Chapter 219: The Covenant of Six Guards and the Conferral of Titles

The attitudes of neighboring states toward a Han-ruled dynasty were essentially limited to the categories described above.

Some, like Joseon, were blindly worshipful, even to the point of toppling their own king; others, like Japan, actively absorbed Central Plains culture to strengthen themselves, hoping one day to surpass the Han dynasty of the Central Plains; and still others, like the Jianzhou barbarians, were short-sighted, believing themselves invincible, and harboring a twisted inferiority complex, swore to destroy everything stronger than themselves.

Having laid out this first condition, although most of those present were already tempted, Feng Quan also understood that this was not everything Urmai wanted, so he added fuel to the fire and said with a smile:

"Although this land east of the Liao is barren, it is still territory of our Great Ming, and it will be recovered sooner or later. Your crossing through the passes and moving south is only a temporary expedient. When the day comes that we annihilate the Jianzhou barbarians, our Celestial Dynasty will give your Uriankhai two choices.

"First, you may remain within the passes and live as the Han do; second, you may go to Jianzhou to settle and make your homes."

Having said this, Feng Quan gave a cold laugh and continued: "After all, by that time, there will likely be few Qing slaves left in the Liaodong region—dead or fled. Such creatures who bite the hand that feeds them, who are even worse than unenlightened savages, are of no use remaining on the soil of our nation."

In truth, when Feng Quan had spoken of permitting the Uriankhai main tribe to move within the passes, seven or eight out of ten of those present had already decided to throw in their lot with the Ming. The Jianzhou barbarians were no good birds; by comparison, the Great Ming, an ancient civilized state, gave a far more reassuring feeling.

The prosperity of the Central Plains was an indisputable fact.

That the Han possessed many things the grasslands lacked was one point, but chiefly, the people of the Central Plains valued faith and righteousness. Once the two sides signed any covenant, so long as one honestly paid tribute and did not violate the terms of the alliance, the Han side would basically cause no problems whatsoever.

Of course, these rough grassland men present only saw the immediate profits to be gained and did not, like the Chongzhen Emperor in Beijing, think about future questions of ethnic fusion and the elimination of the other's culture.

Even Urmai, what was running through his mind now was merely one layer deeper than that.

Just as everyone was elated, feeling they had gotten a great bargain, Urmai remained silent and pensive, fixing Feng Quan with a sharp eagle gaze for a long while—until even a thick-skinned old schemer like Feng Quan began to show signs of discomfort—before he waved his hand and said in a deep voice:

"Wait! I cannot believe you are so kind-hearted as to let my Uriankhai tribe through the passes. Everything you've said so far has been about what your Great Ming gives us. There are no free benefits under heaven! What must my people give in exchange?"

Seeing Feng Quan about to speak, Urmai deliberately raised his voice again and said:

"You should know, my tribe has reached such a state that we have nothing left to lose. But your Great Ming—if you anger Jianzhou and they march on your capital again, I fear your emperor will have to kill another batch of people, won't he?"

"Hmph! When that time comes, I must ensure my people do not fall into your Han schemes and lose their lives in a muddle!"

Having been interrupted just as he was about to speak, the cunning old fox Feng Quan naturally understood that Urmai had done it deliberately. He suppressed his displeasure and his mind raced.

After all, Feng Quan had climbed step by step into the Grand Secretariat during the Tianqi era. Though his attachment to Wei Zhongxian had played a large part, it would not be fair to call him a mediocrity. In no time at all, he smiled again and replied:

"The chieftain is truly impatient—I had only spoken half of what I meant to say. Although our Celestial Dynasty is vast in territory and rich in resources, flourishing and prosperous, we also fear another case of kindness repaid with enmity, like the Jianzhou barbarians of today. Had it not been for the rescue of Emperor Chengzu, Yongle, they would have been wiped out long ago—where would this so-called 'Qing' of theirs come from?"

"As I said before, your Uriankhai tribe's move south is only a temporary expedient. After the Jianzhou barbarians are destroyed, whether you stay or go—I can tell you plainly right now—our Celestial Dynasty will absolutely not interfere."

"Say what you will—whether you wish to find a place to pasture forever or establish a khanate, so long as you continue to acknowledge vassalage and pay tribute to our Celestial Dynasty, we will not interfere in the least."

Watching the other man's shifting expression, Feng Quan sneered inwardly.

In reality, the Chongzhen Emperor had not mentioned a single word of any of this—it was entirely this old rascal improvising on the spot. His face was thick enough that he could simply deny it all later and be done with it.

Easy to get in? Want to leave? Not so easy!

Urmai nodded and was about to say something, but suddenly his expression changed again. Fine, fine—this Celestial Dynasty really had plenty of twists and turns in its belly; he had almost been led around by the nose again.

"After all this talk, it's still all about benefits your Celestial Dynasty is giving. My Uriankhai people are simple men and women—we don't take benefits without working for them. Set the benefits aside for now, and first tell me what your Great Ming requires of us."

The meaning of these words was clear enough: the benefits your Ming emperor has promised are many, and we'll accept them all for now—but we Uriankhai are no fools. When the Jianzhou barbarians are destroyed, whether you knead us or squeeze us will still be a single thought in your Ming Son of Heaven's mind.

If we're living well inside, and suddenly your emperor issues an edict driving us back out beyond the passes to herd livestock in that bitter cold land again—nobody would want that.

We may be rough grassland men, but generation after generation, we have always striven to move further south—which is to say, closer to the passes. Now that we've finally gotten in, no one would give up the warm lands within the passes to go back outside and freeze.

Feng Quan frowned, thinking to himself that this young chieftain called Urmai had some brains after all—he had circled around for a long while and still hadn't gotten past him. He decided to come straight to the point and said:

"Our Great Ming Son of Heaven has issued an edict as follows.

"First: If the Uriankhai tribe agrees to move south, land shall be allocated west of Shanhai Pass, east of Jizhou, and south of Xifengkou, to be established as the tenth of the Nine Border Towns—the Uriankhai Town.

"Uriankhai Town shall be divided into six guards, with six new fortress-cities constructed. Urmai shall recommend men to be appointed as six Vice Prefects, stationed separately in the six guard cities. Uriankhai Town shall temporarily fall under the jurisdiction of Jizhou Town, and be jointly administered by the Five Military Commissioners' Office and Shuntian Prefecture.

"Second: After the move south, the numbers of mules, horses, oxen, sheep, adult males, and women in each of the six guard cities of Uriankhai Town shall be counted and reported to the Shuntian Prefecture offices, for registration in the household records. Only after household registration shall all taxes and corvée labor be equal to that of the Han.

"Third: Those of the Uriankhai main tribe who already hold office shall be granted additional official positions by our nation according to their corresponding rank, with salaries paid as usual and treatment equal to that of our nation's officials. As for merit assessments and rank evaluations, there shall be no difference whatsoever."

In truth, much of what Feng Quan had said went over the heads of many present like casting pearls before swine—they simply could not understand. What was household registration? What was the point of counting all that?

And moreover—they had thought even one city would be good fortune, but why give six whole cities? It seemed this Great Ming truly was vast and rich, not treating cities as anything special at all. Not like beyond the passes, where a single Daning city had been fought over for centuries.

Just as the Uriankhai in the room were overjoyed and even Urmai's expression had relaxed somewhat, Feng Quan dropped another bombshell, speaking calmly:

"Our Great Ming Son of Heaven is in the prime of his life. He has personally led campaigns to pacify the roving bandits; his civil culture flourishes and his martial might is unmatched. He has heard that Urmai of the Hadai clan has a daughter named Toya, aged eighteen, skilled in song and dance, adept at riding and archery, bold and magnanimous without losing to any man, and beautiful as a celestial maiden, not yet betrothed. He wishes to take her into the inner palace and confer upon her the title of Imperial Consort of the Great Ming, to signify eternal alliance and amity."

Having finished speaking, Feng Quan wiped his sweat, never having dreamed he would be tasked with proposing marriage on behalf of the Son of Heaven.

In ancient times, Wang Zhaojun went beyond the frontier to marry out; now this old Feng goes beyond the frontier to pull one back in—truly a strange turn of events.