Following the events at the Tumu Fort, Emperor Yingzong takes an unscheduled sabbatical in Mongolia, the Mongol warlord Esen Taishi attempts to return something lost for a price, Beijing battens down the hatches in preparation for Genghis Khan come anew, and brotherly love reaches its breaking point.

Time Period Covered:

1449-1457 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Ming Dynasty:

Zhu Qizhen (Emperor Yingzong) [r. Zhengtong Era: 1435-1449, Tianshun Era: 1457-1464]

Zhu Qiyu (the Jingtai Emperor) [r. 1449-1457]

Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen [b. 1447]

Crown Prince Zhu Jianzhi [1448-1453]

Minister Xu Yuzhen

Xing An, Head Imperial Eunuch

Yu Qian, Minister of War [1398-1457]

Northern Yuan/Oirat Mongols:

Esen Taishi [1407-1455, (r. as Khaghan of N. Yuan, 1453-1455)]

Toghto Bukha (Taisun Khaghan) [r. 1433-1453]

Xi Ning, turncoat eunuch [d. 1450]