MLMD -Chapter 59 An Impatient Zaisang

Zaisang was angry. The old, wiry man who had always appeared cheerful in Daisan’s eyes was now furious.

Daisan jumped in surprise, but then he quickly composed himself and said, “Chief Zaisang, are you sure you want to protect this man from the Ming?”

Zaisang’s face was stern. “Of course. If we can’t even protect merchants who come to trade with our tribe, who would dare do business here in the future? Daisan, if you can guarantee that from now on you will supply our Khorchin tribe with enough salt, tea bricks, clothing, and iron, then consider my words just now as never having been said! These people will be at your disposal! Can you do that?”

“Your sister! Why should I feed your people?”

Daisan’s face turned slightly green with anger. Although he was in charge of the Plain Red and Bordered Red banners and appeared high-ranking and powerful, as the saying goes, even a landlord can run out of grain. The lands beyond the Great Wall were harsh and frigid. Not only him, but even Hong Taiji, the Great Khan, had to occasionally lead troops into Ming territory to raid whatever he could. And these Mongols could eat an enormous amount—if Daisan dared to agree, within two months, the tens of thousands of Khorchin tribesmen could easily consume him out of house and home.

Seeing Daisan’s face, as if he had swallowed three pounds of excrement, Zaisang’s excitement grew. He sneered, “Great Beile, if you dare not comply, then don’t bother my guests. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

Yue Yang, standing nearby, was somewhat dumbfounded. Having been used to people who only cared about themselves, who wouldn’t even help an old lady who had fallen, seeing such a scene of righteous justice was incredibly unusual for him. Zaisang now seemed overwhelmingly virtuous, the very image of a modern-day hero—but could such a person truly exist? Yue Yang certainly did not believe it. Clearly, Zaisang must have some ulterior motive.

Seeing that Zaisang was determined to protect the young man, Daisan realized there was no way he would get what he wanted from this young merchant today. Begrudgingly, he turned his head and said to Yue Yang, “Young man, you’re very lucky. But luck doesn’t always stay with you. I hope that even after you leave the Khorchin Grasslands, it continues!”

“Don’t worry. My luck has always been good. No need to trouble Great Beile!” Yue Yang faced Daisan’s threat without flinching. Having studied history a little, he knew that Hong Taiji gave no special treatment to the brother who helped him ascend to the throne. Instead, he continually sought reasons to reduce his brother’s power. In just a few years, that brother would be scolded for overstepping, defying authority, disregarding law, living in leisure, ignoring state affairs, and would eventually die in despair.

“I’ll see if your luck is always this good!” Daisan, knowing that under Zaisang’s protection he could do nothing to the young merchant, waved his hand angrily and left. Some of his 1,000-plus cavalry followed him, while the rest stayed behind to gather their fallen comrades.

With Daisan gone, Yue Yang finally breathed a sigh of relief. He dismounted and bowed to Zaisang. “Chief Zaisang, I am truly grateful for what you just did. If it weren’t for your righteous intervention, our small caravan would have met disaster!”

“No need for thanks. Since Young Master Yue has come to our tribe, you are a respected guest. We Mongols are hospitable and naturally cannot allow our guests to be wronged. Don’t you agree?” Looking at Zaisang’s beaming face, Yue Yang couldn’t help but think he resembled an old fox about to steal chickens. He had merely sold him some goods—was it really worth so much effort to protect him?

“Is it just my imagination?” Yue Yang wondered silently. Though he didn’t know what Zaisang had in mind, a part of him, never one to believe in free gifts from the heavens, became quietly alert.

Zaisang turned to inspect the soldiers behind Yue Yang, clad in shining silver armor and holding crossbows. His smile grew even wider, and the wrinkles on his forehead spread like a blooming chrysanthemum.

At that moment, a clear, sweet voice rang out: “Father, what’s going on? Did you ask Uncle Wudamu to sound the assembly horn?”

Zaisang turned, and his smile broadened. He laughed heartily, “Ah, so the most beautiful lark of our Borjigit family has arrived! Come, come, my little lark. But first, let me introduce a guest from afar—Young Master Yue from the Ming!” He waved to the newcomers.

Following Zaisang’s gesture, Yue Yang looked at the approaching figures, and his gaze froze. Two young women in Mongol dress stood beside Zaisang. The one at the back seemed sixteen or seventeen, with braids and a rosy, adorable face. But it was the one in front that shocked Yue Yang.

She looked around twenty-one or twenty-two, exceptionally beautiful, with a face of rare charm. Amid her beauty were traces of both heroic spirit and boldness, coupled with elegance and dignity that commanded respect—one dared not look directly. A woman so striking and commanding left a powerful impression; Yue Yang was momentarily stunned.

For Hailanzhu, Yue Yang’s expression was nothing unusual—she saw it often. As a straightforward Mongol girl, she was not offended; she simply smiled and nodded at him, causing Yue Yang, usually proud of his worldly knowledge, to blush deeply.

Zaisang noticed Yue Yang’s reaction, and seeing this only strengthened his confidence. He laughed heartily, “Young Master Yue, let me introduce you. This is my precious daughter, Hailanzhu, the most beautiful lark of the Khorchin Grasslands. Daughter, this is Young Master Yue from the Ming. You two should greet each other.”

“Young Master Yue, welcome to the Khorchin Grasslands!” Hailanzhu stepped forward with confidence and greeted him, while Yue Yang, usually carefree, felt slightly embarrassed.

“Miss Hailanzhu, hello!” Yue Yang took a deep breath, forcing down his surprise to greet her. Honestly, having spent over half a year in this timeline, this was the first time he had seen a person whose name appeared in history textbooks.

Zaisang watched the two young people greet each other, smiling. Yue Yang’s unusual expression had not escaped him. He had always had high hopes for his daughter, and this only strengthened his confidence. Some might find it unbelievable that Zaisang would consider marrying his cherished daughter to a young man he had just met, but Zaisang’s priority was the safety and material security of the entire Khorchin tribe.

Since allying with the Later Jin through marriage, the tribe’s safety had been guaranteed. But safety solved, the issue of supplies remained pressing. The Later Jin could not help materially; Hong Taiji, his brother-in-law and son-in-law (having married both Zaisang’s sister and second daughter), would occasionally come raid their goods. So Zaisang had to look to the resource-rich Ming, which brought Yue Yang into his sights.

For nomads of the steppes, living off the land for thousands of years meant extreme material scarcity—they relied on plunder and trade caravans. Zaisang’s anger at Daisan was not mere posturing; caravans from the Central Plains were essential to a tribe. If Zaisang could secure a Central Plains merchant as a son-in-law, his tribe would never lack supplies again. Today, Zaisang even played the role of a matchmaker.

“Young Master Yue, I apologize for what happened today. It is our Khorchin tribe’s fault for not properly caring for our guest. To express my apologies, tonight Hailanzhu and I will accompany you—would you join us for dinner?”

Yue Yang paused, looked at Zaisang, then at Hailanzhu, who also showed a hint of surprise, and nodded. “Then… I shall humbly accept…”