Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

In the early Ming Dynasty, in order to completely eliminate the remaining forces of the Northern Yuan, Zhu Yuanzhang repeatedly dispatched large armies to conquer the Mongolian steppe.

On the 22nd day of the first month of the fifth year of Hongwu (1372), Xu Da was appointed as the General Who Conquers the Barbarians, Li Wenzhong, the Duke of Cao, was appointed as the Left Deputy General, and Feng Sheng, the Duke of Song, was appointed as the Right Deputy General. Each of them led 50,000 men and divided them into three routes to launch the second Northern Expedition.

...............

Inside a side hall of the imperial palace in Yingtian Prefecture.

A map of the northern desert was laid out on a long table, with several small flags arranged in a jagged pattern on top.

"In general, the art of war dictates that a general receives orders from his sovereign, assembles his army, gathers his troops, and establishes a defensive position. Nothing is more difficult than military maneuvering."

"Military competition is for profit, and military competition is also dangerous."

"The army marched more than 70 li in one day."

"If you rush about with your armor rolled up, without stopping day or night, and double your speed, you can capture three generals if you fight for profit every hundred li, and defeat the top general if you fight for profit every fifty li."

"My eldest cousin should be alright, but it's hard to say about Lan Yu."

A young man wearing a bright red, round-necked, narrow-sleeved robe with a five-clawed python dragon design, and with his hair tied up in a hollowed-out purple-gold crown, stood in front of the map, muttering to himself.

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother!"

A child's innocent voice came from outside, interrupting Zhu Di's thoughts.

"Squeak! Squeak!"

The tightly closed door of the side hall opened from the outside, and a group of eunuchs rushed in, the leader of whom was holding a beautifully sculpted child.

Zhu Di looked up and a warm smile appeared on his face: "What brings you here?"

"Your Highness."

"The young prince is making a fuss and won't go to sleep, so His Highness the Crown Prince sent me to bring him here to you."

The head eunuch bowed his head as he reported, and the other eunuchs followed suit.

"You're being naughty again, aren't you?"

Zhu Di stepped forward and playfully pinched the child's nose.

"Giggle!"

Upon seeing Zhu Di, the child was overjoyed and reached out his chubby little hands, begging for a hug.

Zhu Di immediately caught him, holding him in one arm and brushing off his sleeve with the other, and said gently, "You may leave now. The Prince of Xiang will stay here with me."

"Yes."

The eunuchs bowed and left the side hall, closing the door behind them as they went.

Zhu Di carried little Zhu Bai to the canopy bed made of golden nanmu wood and carefully covered him with a blanket. Little Zhu Bai looked at him with bright, sparkling eyes, his face showing no sign of sleepiness, just like a curious child: "Fourth Brother, aren't you going to sleep?"

"Fourth Brother still needs to study. While Master is still busy, go play."

Zhu Di smiled and said indulgently.

"I want my fourth brother to stay with me."

As soon as Zhu Di was about to leave, Xiao Zhu Bai immediately sat up from the couch, staring intently at Zhu Di.

"Okay, Fourth Brother will stay with you."

Zhu Di walked halfway, then sat back down on the edge of the couch and tucked the corner of Xiao Zhu Bai's quilt in.

"Hey!"

"Fourth Brother, who is Wang Baobao?"

Zhu Bai stared wide-eyed and asked a surprising question.

"Wang Baobao".

A strange light flashed in Zhu Di's eyes as he patiently explained, "He is my second brother's brother-in-law and my second sister-in-law's older brother."

"So he was also a Yuan dynasty person?"

Zhu Bai said innocently.

"Who did you learn from?"

Zhu Di frowned slightly.

Since its establishment, the Ming Dynasty has always pursued a policy of inclusiveness and has entrusted important positions to surrendered Mongols and Yuan Dynasty officials.

In order to win over Wang Baobao, Zhu Yuanzhang even arranged for his second son, Zhu Shuang, to marry Wang Baobao's younger sister, Guanyinnu.

The term "Yuanren" would not attract much attention from ordinary people in the city, but when it came from Zhu Bai's mouth, it had a very different meaning. Guanyin Nu was the principal wife of the Prince of Qin, and her official attire and ceremonial regalia were second only to the Empress and the Crown Princess. In terms of etiquette, she was regarded as a first-rank official.

"I heard it from the palace maids and eunuchs."

Xiao Zhu Bai tilted his head and answered.

"That's our second sister-in-law, you can't say that again."

Zhu Di solemnly instructed young Zhu Bai: "Wang Baobao is no ordinary Yuan man. He is the most extraordinary man in the world, praised even by his father. He is the Prince of Qi of the Northern Yuan and an unparalleled general."

"Is he even more capable than Uncle Xu?"

Little Zhu Bai opened his mouth wide, his little face full of surprise.

In his mind, Duke Xu Da of Wei was already the number one war god of the Ming Dynasty, so how could anyone be stronger than him?

"We'll only know after we fight it."

Zhu Di's gaze was deep and unfathomable, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

The second northern expedition was of extraordinary significance to the Ming Dynasty. This battle allowed the Ming Dynasty to sweep away the Northern Yuan forces in the Hexi Corridor in one fell swoop, recover Ganzhou, Suzhou, Guazhou, Shazhou and other places, and establish the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission.

This battle brought fame to Lan Yu, the brother-in-law of Chang Yuchun, the Prince of Kaiping, and propelled him into the ranks of the court's nobles.

In the same battle, the main force led by Duke Xu Da of Wei suffered a crushing defeat, while the eastern route army led by Duke Li Wenzhong of Cao gained and lost roughly the same amount.

After this battle, the Ming Dynasty did not take a single step into the Mongolian steppe for eight years, until the third northern expedition was launched in the thirteenth year of Hongwu (1380).

..........

The main hall of Kunning Palace.

Empress Ma sat on the couch sewing shoe soles, her ten fingers embroidering like butterflies, watching Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty having his meal with a virtuous expression.

"Gurgle, gurgle!"

Zhu Yuanzhang held a steamed bun in one hand and a bowl of millet porridge in the other, enjoying the meal with great relish.

"Didn't you eat well for dinner?"

Empress Ma spoke with gentle concern.

"I just love drinking this bowl of porridge you cook."

"Alright, I'm full."

Zhu Yuanzhang gulped down the last mouthful of millet porridge, put down his chopsticks, and sighed deeply: "Sigh!"

"We miscalculated. We thought Bao'er had mastered it after all these years of training."

"But who would have thought? Well, it's true, Bao'er's name only has the character 'Bao' in it."

"Wang Baobao, two Baobaos, how can one of you beat two of them?"

As he spoke, he shook his head, his brow furrowed in worry.

"That's why."

Empress Ma smiled and shook her head.

"Ever since we became the King of Wu, Mr. Li, Master Liu, and that Hu Weiyong have told us this time and time again."

"What about the separatist warlordism of the Former Tang and Five Dynasties periods? They were too powerful to be controlled."

"Their sole purpose was to prevent the military power of the Ming Dynasty from being completely controlled by one person."

"The reason we let Tiande resign from his post and go to the Secretariat was to protect him."

"If Tiande has to lead the troops again this time, then the only thing we can do when he returns victorious is to bestow upon him the title of king."

"To be made a king?"

Empress Ma stopped what she was doing and stared at Zhu Yuanzhang.

"He was still granted the title of king despite being of a different surname."

Zhu Yuanzhang's weathered face was filled with solemnity.

Even Empress Ma couldn't help but ponder. Throughout history, which king of a different surname had ever fared well? At best, his entire clan was exiled to the army; at worst, his entire family was executed.

The atmosphere in the main hall of Kunning Palace became exceptionally stagnant and oppressive.

"Let's not even talk about whether we can get past Mr. Li and Master Liu."

"It's all in the past, and it's not a good thing for Tiande."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, still holding some grudges against his old brother, and was unwilling to do the kind of thing that would be discarded after the usefulness of the work is over.

He changed the subject, saying helplessly, "If we don't bestow a title upon him, we really don't know what to reward him with."

"Jupachi."

Empress Ma rose from the couch, walked to Zhu Yuanzhang and sat down, saying gently, "I really like that eldest daughter of the Xu family."

"Since there's nothing left to reward, why don't we arrange a marriage?"

"That's a good thing."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up.

If the Xu family were to marry into the imperial family, they would become relatives of the emperor. In that case, the court officials would no longer dare to have any objections to Xu Da leading troops.

This marriage also demonstrates the boundless grace of Heaven, and outsiders dare not have any objections.