Chapter 463: Wang Zaijin's Scheme

After meeting with his confidant, Zhu Youxiao had no further reason to linger at Shanhai Pass.

The party went straight through Shanhai Pass.

Once inside Shanhai Pass, the first person Zhu Youxiao wanted to see was Wang Zaijin.

This Governor of Guangning for the Great Ming could also be counted as one of Zhu Youxiao's trusted ministers. Liaodong was not a place just anyone could come to serve as an official, let alone in such a critical position.

There were two men who held sway in Liaodong now — one was Xiong Tingbi, and the other was Wang Zaijin.

This had nothing to do with their official rank, but rather their standing in the Emperor's heart. The best proof of this was that their routine memorials could be delivered to the Emperor at any time, and after reading them, the Emperor would grant their requests.

This kind of trust was not something just anyone could give, and it allowed Xiong Tingbi and the others to sit very securely in their posts in Liaodong.

Upon learning that His Majesty the Emperor had come to Liaodong, Wang Zaijin rushed over at the first opportunity.

After seeing Zhu Youxiao, Wang Zaijin hurriedly performed the ritual greeting and said: "Your servant Wang Zaijin pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wang Zaijin, rose from his chair, walked directly to Wang Zaijin's side, reached out to help him up, and said: "My beloved minister, no need for such formalities."

After Wang Zaijin straightened up, Zhu Youxiao looked him over from head to toe before saying: "Liaodong is a land of bitter cold. For you to exhaust your every effort guarding this place, I have put you through much hardship, my beloved minister."

"To be loyal to Your Majesty is what your servant ought to do." Wang Zaijin hurriedly replied.

These were, in truth, all just routine pleasantries of officialdom. The Emperor showed concern for you; as his minister, you had to show gratitude.

Within this seemingly simple exchange, a transaction of winning hearts and pledging loyalty had actually been completed. On one hand it was between sovereign and minister; on the other, it was also performed for others to see.

Glancing at Wei Chao beside him, Zhu Youxiao said: "Bring a stool for Minister Wang. I wish to sit and talk with him."

This kind of gesture signified respect for Wang Zaijin, and was also a display of how much he was valued.

After Wang Zaijin sat down, Zhu Youxiao finally spoke: "The situation in Liaodong is very stable now, and your contribution is indispensable. There are already those in the court who have submitted memorials to me, requesting that you be transferred back to the capital."

"A man of talent like yourself, who has rendered great service to the court, should not waste away in a place like Liaodong. You ought to return to the capital and accomplish more."

The meaning of these words was quite clear — someone wanted to give you a promotion.

For Wang Zaijin, this was hardly good news.

Thinking about it briefly, Wang Zaijin understood — someone in the court wanted him to give up his position in Liaodong.

Anyone with discerning eyes could see that war was about to break out in Liaodong. His Majesty's personal visit to Liaodong this time was for the purpose of making arrangements.

Over the past year or so, the situation in Liaodong had been steadily improving. The court was providing more money, all sorts of new-style weapons had been issued, the hereditary military households were living better, and the army's fighting strength had risen.

It could be said that once the time was ripe, a great battle in Liaodong was inevitable.

And since His Majesty had established the Staff Office and was implementing the policy of ennoblement for military merit, this coming Liaodong campaign had become a prize that many eyes were fixed upon.

In many people's view, the Liaodong campaign was certain to be won. As long as they could get a piece of the action, they could scoop up plenty of merit — they might even be ennobled.

Naturally, then, some grew envious and wanted to meddle. Wang Zaijin's position was crucial.

Wang Zaijin said: "Your servant obeys Your Majesty. Wherever Your Majesty feels your servant should be, that is where your servant will be."

This answer seemed rather slick, but in Wang Zaijin's position — already a grand frontier official — he could have answered however he pleased.

His current phrasing could only demonstrate one thing: pledging loyalty. If Your Majesty wanted to send someone else to claim this merit, then your servant would yield it as well.

In fact, dealing with such an intelligent minister required no effort at all.

Zhu Youxiao said: "I have already rejected them. My beloved minister may have to remain here for a few more years."

The meaning was obvious — you're not leaving for now, and you needn't worry about your merit being snatched away.

Wang Zaijin truly did breathe a sigh of relief.

He had built up an excellent situation in Liaodong, and with people in the court trying to reach in and pluck the ripe fruit, he really had been worried about it.

Now, with His Majesty's assurance, he could rest easy.

Although Wang Zaijin had already earned some merit and would be promoted if he returned to the capital, if he finished the job in Liaodong, the merit would be on a different scale entirely, and he would return to the capital to take an even higher post.

Such an opportunity was not one everyone could have, so Wang Zaijin had no desire whatsoever to leave.

"Enough of these troubling matters." Zhu Youxiao said in a casual tone: "Tell me about what you've done since arriving in Liaodong."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wang Zaijin quickly agreed.

Thereupon, he told Zhu Youxiao everything he had done in Liaodong — how he trained soldiers, how he reinforced the city defenses, how he cultivated relations with the Mongols. He went through every matter.

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's expression turned somewhat strange.

Wang Zaijin had actually arrived at the same idea as him.

Wang Zaijin also wanted to win over and divide the Mongols and the Jianzhou barbarians. It was just that Wang Zaijin lacked sufficient authority, so he didn't have as many means at his disposal.

Still, Wang Zaijin had done solid, genuine work, and he really had managed to win some people over.

"Why did you choose the five tribes of Inner Khalkha?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Wang Zaijin and asked directly.

This was something Zhu Youxiao hadn't expected. From a geographical standpoint, winning over the Doyan Three Guards would have been the most suitable; from a strength standpoint, winning over Ligdan Khan would have been the most suitable.

Hadn't the Great Ming of his previous life won over Ligdan Khan? It was just that in his previous life, Wang Zaijin never had the chance to govern a region, never had the chance to hold sway in Liaodong, and never had the chance to realize his ideals.

Now that he had such an opportunity, Wang Zaijin's choice was different.

Wang Zaijin was unhurried, and said: "Your servant originally hadn't paid attention to the five tribes of Inner Khalkha. But after arriving in Liaodong, your servant discovered that the Mongols were no longer the Mongols of old."

"Since Ligdan Khan ascended the throne, he appears mighty and grand, but in reality it's far from the case. The Khorchin, Inner Khalkha, Tumed, and Ordos tribes of the southern desert each govern themselves independently. The Great Khan of the Mongols can only command the Chahar tribe of the Liao River bend, and is merely regarded by the southern desert tribes as their nominal suzerain. The Outer Khalkha of the northern desert refuses even more to recognize the Great Khan as their suzerain, while the Oirat of the western desert remain hostile to the Mongols."

"Among these tribes, some have had contact with the Great Ming and could even be used by the Great Ming. The first ones your servant noticed were also the Doyan Three Guards. But after all these years, what sort of character the Doyan Three Guards possess — surely many in the Great Ming know."

"Grass atop a wall sways with the wind. Such people simply cannot be relied upon and aren't worth dealing with. If you truly made use of them, there's no telling when they would betray you."

"Among the other tribes, the Khorchin tribe is the most deeply entangled with the Jianzhou barbarians, and is also the most difficult to control. So your servant had no thought of dealing with them either."

"But Inner Khalkha is different. Your servant has learned that during the Battle of Sarhu, Nurhaci led his forces to besiege Tieling. Zaisai, the most powerful figure in Inner Khalkha, led ten thousand men to aid the Ming. Unexpectedly, by the time he reached the city, Tieling had already fallen. He then engaged the Wild Boar Skin troops in battle and suffered a great defeat. Zaisai, along with his two sons and Bake, Seben, and Sanggar, were all captured."

"Inner Khalkha has always borne a grudge against the Jianzhou barbarians. After that incident, they also petitioned Ligdan Khan, hoping that he might still help them get their people back — they even wanted to unite with Ligdan Khan to jointly attack the Jianzhou barbarians."

"But Ligdan Khan paid them no heed, and Inner Khalkha's situation remained poor. At the time, Nurhaci was using the 'prized captive' Zaisai from the Battle of Tieling as a hostage, coercing Inner Khalkha into an alliance with him."

"With no other choice, Inner Khalkha could only agree to ally with Nurhaci, but in their hearts they were never happy about it. Among these Mongol tribes of the southern desert, Inner Khalkha is the most suitable candidate for an alliance with the Great Ming."

"After your servant arrived in Liaodong, he has been actively making contact with Inner Khalkha. Afterwards, your servant discovered that many within Inner Khalkha are friendly toward the Great Ming. They are dissatisfied with Nurhaci and dissatisfied with Ligdan Khan. They need the Great Ming's support and hope to accomplish something together with the Great Ming."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wang Zaijin but did not expose his words.

In fact, what Wang Zaijin meant went deeper than his words suggested—the Inner Khalkha had ambitions, and they did not want to remain vassals to others forever. In this matter, they needed the Great Ming's help.

In fact, this was also what happened in the original course of history. The Inner Khalkha ultimately chose to turn hostile, and of their five tribes, some were destroyed by Nurhaci while others were annexed by Ligdan Khan.

So on this matter, what Wang Zaijin said could be believed.

This brings us to another shortcoming of Ligdan Khan—the man was petty and lacked the magnanimity of a Great Khan.

The Mongols were now fragmented, to say the least, but what Ligdan Khan wanted was not to unify all of Mongolia, but rather to ceaselessly invade and swallow up other tribes like a tribal chieftain.

This aroused the vigilance of many tribes. Especially regarding the Inner Khalkha—Ligdan Khan not only refused to help, but stood by watching the excitement, waiting to pick up the spoils. How could such a Great Khan win the allegiance of the masses?

The tribes here were close to the Jianzhou barbarians and could be attacked at any moment, yet Ligdan Khan did not back them up either. He was always thinking of using the Jianzhou barbarians' hands to eliminate these people, then annexing their grasslands and tribes himself.

How could such a man ever become a Great Khan?

In the original course of history, the defeated Inner Khalkha tribes went to seek refuge with Ligdan Khan, and Ligdan killed their chieftains and swallowed up their tribes.

How could such a Great Khan not chill people to the bone?

This led to another consequence—many of Ligdan Khan's subordinates would rather defect to Nurhaci than follow him. Among the more famous of these was the minister Sirhünak Düüren Hong Taiji, who administered the Left Wing's Ten Battalion Commander.

Sirhünak Düüren Hong Taiji led his men to defect to Hong Taiji, making Ligdan Khan, who was already stretched thin, even more stretched thin.

So you see, Ligdan Khan was nothing but a hollow gourd—impressive in appearance, but in reality utterly incapable.

Especially since Ligdan Khan had also done another foolish thing.

Many tribes on the Mongolian grasslands followed the Yellow Sect, yet Ligdan Khan had converted to the Red Sect. This caused many tribes that followed the Yellow Sect to be extremely dissatisfied with Ligdan Khan.

So for the Great Ming to pin its hopes on Ligdan Khan was impossible—the man was simply an idiot.

There were no more heaven-sent heroes on the Mongolian grasslands. Unification was out of the question; fighting separately was the way forward.

More than two hundred years had passed—they were no longer the Mongols of the Yuan dynasty. One should remember that even before Genghis Khan unified the Mongols, they had been divided.

Although Zhu Youxiao understood what Wang Zaijin meant, he had no intention of exposing him. The reason Wang Zaijin spoke so obliquely was that he feared Zhu Youxiao would refuse his proposal to forge ties with the Inner Khalkha.

But in reality, Zhu Youxiao did not care in the slightest.

This way was actually better—he had originally worried about the Khorchin growing too powerful, but now with the Inner Khalkha as a counterbalance, things would be even easier to manage.

Even if the Great Ming destroyed the Jianzhou barbarians in Liaodong, these people would not dare turn against the Great Ming, for Ligdan Khan was still watching from the side.

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "My dear minister, you have done very well. There is a matter I wish to discuss with you."

Having said this, Zhu Youxiao recounted to Wang Zaijin everything he had done at Zhangjiakou.

Of course, the matters of house-razing and clan-extermination were barely mentioned—the main focus was on the Khorchin affair.

Upon hearing this, an excited expression immediately appeared on Wang Zaijin's face.

Glancing at Zhu Youxiao, Wang Zaijin said, "Your Majesty, this matter cannot be handled by the Khorchin alone. The Inner Khalkha must be brought in as well—let them join forces to destroy the Doyan Three Guards."

"Back then, the Khorchin supported the Doyan Three Guards' push southward. Now is the perfect time to destroy them, and we can take the opportunity to recover Daning. As long as we occupy Daning, the Great Ming will have a forward base. At that point, whether for launching campaigns or for defense, the Great Ming will be in an invincible position."

Looking at the excited Wang Zaijin, Zhu Youxiao remained unexcited.

In Zhu Youxiao's eyes, the gain or loss of any single city or fortress did not exist.

Daning had once been the fief of the Prince of Ning, and it was a very famous city in history—though it had gradually fallen into ruin afterward.

The Great Ming army had withdrawn and abandoned this city. The blame for this lay with Zhu Di, Emperor Chengzu of the Ming.

After Zhu Di swept across the northern deserts, he felt the Mongols were no longer a threat and saw no need to station troops there. The result was that Daning was later occupied once again by the Mongols, who had risen from the ashes.

Zhu Youxiao had never considered having the Great Ming reoccupy Daning. He had another solution.

Zhu Youxiao looked directly at Wang Zaijin and said, "If we occupy Daning, I'm afraid the Khorchin and the Inner Khalkha will object."

They would certainly object. Daning was the heart of the Doyan Three Guards. Although their grasslands were vast and their territory expansive, Daning's position was simply too important. If it were given to the Great Ming, all the pasturelands of the Doyan Three Guards would lie under the Great Ming's attack.

You fight tooth and nail to seize territory, only to have it sit beneath the edge of your ally's blade—who could feel at ease with that?

Even though they were partners and allies, this simply would not do. Unless one resorted to forcing submission through military might.

But Zhu Youxiao had no desire to force submission through military might. He needed a new form of cooperation.

(PS: The reader group is in the book description!)