Chapter 152

Under the current state of the Northern Yuan.

Guili Chi naturally had his own calculations.

Likewise.

For the many generals still under Northern Yuan rule, the interests of the Northern Yuan court had long ceased to concern them.

Their gaze was fixed solely on themselves, wholly preoccupied with how to strengthen their own tribes and gain greater power and status.

At this moment, the Ming army invaded.

On the surface, this was a grave crisis facing the entire Northern Yuan; yet deep in the hearts of many within the Northern Yuan, it was seen as a rare opportunity.

Some even hoped that if the Ming could severely cripple the Northern Yuan court, they could then break free and establish their own independent forces.

Inside the imperial palace hall!

The Yuan Emperor sat uneasily on the dragon throne, his eyes fixed tightly on Guili Chi below, asking: “My loyal minister, I have entrusted my army to your command—how do you plan to respond to the Ming offensive?”

The news that Zhenxia City had fallen to Zhu Ying’s forces in just one day had left the Yuan Emperor deeply unsettled, truly panicked.

“Your Majesty,” Guili Chi stood rigidly, his face radiating confidence, and replied loudly: “If I command the troops, I will fully leverage the strengths of our great Yuan warriors to counter the Ming army.”

“In the past, our great Yuan conquered the Central Plains not through infantry, but through our invincible iron cavalry.”

“Our Yuan iron cavalry roamed the battlefield; no nation’s army in the world could stand against them.”

“The Ming army is no match for our iron cavalry.”

As he spoke,

Guili Chi clenched his fists tightly, his expression brimming with confidence.

Hearing this, and seeing Guili Chi’s unshakable confidence, the Yuan Emperor’s previously tense face gradually softened into a smile, and he nodded: “My minister speaks truly.”

“Our great Yuan stands on cavalry; in the past, we swept through the Central Plains precisely because of our cavalry’s strength—this is our greatest advantage.”

“Your Majesty is wise,” Guili Chi added, smiling: “In my view, even if the Ming army has breached ten border cities, there is no cause for concern.”

“No matter how strong the Ming army is, once it engages in siege warfare, it will be at a disadvantage and suffer heavy losses.”

“Our great Yuan need not over-defend the cities; our main goal is to wear down the Ming’s fighting strength.”

“The true decisive battle must be settled by cavalry.”

As Guili Chi spoke, he displayed even greater confidence, as if victory was already within reach.

Watching Guili Chi speak with such certainty, the Yuan Emperor felt deeply reassured and said: “My minister’s words are sound.”

“From now on, I entrust you with full command over all forces to counter the Ming army.”

“I care not how you do it—so long as you repel the Ming, I will not interfere.”

“The future of the Yuan depends on you.”

At this moment, the Yuan Emperor regarded Guili Chi as the last hope to save the Northern Yuan.

“I shall never betray Your Majesty’s trust,” Guili Chi replied, falling to his knees with a thud, pressing his right hand tightly against his chest, and shouting loudly.

Yet,

At that very moment,

“Your Majesty,” a minister stepped forward from the ranks—it was Manzi, the newly appointed Grand Marshal since Naha’s death.

Like Naha, Manzi was a military officer by origin, but his abilities fell far short of Naha’s.

His expression was grave, his tone solemn: “General Guili Chi’s words may hold some truth.”

“Our greatest strength is indeed cavalry; in cavalry warfare, we can inflict devastating losses upon the Ming.”

“But in the end, the border cities must be held at all costs.”

As he finished speaking,

“The Ming excel at siege warfare—how can we possibly hold them?” Guili Chi turned around, frowning deeply, his face dark: “To crush the Ming, we must rely on cavalry warfare to eliminate their fighting strength.”

“General Guili Chi,” Manzi stared at him with piercing eyes, coldly saying: “Perhaps you are right. But have you considered that these ten border cities were built at great cost of wealth and manpower by our great Yuan?”

“If the Ming capture them, these cities will become their bases, turned against us to defend against our own forces.”

“Moreover, what if our cavalry fails to crush the Ming?”

“Grand Marshal,” Guili Chi raised his voice, replying loudly, a trace of anger on his face: “Though our great Yuan’s strength has declined from its former glory, our cavalry’s combat power remains unmatched in the world.”

“Let me lead the troops to face the Ming cavalry—I will annihilate them.”

“If I fail, Your Majesty may execute me outright.”

“My minister speaks too harshly,” the Yuan Emperor quickly said, his face soothing: “I naturally trust you.”

He then turned to Manzi: “Grand Marshal, no more need be said.”

“This time, we will defend the cities, and we will not retreat from cavalry warfare to destroy the enemy.”

“Once the invading Ming army is crushed and destroyed, our great Yuan shall advance into Ming territory, reclaim the Central Plains, and rule all under heaven.”

Seeing this,

Manzi sighed helplessly, nodded, and said: “I understand.”

…

Time flew swiftly; several days passed in an instant.

On the walls of Zhentang City, the atmosphere was suffocating.

Before the battle had even begun, a Northern Yuan officer stared at the Ming forces before the city, his face filled with panic, his voice trembling: “Second Prince, the Ming army has arrived—and they fly the banners of the Danning border troops.”

“And their commander is none other than Zhu Ying.”

“Can we… really hold this city?”

Hearing this,

“Have the city gates been completely sealed?” Dibaonu turned, his eyes fixed on the Northern Yuan officer, urgently asking.

“Yes, Second Prince, completely sealed,” the officer replied hastily, his expression tense: “Not just one wall, but seven. Not even human force, nor a full barrage of cannons, could breach them.”

“The gates have also been welded shut with fire oil—impregnable.”

“Good,” Dibaonu exhaled deeply, his expression relaxing somewhat: “We have prepared so thoroughly. If we reinforce the city walls with more troops, I refuse to believe the Ming can break through easily.”

Previously, Zhenxia City had fallen so easily to the Ming, leading Dibaonu to conclude that the gate-sealing procedure had been flawed.

Thus, upon retreating to this city, he immediately ordered the gates sealed shut, eliminating any possibility of external force breaching them.

“Report!”

At that moment, an officer rushed forward and knelt before Dibaonu, reporting: “Your Highness, envoys from Zhenming City and Zhen Song City have arrived, begging for immediate reinforcements—the Ming army has already reached their gates.”

“Let them hold out,” Dibaonu said without hesitation, a trace of helplessness on his face: “The Ming’s main force is right here before me.”

“Once I repel these Ming troops, I will send reinforcements.”

At this moment, he himself was under direct assault by the Danning border troops—where could he possibly spare extra troops to aid other cities?

Whether this city could even hold out remained uncertain.

“Yes,” the Northern Yuan officer replied, rising and withdrawing.

At that moment, the Ming forces before the city began to move.

“Artillery battalion, fire!” Zhu Ying stood at the front, his expression cold and stern, issuing a loud order.

Three hundred cannons lined up in a single row, imposing and formidable.

At Zhu Ying’s command, three hundred Ming soldiers holding torches swiftly ignited the cannons.

Following Zhu Ying’s order, three hundred Ming soldiers holding torches swiftly ignited the cannons.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Cannon fire roared continuously, shells hurtling forward like arrows released from bows, arcing toward the city ahead.

Upon impact, the shells shattered instantly, releasing iron needles and spikes that rained down in all directions.

“Ahh… Aahh…” The screams of Northern Yuan soldiers within the city rose and fell without end.

As usual, the Ming used artillery first to maximize casualties and shatter enemy morale.

Faced with this overwhelming barrage, shells screaming down from above, the bone-deep terror left Northern Yuan soldiers trembling, many pale-faced and shaking.

Today, Zhu Ying did not ride a horse; his six hundred personal guards had also dismounted and marched on foot.

Nearly fifty thousand infantry stood in perfect formation behind him.

At the front were ten thousand shield-bearers, their shields gleaming with metallic sheen.

Behind them came spearmen, long-sword bearers, and archers, their eyes resolute, ready for battle.

In the past, Zhu Ying had always led cavalry charges at the forefront of assaults—but this time, cavalry was positioned at the very rear.

Clearly, Zhu Ying did not intend to rely on cavalry for this assault.

After all, the Northern Yuan troops inside the city included many who had retreated from Zhenxia City—they were already familiar with Zhu Ying’s tactics and would surely have placed numerous obstacles to block cavalry charges.

After the artillery barrage, the cannon barrels had turned red-hot from the intense heat.

Seeing this, Zhu Ying decisively drew his Seven-Star Precious Saber, its blade gleaming coldly, raised it high, and roared: “Where are the Ming soldiers?”

Seeing this, Zhu Ying decisively drew his seven-star treasure blade; its blade glinted with cold light as he raised it high and roared, “Where are the Ming soldiers?”

Nearly seventy thousand soldiers behind him shouted in unison, their voices deafening, shaking the heavens, as if they would shatter the entire universe.

The might and morale of the Ming army were displayed in full force.

“Under my command, the Ming army follows the old rule,” Zhu Ying roared, his voice firm and powerful: “Generals lead, soldiers follow.”

“Soldiers, listen! When I charge fifty paces forward, follow me with full force.”

No sooner had he spoken,

Zhu Ying, left hand holding a shield, right hand gripping the Seven-Star Precious Saber, shot forward like a black lightning bolt, charging toward the city.

Of course, though Zhu Ying moved with agility and speed, he deliberately held back his pace.

Of course, Zhu Ying, though nimble-footed and extremely swift, was deliberately holding back his speed.

Under the cover of cannons, Zhu Ying advanced as if entering an empty land, swiftly closing in on Chengguan.

Liu Lei and Chen Heng stood among the troops, their eyes fixed tightly on Zhu Ying’s figure, filled with admiration and resolve.

As Zhu Ying charged fifty paces forward, they shouted almost simultaneously: “Follow the General to death—kill!”

Instantly.

The once seemingly motionless Ming troops erupted like a ignited powder keg.

Thirty thousand Danning infantry followed Zhu Ying’s steps, surging forward like a tidal wave, their footsteps shaking the earth.

Soon after, twenty thousand archers transferred from Huizhouwei also charged forward, roaring as they went.

Fifty thousand troops moved as one; the ground itself seemed unable to bear the weight, violently trembling.

At this moment, wind and clouds changed color; heaven and earth appeared to lose their radiance.

“Fierce General!” Seeing the Ming army launch its assault, Dibaonu’s face turned deathly pale, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. He hurriedly told the city defender: “I entrust the outer wall’s defense to you.”

Saying this, he hurriedly retreated toward the city’s base.

“Fire the cannons.”

“Loose the arrows.”

As soon as Dibaonu left, the Yuan commanders on the walls screamed hoarsely.

The cannons atop the city tower quickly adjusted their angles and unleashed furious volleys at the charging Ming troops.

Yet their cannons still fired solid shot; though the roars continued, the damage inflicted was minimal.

“General, that Zhu Ying.”

A Yuan soldier pointed fearfully at Zhu Ying, rapidly approaching the gate, his voice trembling violently: “He’s coming!”

By now, countless Yuan soldiers had recognized Zhu Ying—the ruthless warrior who always led the charge in every siege.

“Loose the arrows.”

Seeing him, the Yuan commander panicked and barked: “Shoot him dead!”

The archers atop the tower immediately aimed their bows at Zhu Ying and unleashed a storm of arrows—dense as locusts, filling the air with a blizzard of projectiles.

“Internal Qi to guard the body.”

Zhu Ying silently recited, subtly channeling his internal Qi to shield his entire skin and flesh.

Simultaneously, he raised his shield high in his left hand, infusing it with Qi; its surface glowed faintly.

“Ding ding.”

“Ding ding.”

The arrowstorm rained down, striking the shield and sparking off in all directions, effortlessly deflected; the ground lay littered with fallen arrows.

Holding his shield, Zhu Ying remained untouched by the arrowstorm, his speed unaltered, pressing steadily toward the gate.

“Loose more arrows!”

“Kill him!”

Watching Zhu Ying draw ever closer to the gate, the Yuan commander on the wall screamed in desperation.

Though the gate had been completely sealed with additional walls—impossible for human force to breach—his heart still swelled with inexplicable dread at the thought of Zhu Ying’s ferocity.

Under the commander’s relentless orders, the arrowstorm intensified, yet not a single arrow pierced Zhu Ying.

Most arrows were blocked by the shield; the rest flew wildly, utterly failing to halt his advance.

“Charge and strike with one slash.”

As Zhu Ying neared the gate, he gripped his blade with one hand, channeling all his strength into his right arm, his Qi surging rapidly through his meridians.

He fixed his gaze on the gate before him, eyes gleaming with resolve, then slashed downward with all his might.

“Shhh!” The blade cut through the air with a piercing sonic boom, flashing like lightning as it struck the gate.

Immense power and Qi exploded upon contact—the blade’s radiance blazed brilliantly.

“Boom!”

Even though the gate was forged from thick, solid iron, unbreakable in ordinary hands, it shattered like paper before Zhu Ying’s ranked divine weapon.

Added to that was Zhu Ying’s overwhelming force—the entire gate shuddered violently, then exploded into countless shards of iron, scattering with a dull thunder.

Yet.

After the gate shattered, what met Zhu Ying’s eyes was a wall of blue bricks.

“Trying to trick me?”

Zhu Ying sneered at the wall.

He swiftly raised his shield before him, pouring more Qi into it—the glow intensified.

Then he stepped back several paces, gathered his strength, and charged full-speed toward the wall.

Boom!

Immense power erupted—the wall instantly cracked with a dense network of fissures.

In the next instant, the wall collapsed under Zhu Ying’s impact.

“Not just one wall!!”

But behind the wall was not an open gate—another wall stood.

“You think you can stop me?”

“You’re truly naive.”

Zhu Ying showed no hesitation—he repeated the tactic, gripping his shield, unleashing all his strength, charging forward at full speed.

This time,

Every ounce of speed, fully exposed.

One could imagine

the level Zhu Ying reached with such velocity.

“Boom!”

Another thunderous crash—immense speed, power, and Qi combined—shattered the several walls before him in an instant.

“Boom, boom, boom!” The collapse of walls echoed continuously.

When Zhu Ying burst forth from the dust-choked ruins of blue brick, the Yuan soldiers inside stood frozen—eyes wide, mouths agape, as if witnessing the impossible.

“This… how is this possible?”

“Is he… even human?”

“He… he just smashed through all these walls?”

The surrounding Yuan soldiers stared at Zhu Ying’s figure in terror, their eyes filled with dread—as if he were a demon risen from hell.

Seven walls. Even a battering ram at full force could barely breach one—yet Zhu Ying shattered the gate and all these walls in the blink of an eye.

“Quick—deploy the bed crossbows!”

The Yuan commander below snapped back to his senses, gripping his sword tightly, knuckles white, pointing at Zhu Ying and screaming: “Kill him!”

At that moment,

The surrounding Yuan troops awoke from their shock.

Three bed crossbows were swiftly rolled out, all aimed at Zhu Ying. The bolts on them were longer and heavier than spears, glinting coldly under the sun.

Clearly, the Yuan army had prepared meticulously—made every possible preparation to deal with Zhu Ying.

Even if the gate fell, they were confident these three bed crossbows could kill Zhu Ying.

In their eyes, no human could withstand such force—not even Xiang Yu, the mighty Western Chu Overlord who could lift cauldrons, could survive three bed crossbow volleys.

Kill Zhu Ying, and the Ming army’s morale would collapse.

“Kill!” The surrounding Yuan soldiers roared in unison and triggered the crossbows.

“Boom, boom, boom!”

Instantly, over a dozen giant bolts shot forth like arrows loosed from a bow, all aimed at Zhu Ying.

These giant bolts carried immense power—capable of killing a tiger with ease.

Seeing this, Zhu Ying remained calm, showing no sign of panic.

Bed crossbows did pose some threat—but to him, it was negligible.

To others, the bolts flew at blinding speed; to Zhu Ying, they moved with agonizing slowness.

Zhu Ying made no hesitation—he stepped forward.

In that instant, the spot where he had stood was instantly swallowed by the dozen crossbow bolts…

(End of Chapter)