英文摘要
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Outside the northern border of the Ming Empire, there were salt, grass, ginseng, pine nuts, wood ears, mushrooms, and other natural resources in the hills, grassland, and desert. There were also lynx, wild horses, elks, Mongolian gazelles, ground squirrels, eagles, fish, and other animals. The law forbade soldiers and civilians to cross the border. However, hunters and gatherers often crossed anyway, hoping they would not be caught. Sometimes, they were captured or injured by Mongols. This situation lasted until the late Ming Dynasty. Additionally, soldiers and civilians alike often cultivated crops just outside the border up until the middle of the fifteenth century when Mongolian forces moved south (especially toward the Ordos region). At this point, it became increasingly dangerous to farm outside the border, and therefore there were fewer such cases. In the 1570's, Beijing reconciled with the Mongolian leader Altan Khan, and border wars west of Beijing decreased, increasing the likelihood of farming outside the border.
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