Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"Squeak! Squeak!"

Under the cover of night, the tightly closed city gates of Yangshibali slowly opened from both sides.

"kill!"

Huo Li Huo Zhen pointed his scimitar diagonally, and three thousand ferocious Mongol cavalrymen surged into the city like a tidal wave.

The sounds of horses' hooves, fighting, and the clash of metal shattered the silence, completely waking Yangshibali.

"Your Highness, the city has fallen."

The excitement in the tone of Zhang Wu, the commander of the guards, was undisguised.

"Zhang Wu, let's go into the city."

Zhu Di took the reins from his attendant, nimbly mounted his horse, and galloped toward the city gate.

Hundreds of Prince Yan's guards followed closely behind, protecting Zhu Di as he entered Yangshibali without any hindrance.

"Those who kneel and surrender will be spared!"

"Those who kneel and surrender will be spared!"

"........."

Three thousand battalions of Mongol cavalry shouted in the purest Mongolian language throughout the streets and alleys.

Terrified by the sudden attack, the Mughal soldiers threw down their swords and guns and knelt down, bowing their heads in submission.

The Five Armies Battalion, in conjunction with the Divine Machine Battalion, controlled the east and west city gates, completely placing Yangshibali under the Ming army's control, preventing even a mosquito from escaping.

"Your Highness."

"We've struck it rich! We've struck it rich!"

The usually composed Zhang Yu rushed into the city lord's mansion, shouting loudly.

Zhu Di hadn't even warmed his seat in the city lord's mansion, and had just picked up his teacup, when he was interrupted by him, who said helplessly, "Brother Shimei, calm down."

"Yes."

Zhang Yu then realized that his behavior had been somewhat inappropriate, and regained his composure, reporting earnestly, "Your Highness."

"According to the captured Mughals, there were 120 million shi of grain and 60 shi of fodder in the city."

"The city also contains more than 10 pack animals such as camels and horses, and tens of thousands of pieces of armor and weapons."

"Whoa!"

Zhu Di was getting restless.

These provisions alone are enough to feed an army of 100,000 for more than half a year.

"Your Highness."

Zhu Neng, Qiu Fu, and the others strode in, their faces beaming with joy.

"Where is Liu Sheng?"

Zhu Di glanced around and, seeing that Liu Sheng, the commander of the Shenji Battalion, was not there, couldn't help but ask a question.

"Old Liu."

"He found some firearms in the Mughal storehouse and couldn't bear to leave."

Zhu Neng joked with a smile.

"brush!"

Zhu Di's eyes lit up, and he immediately walked outside.

The Eastern Chagatai Khanate had always maintained close ties with Central Asia, West Asia, and even Europe.

Since gunpowder was introduced to the West in the 13th century, the East and the West have followed similar but different paths in the development of firearms.

The outbreak of the Hundred Years' War between England and France accelerated the development of firearms in Europe. Powerful and long-range weapons became the mainstream, and giant siege cannons were developed at one point.

The East, on the other hand, focuses on the frequency and density of firearm firing, which is fully demonstrated in its firearms.

Although both the East and the West were developing matchlock guns in the early days, they began to diverge in two different directions starting in the 15th century. Europe developed matchlock guns, while the East developed various parallel and series multi-barreled firearms.

It was only the late 14th century, and firearms were still in their early stages. If we could learn from the West, it would have an immeasurable positive impact on the development of firearms in the Ming Dynasty and would have saved us from many detours.

"Eh, Your Highness!"

Zhu Neng and the others looked at Zhu Di's departing figure, exchanged bewildered glances, and hurriedly followed.

A short while later, in a large courtyard covering over a hundred acres in Yangshibali.

"Your Highness."

"What brings you here?"

When Liu Sheng, the commander of the Shenji Battalion, saw Zhu Di, he was taken aback.

"I heard you've discovered a great surprise, so I came here specifically to see for myself."

"Are these people all firearms craftsmen?"

Zhu Di glanced at the thousands of figures around him, including faces from Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Liu Sheng quickly introduced them to Zhu Di: "These are firearms craftsmen from Mughalstein, from countries such as Khwarazm, Ottoman, and Byzantium."

"Most of the firearms were sent to Gutaba; only a small portion of them are here."

"After careful observation, I found that the firearms of the Mongols are very different from those of our Great Ming."

As they spoke, Liu Sheng led Zhu Di to the storeroom filled with firearms of various shapes and sizes.

The most common type was a handheld firearm made of an iron pipe and a wooden handle, which was very similar to the Ming Dynasty's single-eyed musket. There was also an enlarged version of the musket mounted on a wooden frame, and a huge iron tube propelled by wheels. There were all sorts of different types, a dazzling array.

"That's interesting!"

Zhu Di's eyes lit up when he saw the firearms.

Those rudimentary matchlock guns were inferior to the monocular guns of the Ming Dynasty and could not attract his attention at all. What really caught his attention were two other types: enlarged matchlock guns mounted on wooden frames. These were the earliest prototypes of field artillery in Europe, the Tannenberg matchlock guns, also known as the Tannenberg hand cannons.

Another type of firearm, resembling a bronze pot or a stone mortar, with an iron barrel and iron hoops to hold it together, was the prototype of the later mortar, used for launching projectiles to strike distant targets.

These firearms alone demonstrate the West's backwardness in metal smelting, far inferior to that of the Ming Dynasty. However, the design of these firearms did provide valuable reference for the Ming Dynasty, highlighting the two main paths for the future development of firearms: muskets and cannons.

"Your Highness."

"These things..."

Liu Sheng looked at Zhu Di with hopeful eyes. The Shenji Battalion was a firearms army, and firearms were the most important thing to them.

"These things are not very useful."

"The firearms craftsmen are the most important."

"You will personally guard these people, and if they have family members, bring them along as well."

"After this battle, we will bring them all back to Yingtianfu to forge firearms for our Great Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Di waved his hand and issued the order.

He would prefer to send these people to Beiping, but since he has not yet taken up his fief, they can only accompany the army and serve as artisans for the Prince of Yan's guards.

It is no exaggeration to say that these firearms craftsmen are the future of the Ming Dynasty and his greatest gain from this life-and-death journey.

"Yes."

Liu Sheng's face lit up with joy, and he responded loudly.

"Tan Yuan".

"Your Highness."

Tan Yuan immediately stepped forward and looked at Zhu Di.

"Send a messenger by carrier pigeon to inform Mu Ying that our army has captured Yangshibali."

"Tell him to send his entire army forward first thing tomorrow morning to tie down the main force of the Mongols."

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes and gave instructions.

"Yes."

Without a word, Tan Yuan accepted the order and left.

"The 3,000 battalion and the 5th Army battalion shall rest on the spot."

"The defense of Yangshibali was entrusted to the Shenji Battalion and Batu's 10,000-strong force."

"Tomorrow morning, the Three Thousand Battalion and the Five Armies Battalion will accompany me to Gutaba."

"This war has dragged on for so long, it's time for it to end."

With a deep, unsettling gaze, Zhu Di issued another military order.

"Yes."

Zhu Neng and the others responded and left.

Under the cover of night, Yangshibali returned to its usual tranquility, only its owner had changed.

The soldiers of the Shenji Battalion, dressed in bright red mandarin duck battle coats, patrolled the city walls. Batu's 10,000-strong force dispatched scouts to spread out over a hundred miles around, keeping watch on the enemy outside.