Just as Annam was preparing to launch its main attack on the Ming Dynasty, Goryeo and Dongdao in the north also completed their preparations, and then their 400,000 troops directly clashed with Fu Youde's 200,000 troops.
On an open field beside the Yalu River, the two armies faced off before the battle.
On the Goryeo side, the Goryeo king personally led his troops and sat in the carriage in front of Jungjeon.
He was dressed in a dragon robe, his face beaming with smugness. It was as if he had already conquered the Ming Dynasty and was now the emperor.
Looking at the princess of Dongdao standing on the carriage next to her, she was full of vigor and confidence. Anyone who didn't know better would think that she had become an empress.
Of course, this is how she has always seen herself. She has always believed that she is qualified to rule the world like Wu Zetian of China and become a supreme empress.
However, between the two men was a carriage, and standing on this carriage was also a young man dressed in a very luxurious python robe.
It was Zhu Yunwen!
Standing here now as a member of the royal family, his purpose is naturally to continue to leverage the influence of his status.
The three men stood there, each more smug than the last.
To the uninformed, it would seem as if the war had already been won before it even truly began.
Fu Youde, who was leading an army of 200,000, looked at him with disdain.
He was mounted on horseback, clad in armor, holding a long sword in his hand, and then spoke calmly:
"A mere island nation like the Eastern Kingdom and the Kingdom of Goryeo, which has always groveled at the feet of my great Ming Dynasty, dare to unite in an attempt to shake the position of the Ming Dynasty? It is utterly laughable and utterly foolish."
Upon hearing Fu Youde's words, the princess of Dongdao Island rebuked him sternly:
"How dare you look down on my Eastern Island Kingdom? You are utterly despicable! This battle will show you just how powerful my Eastern Island Kingdom is. Afterwards, you will all kneel down and grovel before my Eastern Island Kingdom."
"Hahahahaha..."
Fu Youde burst into laughter, as if he had heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable. Then, his expression suddenly turned cold as he looked at the princess from Dongdao Island and said:
"Have you forgotten how you used to act so humble in front of His Highness the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty?"
Do you still remember how your Eastern Island Kingdom was humiliated by my Crown Prince when you came to my Great Ming Dynasty?
How dare you have the audacity to utter such ridiculous words today? Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?
When the past was brought up, the princess of Dongdao was naturally furious, after all, Zhu Yunwen had indeed embarrassed her many times.
She also suffered a lot of losses in front of Zhu Yunwen. Even her carefully planned Japanese pirate incident was instantly destroyed by Zhu Yunwen's light cannons, making her look foolish in front of foreign countries.
Later, he became even more arrogant and invited Zhu Yunwen to the Eastern Island Kingdom, hoping to obtain many of the core technologies of the Ming Dynasty from him. He even wanted to detain Zhu Yunwen, a talented individual, in the Eastern Island Kingdom.
Unfortunately, the plot was exposed, and instead of succeeding, it became even more embarrassing.
Although at the time, the Ming Dynasty did not take any direct action against the Eastern Island Kingdom because of this matter.
However, it also makes it clear that in the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, Dongdao Island seems to be of little use to them.
Princess Dongdao naturally found it difficult to tolerate such humiliating events.
Hearing this now felt like a slap in the face, so she said:
"Times have changed. Before, our Eastern Island Kingdom kept a low profile simply because we didn't want to cause trouble with your Great Ming. Now is the time to avenge our past humiliations and teach your Great Ming a lesson."
"You, with your 200,000 troops standing here before our alliance's 400,000-strong army, still dare to bark and howl like this? That's truly laughable."
Fu Youde gave a disdainful snort and said to the Princess of Dongdao:
"You sharp-tongued little girl, no matter what you say, you can't deny the shameful losses you suffered under the command of the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty. This general disdains to engage in verbal battles with a woman like you."
After saying that, Fu Youde looked at the King of Goryeo, a hint of mockery on his face, and said:
"King of Goryeo, as the ruler of a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, how dare you betray the Ming Dynasty? Do you not know the mighty power of the Ming Dynasty? In a moment of anger, it can shatter your mere Goryeo Kingdom to pieces?"
To be honest, the King of Goryeo was actually a little scared; he inexplicably felt a bit uneasy.
But he quickly adjusted his mindset, coughed, and tried his best to appear very dignified and domineering, saying:
"Stop talking nonsense. Goryeo may not have been as powerful as the Ming Dynasty in the past, and it had to submit to the Ming Dynasty and pay tribute every year."
But things are different now. I, Li Chenggui, have established a new dynasty. How can it be compared to the former Goryeo Kingdom?
In a way, I was the founding emperor of a new dynasty, and in terms of vision, I was no less than Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In terms of strength and ability, I was certainly no less than him.
Now, I will undertake an even greater undertaking: to conquer the lands of the Ming Dynasty and wipe away the generations-long shame of my Gao Empire.
Upon hearing this, Fu Youde, who had already given up laughing, couldn't help but burst into laughter again, even clutching his stomach with laughter.
To be honest, Fu Youde didn't think much of the other boasts, but Li Chenggui was different. He actually compared himself to Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Are they even on the same level?
Even if Li Chenggui was a monarch who changed dynasties, what was he compared to the monarch of a small place like Goryeo?
How could they possibly compare themselves to Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty?
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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