Chapter 320: Troops at the City Gates

……

In the following days, Samaerhan gradually returned to calm.

The shops in the city reopened, the streets grew more crowded, and some even began to discuss Great Ming.

"I heard Great Ming is far to the east, much farther than we imagined."

"Of course, otherwise it couldn't be called Great Ming."

"Their Emperor is called the Son of Heaven, a son of the sky."

"What about their people? Those wearing iron armor, are they their soldiers?"

"Yes, I heard they're all elite, only three thousand in total, and they captured our capital."

"Three thousand people—how could three thousand take the capital when we have thirty thousand garrison troops?"

"Who knows! Anyway they took it, and I heard those soldiers wield weapons that spew fire, killing from a great distance."

"So powerful…"

"Exactly, otherwise Tie Mu Er Great Khan wouldn't have been captured."

"..."

At a street corner, a few youngsters were whispering.

What they were saying were the rumors that had spread throughout the city these past days.

There was truth and falsehood, but one thing was certain.

Great Ming is very strong.

Strong to an absurd degree.

……

Inside the palace, Zhu Yong was studying a map.

This map came from Tie Mu Er's study, drawn in great detail, marking the entire Timur Empire's territory, the locations of every city, and the courses of mountains and rivers with crystal clarity.

Next to it lay several military reports handwritten by Tie Mu Er, recording the numbers and positions of garrisons across the lands.

One hundred thousand were in Persia, eighty thousand on the Indian border, fifty thousand in the Golden Tent Khanate, and seventy thousand were stationed elsewhere.

Altogether three hundred thousand.

Zhu Yong's finger moved across the map and stopped at Persia.

Tie Mu Er's eldest son Jiahanjier was garrisoned in Persia.

He had heard of him; he is Tie Mu Er's eldest son, brave and war‑like, deeply trusted by his father.

He commands a hundred thousand troops, one of the Timur Empire's most elite forces.

If he received a letter from his father, what would he do?

Obediently bring the troops back…

Or proclaim himself king, regardless of his father's fate…

Zhu Yong squinted.

Both are possible.

But whatever he does, it cannot change one fact.

Great Ming wants this land.

Guanyin Nu entered carrying a bowl of tea and set it on the table.

"Prince, take a break; we've been looking all morning."

Zhu Yong lifted his head, looked at her, and smiled.

"I'm not tired, but you have been busy settling those women these past days; it must have been hard, right?"

Guanyin Nu shook her head and sat beside him.

"Not hard at all; Tie Mu Er's wives and concubines are quite cooperative, doing whatever we ask, and a few even speak a few words of Chinese, claiming they learned it from merchant caravans before."

Zhu Yong nodded, saying nothing.

Guanyin Nu looked at him and softly asked, "Prince, when are we going back?"

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Soon; once this place stabilizes, we'll return."

Guanyin Nu nodded and leaned on his shoulder.

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.

Samaerhan's afternoon was quiet and peaceful.

……

Three days later.

A swift horse galloped into Samaerhan's city gate.

The rider was drenched in sweat, his face covered in dust, clearly having ridden a long distance.

He was taken to the palace and knelt before Zhu Yong.

"Prince, news came from Persia: Jiahanjier received the letter but did not set out immediately; instead he gathered his generals to discuss, and when I was to depart, no decision had been reached."

Zhu Yong nodded.

As expected.

Jiahanjier isn't a fool; he wouldn't readily trust a letter of unknown origin.

Even if the letter bore his father's own handwriting.

"Any other news?"

The scout replied, "Yes, I met a few groups on the road; they said they came from the Indian border and the Golden Tent Khanate, also delivering letters. I didn't dare reveal myself and slipped away."

Zhu Yong squinted.

Everyone has received the letter.

But none have taken action.

It seems those sons each have their own ideas.

"Go rest downstairs."

"Yes."

After the scout withdrew, Zhu Yong stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, people came and went on Sa Ma Er Han Street, everything as usual.

But he knew this was only the calm before the storm.

Soon, there will be a major move.

"Zhang Wu."

"Present."

"Send the orders: from today, the whole city is under martial law; everyone entering or leaving must be strictly inspected, only one city gate will be opened, and heavy troops assigned to guard it."

"Understood."

"Also, have the craftsmen camp rush to repair the damaged sections of the city walls and ready all usable weapons."

"Yes."

Zhang Wu took the order and left.

Zhu Yong turned around and looked at the map.

His finger pointed at Persia, then moved to the India border, finally resting on the Jin Khanate.

Three hundred thousand troops.

If they all come…

A faint smile curled at his mouth.

Come then.

Let the world see Great Ming's might.

…

Another three days passed.

News from outside the city kept increasing.

Jia Hanjier finally made a move.

But not by bringing troops back; he sent someone to deliver a letter.

The letter was short, only a few sentences.

"Father, respectfully: the son has received the letter, his heart is filled with sorrow, but the son believes Great Ming is far to the east and cannot send many people."

"The son has already gathered a great army; soon the troops will reach Sa Ma Er Han to rescue father from prison. Please take care of your health, Father."

Zhu Yong finished reading the letter and smiled.

Jia Hanjier intended to rescue his father himself.

Fine.

So he wouldn't have to search for him one by one.

"Zhang Wu, bring Tie Mu Er here."

A moment later, Tie Mu Er was dragged in.

Zhu Yong handed the letter to him.

Tie Mu Er's complexion changed after reading it.

"This rebellious son… what does he intend?"

Zhu Yong said calmly, "He wants to come rescue you with a hundred thousand troops."

Tie Mu Er's face grew even paler.

One hundred thousand troops.

Sa Ma Er Han has only three thousand Longxiang Army, and even counting the surrendered Tie Mu Er soldiers, it is less than twenty thousand.

Can they hold them back?

He looked at Zhu Yong.

The young man's face showed no trace of fear.

Even… there was a hint of expectation.

"Your Highness, what do you plan to do?"

Zhu Yong looked at him and said slowly, "Strike."

One word, simple and direct.

Tie Mu Er was stunned.

"Your Highness, they have a hundred thousand…"

"A hundred thousand—so what? With three thousand of my men I can capture your capital; why fear those hundred thousand?" Zhu Yong interrupted him and stood up.

He walked to the window and gazed into the distance.

"Tie Mu Er, do you want to see with your own eyes what Great Ming's power is?"

Tie Mu Er opened his mouth but could not speak.

He suddenly recalled twenty years ago, when he raised a few hundred men, feeling the same—fearless.

But now…

He watched Zhu Yong's back, and a strange feeling rose in his heart.

Perhaps what that young man said is true.

Perhaps the hundred‑thousand army truly is not his match.

…

Seven days later.

The scouts sprinted into the city.

"Prince! Jiahanjier's army has arrived! Three hundred li from the city!"

Zhu Yong rose to his feet and strode out of the hall.

The city wall was already filled with people.

On the distant horizon, smoke and dust rolled, blotting out sky and sun.

That was the hundred‑thousand army.

It was closing in on Samarhan.

Zhu Yong squinted, gazing that way, a faint smile curling his lips.

"Finally arrived."

He turned and looked toward the Longxiang Army inside the city.

Three thousand men stood in perfect formation.

In the sunlight, each piece of lamellar armor glinted with a cold sheen.

Each Flintlock Gun had already been loaded with ammunition.

"Longxiang Army..."

The three thousand men straightened their backs in unison.

"Follow Prince out of the city!"

The city gates swung wide.

The three thousand Longxiang Army poured out like fish in a net, forming a formation outside the city.

Zhu Yong rode his horse at the forefront.

Behind him, the two drum‑shaped golden hammers glimmered a dark‑gold in the sun.

In the distance, the hundred‑thousand army drew ever nearer.

The sound of hooves rolled like muffled thunder, shaking the earth.

But the Longxiang Army did not stir a hair.

All of the Longxiang Army stared at the silhouette at the front!

That man was their invincible Prince Wu.

Zhu Yong halted his horse, gazing at the looming black mass of troops in the distance.

A faint smile curled his lips.

Come forth!

I will let you witness what Great Ming's power is...

Let you see what truly invincible combat strength is...