Xu Huizu said to Fu Youde with some envy, "The Duke of Ying is a veteran general in the court and is deeply trusted by His Majesty. After conquering Goryeo this time, the Duke of Ying will probably conquer Haixi and Jianzhou Jurchen."
Fu Youde laughed heartily. He could be considered a "rising general," although he had followed Zhu De in conquering the country, he had never really stood out when he was young. Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and Feng Sheng were three mountains that the founding nobles could hardly overcome.
Furthermore, with figures like Tang He and Li Wenzhong, the Ming Dynasty was truly not lacking in commanders. Moreover, the rapid rise of the young Lan Yu had once made Fu Youde feel that he himself might have difficulty making a name for himself. But who could have imagined that he would rise so quickly, even swiftly surpassing some of the more accomplished, established marquises?
The Ming Dynasty actually looked down on the Jurchens, but looking down on them didn't mean they could be ignored.
Leaving aside the fact that the Jurchens once established the incredibly powerful Jin Dynasty, which destroyed the Liao and Northern Song dynasties and occupied the Central Plains, the Jurchens are now divided into three major groups: the Jianzhou Jurchens, the Haixi Jurchens, and the Donghai Jurchens.
Although Liaodong is now under the control of the Ming Dynasty, after Naha surrendered to the Ming, all the Jurchen tribes that were originally under the rule of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty submitted to the Ming.
However, the Jurchens have always been subject to various factions. They were once under the rule of the Mongols, and before Liaodong was submitted to the Mongols, they were also under the control of Goryeo.
The Jianzhou Jurchens, including Ahachu and Menggetemur, now largely express a desire to submit. However, this isn't due to their initiative, but rather because the imperial court's rule over Liaodong in recent years, including the establishment of the Nurgan Regional Military Commission and the Jianzhou Three Guards, has put pressure on the Jurchens.
Whether it was the Jianzhou Jurchen or the Haixi Jurchen, they were always caught between various forces.
Even now that the Ming Dynasty is powerful, they still maintain close ties with the remnants of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, such as Arughtai of the Asud tribe of Mongolia. They also have frequent contact with Yi Seong-gye and his son in Goryeo.
Even though their power has always existed, they have always wanted autonomy and were unwilling to accept too much control from the imperial court.
Ultimately, it boils down to their refusal to submit to the imperial rule and their belief that what their ancestors could do, they could also do. This is why, despite their apparent divisions, the various Jurchen tribes have been able to survive over the years; while they have been submitting to various powers, they have also been quietly accumulating strength.
Their fierce nature and adaptation to harsh environments made these tribes quite formidable. Their activity in the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region also made it a troublesome matter for the imperial army to conquer them.
In fact, Xu Huizu and others sometimes didn't quite understand. If Emperor Hongwu swept across the land, it was because the Ming Dynasty needed a unified dynasty, so it was understandable that he took back Yanyun and even Liaodong.
But Emperor Ying Shi was different; he seemed extremely greedy and had a somewhat obsessive passion for land.
Emperor Ying Shi was also very enthusiastic about the lands surrounding the Ming Dynasty, seemingly wanting to take them all over. Often, even some remote and undeveloped areas appeared to be objects of his desire to completely subjugate and incorporate them into his territory.
Many people believe that it's unnecessary to conquer many places, as not every remote and undeveloped area has silver mines. Sending troops to those places and wasting vast amounts of money and resources is considered by many to be a very unwise move.
In fact, some people also feel that places like Liaodong are not profitable. Not only is the environment harsh, but there are also many barbarian tribes. Managing such a place cannot be done in a day or two.
Even if they didn't understand, once the emperor made his decision, others probably couldn't say much. After all, the two emperors of the Ming Dynasty were not puppets of the civil service or the nobility; they were far too domineering, and it was difficult for anyone to change their minds.
In fact, some people can see that some seemingly useless, desolate places are actually places that can be conquered and then enfeoffed as princes. The Ming Dynasty is no longer a place where vassal kings guard the Central Plains, but rather a place where princes establish their own kingdoms and guard the borders.
Whether this strategy is good or not is hard to say, but it seems that the emperor intends to do so.
On the other hand, many people have also noticed that the Ming Dynasty is now managing Liaodong. Many ethnic groups that were once vassals of the Mongols are now cultivating the land, emerging from the jungles.
If these people had land and accepted Sinicization, then perhaps places like Liaodong, which were originally harsh and cold, could be stabilized.
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