Chapter 51: Answering Heaven

After a long while, Minmin Temur lifted her head, and with decisive eyes said, "Alright, I'll go."

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Then I'll escort you to Erdao Liang."

He stood up, about to go out and make arrangements, when Minmin Temur suddenly called him.

"Wait."

Zhu Yong turned around.

"If… if I succeed in persuading his surrender, can you really keep my brother from dying?"

"Xu Shu said it, and Xu Shu keeps his word."

"What about you? Can you guarantee it?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, then said seriously, "I can guarantee it too. Your brother is a talent; it'd be a pity if he died. As long as he's willing to surrender and serve Great Ming properly, I'll keep him alive."

Minmin Temur looked at his simple, honest face, and somehow she found herself believing his words.

She stood up and tidied her clothing.

"Let's go!"

The two left the tent.

Xu Da had already arranged the escort squad.

Fifty elite cavalry, led by Zhang Wu, escorted Minmin Temur to Erdao Liang.

Zhu Yong also mounted his horse and followed behind the squad.

The party left the Military Camp and headed toward Erdao Liang.

Along the way, the two chatted casually for a few sentences.

While talking, they had already arrived at Erdao Liang.

Mu Ying's feint attack force was retreating; seeing Zhu Yong, Mu Ying spurred his horse forward.

"Prince, this is…"

"Take her up the mountain to persuade surrender," Zhu Yong said.

Mu Ying glanced at Minmin Temur, nodded, and said, "Fine, I'll have people escort you to halfway up the mountain."

He dispatched a squad of soldiers to escort the group up the mountain.

The mountain path was steep; horses could not pass, so they had to go on foot.

Although Minmin Temur could ride, traversing such a mountain trail was still arduous.

After less than half the way, she was already panting heavily.

Seeing this, Zhu Yong reached out and said, "Let me pull you."

Minmin Temur hesitated briefly, then handed her hand over.

Zhu Yong's hand was large and thick, covered entirely with old calluses.

Yet when grasped, it gave an oddly solid feeling.

With his support, the mountain path seemed less difficult to traverse.

At mid‑mountain there was a platform where the Ming forces had set up a checkpoint.

Further up lay the Northern Yuan Army's defensive line.

"That's it! You go up alone, meet your brother, and speak to him properly," Zhu Yong released his hand and said to Minmin Temur.

Minmin Temur looked at him and suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll go up and never come down?"

Zhu Yong chuckled naively, "What's there to fear? If you don't come down, I'll charge up and capture you and your brother."

Though he said it bluntly, it made Minmin Temur laugh.

It was her first laugh since being captured.

"Alright, I'll try my best to persuade him," she finished, then turned and walked up the mountain.

Zhu Yong stood on the platform, watching her silhouette disappear into the forest.

Zhang Wu leaned in and asked, "Prince, do you think it can succeed?"

"I don't know, but there's no harm in trying," Zhu Yong said honestly.

They waited on the platform for about an hour.

Sounds of movement came from the mountain.

A squad of Northern Yuan soldiers descended, their leader hoisting a white flag.

"Our general requests the Ming commander to ascend for discussion!" the soldier shouted.

Zhu Yong ordered Zhang Wu to return and report, and he himself took a few Imperial Troops and followed the Northern Yuan soldiers up the mountain.

On Erdao Liang, the Northern Yuan camp was in ruins.

The tents were dilapidated; the soldiers sat or lay down, each gaunt and yellow‑faced from hunger.

Upon seeing Zhu Yong, many soldiers showed fear in their eyes and bowed their heads.

Kuokuo's Marshal tent was at the top of Erdao Liang.

Outside the tent, Minmin Temur stood there; seeing Zhu Yong arrive, she gave him a nod.

Zhu Yong pulled back the curtain and entered the tent.

Inside, Kuokuo Tie Mu Er sat on the Main Seat, his armor still on, but his expression weary.

Several generals stood on his left and right, all looking haggard.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, the generals all gripped their sword handles tightly.

Kuokuo raised his hand to halt them, looked at Zhu Yong, and in a deep voice said, "Prince Wu himself climbs the mountain; aren't you afraid I have set an ambush to kill you?"

Zhu Yong said naively, "You can't kill me, and I can't kill you. Xu Shu said today is for negotiations, not a fight."

His blunt words eased the atmosphere inside the tent a bit.

Kuokuo chuckled wryly: "Discuss matters… what to discuss, discuss how I surrender."

"Hmm, Xu Shu said, if you surrender we'll guarantee you won't die; any of your subordinates who lay down their weapons will not be killed."

Kuokuo fell silent.

He and his generals glanced at each other, and an older one spoke: "General, surrender! Brothers… we can't hold on any longer."

Another added: "Indeed, General, the mountain base is surrounded like an iron bucket, no way out, Grain and Fodder are exhausted; if we keep holding, we'll starve to death."

Kuokuo looked at Zhu Yong and asked: "How can you guarantee you won't kill me?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, then took a token from his chest.

It was the Wu Wang token personally bestowed by Zhu Yuanzhang.

"This is from my father; seeing the token is like seeing me. I use this as a guarantee: as long as you don't renege and serve Great Ming properly, I guarantee you live."

Kuokuo stared at the token for a long time, then let out a deep sigh.

He stood, removed the sword at his waist, and held it up with both hands.

"Kuokuo Tie Mu Er… I surrender."

Inside the tent, the soldiers all laid down their weapons.

Zhu Yong took the sword, saying naively, "Alright, then let's go down the mountain!"

He turned and left the tent.

Outside the tent, the sun was shining just right.

Minmin Temur stood in the sunlight; seeing him emerge, tears welled in her eyes, yet she smiled.

Zhu Yong nodded at her and led the troops down the mountain.

Behind them, Kuokuo and his generals hung their heads and followed.

The Northern Yuan soldiers on the ridge, seeing their commander surrender, laid down their weapons and queued down the mountain.

On this day, Hongwu Third Year April 17, Kuokuo Tie Mu Er surrendered at Erdao Liang in Shen'er Valley.

The last elite of Northern Yuan were thus annihilated.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Xu Da had already gathered his troops and was waiting.

Seeing Kuokuo come down, Xu Da stepped forward, solemnly saying, "General Kuokuo, your return from the wrong path is truly wise; I, Xu Da, vouch with my honor and will plead your case before the Emperor."

Kuokuo knelt on one knee and replied, "A defeated commander, I only ask to live; I dare not ask for anything else."

Xu Da helped him to his feet and said, "Rise; from now on we serve the same court as ministers, no need for formalities."

Chang Yuchun grinned and said, "It should have been like this from the start; fighting back and forth, so many die—why bother?"

Mu Ying added, "General Kuokuo is a hero; the Emperor will surely employ him highly."

The group returned to the camp.

That night, the Great Ming camp held a banquet to entertain the surrendered general.

Though the fare was simple, the atmosphere was fairly cordial.

Zhu Yong did not attend the banquet; he returned to his own tent and fell asleep immediately.

He slept until the next day when the sun was three rods high.

Upon waking, Zhang Wu brought hot water.

"Prince, Marshal Xu says we will break camp today and return to Lanzhou."

Zhu Yong washed his face and asked while washing, "Where is Kuokuo?"

"He is in Marshal Xu's tent, and his sister is there as well."

"Oh."

Zhu Yong finished washing, bit two biscuits, and slipped out of the tent to stroll.

The camp was packing gear, preparing to break camp.

He walked near the Central Command Tent and saw Minmin Temur standing alone under a tree, gazing into the distance.

Zhu Yong approached, saying naively, "What are you looking at?"

Minmin Temur turned, saw him, and whispered, "Looking toward the direction of the Grassland."

"Missing home?"

"Hmm." She paused, then added, "Thank you."

"Thank what of me?"

"Thank you for keeping my brother alive."

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "That was what Xu Shu said; I'm just passing the message."

Minmin Temur looked at him and suddenly said, "You are a good person."

Zhu Yong smiled, "My father says the same."

As they spoke, Xu Da emerged from the tent, saw the two talking, and laughed, "Prince, Miss Minmin, we are ready to set out."

Zhu Yong nodded and said to Minmin Temur, "Let's go, to Yingtian; there are also grasslands and horses; you can graze the sheep if you wish."

Minmin Temur looked at his simple face and suddenly felt that going to Yingtian might not be a bad thing.

She nodded and followed him out of the camp.

Sunlight spilled into the valleys of Shen'er Valley; last night's bloodshed had been scattered by the morning wind.

In the distance, the Great Ming army wound forward like a long dragon.

Zhu Yong rode his horse and glanced back at Erdao Liang.

The ridge was now empty of people.

This battle was over.

He turned his head again and spurred his horse onward.

Ahead is the road that answers Heaven.

It is also the road home.