Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"You said these things in my tent."

"Aren't you afraid that I will order you killed?"

Wang Baobao stared at Zhu Di, his words carrying a chilling threat.

"and then?"

Shrugging, Zhu Di said dismissively, "Kill me, and the Great Yuan you yearn for will return?"

"Kill me, and the Yuan cavalry here, along with the Yuan people of the northern desert, will all be buried with me."

"By then, I'm afraid there won't be a single living person left on the entire grassland."

"Yay!"

Nai'er Buhua was so angry that he stomped his feet. He knew that Zhu Di was threatening them, but he couldn't do anything about it.

"good!"

Wang Baobao saw something else in Zhu Di's eyes: the fearlessness that comes with self-confidence.

Perhaps this young Ming prince never relied on Zhu Yuanzhang, but on himself.

"to be honest."

"I now entrust Borjigin Ayushiridara to you."

"The Northern Yuan may still exist, but its former glory has long since vanished."

Meeting their gazes, Zhu Di said calmly, "Even Liaodong, Hehuang, and Yunnan don't obey orders. You know very well that it's impossible to expect the Chagatai Khanate, the Timurid Empire, or even the Golden Horde further away to respect the Northern Yuan's legitimacy."

"The Ming Dynasty has never denied that the Yuan Dynasty was part of the Central Plains, so why can't you consider yourselves part of the Chinese nation?"

"From Kublai Khan onwards, the Yuan Dynasty was constantly Sinicizing, and by the time of its demise, it had almost completely separated itself from the former Mongol Empire."

"How many cities were built in the northern desert, and how many post roads were constructed? Large-scale military farming once replaced the rough nomadic lifestyle."

"Our Great Ming Dynasty has absorbed many Mongols to serve as officials in the court. They can still graze livestock and participate in the imperial examinations in their local areas. They have never been treated differently from the Han people."

"But what about the Yuan Dynasty? The lowest-ranking Mongols lived worse than dogs, while the princes and nobles enjoyed all the fruits of their labor."

"Ask your subordinates, ask their families, whether they are willing to support the Yuan Dynasty?"

'Thump!'

Wang Baobao and Nai'er Buhua fell silent again.

They all knew this was true, because the establishment of the Ming Dynasty was largely a result of the Yuan Dynasty collapsing too quickly.

During Hongwu's Northern Expedition, the fall of Dadu, Shangdu, and Yingchang was so rapid. Wasn't this an effect of the Yuan people surrendering to the Ming Dynasty?

The herders at the bottom of society don't care who the emperor is; what they care about is who can provide them with enough to eat and wear, and allow them to live freely.

"The name Kökö Temür should be a thing of the past."

"Wang Baobao is the name you've used for decades."

Zhu Di gave Wang Baobao a deep look and said in a deep voice.

What do you want?

"Or rather, what do you want me to do?"

Wang Baobao had already come to his senses and spoke directly.

When a Ming prince appeared in his tent, even when the Ming Dynasty already held an absolute advantage, it's hard to believe that Zhu Di had no ulterior motives!

"To serve the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Di uttered four words.

"brush!"

Wang Baobao narrowed his eyes. "To serve" is different from "to surrender." The two words are worlds apart.

The impatient Nai'erbuhua blurted out, "What are the benefits of surrendering to the Ming Dynasty?"

"I do not know."

Zhu Di frankly stated, "Perhaps it will be a title, or perhaps a reward."

"Are you kidding us?"

Upon hearing this, Nai'er Buhua drew her curved sword from her waist with a furious expression.

"Nai'er doesn't spend money."

Wang Baobao reprimanded him.

"Your Highness."

Nai'er Buhua reluctantly sheathed her sword, glancing at Zhu Di every now and then, feeling somewhat resentful.

"His Highness the Prince of Yan has come in person; he must have a deeper plan."

"Please tell me the truth!"

Wang Baobao confronted Zhu Di directly and asked him his true purpose.

"It is indeed convenient to talk to a smart man like King Qi."

Zhu Di smiled slightly and continued, "With the current strength of the Prince of Qi's troops, surrendering to the Ming Dynasty would only make him a mascot."

"Your father may bestow upon you the title of Marquis and grant you a large mansion."

"But I think King Qi would certainly not want to spend the rest of his life in mediocrity."

"I want you to obey my orders, lead the army to sweep across the entire northern desert, cooperate with the Ming army to annihilate the Northern Yuan Qi King Dorjiban, and recover the territory under the jurisdiction of the Northern Court Grand Marshal's Office and Gansu Province. This achievement is enough to make you a Duke and put you among the top military merits in the court."

"These men under your command will definitely have a bright future if they are rewarded for their merits."

"Moreover, by doing these things yourself, you can see firsthand that the Mongolians are living a better life than before."

"What does the King of Qi think?"

"call!"

Wang Baobao's breathing became somewhat rapid; he had already understood Zhu Di's meaning.

This indicates that they do not intend to plunder the grasslands and then return; rather, they intend to emulate the Yuan Dynasty and establish rule over the Mongolian Plateau and the Western Regions.

In this way, the Ming Dynasty would lay an incredibly solid foundation from its very inception, and would inevitably surpass the Yuan Dynasty and catch up with the Han and Tang Dynasties in the future.

"That sounds nice."

"You're a prince, not a crown prince."

"Xu Da is still outside. Would he allow you to do this?"

Nai'er kept muttering, looking unconvinced.

"My father has granted me the power to control the northern desert, and Bayanbulage is also a part of the northern desert."

Zhu Di was not annoyed at all, and said with a smile on his lips.

"I see!"

Wang Baobao and Nai'er Buhua exchanged a glance and instantly understood.

Zhu Di was acting first and reporting later, shaping the situation in the northern deserts, Gansu, and Beiting into a fait accompli, so that Zhu Yuanzhang and others in the Ming Dynasty would have no power to oppose him. This Prince of Yan of the Ming Dynasty was more courageous than they had imagined.

"I can grant your request and lead my army to serve you."

"However, I have one request."

"King Qi, please speak!"

Zhu Di gestured with his hand.

Wang Baobao gazed at him and solemnly said, "My eldest daughter, Boyalun Haibie, is about the same age as Your Highness."

"I am familiar with the system of the Ming Dynasty. The Crown Prince and a Prince can simultaneously appoint two concubines, one as the principal wife and one as the secondary wife."

"Although you are engaged to the daughter of Duke Xu Da of Wei, you can still marry another woman."

'???'

Zhu Di's eyes widened.

"I want you to marry Hai Bie as a concubine of the Prince of Yan."

Wang Baobao made the request.

"it is good."

Zhu Di nodded and agreed.

Even if Boyalunhai were to be exceptionally beautiful, or even if she had a face full of pockmarks, I would still marry her.

In his plan, Wang Baobao would become the third force in the Ming court. A duke of Yuan origin would naturally gain the approval of these Yuan officials and generals, thus becoming their leader.

By marrying Wang Baobao's eldest daughter, Zhu Di and Wang Baobao were bound together, sharing both glory and ruin.

With Xu Da and Wang Baobao as his fathers-in-law, what did Zhu Di have to fear in the Ming Dynasty?

"Um."

Wang Baobao was satisfied and personally escorted Zhu Di out of the Yuan army camp.