The North Trembles Thrice! Prince Zheng Arrives!

Zhu Zhanjun's order spread rapidly across the grasslands.

The three thousand Great Snow Dragon Riders, an army that the Oirats viewed with dread, did not return to their base as expected. Instead, they became a black whirlwind, sweeping across the eastern grasslands of Mobei.

Their operational pattern was simple and effective.

Zhu Zhanjun split the three thousand Great Snow Dragon Riders into two groups.

One thousand men, led by himself, served as the main assault force.

Their mission was to destroy the armed forces of any tribe that dared to resist with the utmost speed.

The remaining two thousand men acted as the "receiving team," following behind the main force to clear the battlefield and accept prisoners and supplies.

The first to be visited was a medium-sized tribe closest to the Kherlen River, with nearly five thousand fighting men.

When the tribal chief received Zhu Zhanjun's overbearing and peerless "letter of surrender," he became furious. He tore the letter to shreds on the spot and beheaded the Oirat defector who delivered it.

He summoned all the warriors of the tribe, shouting that he would make these ignorant Southerners taste the prowess of the eagles of the grassland.

However, his bold words did not last half a day.

That afternoon, the one thousand Great Snow Dragon Riders led by Zhu Zhanjun appeared outside his tribe.

There was no negotiation, no confrontation.

What greeted them was a sky-darkening volley of Armor-piercing Heavy Arrows.

In just one round of volleys, the tribe's proud five thousand warriors were shot down and thrown into disarray at the entrance of the camp, with casualties exceeding thirty percent.

What followed was the nightmarish charge of the Mo Dao.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the battle was over.

The tribal chief and his most elite guards were all beheaded.

The remaining soldiers threw down their weapons, knelt on the ground, and trembled.

Zhu Zhanjun, riding his Wuzhui Horse, slowly entered the tribe, which was filled with the smell of blood.

The old men, women, and children in the tribe looked at the man in terror, their eyes filled with fear and despair.

"Your Highness, how should these people be dealt with?"

A Commander of a Hundred stepped forward to ask for instructions, making a throat-slitting gesture.

On the grasslands, exterminating the enemy completely was the usual practice for dealing with defeated foes.

"Dealt with?"

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head.

"Why deal with them? They are all valuable labor resources."

He looked at the terrified crowd and said loudly.

"From today onwards, your tribe is disbanded."

"All men, between the ages of fifteen and fifty, will be incorporated into the 'Northern Construction Corps' to build roads, mine, and construct cities."

"Don't worry, I'm not a slave owner. I'll provide food and lodging, and if you work well, you'll even get paid."

"As for the remaining elderly, women, and children, they will be settled here and be responsible for herding and logistics."

"You will live the same way you did before, but your Khan will be me from today onwards."

Zhu Zhanjun's words, translated, reached the ears of every tribal member.

Everyone was stunned.

They had expected a brutal massacre, but instead, they received this outcome.

Although they had lost their freedom, at least their lives were saved.

Faced with absolute military deterrence and a glimmer of hope, no one dared to resist.

Soon, the subsequent two thousand "receiving team" arrived.

They skillfully counted the population, registered them, confiscated cattle, sheep, and horses, and tied all the young and strong men together with ropes, escorting them to the new camp designated by Zhu Zhanjun.

And this was just the beginning.

Over the next month, Zhu Zhanjun and his three thousand Great Snow Dragon Riders spread rapidly.

Tribe after tribe fell before them.

Those who dared to resist had their tribal chiefs and all armed personnel summarily executed.

Those who chose to surrender handed over half of their property and all their young and strong men.

Those who obey will prosper, and those who oppose will perish.

This most primitive law of the jungle was taken to its extreme by Zhu Zhanjun.

A month later, while Zhu Di's main army was still slowly returning to their base, Zhu Zhanjun had already completely controlled the vast territory stretching from the Greater Khingan Range in the east to the Kherlen River in the west, the Yin Mountains in the south, and the Outer Khingan Range in the north.

This grassland, larger than several provinces combined, now bore the surname Zhu.

Dozens of tribes, with a population of over three hundred thousand, were all under his control.

Among them, over 100,000 strong young captives were organized into the so-called "Northern Construction Corps," becoming the cheapest and largest labor force at his disposal.

The remaining old, weak, women, and children became "employees" on his ranches.

Millions of cattle and sheep, and hundreds of thousands of warhorses, continuously provided him with logistical support.

Zhu Zhanjun stood atop a newly built fortress named "Zhenbei City," overlooking the land he had conquered below, his heart filled with pride.

This place would become his future "land of dragon prosperity."

This place would provide him with an endless supply of soldiers and warhorses.

His dream of "100,000 Great Snow Dragon Riders" would officially set sail from here.

Meanwhile, in the distant West.

A ragged group of over a dozen people, after enduring countless hardships, finally arrived at the border stronghold of the Timurid Empire—Samarkand.