Early in the morning, inside the Huangji Palace.
Chongzhen sat firmly on the throne.
Wang Chengen, standing nearby, screamed, "Announce the Mongolian envoys to the court!"
Under the watchful eyes of civil and military officials, the leader of the Ordos tribe, E'linchen, and the leader of the Western Tumed tribe, O'mubu, walked to the hall with nervous steps.
Omubu was the first to salute: "Your Highness Omubu leads the Xitumedi envoys to Beijing to pay tribute. Long live the emperor!"
Omubu's father, Bu Shitu, was the fourth Shunyi King of the Ming Dynasty. As the son of Shunyi King, it was reasonable for him to pledge allegiance to Chongzhen.
Looking at Omubu kneeling beside him, Elinchen was in a dilemma.
He didn't have a relationship like that with Omubu, so he felt it difficult to directly pledge his loyalty.
In a moment of urgency, he bowed and said, "I, E'lin of the Ordos tribe, have been ordered to lead an envoy to the capital to meet the emperor. Long live the emperor."
Before the Honglu Temple officials could find fault, Chongzhen took the lead and raised his hand generously: "No need to bow, please stand up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" E'linchen and Omubu stood up and breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Chongzhen's words were brief, the imperial majesty in his tone put them under great pressure.
At the reminder of the officials from the Ministry of Rites, Omubu and Elinchen respectively submitted their tribute lists.
Wang Chengen took the tribute list and read it out in front of all the civil and military officials in the court.
"The Western Tumed tribe paid tribute of one thousand war horses and five hundred cattle..."
After reading Omubu's tribute list, Wang Chengen picked up Elinchen's tribute list and read it again.
The tribute from the Mongols was very limited in variety, including horses, cattle, sheep and the skins of corresponding animals.
There is nothing else besides these.
It’s not that they don’t value tribute, but the grasslands are barren and these are all they can offer.
After reading the tribute list, Omubu was the first to say to Chongzhen: "I have two sons, the eldest is fourteen years old, and the second is eight years old. I am willing to leave my eldest son in the capital as a hostage to show my loyalty!"
"In addition, eight generals of the Western Tumed tribe are willing to leave their eldest sons in the capital to accompany my son in study and life."
Chongzhen said nothing and looked at E'linchen.
E'linchen's situation is rather special.
He is over fifty years old and has four sons.
Except for the youngest son who is still unmarried, the other three sons have already married and had children.
Even the eldest son's son was already fifteen years old.
E'linchen didn't know who to keep as a hostage, so he threw the question directly to Chongzhen.
He bowed and said, "I am willing to leave my son as a hostage. Your Majesty, please appoint a candidate."
Chongzhen was a little hesitant about this question.
He was not hesitant about whether to keep hostages, but who to keep as hostage.
The principle of succession in the Central Plains dynasties was generally that the eldest son inherited the throne and property.
What is the eldest son?
The first son born to the emperor's wife, the empress.
This system originated in the Shang Dynasty and was established in the Zhou Dynasty.
The same was true in the Ming Dynasty, and on this basis, the inheritance system was extended to include the eldest son being the heir if there is a legitimate heir, the eldest son being the heir if there is no legitimate heir, the son inheriting from the father, and the younger brother inheriting from the elder brother.
However, this system has loopholes.
Take Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen as an example. He was not Zhu Biao’s eldest son. The eldest son was Zhu Xiongying.
Although Zhu Xiongying died young, Zhu Biao still had a legitimate son, Zhu Yunhuan.
According to the principle of establishing the legitimate heir, Zhu Yunhuan should be named as the heir.
Unfortunately, Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Yunhuan's mother, Chang, died early. After her death, Zhu Biao appointed Zhu Yunwen's mother, Lu, as the Crown Princess.
Thus, Zhu Yunwen became the eldest son.
Zhu Yunhuan also lost the right to inherit.
The systems of primogeniture in nomadic tribes and in the dynasties of the Central Plains were completely opposite.
Nomadic tribes practice the youngest son inheritance system, also known as the youngest son guarding the stove.
This system is related to the habits of nomadic tribes.
The eldest son in a nomadic family is born early and starts a family early.
When he got married, his family gave him a few cattle and sheep to graze.
After the second son got married, he also took away a few cattle and sheep.
Nomadic tribes have always been moving around and herding their livestock. When the elderly in the family are about to die, the eldest son and the second son have already driven the cattle and sheep to faraway places, or have completely lost contact with them.
So the old man could only leave his property to his youngest son.
Over time, the custom of the youngest son inheriting the family property became an institution.
In fact, it is not only nomadic tribes that practice the system of the youngest son guarding the stove. Many ethnic minorities and even the Guanzhong region during the Ming Dynasty had similar systems.
The Mongols practiced inheritance by the youngest son, while the Central Plains dynasties practiced inheritance by the eldest son.
The two systems are in conflict.
Thinking of this, Chongzhen looked at Ombu.
Omubu's father was the fourth generation Shunyi King. These four Shunyi Kings were all succeeded according to the system of primogeniture.
In other words, there is no problem in implementing the system of primogeniture within Mongolia.
Chongzhen sat on the dragon throne and said, "The Ming Dynasty adheres to the principle of primogeniture. The titles bestowed upon the outside world should also follow the system of primogeniture. Therefore, you should leave your eldest son in the capital to study and live."
"I obey your order." Omubu took the lead in giving the order.
E'linchen was a little slow to react, but soon after he received the order.
After they stood up, Chongzhen asked, "Do the two leaders have any requests for the children who stay in the capital?"
"Request?" E'linchen and Omubu were both stunned.
Omubusi asked, "I don't understand what your Majesty is asking for. Please explain it to me."
"The expenses of these children in the capital are all covered by the court. In addition, I have ordered the Imperial Academy and the Five Military Governors' Office to build a new school. The Imperial Academy will teach literature, and the Five Military Governors' Office will teach martial arts! I haven't thought of the rest yet. You are the children's elders. You can tell me what you want them to learn. I will send someone to teach them when I get back."
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