A few days later, Yue Tuo and Ao Bai, with one hundred Eight Banners cavalry, hurriedly left Shengjing and headed west.
They were stopped by the Ming army, who were well prepared, as soon as they arrived at Ningyuan City.
"Are you envoys from the Jin Dynasty?"
In fact, the Ming court always regarded the Jurchens as rebels.
After all, Nurhaci was once a general of the Ming Dynasty.
Therefore, Nurhaci's so-called Seven Grievances were actually nothing more than rebellion.
However, the Ming army in Liaodong had already been terrified of the Jurchens.
Furthermore, this time the imperial court took the initiative to send people to invite the Jurchen envoys to the capital.
Therefore, these Ming soldiers became much more polite.
“If you are envoys from the Jin Kingdom, then put away your weapons and come into the city with us.”
“Our Governor Yuan is also returning to the capital. You can set off with him then.”
Yue Tuo naturally wouldn't object; he smiled and nodded, saying, "That's fine too."
He then ordered his men to put away their weapons and followed the Ming army into Ningyuan City.
Upon entering the city, he looked around and sighed inwardly, "Ah, Ningyuan is indeed a fortified city."
"No wonder the old Khan died under the city walls back then."
Meanwhile, Yuan Chonghuan, inside the city, frowned and asked, "Have the Jurchens already entered the city?"
The person who had just received Yue Tuo quickly bowed:
"Reporting to the commander, they have already entered the city."
Yuan Chonghuan nodded.
"That's good. Send more people to keep an eye on them and prevent the Jurchens from causing trouble."
After he finished speaking, he walked to the window, his eyes full of helplessness.
"I don't know whether my return to Beijing this time will be a blessing or a curse."
It's no wonder that Yuan Chonghuan was uncertain.
He recently submitted a memorial to the court, claiming that he would pacify Liaodong within five years.
To everyone's surprise, after receiving the memorial, Zhu Youjian neither agreed nor disagreed with it.
They sent people to Shaanxi and Gansu to recruit soldiers, and then sent troops to the southeast to deal with the local gentry.
When Zhou Yanru brought the troops back to the capital, Yuan Chonghuan finally understood.
The emperor certainly didn't trust Yuan Chonghuan, or even the troops in Liaodong at all.
That's why we need to start from scratch and train new recruits.
"Alas, if I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have associated with the Donglin Party in the first place."
Yuan Chonghuan felt somewhat disappointed.
"But who would have thought that the emperor would actually take action against the Donglin Party!" He sighed heavily.
"My only hope now is that I can persuade the emperor in person after I return to the capital."
"Only I, Yuan Chonghuan, can pacify Liaodong!"
Thinking of this, he cheered up again.
Early the next morning, he hurriedly set off, taking Yue Tuo and his entourage with him.
Once they reached the outskirts of the capital, they discovered that something seemed amiss.
"What are these platforms for?"
Yuan Chonghuan pointed to several high platforms outside the city.
Immediately someone replied, "Commander Yuan, this was built by order of His Majesty."
"His Majesty said that this time, the pilgrimages from various countries are a rare and grand event."
"He planned to take the opportunity to pray to the heavens for rain, so that everyone would know that our Great Ming Dynasty was truly ordained by Heaven."
"So these things were specially built so that envoys from various countries would have a place to observe the ceremony."
Seemingly noticing Yue Tuo in the group, the man finished speaking in Chinese and then surprisingly switched to the Jurchen language.
It seems that the ministers of the Ministry of Rites were just trying to fool people when they said they didn't understand the Jurchen language.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Chonghuan's lips twitched violently.
"This is ridiculous!"
He instinctively turned around and looked at Yue Tuo and the others at the back of the group.
"Won't they look down on our Great Ming because of this?"
But when he looked back, he realized he had been overthinking things.
Yue Tuo's face was fine, but the Jurchen cavalrymen who came with him were all somewhat frightened.
"What? The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty actually knows how to pray for rain?"
"Is this Emperor of the Ming Dynasty some kind of reincarnation of Zhuge Liang? He can even perform rituals on an altar!"
The Jurchens themselves were not very cultured, and they especially liked to read Romance of the Three Kingdoms to learn how to fight.
So when they heard about this, they immediately misunderstood.
"No wonder we've suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the Ming Dynasty; their emperor is actually quite powerful!"
At this point, Yue Tuo was also starting to lose his composure.
He didn't believe in these supernatural and bizarre things.
"Stop talking nonsense, or the Ming people will look down on us!"
Yue Tuo turned around and scolded them a few times before the cavalry finally shut up.
But there was still a look of fear in their eyes.
Left with no other option, Yue Tuo had to ask the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty to arrange for them to stay in the city.
To avoid further embarrassment for our own family members.
Seeing this, Yuan Chonghuan shook his head helplessly, assuming that the Jurchens already looked down on the Ming emperor.
He asked the official from the Ministry of Rites, "Does His Majesty have time to summon me today?"
The official nodded quickly.
"His Majesty has already given the order that once you return to the capital, you will be invited to the palace to see him."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Chonghuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Since the emperor was eager to see him, it means that he still holds a place in the emperor's heart.
Then he still has a chance.
Yuan Chonghuan quickly straightened his official robes and went to pay his respects to the emperor.
Who knew that he was following behind the eunuch and had just strode into the main hall.
Before he could even bow, Zhu Youjian asked:
"Lord Yuan, was there an envoy named Ao Bai among those sent by the Jurchens this time?"
"What does that person look like? Is he very brave?"
Yuan Chonghuan was stunned.
"Your Majesty, why do you ask this?"
"Among the Jurchens... there does seem to be one named Ao Bai, but I don't think he's that powerful."
After hearing this, Zhu Youjian asked with some doubt:
"Is that really so? I've heard that this Ao Bai is some kind of Manchu's number one warrior."
As soon as Yue Tuo led his men into Ningyuan, the Imperial Guards in the city relayed the news back to the capital.
Zhu Youjian had been asking Gao Qingyun about the events after the Jurchens entered the pass, so he was naturally familiar with the name Ao Bai.
That's why he asked that question.
Yuan Chonghuan knew what "Baturu" meant, but he didn't know why the emperor would call Ao Bai that.
He quickly replied, "Your Majesty, that Ao Bai... should not be some kind of Baturu."
"This time, the Jurchen envoys were still led by Yue Tuo."
Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, thinking to himself, "It seems that Ao Bai has not yet made a name for himself."
He didn't say anything more about the Baturu, but instead said to Yuan Chonghuan:
"Now that you're back in Beijing, don't leave again."
"Let him stay in the capital and serve as Minister of War."
“The Minister of War was not very honest, so I’m going to send him home to retire.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Chonghuan's heart sank.
Making him Minister of War would be a promotion, but he would still have plenty of opportunities to make meritorious contributions in the future.
But if he accepts this official position, he can forget about pacifying Liaodong in five years.
He quickly said:
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid this is inappropriate. If I go to the capital, who will be left to defend Ningyuan?"
"If something unexpected happens in Ningyuan, then things will be in serious trouble!"
Zhu Youjian looked at him carefully and said calmly:
"That's none of Lord Yuan's concern."
"I have other plans."
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