Emperor Ming's grandson

Chapter 318: The life of the fourth uncle as the general of the Western Expedition

In the seventh year of Yongping, the land in Hezhong.

More than 100,000 Ming cavalrymen trudged across the Gobi Desert and set up camp here. There were chariots and tents like clouds, soldiers like rain, horses and cattle everywhere, and armor everywhere.

"The Journey to the West written by Yelu Chucai in the past recorded that a famous city in Western Liao was called Hezhong Prefecture. Because it was close to the river, it was very prosperous. They used gold and copper coins. In the summer when there was no rain, they diverted the river to stimulate the flow of wine, which tasted like Zhongshan Jiuyun. Now I see that it is true." said Jin Zhong, an official of the royal palace.

Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, led his troops on horseback to the top of a high hill and looked down at the military camp. He suddenly felt proud. He untied his water bag and took a few sips of sweet wine. He smiled and said, "The ancients said, 'Fine grape wine in a luminous cup, the pipa music urges me to drink. Don't laugh at me sleeping drunk on the battlefield, how many people have ever returned from the battles in history?' If I could be so happy every day, I would not want to return to my homeland! Yelu Dashi went west to build a country of ten thousand miles. Now that I am here, why not follow his example?"

After saying this, his pride increased.

After the death of his eldest brother Zhu Biao, Zhu Di thought that his life would be more difficult. After all, he and his eldest nephew seemed to have been in conflict since childhood. But unexpectedly, the new emperor's actions were exactly what Zhu Di wanted.

After Zhu Xiongying ascended the throne, he changed the era name to Yongping. The era name seemed to have the meaning of peace and prosperity, as if he wanted to recreate the "Reign of Wen and Jing". He continued to use the national policy of light taxes and levies and not starting wars.

However, soon everyone understood the true meaning of the reign title "Yongping"
Zhu Xiongying used iron-fisted methods to start a large-scale anti-corruption campaign. At the same time, he recalled officials from the Eastern Palace, rectified the government, and began a major overhaul of the military.

Next, he increased taxes on gentry and landlords, strictly enforced the performance evaluation system, and tightened the number of admitted Jinshi, which was quite reminiscent of the Hongwu period.

In Zhu Biao's time, the atmosphere of peace and tranquility in the world was soon beginning to change.

It took the entire Ming Dynasty four and a half years to complete internal reorganization and unify its thinking. The Ming Dynasty's ocean-going fleet began to attempt its first circumnavigation of the world, actively acquiring markets, raw material sources, and colonies overseas.

The flames of war in Japan were burning more and more fiercely.

Later, Zhu Xiongying took action against his uncles. Zhu Xiongying did not reduce the power of the vassal kings or use the "Enfeoffment Order", but instead followed the example of the Mongol Empire. The court supported the vassal kings, especially the King of Sai, in their expeditions abroad. The conquered land belonged to the vassal kings. They were truly granted territories, not vassal kings who only had military power but no actual land and financial power. However, they also had to leave the Ming Dynasty to develop.

Of course, the support provided by the Ming court was limited, and there were regulations on the direction of military deployment. Those who were willing to give it a try could give it a try. Whether they succeeded or died in defeat depended on their own fate.

However, those who continue to stay in the country will have their military power taken away, but everything else will remain unchanged.

Among the eight kings of the Great Frontier, some chose to go on an expedition, while others chose to hand over their three guards and become a peaceful prince.

Among those who chose to launch an expedition, Zhu Di was the most active. He took the initiative to choose the most difficult direction, which was the Timurid Khanate west of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate.

At this time, Timur had been dead for many years, and the huge Khanate he established fell into civil strife. His fourth son, Shah Rukh, occupied the Mesopotamian region and was most likely to become the Great Khan who would reintegrate the Khanate, while Timur's two grandsons occupied Transoxiana.

Zhu Di's target was Samarkand, the capital of the Transoxiana region.

Some knights in white clothes appeared in the desert in the distance. The locals regarded white clothes as a lucky color and green clothes as mourning clothes, so they all wore white, which was very different from the Chinese.

When he saw the man in white, a hint of sadness flashed across Zhu Di's eyes, as if he recalled something, but then he raised his whip and laughed out loud.

"When I was young, Emperor Taizu Gao once joked that the one who would clear the desert was the King of Yan."

"My wish in this life is just like the story of Wei Wu - I want to fight for the country and make contributions, and carve 'The Tomb of the Former General of the Western Expedition' after my death."

(End of this chapter)