Chapter 332: Cleaning 2

……

On the third day of the ninth month, the great army crossed the river.

The opposite bank was Dabulishi, a city not very large but very prosperous.

At the city gate, a group of Persians stood there; at their head was a middle‑aged man with a big beard, wearing a brocade robe and a wrapped headscarf.

Seeing the rolling smoke and dust in the distance, their faces all changed.

"They're coming, they're coming, it's the Ming army!"

"What shall we do, should we fight?"

"Fight what? Haven't you heard? Over at Samarkhan, three thousand Ming troops took it, and a coalition of one hundred ninety‑thousand was defeated. What can we use to fight?"

The bearded middle‑aged man gritted his teeth and said, "Ride forward and see what they intend."

Zhu Yong halted his warhorse and watched the Persians who rode forward.

The bearded leader stepped before his horse and bowed deeply.

"Honorable Great Ming Prince, I am the head of Dabulishi's council of elders, named Karim, and we… we are willing to submit to Great Ming."

Zhu Yong looked at him and said lightly, "Didn't you drive Tie Mu Er's garrison away? Why, now you're willing to submit?"

Karim's expression shifted, yet he forced himself to say, "That… that is our feud with Tie Mu Er, it has nothing to do with Great Ming. Great Ming is the Celestial Empire; we are willing to serve."

Zhu Yong smiled.

"Very well, since you're willing to serve, it'll be easy. Enter the city."

Ten thousand troops marched into Dabulishi.

The Persians inside the city hid in houses, peeking out secretly.

The iron‑clad soldiers were completely different from Tie Mu Er's troops.

They didn't loot, didn't kill, just passed silently.

Occasionally a child stuck out a head, and the iron‑clad soldiers only glanced, ignoring them.

Karim stayed beside Zhu Yong, cautiously accompanying with a smile.

"Prince, you see, although Dabulishi isn't large, it is a famous Persian metropolis; whatever orders you have in the future, we will certainly obey."

Zhu Yong looked at him and suddenly asked, "When Tie Mu Er was here, how much tax did you pay?"

Karim hesitated and said, "Three… three percent."

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "From now on, pay two percent."

Karim was stunned.

Two percent…

Less than Tie Mu Er's?

"Prince, you… you really mean that?"

Zhu Yong said, "What, think it's too little?"

Karim quickly shook his head and said, "No, no, no, not too little, not too little, thank you, Prince, thank you, Prince!"

Zhu Yong ignored him and kept moving forward.

……

On the eighth day of the ninth month, Zhu Yong led the army further south.

Ten days later, they arrived at Tehran.

The situation in Tehran was more complicated than in Dabulishi; Tie Mu Er's garrison was still there, confronting the locals.

When Zhu Yong arrived, two groups were facing off outside the city, swords drawn and bows tense.

Seeing that iron‑clad army in the distance, both groups were stunned.

"Who… whose men are those?"

"Don't know, but they're definitely coming for us."

A Tie Mu Er commander in iron armor spurred his horse forward and shouted, "Who comes?"

Zhang Wu stepped forward, coldly saying, "Prince Wu of Great Ming has arrived; dismount!"

The commander's expression changed.

Great Ming.

The Great Ming that took Samarkhan with three thousand men.

The Great Ming that repelled a coalition of one hundred ninety‑thousand.

He swallowed, flipped off his horse, and knelt on the ground.

"Your servant… Your servant wishes to see the Great Ming Prince!"

The Tie Mu Er soldiers, seeing this, also knelt down in succession.

The local Persians watched the scene, each looking at one another in surprise.

A Persian elder in a long robe stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Honorable Prince, we are natives of Tehran, and we… we are willing to submit to Great Ming."

Zhu Yong looked at them and said lightly, "All rise, and enter the city."

Several thousand troops marched into Tehran.

Tie Mu Er's garrison was incorporated.

The local Persians were pacified.

Everything went smoothly.

Then, a few hundred Ming soldiers were left to garrison, and Zhu Yong led the main army onward to other places.

……

At the end of September, Zhu Yong returned to Samarkhan.

Chang Yuchun has also returned.

"Yong Er, the east and north are both settled; those city lords have obediently submitted. A few who were dishonest I eliminated on the spot," Chang Yuchun said with a cheerful smile.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "The west and south are about the same; a few places in Persia are still causing trouble, but not much. Later we can send troops to clear them up."

Chang Yuchun looked at him and suddenly asked, "Yong Er, this Timur Empire—you really intend to take it?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and slowly said, "I originally didn't plan to, but Imperial Father asked me to think, so I did. This land is too vast; I don't trust handing it to others. If I give it to my other brothers, they can't hold it; only I can."

Chang Yuchun nodded and said, "As long as you have a clear mind, that's fine. By the way, your elder brother has replied, saying he dispatched fifty thousand troops, already on the way, expected to arrive by year‑end."

Zhu Yong's eyes lit up.

The elder brother gets things done; he's reliable.

……

In early October, many unfamiliar faces appeared in the city of Samarkhan.

They are officials from Great Ming, along with craftsmen sent by the Ministry of Works.

They intend to build a government office, a school, a hospital, and various Great Ming facilities here.

The Timur Empire's palace was converted into Wu Wang Fu.

That side hall that once housed Timur was turned into a study by Zhu Yong.

He sat in the study, looking at the stacks of documents on the table.

These are reports from various parts of the Timur Empire.

Some describe disobedient local officials, some recount civilian disturbances, some mention rampant bandits.

All must be dealt with.

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

"Prince, you're tired, aren't you?"

Zhu Yong shook his head, lifted the tea, and took a sip.

"Not tired, just a lot of business."

Guanyin Nu sat beside him and softly asked, "Prince, will this place become our home from now on?"

Zhu Yong looked at her and smiled, "What, don't you like it?"

Guanyin Nu shook her head and said, "It's not that I don't like it, it's just… I miss Yingtian Fu, miss mother, miss elder brother, miss those nephews and nieces."

Zhu Yong grasped her hand and said, "When this place stabilizes, we'll go back and have a look."

Guanyin Nu nodded and leaned on his shoulder.

Outside the window, the setting sun sank in the west.

Samarkhan's dusk was beautiful.

In the distance, faint chants could be heard.

It was the imam in the mosque performing the evening prayer.

This city has already become Great Ming's.

This land will gradually become Great Ming's as well.

……

In mid‑October, Zhu Xiongying's letter arrived.

The letter was penned by Zhu Biao, but between the lines one could sense the child's tone.

"Second Uncle, I heard you captured a huge region, larger than Great Ming's territory; you're amazing. When you return, be sure to tell me war stories.

Second Uncle, I've been reading the Art of War lately; the teacher says I read well, and Imperial Father also praised me.

Second Uncle, take care of yourself out there, come back soon; I miss you."

Zhu Yong looked at the letter, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

That boy has grown up.

He lifted his brush and began to reply.

"Xiong Ying nephew, everything is fine on your second uncle's side; this place is vast, but not as good as Great Ming. When second uncle returns, I'll bring you local specialties—delicious melons and fruits, and beautiful gems.

Study well, heed Imperial Father's words, and take good care of your younger brothers and sisters.

Second uncle also misses you."

After finishing the letter, he handed it to the messenger, ordering him to take it back to Great Ming.