Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

It was the end of July in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign (1372).

Zhu Di returned to Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire, which had been completely transformed.

Two main streets, one running from north to south and the other from west to east, formed the main thoroughfares, dividing the city into four sections. The city had everything from military camps and drill grounds to workshops, armories, granaries, residential areas, and government offices, with a constant stream of pedestrians.

"This is Lin Na!"

Ming generals such as Tang He, Mu Ying, and Gu Cheng frequently glanced at him.

They had all seen the Northern Yuan's capitals, such as Dadu (Beiping), Shangdu (Kaipingwei), and Yingchang, but these places were almost completely destroyed. This was the first time they had seen a Yuan dynasty metropolis as well-preserved as Karakorum.

"this..."

Wang Baobao, Nai'er Buhua, and other Yuan dynasty figures were even more shocked.

When the Northern Yuan retreated to Karakorum, the city was in ruins, nothing like the magnificent and vast city it is today.

"Zhu Neng".

"All troops were assigned to military camps."

"Anyone who dares to provoke or cause trouble will be executed on the spot."

Zhu Di gave the order in a cold voice.

"Yes."

Zhu Neng accepted the order immediately.

The others present looked at each other, and no one raised any objection. After all, Wang Baobao had handed over the Yuan cavalry, so how could they, as generals of the Ming Dynasty, dare to disobey the military orders of Prince Yan, Zhu Di?

"Your Highness."

"The Marquis of Yingchuan arrived five days ago."

"Huolihuo Zhen led three thousand battalions back three days ago."

Tan Yuan, who was standing nearby, stepped forward to report.

"Send Fu Youde, Huo Zhen, and Batu to Wan'an Palace to see me."

Zhu Di waved his hand and gave the order.

"Yes."

Tan Yuan immediately sent someone to relay the order.

"Gentlemen, please follow me to Wan'an Palace for a military meeting."

Zhu Di turned to look at everyone present, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Yes."

Wang Baobao and the others responded and followed him into the central audience hall of Wan'an Palace.

This magnificent building, designed in the style of a palace in the Central Plains, with 64 granite column bases and green glazed bricks paving the ground, was once an important place for the Mongol Khan to receive envoys from various countries and important officials of the empire. Now it has become the central military tent of Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan of the Ming Dynasty.

A huge sand table appeared in the center of the hall, marking the topography of the northern grasslands, including Yanran Mountain, Langjuxu Mountain, the vast desert, wasteland, and Gobi Desert. This was the result of the work of hundreds of artisans from Helin.

A huge silk map hangs on the side wall, marking the distribution of forces in the northern and southern deserts, the western regions, and the Hehuang region.

"major!"

Seeing this, Wang Baobao, Tang He, and others couldn't help but secretly admire Zhu Di: Zhu Di is truly a brilliant military commander.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yan!"

Immediately afterwards, Fu Youde, Huolihuozhen, and Batu entered the hall one after another and bowed in greeting.

No need for formalities.

Zhu Di glanced at Fu Youde and said indifferently.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The three of them stood in their designated spots.

Fu Youde stood with Tang He, Mu Ying and others, while Huo Lihuozhen, Batu stood side by side with Zhu Neng, Qiu Fu and others. Wang Baobao and Nai'erbuhua stood alone on the right. The three groups represented the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di and the Northern Yuan forces respectively.

"Tan Yuan".

"Let me introduce the situation in Karakorum."

Zhu Di spoke first.

"Yes."

Tan Yuan stood before the crowd and announced loudly, "The population of Karakorum is approaching 150,000."

"There were no fewer than 5,000 craftsmen, about 80,000 Mongols, and nearly 60,000 people of various ethnic groups including Han, Uyghur, Khitan, Jurchen, and Hui."

"In addition to Batu's 10,000-strong army and 3,000-strong battalion, we also recruited 5,000 able-bodied men from various ethnic groups to serve as guards in the city."

"hiss!"

Everyone present gasped in shock.

Ming generals such as Tang He and Mu Ying had a very direct impression of this number.

Due to the chaos of war at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the population of most county towns under the rule of the Ming Dynasty was only a few thousand, while the population of a few wealthy areas or large counties could reach around 10,000.

What does 15 people mean? That's equivalent to the total population of a state or prefecture.

"Um."

Zhu Di looked at Huoli Huozhen and encouraged him, "Well done."

The Three Thousand Battalion was ordered by Zhu Di to launch a campaign against the area north of Karakorum. This grassland south of the Gobi Desert, with its numerous rivers, was once the most important place for the Yuan Dynasty to rise to power. Due to the establishment of military farms, the conscription of artisans, and war captives, a large number of Han Chinese, Uyghurs, Khitans, Jurchens, and even Hui people migrated there.

Further north in the vast Gobi Desert region, the Yuan Dynasty also governed many "people living in the forests," such as the Woyila, Huoli, Tuma, and Buriyati tribes.

More than a decade ago, these tribes stopped paying tribute to the Yuan Dynasty, regained their independent status, and stopped obeying orders.

This time, the three thousand battalions' northern expedition almost pacified the area south of the Gobi Desert, concentrating all the population in Karakorum and resolving the potential threat.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Huo Li Huo's expression suddenly brightened, and he replied loudly.

"His Majesty has granted me the authority to control the northern deserts. Now that you have all arrived here..."

"Know which mountain to visit and which temple to worship at."

Looking around at everyone, Zhu Di's gaze lingered on Fu Youde for a while longer.

"This humble general awaits Your Highness's orders!"

Tang He, Mu Ying, and Gu Cheng immediately expressed their opinions.

Fu Youde was startled and quickly echoed, "This humble general awaits Your Highness Prince Yan's orders!"

Among everyone present, he was the only one who was a meritorious official of Huaixi, with only five thousand Ming cavalry under his command. If he were to be beheaded, there would probably be no one to seek justice for him.

"Marquis of Yingchuan".

"Your subordinate is here!"

Fu Youde stood obediently below, looking utterly submissive and ready to obey orders at any time.

"You shall personally return to the Hehuang region and inform the Duke of Song."

"I will soon send troops south to bypass Hami and block the Yuan army's westward retreat route."

"The Western Route Army must entangle the troops of the Northern Yuan King, Dorjiban, and finish off all the battles in the Northwest in one battle."

"If Dorjee is dismissed, His Majesty will have to explain himself."

Zhu Di looked down at Fu Youde, his voice indifferent.

"Yes."

Fu Youde didn't dare say anything more and left in a hurry.

This fierce general of the Ming Dynasty, second only to Chang Yuchun, actually felt a sense of pressure when facing Zhu Di, just like when facing Zhu Yuanzhang.

That was the iron-blooded spirit that Prince Yan, Zhu Di, had forged through countless battles in the dead in the northern desert, a spirit that inspired awe and fear.

Tang He, Wang Baobao, and the others had different expressions. They knew very well that Zhu Di's move was not only to warn the Western Route Army, but also to effortlessly bring the five thousand Ming cavalrymen brought by Fu Youde into his fold. His methods were undeniably ruthless.

"Zhang Yu, Meng Shan, Zhang Wu, Liu Sheng."

"Your Highness."

Four figures then stepped forward.

Meng Shan and Liu Sheng were both recommended by Xu Da as centurions of the Ming army, while Zhang Wu was selected by Xu Da from among his personal guards.

Zhang Yu was originally the Privy Councilor of the Northern Yuan. Now that even Wang Baobao had surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, he naturally wouldn't be so conservative as to continue to serve the Northern Yuan. Instead, he chose to serve Zhu Di, joining the ranks of the most popular prince in the Ming Dynasty.

"Effective immediately, Zhang Wu shall be the Commander of the Guards of the Prince of Yan's Palace."

"Zhang Yu is the commander of the left flank of the Fifth Army Battalion of the Prince of Yan's Palace. Meng Shan is the commander of the right flank of the Fifth Army Battalion of the Prince of Yan's Palace."

"Liu Sheng was appointed as the commander of the Divine Machine Battalion of the Prince of Yan's Guard."

"Select four thousand men from the Hala and Lin guards to fill the five military camps."

"As for the Divine Machine Battalion, Liu Sheng, you can select skilled firearm users from the army yourself. Better to have fewer than to have inferior ones."

Zhu Di gave the order without hesitation.

"Yes."

All four of them had beaming smiles on their faces.

In this way, the three guards of the Prince of Yan were basically formed, an army belonging solely to Zhu Di.