Chapter 450: Alliance with Khorchin

Zhu Youxiao said this, then couldn't help but glance at Wukeshan.

A hint of thoughtful expression appeared on Wukeshan's face, and he no longer seemed so resentful and resistant. A smile spread across Zhu Youxiao's face.

Many things in this world suffer from a lack of communication. Once communication is settled, many problems cease to be problems.

Wukeshan raised his head to look at Zhu Youxiao, frowning as he said, "Just tell me what you want to do. My brain is dull; I can't think about too many things, or my head starts to ache. If what you say doesn't seem right to me, then we'll talk again."

Seeing Wukeshan's cautious demeanor, Zhu Youxiao smiled, not taking it to heart at all.

Shooting a glance at Wei Chao beside him, Zhu Youxiao said, "Hang up the map."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Chao quickly acknowledged, and had his men hang up an enormous map.

This map was of the entire northern frontier of the Great Ming, stretching from Liaodong all the way to the west.

It was not merely a simple topographical map, but also a distribution map of the various powers. The territory of every power was marked out in a different colored pen, clear at a glance.

Soon, Wukeshan located the position of Khorchin. He raised his head to look at Zhu Youxiao, not expecting that this Emperor of the Great Ming had made such thorough preparations.

"Then let us begin now!" With these words, Zhu Youxiao rose to his feet, walked to the front of the map, and, holding a wooden rod in his hand, pointed to a spot on the map and said, "Your Khorchin is right here."

"The Great Ming and your people have fought for over two hundred years; some things are hard to explain. It's simply that you resent the Ming for seizing your rivers and mountains. But this land was originally ours, the Han people's — in the Song dynasty it was already Han territory."

"You also seized the Han people's rivers and mountains; such matters cannot be argued. Besides, over two hundred years have already passed — dwelling on it is meaningless."

Wukeshan looked at Zhu Youxiao, a thoughtful expression on his face.

In truth, there was no need to think about this matter at all. Wukeshan was not of the Golden Family anyway. Even if he were of the Golden Family, there was no longer any ambition to overthrow the Great Ming. After more than two hundred years of struggle, that spirit had essentially faded away.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wukeshan and continued, "North of the Great Wall is your territory — whether you admit it or not, that's how it is. For so many years, you've been active in this region, crossing the border year after year, burning, killing, and plundering — committing every kind of evil."

"Of course, I also understand that life is hard for you. When winter comes and the snow falls, you might not even survive. The grasslands produce very little. Once you can't survive, the only option is to come south and raid."

"Looking at the Mongols as a whole, and specifically at your Khorchin tribe — don't you feel that your position is rather awkward?"

"To the south is the Doyan Three Guards, to the west is Ligdan Khan, and to the east is the Jianzhou barbarians. Your Khorchin sits in a squeezed corner — this position is very unfavorable for your development. What do you think?"

Wukeshan looked at Zhu Youxiao, frowning as he said, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Without looking at Wukeshan, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Bumbutai, his meaning obvious: How can your brother be so stupid? Are you really born of the same mother? Are you really family? Is he really your own brother?

Bumbutai felt very awkward and somewhat helpless, but she said nothing.

In truth, Zhu Youxiao's words were not really directed at Wukeshan — he felt that Wukeshan was completely incapable of grasping his intent, but Bumbutai beside him could.

Zhu Youxiao believed that Bumbutai would explain things clearly to her father. That man who held the power of Khorchin should possess such comprehension.

"Fine, then let me talk about what I want to do." Zhu Youxiao turned his head back and looked at Wukeshan as he said, "I want to cooperate with you. If our two houses join hands, we can accomplish something great."

"In Liaodong, the Jianzhou barbarians have always eyed the Great Ming with covetous intent, and over the years there has been no shortage of fighting." Zhu Youxiao traced a line over the Jianzhou barbarians' position and said, "This land belongs to the Great Ming, and the Great Ming will take it back."

"And here." Zhu Youxiao pointed again at the Doyan Three Guards and continued, "This can be given to you."

"As for Ligdan Khan further west, I can also support you in destroying him. When that time comes, your Khorchin tribe can unify the Mongols." As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao drew another line on the map. "This entire vast stretch of land will all be yours."

"We can conduct trade, and I can also supply you with weapons. As long as you can conquer this entire region, we can coexist in harmony."

Looking at the scope Zhu Youxiao had marked out, Wukeshan didn't know what to say.

From Liaodong, spanning the entire grassland, all the way to the Qinghai line.

In truth, this was the vast territory of Inner Mongolia in later ages.

As for Outer Mongolia, in this era of the Great Ming, getting there was no easy task — one had to cross the desert. And even if one did, Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia were not the same thing. Once there, one would either be swallowed up or destroyed.

Unless there was an opportunity to fight one's way over, but that was not easy. The martial spirit of these Inner Mongolian tribes was far inferior to the ferocity of those people in Outer Mongolia.

The ones who could speak with authority over there were the true Mongol iron cavalry. But these people before him, having lived a soft life in this place for so many years, were long since no longer the Mongol iron cavalry of old — otherwise they wouldn't have been beaten by the Jianzhou barbarians.

Wukeshan stared at Zhu Youxiao and said, "How can I trust you? You people are full of tricks — you're just trying to deceive me."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wukeshan, shook his head, and said, "For over two hundred years, has the Great Ming ever occupied the grasslands? Even if such a place were given to us, we wouldn't want it. It produces nothing — frankly, it would only waste the Ming's money."

"Once we take back Liaodong, the grasslands will belong to you. As for sincerity — haven't you considered that Nurhaci has already been killed by us? If we take Liaodong and then turn to support the Doyan Three Guards, do you think they would destroy you or not?"

In truth, Zhu Youxiao would absolutely never support the Doyan Three Guards.

First of all, their combat capability was simply inadequate. Among all the Mongol tribes, the Doyan Three Guards' fighting strength was utter garbage.

Who knows how they managed it, but they couldn't defeat anyone — utterly useless. They had followed the Great Ming for so many years, yet had always been weathervanes swaying left and right, completely devoid of credibility.

Of course, Khorchin might not have much credibility either, but at least they weren't garbage — when it came to a real fight, they could still put up a decent showing. With Zhu Youxiao's support, many things would become much easier for Khorchin.

Wukeshan looked at Zhu Youxiao, his expression dark and terrifying. This matter was also something their tribe had long worried about.

Right now, the Jianzhou barbarians were keeping the Great Ming occupied, stirring up trouble in Liaodong. But in the last battle, Nurhaci had been killed by the Great Ming. Did Hong Taiji have his father's ability?

No one knew at all. Under such circumstances, if everyone blindly followed Hong Taiji, perhaps that wouldn't be a good thing.

Raising his head to glance at Zhu Youxiao, Wukeshan was indeed somewhat tempted.

After all, the Great Ming had no way to set foot on the grasslands, so cooperating with the Great Ming was actually the best choice for Khorchin. The Jianzhou barbarians could come onto the grasslands to attack Khorchin, but the Great Ming lacked that capability.

Once they destroyed the Doyan Three Guards and annexed them, they would have sufficient strength by then — whether heading east or west, they could put up a fight.

"You're willing to give up the Doyan Three Guards?" Wukeshan looked at Zhu Youxiao and asked.

"Of course I'm willing." Zhu Youxiao said nonchalantly.

Although the Doyan Three Guards nominally followed the Great Ming, apart from taking benefits, they were utterly useless.

As for Ligdan Khan, the moment the Great Ming and the Jianzhou barbarians went to war, Ligdan Khan would certainly stick his nose in. In the original history, when Liaodong was lost in battle, Ligdan Khan had even sent relief troops — not to rescue the Great Ming, of course, but to maintain the balance of power. It was just that the relief arrived too late, and the Great Ming had already lost too quickly.

If Khorchin moved to swallow up the Doyan Three Guards, then Khorchin would become a wall between Ligdan Khan and the Jianzhou barbarians.

If Hong Taiji wanted to go west, he would have to take Khorchin. If Ligdan wanted to go east, he would also have to take Khorchin.

As for forming alliances, Khorchin was no fool — after allying with someone to destroy another party, what would happen to themselves?

Just like when Zhuge Liang allied with Sun Quan in ancient times — alliance was fine, but one couldn't destroy either side. Combined with Khorchin's own ambitions, they naturally wouldn't meekly become someone else's vassal.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wukeshan, pointing at the map as he continued, "So then, the benefits of cooperating with us are these: first, we will support you in taking the Doyan Three Guards. The Great Ming's Liaodong army will press forward directly, pinning Hong Taiji down on the Liaodong front so he has no energy to go west."

"That place is his lair. If he pulls troops to go west, the Great Ming will seize the opportunity to take his lair. He doesn't have the guts for that."

"Meanwhile, the Ming army on the Guangning front will advance forward, pressing against the Doyan Three Guards. You will strike south directly from the north and launch a surprise attack on the Doyan Three Guards. If Ligdan Khan sends troops to rescue them, we will block him here and help you fight a round."

"As for whether you can swallow up the Doyan Three Guards, that is your affair. If you are incompetent, then I have no way to help."

"The alliance between our two houses can be conducted in secret—your sister will stay here. When the time comes that it can be made public, I will confer upon her the rank of consort."

"As for matters done in secret, I can supply you with some weapons—part of them as gifts for the alliance, and the rest you will need to purchase with goods of your own. Rest assured, compared to what they smuggle to you, what I provide is the finest."

"If this matter can be accomplished, then your Khorchin will rise to prominence in this region."

"What needs to be done next is simple: the Great Ming will send troops to Liaodong, marching north from Shenyang to suppress the rebellion. All you need to do is guarantee the western flank of the Great Ming—make sure Ligdan Khan does not come over."

In truth, Zhu Youxiao's words were wasted breath. Before the Khorchin tribe was fully secured, Ligdan would never dare to meddle in the war between the Great Ming and the Jianzhou barbarians—doing so would only hand an opportunity to the Khorchin.

The Khorchin felt the same way—they too would worry that once they got involved, Ligdan Khan might launch a surprise attack and they would end up being swallowed whole.