Your Highness, did he conquer a country alone?

As Zhu Di led the Great Ming's main army, escorting Arutai's remnants, back to the Capital City, detailed battle reports from Mobei flew into every corner of the Capital City.

The entire Great Ming was completely abuzz!

"Did you hear? The Emperor, in Mobei, utterly crushed the combined Tatar and Oirat forces!"

"More than just crushed! Annihilated! Over a hundred thousand heads taken, and countless more captured!"

"Nonsense! My cousin's wife's uncle's son's classmate told me the Emperor was almost surrounded. It was Prince Zheng, Your Highness, arriving like a divine weapon, who turned defeat into victory!"

"Prince Zheng, Your Highness? The same Prince Zheng who only knows how to fight crickets?"

"Fight crickets? Prince Zheng, Your Highness, is the embodiment of 'true masters don't show off'! He personally led three thousand iron cavalry and pierced through Arutai's thirty-thousand-strong camp with a single charge! Later, at Gourd Pass, he counter-attacked and killed Yesen's fifty-thousand-strong ambush!"

"My heavens! Three thousand against fifty thousand? And they counter-attacked and killed them? Is that something a human can do?"

"That's not all! Legend has it that after defeating Yesen, Prince Zheng, Your Highness, didn't return to court. Instead, he directly led his troops and scoured the entire Mobei grasslands! Now, Mobei belongs to the Zhu family!"

Various versions of rumors spread wildly in the Capital City's teahouses, taverns, and alleyways.

Although the versions differed, the core message was surprisingly consistent—Prince Zheng, Your Highness, Zhu Zhanjun, was awesome!

For a time, Zhu Zhanjun, who was once seen by the citizens of the Capital City as a "frivolous, uneducated" prodigal prince, had his image instantly reversed. He became a god of war descended to earth, a guardian of Great Ming.

Countless storytellers wove his tales into their performances, like "Prince Zheng Saves the Lord Single-Handedly," "Three Thousand Iron Cavalry Break the Enemy Camp," and "Gourd Pass: A Wise Capture of Yesen." They spun elaborate narratives that left the common folk mesmerized, their blood boiling.

Amidst this nationwide fervor, Zhu Di's imperial carriage finally arrived at the Capital City.

Regent Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, leading all the civil and military officials present in the Capital City, along with the Imperial Grandson Zhu Zhanji, personally rode out thirty li to welcome their returning father and Emperor with the highest possible ceremony.

"Your son (Your subjects) respectfully welcomes Father Emperor (His Majesty) back in triumph! May my Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

The sound, like a surging tide, echoed through the heavens.

Zhu Di, seated on his grand imperial carriage, looked at his son, grandson, and the assembled officials kneeling before him. He looked at the Capital City's common folk who had spontaneously gathered on both sides of the road to welcome him, and a long-lost smile appeared on his face.

This was his most thorough and most triumphant victory in his five personal campaigns into Mobei!

"All officials, rise!"

Zhu Di raised his hand, his voice booming.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The officials rose, but their gazes, as if by unspoken agreement, swept past the imperial carriage, focusing on the black-clad army slowly entering the city behind the main forces.

That was the legendary Great Snow Dragon Riders!

Despite having just fought through fierce battles, they maintained their formation impeccably. Three thousand men, arranged in a massive square formation, marched with unified steps.

Their black armor gleamed with a cold luster under the sun, still bearing traces of dried, dark red bloodstains.

An aura of pure slaughter and steely resolve emanated from them, causing the pampered civil officials to shiver and even avoid direct eye contact.

What a terrifying army!

Was this the invincible cavalry that broke fifty thousand with three thousand?

Zhu Zhanji also gazed at the army with shock.

He had studied military texts since childhood and had accompanied his father, the Emperor, to review the elites of the Capital City's three main camps.

However, whether it was the firearms of the Shenji Camp or the cavalry of the Five Armies Camp, they seemed so... immature compared to the army before him.

He finally understood why his second brother had been able to achieve such an unprecedented feat.

With an army like this, let alone sweeping through Mobei, even conquering the world would likely not be difficult.

Zhu Di looked with satisfaction at the shocked expressions of the officials and the common folk. This was precisely the effect he desired.

He wanted everyone to know that Great Ming possessed an invincible force capable of deterring any aggressor!

He cleared his throat, preparing to announce the foremost merit of this battle and bestow rewards upon his grandson, who had brought him such immense surprise.

However, as his gaze swept through the crowd, he suddenly froze.

Where was he?

Where had that boy Zhanjun gone?

He had explicitly ordered Zhu Zhanjun to lead the Great Snow Dragon Riders as the vanguard of the triumphant return, to receive the adoration and cheers of the people.

But now, the Great Snow Dragon Riders had arrived, yet their commander, Zhu Zhanjun, was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Zhanjun?"

Zhu Di's brow furrowed slightly.

The officials exchanged glances, none able to answer.

Just then, from within the crowd, someone, it was unclear who, shouted first.

"Long live Prince Zheng, Your Highness!"

This single cry ignited a powder keg.

Immediately after, thousands upon thousands of common folk joined in, shouting hysterically.

"Long live Prince Zheng, Your Highness! Long live Great Ming!"

"Those who offend Great Ming will be punished, no matter how far away!"

The cheers, like a tidal wave, surged higher and higher, piercing the heavens.

Zhu Di could clearly feel something called "public support" and "national destiny" coalescing with incredible speed.

And the center of it all was directed at his grandson, who was currently nowhere to be found.