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Chapter 864 Grand Strategy

Of course, this was just a bluff. If they really wanted to attack the Tuogan and U-Tsang regions, it would be too difficult to go south from the Qinghai Plateau due to natural conditions. It would be easier to go through western Sichuan.

The real purpose of the Qinghai Regional Command was to guard this transportation line leading to the southern Western Regions. Once the road was built, they could go straight to Huanglong from the plateau and rush all the way to Kashgar along the southern edge of the Tarim Basin.

In fact, this road was not invented by Hong Tao. It existed as early as the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It was considered the southern route of the Silk Road and was also called Qiangzhong Road. It is said that when Zhang Qian was on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, he once wanted to return through Qiangzhong Road, but he was captured by the Xiongnu before he reached Qinghai Lake.

Tang Dynasty poet Li He once wrote in his song "Going to the Frontier": "The Hu horns lead the north wind, and the Jimen Gate is whiter than the water. The sky contains the Qinghai Road, and the moon is a thousand miles away from the city."

It seems that even though the Hexi Corridor was opened up in the Tang Dynasty and the northern and central routes of the Silk Road could be used, the southern route through Qinghai was not abandoned and some people still used it to communicate between the East and the West.

As for whether the lamas of Tuogan and U-Tsang were willing to be blocked at their doorsteps by the Ming army and unable to spread Buddhism to the north, Hong Tao had no right to care. Whether they were willing or not, the Plateau Six Forts had to be built anyway.

Either he could lead his troops down to the plateau and show off his skills before a series of military fortresses were built, or he could just shut up and stay at home and recite scriptures for fun.

It is all nonsense whether it is reasonable or not. If reason is useful in this world, there will be no war. Law, reason and morality only exist within ethnic groups. They are tools of rule, not diplomatic means.

There is no law, no reason, and no morality between countries and ethnic groups. Whoever has strong economic and military power can speak louder and is right. On the contrary, no one will pay attention to you even if you shout at the top of your lungs, and you will be called a fool.

"Well... I think the Celestial Empire should convince people with reason. How about this: the Ming army went to the plateau because of Ligdan Khan. The Chahar tribe is our mortal enemy, and the Xitumed tribe took them in, so they are guilty of the same crime!"

As a result, Hong Tao's statement did not hit the face of the U-Tsang envoys, but first made Yang Sichang, the Minister of Rites, look very embarrassed. As a cultured person, even if the person in front of you is the enemy who killed your father, you cannot speak so arrogantly and rudely, you must have a reason and basis.

"Well, the Minister of Rites is none other than you, so let's do it. If the other party asks about building a fortress, how should we answer?"

Anyone who really thinks Hong Tao is a man of temperament or a tyrant who does what he wants is completely wrong. He has no bottom line when it comes to interests. He will not force himself to do anything that can save trouble, and he doesn't mind lying to others.

"I have also thought about it. The remains of Lindan Khan were buried in the Golden City. No one knows about it except the leaders of the Tumed and Kharchin tribes. It is enough to say that Lindan Khan and his supporters, the Ordos tribe, are still hiding on the plateau, and the Ming army is encircling and suppressing them.

"Tsanggan and U-Tsang are thousands of miles away from the capital, and it is not easy to travel back and forth. By the time they know the details, your Majesty's Chain Castle should have been built. With the Ming Army guarding it, who can tear it down at will?"

Yang Sichang stroked his beard and shook his head, and started to tell lies. In fact, the Ming scholars were no worse than Hong Tao in making up lies. They just didn't use them in the right place before, but now they have a target and their power is obvious.

"...That's great. Don't show them this map for now. I take back what I said. Yang Aiqing, please help me write a letter to the leader of the Outer Khalkha, tell him about the current situation of the Tumed, Kharchin, and Khorchin tribes, and then tell him about the fate of the Chahar tribe.

There is only one purpose. I want to form an alliance with the Outer Khalkha tribes, become their Sun and Moon Khan, and put an end to the wars between them. The benefits are that the leaders can get rich, the herdsmen can have enough food and clothing, and suffer less from the pain of traveling. If anyone is bullied, the Ming Dynasty will help him vent his anger. "

Looking at Yang Sichang who was speaking eloquently and shaking his head, Hong Tao suddenly felt that some old officials could still be used, and that he might have been a little extreme before.

Since this guy can make up such a high-sounding and elegant lie, let him be in charge of more diplomatic affairs in the future, and specialize in using lies to fool people. If he succeeds, it will be an extra gain, and if he fails, there will be no loss.

"The Outer Khalkha Mongols... they live in the bitter cold of the far north, what use is there for them, Your Majesty?" Yang Sichang, who was very proud of the fact that his two suggestions were adopted by the emperor, immediately stopped smiling when he heard this name. Some of the court officials were already full of praise for the emperor's great achievements, and those who had always said that the emperor was militaristic had basically shut up in the face of reality. Why would he provoke the barbarians further north?

If the war launched against the Mongols south of the Gobi Desert and the Jurchens was to eliminate the threats around them, then the Outer Khalkha Mongols were so far away that the threat did not seem to exist.

"That's wrong. Looking through history books, most of the northern nomadic peoples rose from the bitter cold lands of the far north, and moved south after accumulating strength. I have only just resolved the immediate threat, but have not completely eliminated it. If you don't want your descendants to suffer from war, you have to suffer more now."

Seeing Yang Sichang like this, Hong Tao's slight good impression of him disappeared without a trace. The old officials really couldn't be retained and had to be replaced as soon as possible.

What they lack is not talent, but cognition. This thing is the sum of what a person has learned since childhood. High is high, low is low. At this age, there is no time to change.

In their minds, Outer Khalkha Mongolia seemed to be at the edge of the sky, but in fact, Karakorum was only 1200 miles away from Hetao. With the migration speed of nomadic people, they could reach the border wall in half a month. This was not foresight at all, but a living threat right in front of their toes, but many people turned a blind eye to it.

So does Hong Tao want to march north again? Is he no longer in a hurry to open up the Western Regions and restore the Silk Road? No, the westward expansion plan will still be implemented, but Outer Khalkha Mongolia is involved in the plan.

Now, to the north of the Ming Empire is Outer Khalkha Mongolia, to the northwest is Oirat Mongolia, and to the west is the Yarkand Khanate. These are the three main targets of the Western Expedition.

Originally, the Outer Khalkha Mongols and the Oirat Mongols were hostile to each other, and the Yarkand Khanate was also founded by descendants of the Mongols, but they converted to Islam.

There are both conflicts and connections between the three of them. It is hard to say who is the mortal enemy of whom and who may unite with whom. All kinds of possibilities exist.

If the Ming army marched westward into the Yarkand Khanate and could not quickly resolve the conflict, the chances of these possibilities would be magnified. For example, the Oirat Mongols would intervene, or the Khalkha Mongols would take the opportunity to march south and threaten the Ming army's retreat.

It's not too late to think of a way to deal with it by then, but it's not in the plan after all. This is what Hong Tao deliberately avoids before doing anything. What can be controlled must be controlled in the hands, and the rest can be left to luck.

The first step Hong Tao thought of was to unite with the Outer Khalkha Mongolian tribes to march westward. As for the probability, who knows, as long as the other party is willing to sit down and talk, everything is possible in the face of interests.

Of course, I know nothing about the situation of the leaders of the Outer Khalkha Mongols, and it is possible that the other party will not agree. That doesn't matter, there is still the Wala Mongols.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. If the Outer Khalkha tribes do not show favor, they will go to the leader of the Oirat Mongols to discuss the possibility of jointly dividing the Outer Khalkha tribes.

Sowing discord is my favorite job. It doesn't require any effort. All I have to do is draw a few delicious-looking pies and people will be fooled.

It doesn’t matter even if no one is fooled. The pie is just a drawing. Apart from a little saliva, there is not a drop of oil or water, and no flour is needed. There is not even a pan. It’s pure air!

"Lord Yang, have the Ministry of Rites send someone to the Khorchin tribe to ask Oba Taiji to help me consult on the peace talks with Outer Khalkha and listen to his opinions."

When talking about Outer Khalkha, Hong Tao suddenly thought of someone. He quickly called Yang Sichang who had already walked to the door, and strode over to give him a few words of advice.

(End of this chapter)