Clash of Alliances by Pierre Dimaculangan

Author:Pierre Dimaculangan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: TOMKBooks
Published: 2019-07-17T04:00:00+00:00

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​The Academician that was sent to deliver the emperor’s message to the Da Yan Khan had returned to Beijing two weeks after he was dispatched to the Northern Yuan regions. He brought with him emissaries from the great Khan himself, and they sought an audience with the emperor. They stood within the square dressed in leather and wolf pelts and sported scimitars encased in ornate scabbards. Square quivers stuffed full of arrows and recurve bows were holstered firmly onto their hips and they were somewhat tense as they awaited the emperor. The permitting of their weapons was most irregular and ill-advised when foreigners were granted entry into the imperial palace… but such times were irregular. Present circumstances have relaxed the emperor’s stance on policy, to the chagrin of the court officials and Martial Scholars.

​“I would like to respectfully remind you of the moving power of humility and meekness,” Famin Jie gently said to him.

​“I will speak humbly, but they will see my sword in hand while I am speaking. However, the Da Yan Khan himself and those loyal to his leadership have thus far maintained volatile relations with the empire. He organized many of the Menggu under his command into a more civil and cooperative group and I feel they would be more willing to listen to our proposal for a formal alliance,” emperor Zhu Youcheng replied. Many court mandarins were wary or even opposed to working with the Menggu whom they had deemed as uncivilized and violent barbarians, forever sworn to be their enemies. The Martial Scholars and the eunuchs were far more supportive of forging alliances even with the Menggu and were willing to push aside centuries of animosity and distrust for the sake of their survival against the Terukk. This was no time to for grudges and pride. The Middle Kingdom could use as many allies it could get.

​Putting aside court traditions and formalities, emperor Zhu Youcheng personally approached the Menggu emissaries and exchanged greetings on equal levels. The emissaries were surprised at the emperor’s humble and unexpected gesture but were more relaxed because of it.

​“Come walk with me to the gardens so that we may discuss the matters at hand,” said emperor Zhu. A team of Academicians kept a close eye on the Menggu who were allowed to wear their weapons as they walked. The Menggu were a very tough and hardy folk, accustomed to the hardships of life living in the steppe. The faces of the delegates were tanned and parched, having been exposed to the extreme cold of winter and the glaring sun of summer for all their lives. They did not appear the slightest bit fatigued from their long journey from beyond the Great Wall. One need not mention that the grand majesty and magnificence of the imperial palace did very little to provoke their awe.

​However, it was noteworthy that their skills with a horse and bow rivaled and probably even surpassed the Ming Empire’s very own elite cavalry units, but those within the Ming were usually too prideful to admit it.

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