they could not explain to the court. In order to save their lives, they took the initiative to betray the Ming Dynasty. Their deaths were not a pity!
Just like the Datong military commander Shang Jianming and Datong guerrilla Pang Tongfu mentioned by Shen Lian, when the soldiers and civilians of Yanghe Sai heard these two names, they felt extremely happy!

"This……"

Guo Xun, Zhou Shangwen, Yan Changping and others were also filled with mixed emotions as they listened to these names one by one.

If this is true, how could they not know what it means?
This means that from today onwards, a sword will be hanging over the heads of all Ming border generals. Betraying the Ming and surrendering to the Tatars will no longer be a way out, but a dead end!

Before doing this, anyone must carefully consider the consequences of these past mistakes!
even……

The border generals who had been secretly communicating with the Tatars and whose secrets had not yet been exposed will begin to feel uneasy, worried that they may have been betrayed by the Tatars!

Isn't this a tactic to wipe out all the families of border generals who are physically in the Ming camp but their hearts are with the Tartars?

As the names of dozens of severed heads were read out one by one, Shen Lian directly picked out two heads from among those with "offense plaques" stuck in them, holding one in each hand and raising them high to show Yang and the Sai soldiers and civilians:
"Those who recognize Shang Jianming, the former military commander of Datong, and Pang Tongfu, the former guerrilla commander of Datong, open your eyes wide and see clearly whether these are the two people in question?"

“I recognize them both. It is them. I would recognize them even if they were reduced to ashes!”

Among the soldiers and civilians, an elderly man over sixty years old stood up, pointed at the trembling, excited crowd below the city walls, and shouted...
"Back during the Datong Mutiny, those two killed my two sons who were guarding the pass in order to escape..."

At this point, the old man suddenly burst into tears again, knelt down and kowtowed before the city walls, and roared to the heavens:
"Big Locust Tree, Second Locust Tree, you must see clearly from heaven today! Heaven has opened its eyes, and your great revenge has finally been achieved!"

"It's them, it's them!"

"I remember……"

As the old man cried out in a sorrowful yet comforting voice, more soldiers and civilians stood up to identify him. In an instant, many elderly people felt the same way, and sobs broke out in the crowd.

"General Zhou..." Guo Xun was already somewhat moved, his eyes reddening as he looked at Zhou Shangwen, as if he wanted to say something.

"Eh--!"

Zhou Shangwen let out a long sigh, but gently shook his head.

His duty prevented him from easily ordering the city gates to be opened.

There are hundreds of thousands of people outside. If this is a trick by the Tartars to feign surrender, once something goes wrong, it could be a catastrophic disaster not only for Yanghe and Sai, but also for Datong. He must be extremely cautious, coldly cautious, until he is absolutely certain.

And just as they were talking...

The nine white camels, nine white horses, and nine white oxen finally arrived at the city gate.

Shen Lian also expressed his understanding of the reaction of Yanghe and the soldiers and civilians in the border region, and had no objection in his heart. He simply turned around and walked back to the back of the "Nine White Tribute".

It was a carriage that had come to the city gate along with the "Tribute of the Nine Whites," accompanied by more than ten Tatar knights.

“Come out, Prince Sengge.”

Shen Lian came to the car and said softly.

Soon after, the carriage curtain was slowly lifted.

A Tatar boy dressed in a golden Kaftan robe and wearing a fur hat trimmed with gold stepped out of the carriage.

The boy seemed somewhat timid, glancing furtively at the Ming soldiers and civilians on the city wall. Then, at Shen Lian's nod, he placed his right hand on his chest and performed a Tatar salute.

"Is this Anda's eldest son, the Tatar prince?"

The soldiers and civilians of Yanghe and Sai opened their eyes wide again, trying to etch this scene into their minds.

If this boy is indeed a Tatar prince, then this is the first time that most of the people present have received the worship of the Tatar royal family, and this alone is enough for many people to boast about for a lifetime!

"Prince Sengge, please lend me your letter of credence."

Shen Lian bowed to him, took a golden folding document from his hand, and looked up at the soldiers and civilians on the city wall.

He then carefully opened the folded document, cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and read aloud:

"Your subject Anda humbly kowtows a hundred times to express his gratitude to His Majesty the Great Ming Emperor:"

"Now, throughout the entire land, the Heavenly Dynasty reigns supreme, the Son of Heaven is the rightful ruler of China and the people!"

"The Nine Yi and Eight Man tribes each receive titles and tributes. We, your subjects, were born and raised in the northern barbarians and are unaware of the proper etiquette of subjects. In recent years, various tribes have been lured away by treacherous people and have lost the opportunity to receive rewards..."

This simple beginning alone was enough to resonate deeply with the soldiers and civilians of Yanghe Pass, filling them with a burning passion!

臣！
Anda declared himself a subject!

Over the years, every time Anda sent an envoy to "request" tribute, he referred to himself as "this king". Although he later restrained himself, he still referred to himself as "this little king". When did he start referring to himself as "your subject"?
Meanwhile, the letter brought by the envoy was even more arrogant and rude, and it was more of a "demand" than a "request," insisting on coercing him to lead his army south.

The soldiers and civilians of Yanghe and Sai had all seen Anda's envoy, and the letter brought by the paper box was also circulating within Sai. No one knew these things better than them...

But this time, Anda's posture is so humble as never before?

"...In recent years, troops have been frequently dispatched to raid various border areas, killing families, seizing horses, burning wild grasses, and causing hardship for people and livestock in winter and spring. We, your subjects, have brought this upon ourselves..."

"...Your brothers, nephews, sons, and grandsons are all grateful for Heaven's grace, and have wholeheartedly submitted to the interior. They swear they will never again harass the borders, lest they invite divine punishment..."

"...I am willing to accept this title and remain a vassal state forever; if I disobey, I will surely be punished by Heaven..."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers and civilians of Yanghe were deeply shaken. Almost everyone held their breath, afraid to make a sound, lest they miss a single word in this letter.

The letter made no mention of a "request" to pay tribute!
There was not a single word of complaint against the Ming Dynasty. Instead, they began to reflect on their sins and swore never to invade the border again!

I only ask that the Emperor grant me a title and I will willingly become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty!

This is not just surrender, but a surrender with almost no conditions...

Are they still Tartars?
At this moment, almost everyone had the same question on their mind.

Could it be that the Tartars have encountered some insurmountable obstacle, such as internal strife or natural disasters, and are on the verge of extinction?
This is fantastic news! Truly cause for celebration...

But that doesn’t seem to be the case. The Tartars had just marched south and were still strong and well-equipped, and they had plundered a lot of Ming Dynasty supplies. Even if they were in bad shape, they shouldn’t be able to hold on so quickly, right?
what on earth is it?

"...Your subject is filled with gratitude and thanks. I respectfully present this memorial, along with nine white camels, nine white horses, nine white oxen, and nine gold and nine silver pots, as tribute to you all. This memorial is submitted in full to you..."

"...I beg Your Majesty to have mercy on my remorse and express my sincere gratitude!"

After reading it aloud, Shen Lian put the book away and stood proudly, his heart filled with the same fervor and passion.

This was absolutely the most beautiful, magnificent, and moving article he had ever read in his life!
Even when he studied under Wang Yangming in his youth, he had never encountered an article that moved him as deeply as this letter to the emperor…

"This……"

Zhou Shangwen and Guo Xun felt their blood boil as they listened to the letter from the state.

They could easily imagine the uproar that would ensue if the Tatar prince below the city were real, and if the letter were genuine, and if it were delivered to the capital, which was currently embroiled in controversy over the "re-establishment" of the Tatars.

And how overjoyed the current emperor would be if he saw this imperial letter!

This will undoubtedly be a historic victory for the Ming Dynasty against the Tatars, and this event will surely be recorded in history, as will all those involved...

But is this true?

Why does it always give people a very unreal feeling?

at the same time.

"Squeak-squeak-squeak--"

Accompanied by the painful groans of the overburdened axles, several oxcarts left deep ruts and slowly came to a stop behind the carriages carrying the "Nine White Tribute" and the Tatar prince.

Yan Maoqing jumped off the oxcart in front, followed closely by Gao Gong, and together they came to Shen Lian's side in front of Yang Hesai's soldiers and civilians.

"If you can't even open a door, what good are you?"

Yan Maoqing glanced at Shen Lian with disdain, then suddenly took a deep breath and shouted:
"Open the city gate!"

"I'll only count to five. If they still don't open the gate to welcome us, we'll turn around and go to the neighboring town of Yanghe. We'd rather die than enter the pass through Yanghe Pass!"

"This opportunity to go down in history has nothing to do with Yang Hesai or you!"

(End of this chapter)