Free Web NovelChapter 2142: Chapter 1557: The Place with Black River Water is Called Black River! (Part 2)
Among Taizong’s many eunuchs, the highest-ranking and most trusted by Taizong was the Jurchen eunuch Wang Yan from the Shangbao Bureau. This person was personally given the name "Gou’er" by Taizong and made significant contributions during the Jingnan campaign. He not only managed the Shangbao Bureau but later became the first garrison eunuch, responsible for guarding the Capital Region’s gate and the most important Liaodong Governor for thirty years! Besides him, there was also the Jurchen eunuch Liu Shun from the Imperial Stables, who accompanied Taizong on five expeditions to the Northern Desert and, after Emperor Renzong’s death, personally welcomed Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji’s accession, considered a double dragon’s service.
From Yongle to Xuande, there were many Jurchen eunuchs, and many participated in the Jingnan campaign. They surrounded Taizong and Xuanzong, deeply involved in the political affairs of the Empire, especially leading the expansion and governance of the vast Northeast. And the ancestor of Harman Chieftain Ali was one of these Jurchen eunuchs and followed Yishiha to develop the Nurgan Metropolitan Authority!
Because of this heritage of "ancestors" among the eunuchs, Ali could, seventeen years ago after his father’s death, write a note of thanks to Emperor Xiaozong in the tone of an "Emperor’s house slave" upon succeeding as the Deputy Commander of Harman.
"My servant grandfather, during his time, offered horses and mink fur annually, without fail. My servant obtained his position in the Fourteenth Year of Chenghua (1478). Now mercifully requesting promotion to Deputy Commander, submitting it for the Holy Emperor’s knowledge."
However, as the Jurchen eunuchs of the Yongle Xuande Period all faded away, without new successors entering the palace, the representation of the Jurchen Tribes in the Empire’s power vanished entirely, no longer having any influence on the governance of the Empire. Afterwards, the Ming Dynasty completely retreated from Outer Northeast, and those Shushu Jurchen Tribes cultivated outside the border by the Empire for over a hundred years, spending a lot of manpower and resources, moved towards a true end.
After all, the crude spears of the Shengshu Jurchen Wild Man do not recognize any Ming regulations or order, only recognizing food that fills the belly. They will only act like fearless beasts, climbing onto your village and chopping off your head to use as a bowl!
"Ancestor High Priest? Ancestor High Priest?!"
"Oh! Ali, are you done?"
"Yes, it’s buried!"
In the shadowy canopy, Ali nodded and pointed towards the treetop. This time, the bones were first wrapped in a sturdy animal skin bag and then tied to the branches of the Soron Pillar. It did not reveal white but was instead the grayish yellow of deer skin, blurring into real tree bark.
"This old gentleman of the Du’erbi River Guard was probably acquainted with my ancestor’s gentleman. Burial done well this time, just hoping his soul rests in peace... May the Chief Divine bless him!"
Upon saying so, Ali lowered his head and prayed earnestly for a while. Among the Forest Jurchen Tribes in the Wilderness, the posthumous soul’s destination is highly valued, with a certain emphasis on "light life and death, heavy ghost gods". Thus, their spiritual world is always difficult to integrate with Confucian culture. If the Chief Divine belief does not occupy their thought highland, then Tibetan Buddhism will gradually spread and eventually imprint in the minds of the Jurchen nobles.
And to thoroughly sinicize these Jurchen Tribes, either develop the Northeast to cultivate corresponding productivity or let them enter the border to completely change their impoverished wilderness life... Many times, complex thoughts and beliefs may perhaps must correspond with higher productivity! The barbarization of the Du’erbi Tribe and Wudou Wen is actually a necessary adaptation to harsh environments...
"Yes, may the Chief Divine bless! More so, may the Chief Divine guide! Guide the souls of these Gummy People of the same clan to ascend into the Red Peace Divine Kingdom!..."
Zuwaro closed his eyes, similarly praying devoutly for a while in this cemetery of the Jurchen Tribe. Faces of several young priests flashed through his mind, yet only the youngest and most vigorous priests could stay at this difficult and troubled guard to preach!
"Ali, let’s go! Pack up and... the road to buy horses westward is still far, probably taking over half a month. We have limited time, can’t delay too long... Leave two months’ food for the Du’erbi Tribe. Best to set out early tomorrow morning!... "
"Ancestor! The Du’erbi Tribe has over a hundred people. If two months’ food is left... the remaining food for our round trip might not be enough! After all, the capacity of the horses is limited, and the traded salt bags take up too much load."
"Aguda, I’ve already calculated; the remaining food is enough for us to reach the western Forest Tribes and engage with them. This time to the west, we’re also taking fifty warriors from the Du’erbi Tribe, trying to strengthen the team as much as possible! After taking away the strong men, the Du’erbi Tribe might not be able to hunt large prey, must leave enough food for them!"
Saying this, Zuwaro pursed his lips, grasping the Bronze Axe at his waist, a cold expression showing just like Shandan.
"Aguda, you previously mentioned... during your southward migration, not to mention a month’s food, often not even ten days’ food was available. But you still migrated thousands of miles southward, until you conquered the original small tribe, occupied the Nurgan Metropolitan Authority, and then encountered us..."
"Hmm?! Ancestor, are you saying? According to the migration method, rob? kill? then eat..."
Hearing this, Maha Agudah’s eyes sharpened, he also gripped the iron Bone he carried. His tiger mouth fiercely opened, laughing loudly.
"Haha! Right! Take warriors from the Du’erbi Tribe, swap them into reserve Leather Armor Bow Spear, then we have two hundred fully armed warriors! Bringing back two hundred horses is no problem... But the salt we carry probably can’t exchange for so many horses, right?... Then indeed it’s better to rob! Rob and slaughter the livestock we can’t take back, throw into the salt bag as supplies for the return trip!..."
