Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"Your Highness."

"Are you really going to listen to this brat and serve the Ming Dynasty?"

"If you ask me, we should have arrested him just now."

Nai'er Buhua's face was full of confusion; she couldn't understand Wang Baobao's choice at all.

"Nai'er doesn't spend money."

Wang Baobao stood tall, his eight-foot frame appearing exceptionally imposing in the firelight. Gazing at the night sky, he sighed, "The Ming Emperor Zhu had a shrewd and capable crown prince, and a successor like Prince Yan, Zhu Di. Yet our Great Yuan has not a single leader worthy of great responsibility."

"With Karakorum lost, there is no chance to save the Yuan Dynasty."

"Sometimes, I wonder if this grassland still belongs to the people of the Eternal Heaven."

"Your Highness!"

Nai'er Buhua looked shocked and stared at Wang Baobao with a panicked expression.

"The Golden Family established the Yuan Dynasty and the Four Khanates."

"The Ögedei Khanate was destroyed in the second year of the Zhida era (1309)."

In 1355, the fifteenth year of the Zhizheng era, Janibe Khan of the Golden Horde conquered Tabriz, and the Ilkhanate was completely destroyed.

"After the death of Janibe Khan, the Golden Horde fell into disarray."

"The Chagatai Khanate split into two, with the Eastern Chagatai Khanate controlling the area north and south of the Tianshan Mountains."

"The Western Chagatai Khanate has been completely replaced by the Timurid Empire, and the descendants of the Golden Family have become puppets."

"Not to mention the Yuan Dynasty, the last legitimate descendants of the Golden Family all fell into the hands of the Ming army."

Whether the Golden Family are the agents of the Eternal Heaven is no longer important.

"The important question is, where else can we go?"

Wang Baobao's eyes revealed a wisdom and perseverance born from years of setbacks.

"us..."

Nai'er Buhua also looked bewildered. Hala and Lin had been wiped out in one fell swoop; where could they go?

Do you know why I agreed to his request?

Why?

Nai'er Buhua asked, confused.

"Because he said something like, whether they were from the Yuan or the Ming dynasties, they were all part of the Chinese nation."

"Emperor Zhu did not regard the Yuan Dynasty as a barbarian regime. The Ming Dynasty acknowledged that it inherited the legal system of the Yuan Dynasty and the lineage of the unified dynasties in the Central Plains."

"Why should we expel ourselves from the Chinese nation and become barbarians?"

"China is known for its great etiquette, hence the name Xia; it is known for its beautiful clothing, hence the name Hua."

Meeting Nai'er Buhua's gaze, Wang Baobao's eyes were filled with longing for the past. Most of his life had been spent in the Central Plains, and he felt uncomfortable returning to the northern desert to settle down.

"Your Highness, but he is only a prince."

Nai'er Buhua was increasingly puzzled. Zhu Di was neither the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty nor the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, so his words were not absolute.

"It is precisely because he is not that I trust him even more."

"He is a prince now, but that may not be the case in the future."

A glint of light flashed in Wang Baobao's eyes, and his words carried an unusual meaning.

'???'

These words left Nai'er Buhua even more confused.

"Nai'er doesn't spend money."

"Everything Zhu Di did went against the will of Emperor Zhu, including taking control of the northern deserts and Beiting."

"He is unlike any emperor in history. If we really had to choose the one who is most similar, it would be Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin."

"His ambition was very broad; he wanted to rule not only the Central Plains, but also a territory and population exceeding that of the Yuan Dynasty."

"He accepted us because he accepts all ethnic groups that recognize themselves as having Chinese blood."

"Compared to the emperor and crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, this prince of the Ming Dynasty is someone we can trust."

"Because our interests are aligned."

"That's why I'm marrying Haibie to him."

"One Duke of Wei, Xu Da, isn't enough? What if we join him?"

"The number of people standing behind the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty may not be as many as the number of people standing behind Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan."

"Whatever the Emperor Zhu wants him to do, I'm afraid this Prince of Yan wouldn't be willing."

Wang Baobao thought of that boy who was as bright as the rising sun, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his weathered face.

A son-in-law is like half a son. His eldest daughter married Zhu Di as a concubine. Once Zhu Di sat on that throne, he, as Zhu Di's father-in-law, would naturally have an extraordinary status. Only in this way could the interests of the Mongols, or rather the Yuan people, be guaranteed in the Ming Dynasty.

"I see!"

Nai'er Buhua's eyes gradually cleared, and he began to understand Wang Baobao's plan.

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

At this moment, a commotion broke out in the Ming army camp in Bayanbulege, and the sleeping generals all gathered in the central command tent.

"General."

"What happened?"

Generals such as Geng Bingwen, Gu Cheng, and Guo Ying, as well as Mu Ying and Tang He who had just arrived, were all somewhat bewildered.

"His Highness the Prince of Yan has arrived."

Xu Da stood in the center of the tent, his face expressionless.

What?

Everyone was shocked, completely unable to believe it.

Zhu Di is here! How is that possible! Karakorum is at least 1600 li away from Bayanbulage.

"His Highness the Prince of Yan has arrived!"

Just then, a loud shout from outside the hall instantly drew everyone's attention.

"Tap tap!"

The dull sound of footsteps grew louder as a group of people galloped towards them on horseback.

Everyone saw the crimson figure on horseback, dressed in a bright red robe with a round collar and narrow sleeves, embroidered with five dragons, a jade belt around his waist, and a purple-gold crown binding his hair. He was handsome, with sharply defined features.

"Clatter!"

Zhu Di dismounted, followed by his two generals, Zhu Neng and Qiu Fu, and strode into the central command tent.

Everyone stared at his imposing figure, stunned. Mu Ying and Tang He were even more shocked. Was this still the same纨绔 (wán kù, a spoiled and dissolute prince) prince?

Even if Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, stood next to Zhu Biao, the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, he would probably not be at a disadvantage. His superior demeanor and the iron-blooded aura that came from fighting through mountains of corpses and seas of blood were unmatched by any prince or nobleman.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yan!"

Xu Da spoke first and saluted.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yan!"

The others snapped out of their daze and bowed in greeting.

"No need for formalities in the army, go in first."

Zhu Di, head held high and chest out, strode up to the main seat in the military tent and plopped down.

Zhu Yuanzhang has issued an edict granting Prince Yan, Zhu Di, full authority over military affairs in the northern deserts. Zhu Di's current status in the army is even higher than that of General Xu Da, the Grand General of the Northern Expedition.

Zhu Neng and Qiu Fu wisely stood on the right, while Xu Da stood at the head of the left, followed by Marquis of Zhongshan Tang He, Marquis of Changxing Geng Bingwen, chief secretary Gu Cheng, Mu Ying, Guo Ying and other generals.

"Kokötemur, the King of Qi of the Northern Yuan, has led his army to surrender to me."

"The battle of the central army is over, and we can begin to arrange for their return to the capital."

Looking around at everyone, Zhu Di announced the news.

boom!!!

The moment those words were spoken, the entire tent was filled with astonishment.

Even Xu Da was taken aback. What was the Prince of Yan saying? Wang Baobao had surrendered? How could that be!