Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

Mid-June of the fifth year of the Hongwu reign.

With Xu Da's central army clashing with the Yuan army led by Kökö Temür at Bayanbulage, the second northern expedition of the Ming Dynasty was completely ignited.

The central army's detachment, led by Tang He, advanced into the Yin Mountains and engaged in fierce battle with tens of thousands of Northern Yuan cavalry.

Feng Sheng personally led the main force of the Western Route Army from Xi'an to Hexi.

Fu Youde led 5,000 cavalry as the vanguard of the army, defeated the Northern Yuan general Shilahan at Xiliang (now Wuwei, Gansu), and then defeated the Northern Yuan Grand Commandant Duoerzhiba at Hulahan Pass in Yongchang (now in Gansu), clearing away obstacles.

The two armies met at Saolin Mountain (north of present-day Jiuquan, Gansu) and inflicted a major defeat on the Yuan army, beheading over 400 and capturing the Northern Yuan Grand Commandant Suonarga, Pingzhang Guanzhe, and others. The Northern Yuan general Shangdulu surrendered to the Western Route Army with over 830 households, and Bayan Temur, the garrison commander of Yijinai Road (southeast of present-day Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia), surrendered the entire city.

Li Wenzhong led the Eastern Route Army out of Juyong Pass and pursued the Yuan army northwards. Wherever they passed, the Yuan army was routed.

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

Northern Mongolia, on the eastern foothills of Yanran Mountain, in the upper reaches of the Wengjin River.

The rising sun casts golden rays upon the earth, and the summer grassland is lush and green.

Wildflowers of all kinds bloomed everywhere, vying for attention and creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

A gentle breeze rippled through the lush pastures, and herders drove their flocks of sheep and cattle out to graze.

"Zhu Neng".

"Bring over a few prisoners."

Zhu Di's sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on more than 20 Mongolian herders who were grazing their livestock.

"Yes."

Zhu Neng waved his hand, and Qiu Fu and Tan Yuan personally summoned the night guards.

"Da da da! Da da da!"

Hundreds of night scouts split into two groups, galloping from the east and west to encircle the herdsmen on the grassland.

"What is that?"

The herdsmen noticed the small red dot rushing towards them. They had probably never seen the Ming army before and had no idea that it was the enemy. They remained where they were, observing the situation.

"call out!"

Tan Yuan drew his bow and nocked an arrow, and a three-pronged arrow pierced straight through the chest of the leading herdsman.

"Bang!"

The herdsman fell heavily from his horse to the ground, blood gushing from his wounds.

"Oh no, it's the enemy!"

The other herders then realized what was happening, their faces changed drastically, and they tried to flee, but it was too late.

"Dismount and surrender immediately, or face execution!"

A massive Ming cavalry force flanked them from both sides, completely blocking the herders' escape route.

"ah?!"

The herdsmen who tried to draw their bows and arrows were shot dead by Ming cavalry immediately, a scene that completely shocked the other herdsmen.

"By the Eternal Heaven above, we surrender!"

More than a dozen herdsmen dismounted and knelt down, bowing their heads.

"Tan Yuan, take them to see His Highness."

"We've been herding these cows and sheep together, and they've been eating dry rations for so many days. Our mouths are so bland."

Qiu Fu stared intently at the plump cattle and sheep, grinning widely.

"OK."

Upon seeing this, Tan Yuan led his night scouts to bring the captured herdsmen before Zhu Di.

How far is it from here to Karakorum?

"Who are you people?"

Zhu Di asked the dozen or so herdsmen present in fluent Mongolian.

This is one of the skills he has learned over the past decade or so; he can speak not only Mongolian, but also Korean and Jurchen.

"Your Excellency, General."

"Batu is willing to be your most loyal servant."

A young herdsman carefully observed the attire of Zhu Di and the other Ming soldiers, and tactfully gave them a deep salute.

"You're pretty clever, kid."

Zhu Di smiled and said approvingly, "Get up."

"Yes."

Batu recounted in detail: "This place is about 120 li from Karakorum. We are slaves of the Dalu clan."

"Ta Lushi!" 』

Zhu Di nodded thoughtfully.

The surname Dalu originated from the Yuan Dynasty official title "Daluk Huachi" (official in charge of the seal), which was generally held by Mongols or Semu people, and was one of the noble surnames.

It seems that Karakorum followed the rules of the Yuan Dynasty, where there was a hierarchy among the royal family and nobles. Otherwise, the slaves of the Dalu clan would not have come to such a far place to graze their livestock; the pastures near Karakorum must have been occupied by others.

How many troops are stationed in Karakorum?

"In addition to the three thousand Kheshig soldiers who guard the palace, princes and nobles all kept some guards to varying degrees."

"More than two thousand artisans and their families lived in the city, while outside the city, most people were like us."

Batu answered respectfully.

"How many slaves like you are there?"

Zhu Di's eyes lit up, and he eagerly pressed for an answer.

The Yuan Dynasty was a ruling system built by Mongol nobles and Han hereditary lords. The privileges of the four-class system only benefited a small number of nobles, while the lower-class Mongols, like the Han people, suffered severe exploitation and oppression.

The corruption at the end of the Yuan Dynasty even forced a large number of Mongols to sell themselves into slavery or be sold by nobles.

Historical records even mention instances of Mongolian slaves being sold overseas (such as to Japan and Korea).

These Mongol slaves harbored no less hatred for the Northern Yuan than for the Ming Dynasty, and they were all potential forces that could be utilized.

In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang gained the support of most of the lower-class Mongols through a series of appeasement policies, thereby building a cavalry force that was no less powerful than the Yuan army, which almost swept across the entire north and occupied a dominant position.

"Sixty thousand."

Batu gave an accurate figure.

"Whoa!!!"

Zhu Di, Zhu Neng, and others were all dumbfounded.

No one expected that Karakorum would house nearly 100,000 people; it's likely that even during the reign of Ögedei Khan, there wasn't that many permanent residents.

How does the Northern Yuan feed so many people? Do they only rely on herding cattle and sheep?

"General."

"We live worse than the mastiffs kept by nobles."

Batu's lips curled into a bitter smile, his eyes filled with boundless hatred for the princes and nobles of the Northern Yuan.

Not only him, but the dozen or so herders around him all had the same expression on their faces. As slaves, even living was a luxury for them.

"Batu".

"If I give you equality and freedom..."

"Can you persuade them not to resist and take control of all the cattle, sheep, and horses?"

Staring intently at the disheveled Mongolian youth before him, Zhu Di spoke earnestly.

"I can."

Batu nodded emphatically.

From a young age, he aspired to become a nobleman, and he was willing to fight for even the slightest hope.

As for the demise of the Northern Yuan, what did it have to do with him? That was something for the princes and nobles to worry about.

"Tan Yuan".

"Take them away and take good care of them."

Zhu Di waved his hand and gave the order.

"Yes."

Tan Yuan led a dozen or so herdsmen aside to keep watch.

"Your Highness."

"Do you really believe what these Mongol Tartars are saying?"

Zhu Neng's eyes revealed his distrust of Batu.

"Of course not."

Zhu Di gazed in the direction of Karakorum and said meaningfully, "The barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue."

"If today, we were not eight hundred people, but eight thousand."

"I will never use these Mongols."

"This subordinate understands."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Neng felt a renewed sense of admiration.

Prince Yan, Zhu Di, always made the wisest decisions at the most dangerous times, winning over these lower-level Mongol slaves to increase his own strength. This was the most practical approach, of course, depending on whether they could capture Karakorum.