In Feng Ziying's memory, the Chahar people were defeated by the Jianzhou Jurchens, and Lin Dan Batur was forced to flee westward, and eventually died of depression. As a result, all the northern Mongolian tribes were controlled by the Jianzhou Jurchens, forming a semi-encirclement of the Central Plains in the south. .
The Jianzhou Jurchens no longer have any constraints outside the Pass, and can attack the Ming Dynasty with confidence and boldness.
Now the Inner Khalkhas seem to be replacing the Jianzhou Jurchens to control the entire Mongolia, and they have more innate legal authority than the Jianzhou Jurchens. They are both members of the Golden Family. Although they are farther away than Lindan Batur, they are still on the grassland. They rule the roost with their strength, and the descendants of the Golden Family are just a layer of clothing. Once Zasai defeats Lindan Batur, it is not an exaggeration to say that Nekarkha will replace Chahar as the overlord on the grassland.
If it cannot be completely conquered, it can only defeat the strong and support the weak. Feng Ziying now has to consider whether to attack the Mongolian tribes early. In the impression that in the previous life, it was not until the end of the 17th century that the Qing Dynasty conquered the Khar with the help of the Zhungeer tribe. The conquest of Kabul is now decades ahead of schedule. Is the Zhou Dynasty ready for this?
The huge Mongolia in southern and northern Mongolia covers too much territory. Although the imperial government's finances have continued to improve in recent years, thinking about the situation that the new cabinet will face as soon as it is established, I am afraid that everyone would prefer to stabilize it first. , waiting for the internal strife among their Mongolian tribes to reap the benefits.
From the bottom of his heart, Feng Ziying also hopes that this situation will happen, but he is more worried that once Zaisai's ambitions expand out of control and include all the Chahar and Outer Kalkha tribes, the remaining Tumote It is not worth mentioning the tribes of Ordos and Yongxiebu. One can imagine how much pressure a gradually unified Mongolia will bring to the northern border.
But Zasai’s ambitions were inflated by him intentionally or unintentionally, and he even continued to provide him with various supports in order to contain Chahar and restrict Jianzhou Jurchen.
If the Zasai really expands out of control, you will become a sinner through the ages.
But if we prepare to fight this battle now, if we lose, I am afraid that as the chief minister of the cabinet, I will face tremendous pressure, and whether I can continue to maintain it will be a question mark.
“Yao Qing, how are the Chahar people doing now?” Feng Ziying took a deep breath.
"It's not good. Lindan Batur's ability to control the situation is very weak, and he likes to act impulsively. Aohan, Naiman, and Surut also received material supplies from Zasai through Elek's relationship. Now they have begun He is leaning towards the Inner Khalkha people. Once Zaisai takes action against the Chahar people, his subordinates are a little worried that the Chahar people will not be able to sustain it..."
Wu Yaoqing did not mince words.
"There is a question. Subadi is also an ambitious man. Is he willing to work for Zaisai?" This is something Feng Ziying cannot accept.
He has done research on the internal and external Khalkha tribes, and the Zhifang Division has not relaxed its spying on the Mongolian tribes. Likewise, when merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi trade with the Mongolian tribes, they also shoulder the spying tasks arranged by him, and they also determine that Su Badi was equally ambitious, but now he didn't expect that the two ambitious people would actually join forces.
"It is said that Zaisai had an in-depth talk with Subadi. Well, Subadi should be offered the position of Jinong. Subadi may feel that Zaisai is currently gaining momentum, and even Elek and Shuo Lei are leaning towards it. He was worried that if he still had to fight against Zaisai, he would be unable to survive alone, so it would be better to work together to deal with the Chahar people first, and then annex the Mongolian right wing, and then talk about dealing with Zaisai..."
Wu Yaoqing’s judgment is basically reliable.
Now that Mongolia has been divided, the situation is like a mess, and no one can overwhelm anyone. The left wing alone is in disarray, and the Tumuts on the right are dominant, but the Bu Shitu and Tumut internal Su Nang also has two heroes standing side by side, fighting endlessly. If Zaisai really solves the Chahar people, it may be really difficult for the Tumote people to withstand the Khalkha people's attack.
"So Yaoqing, what do you think we should do now?" Feng Ziying knew it was time to make a decision. Should he continue to let Zasai, Subadi and Lindan Batur fight among themselves, sit on the mountain and watch the fight between tigers, etc. Are they fighting life and death, and in the end are snipe and clam fighting for the fisherman's profit? Or should they actively intervene and take the opportunity to solve the Mongolian problem in one fell swoop?
The former is relatively simple, while the latter is a bit complicated and troublesome. The matters involved are several times more difficult and complicated, and the risks are also several times higher. But once the Mongolian problem is solved, the benefits will be huge. It appeared in Tsarist Russia Until the north, the north of the Great Zhou Dynasty will be safe, which will win at least thirty to fifty years of security and stability for the Great Zhou Dynasty's expansion in the northeast and northwest.
What’s more, why should we satisfy Tsarist Russia’s appetite instead of our own?
Feng Ziying could not accept that Tsarist Russia had included the Lena River in its possession. Lake Baikal was the place where Su Wu grazed sheep during the Han Dynasty, and it actually fell into the hands of others. Which one is intolerable?
Even the vast territory between the Yenisei River and the Lena River should be decided by yourself. It should be the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Similarly, Central Asia should also be the cornerstone of the Great Zhou Dynasty to restore the homeland of the Han and Tang Dynasties. All of this All need to be based on the premise of completely solving the Mongols.
Unless the Mongolian problem is solved, it will always be difficult to expand northward and westward smoothly and unhindered. The sooner it is solved, the more initiative and opportunities it will gain. Some problems cannot be avoided. You can't avoid them on the first day of the new year, but you can't avoid them on the fifteenth day. They have to come when they should come.
"I feel that we are not ready for direct military intervention yet, but this depends on your thoughts, sir. In my opinion, it is better to deal with the Mongolian issue sooner rather than later, but we also need to be carefully prepared. If it is In the early stage, political and economic means can be used to intervene, but in the later stage, strong military intervention or even direct participation in the war is necessary to completely solve the Mongolian problem."
Wu Yaoqing was able to accurately capture Feng Ziying's thoughts.
“How long do you mean by the early stage?” Feng Ziying nodded with satisfaction.
"Half a year is more suitable. It's April now, and September is a good time to mobilize troops on the grasslands. Half a year is enough for us to be ready." Wu Yaoqing said without hesitation, "This is also an opportunity for the towns. ,…”
For the towns, it is also an opportunity to showcase themselves.
Perhaps the war against Mongolia will be the only large-scale war close to the border in the next thirty years of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Future wars are more likely to be in Nanyang, the Western Regions, Dongwu and Annan, but their scale and impact The strength is far from enough to fight against Mongolia. One or two victories in these wars are not enough to affect the domestic political situation. However, the victory or defeat in the first battle against Mongolia will definitely have an impact on the domestic political situation, and its influence is self-evident.
"Half a year, well, let me think about it carefully." Feng Ziying mused: "I'm afraid that as soon as my idea comes out, there will be an uproar in the government. This is gambling with the prestige of this cabinet, or in other words I am gambling with my own political future."
Wu Yaoqing was a little timid when he heard this, and hesitantly said: "Sir, how about we wait for another two years and wait until the time is more mature. In fact, we can also use economic and diplomatic means..."
Feng Ziying shook her head: "Didn't I think of it? Now that Zasai has grown up, even Subadi is willing to surrender. There are also Shuolei and Elek's support for Zasai, Aohan, Urut and Naiman tribes. These fringe tribes of the Chahar people are also leaning towards the Inner Khalkha people. I am afraid that Lindan Batur will not be able to resist it. If they are defeated in one battle, the Zaisai may be doomed. I cannot allow this. The only option is to attack the situation and kill it at the development stage."
“Can the Tumut people support the Chahar people?” As soon as Wu Yaoqing finished speaking, he shook his head: “The Tumut people will not agree.”
"Well, the feud between the Tumuts and the Chahar people is too deep. It would be great if we don't stab them in the back. It's too difficult to help." Feng Ziying also shook her head: "To avoid this situation, we, the Great Zhou, have to go into battle personally. .”
"But the cabinet and the DPRK will definitely not agree. Now that the cabinet has just been formed, it is going to start a big war. The DPRK and the CPC have already been calling for disarmament. If you want to do this now, my lord, it will inevitably give people a handle and attract a lot of trouble. Criticize." Wu Yaoqing reminded worriedly.
North Korea and China have long criticized the number of troops, and now the opposition is stronger. Therefore, Feng Ziying has to form a theater cluster to alleviate the pressure of external criticism. In a sense, the war against Mongolia is also a way to resolve the pressure from the government and the opposition. It is a means to make the Twelve Towns too powerful internally and externally and have too much influence on the army.
Mongolia, or the nomadic tribes in Monan and Mobei have been the biggest threat to the Central Plains dynasty since the Han and Tang Dynasties. The Western Jin Dynasty of the Sima family and the Zhao and Song dynasties were all destroyed by the nomadic army from the north. The siege of Baishan Mountain by Han Gaozu, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty's Bridge Alliance and the Ming Dynasty's Tumu Fort Incident were also caused by the O'La army, and Ming Yingzong was captured. These are typical examples of northern nomadic people threatening the Central Plains dynasty. The Jurchens in Jurchen were only established in the past twenty or thirty years. The rising threat is much weaker than the northern nomads who have been threatening the Central Plains dynasty for thousands of years.
It is also the case that the Mongolian tribes have been in a state of division for a hundred years, so they have never posed a great threat to the Great Zhou Dynasty, but once they are unified, they must not be underestimated.
"Have I not given enough authority to others? Isn't it natural for me to be criticized by others? If I want to satisfy everyone, then no one will be satisfied." Feng Ziying composed her mind, "I have made my decision. Definitely, no need to say more."