Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

Bayanbulage, in southern Mongolia.

With the arrival of Ming reinforcements, a camp large enough to accommodate 50,000 people was built in just a few days.

The sounds of people and horses neighing filled the air, and figures dressed in mandarin duck battle coats were everywhere.

"What did you say?"

Inside the central command tent, Xu Da suddenly stood up, looking at Geng Bingwen with disbelief.

"General."

"His Highness the Prince of Yan personally led eight hundred men into the northern desert, heading straight for Karakorum."

Geng Bingwen felt a chill run down his spine, and mustered his courage to repeat it again.

"Whoa!!!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar, and the Ming generals were stunned.

The emperor's son, the legitimate heir, only led eight hundred Ming soldiers to attack Karakorum. Was he tired of living?

If Zhu Di were to get into trouble, none of the people present would escape; Zhu Yuanzhang would surely skin them alive.

"It's been a few days."

Xu Da forced himself to calm down and asked.

Three days have passed since His Highness the Prince of Yan departed.

Geng Bingwen quickly replied.

"map!"

"Someone, hang up the map."

Secretary Gu Cheng instructed his guards to hang the map of the northern desert on the wooden frame.

Xu Da rose from the tiger-skin couch, strode to the map, and scanned every place name with eyes like a hawk. He murmured, "From Bayanbulage to Karakorum, it's at least 1,400 li. How many horses and supplies did the Prince of Yan bring?"

"Reported to the General."

Geng Bingwen added, "Each person carried three horses, and each person carried ten days' worth of food and fresh water."

"That bastard!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Da couldn't help but curse out loud.

Eight hundred Ming soldiers, each with three horses, took turns raiding. They could travel up to 160 li a day, carrying only ten days' worth of food and fresh water. They planned to emulate Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty and rely on the enemy for sustenance.

But if they fail to take Karakorum, the lack of water and food alone would be enough to kill Prince Yan, Zhu Di, in the northern desert.

"What's been happening with the expansion these past few days?"

With everyone gone, there was no point in Xu Da cursing anymore, so he focused his attention on the Yuan people.

"Reported to the General."

"The Yuan army sent out scouts to harass our troops constantly, with numbers ranging from a hundred to a thousand men."

"In my humble opinion, Kuo Kuo seems to be waiting for something."

Geng Bingwen said with a serious expression.

"He's waiting for me."

Xu Da said solemnly, "Wang Baobao is determined to have a showdown with us."

"Pass down the order: the entire army shall rest for one night and engage the Yuan army in a decisive battle tomorrow."

"Yes."

The generals responded in unison and then withdrew one after another.

Only the chief secretary, Gu Cheng, remained in the main tent, looking worried. "General..."

"Should we report the matter of His Highness the Prince of Yan to His Majesty?"

"Let's keep it a secret for now."

Xu Da sighed and said helplessly, "If I tell His Majesty now, my old brother is too old to handle it."

"The Empress and the Crown Prince were already worried about the Prince of Yan."

"The only thing we can do now is to tie down the main force of the Kökö Tölö, in order to prevent the Yuan people from returning to Karakorum."

Now that things had come to this, he could not personally lead his army to the northern desert to rescue Zhu Di.

The best news is that there's no news right now. We can only hope that Zhu Di is reliable and can pull off a miracle.

"General."

"Should we send a portion of our cavalry to the northern desert to support His Highness the Prince of Yan?"

Gu Cheng then made another suggestion.

"I think it's a good idea."

"Go and fetch Huoli Huozhen."

Xu Da slammed his hand on the table and immediately made a decision.

"Yes."

Without saying a word, Gu Cheng turned and left.

A short while later, he led Huo Li Huo Zhen into the central command tent.

"Greetings, General!"

Huo Li Huo Zhen knelt down on one knee and bowed.

"stand up."

Xu Da spoke directly: "Huo Zhen, I remember you were born in the ninth year of the Zhizheng era (1349)."

"I joined the Ming Dynasty in the second year of Hongwu (1369), and have made many military achievements. I was promoted to junior officer, general officer, and centurion. Now I am the deputy commander of the central army."

"Yes, General."

Huo Li Huo Zhen raised his head and replied earnestly.

"In this battle, you and the Prince of Yan annihilated 10,000 cavalrymen and rescued your colleagues, making a great contribution."

"I now promote you to commander of a thousand men, and select a thousand cavalrymen from the army, each with two horses, to go to Karakorum in the northern desert and await the command of the Prince of Yan."

Xu Da gave the order in a deep voice.

"Thank you, General Xie."

"This humble general will certainly not fail in his mission."

Huo Li Huo Zhen's face was resolute as he resolutely left the central command tent.

He knew that this journey was fraught with peril, but if he returned alive, he would surely be rewarded with high office and great wealth.

The reason why a Mongol would abandon the Northern Yuan and serve the Ming Dynasty is precisely to gain fame and titles, and he would never give up this opportunity no matter what.

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

Far away in the northern desert.

Zhu Di personally led 800 Ming cavalrymen on a journey northwest, traversing the vast Gobi Desert and other deserts, until they finally saw a water source.

Under the blue sky and white clouds, a crystal-clear river flows gently by, with lush pastures growing on both banks.

"Neigh! Neigh!"

Upon seeing the river, the warhorses began to neigh, and the Ming cavalry could hardly restrain them.

"Sheng Yong".

"Where are we?"

Zhu Di asked in a slightly hoarse voice, his lips chapped.

"Your Highness."

"Our troops are now in the lower reaches of the Ongjin River."

"The Wengjin River originates from the eastern foot of the Yanran Mountains (now the Hangai Mountains), bends eastward and flows along the edge of the Gobi Desert, and finally empties into Ulan Lake."

Sheng Yong carefully observed the river and terrain before him, and with the help of a map, gave an accurate assessment.

"Ong Kim River!"

Zhu Di had an impression of it; it was probably the Punu River (Guqie River) from the Han Dynasty, or perhaps the Xiongnu River.

This river was an important route for the Han army's northern expedition against the Xiongnu. In 58 BC, the Xiongnu Chanyu Huhanye and Chanyu Woyanqudi fought a fierce battle at the Guqie River (now the Wengjin River). In the end, Chanyu Woyanqudi was defeated and committed suicide.

Heading north along the river, you can reach the eastern foot of Yanran Mountain. Further west, you can reach the upper reaches of the Orkhon River, where Halaharin is located on the banks of the Orkhon River.

"Your Highness."

"The brothers are exhausted; shall we rest here for a while?"

Zhu Neng spurred his horse forward and approached to inquire.

Zhu Di looked back and saw that after three days and three nights of long-distance riding, the eight hundred Ming cavalrymen had galloped 600 li across the Gobi Desert. They were covered in dust and looked exhausted, almost at their breaking point. Fortunately, each of them had three horses to take turns riding, otherwise, the horses would have been ruined, let alone the men.

"Pass down the order to set up camp on the spot."

"Release night guards, at least ten li away, to be vigilant about the surrounding area."

"Yes."

Zhu Neng immediately went down to relay the order.

Immediately, the Ming cavalrymen quickly dismounted, set up tents, and let their horses graze and drink water by the river.

"Your Highness."

"Going northwest along the Wengjin River, the closer you get to the Yanran Mountains, the more dangerous it becomes."

"This is the most prosperous area in Lingbei Province, where a large number of royal and noble pastures are gathered."

Sheng Yong suddenly offered a reminder.

"I understand."

Zhu Di nodded, his heart filled with extreme vigilance.

The closer he got to Karakorum, the more careful he became, for the slightest misstep could lead to total defeat.