Chapter 337: Four Methods

Shaktu Taiji was tormented by his appetite.

Liu Chengzong's New Year's Eve dinner was not really lavish, but the cook he brought back from Dajianlu had excellent skills, and there were chicken, duck, fish, pork, and mutton — all delicacies the Chahar could not enjoy during their westward migration.

The Chahar's grain and fodder crisis was also divided by class: ordinary warriors, herders, and slaves mainly lacked meat, vegetables, and flour; the nobles great and small lacked flour and vegetables.

As the saying goes, a clever wife cannot cook without rice — but on the steppe, that was not the case. What they lacked was pots.

Before the Chongzhen Emperor cut off the Chahar's reward silver, the Chahar tribe had been the tribe with the most iron pots on the steppe. Later they drove out the Tümed and migrated west to Tümed Plain, and were relatively well-supplied with large cast-iron implements.

But migrating further west was a different matter. Heavy iron pots were hard to carry; the oxen and horses dragging the carts collapsed and died one by one, and very few iron pots remained.

And in this matter, Shaktu Taiji suffered more than others.

Others had no meat to eat because they had no iron pots and no meat, but Shaktu Taiji had an iron pot and enough meat — yet he could not eat it.

Because his elder brother always said the tribe was already resorting to cannibalism, that they must give their limited supplies to the tribesmen and not indulge in pleasure. "You are my brother. If even you do not support me, we are finished."

So much so that Shaktu Taiji ate at the Marshal's mansion until his mouth dripped with grease, and Xie Erhu was still beside him urging him to drink: "Another cup, Taiji!"

It was not because Xie Erhu had never shared a square table with a noble taiji before, but because he wanted Shaktu Taiji to make a fool of himself at the Marshal's mansion.

Xie Erhu's ancestors were the Ba'er'ao, or Barghu, of the Forest People. During the Yongle reign, this tribe was absorbed into the Yüngshiyebü by the Northern Yuan's Grand Preceptor Arughtai, becoming one of the Yüngshiyebü's ten battalions.

Later the Yüngshiyebü became one of the Three Tümens of the Right Wing, following the Tümed's Altan Khan in his exploits, until five years ago, in the war between the Tümed and the Chahar, the Yüngshiyebü tribes scattered and the tribal name vanished with them.

For a minor chieftain like Xie Erhu, there was no deep-seated hatred to speak of, but he was happy to see the younger brother of the Chahar Khagan make a fool of himself.

Shaktu Taiji, however, knew none of this. He took Xie Erhu simply for a Mongol chieftain attached to Liu Chengzong, and even harbored some intention of deliberately winning him over. Half-reluctant, half-willing, he drank several cups of strong liquor.

For an entire year — the first half spent guarding against the Later Jin, the second half busy with the westward migration — Shaktu Taiji had barely touched alcohol, and before long a foolish grin spread across his face.

Alcohol is not a good thing most of the time, but on certain occasions, it can work wonders.

At this moment, for instance, Liu Chengzong was thinking that now that Shaktu Taiji had drunk, it would surely be easy to draw out the true situation of Khutugtu Khan.

And beside him, the tusi Qi Guoping was also quietly stealing glances at the hand holding his wine cup, thinking: Marshal Liu has been drinking — I can surely draw out the true situation of the Marshal's mansion.

Although many tusi who had lived for generations in the Hehuang Valley had already lost themselves before the profits the Marshal's mansion kept throwing eastward and cast the imperial court to the back of their minds, Qi Guoping was not like them.

He still remembered the Great Ming court, and he remembered his father. His father's name was Qi Bingzhong.

On the Double Ninth Festival of the twenty-third year of Wanli, the eleventh-generation Qi family tusi and Squad Commander Qi Bingzhong fought a bloody battle at Xining, was selected for promotion to Mobile Corps Commander of Gansu's Flood Camp, and the court built a merit-commending archway for their family in Xining.

In the tenth month of the forty-fourth year of Wanli, Yinding and Daiqing of the Ordos tribe entered the border with over two thousand riders to burn, kill, and plunder. Yongchang Assistant Regional Commander Qi Bingzhong led three hundred Qi family troops to resist, fighting a bloody battle for two days and nights while awaiting reinforcements, repelling the enemy cavalry and recovering the property stolen from the common people. To this day, the commoners of Yongchang still have a stone tablet carved for his father.

Until the second year of Tianqi, when his father was killed in Liaodong by Sun Degong, who had secretly surrendered to the Jin. Struck by three arrows and two blades, he shed his last drop of blood for the Great Ming.

His name was Qi Guoping — he was to be the state's hedge and screen.

Qi Guoping noticed that Liu Chengzu and Li Wanqing, the two great generals of the Marshal's mansion, were absent, and that the cavalry officer Yang Yao of Guluwan likewise did not take part in this banquet.

Had it not been for Shaktu Taiji's arrival, Qi Guoping would already have pressed Liu Chengzong with his questions. But for now, the Chahar Mongols were a more serious problem.

Qi Guoping did not want Liu Chengzong to ally with Khutugtu Khan.

He offered Liu Chengzong a cup of wine and said quietly, "Marshal, beware of the Tiger Chieftain. That man is greedy for wealth, lustful, and cannot control his subordinates. Though he is a famed prince among the barbarians, he is unruly, arrogant, and utterly faithless."

He cupped his fists and said, "The court originally wished to ally with the Chahar tribe, but he was insatiably greedy — he took rewards but sent no troops, and whenever he did send troops, he got lost. Moreover, he bullied the weak, repeatedly attacking the Khorchin. The five great battalions of Chokhur sought to ally with him, but he turned a blind eye and instead invaded and seized them, causing the five battalions of Chokhur to collapse under the combined assault of the Later Jin and the Tiger Chieftain. This man took a million in reward silver from the court, yet never truly fought a single battle against the Later Jin."

The so-called five great battalions of Chokhur were the five tribes of the Inner Khalkha. During the Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli reigns, Chokhur, the chieftain of the five tribes, held the greatest power and exercised actual control over them, hence they were called the five great battalions of Chokhur.

Similar designations included the eight battalions of the Chahar, the ten battalions of the Yüngshiyebü, and the six battalions, twelve outposts, and seventy-three branches of the Prince Who Subdues Righteousness — all analogous terms.

Liu Chengzong knew Khutugtu Khan was the Mongol Khagan, but his actual contact amounted to no more than the letters Shaktu Taiji had delivered. He asked Qi Guoping, "Is everything you say true?"

Though he dwelt on the western frontier, Qi Guoping knew the situation in the northeast like the back of his hand. Having spoken, he solemnly cupped his fists and said, "With the Later Jin, I have a feud both of state and of family. The Tiger Chieftain is also an enemy of the Later Jin. I have absolutely no intention of sowing discord. If there is half a word of slander, Marshal may draw your blade and strike me down on this spot."

Liu Chengzong did not fully trust Qi Guoping. He turned to look at Li Tianyu and the others, and found that they all nodded in agreement with this account. He even saw that among his own officers, men like Li Bei and Bao Hu also concurred.

He took Li Bei's and Bao Hu's views on this matter very seriously. Li Bei had truly led troops in battle in Liaodong, and Bao Hu had held an official court post and had access to military dispatches.

At the same time, Bao Hu, like Qi Guoping, was of Mongol ancestry.

Liu Chengzong shook his head helplessly, thinking to himself what kind of world this was — the most outstanding jailer among the Han had been reincarnated as emperor, and the finest bandit among the Mongols had been reborn as Khagan.

Qi Guoping said no more. He sat back and let out a breath. In truth, he did have the intention of sowing discord.

He would have been more than happy to see Liu Chengzong and Khutugtu Khan fight until both were wounded, but he truly had not slandered anyone.

Because Khutugtu Khan needed no slander — simply recounting the things he had done was enough to achieve the effect of sowing discord.

Liu Chengzong now rather disliked Khutugtu Khan.

Frowning, he asked the feasting Shaktu Taiji, "Have you never fought against the Later Jin?"

Chen Qindai had only just finished relaying the question when Shaktu Taiji, as if his tail had been stepped on, shot to his feet with a jolt, not even bothering to wipe his mouth, and with eyes wide in fury, said a string of things.

Chen Qindai cupped his fists and said, "Marshal, he says that in the first year of Tianqi, Little Daiqing, chieftain of the Aokhan, one of the eight Chahar battalions, led two thousand riders and besieged Shenyang for several days, and did battle with the Later Jin garrison."

Li Bei immediately cupped his fists and said, "Marshal, in the fourth year of Tianqi, the Aokhan chieftain Little Daiqing got drunk and brawled with the garrison of White Tower Valley and was shot dead by the garrison. Of the eight Chahar battalions, the Aokhan and Naiman battalions were attacked by the Tiger Chieftain. In the sixth month of the seventh year of Tianqi, those two battalions betrayed the Tiger Chieftain and submitted to the Later Jin, swearing an oath with Hong Taiji."

"Wait."

Liu Chengzong frowned and asked Li Bei, "Khutugtu Khan attacked two of his own battalions?"

Li Bei nodded and said, "As for the reason, I am not so clear on that."

Liu Chengzong nodded. From these hearsay stories, he had a rough idea of what kind of figure Khutugtu Khan was. He said to Chen Qindai, "Ask him how many people they have, how many warhorses, how many livestock."

Once Chen Qindai had asked, Shaktu Taiji, with a composed expression, gave a number.

But before it could be translated, Liu Chengzong raised his arm and said, "Tell him to think carefully before he answers. Whether they have four hundred thousand people or forty thousand is no concern of mine. But whether the Chahar tribe's arrival in Qinghai is an escape to life or a dead end depends on his answer."

Liu Chengzong estimated they had between twenty thousand and forty thousand people. After all, Khutugtu Khan had asked for forty thousand sheep in his letter — surely that worked out to about one per person.

Shaktu Taiji had originally intended to give an inflated figure, but Chen Qindai understood Liu Chengzong's meaning. He said to Shaktu Taiji, "You haven't fought the Yulin army, nor the Ningxia army. We have fought both, and the Grand Marshal won every time. The more men you have, the more pathetic you look. Tell the truth."

He could exaggerate troop numbers all he wanted, but the battle lines would not lie.

Shaktu Taiji lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said, "We have over sixty-seven thousand people, over forty thousand horses, and over forty thousand head of livestock."

Liu Chengzong had nothing to say about the number, only remarking, "Since we are speaking frankly, drop the airs. Choktu Taiji, relying on tens of thousands of bowstring warriors, led his army into Qinghai to contend for land and dominion, and was killed. He brought it on himself."

Shaktu Taiji's face was full of embarrassment. The logic of the matter was just that — dying meant your skill was inferior. Where did this elder brother come from, demanding face-saving words?

Wasn't that in itself an attempt to use power to pressure others? Well, to do that, you first had to have power that could pressure others.

The Chahar Mongols simply had no such thing.

Liu Chengzong raised his cup, took a small sip, and continued: "I bear you no past grudges. The Later Jin are your enemies, and they are my enemies as well. If you come to join me, I am willing to give you a way to live — you may encamp and pasture in Big and Little Chudan, and I will not attack you."

In his heart, Liu Chengzong had already concluded that if Hundun Tu led his tribe into Qinghai, a battle between them was inevitable.

But that battle could not be fought the moment Hundun Tu first entered Qinghai, because this fellow was fierce against his own but outwardly blustered while inwardly timid — his courage was far too small.

Liu Chengzong worried that if his words now were too harsh, they might frighten Hundun Tu into not daring to enter Qinghai at all... and then he would be captured by Hong Taiji. Better to let him in first, then deal with him slowly. At least if they fought in Qinghai, the Gansu border troops would help guard the gate, making it hard for Hundun Tu to flee.

But as soon as he said this, Qi Guoping rose to his feet on the spot: "Grand Marshal, you must absolutely not ally with the Tiger Chieftain!"

"The Later Jin are his enemies, and they are my enemies too. If I attack the Chahar tribe now, what difference would there be between me and Hundun Tu, who attacked the Five Great Camps of Chaohua?"

Qi Guoping opened his mouth but said nothing. Chantu Taiji, his face brightening with delight, spoke: "Then, Grand Marshal, the sheep mentioned in the letter..."

"There are no sheep. Why should I give you sheep?"

Liu Chengzong smiled, raised a hand, and tapped his own temple: "Think about it. If I wanted Hundun Tu to give me ten thousand horses, what should I do? Let me teach you."

Chantu Taiji froze for a moment, then watched as Liu Chengzong spread five fingers before himself and used his other hand to count them off: "I use gold, silver, weapons, or any goods you need to buy them; I go and beg the Great Khan Hundun Tu to ally with me, and ask the alliance leader to aid me with ten thousand horses."

Liu Chengzong patiently guided him: "If that fails, I can still submit a memorial to the Great Khan pledging allegiance, swear to obey his commands and never betray him, and ask the Great Khan to bestow ten thousand horses upon me. In short... I would not be so brainless as to send the Great Khan a piece of paper and hope he gives me ten thousand horses."

Having said this, Liu Chengzong shifted to a more comfortable sitting posture and asked Chantu Taiji very seriously: "Speaking of which, if I did all that, would the Great Khan Hundun Tu be willing to give me ten thousand horses?"

Perhaps due to the wine, Chantu Taiji considered Liu Chengzong's proposal very seriously. Thinking of the Chahar tribe's current food situation, he shook his head with great difficulty.

Smack!

"That's exactly right. Whether I buy, ally, or pledge loyalty, the Great Khan is unwilling to give me ten thousand horses. Then only one method remains." Liu Chengzong clapped his hands and pointed at Chantu Taiji: "Send troops to seize them. The Great Khan's forces are similar to Choketu's. Crush the Great Khan, and all the horses are mine."

Chantu Taiji was still in that atmosphere of serious consideration. Not only did he not find anything wrong with what Liu Chengzong said, he actually found it particularly reasonable.

However, Liu Chengzong's final words about crushing the Great Khan made a cold sweat break out down his back. A small draft from the Marshal's Manor window blew over him, and he was half sobered from the wine.

Fortunately, Liu Chengzong read the worry on his face and smiled: "I am not short of horses, so don't worry. I keep my word — I permit you to encamp and pasture in Big and Little Chudan. I am more generous than the Great Khan. Go back and have the Great Khan consider this: he may send men to buy, and as long as they bring what I want, it will be a fair trade."

"He may also bring all the Mongol nobles to submit a memorial pledging allegiance to me. I will certainly treat them with courtesy — granting forty thousand sheep would be no problem at all. Or he may ally with me. I have an elder brother who is not yet married. Do you have sisters?"

Chantu Taiji thought for a moment and said slowly: "I do, but this is not something I can decide."

"Good, no matter. This is a great matter of two families becoming one. Go back and ask." Liu Chengzong tapped the table with his finger: "If he is willing to ally, my brother will marry Hundun Tu's younger sister. Our betrothal gift: ten thousand sheep... Qindai, ask him if he's eaten his fill. If so, take him away to rest."

Chantu Taiji was dazed by the ten thousand sheep. Under normal circumstances, the betrothal gift for a descendant of Genghis Khan was ten berke — that is, ten warriors, ten sets of armor, ten camels, plus fifty horses and one hundred sheep.

Even for special nobles whose ancestors had rendered great merit, the highest betrothal gift was no more than thirty berke: one hundred fifty horses and four hundred sheep.

Chantu Taiji did not calculate how many people these sheep could feed. He knew his elder brother — these sheep would not be distributed to the tribesmen. But he had accomplished his mission of delivering the letter, and he estimated he could get some reward from these sheep.

Now, hearing that Liu Chengzong was not letting him eat more, he had no mind to dwell on these matters. He hurriedly sat back down, wolfed down a few more mouthfuls, and only then rose to take his leave.

Once he was gone, the hall finally erupted. The chieftains vied with one another to congratulate Liu Chengzong.

But while some rejoiced, others worried. Liu Chengzong took this chance to observe everyone's expressions and said to Qi Guoping with a genial smile: "General Qi, what are you thinking about to look so troubled?"

"Grand Marshal, the Tiger Chieftain is by no means a man willing to submit to others. A marriage alliance with General Liu is no good thing." After saying this, Qi Guoping worried it might cause Liu Chengzong to overthink, so he took the opportunity to ask: "However, I have not seen General Liu. It's the New Year — why has General Liu not come?"

Liu Chengzong was delighted. He had waited all evening, and finally someone had asked where Liu Chengzu was. He clapped his hands for everyone to sit, then addressed the chieftains: "In truth, I invited you all here for two matters. First: all your families are scholarly households of Hehuang, with many learned men among your clans."

He cupped his fists in salute: "I, your brother, have taken Kangning in the south and also seized the lands held by chieftains like Lhazang Guru. Officials are sorely lacking, and I urgently need men of talent and learning to serve as officials south of Xining. Therefore, in the coming year, the Marshal's Manor will hold examinations to select scholars and appoint them according to ability."

The chieftains in the hall were all dumbstruck, not daring to speak.

Liu Chengzong paid this no mind and simply waved at them: "However, if any of you chieftains wish to follow me, Liu will certainly reward you generously. Your family juniors may bypass the examinations. From each family's sons and younger clansmen, nominate ten men, and I will assess their talents and grant them official posts."

A terrible premonition suddenly rose in Qi Guoping's heart. Connecting this to the absence of Liu Chengzu, Li Wanqing, and the others, he looked at Liu Chengzong with considerable alarm — and met Liu Chengzong's gaze, brimming with amusement.

"Recently, grain prices in Hehuang have soared, and the people cannot fill their bellies. Liu has resolved to take all of Hehuang to relieve the people from their dire suffering. For the sake of your lives, I ask that you reside temporarily in the new city from now on, until the fighting is settled."

As his words fell, the sound of clashing armor came from the corridor outside the hall, and human silhouettes flickered past the windows.

Liu Chengzong looked at the agitated crowd and asked with a beaming smile: "Does anyone wish to go home?"