Chongzhen Chat Group

"Your Majesty, the envoys from Oqirtu of the Heshuote Tribe, the Zhungar Tribe..." the Jinyi Guardsman reported a long list of names, all of whom were envoys from the Western Mongolia, "Requesting an audience!"

Emperor Chongzhen naturally agreed. After a while, a group of people from Western Mongolia came to the emperor to pay tribute. Among them, Eqirtu spoke on their behalf: "I am very grateful to your majesty for your broad mind, which is as vast as a grassland. I have learned a lot of skills in the new army..."

Listening to Eqirtu's grateful words, Emperor Chongzhen smiled slightly in his heart. After arriving in the capital, he had already heard the news about them first. Knowing that these Mongolians studied very seriously in the new army and meticulously completed the brainwashing classes arranged by themselves, they also saw the prosperity of the capital and envied the Ming Dynasty. In the past six months, their basic necessities, food, clothing, housing and transportation have slowly improved. He looks more and more like a Ming Dynasty man.

"... The foreign minister still has time to go on an envoy, and he is thinking about the grassland, so he wants to go back and report to his uncle the greatness of His Majesty and the strength of the Ming Dynasty." At the end, Eqirtu stated his purpose. .

Emperor Chongzhen had no problem with this, so he immediately agreed, thinking, if you don't go, how will the Ming Dynasty influence your western Mongolia?

"The foreign minister has another unkind request, and I beg the most noble Emperor to show mercy." When Eqirtu said this, he saluted again with the most noble Mongolian etiquette. Other Mongolian envoys also followed suit and saluted with the most noble etiquette. It was obvious that they were connected with each other and knew what Eqirtu was talking about.

Emperor Chongzhen didn't like this way of speaking. However, from the information he received, he basically guessed what they wanted to ask for. Therefore, he seemed very generous and immediately nodded and said: "Speak!"

"Your Majesty, in the west of my country, there is a very ferocious country called Tsarist Russia, which uses sharp firearms to repeatedly violate border affairs." When Eqirtu said this, there was a hint of indignation on his face, "But the foreign ministers looked at it and saw the new style of Ming The firearms are particularly sophisticated compared to the firearms of Tsarist Russia. Therefore, the foreign ministers, on behalf of Father Khan and the Mongolia of the Oirat tribe, want to purchase these flintlock guns from the Ming Dynasty. The price is not an issue, and I hope His Majesty the Emperor will give me permission!"

Sure enough, this is the request, Emperor Chongzhen thought in his mind, with a hint of embarrassment on his face: "These flintlock guns are the latest and most advanced firearms of our Ming Dynasty. You should also see them, even in our army of the Ming Dynasty." Not equipped yet…”

Looking at the emperor's face and listening to his words, Eqirtu couldn't help but feel a little sad. Thinking about it, this is the best weapon of the Ming Dynasty. They don't have it themselves, so how can they give it to others!

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Emperor Chongzhen change his subject and say: "But I have also heard of the brutality of Tsarist Russia. Since you Oirat Mongols have surrendered to our Ming Dynasty, I cannot ignore it."

Having said this, Emperor Chongzhen seemed to have thought for a moment and said: "I have decreed to the Ordnance Bureau that flintlock guns can be supplied to your Oirat Department with priority. However, there is one thing that needs your consideration. This flintlock gun is newly made. The cost is very high, and I don’t want to make money from you. I just give you the cost price, how about it?”

If it were the cost price, there would be trouble. Anyway, the Mongols don't know the true cost of the flintlock gun, so the price is whatever it is!

Eqirtu was overjoyed when he heard this. As long as the Ming Emperor agreed, that would be the best. But before he had time to reply, Mao Yuanyi immediately said: "Your Majesty, the general will object. This is an important weapon of the Ming Dynasty. How can we give it to outsiders first..."

"Your Majesty, the last general also objects. All the capital camps guarding the capital are equipped with flintlock rifles. It is really inappropriate to give them to outsiders first. What if these Mongolians are ambitious and come with these firearms..." Zu Dashou also came out to object. .

Their words made Eqirtu very anxious, and the more he listened, the more anxious he became. He was afraid that the Ming Emperor would change his mind. In fact, if he thought about it himself, he would not be willing to give this important military weapon to others.

Therefore, he immediately followed up and said: "Your Majesty, the most noble emperor, foreign ministers can swear to God that the enemy of our Oirat Mongolia is Tsarist Russia in the West. We, the Oirat Mongols, will never be enemies of the Ming Dynasty, and we are willing to surrender to the Ming Dynasty forever. Ming dynasty!"

Anyone who is politically mature will only listen to an oath like this, and no one will take it seriously. There is never a permanently stable relationship between countries. If the Oirat Mongolia becomes stronger, who dares to say that it will not think of the prosperous Ming Dynasty as before.

However, Emperor Chongzhen seemed to believe it when he heard it. Looking at the opposing ministers in front of him, he said hesitantly: "The ministers in the court will definitely object after hearing the news. So, I will give you ten strokes for each tribe. How about a flintlock gun? In this way, I can give them an explanation."

Hearing this, Oqiltu became anxious. What was the use of ten flintlock guns? It would be great if my own tribe could build it, but how is this possible! So, thinking about what Emperor Chongzhen had just said, he suddenly felt something in his heart and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the foreign minister is willing to pay a high price to buy it, so I can give them an explanation."

"Haha, this is an important military weapon, how can it be exchanged for just money?" Zu Dashou retorted unceremoniously after hearing this.

But Emperor Chongzhen heard this, stretched out his hand to Zu Dashou, stopped him from continuing, and scolded him with a bit of unhappiness: "I have already agreed, but you want me to be the king who breaks his word? This matter must not be discussed again. carry!"

Eqirtu was overjoyed when he heard this and quickly thanked him to finalize the matter. As for the specific purchase details, others will naturally have to discuss it. It is impossible for Emperor Chongzhen himself to be involved in this detail.

After Baijia returned to the palace, Emperor Chongzhen immediately summoned Bi Ziyan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Bi Maokang, the director of the Ordnance Bureau, told them about the matter, and asked them to negotiate a deal with the Mongolians of the Oirat tribe. This is a seller's market anyway, so you can ask whatever price you want. Emperor Chongzhen just specified something: "Last year, fighting continued in the Hetao area, and now they are reorganizing the eastern Mongolian tribes. Although they have cultivated fertile land last year, there is still not enough food. Therefore, these firearms will only be exchanged for those from the western Mongolia." Cattle and sheep, nothing else.”

This solved the problem of the Minister of the Ministry of Finance. He was naturally happy, but he also had concerns: "Your Majesty, this flintlock gun is a sharp weapon of the Ming Dynasty. Although I sold it to them at a high price, is this a bit inappropriate? "

Emperor Chongzhen smiled after hearing this and said to Bi Maokang: "Can you answer this?"

When Bi Maokang heard this, he said to his family with a smile: "These flintlock guns must be excellent to be useful. And for the best flintlock guns, our Ordnance Bureau can only produce them at present, let alone Oirat Mongolia! They If you want to keep using firearms, you have to rely on my Ming Dynasty to continue to provide, and the best gunpowder must also be provided by my Ming Dynasty. It can be said that if all the Oirat troops use firearms, they must listen to my Ming Dynasty honestly, otherwise once the supply is cut off, other The army is ruined!"