NovelsAlex Chapter 1129: Counterattack on the West
Chapter 1129: Counterattack on the West
Chapter 1129: Counterattack on the West
After nightfall, it was too dark to continue the pursuit and it was difficult to control the army. Besides, the Crossmen were too numerous and powerful to be killed in one battle.
To be on the safe side, Zhu Di issued an order to withdraw the troops and occupied the Crusaders' camp to make a fire and rest.
Due to casualties and the escape of auxiliary troops and mercenaries, the Crusaders lost about 30% of their soldiers. Because they had lost their main camp, they could only endure a miserable night in the cold wind. At dawn the next day, seeing the Ming army coming out of the camp and preparing to attack, Count John and Engheran VII hurriedly sent an envoy to negotiate with Zhu Di.
The envoy apologized to Zhu Di and stated that he had no intention of going to Kangju City in the Ming Dynasty. He just wanted to purify the "dirty pagans" in the city for the purpose of preaching.
Since His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan of the Ming Dynasty did not want them to interfere in the affairs of the country, they were willing to withdraw from Central Asia and pay a large amount of ransom and war reparations in exchange for Zhu Di allowing them to withdraw safely from Central Asia.
At that time, Zhu Di was convening a meeting of the generals. After listening to the interpretation, Zhu Di was so angry that he laughed. He turned to the Crusader envoy and said, "Do you think that I can be fooled easily?"
He placed one hand on his sword, stood up, looked directly at the messenger, and said, "The three great sultanates are subordinate to my Ming Dynasty."
"Tianyi Sect is a sect of our Chinese people."
"You have ignored the majesty of the Ming Dynasty, invaded the territories of the three great sultanates, accused the Chinese sect of being a heresy, and even dared to try to lay hands on the Kangju City of the Ming Dynasty."
"And now you are telling me that you are willing to withdraw your troops?"
"Haha, it's late."
The envoy's expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "Your Excellency the wise Prince of Yan of the Ming Dynasty, please remain calm and wise."
"We are willing to admit our defeat and offer compensation and ransom. Continuing the war will not benefit either of us."
"Although we were defeated once, we can still mobilize countless troops. If you accept our request now, you can also receive compensation. If you insist on continuing, the final result will definitely be more loss than gain!"
Zhu Di laughed loudly, and then said: "The gain is not worth the loss? I don't think so."
"I don't want your compensation. If you want compensation, my Ming soldiers will go to your land and take it for themselves!"
After saying that, he ordered his men to kick this guy out.
There was silence in the military tent, and everyone had a look of surprise on their faces. A chief clerk in the army stood up and said to Zhu Di, "Your Highness, Prince of Yan, although the envoy's words were rude, what he said was fair to the point."
"Since the siege of the three sultanates has been lifted, why not take advantage of the situation? Collecting compensation can also make up for our military expenses."
Zhu Di glanced at him, waved his hand, and sat on the main seat. "Even you think that what I said just now was just a threat."
"Does Your Highness really want to attack the Western Yi people?" The chief clerk's face changed.
"A man of honor has spoken, how can he still lie?" Zhu Di said. "They are allowed to bully us, but we are not allowed to attack them?"
"These Western barbarians fear power but not virtue. If the Ming Dynasty wants to manage foreign lands, the Western barbarians will sooner or later become obstacles."
"Instead of that, why don't we just go to their doorsteps and knock out a few of their front teeth to teach them what pain is."
"In the future, these Western barbarians will know to avoid China!"
"Are you willing to follow me on my expedition to the west?"
Zhu Di said proudly.
"Yes!" The first to answer were the Emir and other generals who had converted to Tianyi Sect. Emir was originally a Muslim, and was an old enemy of the Catholic Church in Europe, with whom he had always had a deep hatred.
In order to gain a foothold in Kangju City, many of them have now converted to Tianyi Sect, but that is also because Tianyi Sect is inclusive and can recognize their belief in the True Ancestor. Some of them even came to Kangju City to seek refuge because of the indiscriminate burning, killing and looting by the Crusaders. Although they have changed their beliefs, their hatred for European Catholics has not dissipated.
And now the Prince of Yan in the Ming Dynasty has the ambition to lead his troops eastwards, which means that as long as they follow the Ming army, they can take revenge on those Westerners... How can they not be excited?
Afterwards, the Ming army generals who were a beat slower also reacted and cheered loudly. The Ming Dynasty was at its peak, and these generals were very arrogant now, and they didn't take the other countries seriously at all.
He was eager to start wars on all fronts in order to gain military merit and bestow titles on his wife and children.
Military spirit is available!
Zhu Di immediately issued an order to summon the three sultanates to prepare food and grass for the western expedition. He also conscripted 60,000 soldiers from the three sultanates, with each country contributing 20,000.
In the previous battle, Kangju City attracted the vast majority of the Crusaders for the three sultanates, but the three sultans did not make any response, and did not even send some symbolic reinforcements... Zhu Di was very angry.
When Zhu Di got angry, the three sultans trembled in fear.
If they can’t even provide food and grass this time... the Ming Dynasty wouldn’t mind destroying these three kingdoms first!
At the same time, Zhu Di sent a message to Sindhu and ordered Mahamu, who was stationed in Sindhu, to dispatch cavalry to the north to maintain the situation in Central Asia as a support.
At the same time, they arranged scouts and sent out scouts to kill the Crusaders and resolutely prevent them from withdrawing to Europe calmly.
If these troops were allowed to return to Europe at ease, it would undoubtedly pose a great obstacle to the Ming Dynasty's westward expedition.
Zhu Di wanted to keep them all here.
At the same time, he ordered Yao Guangxiao to follow the army, and Zhang Dingbian to continue to guard Kangju City. He took with him the Tianyi missionaries who had been trained in Kangju City over the years, and while conquering westwards, he spread the Tianyi religion that was beneficial to China.
Don't Westerners like to believe in religion? Instead of believing in that useless Western God, it would be better for them to believe in the Chinese God of Heaven.
After all, they are all God, and under the might of his military power, I believe many Westerners will willingly convert.
Zhu Di had been thinking about the Western Expedition for a long time, and he issued orders one by one in an orderly manner. The generals followed the orders and could not hide their excitement.
Yao Guangxiao was beside him, trying his best to assist Zhu Di in his many arrangements. After Zhu Di had issued all his orders, Yao Guangxiao came to Zhu Di and said, "Your Highness, the Western barbarians have invaded the vassal states of the Ming Dynasty, and we, the Ming Dynasty, will fight back."
"But this battle is no joke. If the army goes deep into the western continent, it will be full of dangers."
"I just heard from Your Highness that the Fifth Prince will also lead troops to support us... Is it safer to wait for the Fifth Prince to arrive before we march west?"
"It doesn't matter." Zhu Di waved his hand. "We fight our own battles."
"If the fifth brother showed up on the battlefield... we wouldn't be able to gain any military merit at all."
"...Hmm?" Yao Guangxiao was stunned.
Zhu Di did not answer, but just smiled mysteriously, then turned around and continued to look at the battle formation map on the table.
(End of this chapter)