In May of the first year of Hongzhi, the new Khan of the Mongolian Empire, Dayan Khan Batu Mengke, led 50,000 cavalrymen to the south of Datong. The Mongolian cavalry camped near Datong for more than 30 miles.

Datong Mansion, as the northwest barrier of the Ming Dynasty capital, has been prone to frequent wars over the years. Geographically, the Datong area is "connected to Shanggu in the east, Bingheng in the south, the Yellow River in the west, and the desert in the north." Its strategic position is extremely important. In ancient times, this place has always been a

It is one of the main passages for the northern nomads to enter the Central Plains. The ethnic minorities that once dominated the stage of Chinese history all entered the Datong area, and all the Han feudal dynasties used the Datong area to resist the northern nomads from going south.

All of the major battlefields regard Datong as an important strategic stronghold to consolidate its northern border defense.

At this time, after receiving the order from the imperial court, Shanxi Commander Zheng Yu personally patrolled the city wall to strictly guard against the Mongols. According to Zhu Youtang's order, Mongolia had sent more than 500 envoys into the capital in the past few days.

Pay tribute.

…

The capital of the Ming Dynasty, Sang Gan, the leader of the Mongolian envoy in charge of this tribute, was leading his daughter and several subordinates to wander on the streets of the capital.

On the surface, Sang Gan came to the capital of the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute under the orders of Batu Mengke. In fact, he wanted to spy on the situation of the Ming Dynasty and also see if the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty could do it.

The last attack on the Lanzhou Guard was just a test by Batu Mengke. If the newly succeeded Emperor Hongzhi is mediocre and Ming Dynasty does not respond, then he will have no worries and can march in with iron hoofs and ZTE.

The Great Mongol Empire is just around the corner!

Looking at the eight streets and nine streets of the capital of the Ming Dynasty, there are many shops on both sides of the streets, the shop signs flying high, the streets are busy with traffic, and the crowds are like a tide. He couldn't help but sigh: "The Central Plains is so prosperous and prosperous! One day we will

The Mongols want to invade again and take back these gold and silver treasures, silks and satins, and skilled craftsmen as their own!"

Sang Gan's daughter smiled and said: "Father, can we defeat the Han emperor?"

"Of course we can. Our Mongolian cavalry is invincible in the world. We could conquer them a hundred years ago, and we can still do it now!" Sang Gan said to his daughter confidently.

Sang Gan suddenly saw a house in the distance and remembered something, and said: "I heard that the current chief minister of the Ming Dynasty is Liu Ji. Before formally meeting the Han emperor, we must first pay homage to this Ming Dynasty. "Under one person, ten thousand people

Ba Genyong, the chief assistant of "Shanghai", please go back and pick out a few precious treasures and come with me."

"Yes." A guard following Sang Gan nodded and responded.

"Father, I want to go too. I also want to see the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty."

Sang Gan and his entourage laughed loudly: "Nonsense, why are girls joining in the fun? The chief minister of the Han people is already an old man, and he is not a young young man. What's so good about him? You take a few guards to go around, and my father will

I won’t accompany you anymore.”

...

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youtang first summoned Mou Bin, the former Jinyi Guard Baihu. Since the last time Mou Bin followed Zhu Youtang to Fengming Courtyard, he was immediately promoted to the third rank commander second only to Palm Commander Wantong.

Tongzhi. When he was conferred, Mou Bin burst into tears of gratitude and swore allegiance to Zhu Youtang to the death, even if it hurt his body and brains!

"Commander of the Imperial Guard, Mou Bin, is here to see your Majesty!"

With all the complicated government affairs these days and staying at Kunning Palace at night, Zhu Youtang was so tired that he fell asleep while waiting for Mou Bin to come. Mou Bin's sudden voice woke up Zhu Youtang who was leaning on the chair. .

Li Guang on the side smacked his mouth and thought: "This stupid pig with no eyesight, didn't you see that the emperor was taking a nap with his eyes squinted? I really don't understand how this kind of person became a third-grade servant."

Zhu Youtang opened his eyes, yawned, and said, "Get up and give me a seat."

As soon as he finished speaking, another eunuch quickly brought a chair and placed it behind Mou Bin.

After Mou Bin carefully sat down, Zhu Youtang rubbed his eyes and asked: "How is it? Is the commanding officer doing a good job?"

After Zhu Youtang finished speaking, he glanced at Li Guang. Li Guang immediately understood and said softly: "I will leave first."

"Go outside and see when Liu Ji and the others will come. Report to me in advance."

Upon seeing this, Mou Bin thought: "Your Majesty must have entrusted me with some confidential matters." He cheered up and replied: "Thanks to your Majesty's kindness for appointing me as a commanding officer, I will do my best to do everything well." matter."

"Okay, I am relieved because of your love. I heard that the Tatar delegation has arrived in Beijing today? I want you to monitor their every move throughout the day and report to me immediately if there is any situation."

Zhu Youtang chatted with Mou Bin for a few more words. At this moment, Li Guang trotted in: "Your Majesty, Mr. Ge and the others are here."

After hearing this, Mou Bin immediately stood up and bowed his body and said: "I understand, so I will leave first."

.......

Early the next morning, Zhu Youtang arrived at Fengtian Hall, and all civil and military officials lined up in sequence. Mongolian envoy Sang Gan, who had rested in the post house earlier, led several of his followers and waited at Fengtian Gate with a list of tributes.

At this time, a eunuch came out of the palace and shouted loudly: "The Emperor of Heaven has a decree, and the Mongolian envoys have begun to come and play music~"

The ceremonial officer came out to receive the Mongolian envoys. Sang Gan followed the ceremonial officer and went up the royal road.

At this time, I saw the Mongolian envoys striding into the palace, standing and saluting: "The Emperor of Ming Dynasty has a holy bow."

The officials on both sides of Danchi were furious when they saw that the Mongolian envoys dared to be so rude and stood up to salute the emperor instead of kneeling.

The Mongolian envoy Sang Gan just stood looking at Zhu Youtang, with no intention of kneeling down, and his eyes were full of disdain.

Zhu Youtang knew in his heart that this was Mongolia's provocation against him, and he did not take the initiative to speak, with a hint of murderous intent in his cold eyes.

Now Mongolia is once again unified and controls hundreds of thousands of strings. It really wants to challenge the Ming Dynasty. Before Tumubao, the Ming army was a myth, and it always maintained an undefeated record against Mongolia. But after Tumubao After the change, Mongolia discovered that the so-called Ming Empire was nothing more than that, and it was not invincible. Especially in the face of Mongolia's constant harassment of the border in recent years, the Ming Dynasty was more on the defensive, and it was difficult to launch another attack. A large-scale proactive attack.

I heard that recently all the items that the envoys from the Li Dynasty paid tribute to the Ming Emperor were looted and all the envoys were turned into headless corpses. This matter has caused quite a stir. How could the Mongolian envoys not know about it?

Look, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty dared to snatch even the tributes. Your Ming Dynasty has lost its former glory. We, the Mongol Empire, are about to take over the Central Plains again!

Faced with the Mongolian envoy's refusal to kneel, Zhu Youtang's lips curled up slightly, "You don't kneel, right?" Then there's no need to save your head for drinking kumiss!

Sang Gan looked dismissive, but he was actually very scared in his heart. It was said that when the emperor was angry, he would lay down millions of corpses. If this young emperor, who was full of energy and blood, did not care about the exchanges between the two countries, he would not kill the envoys.

.If you kill yourself directly, then you will not only have no brains to drink kumiss, but also stop dreaming of re-invading the Central Plains.

What should I do? Kneel him or not? He has the support of the Mongol Empire behind him, with 100,000 iron hoofs, and Datong has stationed 50,000 elite cavalry. He represents the Mongol Empire, and it is clearly written on the tribute list that Datong

Dayan Khan of Mongolia sent a letter to the Emperor of the Southern Kingdom, explaining that his Khan did not take the Ming Dynasty represented by Zhu Youtang seriously.

The officials in the palace were already dumbfounded. Are all tributary countries so arrogant now? This is a challenge to the authority of the Ming Dynasty!

The first round of salutes is over.

At this time, rituals and music started again.

In full view of everyone, Sang Gan still did not bow his head and knelt down, but the followers behind him were already sweating profusely, their legs were trembling, and they could hardly stand still.

The civil and military officials in the hall still had no intention of kneeling when they saw Sang Gan, and Zhu Youtang didn't say anything either. If he, as a minister, doesn't stand up to find a place for his boss, then what else will he do? The hall instantly exploded with discussion.

, accusations, and curses kept coming...

Liu Ji knew that he was the chief minister of the cabinet and had to stand up first. Liu Ji shouted sharply: "Why don't the Mongolian envoys kneel down when they see me, the Ming Emperor? You are so disrespectful to etiquette and disrespectful to me, the Ming Emperor. You have 10 heads."

Well?"

"Yes, Dog Tartar, be careful. This is the capital of the Ming Dynasty, this is the Fengtian Palace, not your grassland or yurt!"

"For being so disrespectful, Your Majesty, please punish the Mongolian envoy for the crime of disrespect!"

"Dog slaves, do you really think I'm afraid of you? I will lead an army to destroy your yurt tomorrow!"

"If you don't kneel down, I'll kill you bitch slave!"

Civil and military officials began to criticize one after another, and some generals found it unpleasant to scold and wanted to take action directly.

Zhu Youtang suddenly laughed out loud when he looked at the proud Mongolian envoys.

Everyone was even more puzzled by this smile. Was the emperor confused? Sang Gan's heart suddenly trembled. He saw no trace of anger on Zhu Youtang's face, but he laughed heartily. This laughter was confident and powerful.

Zhu Youtang stopped smiling and said slowly: "Since you are here to pay tribute on behalf of Mongolia, then by not kneeling, doesn't it mean that you are declaring war on me, the Ming Dynasty?

Sang Gan suddenly felt a shiver in his heart. Was he declaring war on the Ming Emperor? Is Mongolia really confident that it can defeat the Ming Dynasty?

"Do you think your Mongolian troops will be safe and sound in our Datong camp? Believe it or not, I can prevent you from returning to the grassland with just a decree. I don't want your Mongolian tributes, but the face that Ming Dynasty has lost today must be questioned by you.

Found it on the Mongols stationed outside Datong!"

What Zhu Youtang said was true. If he detained himself in the capital and secretly dispatched armies from all over the country to encircle him, the Khan outside Datong might not be able to return to the grassland. He came to pay tribute this time because he wanted to explore the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.

In addition, let the Ming Dynasty agree to carry out border market trade. If the dispute is too tense and you really lose face with the Ming Dynasty, not only will your own affairs be regarded as a failure, but it may also cause the death of the Khan of Datong.

Forget it, forget it, just kneel down to him. I, the Mongolian Empire, will definitely settle accounts with you in the future! Sang Gan took a deep breath, slowly bent his knees, knelt on the ground and shouted loudly: "Mongol envoy Sang Gan paid homage to the Ming Emperor, His Majesty bows

install!"
Chapter completed!