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

"If you choose a hereditary title, no problem. I will petition His Majesty to appoint your tribe's Khan. The highest title you can get is a king, depending on the size of your tribe.

Your Majesty has quite a bit of trust in me, so I don't think there will be any major problems."

Zhang Shikang did not let those present wait too long and announced his decision directly.

However, if someone who didn't understand the court's situation heard what he said, they would probably just think he was bragging because he was drunk.

After all, Zhang Shikang himself didn't even have the title of king, but he just asked for a hereditary title. You have to know that there are more than a dozen tribes in southern Mongolia, big and small.

But Lu Xiangsheng and others remained silent. In their hearts, the emperor was like a devil who could touch anyone. Whoever touched Zhang Shikang would die.

In terms of military affairs, the emperor was even more outrageous. It was to the point that when Zhang Shikang said that tofu could be used to build a wall, the emperor would probably say that it was stronger than bricks.

This had not happened in the 270 years of the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, the frowns of Boroch and others present relaxed a lot. If the Khan could be crowned king, no matter what, they would have an explanation.

However, Zhang Shikang's next words made him frown again.

Zhang Shikang seemed to enjoy breathing heavily when he spoke, especially on important occasions. After he finished speaking, he took a sip of wine, then suppressed it with tea before continuing:

"However, those who seek titles may not command the army."

In just ten words, the Mongolian envoy's little plan was shattered.

How could Zhang Shikang not know what they were thinking? If they conferred a hereditary title on someone from a larger tribe, perhaps he could become a king like Omubu and continue to be in charge of his own tribal army.

Although it was nominally under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty court, just like the Jianzhou Guard back then.

They could pretend to surrender and wait for the situation to change over time, just like the Jianzhou Jurchens who first established the Later Jin Dynasty and then the Qing Dynasty. They could just bide their time.

This is an insult to Zhang Shikang's IQ. He wants it all. What a joke.

"How is it? Is there anyone who wants to be granted a title? Boluochi, your brother's tribe is not small, perhaps he can be granted the title of a prince!"

Zhang Shikang raised his eyebrows at Boluochi.

He had already understood the situation of these tribes. Boluochi and Sange were relatively the strongest. As long as he could deal with these two tribes, the other tribes would also take advantage of the situation.

Boroch and Sangge looked at each other and said cautiously:

"Could you please tell me about another option, Marshal?"

"This is another option. You can continue to lead the troops.

The imperial court will determine the number of troops based on the number of people in your tribe. You will still serve as generals and be under the command of the Grand Commander of the Huben Army.

These generals will receive the same treatment as the Tiger Guards and will earn titles based on their military achievements."

To put it bluntly, if you don't want to fight, the court will give you a title, but the soldiers will be handed over to the commander of the Tiger Guards.

If you want to take a chance, you can give up the title of Khan and fight honestly according to the court. If you make military achievements, you can also get a title.

Of course, the imperial court would never allow these tribes to engage in militarism in order to command more soldiers.

In Zhang Shikang's inherent concept, the Mongolian region is an inseparable part of the imperial court, and the people here are also the people of the Ming Dynasty. If they are educated, there will be no distinction between high and low.

The number of troops will be determined by Lu Xiangsheng based on the population and actual conditions, and he is familiar with this.

Zhang Shikang's two choices were clearly stated, and Boluochi understood them all.

However, to be fair, they believe that if the Ming court really keeps its promise, this treatment is already very mild.

And it was a good thing that this young imperial marshal didn't seem to have much ill will towards the Mongols.

The people present were considering the pros and cons of the two options, but Zhang Shikang said:

"Having discussed the treatment of you nobles, now let's discuss the people of your tribe."

Zhang Shikang's words once again puzzled Boloch. It seemed that the young marshal cared a lot about ordinary people.

In fact, even these descendants of the Golden Family are quite cruel to their subordinates. After all, the grassland is a place where the strong prey on the weak.

The victors shared the cattle, sheep and other livestock, and the captives became their slaves.

If you lose a war, you either die or become a slave. This has been the case for two thousand years.

"If you sincerely submit, the herdsmen on the grassland will all become subjects of the Ming Dynasty.

Listen carefully, this is not a joke.

Starting from this year, all Ming Dynasty territories and all Ming Dynasty citizens who are bullied and humiliated by foreign vassal states will be punished, no matter how far away they are.

Your two tribes are located in the west, so you must have heard of the Rakshasas, right?

Haha, they are waiting for you to move west."

After saying that, Zhang Shikang smiled.

The reason why Boluochi and Sangge released the news of the westward migration was simply to tell Lu Xiangsheng and Zhang Shikang not to go too far, and they did have other solutions.

But Zhang Shikang knew clearly that if the Mongols wanted to move westward, they would first have to get through the Russians.

Although the Russians were extremely poor at that time, the country's overall strength was on the rise, and it had completed the so-called Renaissance. Under the trend of colonialism, its rifle army was still quite capable.

Putting aside other things, even if the two tribes of Boluochi and Sange were combined, it would be estimated that they would not be able to muster many soldiers.

It is always unpleasant when a lie is exposed. In fact, both Boluochi and the other were a little frightened.

They had indeed seen the Rakshasas, and not only that, there had even been some minor frictions.

Due to the pressure from the Ming Dynasty court, they had not paid much attention to it before, but Zhang Shikang's confidence undoubtedly forced them to reconsider their position.

"If you return to the Han, your people will be exempted from all taxes for three years, and after three years, they will be replaced by in-kind taxes of cattle, sheep, and war horses.

The imperial court will designate pastures for each tribe, especially disputed pastures between tribes, and the imperial court will be responsible for resolving disputes.

In addition, the imperial court will provide money and manpower to build a city on the grassland, and the imperial court will provide food for the herdsmen..."

Zhang Shikang talked about a lot of preferential policies of the court, so much so that Bolochi and others were a little confused.

Not only Boroch and others, but even Lu Xiangsheng felt that the Marshal was too kind to the Mongols.

This isn't conquering land; this is buying it off.

At the same time, Lu Xiangsheng felt guilty again for his previous memorial. He actually speculated that the Marshal was warmongering. How could this be described as warmongering at all?

This clearly means that we should seriously manage the Mongolian region.

"Excuse me, Marshal, are these true?" Boluochi stood up and bowed.

No wonder Bolochi couldn't believe it. Why had the Mongols been harassing the Han border for thousands of years?

Isn’t it just for a bite to eat?

Now people say that they will make you a king, give you free food, and build a city for you. If you are bullied by outsiders, the imperial court will avenge you.

Boluochi would never dare to do this in his dreams.

"Of course, I don't lie." Zhang Shikang replied.

Sangger calmed down, but he still felt uneasy, so he said:

"So, may I ask, Marshal, what is the price?"

After hearing this, Zhang Shikang finally felt that he was not in a meeting with a group of elementary school students. This Sangger was a sensible man after all.

Those gifts from fate have already been secretly marked with a price.

"The same writing system, the same wheel gauge, the same customs...what did 'the same customs' mean?" Zhang Shikang only remembered two sentences and looked at Lu Xiangsheng.

"Replying to the commander-in-chief, we are of the same race, from the same region, and with the same standards." Lu Xiangsheng replied quickly.

"Oh, yes, yes! That's it." Zhang Shikang praised without pause.

……