The ministers were suspicious of the passage to the north.

If this channel is indeed reliable, then it is debatable whether to contact the Ming Dynasty with such a low profile. The goal of the Purple Horde was very simple: to obtain supplies from the East. If a competitor emerges, it's time to bargain.

But if the Zhuyuan were not so powerful, did not control large areas of fur and pearl production as they boasted, and could not transfer things over, then it would be of little significance to the Purple Horde.

Unlike these countries, the Purple Horde was neither a descendant of Kublai Khan's line, nor did it need the claims of the Yuan dynasty, and had little affection for them. Therefore, how to decide on this matter depends purely on the specific feasibility.

"I still think we should be skeptical - there are so many legendary monsters from the classical era, and no one has conclusively proved that this story is probably just a myth." Outlifus tangled.

"But if it's true......" he looked back and forth at the person next to him, "This kobold sounds like a fierce look." Is there a more specific description in the story? ”

"Nope." Wang Da Lama said: "In fact, it's not easy to say how effective the dog country is. The explorers probably didn't look into the question seriously. ”

"That's not so easy to say." Papadopoulos reminded: "No matter where our trade route passes, the Ming Dynasty, which is closer, can also pass." So the focus is not on how remote it is, but on whether the locals can resist the Ming Dynasty with the help of the terrain in this remote land. Although these kobolds have surrendered to the Yuan Dynasty, if they still can't defeat the Ming army, then it doesn't make any sense for us to take a detour from here. ”

"Indeed." Borjan and others also agreed.

"The probability that this story will be falsely spread is indeed very high." Cao Jian also pointed out: "It is a very common way to use animals as metaphors for other countries, and we have seen them. ”

"When the Ming Dynasty and Timur fell out, Timur was so angry that he scolded the Ming Emperor as 'Emperor Taoglas'. Like this, it's typical. ”

"What does that mean?" Shi Ke asked.

"It's Turkic, it means pig." Zhao Liang said: "It should be a counterattack against the envoy of the Ming Dynasty and deliberately scolded Emperor Zhu." ”

It is also possible that it is in Turkic. Taohuashi and Taoglas, in Turkic language, have similar pronunciations, so as to scold Emperor Zhu for being the emperor of the pig country. Grand Lama Wang added: "Of course, it is more likely that it is both, deliberately so." ”

"Uncle Timur actually knows how to play homophonic stalks, or is it a bilingual dual ......" Guo Kang had never heard of it before, and he was quite surprised by this.

"What to play?" Li Xuanying asked.

"Nothing." Guo Kang waved his hand: "I feel like I underestimated his cultural level before......

"Whether it's scolding or not depends on the cultural environment." Zhao Liang said: "Taoglas should be the pronunciation of the Turkic people of Central Asia. The Turkic-speaking tribes in Liaoyang Province pronounce 'Tunguska'. They used this term to refer to the local Jurchen-speaking tribes. This is not actually a scornful term, because in the local culture, the wild boar is a symbol of bravery, and belongs to the praise of others. ”

"Oh yes, that's an example." He thought for a moment and said.

"The custom of pigs has been around here for a long time. Although they did not record it themselves, the people of the Central Plains knew very well that the two sides had a very early exchange. Zhao Liang thought for a while and said: "When the Zhou Dynasty was first established, the local Sushen people paid tribute to King Wu of Zhou, which was a birch arrow shaft and a stone arrowhead. The bows and arrows they used were very large, and the arrows were more than a foot long, which was very iconic. The Son of Heaven thought that it was an auspicious thing for people from afar to come to pay tribute, so he specially recorded it. ”

"This is the farthest tribe to pay tribute to the Zhou Dynasty, so after that, the Zhou people have always regarded Sushen as their extreme northern border. Whoever can let the prudent people come to the court is a sign of the prestige of the country. Later, it became a cultural concept and is still used today. ”

It is said that the people of Su Shen and the later Rulou did not raise cattle and sheep much, but liked to raise pigs. These people ate pork, wore pigskins, and sacrificed pigs. This also impressed the historians of the Central Plains. ”

"Su Shen, Zhu Lizhen, Zhu Shen, and Jurchen are probably the same word, and they are pronounced in different times and dialects. Until now, many Jurchens do still have this custom, which can be verified and identified. So, it's not surprising that others call them that. He concluded.

"You know the things in the ancient books very well." Cao Jian was a little surprised.

"I'll not hide it from you, I've also read books here." Zhao Liang said a little smugly: "Although we are in a wild place, our family has always attached importance to educating our children. Ancient books and calligraphy have all been learned. ”

"That's right." Cao Jian said approvingly: "Then you can continue." ”

"Okay." Zhao Liang arched his hand: "In short, whether it is the ancient books of the Central Plains or the surrounding Turkic tribes, they are all deeply impressed by their pigs." But the Turks called them 'Tunguska', not to say that these people were boar monsters, but to describe their way of life and the animal symbols they worshipped. ”

"I think this dog country might be similar." He compared: "I think it may be that there are many dogs, and they are all dogs in their lives, so people call them dog country." This is the same as the country where the Liao people go to use dogs, and it should be an ethnic group with close customs, not that they are really kobolds. ”

"I see." Everyone expressed their understanding.

"Then Timur called Emperor Zhu Emperor Tunguska, but in fact, he called it wrong, right?" Borjan asked: "In Tunguska, pigs are not called Tunguska. ”

"It's really not called that. However, there are a lot of pigs with names over there, which are commonly used. Zhao Liang replied: "For example, it is called 'pigskin', Nurhachi, it can be regarded as an auspicious name." ”

"What are you talking about? I'm getting dizzy. Sitting behind him, Tokhtaku was puzzled: "What do you mean? Timur's nickname is not right, Emperor Zhu is actually called Nurhachi, right? ”

"Okay, okay, don't go far." Grand Lama Wang hurriedly stopped them and tapped the map with a whisk: "In short, we have already introduced the local tribes that can be used. Now, the main question is the threat to be faced. ”

"The emperor of the Ming Dynasty divided more than a dozen kings in the north and ordered them to lead their Ulus to fight for the steppe with the Mongols." He introduced: "In the northeast direction, there are mainly four, among which the fourth prince Yan Wang is the best at fighting. ”

"The focus of this trade route is in the northern part of Liaoyang Province, but it is said that the Yanwang Department is very mobile, and it is likely to take the initiative to go forward, pass through the eastern edge of the grassland, and cut off here before entering Liaoyang." He gestured: "I think the main threat is here. ”

"In other words, it depends on whether Da Yuan's kobold can defeat the fourth prince of Tunguska Zhu." Detachment does not take a judgment to say.

"Take off and don't spend!" On the throne, the queen looked like she couldn't help it: "You are not allowed to speak at this meeting!" ”

"Hey, hey?!"