The trailer truck carried Crown Prince Sohyeon and Prince Bongrim along with their wives to Zao Ying's temporary camp.
The place was packed with troops.
Large groups of Mongolian cavalry had gathered there, coming from many different tribes across the steppe.
That alone was already enough to shock the four hostages.
But what frightened them even more was the sight of one hundred Great Iron Carts lined up together, forming a luxurious "Armored Cavalry Battalion."
Although the four of them didn't really understand warfare, it only took one glance at the formation of those one hundred iron vehicles to realize something terrifying:
If they charged forward together, they would become a torrent of steel, something that human strength simply could not stop.
Only now did they understand why the Qing army had been digging pits everywhere, piling up earth walls, and stacking stones.
Aside from such crude obstacles, they could not imagine any other method capable of stopping the advance of the Great Iron Carts.
Fortunately, the Ming Empire being strong was good news for them.
At this point in history, Joseon had not yet developed the strange habit of recognizing some distant foreign power as its "daddy."
Deep in their hearts, Joseon still regarded Ming as its father state.
So when Ming became powerful, they did not feel fear.
They felt awe—and happiness.
Having a powerful father protecting them—what could be better?
From now on, all they needed to do was fully rely on Father.
---
Returning to Joseon from their current location was not easy.
They had to take a large detour, avoiding the territories controlled by the Qing.
Thus Binsheng and his men mounted their warhorses again, while the Great Iron Carts carried the four hostages across the vast Mongolian grasslands, heading toward Beizhili of the Ming Empire.
---
Since the Minister of War was now a member of Gao Family Village, Binsheng's group encountered no difficulties entering the Ming interior.
They smoothly crossed from the Mongolian grasslands into Beizhili.
The Great Iron Carts rolled across the region and even passed outside the walls of the capital city.
Merchants traveling along the official road and nobles who had gone out of the city for leisure were all shocked out of their wits.
Before they could even figure out what those iron monsters were, the convoy had already bypassed the capital and continued southward.
---
Sun Chuanting had even arranged a coal resupply station near the capital.
The Great Iron Carts replenished their coal there before continuing their journey.
After traveling for quite some time, they finally reached Tianjin.
---
The four hostages disembarked from the Great Iron Cart at the Tianjin harbor.
Out on the sea, a magnificent fleet appeared.
Coastal Commander Cao Wenzhao personally led the naval forces to receive them.
The moment the enormous Wanli Sunshine appeared before their eyes, the four hostages once again realized the greatness of Father Ming.
Fully rely on Father!
From now on, they must fully rely on Father!
---
Meanwhile, in Joseon — Hanseong.
King Yi Jong of Joseon was anxiously pacing back and forth.
He could not sit still at all.
A few days earlier, a spy he had planted in Shengjing had sent back shocking news.
While inspecting a workshop, Crown Prince Sohyeon and Prince Bongrim had mysteriously disappeared—as if they had suddenly grown wings and flown away.
The moment Yi Jong heard the news, he knew immediately:
The Ming Empire had taken action.
Even he had not expected Ming to become so strong now.
In the past, Ming had often been beaten badly by the Qing.
But ever since the Battle of Pi Island, Ming had become frighteningly powerful.
Not only had they easily captured Andong, eliminated the Three Shun Kings, and subdued the Mongols, they were now threatening Qing's northern frontier.
And now they had gone even further.
They were actually stirring up chaos inside Shengjing itself, abducting people whenever they pleased.
So arrogant.
Completely disregarding Qing authority.
Not afraid of Qing retaliation at all.
---
However, Yi Jong couldn't help worrying about his two sons.
Even if they had escaped Shengjing successfully, the Qing would surely seal off every route into Joseon and send large numbers of cavalry to pursue them.
His sons and daughters-in-law had been pampered nobles since childhood.
How could they possibly endure such hardships?
The journey home would surely be full of thorns and dangers.
---
Soon he received further reports.
Qing cavalry had been deployed everywhere, almost completely sealing every road leading to Joseon.
Especially near the Willow Palisade, where large numbers of soldiers had been stationed to strictly monitor anyone attempting to cross the border illegally.
Under such circumstances, it seemed impossible for his children to return.
Day after day passed.
Yi Jong sent countless people to wait at the border to receive them.
But it was useless.
His children seemed to have vanished from the world.
Each passing day tightened the grip on his heart.
His face aged half a year with every day that passed.
In only a few dozen days, he looked like a seventy-year-old man.
---
"Report!"
Someone rushed in, shouting loudly.
"Good news! Good news! Crown Prince Sohyeon and Prince Bongrim have returned!"
Yi Jong was overjoyed.
"Is it true?"
The messenger replied,
"They just landed on the coast closest to Hanseong. Mr. Bai Yuan personally received them there. Now the two princes are on their way to Hanseong with him."
Yi Jong was ecstatic.
"Quick! Tell the cooks to prepare good food!"
"When my sons return home, they must have a proper meal first. They must have suffered terribly in Shengjing."
In an instant, Yi Jong's face seemed to regain the vigor of a man in his forties.
---
Soon, Crown Prince Sohyeon and Prince Bongrim arrived.
Along with them came Bai Yuan and Binsheng's squad.
Yi Jong rushed forward and grabbed his sons' hands, tears streaming down his face.
But Crown Prince Sohyeon was not particularly emotional.
He was still immersed in the excitement of all the strange things he had seen along the way.
Grabbing his father's hand, he excitedly said:
"Father King! After escaping Shengjing, we fled north into Mongolian territory. We saw so many amazing Great Iron Carts!"
He began talking nonstop.
Yi Jong initially didn't pay much attention.
But after listening for a while, he became increasingly shocked.
The Ming Empire had become this powerful?
They had forced the Qing army to dig pits and hide defensively?
He already knew Ming possessed gigantic warships that had severely punished the Qing at Pi Island.
But he had never imagined that Ming could also suppress the Qing on land.
If that was true, the entire situation had completely changed.
---
Yi Jong turned toward Bai Yuan, his expression sincere.
"Lord Bai, thank you to the Ming Empire for rescuing my two sons."
"I have only one request."
Bai Yuan smiled.
"I understand."
"That request is: if the Qing attack Joseon again, the Ming Empire must send troops to assist. Correct?"
Yi Jong nodded slowly.
"When the Qing invaded before, I begged Ming for aid. But for some reason Ming did not send troops."
"Helpless, I was forced to submit to the Qing. The humiliation of that moment… I truly cannot describe it."
He sighed deeply.
Bai Yuan smiled.
"Times have changed."
"I swear in the name of a gentleman: from now on, whether it is Qing, Japan, or Westerners—no matter who bullies Joseon—the Ming Empire will send troops to help."
"But Ming has only one small request."
Yi Jong immediately replied:
"I understand that request."
"I promise that Joseon will forever remain a vassal of the Ming Empire."