Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Although the Mongol Empire and the Yuan Dynasty have long since perished, the Golden Family still rules most of the grasslands.

And Ombu was the son of Bushitu, a descendant of Altan Khan. If we count further back, he was the grandson of Borjigin Altanaidayen Khan, a direct descendant of the Golden Family.

"No need to be so polite, just sit down." Zhang Shikang said very calmly.

He had long expected that the Xitumed tribe would agree to his conditions. After all, for a small tribe surviving in the cracks, Zhang Shikang's promise left them with no reason to complain.

"Since you are willing to come here, you must have figured it out. Now I want to hear it from you in person." Zhang Shikang picked up the tea bowl and stirred the tea leaves.

"If the promises made by the Grand Marshal to me are true, I am willing to accept the title bestowed by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and become the bridgehead of the Ming Dynasty outside the Great Wall."

Omubu answered Zhang Shikang's questions without much hesitation.

The Tumed tribe was one of the Mongolian tribes closest to the border town of Juli Ming Dynasty. When Guihua City was at its most prosperous, there were more than 10,000 to 20,000 Han people responsible for farming alone. Emubu's Ming language was quite good.

"Of course the promises are valid. You are a conscious Mongolian leader." Zhang Shikang put down the tea bowl and said.

The word "bridgehead" originally means a stronghold for strategic offensive. When Zhang Shikang talked with Ombu's second son Gulu last time, he did not actually say what he wanted to do with the Xitumed tribe.

But it is obvious that Omubu already had a rough idea of the Ming court's intention in conferring the title on him, which was simply to let their tribes fight against the Qing Dynasty together.

As a small tribe, it has no say in the face of the surrounding powerful forces.

"I don't deserve it. The Xitumed tribe is willing to submit to the Ming Dynasty. I only hope that the Grand Marshal will take care of our warriors and allow our tribe to continue."

Omubu kept a very humble attitude. He knew very well that the young man in front of him was the current controller of the military power of the Ming Dynasty.

In theory, once he surrenders, his tribal warriors will need to obey the orders of the Grand Marshal.

He knew that there would be a war between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty sooner or later, and his tribe would inevitably be involved in this war, and casualties were inevitable. He only hoped that Zhang Shikang could leave his tribe a chance to continue.

But his speculation about the Ming court was obviously outdated.

"Who told you that I'm going to ask you to fight Huang Taiji?" Zhang Shikang asked back with disdain.

Omubu was stunned for a moment, clearly understanding what was happening.

"What do you mean, Marshal? Don't you want my tribal warriors to participate in the conquest?" Ombu said cautiously.

"With just the number of you, more or less won't make much. I can tell you now that even if my Ming Dynasty wants to fight against the Jiannu in the north, there is no need to recruit your tribe." Zhang Shikang said casually.

Omubu frowned and seemed confused.

"But...what you promised..."

“All of them. Guihua City is not big, but I will mobilize 40 artillery pieces and corresponding gunners for you in the near future.

There is no need to worry about food and fodder, there will be enough.

As for the old and weak in your tribe, you can place them in Xuanfu. There are only about 10,000 or 20,000 people. I guarantee that I will never let them be bullied." Zhang Shikang thought for a moment and said.

After the civil strife in Jiangnan ended last year, the offensive and defensive situation between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty has changed.

More than a month ago, Zhang Shikang designed a plan to trap Huang Taiji's 10,000 elite troops. Now Guan Ningjin is also united and is not afraid of Huang Taiji's attack.

As long as the imperial court insists on deepening reforms and the people are content with peace of mind, there will be no more unrest among the people in the mainland in the short term.

In the previous few years, because of the bandits in the interior, the Ming Dynasty deployed a lot of city defense artillery in many large cities. These artillery would be ineffective in the interior, at least in the short term.

Requisitioning dozens of guns for the defense of Guihua City would be the best use of their resources.

In this way, once the General Manufacturing Administration has developed the latest artillery and put it into mass production, it can also be used to gradually upgrade the cities inside and outside the Great Wall.

"This... is it, Marshal? What exactly do you want me to do for the court?" Omubu was a little overwhelmed by Zhang Shikang.

Before this, Omubu had sent people to communicate with the Ming Dynasty, but each time it was not smooth. The Ming Dynasty thought that Omubu's role was too small, and Omubu thought that the Ming Dynasty gave too little.

But now this great marshal provides money, food, and weapons, and has also promised to provide military support in wartime. Even the elderly and weak in the tribe can enter the pass to take refuge first. This has eliminated all the worries of his tribe.

It’s like when you play scratch tickets, you always hope to win the first prize, but you never win after scratching many times.

Until one day you suddenly win the first prize, your first thought must be, am I seeing things? Can I also win the first prize?

"Of course you have something to do." Zhang Shikang said speechlessly.

Do you really think you can get everything for free in the Ming Dynasty?

"Please tell me, Marshal. As long as Omubu can do it, I will definitely help you with all my strength." Omubu promised, clasping his right hand on his chest.

"All you have to do is just two words - war horse!" Zhang Shikang looked at Emu and preached seriously.

"My tribe owns more than 40,000 horses of all sizes, and can provide you with 4,000 qualified war horses every year. I am willing to donate these horses to you free of charge," said Ombu without any hesitation.

Among these more than 40,000 horses, more than 10,000 are the tribe’s regular war horses, and the rest are used for grazing and reproduction.

The selection of war horses is extremely strict, and only about 3,000 qualified ones can be selected every year.

The reason why Omubu dared to report 4,000 horses was to demonstrate his loyalty. By then, he might have to allocate some of the active war horses to present to the court.

"This is far from enough. I will give you everything I promised you, but the price is...

Your tribe must provide the Ming court with 10,000 war horses every year!"

Zhang Shikang reported a number that was enough to shock everyone present.

Ten thousand war horses, if trained properly, would mean ten thousand cavalrymen. Not to mention the current Western Tumed tribe, even if the Eastern Tumed tribe is included, it would not be able to provide ten thousand qualified war horses in a year.

"This……"

Ombu was a little surprised. It was not that he did not want to provide them, but there were only so many war horses in the tribe. He couldn't mix in horses that were not fully grown or unqualified, right?

However, if the Ming Dynasty really fulfilled those promises in the future, even if it only required 10,000 war horses, it would be a very good deal for Omubu.

But he really didn’t!

Zhang Shikang certainly saw Omubu's embarrassment and couldn't help but laugh and tease:

“Look at you, a descendant of the grassland’s golden family, but you have forgotten your ancestors’ housekeeping skills.

If your tribe doesn't have it, why don't you go out and steal it?

I have protected all your old and weak inside the pass, what are you afraid of?

Governor Lu, you know that I have promoted him to the rank of Grand Commander of the Tiger Guards.

If other tribes around you dare to attack you, hundreds of thousands of Tiger Guards will support you.

I'm going to grab it! Feel free to grab it! "

……