Chapter 560: Victory Reports One After Another

For a moment, shouts of praise resounded through the sky.

Listening to these shouts, Zhu Youxiao's mood also grew excited.

He had originally thought he could keep his composure, since he had been prepared in his heart all along—defeating Hong Taiji wasn't exactly an unexpected turn of events.

Under such circumstances, there shouldn't be any excitement. Happiness was certain, but he shouldn't truly get worked up.

But in fact, even with ample preparation, when the moment truly arrived, he couldn't hold it back. The smile on Zhu Youxiao's face instantly blossomed, and he said loudly, "Good, very good! Everyone shall be rewarded!"

This was the proper course of things.

When there was good news at court, it was only right to give those below some rewards.

His gaze fell upon Sun Chengzong and the others, and Zhu Youxiao said directly with a smile, "No need for formalities, rise."

Everyone below stood up, their expressions also somewhat stirred, following Zhu Youxiao as he walked into the building.

Naturally, the others didn't follow inside; the main one who came in was Sun Chengzong.

Although some of the military officers Zhu Youxiao had brought along had also come, most of them held posts. Apart from those who had gone to the battlefield, the rest each had their own duties to attend to.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Sun Chengzong and said with a gentle smile, "I didn't expect it to go so smoothly."

Sun Chengzong's face was also full of smiles, and he nodded upon hearing Zhu Youxiao's words.

Over these past few years, Sun Chengzong had witnessed the Great Ming's development. The Imperial Guard Corps was indeed powerful, but he hadn't expected it to be this powerful.

Sun Chengzong said, "It did go more smoothly than expected. Your Majesty, the report of victory is here."

As he spoke, Sun Chengzong handed the victory report in his hand to Wei Chao.

Wei Chao took the report, held it with both hands as he walked before Zhu Youxiao, and respectfully presented it to him.

Taking the report, Zhu Youxiao quickly flipped through it.

This was merely a routine memorial announcing victory; it didn't go into too much detail, and there was no list of meritorious personnel—it only briefly described the course of the battle.

After reading it once, Zhu Youxiao said excitedly and loudly, "Excellent, wonderful!"

It truly was very good.

He had countless times imagined the might of the Great Ming army on the battlefield, but had never had the chance to see it with his own eyes. Although he hadn't witnessed the scene of battle this time, relying on the memorial before him, he could more or less imagine it.

The key point was that having won with such an army this time, it would probably be hard to lose in the future.

Setting the victory report aside, Zhu Youxiao said directly to Sun Chengzong, "Immediately send word back to the capital. I believe the people there have been waiting anxiously—don't make them wait any longer."

Sun Chengzong also understood what Zhu Youxiao meant by this—on one hand, it was to report the good news to the capital, and on the other, it was to reassure the people's hearts.

After all, the Emperor had left the capital this time and come to Liaodong, and there was fighting going on here. Without news of victory, the people's morale would inevitably be unsettled.

Once this victory report was sent back, it wouldn't just steady people's hearts—it would directly shake them to the core.

The Great Ming had not suffered a single defeat in its external campaigns these past few years. Since the Emperor had ascended the throne, national strength had been continuously growing. Now that Hong Taiji had been destroyed this time, no one would dare challenge the Great Ming again, and Liaodong could be considered thoroughly pacified.

As for the remaining Khorchin and other Mongol tribes, no one dared to provoke the Great Ming at this point either.

What remained was the northwest.

Once matters there were resolved, the Great Ming's northern border would be completely secure. Even if it wasn't resolved now, no one at court would dare recklessly rebel anymore.

An Emperor with such authority, plus an army that awed the world—His Majesty's divine prestige was bound to rise another step.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Your servant will return immediately." Sun Chengzong hastily agreed.

Since he knew the severity and importance of the matter, he couldn't delay any longer, so Sun Chengzong decisively chose to follow Zhu Youxiao's instructions.

Just as the sovereign and his minister were conversing, commotion broke out outside once again.

This left Zhu Youxiao somewhat bewildered.

Soon, Wei Chao came running in again, his face full of joy. With a thud he knelt on the ground and said loudly, "Your Majesty, a victory report!"

Neither Zhu Youxiao nor Sun Chengzong had expected another victory report to arrive.

The one in hand hadn't even warmed up yet, and another one had been delivered?

It seemed the fighting at the front was going very smoothly indeed.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Chao and asked, "This one should be from Sun Chuanting, right?"

Since Lu Xiangsheng had won over there, no accident should have occurred on Sun Chuanting's side either.

Moreover, after reading Lu Xiangsheng's memorial, Zhu Youxiao had roughly understood what had happened over there.

Hong Taiji had led his men to try to crush Lu Xiangsheng first, but had been destroyed by Lu Xiangsheng instead. Then the defenses at Fushun wouldn't be so formidable, and facing Sun Chuanting, they naturally had no chance of victory.

Sun Chuanting was originally a born commander, and now with such an army in hand, he was naturally a first-rate fighter. A small city like Fushun couldn't possibly stop him.

After hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Wei Chao hastily said, "Your Majesty's wisdom knows no bounds—indeed, it's Lord Sun's victory report! They've already taken Fushun and are now leading their men to attack Hetu Ala."

"These two seem to be racing to claim credit," Sun Chengzong said with a smile from the side.

Though competing for credit wasn't exactly a good topic—after all, many affairs had been ruined by such rivalry, and it had never been a good thing in previous dynasties or in the Great Ming—spoken at this moment, it was simply delightful and exhilarating.

A smile also appeared on Zhu Youxiao's face, and he said directly to Wei Chao, "Bring the memorial up."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Chao hastily scrambled up from the ground, held the victory report with both hands as he came before Zhu Youxiao, and respectfully handed it to him.

Reaching out to take the report, Zhu Youxiao quickly flipped through it once.

Compared to Lu Xiangsheng's blood-stirring victory report, Sun Chuanting's was far more plain, simply recounting the course of the battle.

In fact, in Zhu Youxiao's view, this battle had indeed been fought rather plainly.

After Sun Chuanting arrived at his destination and deployed his formation, he simply relied on his advantage in firearms to beat the enemy into submission. There hadn't been much difficulty in the siege at all.

Under such circumstances, it was impossible for things to get intense. This was simply an unequal battle—the gap in capability was far too severe.

Handing the victory report to Wei Chao beside him, Zhu Youxiao said to Sun Chengzong, "Take a look as well, my dear minister. This is excellent news—it can be sent back to the capital together with the other one."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Chengzong acknowledged and took the victory report from Wei Chao's hands.

After quickly flipping through it once, Sun Chengzong nodded with satisfaction.

To be honest, his impression of young men like Lu Xiangsheng wasn't all that favorable—these people were rather too arrogant and overbearing. Though they had ability, they were ultimately too young.

Sun Chengzong wouldn't say anything about it, though. Those men had all been promoted by His Majesty and were of similar age to him. They could grow together. At this point, what would he say about Lu Xiangsheng?

It looked like he was throwing his weight around as an elder. Besides, young people having some vigor was a good thing.

But comparatively speaking, Sun Chengzong appreciated Sun Chuanting more. Although Sun Chuanting was not old either, he was steady in his conduct and had many ideas.

This campaign, for instance, was fought steadily and surely—even with such an advantage secured, he had not acted recklessly. That was very good—neither arrogant nor impatient, and if any problem arose, he could withdraw properly.

After finishing reading the victory report in his hands, Sun Chengzong said, "Sun Chuanting fought this battle quite well. It seems the fighting in Liaodong will soon come to an end—it can't drag on much longer."

Zhu Youxiao also nodded with satisfaction and said, "Indeed, not bad at all. These young men ultimately did not disappoint—they've grown into their roles, and the Great Ming has worthy successors."

Though it was a bit inappropriate for someone of Zhu Youxiao's age to say such things, he was the Emperor, so he had the right to say them.

Sun Chengzong beside him also nodded in considerable agreement.

He had high hopes for these young men newly emerging in the Great Ming. After all, he was already advanced in years—his days in the court were not long—and these people could not crowd him out. He was very willing to promote them.

Just as the sovereign and his minister were joyfully conversing, urgent footsteps sounded again from outside.

Shortly after, Chen Hong walked in from outside with an excited expression, a routine memorial held in his hands.

After entering, Chen Hong knelt to the ground with a thud and announced loudly, "Your Majesty, a victory report!"

Hearing this, both Sun Chengzong and Zhu Youxiao were startled for a moment, then laughed together.

Sun Chengzong went so far as to say directly, "This one should be from Xiong Tingbi, right? They really do know how to pick an auspicious day."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao laughed along as well and waved his hand, saying, "Bring it up."

Chen Hong rose from the ground and delivered the memorial directly before Zhu Youxiao.

Taking the memorial in hand, Zhu Youxiao flipped through it quickly and said, "Very good. After Xiong Tingbi arrived at Qinghe, he sent a detachment to the Mongol grasslands, then led his men charging at the Jianzhou barbarians. They swept through everything along the way, and now they've already closed in on the Jurchen Yehe tribe."

After hearing this, Sun Chengzong ran the map of Liaodong through his mind and said with a smile, "Attacked from three sides, they won't hold out much longer. Add to that Hong Taiji being dead already—the Jurchen have no leader. I believe the fighting can be concluded within a month."

Zhu Youxiao also nodded. "That would be for the best."

The shorter the time, the better the effect of the war—enough to intimidate those with grievances in their hearts; at the same time, the consumption would be less, which was still very important to the Great Ming.

After all, there were too many natural disasters and man-made calamities. The less consumed, the better—more resources should be spent on domestic affairs.