GBP Chapter 1223 I have a question for Marquis Chongli
Chapter 1223 I have a question for Marquis Chongli
Wang Baobao was not surprised at all that Naha was going to the Ming Dynasty to resell warhorses.
After all, there were countless Ming officials and gentry who were reselling grain and even ironware to the Yuan Dynasty. If it weren't for the Ming officials and gentry constantly reselling grain and ironware, the Yuan Dynasty, in its current state, would be lucky to survive, let alone fight against the Ming Dynasty!
However, the last sentence from the buyer, Libala, "How many people in the Yuan Dynasty court are captains, captains, or even centurions and commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" truly frightened Wang Baobao.
The Crown Prince himself was actually a probationary centurion in the Ming Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard!
Wang Baobao laughed in anger, glaring at the man named Libala and saying, "Is Your Highness afraid of the Ming Dynasty, or is he afraid of that Ming prince consort surnamed Yang?"
Liu Dingbei was not angry. Instead, he answered very seriously, "If we have to compare them, I am more afraid of the Prince Consort."
Wang Baobao was stunned for a moment, but Liu Dingbei sighed slightly and said, "The Ming emperor still has some sense of reason and etiquette. The idea of sending me back to the grasslands was first proposed by the Ming emperor."
"According to the Ming emperor, he hopes that after I return to the grasslands, I can inherit the throne of the Great Yuan and bring an end to the war between the Great Yuan and the Great Ming."
"Don't worry about how much of what he said is true or false; his attitude is what it is."
"But that Prince Consort Yang..."
Liu Dingbei shook his head and said, "The principles he speaks of are his own principles, and the etiquette he speaks of is also his own etiquette."
"To put it bluntly, if you were a poor commoner in the Ming Dynasty, and you argued with him to his face, he might not even get angry. He might even try to reason with you."
"But if you are an envoy from a vassal state, a merchant from a vassal state, a commoner from a vassal state, or even an official or gentry of the Ming Dynasty, let alone arguing with him to his face, even muttering a few words about him behind his back could get you a visit from the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"To put it simply, the herdsmen on the grasslands are just like the people of the Ming Dynasty in his eyes, they are all 'people' just like him, while I, the Marquis, and the Prime Minister are just like the officials and gentry of the Ming Dynasty, they are the kind of 'oxen and horses' that need to be strictly disciplined."
"As for the people of the vassal states... they are barbarians who need to be educated with swords and spears."
Liu Dingbei rambled on and on, but Wang Baobao became more and more confused as he listened.
After a long while, Wang Baobao finally spoke and asked, "Isn't the Ming emperor going to do anything about him?"
Liu Dingbei scoffed and said, "Should we do something about him?"
"He married two princesses, not just 'married' them."
"His daughter had just turned one month old when the Ming emperor issued an edict to confer upon her the title of county princess."
"He himself was granted the title of Duke of Ying based on his military achievements in the eastern expedition against Japan. He also held the Zhenfu Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Crown Prince's personal guard unit was composed of young men selected from Ningyang County, where he first served as an official. The Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty always called him brother-in-law."
Liu Dingbei chuckled and asked again, "Take care of him?"
As Liu Dingbei finished speaking, Wang Baobao was completely stunned.
According to the Crown Prince, this son-in-law surnamed Yang could be said to wield immense power in the court.
So the question arises—what was the Ming emperor thinking that allowed that son-in-law surnamed Yang to act so recklessly?
Liu Dingbei glanced at Wang Baobao, and seeing that Wang Baobao remained silent, he took the initiative to speak, saying, "The Prime Minister doesn't need to worry about what's going on with Prince Consort Yang."
"What the Prime Minister needs to think about now is where our Great Yuan Dynasty is headed?"
"Should we continue fighting against the Ming Dynasty?"
"Should the Prime Minister lead the army on a western or northern expedition?"
Wang Baobao pondered for a while before letting out a long sigh and saying, "Since His Highness the Crown Prince is unwilling to inherit the throne and instead acts as the Marquis of Chongli of the Ming Dynasty, then I have a question to ask the Marquis of Chongli."
Liu Dingbei nodded, and Wang Baobao then asked, "May I ask Marquis Chongli, if I agree to the western expedition and hand over the entire northern desert, what benefits will the Ming Dynasty offer the Great Yuan?"
Seeing Wang Baobao's serious expression, which didn't seem like he was joking, Liu Dingbei's heart started pounding wildly.
If Wang Baobao were willing to lead the Yuan Dynasty on a western or northern expedition...
The Golden Family, and indeed the entire Mongol Empire, would be able to preserve their bloodline and at least avoid annihilation.
And the Ming Dynasty was able to take over the entire northern grasslands without bloodshed.
When the imperial court builds railways all over the grasslands, when the imperial court builds cities all over the grasslands... no, we don't even have to wait until then!
If the Yuan Dynasty begins its westward expedition or retreats northward, it means that I, the Marquis, can go to Fenglangjuxu at any time!
In other words, His Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty could go to Fenglangjuxu at any time!
Based solely on this merit, I, Liu Dingbei, can take better care of those Mongolian herders who have settled in the Central Plains!
Thinking of this, Liu Dingbei looked at Wang Baobao with a serious expression and said, "I cannot make any promises to the Prime Minister right now—if the Prime Minister is willing to launch a western or northern expedition, I can convey the message on his behalf. As for what kind of conditions the Ming Dynasty can offer, that is not up to me."
Wang Baobao's face darkened, but Liu Dingbei continued, "However, the Prime Minister can rest assured."
"Until the Ming Dynasty gives a definite answer, I will remain in the northern desert."
"We will also do our best to persuade Prince Consort Yang to secure more benefits for the Yuan Dynasty."
Wang Baobao's expression softened slightly.
Continuing to fight the Ming Dynasty to the death is definitely not realistic.
Not to mention His Majesty's poor health, which could lead to his passing at any moment, even I, the Prime Minister of the Great Yuan, am getting weaker day by day, and may one day return to the embrace of the Eternal Heaven.
The critical issue is that the Yuan Dynasty's court is already facing a shortage of capable leaders.
He himself could barely manage to spar with Xu Da, but the officials and generals in the court didn't even have the qualifications to spar with Xu Da.
In this way, the western and northern expeditions proposed by the Crown Prince became the best option for the Yuan Dynasty.
After a moment of silence, Wang Baobao stared intently at Mailibala and said, "Your Majesty, I naturally trust you. I only hope that Your Majesty will not break your promise and will give me an answer as soon as possible."
Liu Dingbei smiled and said just as earnestly, "By the Eternal Heaven above! I was once the Crown Prince of the Great Yuan Dynasty, and naturally I would consider the interests of the Great Yuan and the Mongols on the entire grassland!"
……
While Liu Dingbei and Wang Baobao were discussing whether to launch a western or northern expedition in the northern desert, Emperor Zhu was happily lounging in a courtyard in Ningyang County, enjoying the pancakes baked by Empress Ma.