The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 740 A Former World Power

The fall of Kozhikode shocked the other small kingdoms of India. They all submitted to the Ming Dynasty and paid tribute. Zhu Xiong Ying established a Ming province in India and appointed trusted officials to govern it.

After conquering India, Zhu Xiong Ying did not stop there. His next target was Persia. Persia, this ancient empire, was once a world power, but was now in decline.

Zhu Xiong Ying led his army on a long march, traversing the vast desert, and arrived at the Persian border. The Persian king, having long heard of the Ming emperor's formidable reputation, was terrified. He sent envoys to Zhu Xiong Ying to sue for peace.

Zhu Xiong Ying scoffed at the Persian king's plea for peace. He ordered his army to attack, and the Persian army was easily defeated by the Ming forces. The Persian king was forced to surrender the city.

Persia also became a province of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Xiong Ying appointed a Persian nobleman as the governor-general of Persia, responsible for managing Persian affairs.

After conquering Persia, Zhu Xiong Ying set his sights on a more distant place—Oropa. This continent, shrouded in mystery, became Zhu Xiong Ying's new target for conquest. He began preparing plans for an expedition to Austria.

However, just as Zhu Xiong Ying was preparing for his expedition to Austria, an unexpected event occurred. News arrived from the palace that Xu Miao Yun was seriously ill…

The imperial physicians were at a loss, and Xu Miaoyun's condition worsened day by day. Zhu Xiong Ying was extremely anxious; he put aside all his affairs and stayed by Xu Miaoyun's bedside day and night.

"Miaoyun, you must get better!" Zhu Xiong Ying held Xu Miaoyun's hand tightly, her eyes filled with anxiety.

Xu Miaoyun smiled weakly and said, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid... I can't make it..."

Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes welled up with tears. He had never imagined that one day he would lose Xu Miao Yun.

"Miaoyun, you can't leave me! I can't live without you!" Zhu Xiong Ying said, choking back tears.

Xu Miaoyun struggled to raise her hand and stroked Zhu Xiong Ying's face, saying, "Your Majesty, promise me you will not wage war again... let the people live in peace..."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

Xu Miaoyun's breathing grew weaker and weaker until she finally stopped breathing.

"Miaoyun!" Zhu Xiong Ying was heartbroken. He held Xu Miaoyun's body tightly and cried loudly.

A once mighty ruler, now like a helpless child, struggles with the pain of losing his beloved… His grand ambitions, at this moment, seem utterly meaningless…

Xu Miaoyun's death struck Zhu Xiong Ying's heart like a heavy hammer. He once thought he could conquer the whole world, but he couldn't conquer death. He once thought he could control everything, but he couldn't control fate.

Three days later, Xu Miaoyun's funeral was held at the imperial mausoleum. Zhu Xiong Ying, dressed in mourning clothes, stood before the tomb with a numb expression, watching the coffin being slowly lowered into the ground. His heart seemed to have been buried with her.

Back in the palace, Zhu Xiong Ying locked himself in the imperial study, refusing to eat, drink, or see anyone. Like a wounded beast, he licked his wounds in the darkness.

Seven days later, Zhu Xiong Ying finally emerged from the imperial study. He washed, changed, and donned a dragon robe. His eyes regained their usual sharpness, but now held a hint of coldness.

He summoned all his officials, both civil and military, and announced the plan to launch an expedition to Austria.

"I will make all of Austria submit to the Ming Dynasty!" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was cold and firm, like a declaration from hell.

The ministers exchanged glances, none daring to voice their objections. They knew that Xu Miaoyun's death had completely changed the emperor. He had become more ruthless and ambitious.

The massive Ming fleet set sail once more. This time, their target was the even more distant and mysterious continent of Olosa. After a long voyage, the Ming fleet finally arrived on Olosa. Their first landing was on the Iberian Peninsula.

Several small kingdoms existed on the Iberian Peninsula, the most powerful of which was the Kingdom of Castile.

When the King of Castile heard the news of the Ming army's landing, he was terrified. He hurriedly summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.

"Your Majesty, the Ming army is unstoppable; we are no match for them!" a minister said with a mournful face.

"Are we just going to surrender?" the King of Castile roared.

"Your Majesty, why don't we sue for peace with the Ming army?" another minister suggested.

The King of Castile hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed to the suggestion. He sent envoys with a large amount of gold and silver to the Ming army camp to sue for peace.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the gold and silver jewelry brought by the Castilian envoy and a cold smile appeared on her lips.

“Tell your king that I don’t want gold and silver jewels, I want his throne!” Zhu Xiong Ying’s voice was cold and ruthless.

The messenger trembled with fear and quickly relayed Zhu Xiong Ying's words back to the King of Castile.

Upon hearing this, the King of Castile was furious.

"Outrageous! How dare he be so arrogant!" the King of Castile roared. "Send the order to assemble all troops and fight the Ming army to the death!"

A major battle inevitably broke out. Although the Castilian army was brave and tenacious, it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot in the face of the Ming army's powerful firearms.

The Castilian king's army was quickly defeated by the Ming army. The Castilian king himself was also captured by the Ming army.

Zhu Xiong Ying ordered the execution of the King of Castile and the annexation of the Kingdom of Castile into the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Subsequently, Zhu Xiong Ying led his army to sweep across the Iberian Peninsula, conquering other small countries one by one.

The entire Iberian Peninsula fell under the control of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Xiong Ying established provinces in India, Persia, and the Iberian Peninsula, and dispatched officials to govern them. He implemented the Ming Dynasty's legal code, standardized currency and weights and measures, and encouraged commercial development. As a result, the economy and culture of these regions developed rapidly, and the lives of the people gradually became more stable.

But deep down, Zhu Xiong Ying could never escape the shadow cast by Xu Miao Yun's death. He became even more taciturn and ruthless. He poured all his energy into conquest and expansion, as if only in this way could he forget the pain in his heart.

After conquering the Iberian Peninsula, Zhu Xiong Ying turned his attention further north to France. He had heard that France was a rich and powerful country, with skilled knights and magnificent castles.

"France, you are my next target!" Zhu Xiong Ying stood in front of the map, his eyes blazing as if he wanted to burn France through the map.

He began to mobilize troops and prepare for an expedition to France.

However, at this moment, news came from the palace that his mother, Empress Ma, was seriously ill...

(End of this chapter)