Chapter 327: Probe

The sixteenth year of Hongwu, July 29.

Outside Sa Ma Er Han, the morning light was dim.

Zhu Yong stood on the city wall, gazing at the newly appeared camp tents in the distance.

Not long ago, Jia Han Ji Er had just been defeated and fled, and today new guests arrived.

"Prince, the scouts have returned," Zhang Wu strode onto the city wall, his expression somewhat solemn.

Zhu Yong nodded, indicating for him to speak.

Zhang Wu said, "Tie Mu Er's second son Ao Ma Er, coming from the Indian border, brought eighty thousand troops and camped last night fifty li southeast; his third son Mi Lan Sha, arriving from the Jin Khanate, brought fifty thousand and camped forty li to the northwest."

He added, "Also, Tie Mu Er's general Tu He Lu Ke, coming from Persia, brought sixty thousand and has already reached seventy li west."

He paused, then added, "In total, one hundred ninety thousand."

Zhu Yong's mouth twitched slightly upward.

One hundred ninety thousand.

Adding the over twenty thousand that Jia Han Ji Er fled with, it was over two hundred thousand.

The Timur Empire's coffers are indeed deep.

"Did they agree to act together?" Zhu Yong couldn't help asking.

Zhang Wu replied, "It seems so; three armies are approaching simultaneously, likely coordinated. Though Jia Han Ji Er was defeated, the others remain."

Zhu Yong nodded and said nothing further.

He turned and looked toward the outside of the city.

The battlefield from three days ago had not been cleared; in the distance, some unburied corpses could still be seen, emitting a foul stench under the scorching sun.

But now, new enemies have arrived.

"Send the orders down, have the brothers prepare," Zhu Yong said calmly.

"Yes!"

Inside the city, the common folk also sensed something amiss.

The streets had fewer people, most shops were closed, and occasional passersby hurried by with heads down and swift steps.

"Again, again, an army is coming from outside!"

"How many..."

"I heard it's two hundred thousand, three armies, surrounding the city!"

"Two hundred thousand... can we hold them?"

"Shh, don't speak nonsense, those Great Ming troops are formidable; didn't they win not long ago?"

"But not long ago it was one hundred thousand, now it's two hundred thousand..."

"..."

At the street corner, A Qizi crouched at the base of a wall, listening to the chatter, his heart pounding.

He was a conscript, assigned to the city‑defense unit, helping transport supplies and standing guard.

He had witnessed that battle with his own eyes not long ago.

Three thousand Longxiang Army battered the hundred‑thousand army into a chaotic retreat.

Those fire‑spitting weapons, those explosives that sent people tumbling, those soldiers clad in iron armor impervious to Sword and Spear...

He would never forget them in his lifetime.

But now, two hundred thousand have arrived outside.

Two hundred thousand...

He lifted his head, looking toward the city wall.

The Prince in the dark‑colored robes should still be up there.

Would he be afraid?

A Qizi didn't know.

But he knew that the Prince, from the moment he entered the city until now, had never shown fear on his face.

Even when a hundred‑thousand army stood at the city gates three days ago, he merely stood there, watching calmly.

As if watching a swarm of ants.

A Qizi suddenly felt a bit reassured.

If that Prince is unafraid, he is not afraid either.

On the city wall, Zhu Yong was studying a map.

Zhang Wu, Chen Heng, and Wang Gui stood behind him, awaiting orders.

"Ao Ma Er is in the southeast, Mi Lan Sha in the northwest, Tu He Lu Ke in the west; the three armies are surrounding Sa Ma Er Han, trying to starve us to death," Zhu Yong's finger moved across the map.

Chen Heng replied, "Prince, we have only three thousand men; even adding the conscripts, we are under ten thousand. A hundred‑ninety thousand troops besieging the city—direct confrontation is not a solution."

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "No direct fight; first we hold."

He pointed at the map and continued, "The traps and explosives within three li outside the city are still there, enough to give them a good drink; the walls have three hundred heavy cannons, ample ammunition.

Flintlock Gun ammunition is also sufficient for several battles."

He paused again and said, "They have many men, but their hearts are not united. Ao Ma Er, Mi Lan Sha, and Tu He Lu Ke each command their own army with their own intentions. As long as we hold out for a few days, they will fall into disorder themselves."

Zhang Wu nodded, "Prince is right; I will arrange it at once."

Zhu Yong waved his hand and said, "No rush; first see how they move."

Outside the city, to the southeast, Ao Ma Er's Military Camp.

Inside the central army's main tent, Ao Ma Er was discussing with several generals.

He is in his early thirties, looks like his father Tie Mu Er, is burly, sports a thick beard, and has a long scar on his right cheek from the Indian battlefield years ago.

"Have the scouts returned?" he asked.

One general said, "They've returned. We've gathered the situation in the city. After Prince Jiahanjier's retreat, those Great Ming troops are still in the city, about three thousand, and together with the soldiers we originally accepted as surrender, the total is under ten thousand."

Ao Ma Er squinted.

Three thousand Great Ming troops, under ten thousand surrendered soldiers.

With just these numbers, they captured Sa Ma Er Han and repelled Prince Jiahanjier's hundred‑thousand army.

"Are those Great Ming weapons really that formidable?" he asked.

The general's face grew solemn as he said, "Formidable. I sent men to the battlefield; many of the corpses weren't cut by swords, they were blown up, and some were killed by weapons that spew fire—one shot, one hole."

Ao Ma Er fell silent.

He recalled the words in his father's letter.

"Great Ming cannot be defeated."

He didn't believe it then.

Now…

"What do Prince Mi Lansa and General Tu Heluke say?" he asked again.

Another general said, "Prince Mi Lansa has already arrived in the northwest, General Tu Heluke is in the west, and both have sent people to ask when to act."

Ao Ma Er thought for a moment and said, "Tell them to wait a bit longer; first send a small detachment to probe and see the true strength of those Great Ming troops."

"Yes!"

…

Inside the city, in the side hall where Tie Mu Er is imprisoned.

He stood by the window, looking through the slats at the sky outside.

It's been several days, maybe half a month!

Half a month ago, Prince Jiahanjier was defeated.

Now, Ao Ma Er, Prince Mi Lansa and General Tu Heluke have all arrived.

He can hear the sounds outside and feel the tense atmosphere before a great battle.

But he can do nothing.

The door opened.

Sha Ha La walked in.

"Father, Ao Ma Er and the others have arrived; a two‑hundred‑thousand army has surrounded the city."

Tie Mu Er turned around, looking at his son.

Sha Ha La's expression was complicated, both hopeful and fearful.

The hope was that perhaps this time they could break out.

The fear was that, if they lost again…

"Father, do you think they can win?" Sha Ha La asked.

Tie Mu Er remained silent for a long time, then slowly said, "I don't know."

Sha Ha La was stunned.

He hadn't expected his father to answer that way.

Tie Mu Er looked at him and forced a bitter smile, "I've fought for forty years and have never seen an army like that—three thousand men took my capital.

One hundred thousand can't defeat three thousand; tell me, can two hundred thousand defeat them?"

Sha Ha La could not find words.

Tie Mu Er walked up to him and patted his shoulder.

"Watch! See how King Wu fights."

…

Outside the city, to the northwest, Prince Mi Lansa's Military Camp.

Prince Mi Lansa is Tie Mu Er's third son, twenty‑seven this year, who resembles his mother rather than his father; he is slender, sullen, with perpetually narrowed eyes that reveal nothing of his thoughts.

He sat in the main tent, listening to the scouts' report.

"…Prince Jiahanjier suffered a terrible defeat; of his hundred‑thousand army, fewer than thirty thousand fled back. The Great Ming weapons are too powerful, capable of killing from several hundred steps away and even blowing people up…"

Mi Lansa waved his hand, dismissing the scouts.

He stood up, walked to the tent entrance, and gazed toward the distant direction of Sa Ma Er Han.

His father is in the city.

The capital is in the city.

A two‑hundred‑thousand army has surrounded the city.

But King Wu is still inside the city.

He recalled his father's words from the letter.

"Great Ming cannot be defeated."

His father rarely said such words.

He has fought his whole life and never submitted to anyone.

But this time, he submitted.

Mi Lansa narrowed his eyes.

Obeying, so what...

A 200,000-strong army, even if we use human piles, can still bring the city down.

He turned and walked back into the tent.

"Send the orders down, prepare to besiege the city."

……

Inside the city, on the walls.

The Longxiang Army soldiers have already taken their positions.

Three hundred heavy cannons are aimed at the three directions outside the city.

The engineers' camp has prepared the fuses, ready to detonate the explosives buried outside at any moment.

The conscripted soldiers were divided into several squads; some helped transport ammunition, some stood on the walls with bows, ready for any eventuality.

Aqiz stood on the wall, gripping the curved sword in his hand.

Beside him stood a few conscripts who, like him, had been selected for being honest that day.

"Aqiz, are you scared?" a young conscript whispered beside him.

Aqiz glanced at him and said, "What's there to fear?"

"Afraid... afraid of dying!"

Aqiz said nothing.

He was, of course, afraid of death.

But he feared that Prince in the dark-colored robe even more.

Three days ago in that battle, he saw with his own eyes that Prince standing motionless on the tower from start to finish.

Outside, a 100,000-strong army surged, cannons roared, explosives detonated, and people died.

He just stood there.

Not a hint of expression on his face.

That calmness was more frightening than any ferocity.

"Don't be afraid; with the Prince here, you won't die," Aqiz said.

The young conscript glanced at him and said nothing further.