Wang Guoguang handed Zhang Juzheng's secret letter to Liang Menglong.
"Qianji, what do you think Taiyue agreed to?"
Liang Menglong unfolded it, and after just a glance, he was greatly startled and blurted out, "This? Isn't this going too far?"
"I feel the same way... but thinking about it all the way here, Taiyue's approach is correct... Think about it, what does Anda want? How would we know? Taiyue tells him to state his own terms. As long as it doesn't violate the fundamental interests of the Great Ming, anything can be agreed upon... Heh heh, it's a last resort..."
Liang Menglong reread it carefully. He thought about his negotiations with Anda over the past two days. Anda was always hesitant, and looking at the attitudes of the twenty-odd leaders under him, he knew nothing could impress him anymore. In the end, Anda was also in a precarious position, unable to protect himself. Moreover, Xin Ai's betrayal had actually lifted the final veil. What all the tribal leaders were waiting for was actually Xin Ai's actions. They naturally hoped that Xin Ai would return and banish Khan Anda, and everything would revert to the situation before the tribute and sealing.
Thinking of this, he sighed and said, "Look, if you ask what Anda wants, in my opinion, he just wants peace... The grasslands today are not what they used to be. The tribal leaders have ulterior motives, and he can no longer protect himself..."
The two pondered for a while and found themselves stuck at this point.
Wang Guoguang looked at the setting sun, feeling anxious. Suddenly, he remembered something and said, "Qianji, do you know about the changes in the capital? You are now the acting Governor-General of Jiliao!"
Liang Menglong was startled. Wang Guoguang handed him the official gazette and said, "A few days ago, the Crown Prince suddenly sent guards to arrest over two hundred people from the Yan faction, and released them the next day... Yan Song and his son begged for death at the Meridian Gate, and the Emperor issued a celestial decree, sending the Crown Prince to Anlu to sweep the ancestral tombs... Old Mr. Xu and Taiyue have entered the Privy Council and are temporarily in charge of the situation..."
Oh, oh. Liang Menglong finished reading and generally understood the cause and effect. He hadn't expected the changes to be so swift. In the blink of an eye, he was the Governor-General of Jiliao? But given the current situation, how could he possibly govern as Governor-General?
Wang Guoguang thought that the situation was extremely urgent and that he absolutely had to get Anda's firm reply. He immediately grabbed Liang Menglong and mounted his horse, saying, "No matter what, let's meet first!"
Soon, the two entered the golden tent.
Anda indeed looked troubled. Although he opened his arms to welcome them and his laughter was quite hearty, he could no longer hide his heavy heart.
Although Wang Guoguang was meeting him for the first time, he had already learned the general situation. At this moment, realizing the urgency of the matter and knowing that he also understood Mongolian, he spoke frankly.
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"Great Khan, you and I are friends, not enemies. I will not be polite... Well, this is a handwritten letter from Mr. Zhang Juzheng. The meaning is very simple..."
He looked around and saw no one else in the tent, so he lowered his voice and said, "Great Khan, Mr. Zhang's meaning is that you can propose any conditions. As long as they do not violate the fundamental interests of the Great Ming, everything can be agreed upon..."
Ah? Anda had also dealt with Zhang Juzheng and knew he was a difficult person to deal with. He never expected him to be so straightforward. After a moment of thought, he became even more worried. Zhang Juzheng's straightforwardness was naturally because the situation in Liaodong was already unsolvable... As long as the siege could be broken, these loyal ministers of the Ming Dynasty would be willing to pay any price... Alas...
He sighed, paced a few steps, and then looked at the two again, saying, "Gentlemen, I will also tell you directly... Right now, I cannot move an inch... Mr. Liang, you know this. Tumochuan is full of undercurrents. If I lead troops away, it will inevitably lead to great chaos... Gentlemen, I apologize for not being able to agree to Mr. Zhang's request, it is truly regrettable..."
At this point, his tone was already very sincere. Firstly, he had benefited from the Ming Dynasty's transportation over the past two years, and secondly, he respected Liang Menglong for traveling thousands of miles to seek aid, considering him a loyal minister. However, as soon as he said this, both of them felt a sense of sorrow. Their predictions were indeed correct; Anda was in a precarious position himself. Perhaps the situation was even more serious than Liang Menglong thought; he was even afraid to lead troops out. It was evident that in Tumochuan, internal betrayal was imminent...
Liang Menglong's journey had been very arduous, but it had been in vain. He felt discouraged. After pondering for a while, he suddenly thought of something and blurted out, "Great Khan, thank you for your frankness! However, I also have a question..."
Although Anda was surprised, his attitude towards the Ming Dynasty had completely changed in the past two years. He said warmly, "Please speak, Mr. Liang."
"Great Khan, if Xin Ai returns... what will happen?"
This? You! Anda was instantly terrified, and a natural hostility arose. He blurted out agitatedly, "It's none of your business!"
Liang Menglong pressed on, "Great Khan, remaining inactive is not auspicious... Since waiting is also a disaster, why not make a move and fight for it? Great Khan, to be frank, I am now the acting Governor-General of Jiliao! As long as you are willing to send troops, I will lead troops from Jizhou to provide support!"
Oh? Wang Guoguang had forgotten this point. Seeing that Anda was already moved, he said joyfully, "Great Khan, please look, this is the official gazette of our Great Ming court... Liang Menglong is now the acting Governor-General of Jiliao, and Mr. Zhang Juzheng is also a Privy Minister... Great Khan, Jizhou has an army of 200,000. If you are willing to march east, Liang Menglong can march north from Jizhou, and there is a chance of victory..."
Hmm, hmm. Anda pondered for a while. He thought that although Jizhou had a large army, Xin Ai had taken away 30,000 elite troops of the Tumet people, plus Xin Ai's own 20,000 men, their strength was not to be underestimated. Moreover, over the past two years, contact with the Ming Dynasty had been continuous, and they were no longer lacking arrows. Once this force entered Liaodong, it could be said that no one could match them. Although Liang Menglong was not an outsider, even if he brought out 200,000 troops, he might not necessarily gain the upper hand. Moreover, the siege of Liaoyang was nearing its end. Perhaps before troops could be mobilized, it would have already fallen... If the rebellious son Xin Ai occupied Liaodong, the leaders of Tumochuan would naturally stir up trouble...
It seemed that inaction was indeed not an option...
You should know that he was a hero all his life. In the past two years, because he had gotten too close to the Great Ming, the tribal leaders had become restless. They had persuaded his eldest son Xin Ai, and then been misled by the Yan family of the Great Ming, which led to the siege of Liaodong. And with Xin Ai's departure, Tumochuan was in imminent danger. If it weren't for his established prestige, the unprecedented crisis would have occurred long ago.
At this moment, he thought that only by lifting the siege of Liaodong could Tumochuan be peaceful again. As for Xin Ai, it depended on his own choices...
Thinking of this, he suddenly nodded and said, "Alright, but it's probably too late to save Liaodong... I will lead troops to detour to Khalkha and deter the Chahar people from the north. This would be the best strategy... What do you two think?"
The two were both Vice Ministers of the Ministry of War. As soon as they heard it, they felt it was very reliable and that Anda was indeed a superior strategist. Not to mention anything else, with this move, his heavy troops would be stationed north of Tumen, Jurchen, and Xin Ai. Tumen would surely be like a thorn in his side, unable to rest for a moment. The Jurchen, fearing their retreat would be cut off, would likely not fight to the death, leaving only Xin Ai's unit. And Xin Ai and Anda were father and son, so how to deal with them was their own business.
This strategy was indeed a good plan to break the siege. However, Liang Menglong quickly thought that given Anda's personality, he would likely lead all the tribal leaders to march together. Once the battle subsided, he would deal with the leaders along the way. And if the situation was not resolved, Anda would also be in danger, and the tribal leaders would naturally think of overthrowing him halfway. But overall, this was also Anda's only way out.
Liang Menglong nodded and said, "Great Khan is wise. If the progress is indeed smooth, I, Liang Menglong, am willing to mediate between Great Khan and Xin Ai. After all, father and son should eventually reconcile!"
Hmm, hmm. Anda looked at him gratefully and thought that if the Ming people could contain Xin Ai, and he then moved south to pressure him, with no way to retreat, Xin Ai might commit suicide. Since the Ming ministers were willing to mediate, it would naturally be the best. After all, the current predicament in Tumochuan could not be solved by violence. It would be best if Xin Ai could turn back from his stray path. When the tribal leaders saw the father and son reconciled, they would no longer have any fighting spirit.
With the plan decided, Anda resolved to muster his troops that very night, leaving Tiebei and Ba Han Naji to guard the rear, and all other leaders to pack up their tents.
Wang Guoguang and Liang Menglong's mission was accomplished. They bid farewell that night. Liang Menglong rushed to Jizhou to take up his post, while Wang Guoguang rushed back to the capital to guard against Tumen's sudden invasion of the pass. After all, this strategy would bring immense pressure to bear on Tumen, and they might risk everything. If they were to suddenly break through the pass, it would be a catastrophic event.