MLMD -Chapter 89 Hidden Intentions

By early April, the weather on the grasslands had begun to warm. Fresh green sprouts were emerging all over the fields, and the herders who had endured a harsh winter were finally able to resume grazing their flocks.

When Yue Yang’s caravan entered the Khorchin tribe, many of the tribe’s herders spontaneously came out to welcome the convoy laden with goods.

“Hahaha… Nephew Yue, look at how hospitable our tribe is! They’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival,” one elder said.

“Yes, it’s truly touching!” Yue Yang responded with polite amusement, though inwardly he snorted in disdain. They’re only interested in the grain, salt, and tea bricks I brought, he thought. Look at them dancing around like Alibaba and the Forty Thieves throwing a party.

Yue Yang’s suspicion was correct. The Khorchin tribe numbered seventy to eighty thousand people, and the daily consumption of supplies was astronomical. After enduring a winter that consumed resources without producing any, the herders were naturally ecstatic to see such a massive caravan arrive.

While Yue Yang and Zaisang chatted idly, on the other side of the caravan, Hailanzhu and Dayuer—sisters who hadn’t seen each other in years—were whispering.

Dayuer glanced at the long line of carts and said enviously to Hailanzhu, “Sister… this future brother-in-law of yours seems quite wealthy. Just his bride price alone fills hundreds of carts. Abbu must be thrilled, right?”

Hailanzhu let out a soft hum and wrinkled her small, delicate nose in displeasure. “Don’t you know Abbu’s temper? He’s practically obsessed with money. If it weren’t for that, do you think he’d agree to marry me off to your brother-in-law?”

“Heh, so what? It actually gives you some face. You know the customs on our grasslands: the more the groom offers in bride price, the more honorable it is for the bride. You’ve definitely outdone me this time. But now that you’re marrying inside the Central Plains, who knows when we sisters will meet again?” Dayuer’s tone carried a faint sadness at the prospect of separation. Travel and communication in these times were far from convenient; a parting could easily last a lifetime.

Hailanzhu felt a pang of melancholy herself. She took Dayuer’s small hand gently and said softly, “Bumubutai, don’t be too sad. I’m only marrying; I’m not leaving forever. I’ll come visit Abbu and Eji when I can, and you can also come back to see your family!”

Though she spoke these words, even Hailanzhu knew they were more comforting than realistic. Ten years had passed since Dayuer’s own marriage, and this was only her first visit home. Hailanzhu, now marrying into the Central Plains, could not easily make the long journey back. Both sisters felt a twinge of sorrow.

Yet Dayuer, accustomed to life as a secondary consort, had a strong temperament. She quickly recovered and, pretending nothing was wrong, smiled: “Alright, sisters rarely get to meet. Let’s not talk about sad things—let’s chat about something else.”

Hailanzhu nodded in agreement, unwilling to dwell on heavy topics.

Dayuer brightened and asked, “Sister, I remember Abbu said my future brother-in-law is just a merchant from Ming. But from what I’ve seen today, he’s not ordinary at all. Look at his guards—well-equipped and well-trained. Even the fifteenth prince, though impulsive, has led troops against Ming forces before with some success. And today, he was utterly defeated by your brother-in-law. Over five hundred men were almost entirely wiped out. That alone proves how formidable he is.”

“Bumubutai, you flatter him. My brother-in-law just had more men at his disposal, nothing more,” Hailanzhu said, still pleased to hear praise for the man she would marry.

“No, it’s not flattery, it’s fact,” Dayuer replied with a slight smile. Then, almost casually, she asked, “Sister, the firearms your brother-in-law’s men use seem very unique, quite different from the Ming weapons I’ve seen. And I don’t think he’s just an ordinary Ming merchant. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“I don’t know either,” Hailanzhu shook her head. “I haven’t known your brother-in-law very long, and we rarely have the chance to speak. He never talks about these things.”

“I see…” Dayuer murmured, her eyes showing a hint of curiosity. She turned to Hailanzhu with a smile: “Sister, since he’s in business, why not ask him to trade with our Later Jin? We always deal with merchants from the Central Plains, and he could handle some procurement for us. What do you think?”

Hailanzhu shook her head. “That’s not something I can say. We’re not married yet. His affairs are his own. We’ll talk about it later.”

Dayuer grew impatient. “Sister, if you can’t ask, let me speak to him alone. Will that work?”

“Hm?” Hailanzhu, gentle and perceptive, had been caught up in the joy of reunion. Now she snapped to attention, wary. “Bumubutai, don’t play coy. What do you want from my brother-in-law? Just say it!”

Caught, Dayuer did not blush. She laughed softly: “Nothing serious. I noticed that his guards’ armor and firearms are top-notch. You know our Khan has suffered enough against Ming firearms. Recently, he’s been thinking of forming a firearm unit. Since your brother-in-law has such advanced weapons, maybe he could sell some to us.”

“I cannot help with this,” Hailanzhu immediately refused, her tone firm: “Bumubutai, though we are sisters, your brother-in-law is from Ming and your husband will be the Khan of Later Jin. You know the relationship between Ming and Later Jin. Asking him to sell weapons to us would put him in danger.”

“Sister…” Dayuer was not upset; she laughed. “Sister, that’s not entirely correct. Do you know how many merchants in Ming trade with our Later Jin? At least sixty percent of merchants in Shanxi deal with us. Our land is poor, and we need armor, weapons, and food every year. Where do you think it comes from? The Ming merchants sell it. If they can, why can’t your brother-in-law? He’s a merchant—it doesn’t matter who he sells to, especially since we’re family.”

Dayuer’s words were tempting, appealing to reason and emotion. For most people, it would be persuasive. Yet Hailanzhu stood firm, insisting that she could not interfere before marriage. Realizing further argument was useless and could hurt their relationship, Dayuer quickly changed the topic.

That evening, Zaisang ordered a grand banquet in his large tent to honor the distant son-in-law. The crystal-clear glassware, fragrant modern liquor, and seasonings amazed Dayuer, Dorgon, Dodo, and other Later Jin guests. Yue Yang had even brought a batch of modern white liquor, astonishing those accustomed to mare’s milk wine.

By modern standards, the dinner was overall a success. Though there were minor tensions, nothing significant disrupted the event.

Midway through the banquet, Dorgon, sitting opposite Yue Yang, raised his cup and smiled: “Brother Yue, today’s incident was caused by my reckless younger brother. Please forgive him. Let this drink be my apology on his behalf.” With that, Dorgon drained his cup and flipped it upside down.

Yue Yang smiled in return. “Prince, it was truly a misunderstanding. Since you say so, there’s nothing more to discuss. After all, we are now family, aren’t we?” He drained his own cup.

They exchanged a smile, a silent gesture of reconciliation—though only they truly knew the state of their hearts.

After the drink, Dorgon asked, still smiling, “Brother Yue, though Zaisang said you are merely a Ming merchant, your actions today suggest otherwise. Your guards are elite, surpassing even Ming border troops. Surely a simple merchant could not command them?”

Yue Yang was not surprised. He knew his true identity could not stay secret long. He replied candidly, “Prince, you are correct. A few months ago, I was appointed as an Officer of Operations for Yingzhou Prefecture. Though only a sixth-rank official, it seems I’ve been revealed.”

“Oh, so Brother Yue is a Ming military officer. No wonder your troops are so capable. Now I understand why my incompetent brother suffered such a defeat!”

Dorgon’s eyes gleamed as he laughed heartily. Seemingly in sync, Dayuer, sitting beside Zaisang, also smiled.