MLMD -Chapter 444 The Question of Submission

After a long silence, Dayu’er suddenly asked softly, “Brother-in-law, may I ask you something? Will you answer me honestly?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Yue Yang’s eyes, and he nodded. “Of course… go ahead.” He picked up his teacup and slowly sipped.

Dayu’er opened her mouth as if to speak, then hesitated. Hugging her son a little tighter, she unintentionally squeezed him enough to make Fulin pucker his lips and almost cry. She quickly soothed him before taking a deep breath and saying, “Brother-in-law, the Great Qing no longer exists. The Mongol tribes are once again heading into chaos and conflict. Although the Khorchin tribe appears strong now, it is actually in a very dangerous position. I wonder if you could increase your support for our tribe?”

“Hm…”

At Dayu’er’s words, Yue Yang’s hand holding the teacup paused, nearly spilling the tea. His sharp gaze immediately locked onto Dayu’er’s delicate face, a cold light flashing in his eyes. Even someone as worldly as Dayu’er couldn’t help but tremble under that look. She instinctively opened her mouth to apologize, but then swallowed the words. No matter what, she had once been a consort of the emperor of the Great Qing—how could she shrink back from a single glance? So she met Yue Yang’s gaze with all her composure.

The people around them stared at Yue Yang intently, silently echoing Dayu’er’s question. What she said also reflected their own thoughts. With the Qing gone, the strongest force in the region was Yue Yang’s Xuanda army. With nearly 200,000 troops, it was not only the most formidable army in the Ming but also the strongest in the Far East. If the Khorchin tribe could gain Yue Yang’s support, dominating the Xuanda defensive line would be trivial—and they might even unify all of southern Mongolia, or perhaps the entire Mongol region.

Yue Yang only looked at Dayu’er without speaking, but his mind was racing. In just a few sentences, Dayu’er’s meaning was clear: now that the Qing had fallen, the Khorchin tribe was no longer content to remain passive—they wanted a comeback.

A cold smile appeared in Yue Yang’s heart. Trying to become the Ming version of Genghis Khan, huh? You’re overestimating yourselves. Becoming a Genghis Khan is not so easy.

He scanned Dayu’er, Zaisang, Wukeshen, and Zhezhe with a sharp gaze, then slowly asked, “Bumubutai, my father-in-law, since you’ve put it this way, I’ll speak frankly. Do you really think the Khorchin tribe can regain its former glory as it stands now?”

“This…”

Dayu’er hesitated, unsure how to respond. Wukeshen quickly spoke for her. “Yue Yang, the Khorchin tribe cannot dominate southern Mongolia on its own, but isn’t that why we have you, brother-in-law? As long as you increase your support, it’s only a matter of time before the Khorchin tribe dominates southern Mongolia.”

Dayu’er shot her brother a sharp glare. You really are useless, she silently scolded. Even speaking foolishly about dominating southern Mongolia—are you really trying to show Yue Yang our ambitions?

Yue Yang smiled faintly. “Dominate southern Mongolia? So the Khorchin tribe has ambition. But times have changed. If another golden family rises among the Mongols, it won’t be good for Mongolia—or for the Ming.”

At this, Dayu’er and Zaisang’s hearts sank. Yue Yang’s caution toward the Mongols was clearly strong—otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned a golden family. After all, in thousands of years, Mongolia had only seen one—Genghis Khan. If Zaisang’s family became a golden family, it would mean trying to rule the Mongol tribes, maybe even most of the world. Where would that leave the Ming?

Zaisang quickly explained, “Son-in-law, don’t misunderstand. Wukeshen just spoke too quickly in his eagerness. He has no ambition. I’m old now; eventually the Khorchin tribe will pass to Wukeshen. He only wants to strengthen the tribe, that’s why he spoke hastily. Please, son-in-law, don’t take offense.”

Wukeshen, realizing his words were inappropriate, awkwardly smiled. “Brother-in-law, please don’t be angry. I’m blunt, but I mean no disrespect.”

Yue Yang shook his head lightly. “Since we are family, I’ll speak openly. Genghis Khan’s era is over, and there will never be another golden family. If there were, it would be a mortal enemy of the Ming. This is not just my view, but a consensus throughout the Ming. What you said here may seem fine, but if the ministers of the Ming court heard it, they would panic. Even the emperor might become wary of you. I can support you for years, even decades, but not forever. Your future ultimately depends on your own actions.”

Everyone fell silent. The Khorchin tribe was currently enjoying Yue Yang’s continuous support, living comfortably. But Yue Yang could not protect them forever. When he aged or was no longer in power, would the tribe still live so well?

Zaisang looked grim, forcing a bitter smile. “Does this mean the Khorchin tribe will fall back to its old state?”

Yue Yang spoke softly, “Of course, there is a way, but it depends on whether my father-in-law agrees.”

“What way?”

At his words, several anxious voices immediately rose. Yue Yang smiled slightly. “If the Khorchin tribe is willing to submit to the Ming, becoming subjects of the Ming, then all these problems will naturally be solved.”

“What… impossible!”

“No… absolutely not!”

Shouts of protest rose around them. Wukeshen’s angry voice rang out, “Absolutely not! The Khorchin grasslands have been the Borjigit family’s territory for generations. How can we voluntarily submit to the Ming? If we do, we will be traitors to the Borjigit clan. Yue Yang, we even married Hai Lanzhu to you, yet you want to swallow the entire Khorchin tribe? How can you justify this to my father?”

Yue Yang shifted his gaze from the furious Wukeshen to Zaisang, the current head of the Khorchin tribe. Unlike Wukeshen, Zaisang calmed himself quickly, inhaled deeply, and asked, “Son-in-law, how did you come up with this plan?”

Yue Yang smiled faintly, spreading his hand. “It’s nothing—just something I thought of. As the saying goes, long divided, then united; long united, then divided. The Qing is history. External threats are removed. Once the Ming exterminates the remaining rebels in the Central Plains, the empire will have no internal trouble. Then the Ming will naturally focus on the Mongol tribes beyond the pass. Ask yourselves: can the Khorchin tribe withstand the Ming army?”

Wukeshen immediately said without thinking, “If we can’t fight, can’t we run?”

“Run…” Yue Yang smiled. “Where would you go? The Khorchin tribe has over 100,000 people, families with children. How far can they go? And if the Ming court decides to stay and settle, what then? Don’t forget, it’s less than two days’ journey from Shenyang to Khorchin.”

Yue Yang’s words struck Wukeshen like a thunderclap. He was dumbstruck. Indeed, Shenyang had been recovered by the Ming. Given its strategic importance, the Ming would station troops there and relocate settlers. In ten, twenty years, with the population base of the Ming, the number of settlers in Liaodong would reach a terrifying scale. Could the Khorchin tribe resist the Ming army?

Zaisang and Dayu’er fully understood the implications. Dayu’er’s lips were pressed by her teeth, leaving faint marks. Hugging Fulin, her heart ached. She had thought that with the Qing gone, she might leverage Hai Lanzhu’s influence to gain Yue Yang’s support for herself or at least Fulin as tribal leader. But now she realized Yue Yang’s ambitions were vast—he wanted the entire Khorchin tribe. She could feel a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead.

Scanning the silent group, Yue Yang said lightly, “You need not be worried. This is only a proposal. If you are unwilling, I won’t force you. The Ming empire is not mine to command. I do not meddle without reason. But I can share my thoughts—do you want to hear them?”

“Speak…” Zaisang’s face was stern as water.

“Actually, you could follow the example of the local rulers in Sichuan or Guizhou: recognize the Ming court as your suzerain. The court would officially confer titles on you as kings of the Mongols, hereditary and uninterrupted. The court could station troops and some officials to help manage your tribe. Internally, your tribe would still govern itself. Think about it—you lose only a nominal title, but your rights remain, and you gain greatly. As Ming subjects, you will enjoy all rights of Ming citizens. Trade problems disappear. Goods from the Ming—food, cloth, tea, medicines—will flow into your tribe endlessly. From now on, you need not worry about supplies. Is that not a good life?”

Hearing Yue Yang’s words, everyone hesitated. Endless food and tea, abundant medicine and daily necessities—these were dreams for nomads. But could it really be that simple? Silence fell over the Zaisang family.

Seeing their hesitation, Yue Yang added fuel to the fire. “I’ll give you another fact. Though I hold the title of Governor of Xuanda, overseeing the defenses and many posts in Liaodong, the Ming empire is not mine. The court could revoke my commission or transfer me to Shandong at any time. Then, your comfortable life may end.”

“What… that’s possible?” Zaisang’s heart tightened. The Khorchin tribe’s current prosperity was because they could rely on Yue Yang. If he were removed, their good days would be over.

“Son-in-law, you won’t really be transferred, will you?” Zaisang asked anxiously.

“Not for now, but the future is uncertain,” Yue Yang said calmly. “Even as a prince, I cannot guarantee what will happen. I speak frankly: if the court orders me to cut ties with you, there is nothing I can do.”

Zaisang was speechless. Yue Yang’s earlier words could be called intimidation; this was a direct threat. He was essentially saying: if you disobey, forget about living comfortably—you are in my hands.

The expressions of Zaisang and his family grew grim, especially Wukeshen, whose eyes glared at Yue Yang. Yue Yang paid no attention. This man had always clung to Huang Taiji and even plotted against him; if not for Hai Lanzhu, Yue Yang would have long dealt harshly with him.

Time ticked by. Just as Yue Yang’s patience was nearly exhausted, Zaisang sighed. “Son-in-law, I can have the Khorchin tribe submit to the Ming—but I have conditions.”

Yue Yang took a sip of tea, using it to hide his expression. “Father-in-law, please speak.”

“First: the Khorchin tribe must keep its own army; the court shall not command it.
Second: trade with the tribe must not be interrupted; the court shall not arbitrarily raise prices or purchase our cattle, sheep, horses, or hides at low prices.
Third: the court must confer the title of king on us, hereditary and perpetual, to secure this land.
Fourth: the court may only station a small number of officials and troops in our tribe.

If you agree to these three points, we will submit to the Ming.” Zaisang said decisively.

“No problem!”

Yue Yang’s reply was equally decisive. Excited, he suppressed his joy, silently pumping his fist. Mongol tribes, let’s see where you run this time!