Volume 1, Chapter 40: The God of War of the Great Ming, Leading the Imperial Expedition Against the Oirat!

Zhu Di was visibly shaken.

"The God of War of the Great Ming?"

Good heavens, what an incredibly imposing title! Throughout the ages, no emperor had ever truly been bestowed with the name "God of War." Zhu Di considered his own military achievements to be quite remarkable, yet even his five expeditions into Mongolia had not earned him such a moniker. How formidable must this great-grandson of his be? Was he even more courageous and skilled in battle than legendary figures like Bai Qi, Han Xin, Huo Qubing, Wei Qing, Yue Fei, or Li Jing?

Fired up by these thoughts, Zhu Di grew increasingly eager to hear what Jiang Lin would reveal next.

"Jiang Lin, tell us quickly—what exactly did my great-grandson do?"

"Yes, Jiang Lin, tell us at once. The title 'God of War of the Great Ming' certainly sounds extraordinary." Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang chimed in, urging him on. The look of admiration he cast toward Zhu Di intensified. His fourth son was truly impressive! His descendants were getting stronger and stronger, one after another! He never could have imagined that a future monarch of the Great Ming would emerge who could rival the legendary Overlord, Xiang Yu.

*Hiss...*

Beside them, Zhu Biao could not help but gasp in shock. He was forced to admire the lineage of his fourth brother, which had produced three wise rulers in a row.

"Ahem!" Jiang Lin cleared his throat and began slowly. "In the eighth year of the Zhengtong era, at the age of seventeen, Zhu Qizhen took personal control of the government. Upon ascending to power, he favored the eunuch Wang Zhen."

"After gaining power, the first thing Wang Zhen did was tear down the iron plaque that Emperor Taizu had hung on the palace gate, which read: 'Eunuchs are forbidden from interfering in state affairs.'"

"Following that, he began major construction projects within the capital, not only building a private mansion for himself but also constructing the Zhihua Temple to pray for his own blessings."

"What?!" Old Zhu exclaimed, his eyes burning with fury. "That emasculated wretch! How dare he tear down the plaque I hung? He is absolutely audacious!"

"Zhu Di, this is your great-grandson—is he trying to defy me?!"

"I established ancestral precepts forbidding eunuchs from interfering in government, and yet this is the result?" Even the usually composed Zhu Biao could not contain himself, his eyes flashing with indignant anger.

The expression on Zhu Di’s face shifted. If his great-grandson was the "God of War of the Great Ming," why would he be guilty of doting on eunuchs? Historically, there had been no shortage of grim examples where eunuch power led to ruin—the Zhao Gao of the Qin Dynasty and the Ten Attendants of the Han Dynasty were classic warnings. He tried to rationalize it internally: perhaps the boy had been too young and naive. He had ascended the throne at nine and taken power at seventeen; having been accompanied by eunuchs during those eight formative years, it was perhaps natural to develop some affection for them.

"Father, Brother, please calm down," Zhu Di urged. "Let us continue listening to Jiang Lin. There must be a twist to this story! A man remembered as the 'God of War of the Great Ming' could not possibly be a dim-witted ruler who allowed eunuchs to run rampant. I suspect my great-grandson, having ascended as a child, must have utilized the power of the eunuchs to assert his authority and establish a balance against the bureaucratic faction."

After speaking, Zhu Di gave Jiang Lin a smug, triumphant smile, as if to say, "See? I guessed your game, didn't I?"

Jiang Lin gave a look that was half-smile, half-smirk. *Congratulations... you guessed absolutely nothing right.*

"Don't be so impatient, the main event of today has only just begun! Next, let me tell you about the Tumu Crisis! This battle was quite unique; it single-handedly cemented Zhu Qizhen's status and is precisely why he earned the title 'God of War of the Great Ming'!"

Hearing this, the anticipation in Zhu Di's heart was ignited. He was already restless, dying to hear of the glorious deeds of his warrior great-grandson.

"Stop stalling and tell us!"

Jiang Lin began, "In July of the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong era, the Oirat army marched south to raid the Ming borders. Their leader, Esen, personally led the Mongol cavalry to capture Datong, and the city sent out urgent distress signals."

"What are the Oirats? Wasn't the Mongol force the Tatars?" Zhu Di asked, confused.

Jiang Lin explained, "Historical records state that General Lan Yu led an army of 150,000 to crush Toghus Temur at Buir Lake in the twenty-first year of Hongwu, causing the remnants of the Northern Yuan to split into two. From then on, they became the two tribes known as the Oirats and the Tatars."

"Your five expeditions into Mongolia were all directed at the Tatar tribe, which led to their gradual decline, while the Oirats took the opportunity to rise."

"Hmph! And what if they have risen? Mere barbarians are not to be feared," Zhu Di scoffed, waving his hand with heroic flair. "Brother Jiang, continue. Let me hear how my great-grandson dealt with these Oirats who do not know their place."

"How dare these petty Oirats proactively offend the borders of our Great Ming? They are simply courting death!" Old Zhu added, his voice filled with righteous indignation.

Zhu Yourong’s eyes shone. "My grand-nephew is the dignified God of War of the Great Ming; he will surely crush them to pieces!"

Watching the three of them, all vibrant and spirited, Jiang Lin suppressed a laugh. *Just wait until you see the expressions on your faces in a moment. Let's see if you can still laugh then!*

"Zhu Qizhen, craving glory, was spurred on by the eunuch Wang Zhen to emulate his father and grandfather by leading the campaign personally, intending to crush the Oirat army in one fell swoop."

At these words, Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, and Zhu Yourong were instantly fired up.

Zhu Biao: "A fine display of imperial resolve! Though it may be somewhat reckless, it is enough to project the prestige of the Great Ming."

Old Zhu: "Exactly! We must let these scoundrels know that the Great Ming is not a power to be trifled with!"

Zhu Di: "Since my great-grandson is called the God of War, he must have some extraordinary maneuver up his sleeve. Perhaps he led his army directly into the heart of the Oirat territory and swept across the entire steppe."

Jiang Lin was barely holding back his laughter. Actually, Zhu Di was technically right—Zhu Qizhen did indeed enter the heart of the Oirat territory, though it was in the style of a "study abroad trip"... The thought of their reactions once they knew the truth made it nearly impossible for him to keep a straight face.

"Due to Wang Zhen’s abuse of power and tactical blunders, the army’s movements were sluggish, and supplies were insufficient."

"Zhu Qizhen engaged the forces of Esen at Tumu Fortress. The Ming army’s command was in chaos; after launching an attack and then retreating, they were caught in a pincer movement by the Mongol forces and suffered a crushing defeat."

"In short... the Ming army suffered catastrophic losses. Hundreds of thousands of troops were... were annihilated."

Jiang Lin tried to keep his voice steady, but by the end, it was trembling.