Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 57 Helping Zhu Qizhen Avenge
Zhu Di was still worried about Zhu Gaoshuo's safety; after all, no one knew the strength of the Mongols better than him.
Even when he was still the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di was already fighting against the Mongols.

You could say he's played his whole life.

The fourth one hasn't grown up yet.

Let's not even talk about the eldest son. Although he had the ability to govern the country, he died too young. And it's one thing that he died young, but his eldest grandson won't live much longer either.

The second son is a brute; all he knows is fighting and killing.

As for the third son, I won't go into details.

Just as the old monk Yao Guangxiao said, his only hope now is his fourth brother.

The fourth one absolutely cannot have any problems.

Therefore, when Zhu Zhanji said that the fourth prince had returned, Zhu Di was overjoyed and immediately stood up to go find Zhu Gaoshuo, without hearing the rest of the sentence.

His hurried manner made Zhu Zhanji realize that the situation was hopeless.

The old man is definitely going to pass the throne to his fourth uncle.

Zhu Di entered the tent, and Liu Jiang ran over excitedly.

"Your Majesty, we!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Di angrily kicked him.

"Doesn't Prince Qi know the gravity of the situation?"

Do you even respect me anymore?!

Liu Jiang immediately knelt down. Only then did he come to his senses that the emperor was still the Yongle Emperor before him.

He knew Zhu Di's methods very well; he was afraid he was going to die.

But before Liu Jiang could even beg for mercy...

Zhu Di had already drawn his long sword and was about to strike at him in the next second.

Zhu Gaoshuo, who was standing next to him, quickly spoke up.

"Father, we were just following your orders to capture some prisoners, but we didn't expect to encounter Oirat cavalry in Tatar territory. And it was a large-scale cavalry force, at least three thousand strong!"

"Oirat cavalry?" Zhu Di nodded. The Heavenly Curtain had long predicted the cooperation among the Mongol tribes, and now that the Oirat cavalry were in Tatar territory, it was a confirmed fact!
"What is the movement of these three thousand cavalrymen?" Zhu Di was now worried that these three thousand cavalrymen might be Mahmud's backup plan, which he would use to launch a surprise attack on his central army camp.

"If we encounter our Ming cavalry, of course we will annihilate them all," Zhu Gaoshuo said with a smile.

"Kill them all?" Zhu Di frowned slightly, clearly not quite believing it.

Not only him, but Zhu Zhanji also looked at Zhu Gaoshuo with suspicion.

The three thousand Oirat cavalry were still on the grasslands, aiming to annihilate them completely.
It would take at least twice as many cavalry to accomplish this.

But Zhu Gaoshuo only had eight hundred men under his command; how could he possibly have accomplished such a feat?

In any case, the outcome of this battle is impossible to ascertain.

In his view, Zhu Gaoshuo might actually be able to fight the Oirat cavalry.

But the Oirat forces numbered no more than a few hundred.

He had specifically checked Zhu Gaoshuo's army before coming in, and not many people had died, so it was clear that they hadn't experienced any major battles.

Of course, Zhu Zhanji did not point it out, as boasting about war was a tradition of the Zhu family.

Zhu Di initially did not believe it.

Looking at the fourth brother's appearance, he didn't seem to be lying, and considering his abilities...

Perhaps it is true.

But what does it mean for 800 cavalry to annihilate 3,000 cavalry?

There's still a chance of winning; killing them all would only be possible if the Oirat cavalry's horses gave out.

Perhaps only the fourth brother can do that.

But the more this happened, the more dissatisfied Zhu Di became.

"Fourth brother, all I asked you to do was capture some prisoners, why are you being so disobedient!"

Even if Zhu Gaoshuo did manage to defeat the three thousand cavalry, he would still be deeply trapped.
"Father, I went there to capture prisoners!"

Zhu Gaoshuo nodded.

He then looked at Liu Jiang and said, "Bring the person in!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Jiang, who was sitting on the ground, immediately perked up, stood up, and ran out of the camp.

He returned a moment later, bringing with him the Oirat Khan, Daliba, who was no longer as arrogant as before.

Seeing the imposing Zhu Di, he quickly knelt down, trembling, and said, "Your subject, Oirat Daliba, pays respects to the Great Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!" Zhu Di had never met Daliba before.

Therefore, he was somewhat puzzled until Liu Jiang, who was next to him, told him that this was the Khan of the Oirat Mongols.

The fourth prince actually captured the Oirat Khan alive?
Although Mahmud is currently in charge of the Oirat Mongols, the Great Khan is, after all, of the golden bloodline and the king of the Mongols.

The capture of such a person would only benefit the Ming army.

Zhu Di suddenly became interested. He looked at Daliba and said with a smile, "I want to attack the Tatars. I wonder if the Oirat tribe can help me?"

Daliba quickly replied, "We are willing to be the vanguard, and the Oirat and the Ming Dynasty will be friends forever!"

He was so frightened that he was soaking wet and trembling, looking rather comical.

He lowered his head, not understanding what Zhu Di meant.

"Very well, since you're willing to be the vanguard, I'll serve you well!"

Zhu Di had asked Esen the same question back then.

The same answer was given first.

The Tatars were the Ming Dynasty's number one enemy back then.

In order to restrain the Tatars, he formed an alliance with the Oirats.

Little did they expect that raising a tiger would become a threat.

The Oirat Mongols later became the greatest enemy of the Ming Dynasty.

"Take this Oirat Khan away and keep him in a pigsty. Remember to strip him naked and don't give him anything to eat. If he wants to live, he has to eat pig excrement!"

Anyone could tell from Zhu Di's angry expression that he was venting his anger.

In the heavens, the Oirats treated the Ming Emperor Zhu Qizhen in the same way.

Now Zhu Di intends to use their own methods against them!

Let the Oirat Khan live in a pigsty, so that the Ming soldiers can admire it.

This can be considered as avenging Zhu Qizhen.

Although incompetent, they are still members of the Zhu family, and they must avenge any wrongs they have committed.

Zhu Gaoshuo captured the Mongol Khan alive and killed 3,000 Oirat cavalrymen. Zhu Di made no attempt to conceal this news and wanted to announce it to the world.

It should be noted that the three thousand cavalrymen of the Oirat Mongols could be considered their main force.

The Oirat cavalry was not numerous, but their fighting strength was in no way inferior to that of the Ming army.

Even Zhu Di had to admit that the Oirat Mongols under Mahmud's leadership were indeed becoming increasingly powerful.

Coupled with the prophecy from the heavens, the Oirat Mongols won their battle against the Ming Dynasty.

This has further dampened morale in the military.

Zhu Gaoshuo's victory completely restored the might of the Ming army.

Especially Zhu Gaoshuo's identity.

The emperor of all time, as everyone knows.

He led 800 men and wiped out 3,000 Oirat cavalrymen, and even captured the Mongol Khan alive.

With Prince Qi around, the Oirat Mongols are no threat.

Zhu Di understood this principle well, so he changed his mind about sending Zhu Gaoshuo back to the rear and instead left the choice to Zhu Gaoshuo.

It's not just a choice between staying or leaving, but a question of whether to fight or not.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoshuo with a serious expression.

"Fourth brother, the Mongol tribes have formed a united front. The war hasn't even started yet. If we want to retreat, we can. The decision of whether to fight or retreat is up to you!"

Everyone present was stunned by these words.

Even Zhu Gaoshuo was stunned, clearly not expecting that Zhu Di would entrust him with the decision-making power in this matter.

This is really a big problem.

Everyone looked at Zhu Gaoshuo with a scrutinizing gaze.

Such important matters were decided by Prince Qi.

Everyone immediately understood that the position of Crown Prince would be changed after returning to the capital.

(End of this chapter)