Chapter 318: Agreement

……

Early the next morning, Zhu Yong had someone bring Tie Mu Er and several of his sons up.

Tie Mu Er was forced to kneel on the ground, and in one night he seemed ten years older.

His several sons also knelt beside him, heads lowered, not daring to speak.

Zhu Yong looked at them and said calmly, "Tie Mu Er, I ask you, how many troops do you still have outside?"

Tie Mu Er was silent for a moment, then said, "Three hundred thousand, scattered across the lands: a hundred thousand in Persia, eighty thousand on the Indian frontier, fifty thousand in the Khanate, and another seventy thousand stationed elsewhere."

Zhu Yong nodded; it was about what he knew.

"These men, whose orders do they follow?"

Tie Mu Er replied, "They obey my sons. My eldest son Jiahanjier is in Persia, my second son Omar is on the Indian frontier, and my third son Milansha is in the Khanate."

Zhu Yong looked toward the few young men kneeling beside him.

The oldest of them, about twenty years old, looked very much like Tie Mu Er, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.

That was Shahala, Tie Mu Er's fourth son, also Tie Mu Er's favorite son.

Zhu Yong looked at him and said, "Your father is now in my hands; what do you intend to do?"

Shahala lifted his head, staring intently at Zhu Yong.

"If you kill my father, even as a ghost I will never let you go!"

Zhu Yong smiled.

"Your father isn't dead; he's alive and well. If I wanted to kill him, I would have done it yesterday."

Zhu Yong continued, "I spare your lives not out of mercy but because I want you to cooperate and bring back the armies of your brothers."

Shahala clenched his teeth and said nothing.

Zhu Yong looked at him, his gaze calm.

"You may choose not to cooperate; I don't mind. With a force of three hundred thousand, my three thousand men can capture your capital; why would I fear those three hundred thousand?"

"When they come, I'll take them all in one fell swoop."

Shahala's complexion changed.

He recalled yesterday's battle, the soldiers clad in iron armor, and the weapons that could spew fire.

Three thousand men, taking a capital defended by thirty thousand troops.

If three hundred thousand came…

Could he really hold them back?

His heart suddenly filled with hope.

Tie Mu Er lifted his head and looked at Zhu Yong.

"Prince, I am willing to cooperate."

Shahala was stunned and looked at his father.

"Father Khan…"

Tie Mu Er waved his hand, not letting him continue.

He looked at Zhu Yong and said word for word, "Prince, I Tie Mu Er have never submitted to anyone in my life, but I submit to you; the troops you bring are the strongest I have ever seen."

"I am willing to cooperate, only asking you… spare the lives of a few of my sons."

Zhu Yong looked at him, was silent for a moment, and nodded.

"Fine, I promise you."

……

That afternoon, Tie Mu Er personally wrote several letters and sent them on swift horses to Persia, the Indian frontier, and the Khanate.

In the letters he claimed that he had already allied with Great Ming, and that his sons would bring troops back to undergo Great Ming's reorganization.

Of course that was false.

But the sons, unaware of the truth, would surely bring the troops back upon seeing their father's handwritten letters.

When they return…

Zhu Yong stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance.

The setting sun sank again.

Another day passed.

On the distant horizon, faint plumes of smoke could be seen.

Those were the people of the Timur Empire, who, hearing that the capital had changed hands, rushed to watch.

The bold ones had already entered the city to do business.

At the city gate, Longxiang Army soldiers were checking passing pedestrians.

The townsfolk looked at the iron‑clad soldiers, their eyes full of awe.

A few daring children even reached out to touch the soldiers' iron armor.

The soldiers were not angry; they simply waved their hands, letting the children go.

Zhu Yong watched the scene, a slight smile curling his lips.

The hearts of the people, as long as they are not oppressed, will gradually accept.

In a few months, these townsfolk will become accustomed to Great Ming's people being here.

In a few years, they will consider themselves as people of Great Ming.

That is assimilation.

Zhang Wu walked over and stood beside him.

"Prince, those foreign envoys wish to see you."

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Let them come."

A moment later, those Portuguese envoys were brought up.

The leader bowed deeply.

"Prince, we wish to request permission to trade with Great Ming."

Zhu Yong looked at them and said, "Trade, yes, but not now; when this side stabilizes, you may send ships to Great Ming, carrying your goods, to do business with Great Ming merchants."

The Portuguese envoys' eyes brightened, and they nodded repeatedly.

"Thank you, Prince, thank you!"

Zhu Yong waved his hand, telling them to withdraw.

After those Portuguese envoys left, the Ottoman Empire's envoy also arrived.

The same request, the same answer.

Zhu Yong responded to each in turn.

He knew that after these people returned, they would spread news of Great Ming throughout the West.

By then, more countries would send envoys.

Great Ming's reputation would spread across the world.

……

At dusk, Zhu Yong returned to his sleeping palace.

Zhu Qiong Jiong ran over and clutched his leg.

"Father, father, today I went to see those prisoners!"

Zhu Yong lowered his head, looking at his son, and smiled, "Oh, what did you see?"

Zhu Qiong Jiong exclaimed excitedly, "So many prisoners, more than I've ever seen! They crouch on the ground, not daring to move; when I walk past, they tremble!"

Zhu Yong patted his head, smiling, "Afraid of you?"

Zhu Qiong Jiong nodded, "Afraid! I think they're so pitiful."

Zhu Yong squatted down, looking into his son's eyes.

"Jiong Jiong, you must remember, they are not pitiful, they are losers; losers meet this fate, whether in war or anything else—lose and you bear the consequences."

Zhu Qiong Jiong blinked, half‑understanding, and nodded.

Zhu Huanhuan walked over, softly saying, "Father, I understand."

Zhu Yong looked at her, smiling, "What do you understand?"

Zhu Huanhuan answered earnestly, "I understand why Great Ming must be so strong, because if it's not strong it will be bullied, be defeated, and become like those prisoners."

Zhu Yong looked at her, his eyes full of satisfaction.

This child was smarter than he had imagined.

"Huan Huan is right; Great Ming's strength is to avoid being bullied and to protect the people we care about."

He stood up and embraced the two children.

"When you grow up, you must also remember this."

Zhu Huanhuan nodded.

Zhu Qiong Jiong also nodded vigorously.

Though he still didn't fully understand, he knew his father's words were all correct.

……

Night deepened.

Zhu Yong stood by the window, gazing at the night outside.

The capital of the Timur Empire was unusually quiet tonight.

But how long can this quiet last?

He did not know.

Yet he knew, no matter what happens, he would stand at the front.

Because he is Zhu Yong.

He is the Prince of Great Ming, the commander of Longxiang Army, the pillar of this household.

In the distance, Great Ming's banner on the city wall fluttered in the night wind.

A new day will soon arrive.

New challenges will also soon arrive.

But he is not afraid.

He has never been afraid.