232: Chapter 233 Marching into the Kipchak Khanate, Sweeping Away Their Territory

The prairie wind, carrying the scent of blood and dust, blew across the battlefield that had just calmed down.

The city walls of Ili Bali were already adorned with the Dragon flags of the Great Ming.

The setting sun, like blood, illuminated the soldiers cleaning up the battlefield.

Countless cattle and sheep were being herded together, forming groups and emitting low cries.

The captured weapons and armor were piled up like mountains.

The treasury of Chagatai had been opened, chests carried out, and gold, silver, and jewels shimmered with enticing light in the sunset.

"To support war with war, Your Majesty truly does not deceive me." Bowen stood beside a pile of supplies, stroking his beard with a hint of a smile on his face.

Beside him, Li Shanchang held a ledger, recording rapidly.

"Preliminary count: about one million head of cattle and sheep, various furs and cloths enough to support the Great Army for half a year, and gold and silver..." Li Shanchang paused, a flash of amazement in his eyes, "enough to re-arm an army of one hundred thousand."

Lu Chen stood on the city wall with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the west.

Behind him, Yin Susu, Fang Yanqing, Ji Xiaofu, and Yang Huangyi stood quietly.

Yin Susu walked to Lu Chen's side, following his gaze.

"Your Majesty, what are you looking at?"

"Looking at a larger pasture." Lu Chen withdrew his gaze.

He turned around and looked at the soldiers and auxiliary troops working like worker ants below.

The two hundred thousand vanguard troops were in high spirits.

The one hundred thousand White Tiger Army, the core force of the Great Ming's elite, well-equipped and powerful in combat, was the anchor in Lu Chen's hands.

The three hundred thousand auxiliary troops had a complex composition.

At this moment, these auxiliary troops were herding cattle and sheep, transporting supplies, and repairing city defenses, acting as a massive transport team and logistics support.

The war machine had already begun to operate at high speed around the captured supplies.

"Pass down the order." Lu Chen's voice was not loud, but it clearly spread across the city wall.

"Three days later, after the army has rested, continue the march west!"

"Target: The Golden Horde!"

The main camp tent was set up again, but the location had been moved to the palace hall of Ili Bali.

A huge sand table was placed in the center, showing an even vaster territory.

The terrain of the Western Regions was in full view, and further west were rolling grasslands and rivers.

"The Golden Horde, also known as the Golden Horde." Lu Chen's finger pointed to a large area on the sand table, "Built by Batu, at its peak, its territory stretched from the Irtysh River in the east to the Danube River in the west, reaching the Caucasus in the south and encompassing the Rus principalities in the north."

His tone carried a hint of emotion: "Dominating Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with formidable prestige."

The generals in the tent, including Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong, Wang Baobao, and other young generals, listened intently.

They had just conquered Chagatai and were in high spirits, but hearing of this vast territory, they could not help but look solemn.

"However," Lu Chen changed the subject, his fingertip tracing several points on the sand table, "in recent decades, internal strife has been frequent, powerful ministers have risen one after another, and the changing of the Khan's throne has been like child's play."

"The once-powerful Khanate has long since lost its former courage. The Eastern Roman Empire often provokes it, and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the northwest and the Grand Duchy of Moscow in the northeast are constantly nibbling away at its territory."

"Especially the Grand Duchy of Moscow," Lu Chen emphasized, "they nominally submit, but in reality, they act in defiance, accumulating strength and repeatedly challenging it. In recent years, they even defeated the Golden Horde's army at Kulikovo."

He looked at the people below: "My ministers, the current Golden Horde is strong on the outside but weak on the inside, divided and fragmented; it is a heaven-sent opportunity for us to incorporate it into the Great Ming's territory in one fell swoop!"

Then Lu Chen added: "According to intelligence, the current Great Khan, Tokhtamysh, although he has the heart to consolidate the Khanate, his Foundation is unstable, and there are many opposing forces within. Moreover, his main force is mostly engaged with Moscow and Lithuania on the western front, leaving the eastern defense relatively empty."

Lu Chen stood up and walked to the sand table.

Marquis of Xiyu, Arat-Nashili.

Marquis of Dongliao, Azashili.

"Order: Marquis of Xiyu, Arat-Nashili, lead one hundred thousand troops as the left flank, march west along the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and clear out the remaining forces in the Ili River Valley."

"Marquis of Dongliao, Azashili, lead one hundred thousand troops as the right flank, march out from Lake Balkhash, attack northward, with the target directly pointing at its heartland."

"Xie Xun will lead one hundred thousand White Tiger Army in the center, and I will personally oversee it."

"The remaining auxiliary troops will follow, responsible for baggage and grain, as well as..." Lu Chen's mouth curled up slightly, "'collecting' supplies along the way."

Everyone understood and smiled.

The so-called "collecting" naturally meant solving it on the spot.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Lu Chen waved his hand: "That's enough, everyone go down and prepare. This time, I want to plant the Great Ming's Dragon flag on the banks of the Volga River!"

"As you command!"

Three days later.

The horns sounded long and loud.

The army was like a broken dam, vast and mighty.

Banners covered the sky and sun, and the blades and spears flashed with cold light.

The two hundred thousand vanguard troops and the one hundred thousand White Tiger Army walked at the very front, their formation strict and filled with Killing Intent.

Following closely behind were three hundred thousand auxiliary troops, driving countless cattle and sheep, pushing carts full of supplies, stretching for dozens of miles.

Dust billowed, rushing straight into the clouds.

The earth trembled under countless footsteps and hooves.

At the very front of the team, Wang Baobao, in silver armor, holding the Dragon-Gall Bright Silver Spear, was in high spirits.

The Golden Horde, eastern border.

Inside a crude guard post.

Several Golden Horde soldiers were huddled around a campfire, lazily roasting meat.

"Have you heard? The Ming Army coming from the east has destroyed the Chagatai Khanate." A bearded soldier said.

"Pah, that bunch of trash from Chagatai should have been destroyed long ago." Another soldier said disdainfully, "No matter how powerful the Ming Army is, can they reach us?"

"Exactly, our Great Khan is a descendant of the Golden Family. If the Ming Army dares to come, we'll make sure they don't return!"

Before the words fell.

"Rumble—"

The earth suddenly shook violently.

The faces of the soldiers in the guard post changed.

"What's going on? Is it an earthquake?"

"No! It's the sound of hooves!" The bearded soldier was experienced, stood up abruptly, and rushed out of the guard post.

He looked toward the east.

On the horizon, a black line was rapidly expanding.

Dust was rolling, and the Killing Intent was soaring!

Countless cavalry, like a black tide, were sweeping toward their direction!

At the very front was a large flag fluttering in the wind, with a huge "Ming" character on it!

And that silver spear flashing with cold light in the sun!

"Enemy attack—! The Ming Army! The Ming Army has killed their way here!"

The bearded soldier let out a terrified scream, his voice changing pitch.

The guard post was instantly in chaos.

Some wanted to mount their horses and escape, others hurriedly went to grab their weapons.

But it was too late.

Wang Baobao took the lead, the Dragon-Gall Bright Silver Spear like a dragon emerging from the sea, directly smashing the wooden gate of the guard post to pieces!

"Puchi!"

The spear tip pierced through the chest of a soldier trying to resist, lifting him high!

"Kill!"

Wang Baobao shouted, threw the corpse away, and spurred his horse into the guard post!

The cavalry behind him followed closely, and the sounds of hacking, killing, and screaming rang out instantly.

After only a moment, the dozens of Golden Horde soldiers in the guard post were slaughtered.

Wang Baobao reined in his horse, the spear tip dripping blood.

He looked to the west, his eyes burning with raging flames of war.

This was just the beginning!

He wanted to use the spear in his hand to sweep away the entire Golden Horde for Your Majesty!

Main army.

The huge commander's carriage moved slowly forward.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his Divine Sense already spread out.

Wang Baobao's charge and the destruction of the Golden Horde guard post were as clear as seeing patterns on his palm.

Lu Chen's fingers moved slightly, as if sensing something.

"Order Wang Baobao to gather the troops and advance steadily; one hundred miles ahead, there is an enemy tribal assembly point, about five thousand tents."

"Order Chang Yuchun to speed up the right flank and outflank the enemy's assembly point from the side and rear."

"Order Xu Da to keep a close eye on the southern line with the left flank to prevent any abnormal movements from the Timurid Empire."

The orders were quickly communicated.

Yin Susu looked at Lu Chen's calm profile and couldn't help but say: "Your Majesty, the way you fight this war seems like you are playing chess."

Lu Chen opened his eyes and smiled.

"The chessboard is just a bit larger."

He stood up, walked to the window of the commander's carriage, and lifted the curtain.

Outside was the boundless grassland and the endless marching army.

"The Golden Horde, an existence that once made all of Europa tremble." Lu Chen looked into the distance, his tone calm, "Now, it's time for it to have a new master."

He lowered the curtain and sat back down.

"Have Liu Ji and the others draft a notice to pacify the people, telling those herdsmen that those who follow Heaven will prosper, and those who defy Heaven will perish."

Conquest is not just slaughter.

It is the reconstruction of order.

With the order of the Great Ming.