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

Chapter 744 I swear I will not rest until I avenge this grudge.

He needs more troops, more provisions, and more warships.

"Pass down the order: rest on the spot and await the arrival of follow-up troops!"

In the days that followed, Zhu Xiong Ying consolidated his control of the small island while sending people back to the Ming Dynasty to request aid.

However, what he received was not reinforcements, but an imperial edict from the capital.

The contents of the imperial edict struck him like a thunderbolt.

Empress Ma fell seriously ill and summoned him back to the capital immediately.

The expedition to Japan was something he had planned himself, but now he had to abandon it halfway. He was filled with resentment and anger, yet he was helpless.

He knew that Empress Ma was more than just an empress to him; she was like a mother to him. He could not, and was unwilling to, go against her wishes.

He ordered the entire army to retreat, leaving some soldiers to guard the island, while he himself, with a small number of personal guards, rushed back to the capital day and night.

When he rushed back to the palace, Empress Ma was already on her deathbed.

"Ying'er, you're back..." Empress Ma weakly reached out and grasped his hand.

"Mother!" Zhu Xiong Ying knelt before the bed, tears streaming down her face.

"Ying'er, promise your mother that you will no longer be obsessed with war and bloodshed... Peace is the blessing of the people..." Empress Ma said intermittently, her voice growing weaker and weaker.

"Mother..." Zhu Xiong Ying choked up, unable to speak.

Empress Ma's hands gradually lost their warmth.

Zhu Xiong Ying held Empress Ma's body tightly, heartbroken.

Empress Ma's death was a huge blow to Zhu Xiong Ying. He seemed to lose all his fighting spirit all at once, becoming taciturn and melancholy.

He began to reflect on his actions, realizing how insignificant and meaningless the power and glory he had always pursued were in the face of life and death.

He issued an edict to cease all foreign wars and focused his energy on governing the country, developing the economy, and improving people's livelihoods.

He reduced taxes, built water conservancy projects, and encouraged agriculture and commerce. Under his rule, the Ming Dynasty was prosperous and the people lived in peace and contentment.

However, the fire in his heart never went out.

He still dreamed of conquering the world and planting the flag of the Ming Dynasty in every corner of the world.

He knew this was just the beginning, and he needed to wait for the right opportunity, an opportunity that would reignite his ambition...

One day, while he was reviewing memorials in his study, he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

"What's going on?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

A guard rushed in, flustered. "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Korean envoy requests an audience, he/she says... says..."

"What did you say?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked impatiently.

"Tell me...tell me that the King of Joseon was killed by Japanese pirates, and that we are requesting the Ming Dynasty to send troops to help us!" the guard stammered.

Zhu Xiong Ying suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "Japanese pirates! It's the Japanese pirates again!" He clenched his fists tightly, and the long-dormant flame in his heart burned fiercely once more.

This, perhaps, is the opportunity he has been waiting for...

Zhu Xiong Ying abruptly threw the memorial in his hand to the ground. The memorial spun a few times on the smooth floor tiles before finally coming to rest in the center of the imperial study. He paced back and forth, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge, his deep voice echoing in the empty study: "Japanese pirates! How dare they murder the King of Korea! I will make them pay with their blood!"

He abruptly stopped, looked at the guards, and said in an icy tone, "Summon the Minister of War, I intend to personally lead an expedition!" The news sent shockwaves through the court and the public. After Empress Ma's death, Zhu Xiong Ying's personality had changed drastically; he was no longer enthusiastic about warfare. His current intention to personally lead an expedition was truly perplexing.

The Minister of War rushed over and knelt down: "Your Majesty, you mustn't! The national treasury is empty; it is not advisable to start another war..."

"The national treasury is empty?" Zhu Xiong Ying sneered. "I have my own way! Issue an edict to increase commercial taxes. Anyone who owns more than 100 acres of land must pay additional military pay!"

The Minister of War wanted to persuade him further, but Zhu Xiong Ying stopped him with a sharp look: "My mind is made up, there is no need to say more!"

He knew that Empress Ma's dying wish was for peace, but he could not tolerate the provocations of the Japanese pirates, nor could he ignore the death of the Korean king. He would use the blood of the Japanese pirates to comfort Empress Ma's spirit in heaven!
In just a few days, a massive army was assembled. Zhu Xiong Ying, clad in golden armor and riding a tall horse, stood on the command platform, looking down at the dark mass of troops, his heart filled with boundless pride.

"Soldiers! The Japanese pirates are brutal and murdered the King of Korea. We swear we will not rest until we avenge them! Today, I will lead you to crush the Japanese pirates and restore our national prestige!"

"Crush the Japanese pirates! Raise our national prestige!" The thunderous shouts echoed through the sky.

The army set off in a grand procession, heading straight for the lair of the Japanese pirates—the Japanese archipelago.

Zhu Xiong Ying's expedition was not a simple war of revenge; he wanted to completely conquer Japan and bring it into the territory of the Ming Dynasty!
On the vast sea, the warships surged forward like behemoths cutting through the waves. Zhu Xiong Ying stood at the bow, gazing into the distance, his eyes gleaming with ambitious light.

"Japan, I have arrived!"

After months of sailing, the army finally arrived at the Japanese archipelago.

The landing battle was exceptionally fierce. The Japanese pirates put up a stubborn resistance, but were forced to retreat step by step under the powerful offensive of the Ming army.

Zhu Xiong Ying led the charge, charging into battle with unstoppable force. The long sword in his hand was like the scythe of death, reaping the lives of the Japanese pirates.

He was ruthless and merciless; he wanted the Japanese pirates to pay a bloody price!
Cities were breached and islands were occupied.

The resistance of the Japanese pirates weakened, and eventually their leader was captured and brought before Zhu Xiong Ying.

"Spare me! Spare me!" The Japanese pirate leader knelt on the ground, trembling.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked down at him with disdain in her eyes: "Spare my life? When you killed the King of Joseon, did you ever think about sparing his life?"

"I...I..." The Japanese pirate leader stammered, unable to speak.

"Guards! Drag him out and behead him as a warning!" Zhu Xiong's tone was icy and brooked no argument.

The Wokou leader was dragged out, his screams echoing in the air.

The Japanese archipelago was completely conquered by the Ming Dynasty!

Standing atop Mount Fuji, the highest peak in Japan, Zhu Xiong Ying looked down upon the land he had conquered, and a surge of indescribable pleasure welled up within him.

He finally realized his dream of conquering the world!
However, this is just the beginning...

His gaze was set on a more distant place, where even more land awaited his conquest!

Upon returning to the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Xiong Ying did not cease his expansionist efforts. He set his sights on a more distant place—Annam.

Annam, a rich and beautiful country, had always been a tributary state of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Xiong Ying had long coveted Annam, and now he had finally found a suitable excuse.

The King of Annam died, and the new king was young, leading to a turbulent domestic situation.

Zhu Xiong Ying used this as a pretext to send troops to invade Annam, claiming that he was "helping Annam quell its internal strife".

The Annamite army was easily defeated and was quickly overthrown by the Ming army.

(End of this chapter)