My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 126: Deep into the Desert
Although he defeated the main force of the Yuan court in one fell swoop, Xu Da still did not dare to relax. The battle of Daning was only the beginning of the Northern Expedition. The next battle was the top priority and would determine whether the Ming Dynasty could completely control the desert.

After resting in Daning and replenishing food and ammunition, Zhu Yuanzhang sent 5,000 newly trained musket battalions to support the Northern Expedition army.

After the rest, Xu Da continued to lead the Northern Expedition Army and attacked Long'an directly. After several small battles, he completely wiped out the Yuan court forces entrenched in Long'an and firmly grasped Liaodong in the hands of the Ming Dynasty.

Leaving behind 50,000 border troops and five firearms battalions in Liaoyang to cooperate with the Liaonan Guard to march towards Goryeo, while Xu Da continued to lead the main force deep into the desert.

The news that Nahachu was defeated and captured, and Liaodong fell completely into the hands of Zhu Ming, soon reached the Yuan court. After seeing the battle report, Toghon Temur vomited blood and almost fainted on the Khan throne.

Those were the last hopes of the Yuan Dynasty. Three hundred thousand elite Yuan troops were gone just like that, and it did not affect the pace of the Ming Dynasty's Northern Expedition at all!
Could it be that the Ming army was made of iron? Why were they so unstoppable?

At the same time, the Ming army had penetrated deep into the desert and captured several cities in succession. Like a hurricane entering the country, it swept through the desert with a sweeping momentum and approached Shangdu, where the Yuan court was located, step by step.

The entire Yuan court was in panic as if the sky had fallen. Many people had already fled to the Oirat or Guilichi with their cattle, sheep, horses and other property, while others fled to the more distant Khanate such as the Eastern Chagatai Khanate.

To make matters worse, the Yuan court was not only facing the threat from the Ming army, but also the Oirat leader Yesuder who was eyeing them covetously.

"Great Khan, let's go! It will be too late if we don't leave now! The Ming army is approaching Shangdu!"

Important officials of the Yuan court, such as Kharajang and Kokotemür, tried their best to persuade Toghon Temur.

"How can I, the great Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, the leader of all Mongolian tribes, and the Great Khan of all Khanates, escape like this? Damn Zhu Ming, traitors and traitors, this group of rebels will surely be punished by God!"

Toghon Temur roared angrily, as if to vent the incomparable anger in his heart. He grabbed the wine glass at hand and smashed it to the ground.

Then he glared at Kharajang and Kokotimur and said, "I'm afraid you have already prepared to escape."

At this moment, Halazhang's retainer came hurriedly over and whispered something in his ear.

When Halazhang heard this, his expression became increasingly ugly, with a hint of fear in his eyes.

Toghon Temur was immediately furious and shouted angrily: "What are you talking about? Is there any shameful secret that I cannot hear?"

Ha Lazhang gritted his teeth and said directly: "Great Khan, the troops resisting the Ming army have surrendered. The Ming army will be at the gates of the city soon. The Ming army, the Ming army is about to break in!"

Toghon Temur's face suddenly turned pale, and he collapsed on the Khan's throne, covered in cold sweat.

"Go, Khan, or it's all over!"

Kokotimur was extremely anxious and pulled Toghon Temur up, "Great Khan, there is a saying in the Central Plains that if you keep the green mountains, you will never worry about lack of firewood. If we don't leave now, it will be all over!"

After saying this, he didn't care whether it was disrespectful to the Yuan Emperor or not. Together with Kharajang, he ordered the guards to carry Toghon Temur out.

There was panic in Yuanshangdu at this time, and countless people were running out of the city with their families. This city, which had been an important capital of Mongolia since the time of Genghis Khan, was now completely controlled by the Ming army!

Xu Da, Li Wenzhong and others were in the city, but they felt as if they were in another world, as if the humiliation that China had suffered for hundreds of years was completely released at this moment.

"Commander, Toghon Temur led 50,000 cavalry and 10,000 Golden Keshig troops to flee southwest out of the city." Tang He looked exhausted and paused before continuing, "To the west of Shangdu, scouts found traces of the Oirat army!"

Xu Da pondered for a moment, but sneered: "The Oirat is also planning to take over Toghon Temur. It seems that after we conquered Shangdu, Yesugeer's mind began to become active. He can't wait to become the leader of all the Mongolian tribes!
There is no time to lose, we must immediately pursue Toghon Temur. The Yuan court must be destroyed in our hands. If the Oirat dares to stop us, we will destroy them first!"

A cold light flashed in his eyes, "Anyway, none of them can escape. The desert belongs to the Ming Dynasty!"

After completely controlling Shangdu, the Ming army continued to pursue the enemy, but they did not see any trace of Toghon Temur.

The desert was extremely dry and the Ming army was already short of water. Although they found a few oasis springs, they were still a drop in the bucket compared to the 100,000-strong army that marched to the Northern Expedition.

After discussion, Xu Da decided that they had to head south temporarily, where there was the only large freshwater lake within a thousand miles - Buyuer Lake, which had enough fresh water to replenish the army's consumption.

A day later, the Northern Expedition Army arrived at Buyuer Lake and set up camp. As usual, Xu Da sent out scouts from the sniper battalion to conduct reconnaissance in all directions.

This is a desert, unlike the Central Plains, where there is nothing but grassland and Gobi. No one knows from which direction the Wala army, or Guilichi's troops, or other Mongolian tribes will emerge. Therefore, we can only send scouts in all directions at the same time to conduct reconnaissance.

After days of fighting, Zhu Di had long been accustomed to military life. Now, he was more like an experienced Ming official soldier than the Fourth Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

He felt that he was more at ease in the army than in the palace. Although he had his elder brother to protect him in the palace, he was often scolded by his father for saying the wrong thing and was beaten with a horse whip, which was very bad.

But in the military camp, you can say whatever you want, even tell dirty jokes with the soldiers under your command and laugh together without restraint.

Gradually, he often forgot his identity as a prince. The musketeers under his command only regarded him as a captain of the 1st Sniper Battalion of the Ming New Army, rather than the unattainable Fourth Prince.

It was early winter, and the desert was freezing cold. Zhu Di led a five-member scout team to conduct reconnaissance in the northwest of Buir Lake.
He wrapped his entire head tightly and put a pair of goggles on his nose to block the wind and sand.

The goggles were given to me by a strange man before the Northern Expedition. He said that they could be used in the desert, so they could be used now.

I have to say that goggles are so convenient. In this sandy weather, my eyes won’t be blinded by the wind and sand.

I don’t know how many new and interesting things this strange man has, but he gave them all to my father. Can’t he give some to him separately?
After waiting for a long time for the strong wind to calm down, suddenly, the vanguard walking in the front raised his fist, indicating that there was a situation ahead and asked everyone to stop.

Following the direction of the scout's finger, Zhu Di saw wisps of smoke rising on the distant horizon.

Taking out a telescope and looking in the direction of the smoke, Zhu Di was shocked and then a smile appeared on his face.

Within the field of view of the telescope, the fleeing Toghon Temur and his Golden Keshig Army suddenly appeared in sight!
"It took me a long time to find it, but finally I found it!"

At this time, another scout holding a telescope suddenly said: "Oh no, sir, the Wala army is galloping towards the Yuan Dynasty emperor from the west!"

Garlic kindly reminds all book friends to eat lunch on time

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(End of this chapter)