Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"What happened?"

Inside the main hall of Wan'an Palace, Emperor Zhaozong of Yuan, Ayushiridara, rose from his imperial bed, his face grim.

"Clang!"

"ah?!"

The sounds of metal clashing and screams rang out outside the hall, and a dozen or so Kheshig soldiers retreated into the hall.

The concubines present were immediately terrified and panicked.

"Tap tap..."

Covered in blood, Zhu Di held a long sword, looking as terrifying as a demon emerging from hell.

Behind him followed a group of fierce Ming soldiers. These Kheshig troops were far inferior to the Yuan cavalry under Wang Baobao's command. The Ming army completely controlled all entrances and exits of Wan'an Palace with an almost overwhelming advantage.

"Your Highness."

"We have closed all the doors."

Qiu Fu and Tan Yuan, also covered in blood, rushed to report with eyes that seemed to be blazing with fire.

"Well done."

Zhu Di nodded slightly, indicating his satisfaction.

Now, the entire Wan'an Palace is only accessible from the inside out, and the Northern Yuan emperor, his concubines, princes, and nobles are completely trapped.

"Qiu Fu, go to the side building and search the storeroom."

"Tan Yuan, bring all the princes and noble sons of the Northern Yuan here."

Zhu Di gave the order in a cold voice.

The entire Wan'an Palace consists of the audience hall, the main hall, the side buildings, and the main gate. The audience hall was where princes and nobles usually paid homage to the Northern Yuan emperor, while the side buildings housed the storehouses and the residences of the princes and nobles.

"Yes."

Qiu Fu and Tan Yuan exchanged a glance, then accepted the order and left.

"Put down your weapons and kneel down to surrender!"

Staring at the dozen or so Kheshig soldiers in front of him, Zhu Neng shouted sternly.

"us..."

The Kheshig soldiers, knowing that the Northern Yuan Emperor was behind them, felt their confidence surge. They gripped their scimitars tightly, their eyes resolute.

"hehe."

Upon seeing this, Zhu Di chuckled, seemingly mocking their overestimation of their abilities.

The next moment, a figure appeared in the crowd like lightning.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The hidden force penetrated their bodies, injuring the internal organs of more than a dozen Kheshig soldiers. They coughed up mouthfuls of blood and collapsed to the ground, barely clinging to life.

What?

All the Yuan people present who witnessed this scene had their pupils dilate and were shocked and pale.

Zhu Neng and the other Ming soldiers stared at Zhu Di with fervent eyes. This was their commander, and he was simply too powerful.

"Zhu Neng".

Zhu Di gave Zhu Neng a look, and Zhu Neng understood immediately, waving his hand dismissively.

"Get down here."

The surrounding Ming soldiers brandished their long swords and forcefully drove Emperor Zhaozong of Yuan, Ayushiridara, off his throne.

Ayushiridara watched helplessly as Zhu Di walked step by step to the throne, plopped down in the place that originally belonged to him, his expression filled with humiliation.

"Ming people, this is the imperial throne."

"How dare you?"

"Oh, really?"

Zhu Di looked down at the Northern Yuan emperor, a playful expression on his face: "What do you want to say? Usurpation, or rebellion?"

"These words might have been useful to any other general of the Ming Dynasty."

"But it's of no use to me."

"Sitting here on this throne, would my father and elder brother accuse me of treason?"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Pfft!"

Zhu Neng and the others burst into laughter.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao's position was secure, unmatched by anyone, and Prince Yan Zhu Di was raised by him. How could the two brothers have any ill feelings over this matter? As for Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, he would never blame his most outstanding son for this.

"I am the King!"

Ayushiridara's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in horror, "You are the son of the Zhu Emperor?"

"You guessed right, but unfortunately, there's no prize!"

Zhu Di clapped his hands, rose from his imperial bed, and walked step by step to him: "Borjigin Ayushiridara."

"Let me introduce myself. I am Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan of the Ming Dynasty."

"Today, it was the fourth son of the Ming Emperor who captured you and conquered Karakorum."

"Zhu Di!"

Ayushiridara silently recited the name in his heart, his eyes never leaving the boy in front of him.

He never imagined that the capital of the Northern Yuan, his own palace, would be breached by such a young boy, who was also the eldest son of the Ming emperor. It was simply unbelievable.

"Your Highness."

At this moment, Sheng Yong and Batu walked in with light steps, looking at Zhu Di with the same reverence.

The capture of Karakorum by 800 men will be an unprecedented feat in history, and Zhu Di's name will surely be etched in history and passed down to future generations.

"Batu".

"How's it going with the task I assigned you?"

"Reporting back to Your Highness."

Batu confidently replied, "Outside Wan'an Palace, all 12000 herdsmen have submitted."

"The tent contained 15 cattle and sheep and no fewer than 2 horses, including 9000 warhorses."

"it is good."

Zhu Di made a quick decision and ordered, "From now on, you will be the head of ten thousand households."

"Leave two thousand men to guard the cattle pens, sheep pens, and stables."

"The remaining ten thousand men are under your command."

"Sheng Yong, you will assist Batu."

"Not a single mosquito is allowed to fly out of Harahorlin without my order."

"Yes."

Batu and Shengyong responded loudly.

The two turned and went to make arrangements. After receiving the weapons from Wan'an Palace, the ten thousand herdsmen opened their mouths like hungry wolves, revealing their ferocious fangs.

As night fell, the four gates of Karakorum fell into the hands of the herdsmen. The Northern Yuan officials, princes and nobles who resisted were all executed, and the rest surrendered. The capital of the Mongol Empire fell completely into Zhu Di's control.

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

The main hall of Wan'an Palace.

"Your Highness."

"Of the three thousand Kheshig soldiers, 2147 were captured, and the rest were all killed."

"All the princes, noble sons, and their relatives, numbering about 1700, are here."

Tan Yuan gave a meticulous report to his superiors.

Qiu Fu then reported: "Your Highness, the Tartar palace truly has many fine things. There are no less than a million taels of gold and silver, hundreds of boxes of jewelry and jade, and thousands of boxes of antiques, calligraphy and paintings, pearls and agates."

"Um."

Zhu Di was not surprised by this.

Back then, when Emperor Yuan Shundi fled from Dadu, he took a lot of people and valuables with him. He then returned to Karakorum from Shangdu and Yingchang. If the Northern Yuan royal family didn't even have these things, they would really be beggars.

"Your Highness."

"We also found 100,000 shi of grain in the warehouse."

"About 60,000 shi of grain and wheat, the rest of which were soybeans."

Zhu Neng added a piece of information.

7.2 million jin (approximately 3.8 million kg).

Zhu Di roughly estimated in his mind that it would be enough to feed 100,000 people for 48 days.

Most of those soybeans were fine feed for warhorses, but they could also be used as a staple food if they were really starving.

There are 6 herders in Hala and Linguang alone, and the rest of the population adds up to no less than 1.5. This amount of grain is barely enough to feed them for two months.

Now we can only hope that the princes and nobles of Karakorum have enough cattle, sheep and horses; otherwise, feeding so many people will be a huge problem.