Chapter 148: Zhu Di

Eighty years of life!

That’s nearly a full human lifespan.

Add that to his original 320 years, and it’s a full four hundred years!

This immense span is almost beyond imagination.

Zhu Ying tilted his head slightly, his gaze seeming to pierce through time and space, silently thinking: “Four hundred years later, wouldn’t it be the modern age?”

“Of course, this modern age with me in it won’t be the same as my past life.”

“By then, I will surely establish a brand-new Huaxia nation, one capable of unifying the entire world.”

“Airplanes, cannons, rocket technology—things that now seem like fairy tales—will inevitably emerge with the passage of time.”

“Four hundred years!”

“Long and enduring.”

“And in the future, I may yet gain even more four-hundred-year spans.”

Thinking of this, Zhu Ying’s eyes glowed with fierce passion, filled with boundless anticipation for the future.

The future is truly promising.

At the very least, Zhu Ying had already begun to acquire the power to change it.

Thinking of how foreign tribes would later trample Huaxia’s land, brutally slaughter its people, and how the Wa people in the distant future would invade Huaxia, leaving behind mountains of corpses, Zhu Ying’s eyes instantly turned icy.

These.

He, Zhu Ying, would never let these tragedies unfold again.

If slaughter was to happen,

It would be Huaxia slaughtering the foreign tribes.

“General Zhu.”

At that moment,

Li Jinglong’s excited voice rang out from afar.

Hearing this,

Zhu Ying snapped out of his thoughts, looked up, and saw Zhu Di and Li Jinglong, surrounded by a tight guard of personal guards, approaching the general’s mansion.

Li Jinglong’s face was flushed red, his excitement overflowing, his steps light as if he could fly.

Zhu Di smiled calmly, his expression steady, his pace unhurried, every gesture radiating royal bearing.

Seeing this,

Zhu Ying rose slowly, his face composed, clasping his fists, and said: “Your Highness, General Li.”

“Hah!”

Li Jinglong laughed loudly: “General Zhu, no need for such formality.”

“You are the first great contributor to our army’s breach of the city.”

“The first victory of the northern campaign—and you claimed it on the very first day.”

Saying this,

Li Jinglong stepped forward quickly, seized Zhu Ying’s arm, and shook it vigorously, his eyes brimming with enthusiasm.

“General Li flatters me,” Zhu Ying replied with a calm smile: “As a Ming soldier, taking the battlefield, killing enemies, defending home and country—this is my duty, nothing more.”

“Hah!” Li Jinglong laughed again: “General Zhu is too modest!”

“One rider breaks the city. One day, the city falls.”

“Perhaps across all of Great Ming, only General Zhu possesses such ability.”

“With the northern campaign’s first victory ours, even the Yongchang Marquis and others will need weeks to breach the city.”

At this point,

Anyone could hear the pride in Li Jinglong’s words.

Of course,

For Li Jinglong, his current attitude toward Zhu Ying clearly showed how highly he regarded him.

Never mind other things—just by breaking the city first, Zhu Ying had given Li Jinglong’s army the upper hand over Lan Yu in battle merit.

Once this news reached Yingtian, Li Jinglong could already picture the scene: many would sincerely praise, “A tiger father has no dog son; the pupil surpasses the master.”

Though Li Jinglong hadn’t directly participated in the assault, as commander-in-chief of the army, this victory naturally counted as his own.

“Given the Yuan’s border defenses, Lan Yu would need at least half a month to take Zhentangcheng.”

Zhu Di said slowly: “But our breach of the city will force the Yuan to redeploy troops, which may accelerate Lan Yu’s progress.”

“On the battlefield, one hair’s movement affects the whole body—it’s always like this.”

Zhu Ying affirmed firmly: “Yet, over half the Yuan troops in this city have withdrawn to reinforce defenses. Future cities will be far more heavily guarded.”

“And! The Yuan Emperor will surely send more troops—next battles will be even harder.”

“With General Zhu on our side, I’m certain the Yuan cannot withstand your blade,” Li Jinglong said with a broad smile and full confidence.

Such trust—

Hard to imagine Li Jinglong had only known Zhu Ying for a few days.

Zhu Di silently stared at Zhu Ying, his gaze probing, tinged with complexity; his heart was a tangle of emotions, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

“Someone!” Li Jinglong suddenly called out loudly.

“General!” The personal guard commander hurried forward, clasped his fists, and bowed respectfully.

“Send an urgent messenger to Yingtian—report to His Majesty that our army has breached the Yuan’s border stronghold.”

Li Jinglong’s expression turned serious, urgent: “And emphasize General Zhu’s achievements—describe them in detail, so His Majesty understands just how heroic General Zhu is.”

“General, how exactly should we emphasize it?” The guard commander blinked, scratching his head, utterly confused.

Seeing this,

Li Jinglong’s eyes flickered with annoyance; after a brief pause, he said: “Forget it—I’ll write it myself.”

Shuowan 。

Li Jinglong turned to Zhu Ying, his face now softened with a warm smile: “General Zhu, the city is taken. Rest well, you and the Danning border troops. I’ll handle the aftermath myself.”

“I must now draft a detailed battle report to submit to His Majesty.”

Zhu Ying smiled slightly and said: “General Li, go ahead and attend to your duties.”

Reporting the northern campaign’s first victory to Yingtian was undoubtedly a great thing.

Zhu Ying knew well: the first to achieve battle merit and submit the report to Zhu Yuanzhang would be the undisputed primary contributor—he had no reason to refuse.

“Your Highness,” Li Jinglong bowed respectfully to Zhu Di: “I’ll take my leave now to attend to matters.”

Then,

Li Jinglong turned and strode off quickly, his urgency as if some ten-thousand-urgent matter awaited him.

Now, Zhu Di’s gaze settled on Zhu Ying, and he smiled: “I’ve guarded Beiping for years—this is my first time entering a Yuan city on the northern frontier. General Zhu, would you accompany me to inspect this general’s mansion?”

“Of course.” Zhu Ying nodded.

Moreover,

He sensed something unusual about Zhu Di—something hidden deep within, a flicker of worry in his eyes he couldn’t fully conceal.

Then,

Zhu Di stepped forward first, entering the mansion.

Zhu Ying followed slowly behind, his expression calm, yet his eyes sharp with caution.

Unlike in Liaodong, where defeating Yuan forces and seizing cities yielded rich spoils,

the treasures of Manjier and Naha’chu had made Zhu Ying immensely wealthy.

But here,

in the Yuan’s true territory—like this general’s mansion—Zhu Ying had already scouted thoroughly; there was nothing valuable to be found.

Building these border fortresses had drained the Yuan’s treasury.

Entering the mansion’s main hall,

Zhu Di walked steadily to the central throne, staring at the seat symbolizing power, as if lost in thought.

“General Zhu.”

Zhu Di turned slowly, his gaze piercing, fixed on Zhu Ying, and suddenly asked: “What are your thoughts on this campaign against the Yuan?”

“His Majesty’s decree is to utterly eliminate the Yuan threat and crush the Yuan.”

Zhu Ying’s expression was solemn, his tone firm: “As a subject, I naturally obey the imperial command.”

Zhu Ying knew well: Zhu Di’s sudden question carried hidden meaning—he answered cautiously, saying no more than necessary, always wary of Zhu Di.

Zhu Di nodded slightly, then smiled again: “Do you believe Great Ming can utterly crush the Yuan this time?”

Saying this,

Zhu Di paced slowly, his eyes locked on Zhu Ying’s, as if searching for some crucial clue in his gaze.

“The Yuan!”

Zhu Ying’s expression didn’t change: “In essence, today’s Yuan is like a guttering candle—Great Ming may not eradicate it entirely, but it can ensure the Yuan court ceases to exist, adding one final push to its collapse.”

“The greatest achievement of this campaign may be the Yuan’s fall—but the tribes beneath it will still remain.”

“Thus, the threat to Great Ming’s northern frontier will persist.”

Since Zhu Di asked, Zhu Ying spoke frankly his assessment of the situation—he believed Zhu Di, with his wisdom, would understand the deeper meaning.

Hearing Zhu Ying’s words, Zhu Di’s eyes gleamed with a flash of interest.

He truly hadn’t expected Zhu Ying to see the situation so clearly.

This time, many northern expedition commanders were eager to utterly destroy the Northern Yuan and ensure the Great Ming’s northern frontier would never again face a threat.

Yet this was, in truth, a shortsighted notion.

“General Zhu, you are truly a fierce warrior with unmatched courage, yet also a wise general who sees through the tide of events.”

Zhu Di’s eyes brimmed with admiration: “Those who can perceive the crux of this matter are few indeed.”

“In this campaign, our Great Ming may topple the Northern Yuan court, but we cannot eradicate the Northern Yuan’s underlying threats.”

“It would merely fracture the Northern Yuan, leaving its tribes to govern themselves.”

“Since the Northern Yuan was driven out of our Huaxia heartland, its control over its tribes has steadily weakened.”

“Now, by crushing the Northern Yuan, His Majesty delivers the fatal blow.”

At these words,

“The current Emperor rose from humble origins to forge this vast empire and restore Huaxia—his vision is unquestionably lofty.”

Zhu Ying’s eyes shone with reverence: “The Emperor must have long seen the chaos within the Northern Yuan, which is why he first reclaimed Liaodong, then launched the northern expedition.”

“His aim is to ensure lasting peace along the Great Ming’s northern frontier.”

“After this battle, regardless of other matters, the northern frontier will remain stable for at least several years.”

Zhu Ying spoke with a smile, utterly confident.

“The future peace of the northern frontier will depend on our Beiping Army and General Zhu Ying’s Danning Border Troops,” Zhu Di said with a smile, his gaze probing.

“To bear such a heavy responsibility, I shall give my all,” Zhu Ying replied with a smile.

At that moment,

Zhu Di suddenly turned, his eyes carrying deep meaning as he asked: “What is your view of my elder brother?”

With this question, Zhu Di’s gaze instantly grew cautious, fixed intently on Zhu Ying, as if awaiting an answer.

“Zhu Di—is he testing my loyalty to Zhu Biao?”

Zhu Ying thought to himself.

Yet outwardly, Zhu Ying maintained full reverence, his expression solemn: “The Crown Prince is the nation’s heir, long nurtured by the Emperor with great care. With the Crown Prince ruling in the future, the Great Ming will surely flourish even more.”

“It seems General Zhu holds great admiration for my elder brother,” Zhu Di said with a smile, one whose meaning was hard to fathom.

“The Crown Prince has bestowed great grace upon me. My title of Champion was granted by him.”

Zhu Ying showed gratitude: “If, after this northern campaign, I am fortunate enough to enter Yingtian and pay homage, it will be my greatest fortune.”

Zhu Ying replied with a smile, his words flawless, exuding the loyalty and propriety of a loyal minister—Zhu Di could scrutinize them endlessly and find not a single flaw.

At these words,

Zhu Di said no more.

“After this northern campaign succeeds, General Zhu will surely fulfill your wish to enter Yingtian and pay homage,” Zhu Di said with a smile.

“Then I shall take your Yanwang ’s auspicious words as a promise,” Zhu Ying replied politely.

After their exchange, both men spoke with extreme caution, revealing not the slightest opening.

After Zhu Ying departed, Zhu Di’s expression darkened instantly, his eyes betraying a flicker of resentment and underlying unease.

“Elder brother… Zhu Ying…” Zhu Di murmured softly, his eyes filled with an indescribable complexity—as if his heart churned with tangled thoughts.

After leaving the general’s hall, Zhu Ying pondered inwardly: “Zhu Di was clearly testing me.”

“Does he think I pose a threat to him?”

Yet,

Zhu Ying did not dwell on it.

“Zhu Di, your ambitions are your own.”

“For now, I still rely on the Great Ming as a great tree. As long as we coexist peacefully, so be it.”

“But if you dare make any move, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Zhu Ying thought coldly within.

Zhu Ying was a reincarnated man—he could never wholeheartedly serve another. Moreover, he now possessed formidable strength and an extended lifespan; in the future, he firmly believed he would forge his own realm. He understood Zhu Di’s intentions perfectly, but he had no interest in caring. If Zhu Di wished to rebel, let him—so long as he did not provoke Zhu Ying.

…

Zhentangcheng, Ming Army encampment.

Inside the central command tent!

“What did you say?”

Lan Yu leapt to his feet, his face filled with disbelief: “Zhu Ying has already led the Danning Border Troops to breach Zhentxiacheng? Half the Yuan troops inside were annihilated? And their commander, Ma Hahu, was slain by Zhu Ying?”

His voice trembled with shock and excitement.

Not only Lan Yu—the other officers in the tent shared the same expression. They glanced at one another, faces etched with astonishment and confusion, as if hearing a fairy tale.

“How did he do it?” Chang Mao stood up, frowning fiercely: “Did he again charge ahead personally, leading cavalry to storm the gates as he did in Liaodong?”

“Report, General,” the soldier replied respectfully: “I do not know the details, but the news confirms Zhentxiacheng has fallen—and General Zhu Ying, as Vanguard, was the first to breach the walls.”

Upon receiving this confirmation, Lan Yu’s expression grew deeply complex, his face shadowed with gravity as he slowly sat back down.

“You may go,” Lan Yu waved dismissively, his voice low.

After the soldier withdrew,

“Uncle,” Chang Mao paced anxiously, his face tense: “Is Zhu Ying truly a born siege-breaker? The Yuan fortifications along this border are high-walled and thick—today we attacked all day and could not take even one gate; they’re as solid as stone, impossible to breach.”

“How did Zhu Ying manage it? By normal reckoning, it should take at least half a month to capture.”

Chang Mao shook his head repeatedly, his face heavy with worry.

“This northern campaign’s victories determine our Huaixi faction’s future standing at court,” Lan Yu clenched his fist, his expression grim. “If Zhu Ying snatches the main glory again, our Huaixi faction will be crushed beneath him forever.”

Though he framed it as the fate of the entire Huaixi faction, Lan Yu cared most about his own interests.

This northern campaign would decide whether he could be promoted to Duke!

“What do we do now?” Chang Mao halted his pacing, looking helplessly at Lan Yu: “Zhentxiacheng has already fallen—Zhu Ying has claimed the first victory, and even Li Jinglong has gained great merit. This is terrible news for us.”

“We’ve been humiliated in the opening battle.”

“Then,” Lan Yu’s face hardened with resolve, “we must stop probing.”

“Starting tomorrow, we launch a full-scale assault.”

“Deploy all artillery. Mobilize every arquebus unit.”

“We must commit every ounce of strength—no matter the cost, we break the city.”

“Since we’ve fallen behind, we must chase with all our might. Tomorrow, I will personally oversee the battle.”

Lan Yu spoke with grim urgency.

He had truly been driven to desperation by Zhu Ying.

“Agreed,” Chang Mao nodded immediately.

…

Zhu Ying’s camp was also the headquarters of the Second Army.

“General,” Li Jinglong bowed slightly, offering his battle report with both hands: “This is my report on this campaign. Please review it.”

Guo Ying took the report, slowly unrolled it, and his face gradually revealed astonishment.

“Single rider breaches city gate; slays over a thousand enemies.”

“Including Zhentxiacheng’s commander Ma Hahu, over a dozen Yuan officers were killed by Zhu Ying.”

Guo Ying stared at the report, his expression stunned, eyes filled with disbelief.

“General Li,” Guo Ying looked up, puzzled: “Are you certain this report is accurate?”

The contents sounded utterly exaggerated.

“Report, General,” Li Jinglong’s gaze was firm, his tone decisive: “It is absolutely true.”

“I had the Capital Garrison Commander compile the figures personally.”

“After General Zhu Ying led the charge into the city, he fought at the forefront, cutting down enemy after enemy.”

“The number of Yuan soldiers he killed far exceeds a thousand.”

“Though it seems beyond reason, it is the truth.”

Initially,

Li Jinglong himself had thought the number absurd, impossible to believe.

But after meticulous verification, he could only marvel at Zhu Ying’s valor and glorious achievements.

“If it is truth,” Guo Ying closed the report, his expression grave, “then we shall submit it to the Emperor.”

“The Emperor has long planned this northern campaign. Now, with such a result in the opening battle, he must be informed.”

“General,” Li Jinglong bowed slightly, smiling with delight: “To deliver this exhilarating news to the Emperor as swiftly as possible, I have a suggestion.”

“Let us first send the news of the first victory via pigeon message.”

“The detailed battle report can follow as an urgent dispatch.”

Undoubtedly, this was the fastest method.

Guo Ying raised his head, his gaze tinged with amusement and insight as he smiled at Li Jinglong: “You little rascal, your schemes are clever indeed.”

“You’re just eager to make sure the Emperor learns of your first victory as soon as possible.”

Guo Ying spoke with a smile.

“Hahaha,” Li Jinglong, caught out, burst into laughter, slightly embarrassed.

“Fine,” Guo Ying waved his hand: “Then do as you suggest.”

He sat upright, his voice firm: “Send the pigeon message immediately to inform the Emperor of the first victory—let him know our triumph at once.”

“The detailed battle report must be precise and thorough, and sent as an urgent dispatch—no errors allowed.”

"Your servant accepts the order!" Li Jinglong immediately grew solemn, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply to Guo Ying.

After receiving Guo Ying’s approval, Li Jinglong stepped out.

As he walked, he excitedly thought to himself: "Zhu Ying, Zhu Ying! This time you’ve achieved such a great feat—you’ve done me a tremendous favor, and I must repay you well."

"I can’t write much in this pigeon letter, but I’ll fill it with praise for you—far more prominent than any formal military report."

Thinking of this, Li Jinglong couldn’t help grinning again, silently thinking: "We’ve truly helped each other accomplish something great."

With this thought, Li Jinglong felt a surge of energy coursing through him; his steps grew light, his smile uncontainable, as if he already saw the glorious scene back in Yingtian—himself and Zhu Ying jointly receiving the Emperor’s commendation.

…

(End of Chapter)