Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

In mid-August of the fifth year of the Hongwu reign (1386), during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.

The northern grasslands have entered their busiest season, with herders harvesting and storing the abundant pasture to prepare for the winter for their cattle and sheep.

The Ming Dynasty's second northern expedition was drawing to a close. Xu Da returned to the capital, and the central army was taken over by Prince Yan, Zhu Di.

Marquis Tang He of Zhongshan and his chief secretary Gu Cheng led 5,000 Ming soldiers and 10,000 Mongol cavalry to sweep through western Mongolia. They first attacked Wutiaohe, then entered Qianzhou, and headed south to Chenghai, capturing more than 50,000 people and no less than 200,000 livestock.

Mu Ying and Nai'erbuhua led 5,000 Ming cavalry and 15,000 Yuan cavalry across the Altai Mountains into Beiting and directly captured Hamili.

Feng Sheng's western army defeated the Northern Yuan Qi Wang Duoerzhiban at Biedu Pass (Minqin County), capturing 27 people including the Northern Yuan Pingzhang Changjianu and more than 100,000 head of livestock, forcing them to flee westward. They happened to encounter Mu Ying, who was on an eastern expedition, and were completely annihilated. The Ming Dynasty recovered the two prefectures of Gua and Sha.

Li Wenzhong led the main force of the Eastern Route in a fierce battle with the Yuan generals Manzi and Halazhang for more than ten days at the Tula River and the Arhun River (north of the present Orhun River). The Yuan army suffered a great defeat, with nearly 30,000 people and horses captured, and the rest of the troops fled in panic to Karakorum.

"General."

"His Highness the Prince of Yan sent a messenger on horseback with a military report."

"Manzi and Halazhang were surrounded and annihilated by our army while fleeing to Karakorum."

Zhao Yong, the right deputy general of the Eastern Route Army, rushed forward to report.

Left Deputy General Cao Liang, Marquis of Xuanning, followed closely behind and said, "Lord Duke, His Highness the Prince of Yan invites us to meet at Qudiao Alan."

"Curved Alan!"

Li Wenzhong's gaze sharpened upon hearing the place name.

Qudiao Alan is located east of Langjuxu Mountain, at the confluence of the Kerulen River and the Sengkuer River. It was once the Great Ordo established by Genghis Khan.

They are now in the Khara River Valley (present-day Darkhan, Mongolia), about 300 li from Karakorum and about 240 li from Qudiao Alan.

From a straight-line distance perspective, it is indeed more convenient to go to Qudiao Alan, but they can travel unimpeded south along the Orkhon River to Halahelin, while going to Qudiao Alan requires going around the Langjuxu Mountain, and this journey is by no means easy.

Why did Zhu Di require them to meet at Qudiao Alan? What was his true intention behind this?

"General."

"Our brothers have been on the front lines for months, and many have died or been wounded."

"Now that the battle is over, shouldn't we return home in triumph?"

"I heard that the Duke of Wei returned to Yanmen Pass half a month ago, and he's probably in the capital now."

Zhao Yong looked at Li Wenzhong with anticipation.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Cao Liang's face was also full of anticipation.

Li Wenzhong looked at the two men, then at the Ming soldiers behind him, all of whom looked exhausted. He made up his mind. Whatever Zhu Di wanted to do was none of his business. His battle was over, and it was time to go home.

"Order the entire army to proceed to Qudiao Alan and meet with His Highness the Prince of Yan."

"Yes."

Zhao Yong responded loudly and went down to relay the order with great enthusiasm.

Upon hearing this order, the Ming soldiers on the eastern route excitedly packed their belongings and rushed to Qudiao Alan that very day.

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

Meanwhile, Qu Diao Alan.

Accompanied by Wang Baobao, Zhu Di inspected the "Dragon Court" of the Mongol Empire. As time went by, traces of the Mongols had become scarce.

Qudiao Alan means "island of wasteland" in Mongolian. The Kerulen River and the Sengkul River converge here, but this has not changed the local climate. Rainfall is scarce, evaporation is strong, and the surrounding area consists of open grasslands and hills. The soil is barren and there are no conditions suitable for farming.

"If a city were built here, it could serve the entire eastern part of the northern desert."

"However, all the food and fodder needed by the garrison had to be transported from outside."

Wang Baobao explained.

Qudiao Alan had both very obvious advantages and disadvantages. Even the Mongol Empire only regarded it as a nomadic capital, not a true imperial capital.

"Since the northern deserts cannot receive supplies from the Central Plains, they must become self-sufficient."

"Otherwise, there would be no point in controlling the northern desert."

Zhu Di said it with absolute certainty.

The biggest reason why the Central Plains dynasties abandoned the grasslands was that they were too far away to effectively control them.

If the northern deserts cannot create a barrier for the Central Plains dynasty, but instead have to continuously supply resources from the Central Plains, this would undoubtedly be a double-edged sword for the Ming Dynasty—unappealing to both the emperor and the emperor.

For Zhu Yuanzhang, it was better to retreat south of the Great Wall than to expend energy managing the northern deserts.

"What do you want to do?"

Wang Baobao couldn't help but look at Zhu Di, wanting to test this young prince.

"Northern Mongolia is not lacking in good places to farm, most of which are river valleys, such as the Orkhon River Valley, the Tamir River Valley, the Tula River (Duluo River) Valley, the Selenga River Valley, the Kerulen River Valley, and the Kobdo River Valley. The Haihe, Qianzhou, and the Five Rivers are all located in these river valley areas."

"At least 50,000 hectares of fertile land can be reclaimed in Hai and Qianzhou, with an annual grain output of at least one million shi."

"However, these two places are far from Hala and Lintai, so sending grain to Qudiao Alan is practically a pipe dream."

"The reclamation of 8,000 hectares of fertile land along the five rivers is already the limit, with an annual grain output of no more than 300,000 shi, which can barely meet the needs of Karakorum."

"West of Langjuxu Mountain, there are many river valleys. Large river valley basins can be reclaimed into hundreds or even thousands of hectares of fertile land, while smaller ones can be reclaimed into tens or hundreds of hectares. Little by little, they can be accumulated and provided to Qudiao Alan."

"West of Qudiao Alan are mostly natural grasslands, which have been a good place for breeding horses, cattle and sheep since ancient times."

"I intend to settle the Mongols captured by the Eastern Route Army in this land, so that they may breed fine horses, cattle and sheep for the Ming Dynasty."

Looking at the boundless grassland before him, Zhu Di was filled with thoughts and devised numerous strategies.

"good."

Wang Baobao, with his keen eyesight, immediately understood his thoughts.

By building cities in areas suitable for farming, reclaiming wasteland, and cultivating land, the Ming Dynasty provided food for the army and even civilians. In areas suitable for grazing, livestock were bred. Through these cities, the Ming Dynasty divided and restricted the northern desert, ensuring that no force could ever again emerge on the grasslands to threaten the Central Plains.

"Your Highness."

Tan Yuan rode up at breakneck speed, holding a letter delivered by carrier pigeon, and quickly handed it to Zhu Di.

"Um?"

Zhu Di took the letter and read it. His face suddenly turned angry, and he shouted, "Feng Sheng is truly a pig!"

"I have sent Fu Youde to inform him that we should surround the remnants of the Northern Yuan forces in the Hehuang region."

"He just ignored it and almost let Duo'er get away."

"If these people escape, the northwestern border of our Great Ming Dynasty will never have peace."

"Your Highness."

Tan Yuan added solemnly, "The Duke of Song, citing the inability to defend the uncivilized lands, intends to burn down cities such as Shazhou and Guazhou and force the people to return east."

"You bastard!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's eyes filled with rage.

The Hexi Corridor, a land beyond the reach of civilization, has been inhabited by Han people for over a thousand years since Emperor Wu of Han sent Huo Qubing to explore it.

Without the Hexi Corridor, how could the Central Plains dynasties have expanded their influence to the Western Regions and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau? These cities were the fulcrums for the Ming Dynasty's management of the Hexi Corridor, and this pig Feng Sheng actually wanted to burn them down.