Chapter 179: Traveling all over the country, climbing mountains and wading through water

In May, at nightfall, Mars will retrograde and invade the Di constellation.

A huge red star hung in the night sky, flashing an eerie light.

Nurhaci looked up and stared intently.

Perhaps the astrological theories spread by the White Lotus Sect really correspond to reality.

At least, the current situation of the Jianzhou Jurchens is just like the astrological signs, as intense as fire. Oh no, it seems to be in full swing.

Nurhaci returned to the mountain city of Hetuala in March.

But after coming back, I didn't feel the security of being home, but was overwhelmed by a wave of tension.

The Jurchens of Jianzhou started fighting with the Ming Dynasty.

To be more precise, it was his stepmother's father, the adopted son of Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Liaodong and the chief censor of the Ming Dynasty, the most powerful of the three guards of Jianzhou, and the chief of the Xitala clan, Wang Gao, who once again plundered the Ming Dynasty.

This was not the first time that his adopted grandfather, Wang Gao, had wrestled with the Han people.

Seventeen years ago, after Wang Gao returned to Jianzhou from studying abroad in Fushun, he gathered his troops, stormed back to Fushun City, and beheaded Peng Wenzhu, the garrison commander of the Ming Dynasty.

Twelve years ago, Wang Gao lured and killed the Han deputy general Heichun, invaded Liaoyang, robbed Gushan, and captured Fushun. He successively killed dozens of people including the commander Wang Guozhu, and established unparalleled prestige among the tribes.

It was not until four years ago that his adoptive grandfather's adoptive father, Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Liaodong, personally led his troops to defeat Wang Gao, and the two sides began to exchange prisoners and open tribute markets.

Four years ago, Nurhaci worked as a servant in Wang Gao's mansion.

It was only two years ago when the trade was booming that Nurhaci was sent by his stepmother to do business.

I thought the trade would go on smoothly, but when Nurhaci returned to Jianzhou in March, he was shocked to find that the trade between the Jurchens and the Ming Dynasty had been closed.

After asking around, he learned that his adoptive grandfather, Wang Gao, had once again become murderous. He took advantage of the trade to kill Pei Chengzu, the garrison commander of the Ming Dynasty, and a captain-in-chief named Liu Chengyi, and then looted the place.

But this time, the Ming Dynasty did not swallow its anger as it had done in the past.

Perhaps he had hit a critical point, the general named Li Chengliang was not prepared to give up. He immediately counted his troops and sharpened his swords, as if he was ready to lead his army to attack at any time.

Faced with the unprecedented aggressiveness of the Ming Dynasty, the Jianzhou Jurchens finally felt panic-stricken.

Nurhaci couldn't sleep all night.

Outsiders were at most afraid of disrupting their stable lives, but for Nurhaci, this cheap grandfather might very likely drag himself into it - Nurhaci had heard many stories about the Han people being implicated in the three or nine clans when he was doing business.

In his opinion, his grandfather was extremely stupid.

Why offend the Han people just for some supplies?
If it were him, he would definitely not rob the Han people, but would show his utmost loyalty to the Han people.

Not only did they have to pay tribute, engage in trade, and submit letters of allegiance, but they also had to beg for mercy from the Han emperor and serve as a vassal barrier for the Han people.

If he appeared respectful enough on the surface, how could he easily invite an attack from the Han people?
Only in this way can we devote our energy to integrating the Jurchen tribes in Jianzhou, Haixi and Donghai.

Why couldn't his grandfather, who only knew how to kill and plunder, think carefully about recovering the lost writing system of the Jurchens, promulgating a code of law belonging to the Jurchens, and establishing a dynasty belonging to the Jurchens?
Oh, if only I could replace myself.

When will we be able to split up and build our own power?

Perhaps, as long as it did not implicate himself, it would be a good thing for his adopted grandfather to be beaten to death by Li Chengliang. In this way, his stepmother would not be so powerful, and he might be able to get more property when he divided the family property.

I was thinking wildly.

Suddenly he heard footsteps outside the house.

Nurhaci was startled and stuck his head out of the window.

I only saw my younger brother running towards me.

Nurhaci hurried out of the house.

Before I could say anything, I heard A-di's anxious voice.

"Brother! Something happened!"

Nurhaci held Adi's shoulder and frowned in confusion: "Shuerhaqi, what happened?"

Shuerhaqi was so anxious that sweat covered his forehead: "Brother, a few Mongolians came to the city and said they want to take you away!"

Nurhaci felt that he didn't understand what he said.

What Mongols? What does it mean to take yourself away?

Nurhaci took his younger brother into the room and said, "Tell me clearly, what Mongolians? Where do you want to take me?"

Shuerhazi took a deep breath and began to gesture: "It was in the evening when several Mongolians on good horses entered the Hetuala Mountain City."

"They just found our family and said they want to take you to the Han imperial palace to be a eunuch and enjoy a peaceful life."

"My mother agreed as soon as she heard it!"

"My grandfather didn't dare to offend the Mongols, so he had to offer them wine. While the Mongols were drinking, I told my brother to leave quickly."

Shuerhaci spoke a long string of words like pouring beans out of a bamboo tube.

Nurhaci was listening with a frown on his face, but his expression suddenly changed!
Be a eunuch?
But he knew that eunuchs in the Southern Dynasty had to be castrated!
How dare this fucking stepmother hurt him like this! ?
Nurhaci glanced hatefully in the direction of his stepmother.

He has no contact with the Han or Mongolian people. There could be no other reason except that his stepmother was afraid that he would divide the family property and take away the property, so she deliberately harmed him!
Nurhaci quickly turned around and began to rummage through boxes and drawers to pack up his luggage - if he didn't run away now, let alone being the king of the grassland, he might not even be able to be a man!
He held a bag in his hands and kept asking questions: "Which group of Mongols are they from?"

He must find out who his stepmother is colluding with before he can run in the right direction. Otherwise, he will have no chance to regret it once he gets into trouble.

At this critical moment, Shuerhaci naturally answered whatever was asked: "It's a Mongolian from the Wuliangha Wanhu."

Nurhaci took a deep breath and thought something was wrong.

The mountain city of Hetuala is originally located in the pastoral area of ​​the Wulankha Wanhu, making it even more difficult to escape now!
The north was his stepmother's native tribe.

To the west are the Uriankhai tribes.

To the east is the Bohai Sea.

There is no way out.

Nurhaci found it hard to accept this. Suddenly, it seemed as if there was no way to heaven or door to earth.

He gnashed his teeth and said, "Why did that bitch Hadanala suddenly collude with the Wanhu of Wuliangha?"

Shuerhaqi hesitated and said, "It seems that it was not my mother who sent anyone here..."

Nurhaci was stunned.

I just heard Shulhazi continue talking.

"What the Mongols told my grandfather was that Chang'ang of the Duoyan Guard was defeated in the battle and was called by the Han people to the capital to pay tribute."

"In order to let the Han people know his submission, Chang Ang gave a domesticated wolf to the Han emperor, named it Chang Ang."

"The Han emperor was very happy and even taught people how to distinguish between wolves and dogs."

"Tell Chang Ang and his Han subordinates that they can tease them and see their reactions. Chang Ang is a wolf, and if he gets angry and snorts, he is a dog."

"In order to please the Han emperor, Chang Ang responded by saying that there happened to be a dog named Nurhachi in the pastoral area of ​​Fuyuwei, which could be given to the Han emperor as a eunuch to pair with the domesticated wolf."

"Then they sent someone to come to my house..."

Shulhazi spoke in a lower and lower voice.

Nurhaci was stunned.

There is actually such a reason! ?

Can the Han Emperor and Chang Ang treat these two beasts a little more lightly? ?

Relying on his high position and power, he implicates innocent people.

It’s so deceiving!
Nurhaci had originally been thinking about surrendering to Li Chengliang and leading the Han people - by selling out his grandfather and weakening his stepmother, he might even be able to gain a better future.

but now……

He immediately gave up the idea and packed his luggage without saying a word: "Shuerhaci, I'm going to go out and hide for a while. I will come back only when the Han people and the Wuliangha Mongols forget about this matter."

"I will take advantage of this time to travel north and south until I reach adulthood."

Shuerhaqi asked in a low voice with some concern: "Where are you going, brother?"

Nurhaci was about to say it, but after thinking it over he held back.

He squeezed A-di's shoulders hard: "Take care of yourself."

Then, without waiting for A-di's response, he turned around and left without any hesitation.

Shuerhazi watched his brother's figure disappear into the dark night along with the wind.

……

Half a month later.

Kaiyuan City welcomed a Jurchen merchant caravan.

This city was the closest city to Jianzhou in the Ming Dynasty. It extended to Biankou in the north and Bohai in the east. The Eastern Route Commander and the Horse Market Officer were stationed there.

After the Eastern Route Commander carefully inspected the caravan, he allowed it to stop at the post station.

The reason why this caravan was able to enter Liaodong when the two sides were on the verge of a war was naturally because it was sending a signal of peace.

Wang Gao of the Jianzhou Jurchens refused to budge, and as a last resort, Wan Khan of the Haixi Jurchens could no longer hold back and stepped forward to mediate.

Not only did he personally redeem the 82 Han people that Wang Gao had abducted from the trade and return them to Liaodong, he also took the initiative to send his son to Beijing as a hostage, hoping to demonstrate his obedience and thus calm the dispute.

It was also for this reason that the Han border troops allowed the Jurchens to enter Liaodong at this time.

Nurhaci mixed in the team, looking around cautiously and curiously.

In the team, there was an elder from Tonghan who was whispering to his clansmen, especially Menggebulu, who was sent to Beijing as a hostage, about the situation in Liaodong.

"…The generals of Liaodong were all useless and vulnerable. In the past ten years, Yin Shangzhi, Yang Zhao, and Wang Zhidao were killed by us and the Mongols one by one. It was not until Li Chengliang took office that he began to overhaul the military, select officers, recruit strong men from all over the country, give them generous food, and use them as elite troops."

"From then on, we never got any advantage again."

"So, the first person we should not offend is Li Chengliang."

After saying this, naturally someone asked a question.

"But now that we have offended him, what should we do if Li Chengliang really wants to invade our Jurchen tribe?"

The elder was silent for a while after hearing this, and then spread his hands and said, "It's just that Wang Gao's group is ignorant of life and death, how can they attack my Jurchen tribe?"

Everyone understood and couldn't help but sigh.

At this time, someone asked curiously: "But I heard that the highest leader of the Han people in Liaodong is called the governor. How come it sounds like Li Chengliang, the general, is higher than the governor?"

The elder shook his head and said something that no one could quite understand: "This man can fight in wars and can also be an official."

Nurhaci didn't understand either, but he remembered the name. In the situation in Liaodong, this Li Chengliang must be a key figure.

But now that he has changed his name, he is most afraid of attracting attention and it is not easy to ask questions.

While Nurhaci was listening quietly, he was also observing whether his forged identity would arouse suspicion.

His escape to the Ming Dynasty was a helpless move that involved great risks.

It was impossible for him to escape to the territory of his stepmother's tribe, and even more impossible for him to go in the direction of Uriankhai.

Not to mention going out to sea and North Korea.

Han people always say that the most dangerous place is the safest place.

It was like the only escape route Nurhaci could choose. It seemed dangerous, but he would definitely not run into the Mongols or his stepmother's men.

Even the Han people would not search for him inside the Great Wall.

He just needs to get away at the right place without having to worry anymore.

Of course, the suitable place is definitely not Kaiyuan City, which is too close to Jianzhou. During the years of trade, many people from Liaodong have seen him, so accidents are inevitable.

Moreover, he told A-di that he wanted to travel around the country, and it was not just talk.

He really wanted to see with his own eyes the culture of the Han people and the Han border - what this place, which was once defeated by the Jurchens and now has become the strongest country again, really looks like. With this mentality, Nurhaci played his role in the team at ease and did not do anything to arouse suspicion.

The next few days.

The team marched along the route designated by the Ming Dynasty border army - ninety li west to Sanwanwei Posthouse, another ninety li west to Luzhou Posthouse, another ninety li west to Yilu Posthouse, and sixty li west to Shenyangweizaicheng Posthouse.

Nurhaci followed the team and observed Liaodong all the way.

The Han people did not seem to live as well as their fellow tribesmen said, that everyone was well-dressed and well-fed. Instead, the majority of the Han people were like slaves.

Regardless of age, gender, or both, everyone looked pale and thin. Most of the houses on the roadside looked like they had been abandoned for a long time.

One day he saw a Han Chinese man at the post station lamenting that "lives were taken by whippings, fats were exhausted by chewing, and nine out of ten houses are empty", and then he was taken away by the yamen in public.

Later he realized that this was a complaint about heavy taxes.

Nurhaci concluded at night that the Han people's rule in Liaodong was like cattle and sheep losing blood, which would fall down at any time and scatter at the slightest breeze.

The appearance of the border troops was not as scary as on the battlefield.

He often encountered escaped soldiers being captured and escorted through the post stations.

Furthermore, through his careful eavesdropping and inquiring, he found that the general named Li Chengliang seemed to have the same common weaknesses of the Han people, similar to those Han merchants.

Greed, irritability, and extravagance are evaluations that can often be heard from the Han people in Liaodong.

Once, when Nurhaci was drinking with a postman, he heard the postman comment that Li Chengliang was "ambitious and ambitious". Not only did he suppress his colleagues to gain credit, but he also "covered up his defeat as merit and killed innocent people to gain rank".

Nurhaci kept all of this in mind.

As the team moves forward.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and it is already midsummer.

The team was also getting further and further away from Jianzhou.

One hundred and twenty li from Liaoyang Town, sixty li from Anshan Post, ninety li from Haizhouwei Zaicheng Post, ninety li from Niujiazhuang Post, eighty li from Shaling Post, seventy li from Guangningcheng Banqiao Post…

After passing Shanhaiguan, we arrived at Luanhe Posthouse in Yongping Prefecture.

Everyone ate fruits to cool off and enjoyed the cool air by the stream beside the post station.

"Paving the way for Kuanhe Trade?" Nurhaci asked curiously.

"Yes, ever since the Luan River water transportation began in the Han Dynasty, it has always depended on the weather. If it rains a lot, it will be smooth, and if it rains less, it will be bad. Now, the imperial court naturally has to sort out the hydrology for the cargo transportation of Kuanhe Trade. It is said that it will be divided into two east-west waterways, the Luan River waterway and the Douhe River waterway..." The old postman told the story as if he knew all his treasures.

Nurhaci listened carefully to the old postman's introduction.

After the old postman finished speaking, he asked again: "Has the market been built? Can the Jurchens really go there to trade?"

The old postman chuckled and said, "The inner city has been built, and the outer city is still under construction. It is called the Kuanhe Free Trade Zone. It will be remotely governed by Jizhou and stationed with Duoyan Guards. It is open to all tribes."

"As for the Jurchens..."

He glanced at Nurhaci and nodded in approval: "Not only trade, but barbarians like you who can speak Chinese can also be included in the Yellow Book of the Kuanhe Free Trade Zone. Whether you settle down or do business, you will receive preferential treatment."

When Nurhaci heard this, a trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes.

He forced a smile and replied in a concealed tone: "Even if it is, it is a qualification only available to nobles."

"Just like Li Chengliang in Liaodong, he took all the benefits of merchants and civilians in Liaodong into his own name and made friends with the powerful. Ordinary merchants had no chance to get involved."

He heard this statement from the Han people. As to whether it was correct or not, he would definitely verify it himself in the future.

The old postman smacked his lips and did not refute. He just said hopefully: "General Qi has a better reputation than General Li. Maybe he can control them a little and give some soup to the ordinary vendors. It will also help our area to benefit from it and prosper the business."

Perhaps because they were talking about unhappy topics, the old postman ended his chat with the barbarians by shaking his head.

Nurhaci recalled the old postman's words and fell into deep thought.

According to this statement, it is not as simple as just opening a market - even the post station has been opened in advance.

In the future, there will be too many things to do, such as sailing ships, recruiting Han and foreign people to live together, and conducting trade and commerce.

Are we going to rebuild the Daningdusi?

Nurhaci's expression became a little ugly when he thought of this. If the Daning Metropolitan Command was really rebuilt, would it be stationed there, or would it be divided into vassal kings as before? What would the Jurchens do then?
With a vigilant mind, Nurhaci then observed and inquired more carefully.

Especially after entering Jizhou.

Nurhaci was slightly less cautious than when he was in Liaodong. He was more proactive in talking to the Han people, observing the soldiers who occasionally passed by the post station, and asking around about Prime Minister Qi Jiguang.

This inquiry actually scared Nurhaci.

First, let’s talk about Qi Jiguang himself.

This man's reputation was much better than Li Chengliang's. Along the way, he didn't meet any Han people who complained or insulted him. It was even said that the Han emperor trusted this man very much.

In addition, the faces of the border troops are much better than those of the soldiers in Liaodong.

He even saw a scene where southern soldiers passed through the border quietly and silently, and even walked around the crops when they saw them.

as well as.

Perhaps because they were close to the capital and feared the censors, the Han people paid fewer strange and miscellaneous taxes.

Although there are still many pale and thin people, the situation is much better than in Liaodong.

The border defense was even more speechless.

Ever since Qi Jiguang killed Dong Huli at the turn of spring and summer, the Doyan Guards have degenerated into a shield for the Han people.

Now that summer has passed and autumn has arrived, the horses are fat and healthy, yet the Mongols have not yet raided the city to plunder.

All these things made Nurhaci feel invulnerable for a while.

Just like the autumn weather, his mood also became a little chilly.

As we kept observing, time finally came to August.

As the team moved forward, after leaving Jizhou, they arrived at Tongzhou.

This place is very close to the capital.

Precisely because it was so close, Nurhaci felt a prosperity that was different from the grassland and he had never seen before.

At the same time, I also learned a lot of idioms that I had never heard before.

Row upon row.

Heavy traffic.

live and work in peace and contentment.

It turns out that it is only the people living in the border areas who suffer, while the closer to the capital, the more prosperous a place is.

In particular, at Sanhe Posthouse in Tongzhou, Nurhaci saw a scene that he would never forget.

He pointed tremblingly at the large ship docked at the pier and looked at the veiled and graceful beauties on the ship.

Shocked, he lost his voice: "Is this how a Han emperor marries? Hundreds of beauties at a time?"

Nurhaci was so surprised that he accidentally shouted out loud while talking to himself.

The Korean man next to him sneered when he saw that he was a Jurchen, and continued in fluent Mongolian: "You have never seen the world. The woman on this boat is just from one province."

"Let me tell you, there are about five thousand women coming to Beijing this time!"

Nurhaci was stunned: "Five thousand!?"

Then he murmured to himself: "Big man... big man..."

When the Korean saw Nurhaci's reaction, he couldn't help but feel secretly happy for the strength of his suzerain country.

He wanted to show off his Mongolian skills, and immediately became interested in talking: "I'll teach you, a barbarian, that this is the Celestial Empire. You can see the world."

Nurhaci finally came to his senses and realized that he was being ridiculed.

Being a young man, he could only try to save face by stiffening his neck and retorting, "It's just to make up the numbers. No matter how many wives a Han emperor marries, he will still be controlled by his mother all his life and cannot be a real man at home."

"When I come of age, mother can help discipline me!"

Seeing that the barbarian was not convinced, the Korean also had a desire to win: "What do you know, barbarian? When our emperor first ascended the throne, he brought the Jinyiwei into the palace at night to ask the Queen Mother to supervise the country. At that time, he could also force Queen Mother Chen to bow her head and control the country, and speak the law of heaven."

As soon as he said this, even though he said it in Mongolian, he couldn't help but look around carefully.

Seeing that no one was paying attention, he proudly pointed his chin at the barbarian next to him.

Unfortunately, the barbarian looked confused and didn't seem to understand the meaning at all.

The Korean man couldn't help but shook his head, tutted his words in a lack of interest, and turned away.

Only Nurhaci was left staring at the beauties on the boat.

Nurhaci, who had originally planned to leave the team at Sanheyi, stared at them for half an hour. Only after all the beauties had gotten off the boat did he reluctantly look away.

Marrying a wife for five thousand is so terrifying.

I don't know if I can handle it.

If I could become the ruler of the Jurchens one day, I would definitely learn the good customs of the Han people.

He touched his neck, stopped thinking about it, and focused on the current situation.

Now that we have arrived in Tongzhou, it is almost time to leave the team.

He had no intention of entering the capital - the Han Chinese capital had very strict inspections, even Han Chinese had to go through a lot of inspections to enter, let alone him, a Jurchen who used a fake identity.

Therefore, in order to prevent being exposed, he decided to leave the team in Tongzhou, and go out of the border alone from Miyun via Yanqing and Xuanda, and return to the grassland.

At that time, he would no longer have to worry about being caught and taken to the palace to become a eunuch.

At nightfall.

Nurhaci then changed into a merchant's outfit and the identity of the Xihai Jurchen that he had prepared in advance - it would be better not to use the identity of the Jianzhou Jurchen. Halfway along the way, he heard that Li Chengliang had sent troops to Jianzhou, and within eight days, they had attacked Gule Village and killed many people.

If the Wan Khan of the West Sea Jurchens had not already shown a submissive attitude, the village would probably have been massacred.

The only pity is that his grandfather ran away.

Nurhaci wrapped his clothes and quietly left the post station.

It's already autumn in August.

The weather is getting colder.

Nurhaci also robbed several farmers on the way - according to his experience, farmers were similar to slaves, and if they were robbed there would be a high probability that officials would not be dispatched to pursue them.

Of course, the facts were just as he expected.

He started robbing from Tongzhou, passed through Miyun and Yanqing, plundered houses, and went all the way to Xuanfu. The whole journey was extremely smooth without encountering any setbacks.

On the way, he even joined forces with members of the White Lotus Sect and robbed a number of wealthy families' horse-drawn carriages.

Unfortunately, perhaps because he had colluded with the White Lotus Sect, he was finally hunted down by government soldiers.

Nurhaci also decided to quit while he was ahead and prepared to leave from Xuan Da.

On the first day of October, the weather already had a hint of winter.

Late at night, light snow began to fall from the sky.

Nurhaci took off the Han clothes and headscarf provided by the defenders to conceal his identity and put on the Hu clothes that originally belonged to him.

Then he took out the few remaining valuables looted by the defenders from the Han people's clothes, as well as a copy of "White Lotus Morning Confession Ritual", and put them into his pocket.

Nurhaci took one last look back at the Great Wall behind him.

After staring for a long while, he turned and walked towards Bansheng.

(End of this chapter)