In the twenty-sixth year of the Hongwu era of the Great Ming, unlike in the official histories, a portal appeared on Ming Empire territory, linking the Great Ming to another world. Through the efforts of three emperors, Taizu, Emperor Hui, and Chengzu, the Ming established a foothold in that world. As in the official histories, Emperor Hui of Ming, Zhu Yunwen, was driven from the throne by his uncle Zhu Di. Unable to accept his defeat, he eventually entered the other world with his trusted ministers and the Imperial Guard, determined to carve out a realm of his own.
In Westeros, just after the War of the Five Kings came to an end, Chengzu sent his son Zhu Gaochi to reignite the conflict under the banner of avenging their ally, the North.
