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Chapter 837 Inner Mongolia

As the twelfth lunar month was approaching, news came from the Forbidden City that Emperor Jingyang had caught a cold and was feeling unwell, and needed to rest for some time. All government affairs would be handled jointly by the Chief of the General Staff, the Prime Minister of the Cabinet and the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department.

At the same time, according to the emperor's order, a team of carriages guarded by the imperial horse guards marched out of Deshengmen and headed north. This was the delegation to Bagua City. Bushitu of the Tumed tribe and Baihong of the Kharchin tribe would gather in Bagua City to discuss the future of Mongolia south of the desert with the special envoy of the Ming emperor.

"General Du, how should we deal with the northern barbarians when we go north to Bagua City? Does His Majesty have any clear instructions?"

As the emperor's special envoy, Fang Congzhe, the cabinet minister, was both excited and nervous. He finally made it to Dushikou, and while changing to a rail carriage, he approached the deputy envoy Du Song and asked him quietly.

He was excited because he finally got a chance to make merit. As long as he completed the task assigned by the emperor, he would be one step closer to the throne of the cabinet's chief minister. Although the cabinet's authority was getting lower and lower during the extremely powerful Jingyang Dynasty, as an institution that assisted the emperor in handling government affairs, the position of chief minister was still tempting.

What made them nervous was that the emperor only told them to discuss with the two Mongolian leaders how to redivide their respective territories, but did not give them a specific plan, leaving them to rely entirely on their own performance. This made them feel a little overwhelmed. What attitude they should take and what they should gain from it were all unknown.

"Don't panic, Grand Secretary Fang. I will take care of how to deal with it. You just need to listen and watch, and then experience it with your heart." Du Song did not answer. With a strange smile on his face, he took a big step back and let the army staff officer standing beside him step out.

"...Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Without having to see the staff officer's appearance clearly, just by hearing the voice, Fang Congzhe felt his legs go a little weak, his knees couldn't bear the force and kept bending.

Emperor Jingyang actually disguised himself as an army staff officer and sneaked out of the capital with the envoys. This was unheard of. Could it be that the emperor had noticed someone plotting rebellion and deliberately made such arrangements?

"Hush... I pretended to be sick because it is a secret and must not be leaked. Let's go, the carriage is coming. Take a few deep breaths and don't be so timid and attract attention!"

Hong Tao did disguise himself and sneak out of the capital with the envoys. The emperor lying in the Cining Palace was a stand-in. But it was not for a surprise attack, but because he had a big plan and had to go to Bagua City in person without attracting the attention of outsiders.

"Ru Yu, if I remember correctly, you entered the cabinet in the second year of Jingyang, and became a Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace in the fifth year of Jingyang, right?"

After getting on the railway carriage, Hong Tao took off his iron hat and helmet, crossed his legs, leaned against the window and lit a cigar. Looking at Fang Congzhe who was sitting opposite him anxiously, he started talking.

"Your Majesty, what you said is absolutely right..." But Fang Congzhe had no interest in chatting at all. He always felt that the pair of eyes opposite him were penetrating his body, carefully inspecting every inch of his internal organs.

"I know you really want to be the Prime Minister... Don't rush to deny it. Anyone who doesn't want to be the Prime Minister is incompetent if he has been promoted to the Cabinet. But Ye Xianggao is only three years older than you. If you don't make a big mistake, you probably won't have many years left in office if you wait until he gets out.

Have you ever thought about whether there is a more suitable position besides the cabinet chief minister? As the saying goes, a tree that is moved dies and a person who is moved lives. Maybe changing a position can better play to your strengths and give you more opportunities to become famous. "The emperor was really not just chatting. He led the topic to the key point as soon as he opened his mouth, and there was no way to avoid it.

"Your Majesty, I don't know what you mean..."

At this time, the rail carriage just passed the side wall. In order to allow the carriage to pass smoothly without affecting the defense of the side wall, Xiong Sanba specially built a drawbridge outside the gap. When there is no carriage passing, the bridge deck is pulled up with a winch to block the inside and outside of the gap, which is very clever. But Fang Congzhe didn't pay any attention to the scenery outside the window. His mind was too confused at the moment. He didn't understand why the emperor suddenly talked about his career. He desperately searched his memory for what he had done in the past few years, fearing that something would offend him.

"I am going to Bagua City to do something big. If I succeed, there will be an important position that needs someone to do it. Do you want to try?"

"...As long as I can relieve your majesty's worries, I will not hesitate to die!"

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Fang Congzhe pondered for a moment, gritted his teeth and stamped his feet, and took the gamble! At this point, there is no benefit in not doing anything. Since the emperor has chosen me, I should take the initiative.

"Hehehe, I just like your ruthlessness. This job is more important than the cabinet minister in terms of rank and power. As for the risks... there are some, but not big.

Here are the case files about the Tumed, Kharchin and Khorchin tribes. Take some time to read them on the way, and you will know everything when you arrive at Bagua City. " Seeing Fang Congzhe agreed, Hong Tao nodded with satisfaction and took out a briefcase from under the seat and handed it over.

Once again, I was right! If we compare them in terms of ability, Fang Congzhe and Ye Xianggao are equally matched; but if we analyze their personalities, Fang Congzhe is more suitable to be independent and has a ruthless spirit.

When going to Bagua City, all members of the delegation, including the vast majority of the staff in the General Staff, thought that they were going to discuss the future division of territory with the two great Taijis, Bu Shitu and Bai Hong.

In fact, in addition to Bushitu and Baihong, there is another Mongolian tribal leader who will quietly appear in Bagua City. He is Oba Dataiji of the Khorchin tribe.

In the summer, Shaolang City had just been built and Ligdan Khan had not yet given up on moving north from Vajra White City. Oba sent people to the Kharchin tribe to clearly express his attitude of cooperation to Bai Hong.

Bai Hong did not dare to act on his own and immediately contacted the Guihuadusi. He had Du Wenhuan report Oba's request to the General Staff. After the emperor's approval, the Tumed, Kharchin and Khorchin tribes began secret negotiations with the Ming Army.

After many exchanges and bargaining, the four parties finally reached a consensus after the Chahar tribe moved north, the five Khalkha tribes submitted to the interior, and the occupation was completely one-sided.

Tumed, Kalaqin and Khorqin jointly recommended the Ming emperor as the Sun and Moon Khan, who led the three tribes and was called Inner Mongolia. Bushitu, Baihong and Oba were respectively granted the titles of Ximenghou, Zhongmenghou and Dongmenghou, and their capitals were established in Tumed, Kalaqin and Khorqin.

These three cities now only exist on the blueprints, and will be built by the army in the spring. They are located 350 miles north of Zhenyuan Pass in Qianwei, Ningxia, 200 miles west of Bagua City, and the old system of Jingang Baicheng. They are probably near Dengkou County, Zhengxiangbai Banner, and Alukeerqin Banner in later generations.

The Ming court will station permanent officials in the marquis' mansions in the three cities to assist the three marquises in handling military and political affairs. At the same time, the Inner Mongolia Governor's Office will be set up in Guihua City, and officials will be stationed to represent the Sun and Moon Khan in managing the military and political affairs of Inner Mongolia.

(End of this chapter)