Chapter 577: Begging the Great Ming Emperor to Bestow a Surname

But even though they had arrived, there was no way to see the Emperor of the Great Ming — that was a truly, truly vexing matter.

After all the fuss they had made earlier, they had thought the Great Ming Emperor would receive them, but in reality he still would not.

Those Joseon people's business had already been settled, yet they themselves still could not manage it. Wukeshan was anxious inside his room as well.

After news of the Joseon matter spread, Wukeshan realized something very troubling — the Great Ming was doing all of this precisely to send a message to people like them.

The Great Ming Emperor was telling everyone: the Great Ming could adjust who was strong and who was weak among them. As long as someone was willing to submit to the Great Ming, and the Great Ming was willing to supply weapons, then that person would be the most powerful on the steppe.

Under such circumstances, his own position might not hold! Even someone as strong as himself and the five tribes of Inner Khalkha could not feel secure.

Glancing at his sister walking over, Wukeshan said directly: "Have you seen the women those tribes sent? Aren't they all quite beautiful? Hasn't father's man arrived yet?"

After learning of those people's plans and actions, Wukeshan had in fact already made his response.

Since you want to play this game, then he would play it too.

I already have one sister confirmed to marry the Great Ming Emperor — so since you want to play this game, I'll send another sister over. We'll see who wins in the end.

My family has two sisters in the palace — how could we lose to you?

The Khorchin tribe was now very practiced at this sort of maneuver. Back then they had married Aunt Jeje to Hong Taiji, and afterward continued forming marriage alliances with Hong Taiji. Once they knew he could become Great Khan, they betrothed their sister Bumbutai to him.

This kind of operation was not impossible this time either — it was just that an aunt was no longer needed. An elder generation certainly would not do, and a niece would not do either.

After all, the Great Ming was a dynasty that prized propriety. If he married his niece over as well, then the Great Ming side might fly into a rage, and he would likely gain nothing but lose much.

Under such circumstances, this sort of thing could not be done.

So Wukeshan set his sights on another sister — Harjol.

Although Harjol was four years older than Bumbutai, her looks and features surpassed Bumbutai's. Especially her delicate, frail temperament — it would surely better match the Great Ming's aesthetic.

With two sisters of such striking contrast in the palace, he refused to believe they could not captivate the Great Ming Emperor.

On this point, Wukeshan was very confident.

But now that things had escalated to this degree — other people's women had already arrived, while his own people had not — he found it hard to accept.

Bumbutai glanced at her somewhat impatient brother and felt truly helpless inside.

She could not blame her brother; she understood his anxiety.

Nowadays, across this entire steppe, her family's tribe was the most powerful — even the five tribes of Inner Khalkha could not compare with her family.

Under such circumstances, it was perfectly reasonable for her brother to seek ways to secure their tribe's position.

But judging from the Great Ming Emperor's recent moves, he clearly wanted to sow discord between the Khorchin tribe and the other tribes. If they did not obey, the Great Ming Emperor would very likely support someone else.

Everyone could see this, but there was truly nothing they could do.

It was like a man raising many fish in a pond, then regularly tossing in a bit of feed to make the fish fight and scramble over it.

If you did not fight for that feed, you would very likely starve to death; even knowing he deliberately fed too little bait, you could only scramble for it.

Bumbutai walked to Wukeshan's side and gently comforted him: "Brother, you don't need to be too anxious. This matter cannot be dragged out forever. The Great Ming Emperor has met with no one at all — that is actually good news."

"The Joseon matter has already been resolved, and our side won't be kept waiting much longer either. When he does receive us, he will certainly still be willing to draw close to us. After all, we have been allied with the Great Ming from the very start — in terms of relationship we are the closest, and in terms of strength we are also the strongest. He has no reason to choose others."

Glancing at his sister, Wukeshan nodded and said: "Of course I know that. What I'm worried about is another matter."

Bumbutai knew what her brother was worried about — nothing more than the relationship between the other tribes and her family.

If their side truly submitted to the Great Ming, those people could only be wary of her family.

When a wolf slips in among a group of rabbits, no one is not worried — even if the wolf says it eats only vegetables.

And the Great Ming Emperor seemed to be doing exactly that — forcing her family, emphasizing her family's threat, while her family could not afford to disobey.

After thinking it over, Bumbutai said: "Perhaps it is a good thing. As long as we do well, and make use of the Great Ming's might, perhaps we can do even better."

Wukeshan glanced at his sister, pondered for a moment, then said: "Then what do you think we should do?"

"It's actually very simple. The Great Ming Emperor cannot stay in Liaodong forever. If we can get to the capital, that will demonstrate our relationship with the Great Ming."

"This time, let us ask the Ming Emperor to grant us an official post — a true, genuine Great Ming official post. When you see the Great Ming Emperor, you must keep your attitude low."

"Beyond that, you should also raise another request — say that our people find it inconvenient to communicate with the Great Ming, so we need to learn more of the Great Ming language. You should request that the Great Ming Emperor establish an Imperial Academy at Daining City, and the money can come from our family."

Hearing this, Wukeshan furrowed his brow.

Their own family pay the money?

Bumbutai saw her brother's hesitation and offered her explanation. She said: "If our family pays the money, then to a large extent this Imperial Academy will be run by our family's say."

"We can't easily control the Great Ming people, but whether people from other tribes can enter the academy — that will likely be decided by our family's say. Especially those small tribes — they will certainly fawn over our family."

"After all, if one wants a good relationship with the Great Ming, not entering the Imperial Academy simply will not do. The Great Ming people will surely be closer to the scholars of the Imperial Academy."

Hearing this, Wukeshan nodded thoughtfully and said: "Is there anything else?"

"There is." Bumbutai paused for a moment before saying: "But this matter may need to be discussed with Father Khan. If we put it forward just like that, Father Khan's side probably won't agree, and opposition within the tribe will also be very strong."

"Tell me first, let me hear it." Wukeshan said with a grim face.

At this point, he could no longer afford to worry about too much. Both of his sister's ideas were very good.

The first borrowed the relationship with the Great Ming to win over more small tribes;

The second secured the Great Ming's trust, then used it to threaten those small tribes. In plain words — reward and punishment in tandem, making them unite tightly around him.

Wanting to cling to the Great Ming's coattails was no longer possible. You'd have to cling to his first.

In this regard, he was still no match for his sister. If she had any other better ideas, that would truly be for the best.

Bumbutai did not keep him in suspense either, and said directly: "You can petition the Great Ming Emperor, saying that our people admire Great Ming culture and wish to have Han names — ask the Great Ming Emperor to bestow a surname upon our family, and to bestow names upon you and Father Khan."

"Once the Great Ming Emperor agrees, you then petition that our entire tribe should all have Han names."

Hearing this, Wukeshan furrowed his brow.

This matter would likely be very troublesome — in his tribe, names were regarded very heavily.

Everyone was a descendant of the Golden Khan. Changing names like this could be considered betraying one's ancestors.

"This probably won't do." Wukeshan shook his head and said.

Bumbutai was not surprised by her brother's reaction.

After all, this matter had already been discussed before — if they actually went through with it, it would probably be very difficult to handle. The people in the clan would likely oppose it, and if things went wrong, there could be trouble.

But since she had brought it up, she naturally had a good solution in mind.

Bumbutai continued: "That's not a problem. We can have two names — one remains our own name, and the other we take following the Ming dynasty's surname conventions. When befriending people from the Ming dynasty, having such a name makes it easier to lower their guard."

"If that's the case, then it's acceptable." Wukeshan slowly nodded and said.

"Once these three policies are implemented, the Ming Emperor will certainly be very pleased and will surely put us in important positions. After the Ming Emperor is gone, we can use these three policies to win over and suppress the smaller tribes, further consolidating our power and influence." Bumbutai said with a smile on her face.

"By that time, across the entire grassland, our family will be the representatives of the Ming dynasty — no one will dare to touch us."

After thinking for a moment, Wukeshan nodded and said: "What you say makes sense, but I cannot decide this matter on my own. I need to consult with Father Khan. I will immediately send someone riding at full speed to return and ask for Father Khan's opinion."

"Brother, remember to say that this was my idea." Bumbutai said after thinking it over.

Bumbutai said this not to take credit. If this matter succeeded there would be merit, but that merit would bring far more harm than good.

The people in the tribe would enjoy the benefits of the merit while also questioning Wukeshan, calling him spineless, or even accusing him of betraying his ancestors.

This would do no good at all for Wukeshan's future succession to the position.

Even if he did nothing now, he could still inherit Father Khan's position — doing such a thing would only backfire.

Bumbutai felt there was no problem with her saying this, since she was about to marry the Ming Emperor anyway.