Chapter 65

It was already midnight, and the banquet was nearing its end. At this moment, Zaisang had already drunk quite a bit. He looked at Yueyang, who was sitting to his right, and laughed loudly, saying, "Son-in-law, from today on, you are officially part of our Borjigit family. Since we are family, I can speak frankly. There are some things I need to say directly."

Yueyang was already used to Zaisang's way of speaking, so he smiled and replied, "Father-in-law, please speak freely."

"First thing!" Zaisang raised one finger and asked teasingly, "Son-in-law, Hailanzhu, when do you plan to get married?"

"Ha ha ha..." As soon as Zaisang spoke, everyone present burst into laughter, and all eyes turned to Yueyang and Hailanzhu, who was sitting beside him.

"Man, this old father-in-law is really straightforward. He's practically demanding that I consummate the marriage right away!" Yueyang, caught off guard by his father-in-law's boldness, couldn't help but look at Hailanzhu, who was sitting next to him.

Hailanzhu, a remarkable woman, had been sitting beside Yueyang with poise and grace since Zaisang announced their engagement earlier. She showed no shyness or hesitation, which would have been expected from a Han girl. This revealed her bold and straightforward Mongolian character.

Seeing Yueyang look at her, Hailanzhu said without hesitation, "I have no objections. As long as Yueyang brings a wedding procession to propose, I will marry him."

Hearing Hailanzhu's words, Yueyang felt a bit embarrassed. It seemed that the father and daughter shared the same straightforward and bold nature. However, since the matter had been brought up, Yueyang had to respond. He pondered for a moment and then said, "Father-in-law, due to the sudden nature of this, I need to return home and inform my grandmother and choose an auspicious date. I believe it will take at least two to three months, as we need to prepare the dowry. I can't just bring Hailanzhu back without anything, right?"

"Hmm, that's true," Zaisang nodded with a smile, then turned serious, "Son-in-law, you had a minor conflict with Daisan recently. You should know that Daisan was originally representing their Khan to propose to Hailanzhu. Now that you've taken Hailanzhu, I believe Huangtaiji will not let this go easily. You need to be careful."

Although Zaisang's expression was serious, Yueyang could see a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Damn, wasn't this your doing? If you hadn't forced your daughter on me, I would have finished my business and left long ago. Why would I have to deal with all this trouble?" Yueyang grumbled inwardly, but he didn't dare say it out loud, especially with Hailanzhu sitting right there.

Yueyang smiled faintly, "Father-in-law, please rest assured. I am a Ming citizen, and Daisan's reach cannot extend into the Ming territory. Therefore, I have nothing to worry about."

Zaisang shook his head, "Oh? What if the Later Jin invades again and breaches the pass?"

Yueyang's expression turned serious, and he said coldly, "Then there will be nothing to discuss. Although I am not particularly talented, if the Later Jin invades our borders again, I will stand against them with all my might!"

The lively atmosphere in the tent suddenly became quiet as everyone looked at Yueyang with a mix of admiration, ridicule, disdain, and surprise.

At this time, the Later Jin was growing in power. In 1629, Huangtaiji personally led 100,000 troops to swiftly bypass the科尔沁草原 (Khorchin Grassland) and break through the Dahan Pass (north of Zunhua, Hebei), Hongshan Pass (northeast of Zunhua), and Longjing Pass (northwest of Qianxi, Hebei). They surrounded the important military town of Zunhua, and the commander of the Shanhai Pass, Zhao Lü, was killed in battle. Huangtaiji led his troops straight to the capital, which was considered the greatest humiliation for the Ming since the Tumu Incident.

From this event, the Mongols and the Later Jin saw the weakness of the Ming. The vast empire was easily invaded, proving how weak the Ming had become. If not for Yuan Chonghuan's timely reinforcement, the Later Jin might not have retreated so easily.

In this nearly seven-month war, the Later Jin not only plundered the Ming capital and nearby regions, enriching themselves in terms of population and resources, but also eliminated tens of thousands of Ming troops, including a vice-minister, a provincial governor, and three generals. They also forced Emperor Chongzhen to execute high-ranking officials such as the Minister of War Wang Qia, the Grand Coordinator Yuan Chonghuan, the Governor-General of Jili and Liaodong Liu Ce, the Governor of Shanxi Geng Rujì, and generals Zhang Shixian and Zhang Honggong. Many more officials were dismissed or exiled. The war dealt a significant blow to the Ming in economic, military, and human resources. It proved that the Ming was extremely vulnerable.

So when Yueyang said this, most of the Khorchin tribe were initially surprised and disdainful. Even the most elite troops of the Ming were no match for the Later Jin, so how could a mere merchant like Yueyang dare to boast about fighting the Later Jin?

Zaisang's expression also changed slightly, but he quickly smiled, "Ha ha... Son-in-law, you are indeed a well-read scholar with a straightforward nature. However, it's important to act within your means!"

Yueyang heard the disdain in Zaisang's tone towards the Ming dynasty but still insisted, "A gentleman knows what to do and what not to do. Some things must be done."

For a moment, the tent fell silent, and Zaisang was somewhat annoyed by his son-in-law's "lack of tact." Although Yueyang could provoke Daisan and Aobai and even kill dozens of Later Jin soldiers in a conflict, this was considered an internal matter. It was entirely different from declaring war on the Later Jin. The former was a minor skirmish, while the latter would make him a true enemy of the Later Jin.

Seeing Yueyang and Zaisang at an impasse, a clear voice rang out, "Father, Yueyang, stop arguing. You both have valid points, but you are looking at things from your own perspectives. I don't think this is a big issue. Father, why argue with Yueyang over the Later Jin? Yueyang's home is in Shanxi, and the Later Jin's reach can't extend that far. Isn't this argument unnecessary?"

"Uh..."

Yes, Zaisang and the others suddenly remembered that Yueyang's home was in Shanxi, over a thousand miles away from the Later Jin. It was not a prosperous region, and the Later Jin had no reason to invade there. Their concern was misplaced.

Zaisang laughed awkwardly, realizing that even if the Ming was weak, it was not something the Later Jin could easily conquer. Their worry was unnecessary.

Yueyang also looked at Hailanzhu with gratitude. He hadn't expected this beautiful Mongolian girl to be so understanding, defusing the awkward atmosphere with just a few words. Now, Yueyang understood why she could become Huangtaiji's most beloved concubine in another timeline. Beneath her bold exterior, she had a heart that was incredibly delicate and considerate.

Since his fiancée had given him such face, Yueyang wouldn't be so tactless. He smiled at Zaisang and said, "Father-in-law, regardless of my relationship with the Later Jin, I believe my relationship with you and the Khorchin tribe will be very harmonious. After all, we are now family. After I return, I will send a trade caravan with 100 carts of fine salt, 100 carts of tea bricks, 100 carts of cloth, 300 carts of grain, and a considerable amount of gold and jewels as the dowry. I hope you won't find it lacking!"

"Boom..."

As soon as Yueyang spoke, the tent erupted in excitement. The dowry he offered was not just generous but incredibly generous. Even when Huangtaiji married Hailanzhu's younger sister, Dajuer, the dowry was not as rich. In this relatively underdeveloped era, Yueyang's offer of 600 carts of dowry was unprecedented in the history of the Khorchin tribe.

Zaisang was almost drooling with delight. This son-in-law was truly giving him face. Hailanzhu, sitting beside Yueyang, looked at him with even more affection, and even the servant girl, Xiaoman, beside her had a proud expression. In the Khorchin tribe, a typical dowry for a marriage was just a few cattle and some simple daily items. Even for the tribal nobles, it was at most a few dozen or a hundred cattle. But Yueyang's offer was measured in carts, and Xiaoman couldn't even imagine how many tents it would take to store all that!

Seeing everyone's shocked expressions, Yueyang felt a sense of satisfaction. The feeling of being a rich person and showing off was truly delightful. Just a bit of salt, tea bricks, and cloth could shock these Mongolian nobles so much. Was this the feeling of being a tycoon?

PS: Where are the votes?

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