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

Chapter 815 Defeating them completely

The setting sun, like blood, illuminated the smoke-filled battlefield. Zhu Xiong Ying leaned against a tree, his face pale, blood still flowing from the wound on his shoulder. He gazed at the burning camp in the distance, his heart filled with resentment and anger. He had lost this battle, utterly and completely…

"Your Highness, please have some water." Xu Da handed over a water pouch.

Zhu Xiong Ying took the water pouch and shook her head weakly: "I can't drink it..."

He raised his head, gazing at the starry sky, his eyes unfocused. He recalled his father's earnest expectations and his own past boasts, and his heart was filled with bitterness.

"Was I really wrong...?"

"Was I really wrong...?" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was low and hoarse, as if it were squeezed out from the depths of her chest, carrying a trace of despair and confusion.

Xu Da knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. One defeat does not mean anything. You are a man of extraordinary talent and will surely achieve great things in the future!"

"A genius beyond compare?" Zhu Xiong Ying laughed self-deprecatingly. "If I were truly a genius beyond compare, how could I have suffered such a crushing defeat? My father had such high expectations of me, yet I have disappointed him..."

He suddenly grabbed Xu Da's shoulder, his eyes filled with pain and struggle: "Xu Da, tell me, am I really not good enough? Am I simply not capable of shouldering the responsibility of this Ming Dynasty?"

Xu Da met his gaze firmly, his voice resounding: "Your Highness, you are no ordinary man! This defeat is only temporary; we will surely make a comeback! Please believe in yourself, and believe in us!"

Looking into Xu Da's resolute eyes, Zhu Xiong Ying felt a glimmer of hope begin to ignite in his heart. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "You're right, I can't give up like this! I must pull myself together and win this battle for the Ming Dynasty, and for myself!"

He struggled to his feet, his gaze fixed on the distance, his eyes filled with determination and resolve.

"Xu Da, pass down the order to gather the remaining troops. We will set off for the capital tomorrow!"

"Yes, sir!" Xu Da stood up, accepted the order, and left.

Three days later, Zhu Xiong Ying and his entourage returned to the capital, weary from their journey. Upon learning of the defeat, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and severely reprimanded Zhu Xiong Ying.

"You unfilial son! I placed high hopes on you, yet you have so utterly failed me! How dare you return to see me?!" Zhu Yuanzhang roared.

Zhu Xiong Ying knelt on the ground, head bowed, without uttering a word. He knew he had failed his father's expectations and the people of the Ming Dynasty.

"Father, I know my crime!" he said in a deep voice.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his son kneeling on the ground, and his anger subsided slightly. He sighed and softened his tone: "Xiongying, get up."

Zhu Xiong Ying slowly stood up, still keeping her head down.

"Tell me, why did you suffer such a crushing defeat?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Xiong Ying recounted the defeat in detail without concealing anything.

After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Xiong Ying, your defeat this time is not entirely your fault. The Western Regions coalition had planned this all along, and their numbers far exceeded ours. You were outnumbered, so your defeat was to be expected."

Zhu Xiong Ying raised his head and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang in surprise. He hadn't expected his father to say such a thing.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "However, as the crown prince and commander of the three armies, you failed to anticipate the enemy's moves, which is a dereliction of duty on your part. You must remember this lesson and never repeat it in the future!"

"Your subject will remember your teachings, Father!" Zhu Xiong Ying replied respectfully.

"Alright, you may go and rest." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand. Zhu Xiong Ying bowed and withdrew.

Back in his palace, Zhu Xiong Ying lay on his bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. He kept replaying the defeat in his mind, his heart filled with regret and resentment.

"I must find the weaknesses of the Western Regions coalition and then defeat them completely!" he vowed to himself.

For the next few days, Zhu Xiong Ying stayed indoors, immersing himself in the study of military strategy, hoping to find a way to defeat the enemy.

One day, he was reading in his study when he suddenly heard a commotion outside the door.

"What happened?" he asked, frowning.

A guard rushed in and reported, "Your Highness, a man claiming to be an envoy from the Western Regions has arrived outside the palace and says he wants to see you."

"An envoy from the Western Regions?" Zhu Xiong Ying's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the Western Regions Allied Forces had sent someone to sue for peace?
He quickly got up, straightened his clothes, and then strode towards the palace gates.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, he saw a man dressed in exotic clothing standing there, followed by several attendants.

Upon seeing Zhu Xiong Ying, the man quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying in broken Chinese, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty, I am an envoy of the Western Regions Allied Forces, sent to pay my respects to you."

Zhu Xiong Ying looked the envoy up and down, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

"Oh? What brings you here with your envoys?" he asked knowingly, his tone laced with sarcasm.

The envoy raised his head, a strange smile appearing on his face...

The envoy raised his head, a strange smile on his face, and said, "Your Highness, the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions are willing to submit to the Great Ming Dynasty and have come here to express our sincerity."

Zhu Xiong Ying sneered inwardly. Surrender? The Western Regions allied forces had just defeated the Ming army, yet now they claimed to surrender. There was definitely a trap. He wanted to see what this Western Regions envoy was up to.

"Oh? You really want to submit?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked, feigning surprise.

“Absolutely true!” the envoy declared confidently. “Our kingdoms in the Western Regions have long admired the might of the Ming Dynasty. Now, His Highness the Crown Prince’s personal expedition to the Western Regions has shown us the formidable strength of the Ming army. We are sincerely convinced and willing to submit to the Ming Dynasty forever, paying tribute every year.”

Zhu Xiong Ying chuckled inwardly. This envoy was really good at pretending. They had clearly defeated the Ming army, but they claimed to have witnessed the Ming army's strength. They were just lying through their teeth.

"In that case, please show your sincerity, Your Excellency," Zhu Xiong Ying said calmly.

The envoy clapped his hands, and several attendants behind him carried in several large boxes.

"These are all rare and precious treasures presented as tribute by our various Western Region countries. We humbly request that Your Highness accept them," the envoy said.

Zhu Xiong Ying waved his hand, signaling the guards to open the box.

When the box was opened, it was filled with gold and silver jewelry, fine silks and satins, rare and exotic animals, and other treasures, a dazzling array of priceless items.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the treasures and sneered inwardly. Did they think they could bribe him with these things? They were seriously underestimating him.

"I will gladly accept these things," Zhu Xiong Ying said calmly. "However, these alone are not enough. I also need the Western Regions countries to show their true sincerity."

(End of this chapter)