Usurping the Mongols: My Father-in-Law is Genghis Khan

The Ongud tribe not only has sufficient troops but also a crucial location.

The grasslands lack everything and need to trade with the outside world to obtain them. The best trading partner is the wealthy Jin Dynasty in the south.

However, the Jin Dynasty imposes extremely strict restrictions on Mongolia, making it impossible to buy what they want even with money.

As a Qiaojun army of the Jin Dynasty, the Ongud tribe is stationed at important passes on the border between Mongolia and the Jin Dynasty. It is a key node for smuggling trade between the Jin Dynasty and the grasslands, and has inextricable connections with various tribes on the grasslands.

Many Ongud people even make a living by smuggling between the grasslands and the Jin Dynasty, which is of great strategic significance to Mongolia.

Zhao Shuo said, "So, Father Khan is hesitant about whether to accept the Ongud tribe's surrender?"

Temujin did not answer but winked at Hulan.

Hulan said, "In principle, it is not impossible to accept the Ongud tribe. With the strength of our Mongolia, we are not afraid of retaliation from the Jin Dynasty. However, the Naiman people in the west are eyeing us covetously, and it is a bit too early to fall out with the Jin Dynasty now. Also, our various supplies depend on smuggling trade with the Jin Dynasty. Once the Ongud tribe surrenders, our trade with the Jin Dynasty will be completely cut off. The Great Khan and I are both hesitant, so we summoned you to ask for your opinion."

"If it really doesn't work, this Khan will send him some war horses, cattle, and sheep, and then marry off Alaqai to him!"

Temujin said the final backup plan.

The Ongud tribe is too crucial. How to ensure the Ongud tribe's loyalty to Mongolia without accepting their surrender is a really difficult problem. Alaqai is Temujin's third daughter, only thirteen years old this year. Temujin is unwilling to resort to this tactic unless absolutely necessary.

Of course, Zhao Shuo couldn't just watch his little sister Alaqai marry Alaq-Us.

In historical records, Princess Alaqai married Alaq-Us, Alaq-Us's eldest son Buyan Shiban, Alaq-Us's nephew Zhenguo, and Alaq-Us's second nephew Boyaohe successively. Although she was the daughter of Temujin, she married four men, father and son, uncle and nephew, and brothers, which was a tragic fate.

Of course, to be on the safe side, Zhao Shuo first asked, "First of all, we need to determine whether the Ongud tribe is sincerely surrendering, or whether they are being instructed by the Jin people and have some conspiracy?"

Temujin waved his hand and said, "The Ongud tribe knows the strength of our Mongolia very well, and they don't have the courage to do that."

Hulan also said, "The Ongud tribe really can't stay in the Jin Dynasty anymore. To be fair, the current emperor of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Jing, can't be regarded as an ignorant and fatuous ruler. However, the Jin Dynasty has been peaceful for a long time, the population has grown, and people are complacent and neglect military affairs, resulting in many long-standing problems. In recent years, they have also encountered the Yellow River bursting its banks, and the national treasury is empty, so they have to issue a large number of exchange notes. Now, ten thousand strings of exchange notes can only buy a sesame seed cake. Can the Ongud tribe have a good life?"

"The Jin Dynasty pays the Ongud tribe's military pay in exchange notes?" Zhao Shuo nodded and said, "That's equivalent to not paying military pay, which is indeed very difficult."

"It would be fine if it was just military pay. Without military pay, the Ongud tribe can still barely survive." Hulan continued, "The Song Dynasty has also seen the weakness of the Jin Dynasty, and Prime Minister Han Tuozhou is advocating for a northern expedition, creating a great public opinion in the Song Dynasty court. When the Jin Dynasty learned of this, they did not dare to neglect it and also greatly strengthened their military preparations. Now, the Jin Dynasty is conscripting soldiers and war horses, cattle, and sheep from the Ongud tribe. The tribesmen were already living in hardship, and now they are being so heavily taxed by the Jin Dynasty court, they really can't live anymore."

"Is there such a thing?"

Of course, Zhao Shuo knew about the historically famous Kai Xi Northern Expedition.

However, that was two years later.

Unexpectedly, from now on, the Jin and Song sides are preparing for the upcoming war, which has led to the instability of the Qiaojun army on the border of the Jin Dynasty.

He thought for a while and said, "I think it is not appropriate for the Ongud tribe to directly surrender to our Mongolia now."

"Oh? Why?"

"Old General Hulan is right. Although our Mongolia is not weak, it is not wise to fight on two fronts with the Jin Dynasty and the Naiman at the same time. Another important reason is that the Jin Dynasty is a mortal enemy of our Mongolia, and there will inevitably be a great battle between the two sides. Now that the Ongud tribe is surrendering, we are only getting 5,000 households. But if the Ongud tribe surrenders again at a critical moment in the future, we will be able to obtain several dangerous passes guarded by the Ongud tribe, and be able to insert a knife into the heart of the Jin people."

Temujin smiled bitterly and said, "That's what they say, but now that the Ongud tribe's heart is chilled, can they still be used by me in the future? Ashuo, do you mean... to let Alaqai marry Alaq-Us?"

"Of course not." Zhao Shuo said confidently, "I'll show Father Khan something, and you'll understand."

Then, Zhao Shuo gave an order, and an attendant brought in a pottery pot.

The pottery pot was opened, revealing a layer of white as snow and pure as frost.

In the eyes of the Mongolians, whose productivity was extremely backward, it was obvious at a glance that this thing was high-end, atmospheric, and upscale.

Temujin asked curiously, "What is this?"

"Father Khan will know after tasting it."

"Then I'll taste it."

If it were an unknown object sent by someone else, it would never have been so easily put into Temujin's mouth. You must know that Temujin's father, Yesügei, was poisoned to death by drinking poisonous wine sent by the enemy.

But for Zhao Shuo, it was a completely different matter.

Temujin didn't take any spoon, but directly dipped a little with his index finger and put it into his mouth. Immediately, his eyes lit up and he said, "This... this is salt?"

"What? Salt? How could salt be like this?"

Hulan also dipped a little with his finger and put it into his mouth, saying, "Salt! It really is salt! And it is extremely pure, with only saltiness and no other impurities! Consort Zhao Shuo, from which merchant did you buy this salt, or... or did your people make it?"

Speaking of the end, Hulan's eyes were full of hope.

As Genghis Khan's de facto prime minister, he knew too well how scarce Mongolia was now and how much it needed materials that could be exchanged with the outside world.

Sure enough!

Zhao Shuo said, "Old General Hulan, rest assured, this white salt was indeed made by me."

"That's great! The Ongud tribe is now going to surrender to our Mongolia as a whole, isn't it because they are being squeezed by the Jin Dynasty and can't survive? If we smuggle this white salt to the Jin Dynasty through them, taking out a portion of the profits should be able to solve the Ongud tribe's immediate needs."

Temujin waved his hand and said豪气, "Even if we take out all the profits, it's okay if it can solve the Ongud tribe's problem. Someone, go and invite Alaq-Us!"

"Yes."

After a while, Alaq-Us, the Khan of the Ongud tribe, walked into the golden tent.

Alaq-Us is in his forties this year, of medium build, and has a kind appearance.

However, upon seeing the white salt and learning that it came from Zhao Shuo, Aral Wusi's kind face quickly filled with excitement. He said, "I didn't expect that Prince Consort Zhao Shuo not only killed Wang Han's number one warrior on the grasslands but also invented such white salt. He is truly accomplished in both civil and military affairs! With you, Great Khan, what worries could there be about unifying the grasslands? And what worries could Mongolia have about not prospering? Our Wanggu tribe's submission to Mongolia is truly the most correct decision!"

Temujin said, "How much can this salt made by Zhao Shuo sell for in the Jin Kingdom?"

The Jin Kingdom hardly ever issued military pay, and smuggling had almost become the main business of the Wanggu people. Therefore, Aral Wusi was very clear about the prices of goods in various places. However, the Mongolian economy was too underdeveloped, and there were very few goods that could be smuggled, so the Wanggu people couldn't earn much.

Aral Wusi carefully explained, "Great Khan, you may not know, but the price of salt is not the same throughout the Jin Kingdom. For example, in Liaodong, Shangjing, and other places where the Jurchens gather, the price of salt is the lowest, with official salt at fourteen copper coins per catty and private salt at ten coins. However, in Shandong, Hebei, and other places where the Han people gather, the price of salt is the highest, with official salt at forty-two copper coins per catty and private salt at thirty-five coins. As for the northern border where our Wanggu tribe is located, official salt is around thirty-seven coins and private salt is around thirty-two coins."

Here, 'coins' of course, refers to genuine copper coins, not the Jin Kingdom's paper money, which was comparable to the gold certificates of later generations.

Aral Wusi continued to introduce, "And this pure white salt made by Prince Consort Zhao Shuo is truly something I have never seen in my life. It's hard to say exactly how much it can sell for. However, I believe that around one hundred coins per catty should be very easy to sell."

Temujin was slightly puzzled and said, "One hundred coins per catty, that much? Didn't you just say that the Jin Kingdom has no money?"

Aral Wusi smiled bitterly and said, "It is the Jin Kingdom's court that has no money, not the nobles in various places. The current Jin Kingdom has ten million households and more than sixty million people. How could there be a shortage of rich people?"

Aral Wusi quickly asked, "Then how much can Prince Consort Zhao Shuo provide each year?"

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Zhao Shuo's lips curled into a smile, "However much you need, I will give you that much. I'm just afraid that if there is too much white salt, the Wanggu tribe will no longer be able to sell it at the high price of one hundred coins per catty."

"That would be great!"

Aral Wusi was overjoyed. Of course, he understood that the Mongols were using the fine salt, this hard currency, to delay the timing of accepting the Wanggu tribe's submission.

However, not only did he not feel the slightest dissatisfaction, but he also rubbed his large hands excitedly and said, "It's nothing for the Jin people to conscript the men of our Wanggu tribe to fight in the south. The main thing is that without men in the tribe, the orphans and widows have a hard time making a living. With the profits from this white salt, our Wanggu tribe can not only survive but also live very well... That's not right, if we really have money, I can use the money to bribe the Jin Kingdom's high officials, and even exempt our Wanggu tribe from conscription, haha!"

Zhao Shuo instructed, "This white salt is to help your Wanggu tribe get through the current crisis, not to let you serve the Jin Kingdom with peace of mind. One day, when the Great Khan issues an order, the Wanggu tribe must still immediately submit to Mongolia."

"Understood!"

Dong dong dong~~

Aral Wusi immediately bowed deeply to Temujin and said, "May the Eternal Heaven and the Almighty Lord bear witness, from today onwards, the Wanggu tribe is the Wanggu tribe of the Mongol Empire, and I, Aral Wusi, am the Great Khan's most loyal servant, following the Great Khan's lead!"

The Mongols believed in Shamanism, but the Wanggu tribe believed in Christianity. Aral Wusi was so excited that he simply brought out both the Eternal Heaven and the Lord to swear allegiance to Temujin.

"Very good!"

Temujin happily helped Aral Wusi up and said, "Someone, bring the six hu of good wine that Aral Wusi brought! We must have a few good drinks today!"

"Yes."

If the Wanggu tribe's defection from Jin to Mongolia went wrong, the entire Wanggu tribe would be destroyed by the Jin Kingdom.

Therefore, Aral Wusi came secretly.

Temujin's guards were restrained by military law and naturally kept their mouths shut. Among the Mongolian high-ranking officials, only Temujin, Hulan, and Zhao Shuo knew about it.

The banquet celebrating the Wanggu tribe's submission to Mongolia naturally only involved Aral Wusi, Temujin, Zhao Shuo, and Hulan.

Aral Wusi personally poured a cup of wine for Temujin and said respectfully, "This is the Jin Kingdom's most famous Jinquan Wine. It is not only very popular in the Jin Kingdom but also sells far to the Southern Song Dynasty. Even the Song people praise it endlessly! Please, Great Khan, taste it!"

"This is the famous Jinquan Wine?"

Temujin took a sip and nodded slightly, "It is indeed good wine. Anda Aral Wusi, you are very thoughtful."

Temujin was ambitious and liked beautiful women, but his other material desires were very low. Especially when it came to alcohol, he believed that drinking "a little makes you horny, a lot makes you crazy," so he was unwilling to drink more and only praised it out of politeness.

Zhao Shuo also drank a cup of Jinquan Wine and said, "The Jin Kingdom has good wine, and our Mongol Empire also has good wine. Aral Wusi, would you like to try it?"

Aral Wusi said, "Sure, today I will have a good taste of Mongolia's fine wine."

In fact, Aral Wusi's words were also quite perfunctory.

He knew the details of Mongolia too well. Besides horse milk wine, what else was there? How could it compare to the Jin Kingdom's fine wine?

However, after he tasted the fine wine that Zhao Shuo had ordered to be brought, he could no longer remain calm.

"I didn't expect Mongolia to have such good wine? It is not only so clear but also spicy upon entry. After careful tasting, there is also a faint milky aroma. It is much better than the Jinquan Wine I brought!"

That was natural.

Although the Jin Kingdom currently had rudimentary distillation technology, it could only produce low-alcohol white wine or yellow wine.

However, what Zhao Shuo brought out was distilled horse milk wine made with the knowledge of later generations.

The high alcohol content of more than forty degrees simply opened the door to a new world for Aral Wusi.

The faint milky aroma aftertaste made him even more intoxicated.

Of course, there was also the most important thing, money!

Why did Aral Wusi humbly request to submit to Mongolia? Wasn't it because he had no money and could no longer survive in the Jin Kingdom? No one valued economic benefits more than him!

"Prince Consort Zhao Shuo."

Aral Wusi looked at Zhao Shuo cautiously and said, "But I don't know what the name of this wine is? Could... could you be willing to sell it to our Wanggu tribe?"

"This wine has just been made and has no name yet, let's call it..."

Zhao Shuo pondered for a moment. He had many famous wine names in his mind, such as Maotai, Wuliangye, and so on, but this wine was distilled horse milk wine, and it didn't seem appropriate to use these names from memory.

Finally, a flash of inspiration appeared in Zhao Shuo's mind, and he said, "Let's call it 'Liqueur'! 'Liqueur' in Chinese means sweet, which just matches the taste of this wine. If your Wanggu tribe wants to sell it, you can naturally do so. Just like the example of white salt, you can take 20% of the profits."