Since Ma Chengfei said that they would discuss business tomorrow, Nuke was honest and stopped talking. He just said that he had driven a group of cattle and sheep here, hoping to win the favor of Ma Chengfei and others first.

Hunakeduleng knew that things might not be that simple, but Ma Chengfei kept his mouth shut, so he didn't dare to ask. He forced a smile and accompanied him to drink and eat.

"The Spring Festival is just a few days away. Lords Nuk and Hunak have come from afar, so why not spend the New Year here before leaving?" Ma Chengfei suddenly suggested, "The new Liaodong Governor, Lord Wu, probably won't arrive until after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Important matters still require his approval."

Hunake asked tentatively, "Master Yuan is the Imperial Preceptor. He is acting in Liaodong for official duties. Doesn't that mean he can't make decisions?"

Ma Chengfei chuckled and said, "Lord Yuan is certainly favored by the Emperor, but he is about to leave office, so he must be cautious. If it's not a matter of utmost urgency, leaving it to the next governor will not only avoid trouble but also save face for his successor."

Nuke was not very familiar with the rules of the Ming Dynasty officialdom. He blinked his big eyes and looked confused.

Hunakeduleng sighed secretly and admitted that Ma Chengfei was right.

Now that Liaodong has been pacified and the biggest threat to the Ming Dynasty has been removed, the Ming Dynasty's policies and attitudes towards the Mongolian tribes will most likely change.

If Yuan Keli had left office immediately without the court's permission and authorization, why would he have caused himself trouble? Wouldn't it have been better to delay and wait for the new governor to arrive with the court's new measures?

After all, the civil strife among the Mongolian tribes had nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty. After the Later Jin Dynasty was destroyed, the Mongolian tribes lost the qualification to play both sides and bargain.

Therefore, Hunakeduleng believed that the request for assistance from him and Nuk was not considered urgent at all in the eyes of Ming Dynasty officials.

Hunaqduleng certainly didn't know that the plans and policies for dealing with the Mongol tribes had been drawn up long ago. Although the changing situation had led to some changes in strategy, the main purpose remained unchanged.

The primary goal was to naturalize the Mongolian tribes and make them subjects of the Ming Dynasty. This was also the safest for the Mongolian tribes, and Lin Danhan did not dare to risk a war with the Ming Dynasty by continuing to attack the tribes that refused to surrender.

When Liaodong was still unpacified, the emperor could still accept the surrender, which was equivalent to an alliance. But the Jiannu had already fled far to Haixi, and surrendering was unlikely to satisfy the emperor.

Nuk had already drunk quite a bit of wine, and being young, he did not have the meticulous thinking of Hunaqduleng, so he became more and more relaxed and happy.

He only saw the closeness between him and the Ming army generals, but he didn't know that when it came to major events, personal relationships no longer mattered.

While they were eating and drinking, Ma Chengfei's eyes moved, and he smiled and extended his hand to greet them, "Wu Keshan, why did you arrive just now? You have to drink a penalty drink."

Wu Keshan and his brother Chahan hurried forward to greet them. Their sudden appearance surprised Hunakduleng and Nuk.

Seeing the two men's surprised and puzzled expressions, Ma Chengfei explained with a smile, "Wu Keshan and Chahan are now appointed by the Ming Dynasty as Zasaks of the middle and rear districts of the right wing of Khorchin, equivalent to Beile of the Mongolian tribe. They will lead their tribes to naturalize in the Ming Dynasty."

Wu Keshan bowed and said, "It is all thanks to the great grace of the Emperor that you have forgiven sinners like us."

Naturalize? Or bring along your original tribes?

Hunakeduleng narrowed his eyes and roughly guessed the strategy of the Ming Emperor.

In fact, the Khorchin tribe had already been defeated, and its people were either captured by other tribes or fled in all directions.

Of course, the Khorchin grassland was very large, and the joint attack by the Chahar tribe and the Ming army only basically eliminated its upper-class nobles.

However, it is not easy to occupy the entire Khorchin grassland and gather all its tribesmen.

Therefore, after Wu Keshan and Chahan took office as Zasak, they raised their banners and were able to recruit many scattered Khorchin people.

This move was extremely disadvantageous to Hunakeduleng, because the people he led broke away from Ligdan Khan and fled to the Khorchin grassland to hide.

Wu Keshan and Chahan raised the banner of the Khorchin tribe again, and it became difficult for Hunakeduleng to increase his strength by recruiting the scattered herdsmen of the former Khor tribe.

More importantly, there was no legitimate reason for Hunakeduleng's troops to settle and develop in the Khorchin grassland, and perhaps they even needed permission from the Ming court.

"Congratulations!" Hunaqduleng raised his glass to Wu Keshan and Chahan, and said with a smile, "The Khorchin Right Wing region is a great place. I wonder when you two will take up your posts?"

When Wu Keshan saw Hunaqduleng and Nuk, he guessed why they were invited to drink, and he also understood the meaning of "Khorchin right wing area" emphasized by Hunaqduleng.

Hunakeduleng's meaning was: "Although we live on the Horqin grassland, you are not the masters of the Horqin grassland. The Ming Emperor only gave you two districts on the right wing. You have no reason to drive us away."

Wu Keshan sneered in his heart, but did not show it on his face. He smiled faintly at Hunakeduleng and said, "Your Majesty is looking for candidates. The three districts of the front, middle, and rear of the left wing of Khorchin will also be appointed soon."

Hunakeduleng's expression froze.

It was originally thought that the Khorchin tribe had been destroyed and the Khorchin grassland was an ownerless land that would be divided up by surrounding tribes. However, no one expected that the Ming Emperor would push the nobles of the Khorchin tribe out again.

Whoever has the bigger fist has the final say. Hunakeduleng smiled bitterly, deeply understanding this sentence.

If the Jiannu had not been defeated and Liaodong had not been pacified, the Ming Emperor would certainly not have done so. However, under the current circumstances, the Ming Emperor stretched out his hand to fight for the grasslands, leaving the Mongolian tribes that were at odds with Ligdan Khan with almost no choice.

With Ligdan Khan pressing hard, the Mongol tribes were no match. Without the protection of the Ming Empire and the Ming army, defeat was inevitable.

Obviously, the Ming Dynasty would not lend a helping hand to the Mongol tribes that refused to assimilate. The reason was very good. The Ming Dynasty did not care about the internal disputes in Mongolia, and there was no excuse for it to intervene.

If they naturalized as citizens of the Ming Dynasty, they would become citizens of the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming army would have legitimate reasons to send troops to fight against the Chahar tribe.

Nuke shook his dizzy head, realized the seriousness of the matter, and frowned.

Wu Keshan and Chahan looked at the faces and expressions of Hunakduleng and Nuk, glanced at each other, and felt a sense of pleasure of revenge in their hearts.

A year ago, it was these two guys who, with the help of the Ming army, broke through the Khorchin tribe's Gelezhuergen City and captured them and their families.

Now, if their brothers were the ones trusted by the Ming army, Hunakduleng and Nuk would be alienated by the Ming army until they were willing to lead their troops to naturalize.

"The Korqin Grassland is huge!" Ma Chengfei said with a hint of meaning, "You two still have something in common, considering the vast grassland. Don't worry, just eat, drink, and chat!"

A common language?!

Hunakeduleng glanced at Wu Keshan, nodded helplessly, and thought to himself: What a common language of fart, it's not all your conspiracy and tricks.