Chapter 127: Securing the Western Region

On the afternoon of the third day, the vanguard sighted an oasis.

We have reached the Turpan Basin.

The terrain here is low and the climate warm; though it is late autumn, greenery is still visible.

In the distance the outline of a city can be seen—that is Turpan City.

"Prince, the scouting horse reports that Hei de Er Huo Zhe is inside the city, the garrison is about thirty thousand, plus allied forces of twenty thousand, total fifty thousand," Chen Heng urged his horse forward.

Zhu Yong nodded, raised the Thousand-mile Mirror to observe.

Turpan City is larger than Hami, its walls are high and thick, War Flags flutter atop the walls, and the garrison stands in ranks.

A forceful attack is difficult.

But he never intended a forceful attack.

"Send the order: the entire army withdraw ten li and set up camp," he said.

"Withdraw?" the generals asked, puzzled.

"Yes, withdraw, and wait until nightfall."

…

Night fell.

Inside Turpan City, Hei de Er Huo Zhe was hosting a banquet for the leaders of each contingent.

The great hall was brightly lit, with singing and dancing in full swing.

"Great Khan, the Ming army has withdrawn; it seems they are frightened," a Ye Er Qiang leader raised his cup and said.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe drained the Wine from his cup, yet showed no joy.

"Zhu Yong that man is brave and cunning, cannot be taken lightly. If he withdraws his troops, there must be something amiss,"

Just as he spoke, Horn Sound suddenly echoed from outside the city.

"Report..."

Imperial Troops burst into the hall shouting, "The Ming army is launching a night raid on the South Gate!"

Hei de Er Huo Zhe sprang up and asked, "How many?"

"From the flames we see roughly a few thousand!"

"Send the order: strictly guard the Four Gates, no troops may leave the city to engage!" Hei de Er Huo Zhe commanded.

He has suffered losses before and knows the Ming army excels at field battles, especially night fights.

Defending the city is the best strategy.

The garrison on the city walls formed a strict formation to await, and the arrows and Rolling Logs were fully prepared.

But after half an hour, outside the South Gate there were only scattered flames, no offensive movement.

"Report, the Ming army has retreated," the sentry reported.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe frowned, "Retreated?"

He climbed the tower and looked toward the south.

In the darkness a faint firelight moved, gradually fading away.

"A bluff?" he muttered.

Just as he was about to descend, shouts of killing came from the west.

"Report! Outside Xi Men, Ming troops have appeared, cutting down trees as if to make siege engines!"

Hei de Er Huo Zhe hurried toward Xi Men.

Sure enough, outside the city flickering flames were seen, silhouettes shifting, and the sounds of chopping and sawing wood were faintly audible.

"Loose Arrow! Drive them away!" he ordered.

Arrow Rain fell, the flames outside the city were quickly extinguished, and the voices grew distant.

"Retreated again..." Hei de Er Huo Zhe felt uneasy.

That night, the Four Gates were attacked in turn.

At the East Gate flames shot skyward, killing cries rang deafeningly, yet when they arrived there was no one.

At the North Gate cavalry charged, Arrow flew in, but pursuing them led to nothing.

The garrison was exhausted, having not slept a night.

At daybreak, Hei de Er Huo Zhe's eyes were blood‑red as he stood on the wall.

Outside the city was silent, only the morning wind sweeping across the Gobi.

【48】 "Great Khan, the Ming army's tactic is a war of fatigue," an old general said.

The garrison on the walls formed a tight formation, with Arrow, Rolling Log, and Rocket fully prepared.

How could Hei de Er Huo Zhe not know?

But what could he do?

A field battle outside the city…

Zhu Yong was waiting.

Holding firm, not venturing out…

The army's morale was already in chaos.

"Send the order: the entire army rotate rest, strengthen vigilance," he said wearily.

However, on the second night the same thing happened again.

Only this time the Ming army was even more cunning.

When the South Gate feigned an attack, the West Gate indeed had a cavalry unit surge within Hundred Steps, firing a volley of Rockets that burned two watchtowers.

When the North Gate pretended to retreat, the East Gate had a suicide squad slip beneath the city, using gunpowder to blow up a section of the outer wall; though the city was not breached, it made the garrison break out in cold sweat.

On the third night, Hei de Er Huo Zhe personally took his seat on the tower.

At the hour of the Rat, fire flared at the South Gate.

He did not move.

Sure enough, half a quarter‑hour later, the fire extinguished itself.

At the hour of the Ox, killing cries at the Xi Men shook the heavens.

He sent a small detachment out of the city to scout.

Then the report came: only a little over a hundred cavalry, seeing the garrison leave the city, fled far away at once.

At the hour of the Tiger, the East Gate and North Gate both sounded the alarm.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe sneered, thinking, "Still trying to fool me?"

He ordered each unit to hold their posts and not act rashly.

But this time, the East Gate was genuine.

Zhu Yong personally led the Three Thousand Elite Cavalry, taking advantage of the lax garrison to launch a sudden raid to the foot of the city.

Ladders were set up, and the suicide squad scaled the walls.

By the time Hei de Er Huo Zhe reacted, the East Gate had already fallen.

"Block it! Block it!" he roared, leading his troops toward the East Gate.

But it was already too late.

The city gate opened, and Longxiang Army surged in.

Street fighting broke out.

The streets of Turpan City were narrow, making it hard for cavalry to deploy, but Longxiang Army fought on foot, still ferocious.

Zhu Yong wielded Double Hammers, cutting a path, unstoppable.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe led his bodyguards in a desperate resistance, setting up a Triple Barrier at the street corner.

"Fire the arrows!"

Arrow Rain came down.

Zhu Yong neither dodged nor yielded; his hammers danced like wind, and the arrows fell to the ground in droves.

He strode forward, smashing a warhorse with one hammer, then striking the shield formation with another.

The third hammer went straight for Hei de Er Huo Zhe.

"Protect the Great Khan!" the bodyguards surged forward.

Zhu Yong swept with his left hammer, killing three.

His right hammer struck down, splattering the brains of two.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe drew his sword to meet him; blade and hammer clanged, sparks flying everywhere.

His palm split, and the sword slipped from his hand, flying away.

Zhu Yong's second hammer had already arrived.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe closed his eyes, awaiting death.

But the hammer stopped above his head.

"Surrender, I'll spare your life," Zhu Yong said in a simple voice.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe opened his eyes, looking at the blood‑soaked youth before him, and gave a wry smile.

"I surrender…"

……

At daybreak, the fighting ceased.

Turpan City changed hands.

In this battle, eight thousand enemies were annihilated, twenty thousand captured, the rest scattered.

Longxiang Army suffered fewer than five hundred casualties.

Zhu Yong stood on the city wall, gazing at the sunrise in the east.

Zhang Wu reported, "Prince, among the captives are the leaders of the Ye Erqiang and Oirat factions, seventeen in total; how shall we deal with them?"

"Send them back to Anxi, have them write letters to their tribes; those who submit to Great Ming may be pardoned, those who resist will be exterminated," Zhu Yong said.

"Yes!"

"Also, after inventorying the grain and fodder and valuables in the city, allocate thirty percent to reward the soldiers, transport thirty percent back to Anxi for fortification, and seal the remaining forty percent until the court sends officials to receive it."

"Understood!"

Zhu Yong descended the city tower and entered the room imprisoning Hei de Er Huo Zhe.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe sat in the chair, his expression despondent.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, he rose, intending to bow.

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "Sit."

The two sat facing each other.

"The Western Regions are vast, not just Turpan; I don't want to kill many people, but no one may rebel," Zhu Yong said.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe was silent for a moment, then asked, "Prince, what do you wish?"

"Write letters to the tribes, tell them to surrender; I'll spare their lives and their peoples."

"If they do not comply…"

"Then we fight, keep fighting until they submit," Zhu Yong said simply, though his gaze was razor‑sharp.

Hei de Er Huo Zhe let out a long sigh, "I'll write."

Three days later, four messengers set out.

Half a month later, Ye Erqiang and the tribes of Yutian and Kashgar successively sent envoys to surrender.

The situation in the Western Regions was initially settled.

Zhu Yong did not rush to continue the campaigns, but instead returned his troops to Anxi to supervise city construction.

Zhu Yong wants to plant the deepest roots for Great Ming here.

In the winter of Hongwu Year Five, on the Gobi of the Western Regions, three new cities were begun simultaneously.

Shule City, Yiwu City, Kucha City.

One hundred thousand laborers, bustling with activity.

In Yingtian Prefecture, Zhu Yuanzhang received the report and laughed for three days.

"Our Yong Er not only knows how to fight, but also knows how to govern!"

Zhu Yong immediately issued an edict, allocating five million taels of silver and a million shi of grain to support the Western Regions.

He also ordered the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue to select capable officials to go to the Western Regions to assist in city building and colonization.

Great Ming's territory extended westward by a thousand li.

And this is only the beginning.