Chapter 329: Wrapping Dumplings

Hongwu Sixteenth Year, August Seventeenth.

Outside the city of Samaerhan, morning mist spread.

The sixty thousand Tie Mu Er allied forces have been digging trenches outside the city for a full eighteen days.

Looking out from the city walls, in the east, south, and west directions, deep ditches scar the Gobi plain like wounds, encircling the whole city like an iron bucket.

On the city tower, Zhu Yong stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the endless rows of camp tents in the distance.

Eighteen days.

Ao Ma Er, Mi Lan Sha, and Tu He Lu Ke—these three men—remain composed.

The first probing assault lost over twenty thousand, the second lost another ten thousand, the third another ten thousand; after nearly fifty thousand deaths, they finally learned their lesson, stopped storming the city, and switched to a siege.

They intend to starve him to death.

A faint smile curled at Zhu Yong's mouth.

Starve him…

They probably don't know that Great Ming's reinforcements are already on the way.

"Prince… the scout has returned!" Zhang Wu strode onto the city tower, his face unable to hide excitement.

Zhu Yong turned around.

Zhang Wu said, "General Chang Yuchun personally leads fifty thousand troops, already three hundred li away; Vanguard eight thousand iron cavalry, and they can reach Samaerhan by tomorrow evening at the latest."

Zhu Yong nodded; there was no surprise.

Chang Yuchun…

His former superior, also one of the people he trusts most.

In Hongwu Third Year, he had just reclaimed his lineage and followed Chang Yuchun to fight the Northern Yuan.

Back then he was a clueless youngster, and Chang Yuchun taught him map reading and troop deployment hand‑by‑hand.

Thirteen years have flown by.

"Chang Shu has arrived, that makes it easy," Zhu Yong smiled, turning to look outside the city.

In the distance, those Tie Mu Er allied camps lay quietly, completely unaware that danger was closing in.

"Send the orders down, have the brothers prepare; tomorrow evening, a coordinated inside‑outside attack to crush the enemy in one blow."

"Yes!"

……

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

Inside the central army's main tent, Ao Ma Er was discussing military matters with Mi Lan Sha and Tu He Lu Ke.

"We've been besieging for eighteen days; the Grain and Fodder inside the city should be running low, right?" Ao Ma Er looked at Tu He Lu Ke.

Tu He Lu Ke was the most seasoned commander under Tie Mu Er, having fought for forty years and rich in experience.

He shook his head and said gravely, "Not necessarily; we don't know how much Grain and Fodder the Ming troops brought into the city. The granaries of Samaerhan already stored enough food for the whole city for three months."

Mi Lan Sha, with a grim face, said, "Three months? Are we to siege here for three months?"

Tu He Lu Ke gave him a glance, saying nothing.

A three‑month siege is only the most optimistic estimate.

Those Ming troops possess weapons that spew fire and devices that can explode people; if they truly break out, sixty thousand men might not be enough to stop them.

But he could not voice that.

If spoken, morale would crumble.

"Wait a little longer; I don't believe they can last a lifetime," Ao Ma Er gritted his teeth.

As soon as the words fell, a clamor erupted outside the tent.

A scout staggered in, his face ashen.

"Report! A… a serious matter! Large numbers of Ming troops, at least fifty thousand, have been spotted on the east, marching toward us."

"What!"

Ao Ma Er sprang up violently, his complexion turning iron‑blue instantly.

Mi Lan Sha and Tu He Lu Ke also sprang to their feet.

Fifty thousand Ming troops?

Where did those fifty thousand Ming troops come from?

"Did… did you see clearly?" Ao Ma Er's voice trembled.

The scout, voice shaking, said, "I saw clearly; it's the Ming banner, red field with a golden dragon, and those soldiers wear iron armor, exactly like the ones inside the city!"

A deathly silence fell inside the main tent.

Ao Ma Er slumped in his chair, his mind a blank.

Fifty thousand Ming troops.

Fifty thousand Ming troops in iron armor.

Fifty thousand Ming troops, just like the monsters inside the city.

It's over.

All over.

Tu He Lu Ke was the first to react, shouting, "Quick, send the orders down, the whole army form ranks, prepare to meet the enemy!"

"Yes!"

The messenger staggered out.

But it was already too late.

Outside the Military Camp, smoke and dust billowed, and the sound of hooves rolled like muffled thunder.

Eight thousand iron cavalry have already charged.

……

Outside the city, to the west, Tuheuluk's Military Camp.

Tuheuluk had just burst out of the great tent when he saw the mass of dark cavalry in the distance.

The iron armor glimmered with a cold sheen in the sunlight, and the horse hooves made the ground tremble.

Those were Great Ming's iron cavalry.

Not three thousand.

It was eight thousand.

Tuheuluk's legs went weak, and he almost couldn't stand.

He had fought for forty years and had never feared anyone.

But at this moment, he was afraid.

He had seen those iron‑armored soldiers before.

Three thousand men captured Samarkand.

Three thousand men repelled Jahan Gil's hundred‑thousand army.

Three thousand men forced their sixty thousand to be confined to a siege.

Now, eight thousand have arrived.

Eight thousand…

"Quick, quick, form the formation!" he roared hoarsely.

The Timur Empire's soldiers hastily formed their ranks.

But it was too late.

The Great Ming iron cavalry had already surged to the front.

"Kill!"

The battle cry rang to the heavens.

……

Inside the city, on the walls.

Zhu Yong watched the plume of smoke in the distance, a faint smile curling his mouth.

"Zhang Wu, open the gate, Longxiang Army, advance!"

"Yes!"

Finishing his words, Zhu Yong also seized the two war hammers beside him.

The city gate swung wide.

Zhu Yong led three thousand Longxiang Army troops out in single file.

Outside the city, the Timur allied soldiers were being scattered by the Great Ming iron cavalry from the east, when they suddenly saw an iron‑armored force burst out of the city, and their spirits fled in terror.

"The people inside are also coming out!"

"Run quickly!"

"Run!"

The troops collapsed like a mountain falling.

Sixty thousand men instantly broke under the combined assault of eight thousand iron cavalry and three thousand Longxiang Army.

Zhu Yong, mounted on his warhorse, swung his two war hammers, and with each swing a 'watermelon' exploded outward.

Zhu Yong had long wanted to go onto the battlefield himself, but now he was Prince Wu, and no one would let him fight.

Having finally seized the chance, Zhu Yong must make a proper killing...

"Bang..."

A 'watermelon' burst open.

He swung his right hand, the heavy hammer struck a foe's chest, shattering the victim's sternum, sending the body flying and toppling several other enemies.

As Zhu Yong struck,

Ao Ma Er, riding his horse, swung his curved sword desperately, trying to steady his footing.

"Don't run, all of you, stand still!"

But no one listened to him.

The soldiers fled like startled sheep, scattering in all directions.

A Ming general clad in iron armor rushed forward, raised his hand, and fired a spear.

"Bang!"

Ao Ma Er was hit in the shoulder by a projectile and fell from his horse.

He struggled to rise, but a long sword was already pressed against his throat.

"Don't move."

The Ming general looked down at him, his eyes icy.

Ao Ma Er opened his mouth, but no words came out.

It's over.

All is over.

……

In the northwest, Mi Lan Sha was also fleeing.

But he wasn't as fast as Ao Ma Er.

A squad of Longxiang Army iron cavalry caught up and surrounded him.

"Surrender, or die."

Mi Lan Sha looked at the iron‑armored soldiers, then glanced at the battlefield of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood in the distance, and the curved blade in his hand went "clang" as it fell to the ground.

"I… I surrender…"

…

To the west, Tu He Lu Ke was still fighting desperately.

He led his elite guards, fighting to the death without retreat.

But there were too many Longxiang Army troops.

From all directions, iron‑armored soldiers surrounded them.

The elite guards fell one by one.

In the end, only he remained.

Tu He Lu Ke was drenched in blood, clutching his curved blade, gasping for breath in large gulps.

A man dressed in dark princely robes rode a horse slowly up to him.

Tu He Lu Ke lifted his head and looked at the man.

He had thick brows, large eyes, a square face, and a full celestial dome.

His gaze was calm as water.

In his two hands he grasped two massive hammers.

Tu He Lu Ke's pupils suddenly contracted.

King Wu.

The Great Ming King Wu.

The one who captured Sa Ma Er Han with three thousand men.

The one who repelled a hundred thousand troops.

The one who forced their sixty thousand men to only be able to besiege the city.

"Tu He Lu Ke?" Zhu Yong asked.

Tu He Lu Ke clenched his teeth and said nothing.

Zhu Yong looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Tie Mu Er said you are a loyal minister; indeed, he was right."

He waved his hand.

"Tie him up and take him back."

A few Longxiang Army soldiers rushed forward, pinned Tu He Lu Ke to the ground, and bound him tightly.

Tu He Lu Ke struggled, lifted his head, and stared intently at Zhu Yong.