In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed the Ming dynasty after crushing his rival warlords and driving the Yuan from their capital in what is now Beijing. Later, as part of reestablishing the tributary system, they sent a letter to Timur, addressing him as subject. In retaliation, Timur massacred the envoy, and in 1405, launched a winter campaign to invade the Ming empire, but died along the way. If Timur hadn't fallen ill, and made it to the Jiayu pass, would he have been able to reconquer China?