Free Web NovelChapter 2138: Chapter 1555: Du’erbi River Guard Deputy Commander, Maha Aguda
"Actually, even now... Only by meeting the officials in person, obtaining recognition from the Ming Dynasty, acquiring the status of the Du’erbi River Guard, and inheriting the position of the Commander’s Deputy... can the Maha tribe transform into a loyal ’Du’erbi Tribe’ of the court, gradually establishing a foothold in the Xing’an Ridge Valley! Only in this way can we, under the guise of rebuilding the Du’erbi River Guard, open a more effective channel from Liaodong Town to obtain craftsmen, military supplies, and food!"
"Huh???"
Upon hearing this, Maha Agudah was completely bewildered, while Wudou Wen was equally confused. Only Zuwaro frowned and asked in puzzlement.
"Chief Divine witness! Ali, are you saying... letting Agudah impersonate the Du’erbi River Guard is not just about seeking rewards through tribute... but can also inherit some position and, under some reconstruction pretense, acquire craftsmen and materials from the Ming Dynasty?"
"Exactly!"
"Then why rebuild the Du’erbi River Guard? Why not straightforwardly request the reconstruction of your Harman Guard?"
"Ah, Chief Divine! I also want to rebuild the Harman Guard... but the official positions of the two garrisons are different, their locations are different, and the level of attention from the court is different. My Harman Guard is merely a Commander’s Secretary, while the Du’erbi River Guard is a Deputy Commander! In the court’s hierarchy, the status of the Du’erbi River Guard is much higher, far surpassing that of the Harman Guard..."
Ali sighed lightly, and the map of the lower reaches of the Heilongjiang River surfaced in his mind. After a few moments, he spoke again.
"The Harman Guard, located far in the northeast downstream, is quite insignificant. Even if it were lost, there are still the Fushan Guard and the Hushimen Guard to hold the line in the path of the Wild Man moving southward... But the Du’erbi River Guard is different; it is the key that locks the mountains of Xing’an Ridge! The Wild Man moves south from here, and after crossing Xing’an Ridge, they can scatter to various places. They can march straight south to threaten the fallen Gelin Guard, which is the Hushimen Guard. They can also head southwest, along the Gulu River, to suddenly appear in the heartland of the Haixi Jurchen, or even make contact with the Mongolian Duoyan Three Guards..."
"The fierce Wild Man Jurchen move south year after year, raiding and plundering everywhere, causing immense distress to the guards of the Haixi Jurchen, forcing them to gradually migrate southward! They all hope that some foolish garrison tribe can stand at the forefront, blocking the main road of the Wild Man’s southward advance! Therefore, rebuilding the Du’erbi River Guard would not only be valued more by the court but also certainly gain the support of the various tribes of Haixi!"
"Chief Divine! Are you saying that the Harman Guard is equivalent to hereditary nobility, while the Du’erbi River Guard is honorable nobility? And that it is a key strategic point guarding the mountains, capable of gaining support from the large tribes in the south of Haixi?"
Zuwaro pondered, attempting to use his political acumen to speculate on the situation in the South, suddenly realizing something was amiss.
"Ali! Didn’t you say earlier that the Ming in the South had already abandoned the ’outside the border’ Northern Land? They are unwilling to support the guards steadfastly defending the North, and unwilling to maintain them long-term, leading to your sequential downfall... For instance, this Du’erbi River Guard, having disappeared for so many years, wasn’t it entirely ignored by the court? Now, for a tribe they haven’t cared for all these years and for the sudden emergence of a descendant of some Commander, are they really willing to provide good things to support the reconstruction of this guard?"
"Ancestor High Priest, you raise a very crucial point! Hmm, this is actually two questions! Recognition and real power... Firstly, we have this official seal, this Deputy Commander’s official uniform, and even this helmet and armor... Our recognition is absolutely genuine! Therefore, the court will certainly acknowledge the standing of the Du’erbi River Guard. The court also hopes to reinstate the Du’erbi River Guard and have a recognized, tribute-paying garrison tribe standing at the forefront of the Xing’an Ridge Valley."
Ali nodded appreciatively, contemplated for a few moments, and then answered in a thunderous voice once more.
"Secondly, the court will not bring out real gold and silver, nor will the seniors in Liaodong! At most, they might move a finger... The ones to bring out real gold and silver must be us! Us!"
"What? You mean the Ming court in the South wants us to exert effort, not only to don armor and fight but also to pay out of our pockets to gift gifts to the nobility, ending up with nothing in return?"
"No! It’s not about bribing the nobles but bribing the garrison eunuch and the Military Department... Nor is it about paying out of pocket and getting nothing. Rather, it’s about first satiating the officials to receive things from the court..."
Ali gestured, strenuously explaining the political rules and operations within the Ming. Such "profound" matters sounded to Zuwaro’s ears as more complex by tenfold than the kingdom’s politics!
"Chief Divine witness! We must first put forth the recognition of the Du’erbi River Guard, then disburse real gold and silver to satiate the seniors in Liaodong, ultimately bringing our warriors to fight in the front... only then will the seniors move a pen, approve a document, leak a finger, and reward with the court’s treasures from the treasury!"
"In other words, the loyalty of the garrison recognition, the bribed real gold and silver, the political value of the coerced force... All three must be present to obtain an official Liaodong government approval document for rebuilding the guard, opening a legitimate official channel! And this official channel is priceless..."
"Because, once the legitimate official channel is open, conducting illegal private transactions through attachment to this channel, or even trades of craftsmen, military supplies smuggling... that becomes so much easier, and one can obtain so, so much more!"
