Chapter 174

The next day!

In Ying Tian City!

The bustling markets in the inner and outer cities were exceptionally lively. The Ministry of Rites issued the proclamation to the Jingzhao Prefecture, and once the news spread, it quickly permeated the city.

As the capital, Ying Tian was naturally the first place to learn of such a major event.

And the place where the proclamation was announced was early on packed to the point of being impenetrable.

Commoners rushed from all directions, filling the place to the brim, each stretching their necks, their eyes full of anticipation; they knew that a proclamation truly announced to the world must concern major national affairs, and no one wanted to miss this moment of witnessing history.

The clamor of voices was not enough to describe the flow of people at the proclamation site.

Amidst the anticipation of countless commoners, the proclamation ceremony finally began.

An official in official robes, holding the edict, walked onto the high platform with a solemn expression; he cleared his throat and announced loudly: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!"

As soon as these eight words were spoken, the originally noisy crowd instantly fell silent, everyone holding their breath, fearing they might miss a single word.

They were also filled with awe.

"Today, the Northern Expedition has achieved a great victory, with results sufficient to stir the hearts of our Great Ming subjects."

"I specially order the Ministry of Rites to proclaim this to the world, to boost the morale of all our Great Ming people."

The official's voice was loud and clear, echoing in the surroundings.

"For hundreds of years, the Northern Yuan Mongol cavalry has been hailed as peerless, invincible in the world."

"In the past, the Mongols, relying on the power of their cavalry, forcibly opened our Huaxia national gates and enslaved our Huaxia people for over a hundred years, causing our people to suffer endless misery and humiliation."

Speaking to this point.

A flash of anger crossed the official's eyes, along with the humiliation of the past, and the commoners below the platform also showed expressions of grief and indignation; they had never forgotten that dark history.

After all, Great Ming had only been founded for twenty-some years.

The tyranny of the former Yuan court was still fresh in their memories.

Even though the youth were a new generation, the older generation was still there and had recounted the tyranny of the Yuan court to their descendants.

They deeply understood the cruelty of the Yuan court.

"Now, our Great Ming has taken the Northern Expedition against the Northern Yuan as its duty, swearing to eliminate it."

"Recently, within the Northern Yuan territory, our Northern Expedition army encountered the Northern Yuan's one hundred thousand cavalry."

"At that time, our Great Ming army consisted mostly of infantry, with far fewer cavalry than the Northern Yuan, putting us at a disadvantage in numbers, making it difficult to confront the Northern Yuan cavalry head-on."

"Yet! Our Great Ming is the orthodox successor of Huaxia, and heroes emerge in succession."

"Champion Earl and Daning Regional Military Commissioner Zhu Ying, using the Long Menzhen that specialized in countering cavalry from the glorious Tang Dynasty, heavily damaged nearly half of the Northern Yuan cavalry, greatly weakening the enemy's strength."

The official's voice rose sharply, his eyes filled with admiration.

As these words fell.

The name of the Champion Earl was spoken.

Many commoners couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, deeply admiring the bravery and wisdom of this Champion Earl.

"After the formation, Daning Regional Military Commissioner Zhu Ying led our Great Ming's forty thousand cavalry to face nearly sixty thousand Northern Yuan cavalry."

"In the unfavorable situation where the enemy was strong and we were weak, General Zhu Ying was incomparably brave, leading from the front, and for the glory of our Huaxia Great Ming, resolutely struck the strong with the weak."

The official's description made the commoners feel as if they were seeing the situation on the battlefield where the enemy was strong and they were weak, and they could imagine the intense slaughter; the figure of this Champion Earl, General Zhu Ying, charging in front, grew even taller in their hearts.

"After a day of fierce fighting, General Zhu Ying led our Great Ming's forty thousand cavalry to successfully defeat the strong with the weak, routing the sixty thousand Northern Yuan cavalry, killing nearly twenty thousand enemy troops, and capturing countless others."

"The Northern Expedition has achieved a major victory!"

"This battle has shattered the reputation of the Northern Yuan Mongol cavalry that had dominated the world for hundreds of years, breaking their myth of being invincible."

"From now on, the Northern Yuan Mongol cavalry no longer possesses its former courage, and our Great Ming's cavalry is the true best in the world."

"The Huaxia national gate that was broken by the Mongol cavalry in the past, and the century of humiliation, have finally been avenged today!"

"Champion Earl! Daning Regional Military Commissioner Zhu Ying, not yet twenty years old, possesses the bravery of a fierce general and possesses excellent command ability; he is truly a talented person of our Great Ming, both civil and martial."

"In the past Battle of Liaodong, Champion Earl Zhu Ying already established great military merits for Great Ming; many strongholds in Liaodong were captured, and the Northern Yuan Grand Marshal Nahachu also died at his hands."

"Today, he has again led our Great Ming cavalry to defeat the Northern Yuan cavalry head-on; this is truly a merit of protecting the nation and raising our Great Ming's divine might."

Under the proclamation.

The proclamation drafted by the Ministry of Rites did not spare any praise for Zhu Ying.

After such rendering.

The commoners were also filled with respect and worship for this young general.

"In the past, the Emperor conferred the title of Champion Earl upon Zhu Ying, using the name of the former Champion Marquis to encourage him and stir the hearts of the people."

"To this day, Champion Earl Zhu Ying has not failed the imperial grace and has again built merits for the nation."

"Following the memorial of the Crown Prince, the title of Champion Earl Zhu Ying is promoted to Marquis, titled 【Champion Marquis】, as a reward, proclaiming to the world that our Great Ming also possesses a Champion Marquis like the strong Han Dynasty that broke the Hu invaders!"

"Now, with this proclamation, we stir the hearts of the people of the world, let all witness it!"

As the official finished reading, Ying Tian City instantly boiled over, and thunderous cheers erupted below the platform.

Even throughout the entire Ying Tian City.

The commoners watching were all moved beyond measure.

A white-haired old man wept with tears, sighing to the sky: "Heaven has eyes! Our Great Ming has actually achieved such a great victory!"

A middle-aged man beside him clenched his fists and said excitedly: "The Mongol cavalry was so arrogant in the past, breaking our Huaxia national gate and enslaving us for a hundred years, causing countless clansmen to suffer humiliation; today, we have finally avenged ourselves!"

"That's right!" Another young man echoed: "The Mongol cavalry used to be called invincible, but now they have been routed by our Great Ming cavalry; it is truly exhilarating!"

"Champion Earl Zhu Ying, I have heard his name long ago."

"In the Battle of Liaodong back then, he shone brilliantly; I heard he only took a year or so to rise from an ordinary soldier to the high position of Daning Regional Military Commissioner; this was all exchanged for real military merits."

"I have a distant cousin in the Daning border army; he said that in the eyes of those aliens in the northern frontier, the Champion Earl is like a god of death; children don't even dare to cry at night when they hear his name."

"And it is said that in every major battle, the Champion Earl always leads from the front, charging ahead, and the soldiers are deeply encouraged."

"Yes, Great Ming having such talent as the Champion Earl is truly our blessing. This also proves that our Great Ming prioritizes military merit, and the Emperor and Crown Prince are sagacious; as long as there is military merit, one can be promoted; with such fairness and justice, why worry that our Great Ming will not flourish!"

"Are you still calling him Champion Earl? Now General Zhu Ying is our Great Ming's Champion Marquis!"

"Huo Qubing broke the Xiongnu in the past, raising the might of our Han family; now our Great Ming's Champion Marquis is no less inferior, also under twenty years old, leading cavalry to defeat the arrogant Mongol cavalry; it is truly magnificent!"

"Indeed magnificent! Champion Marquis is mighty!"

"Our Great Ming cavalry is peerless in the world!"

"Our Great Ming's divine might is invincible in the world!"

"Champion Marquis, Champion Marquis..."

As the discussion became more heated, the commoners' shouts rose one after another, spreading through the entire Ying Tian City like a surging wave.

The three words "Champion Marquis" resounded throughout the inside and outside of Ying Tian City.

These cheers were like layers of sound waves, one after another, spreading toward the entire city.

Even inside the imperial palace, one could clearly hear these passionate shouts.

In the Wenyuan Pavilion!

Zhu Yuanzhang was originally focused on reviewing memorials, his brush dancing back and forth on the paper.

Suddenly.

A faint sound of shouting entered his ears; he was slightly stunned, his hand stopped, and he slowly looked up, pricking up his ears to listen carefully.

As the shouting became clearer, his old face gradually showed a look of being moved.

"Zhu Ying!"

Zhu Yuanzhang muttered to himself, his eyes complex: "My son has actually sought a heaven-sized honor for you."

"The name of the second-generation Champion Marquis will accompany you from now on, lasting forever in history."

"I hope you do not fail my son's expectations of you; otherwise, I truly will not be polite."

Clearly.

Regarding such matters of raising a subordinate's prestige and proclaiming to the world, Zhu Yuanzhang still had some worries.

And in the Eastern Palace hall, Zhu Biao also heard these passionate shouts.

He was also reviewing memorials; hearing the sound, he gently put down the memorial in his hand, a gentle and gratified smile appearing on his face.

"Champion Marquis!"

Zhu Biao said softly, sighing: "Our Great Ming also has a Champion Marquis now."

"Using this victory as encouragement, today it is Ying Tian, and tomorrow it will be our Great Ming's world."

"The former Champion Marquis Huo Qubing sealed Mount Langjuxu and had great military merits, but was envied by Heaven."

"My Champion Hou Zhu Ying will surely exist long in Great Ming, guarding our Great Ming's world."

"I believe my choice will not be wrong."

Zhu Biao's eyes were full of confidence and firmness; he did not regret this proclamation.

Even.

He could foresee the scene of Zhu Ying continuing to establish more military merits for Great Ming.

At this moment!

Inside the Zhu Fu, it was also a scene of boiling excitement.

Lin Fu stood in the courtyard, listening to the shouts coming from outside the mansion, his face flushed with excitement.

He walked quickly into the main hall and said to Shen Yuer: "Young Mistress, did you hear?"

"The Young Master has really been made a Marquis, and it is the most noble Champion Marquis among the Marquis titles!"

"Hahaha."

"It's a pity the Old Mistress is no longer here; if she saw the Young Master's success today, she would surely be extremely happy."

Lin Fu said, unable to help laughing, tears of joy sparkling in his eyes.

"Yes." Shen Yuer nodded gently, also wearing a happy smile: "If my husband gets this news, he will surely be very happy too."

"This is the Champion Marquis!"

At this moment.

Shen Yuer's heart was full of pride and self-esteem for her husband; every woman longs for her husband to be a hero, and she was undoubtedly lucky, for her husband had truly done it, becoming a hero revered by all.

Just then, a guard hurried into the hall, respectfully reporting to Shen Yuer and Lin Fu: "Mistress, Steward, there are many carriages outside the mansion, saying they are here to deliver congratulatory gifts for the Master."

"These are the gift lists."

Saying this.

The guard handed over a large stack of gift lists with both hands.

Lin Fu took the gift lists and opened one at random, seeing it written: "Gift list from Minister of Rites Lv Ben."

He couldn't help but show surprise.

Then, he opened another: "Gift list from Minister of War Tang Duo."

He understood in his heart that the owners of these gift lists were all powerful figures in the imperial court.

"Young Mistress," Lin Fu said seriously: "The owners of these gift lists are all powerful figures in the court; this old servant thinks we must not be negligent."

"What should we do?" Shen Yuer asked, slightly flustered; it was her first time encountering such a situation, and she was at a loss.

"We can accept the gift lists, but we cannot accept the gifts." Lin Fu said solemnly: "This matter must be handled by the Young Mistress personally."

"The Emperor and the Crown Prince have already bestowed great favor upon the Young Master; if we truly accept these gifts, I fear there may be suspicion of forming cliques for private interests."

"So we must be cautious."

Hearing this.

"Yes." Shen Yuer nodded immediately; she knew the importance of this matter and naturally did not want to drag her husband down.

Thus, she and Lin Fu walked toward the outside of the mansion together, preparing to deal with these visiting guests and gift lists.

And in the Shen family, the atmosphere was completely different.

In the inner hall of the Shen Mansion, Shen Wansan and his sons were sitting there, each of their expressions exceptionally ugly.

Steward Shen ran in anxiously and reported to Shen Wansan: "Master, it's true... that Zhu Ying has really been made a Marquis."

"Champion Marquis!"

"And the current Emperor has even announced it by proclamation; now the entire Ying Tian City, and in the future the entire world, will know the fame of Champion Hou Zhu Ying."

"According to spies outside the Zhu Fu, many powerful court figures have sent people to the Zhu Fu to deliver gifts; the entire area in front of the Zhu Fu is packed with people, and there are countless visitors."

Shen Wansan listened to Steward Shen's report, his expression growing gloomier; he clenched his fists tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

At this moment, the sounds of shouting "Champion Marquis" coming from outside the mansion were like sharp blades, piercing their eardrums.

Now that Zhu Ying had achieved such fame, for the Shen family, it was undoubtedly a huge threat, like a sharp sword hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any moment.

"Sigh." Shen Wansan sighed deeply, his old face full of bitterness and helplessness.

How could he have imagined such a situation?

He had been in business for many years, always cautious and steady, rarely encountering such major setbacks.

At this moment.

Shen Yan'er rushed into the inner hall in a rage, her eyes red, looking at her father, complaining loudly: "Father, you shouldn't have married me to that Lv Hao in the first place; if I had married Zhu Ying, I would be the wife of the Champion Marquis now, with a noble status, and wouldn't have ended up in this state today."

Her voice was full of regret and dissatisfaction, tears swirling in her eyes.

Facing her daughter's accusation, Shen Wansan was speechless.

He lowered his head, his heart full of regret and self-reproach.

The current situation had completely exceeded his control, and he felt incomparably powerless and desperate.

…………

Northern frontier, Northern Yuan territory.

The wind howled, yellow sand filled the sky, a scene of desolation.

In the distance, a Northern Yuan cavalry general was leading less than a hundred riders, along with thousands of routed Yuan infantry, fleeing in a sorry state. Their faces were full of exhaustion and fear, and even their weapons were scattered.

Suddenly, a sharp sound of piercing through the air resounded across the sky, like thunder.

The leading Yuan general hadn't had time to make any reaction when a sharp arrow shot over like lightning, instantly piercing his armor and body.

The powerful force knocked him off his horse, throwing him heavily into the yellow sand.

"The General's divine might!"

"Kill!"

"Brothers, circle around and surround them; don't leave a single one of these fleeing Yuan pups alive!"

"Kill!"

Wei Quan rode on his horse, waving the long saber in his hand, shouting excitedly.

His face was full of excitement, his killing intent boundless.

Not just him.

"Kill, kill, kill!"

"Kill all these Tatars."

"Kill..."

Thousands of cavalry surged out like a tide, the sound of horse hooves like thunder, the earth trembling.

They advanced rapidly from both sides, like two sharp scissors, quickly surrounding this fleeing Yuan army.

Cavalry against infantry naturally had a huge advantage, not to mention that the Yuan army was already low in morale and had no power to resist.

"Killed a Northern Yuan general, gained 30 points of all attributes, gained 30 days of lifespan, rewarded with one First Rank treasure chest."

After the army charged out, Zhu Ying held his treasure bow, his expression cold.

That arrow just now was shot by him.

He gently squeezed his horse's belly with his legs, and the Wufeng beneath him moved like an arrow released from a string, charging toward the enemy.

While galloping, Zhu Ying pulled arrows from the quiver on his back, his gaze like an eagle, fixed on the fleeing Yuan soldiers.

An arrow shot out.

"Killed a Northern Yuan soldier, gained 1 point of strength, gained 5 days of lifespan."

"Killed a Northern Yuan soldier, gained 1 point of constitution..."

A series of notifications sounded in his mind.

Zhu Ying's archery was superb; every arrow was like a summons from the impermanent, taking the lives of Yuan soldiers.

His arrows fell like raindrops, and several Yuan soldiers were pierced, falling into a pool of blood. Zhu Ying's arrows didn't stop; he continued to frantically shoot and kill the fleeing Yuan soldiers from behind, killing as many as he could.

At this time, nearly a month had passed since the Northern Yuan cavalry was routed.

Without the threat of the Northern Yuan cavalry, the two Great Ming armies had gradually merged, launching attacks on various garrison cities of the Northern Yuan.

At the moment, it was after a Northern Yuan garrison city was captured, and the Yuan soldiers in the city were fleeing in all directions, with Zhu Ying's border soldiers pursuing them in all directions, killing and wounding as many Yuan soldiers as possible.

Time passed quickly, and these thousands of fleeing Yuan soldiers were soon caught up by the cavalry under Zhu Ying.

After a fierce slaughter, the Yuan soldiers were either killed or surrendered.

Zhu Ying led his soldiers back to the military camp in victory.

Night shrouded the earth, and roaring bonfires were lit in the camp.

Inside the tent, Zhu Ying lay on the couch, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Sixteen treasure chests now."

Zhu Ying said softly, with a joyful smile: "And over six thousand points in all attributes."

"This Northern Expedition battle is truly a massive boost in strength."

Zhu Ying closed his eyes, recalling the combat experiences of the past month.

Very satisfied.

The wars during this period!

He had always charged at the front, not letting go of any opportunity to improve his strength.

The total number of enemies killed had successfully broken through to thirteen thousand; it could be said that the harvest was abundant.

The Northern Expedition had reached this point.

The Northern Yuan had few cards left to play.

……

(End of chapter)