Chapter 225

The Emperor's sudden affectation was clearly outside the military review process set by the ministries, as letting a foreign official lead a horse carried a certain sense of humiliation.

While the monarch is indeed the master, if a high-ranking official of the court were to lead the horse for the Emperor, it would be a coveted honor. But a foreign official is, after all, a foreign official; just over a decade ago, both sides were irreconcilable mortal enemies. To speak of sincere respect would be self-deception.

Upon hearing these words, San Niangzi was first stunned, then immediately fell silent, and her attendants on either side wore expressions of hidden anger.

The atmosphere in front of the Anding Gate was somewhat strange for a moment.

The Oirats gloated, the Tumut looked on coldly, and the native chieftains frowned deeply; only the Koreans were eager to try, while the civil and military officials looked at each other, wanting to speak but holding back.

Zhu Yijun watched San Niangzi with a smile, appearing very patient.

Altan Khan was dying.

Although it was impossible to confirm the exact state of Altan Khan's illness, he was, after all, at the advanced age of seventy-three. As a nomad from beyond the frontier who had long experienced the battlefield, once he became seriously ill, it would be difficult for him to get back up. Even if he could hang on to his life, he would not have two years left.

In other words, Zhu Yijun was bullying a thirty-year-old widow-to-be.

It was not that the Emperor looked down on San Niangzi.

Altan Khan was merely seriously ill, and the various tribes of the Mongol Right Wing began to stir. His eldest grandson, Chelike Taiji—"Taiji" is a transliteration of "Crown Prince," which was abused by the Mongols to give the Golden Family an air of self-importance—had taken over the position of Great Administrator that the Tumut Khan had handed over. His adopted son, Qia Taiji, colluded with the Dacheng Biji and was entangled with that group of White Lotus Sect members, wanting to monopolize the Bansheng. This time, Shi Maohua's appearance in Bansheng was also likely tacitly approved by Altan Khan's eldest son, Sengge Huang Taiji... It could be described as a dance of demons.

Now that the Tumut Khan was in his prime, dominating the Left Wing and watching like a tiger, if the Right Wing were to fall apart and turn into scattered sand after Altan Khan's death, things would become troublesome.

And at this moment, the only one qualified to carry the banner of the Right Wing was none other than San Niangzi.

In history, this Lady Zhongshun, before Altan Khan died and while the various tribes were not yet on guard, decisively launched the "Battle of Bansheng," leading elite troops to quickly surround Bansheng and fiercely attack Qia Taiji and the Dacheng Biji.

When the various Taijis learned of this, they flocked to mediate for both sides. San Niangzi acted arbitrarily, not even caring about Altan Khan's mourning period, and gathered troops to fight for half a year, eventually killing Altan Khan's adopted son, Qia Taiji.

After San Niangzi won, she did not linger and immediately gave Bansheng, along with Altan Khan's granddaughter-in-law, the Dacheng Biji, to Altan's eldest grandson, Chelike, gaining his support.

At this time, San Niangzi already commanded tens of thousands of cavalry and had gained absolute dominance within the Mongol Right Wing. Only then did this Lady Zhongshun calmly agree to the Ming court to marry Altan Khan's eldest son, Sengge Huang Taiji, once again occupying the moral high ground.

From this perspective, it was not that San Niangzi became a family heirloom, but that whoever San Niangzi married became the Prince of Shunyi—in the thirty-fifth year of Wanli, the way Altan Khan's eldest grandson's grandson, Boshitu, and San Niangzi's grandson, Sunang Taiji, fought for the succession was by simultaneously proposing to San Niangzi, hoping to obtain San Niangzi's "transfer of the royal seal."

Therefore, quite the contrary, Zhu Yijun thought too highly of San Niangzi!

Precisely because of this, the Ming court had been applying pressure since San Niangzi entered the capital, first with the cold shoulder, then with the invitation to observe the military review, and now with public humiliation—after all, building momentum is the privilege of the home field.

All this painstaking effort was still for the sake of sitting at the negotiating table and discussing the overall situation in the north with this Lady Zhongshun.

As for whether this would be too much humiliation and provoke a backlash?

After Altan Khan became seriously ill, San Niangzi had made many moves. On one hand, she maintained the border markets and restrained her tribesmen, "having very close feelings with border officials to promote harmony," and on the other hand, she frequently submitted memorials, saying things like "my descendants and tribe will guard the border for the Son of Heaven for generations" and "deeply yearning for Chinese civilization and bathing in imperial grace."

Such a clever person who is well-versed in political maneuvering knows best how to avoid harm and seek profit. While there is still room for negotiation, how could she be provoked into a backlash?

Their gazes met.

In their ears were the whispers from afar and the faint clanging from outside the Anding Gate.

The Emperor's expression was kindly, and the foreign official maintained a bowing posture.

A long silence.

The gold-threaded turquoise pendant on San Niangzi's earlobe swayed, and she finally reacted.

"Your Majesty the Emperor, according to the customs of the grasslands, only the warrior who has tamed the gyrfalcon is qualified to hold the bow and reins for the Great Khan."

San Niangzi had learned Chinese from Zhao Quan since she was young, and after the tribute system was established, she had studied the Four Books and Five Classics alongside Altan Khan before the statue of Confucius, and later frequently exchanged ideas with Han border officials.

Now, playing word games with the Emperor, she did not seem like a barbarian from beyond the frontier at all.

Zhu Yijun said "Oh," and asked indifferently: "Is it that I am inferior to the Great Khan of the grasslands?"

Since she had been in frequent contact with border officials and even submitted memorials seeking support, she should stop talking about things being beyond reach.

Since the border markets were established many years ago, the imperial court's influence on the Right Wing was not necessarily inferior to that of the Great Khan.

Using this to drive down the price did not hold water.

San Niangzi held her crimson skirt, perfectly composed: "The Emperors who ruled the Central Plains, whether Tang, Yuan, or the current dynasty, are all Heavenly Khans, the Great Khans among Great Khans."

As she spoke, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and took the opportunity to glance at the Emperor's reaction.

Zhu Yijun was naturally expressionless and noncommittal.

San Niangzi could not see anything from his face, so she had to continue explaining in a pleading tone: "It is just that this foreign official dares not claim to be a fierce warrior, let alone a fierce warrior among fierce warriors, and I fear... I am not qualified to tame this fierce horse, the Tumut Khan, for the Heavenly Khan."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yijun could not help but laugh.

The ambiguous object in their conversation was understood tacitly.

Zhu Yijun shook his head with a smile and said: "Lady Zhongshun commands military power and leads ten thousand cavalry. It is not the fierceness of one person, but the combined fierceness of ten thousand. You can hold the reins of this fierce horse, the Tumut Khan."

He paused and finally drew the line: "Just keep the fierce horse quiet, and I will govern it myself."

Upon hearing this, San Niangzi's delicate eyebrows finally relaxed.

What she feared was that the Emperor would be insatiable and come up with the idea of using the Right Wing as cannon fodder to drive the wolf and swallow the tiger.

This statement was at least within her expectations.

Thinking of this, San Niangzi took a deep breath, gathered her skirt, bowed, and said respectfully: "This foreign official dares to lead the horse for Your Majesty the Emperor."

Having said that, San Niangzi stepped forward calmly amidst the varied expressions of the crowd.

The fierce horse was snorting, and a slender arm reached out, grabbing the halter, while the other hand stroked along the mane all the way to behind the ears.

The snorting stopped abruptly.

Zhu Yijun looked down from above, quietly watching this scene.

He turned his head to look at the officials of the ministries and the Court of Ceremonial, and finally nodded slightly: "Let's go."

As soon as his voice fell, it was unclear who started it, but from the high platforms and pavilions along the street, cheers erupted one after another, creating a vague clamor.

Instantly, the gongs and drums sounded again, drowning out the noise.

The Anding Gate opened wide, and the imperial procession in front began to move forward with a roar.

"Our Emperor reviews the military and achieves success, organizes the troops, and strengthens the Jingcheng."

"Dragon flags shine upon the Tiger and Leopard Camp, the six armies gather like clouds, and the armor is bright."

"..."

As the Anding Gate opened wide, the drums and wind instruments on both sides of the imperial road sounded in unison, and a "Song of Military Success" began to play.

The drill ground at the Military Review Gate was a barbican; once out of the Anding Gate, it was right before their eyes, connected by the imperial road in the middle.

Qi Jiguang led the various officers and the accompanying officials, who were arranged in order on both sides of the imperial road, kneeling in military uniform to welcome him.

As the music began, the Emperor's ceremonial guard slowly appeared.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had cleared the drill ground and imperial road in advance, swarmed up, dividing into sixteen teams of cavalry, archers, and equipment to enter the formation and provide protection, and another eight teams each to lead and follow the ceremonial guard, with fifty men in each team.

As the signal flags fluttered, the formation changed, and each performed its duties.

"We request Your Majesty to ascend the command platform to personally conduct the inspection!"

Qi Jiguang took the lead, followed by the military officers and adjutants of the various camps. The sound of shouting like a mountain and a sea instantly drowned out the entire imperial road.

The imperial guards on both sides knelt down in unison.

Drums sounded on the drill ground to welcome the Emperor as he stepped onto the command platform.

The commoners on the walls of the Military Review Gate stretched their heads to look down.

"What a display of imperial grandeur!"

"His Majesty truly walks with the stride of a dragon and the grace of a tiger, heroic and extraordinary!"

"... The Emperor is on horseback."

"As His Majesty gallops, he truly looks down upon all things with pride, his spirit swallowing mountains and rivers!"

"..."

"Who is that leading the horse?"

Busy-bodies stretched their necks, wishing they could jump down and get a familiar face before the Emperor.

Unfortunately, whether on the viewing platform or the city wall, once in position, one could not move around at will; this was the protocol for the military review.

During the military review in the Longqing years, the Minister of Military Affairs and the Censors inspecting the military discipline supervised the generals and troops to clear the drill ground. Four generals commanded two thousand cavalry to patrol the imperial road, and apart from the guards with "ivory tallies," no one was allowed to enter.

This time, it was a rare imperial favor that allowed them to feast their eyes. If they dared to move around recklessly now, they would easily be met with the heartless blades of the imperial guards, so they could only turn their necks flexibly to get a better view.

"Looking at the attire, it should be a Tatar?"

"It's a woman. Given this appearance, age, status, and favor, I fear it must be San Niangzi."

"I thought the Koreans would be the ones fighting to do this kind of thing. How come the Tatars have become so diligent?"

"The imperial court is determined in military affairs, so naturally, its prestige is spread far and wide, the barbarians are shocked, and they bow their heads to praise the peace~" This was the lyric of the "Song of Military Success," though it was sung a bit poorly.

"Sigh, although this brother's singing voice is simple, hearing it, this old man still cannot help but be moved. In those days, when Altan Khan's troops reached the capital, the imperial guards were driven out of the city gates, all weeping and daring not to advance. Now, at the grand review, it has actually come to Altan's wife leading the horse for us..."

"Displaying military might to inspire the people!"

Not only the soldiers and civilians on the walls and viewing platforms, but the court officials on both sides of the command platform could not help but look sideways.

Under the gaze of the masses, San Niangzi's expression remained unchanged, while Zhu Yijun calmly looked around, nodding in acknowledgment, silently adding to himself: "You have all worked hard," and so on.

Unlike the military review during the Longqing years, the Emperor did not enter the inner palace but set up a command platform on the drill ground outside the city to review the troops.

Naturally, it was not a long walk.

Zhu Yijun looked straight ahead and said casually: "Speaking of which, when Lady Zhongshun built the Han City back then and asked me to bestow a name, I was overjoyed."

After the humiliation, it was time to talk about treatment and assign work.

However, the occasion was not right, so he had to talk about sentiments and bonds first.

!

San Niangzi, with her graceful figure, walked in front. Upon hearing this, she pondered for a moment before replying: "It was the Prince of Shunyi who, feeling the grace of the late Emperor in opening the border markets, led the people to build it. This foreign official dares not claim the credit."

She replied somewhat distractedly, keeping her head down, and as she walked, she frequently twisted her toes to press against the imperial road beneath her, the gold rings at her waist clinking with her movements.

Seeing this, Zhu Yijun praised her keen observation in his heart.

While nodding to the adjutants on both sides, he moved his lips and said to San Niangzi: "Does Lady Zhongshun feel that this imperial road is different?"

San Niangzi frowned slightly and nodded without hesitation: "What kind of soil is this? It's so hard!"

It was hard not to notice. The streets within the inner city of the capital were basically paved with blue bricks.

Like this imperial road, generally speaking, it would be bonded with sticky rice mortar, which was terrifyingly luxurious—well, her own palace in Hohhot was built this way.

But this imperial road before her was neither paved with blue bricks nor like the three-part soil commonly used for official roads in the Ming dynasty, yet it was so hard that it hurt her feet, which she found novel.

Zhu Yijun pretended to be unintentional and replied casually: "This imperial road is based on a foot of three-part soil, paved with eight inches of crushed stone concrete, and finished with two inches of cement mortar, so it is naturally extremely solid."

San Niangzi was stunned, puzzled: "Crushed stone concrete? Cement mortar?"

She had at least presided over the construction of a city, yet this was the first time she had heard of these things.

Zhu Yijun explained simply: "A new type of mortar, fired from volcanic ash. It is not only extremely solid but also waterproof and moisture-resistant, making it very useful."

In just one sentence, he did not explain too much to San Niangzi.

When the Huguang imperial clan system was reformed, in order to smelt iron, they exerted subjective initiative and improved the furnaces. Last year, the official kilns learned this and upgraded their kilns with the help of the favorable wind.

Once the furnace temperature rose, Zhu Yijun immediately thought of firing cement.

Of course, he did not expect to have a self-contained encyclopedia to recite the craftsmanship and formula on the spot. He had never done construction work and was completely in the dark about it.

Fortunately, he had some common sense and remembered that volcanic ash could be used to fire cement.

Although the technology tree had to be climbed slowly, it did not prevent a visible hand from exerting a little force to provide some ideas.

Thus, there was this low-profile cement imperial road before them—compared to the cement in Zhu Yijun's memory, it was still quite a bit worse, not only in hardness but also in water resistance, and he did not know where the bottleneck lay.

Of course, this was enough to make the barbarians beyond the frontier marvel.

Zhu Yijun glanced at San Niangzi and saw her moved expression, which was as expected.

If San Niangzi did not yearn for life in the Central Plains, why would she build Hohhot and construct grand palaces?

Deeply yearning for Chinese civilization was not just something to be said.

Zhu Yijun coughed lightly and deliberately dragged it out: "Does Lady Zhongshun want some? Volcanic ash is limited, and cement production is very low. Currently, it is only fired in official kilns and is not yet for sale."

This was the truth. There was too little volcanic ash in the country. Places like Tengchong in Yunnan were remote, and with native chieftains robbing, the transportation costs were huge. It was thanks to the opening of sea transport in the past two years that they could use volcanic ash from the Qiongzhan and Lingao areas of Hainan.

Upon hearing this, San Niangzi's expression became somewhat sour; the Emperor was clearly holding the ground to raise the price.

In the third year of Wanli, she ended her life of sleeping in the open in tents and moved into Hohhot, which was built in imitation of Han cities. Only then did she feel she had not wasted her prime years at twenty.

Unfortunately, merchant caravans came and went, horses trampled frequently, and the roads were naturally difficult to maintain.

In just a few years, the rammed earth and gravel roads had become pitted, and even the three-part soil had been repaired and maintained in several sections.

To say she was not moved by this flat, solid, and waterproof imperial road before her would be a lie.

But to prevent the Emperor from opening his mouth like a lion, San Niangzi bit her silver teeth: "Your Majesty, the soil is too hard, which is not good for running horses. This foreign official does not need it."

As she spoke, she could not help but linger on it with her eyes several times.

This was the truth; ground that is too hard would damage horses' hooves and even affect their service life.

However, this was somewhat like giving up eating for fear of choking. If you don't believe it, go ask the caravans in Hohhot if they can't bear to let their cattle and horses suffer a little fatigue in exchange for smoother trade routes and faster delivery times?

Zhu Yijun laughed lightly. It was not convenient to bargain now, so he simply got straight to the point: "However, having said that..."

"I asked for a batch from the envoys of Ryukyu and Luzon before the new year, and it will be sent with the tribute after the new year. The production capacity should increase." Zhu Yijun smiled, "At that time, I can gift a batch to Lady Zhongshun, so that Lady Zhongshun can conscript laborers to build a commercial road from Hohhot to Datong."

"If there is any left over, expanding Hohhot and paving roads is also possible."

Large-scale cement refining was not possible, but expanding production was definitely necessary. Only when production capacity climbed could the craftsmanship be innovated.

As soon as he finished speaking, San Niangzi ignored etiquette and turned her head abruptly.

Gift!?

The cost of mining and transporting volcanic ash was probably one tael per thousand catties, plus auxiliary materials, firing, and labor; it was definitely not cheap.

Hohhot to Datong was over four hundred li; it would cost at least two hundred thousand taels!

To say it was a gift was asking for too high a price!

Zhu Yijun smiled without a word and did not wait for her to reply, briefly ending this appetizer: "We will talk in detail with Lady Zhongshun after the review."

He was not in a hurry anyway. As long as San Niangzi considered the business environment of Hohhot, she could not refuse.

It was expensive—the free things are the most expensive. What the tribes of Hohhot got was an exquisite city and the first cement official road in Ming-Mongol history, but what they lost was the desire to migrate!

At that time, he did not know if the cement road would hurt the horses' hooves, but the chariots of the seven chariot battalions of the Beijing Camp would certainly not mind a little wear and tear to drive straight to the gates of Hohhot.

It was just two hundred thousand taels; giving it away was fine.

The gifts of fate are marked with a price in the dark.

Of course, San Niangzi might be able to see it, but she might not care—how could a young woman living in a palace be interested in migrating? What a spiritual Han person dreams of is the life of the Han people.

San Niangzi was interrupted by the Emperor, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt scratched inside.

Unfortunately, the command platform was right in front of her, and she knew it was not the place to talk about business, so she had to hold back and shut her mouth.

Before long, the group had traveled two li, and the Emperor's procession stopped steadily in front of the command platform.

Yin Zhengmao, on both sides of the command platform, stepped out of the crowd and bowed: "Minister of Military Affairs Zhengmao, I request Your Majesty the Emperor to ascend the platform for the grand review!"

Zhu Yijun dismounted without looking back.

"The Grand Secretariat, the Six Ministries, the Chief Military Commission, and the second-rank vassal officials may ascend; follow the imperial tent outside."

Having said that, he stepped up the stairs and walked onto the command platform.

Shen Shixing, Wang Chonggu, Yin Zhengmao, and others followed closely behind.

San Niangzi was at a loss holding the horse, and the Ministry of Rites official Cai Kexian leaned over and reminded her dryly: "Lady Zhongshun is naturally a second-rank foreign official."

Only then did she come to her senses and follow the court officials.

On the command platform, the officials stood respectfully on both sides.

"Minister of Military Affairs Zhengmao and Coordinator of Military Affairs Jiguang request Your Majesty to order the various camps to organize their men and horses!"

The inner official lifted the curtain and bowed, inviting the Emperor to enter.

Zhu Yijun turned his back to the curtain and looked around the northern suburbs.

He took a deep breath and raised his right arm high toward the soldiers and civilians in the northern suburbs.

Under the gaze of the masses, he shouted loudly: "Soldiers of the various camps, organize your men and horses! Perform the military drill for me!"

The voice fell.

Suddenly, the signal whistles blew, solemn and low, yellow flags fluttered, and orders were strictly followed.

The officers and soldiers who welcomed the ceremony under the command platform returned to their respective camps, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, and began to form square formations.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The central army fired three cannon shots!

The soldiers of the three armies all shouted "Long live," and the watching soldiers and civilians echoed in response.

Inside and outside the entire Military Review Gate, cheers suddenly sounded like thunder: "Long live! Long live! Long live!"

(End of chapter)