Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"Uncle Tang, cousin."

"The Beiting area is crucial to the future westward expansion of our Great Ming Dynasty."

"If it falls, then the northwest of our Great Ming will never have peace again."

Zhu Di turned to look at Tang He and Li Wenzhong, his resounding words echoing throughout the hall.

"What does Your Highness wish to do?"

Tang He and Li Wenzhong stared intently at the Prince of Yan before them.

"Hamardin is a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"This is no ordinary enemy; we must strike hard."

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes, emanating an invisible killing intent that was hard to ignore.

"I believe that we must be cautious about using force against Mughalstein."

"Two years earlier (1370), Timur, the Central Asian warlord, declared himself the successor to the Chagatai Khanate, established his capital at Barikh, and founded the Timurid Empire." "The Timurid Empire controlled Transoxiana and continued to launch attacks on Chagatai and Khwarazm."

"If Mughalstein suffers a heavy blow, the Timurid Empire will surely take advantage of the situation."

"At that time, we will face an even more powerful enemy."

"Maintaining a tripartite balance in the Western Regions is the state that best serves the interests of the Ming Dynasty."

Wang Baobao, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up and gave an unexpected assessment.

"The Timurid Empire!"

Tang He, Li Wenzhong, and others knew nothing about this unfamiliar country, but judging from Wang Baobao's description, this empire seemed to be even more powerful than the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, which was not a good thing for the Ming Dynasty.

"Um."

Upon hearing this name, Zhu Di also fell into deep thought.

Timur was not a Mongol, but a Turk. He was crippled for life after losing a foot in battle with the Mongols and was nicknamed "Lame Timur." Yet, this man influenced the entire 15th century.

At its peak, the Timurid Empire controlled a vast territory stretching from Asia Minor to Delhi, India, from the Syr Darya River and the Salt Sea in the north to the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf in the south, covering an area of ​​approximately 460 million square kilometers and a population of about 2850 million.

He even wanted to revive the Mongol Empire and prepared to launch an eastern expedition against the Ming Dynasty in the early 15th century, but he died en route, forcing the plan to be interrupted.

Timur was only 36 years old at the time, eight years younger than Zhu Yuanzhang, and was in the most energetic stage of his life.

This is an enemy that the Ming Dynasty must take seriously. The existence of the Timurid Empire threatens the Ming Dynasty's expansion on land.

"As far as I know, Mughalstein has only about 200,000 troops."

"Hamar al-Din needs to be wary of Timur to the west and Yarkand to the south."

"The maximum number of troops he can mobilize is no more than 100,000."

"General Mu Ying originally had 20,000 cavalrymen, and with the addition of the Ming Dynasty's western army, the total strength was about 50,000."

Wang Baobao added several more important pieces of information.

"brush!"

A glint of light flashed in Zhu Di's eyes.

Mu Ying's 50,000 men could easily withstand the 100,000-strong army of Mughalstein head-on, which created the perfect opportunity for him to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Before that, the matter in the northern desert must be settled and carried out according to his established plan.

"Uncle Tang, cousin."

"Your Highness."

Tang He and Li Wenzhong both looked up at Zhu Di.

"Come and see."

Zhu Di led them to a war sand table, on which six locations were marked with red flags.

Li Wenzhong was still a little confused, but Tang He vaguely sensed his thoughts and turned his gaze to the sand table.

"Qudiao Alan, Chenghai, and Helin."

"The three major towns established by the Yuan Dynasty in the Lingbei Province."

"Khorchin has been rebuilt and can accommodate 100,000 people, as well as an army of 60,000 to 70,000."

"The city being built in Qudiao Alan is expected to be completed before the heavy snow, and it will be able to accommodate tens of thousands of people without any problem."

"The reclamation of land in Chenghai is recovering, and it is expected to reach 15,000 hectares by next spring."

"In addition, cities were built in Qianzhou, the Five Rivers, and the Baoerhant Basin along the Hala River."

"By relying on these cities, our Great Ming Dynasty will have a more firm grip on the Mongolian Plateau than the Yuan Dynasty."

Zhu Di stood before the sand table, exuding confidence and authority.

Before the Industrial Age, agrarian civilizations had a natural advantage in managing land. Combined with the aggressiveness of nomadic civilizations, this was the best composite, and it was the path of land expansion he chose for the Ming Dynasty.

Han Chinese and other tribal populations were responsible for land reclamation, while Mongols were responsible for herding. This approach, using specific points to represent the entire Mongolian grasslands, ensured that their influence covered the entire Mongolian steppe.

"Huh?"

Tang He and Li Wenzhong couldn't help but gape.

Prince Yan, Zhu Di, was not exercising the loose rule over the northern deserts as previous dynasties had done; he intended to occupy the area permanently.

"I intend to establish ten garrisons in the northern desert and set up the Northern Desert Protectorate to oversee the military and political affairs of the northern desert."

"These ten garrisons will be established in conjunction with six cities."

"The outer perimeter was established with Juxu Guard, Qianzhou Guard, Chenghai Guard, Mulun Guard, and Anbei Guard."

"The Northern Protectorate was established in Karakorum, with five guards: the Front Guard, the Central Guard, the Rear Guard, the Left Guard, and the Right Guard."

"Unlike the other five guards, which also had the important task of land reclamation, the five guards of Helin were mainly composed of cavalry and were responsible for patrolling the grasslands and suppressing rebellious forces."

"Juxu Guard does not undertake the task of military farming; its main responsibility is to defend against threats from Liaodong and to appease the tribes east of Langjuxu Mountain."

"The tribes on the grasslands divided the pastures according to the population. Ten households formed a ten-household head, a hundred households formed a hundred-household head, and a thousand households formed a thousand-household head."

"All the heads of ten households, one hundred households, and one thousand households must be appointed by the Northern Protectorate, granted official seals, and pay taxes annually."

"The five thousand Ming soldiers brought by Tang Bo were like a drop in the ocean."

At this point, Zhu Di turned his gaze to Li Wenzhong.

"Does Your Highness wish for the Eastern Route Army to remain on the grasslands?"

Li Wenzhong immediately understood what he meant.

"Yes."

Zhu Di spoke directly: "With the more than 2 men of the Eastern Route Army, my Great Ming will have 3 soldiers stationed in the northern desert. The Juxu Guard, Qianzhou Guard, Chenghai Guard, Mulun Guard, Anbei Guard, and even the five guards of Helin will be formed immediately."

"Tang Bo became the first Grand Protector of the Northern Frontier, and Gu Cheng became the Deputy Grand Protector."

"As for me, I will personally lead the Prince of Yan's guards and ten thousand Mongol cavalry from Chenghai across the Altai Mountains, circle around to the enemy's rear, and cooperate with Mu Ying to annihilate Hamardin's forces, thus establishing the absolute suzerainty of my Great Ming in the Western Regions."

The words fell.

The entire hall was silent.

Everyone was taken aback by the words of Prince Yan, Zhu Di.

Crossing the Altai Mountains on a long-distance raid was another gamble. If they won, the Ming Dynasty would become famous; if they lost, this Ming prince would likely die without a burial place.

"His Majesty has decreed that the Prince of Yan be granted the authority to control the northern deserts and the various border guards."

"The Eastern Route Army is naturally included, and this humble general has no reason to refuse."

After careful consideration, Li Wenzhong made his decision.

This high-stakes gamble is of great significance to the Ming Dynasty, and Prince Yan Zhu Di's previous high-stakes gamble has already proven his strength.

"Thank you, cousin!"

Zhu Di smiled; with Li Wenzhong's support, the matter was settled.