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Chapter 382 The Invisible Front 2

As for what impact this would have on the neighbors and other Mongolian tribes, and whether it would make the Jurchens, who had always been enemies of the Ming Dynasty, think too much, the Haraqin nobles really couldn't care less.

It is not to deliberately target the five Khalkha tribes who had some troubles, nor to have any hatred against the Jurchens. The main reason is that the Ming emperor gave too many benefits. Although we are all Mongolians, we can't resist the Han people adding more money, so we can only apologize.

In addition to this selfishness, the Kalaqin tribe also has difficulties. After Lin Dan Khan came to power, some of his actions chilled the various Mongolian ministries. He did not use the power in his hands to encourage the ministries to strengthen their unity. Instead, he kept trying to weaken the strength of the ministries. In the words of the Han people, it is called Sima Zhao's heart.

Facing the pressure from the Great Khan, the Karaqin tribe must and could only choose to resist. But resistance requires not only spirit but also strength. On the grassland, whoever has strong horses, sufficient food and grass, sharp sabers, and a large population will have strength.

Although the conditions are not too harsh, it is difficult for the Kalaqin tribe to achieve these points on its own. Even though the integration of Duoyanwei has increased the population a lot, the pasture area is fixed and the livestock output is also fixed. It is difficult to increase the population with these resources, let alone dig out steel knives and armor from the grass.

However, there is someone who can quickly make up for the shortcomings of the Haraqin tribe, and that is the Han Dynasty in the south. They are not very good at fighting, but they are good at making things and have a lot of food reserves.

If the two sides can trade with each other normally, it will not take many years for the Haraqin tribe to rely on the resources of the Han people to rapidly grow and initially have the ability to protect itself.

If they can form an alliance with the Ming Dynasty, they will soon become the most powerful tribe in Monan Mongolia. Not only will they no longer have to fear the oppression of Lin Dan Khan, but they may also have the hope of touching the Khan's throne.

It is true that Lin Dan Khan has the blood of the Golden Family, but the Kalaqin tribe also has descendants of the Golden Family, and no one is much nobler than the other. The princes of the Han people could fight each other to death for the position of emperor, and the Mongols would also fight each other for the throne of the Great Khan. As the saying goes, whoever has the bigger fist has the final say.

This kind of thing must not have been hidden from Lin Dan Khan's eyes. Soon the Khan's court knew that the Karaqin tribe was flirting with the Ming Dynasty court, and immediately sent envoys to Beijing to inform the Ming court. With the consent of the Great Khan, if you want to start trade with the Mongolian tribes, the Chahatai tribe is the authentic one!

Of course, the Ming Dynasty also recognized Lin Dan Khan's dominance over Mongolia. At least on the surface, there was no objection. However, there was a problem as to who was qualified for mutual trading. The authentic Chahatai tribe basically has no border with the Ming Dynasty. If the two sides want to trade with each other, they must cross the territory of Duoyanwei, and Duoyanwei has merged with the Karaqin tribe at this time.

On this issue, Emperor Ming gave Lin Danhan another idea to get the best of both worlds. The Ming Dynasty has a lot of goods, and the Karaqin tribe alone will definitely not be able to eat them. Moreover, the Ming court had no intention of intervening in Mongolia's internal struggles. It didn't matter who they traded with, the more goods, the better.

So, it is better to let the Chahatai tribe also join in the wool and sheepskin trade. It is still the same method and distribution principle, except that the raw materials have to pass through Duoyanwei's territory. It should not cause the Karaqin tribe's dissatisfaction. Strongly opposed.

In order to distinguish the two tribes, the location of mutual trade between the two tribes can be moved eastward to Xifengkou or Panjiakou, and a suitable location to build a factory nearby can be found.

However, this method of cooperation must have a major premise. The Ming Dynasty will definitely not trade with the Jurchens. If any Mongolian tribe forms an alliance or marriage with the Jurchens, they will receive the same treatment.

Lin Danhan certainly understood who the Ming Emperor was talking about. In fact, he was also wary of the marriage between the five Khalkha tribes and the Jurchens. The speed of the rise of the Aixin Kingdom is obvious to all, and its expansion direction is also predictable. In addition to invading the Ming Dynasty to the east, it can only compete with the Mongolian tribes in the north. In fact, there is no need to predict. At present, the Patriot Army has already had a dispute with the Horqin tribe in the east. If the five Khalkha tribes are really allowed to marry with them, the Horqin tribe will also be dissatisfied with themselves.

On the one hand, there is a mutual market and factory establishment that is sure to make money, and on the other hand, there is not much benefit but a lot of troubles in the marriage. Lin Danhan can still weigh which one is more important and which one is lighter. So the Mongolian Khan finally publicly expressed his disapproval of the decision of the five Khalkha tribes to marry the Jurchens.

Although he, the Mongolian Great Khan, has very little control over other tribes except the Chahatai tribe of his own clan, he is still recognized as the orthodox Great Khan after all. It's still useful to take care of the little things.

Faced with the two-sided attack from the Karaqin and Chahatai tribes, and the pressure from the Mongolian Khan, the five Khalkha tribes could only pinch their noses and admit defeat, obediently broke off the engagement, and then Draw a clear line with the Jurchens.

In fact, the five Khalkha troops did not suffer much loss. Although they lost a large area of ​​land south of the border wall, they still had to be prepared for Jurchen attacks at all times. However, we can get some shares from the mutual trade between the Haraqin and Chahatai tribes and the Ming Dynasty. It is not bright in the east but bright in the west. It is really hard to calculate whether it is a loss or a gain.

"Your Majesty, two mutual markets have been opened at once, and both are located in places with steep mountain roads. It is not easy for me to transport merchants in and out. Can we replace it with one in Xuanfu, where mutual trade has been going on for a long time, and there are post roads that can pass through it. vehicle."

Regarding the emperor's dazzling and coquettish operation, the ministers in the court were initially worried, fearing that the navy would stir up a hornet's nest and ignite the border war that had already calmed down.

After Li Ruzhang's Marine Guards drove the sheep, horses and herdsmen into Jialingkou, they began to worry that the opening for mutual trading was too large, which would adversely affect the defense of the border army, and they wanted to change the location from Gubeikou to Xuanfu.

"It doesn't matter, let alone the rugged mountain road, even if there are cliffs and dense forests ahead, as long as there is money to be made, the merchants will try their best to transport the goods in and out. The only thing the court needs to do is to manage the border troops well, don't Let them become highwaymen."

In fact, Hong Tao knew very well why the courtiers wanted to change the venue of mutual trading to Xuanfu. Without it, it was just one word, money. Xuanfu has always been the first choice for trading with the Mongols, so merchants gathered there.

When the market is open, they engage in serious business, and when the market is not open, they engage in private goods at the border. From salt to grain and even armor and weapons, they do whatever they can to make money, and do whatever they can, regardless of the interests of the nation and the state. And behind these businessmen, there is also a group of even more unscrupulous people, bureaucrats!

Officials and businessmen have never been separated since ancient times. Officials have power, but they cannot spend it directly. If they want to cash it in, the simplest and easiest way is to collude with businessmen. Wherever there are many businessmen, you can see the presence of officials.

(End of this chapter)