Chapter 175: The Imperial Edict arrives! A huge profit!

Just at this moment!

A burst of footsteps came from outside the tent.

"General."

"The Grand General, along with Marquis Yongchang and General Li, have arrived; they have all gone to the main camp."

"The Grand General sent someone to summon the General to the camp for a meeting, saying there is an urgent matter."

Liu Lei's voice rang out from outside the tent.

"Understood."

Zhu Ying responded in a deep voice, opened his eyes, and sat up from the couch.

Immediately.

He walked directly toward the outside of the tent.

At this moment, the military camp.

The sound of troops and horses moving was constant.

Moreover, campfires were scattered everywhere throughout the military camp.

This military camp was precisely the place where the two Northern Expedition armies had converged.

The troops currently being mobilized step-by-step were those that had come to merge.

Pitching tents and setting up camp.

In the center of the military camp, the main tent!

"General."

"We are now less than two cities away from the Yuan capital."

"Although the Yuan army still has considerable strength, they are already a defeated force with broken morale, not worth worrying about."

"Before long, our Northern Expedition will be successful, and we will annihilate Northern Yuan."

Chen Heng said with an excited expression.

"Even if we break through the Yuan capital, Northern Yuan will still exist."

"Unless we capture the Yuan Emperor."

"Perhaps then we can make Northern Yuan cease to exist," Zhang Wu said in a deep voice, seeing things more thoroughly.

Listening to the words of his two subordinates, Zhu Ying smiled and suddenly asked: "Do you know why I wanted the Daning border army to be entirely cavalry?"

This question.

Left both Chen Heng and Zhang Wu stunned, their faces showing contemplation.

A while later.

Zhang Wu's eyes lit up, and he whispered: "General, could it be that you want to strike into the heartland of Northern Yuan?"

"To seal Mount Langju and crush the Hu invaders."

"That is my wish."

Zhu Ying laughed and said no more.

He strode toward the main camp.

Chen Heng and Zhang Wu looked at each other, both carrying an indescribable ambition.

To seal Mount Langju!

If that could truly be achieved, it would be a legacy for a thousand years!

As Zhu Ying's two deputy generals, they would also live on in history alongside Zhu Ying's name.

"Zhang Wu."

"Following the General, we shall be remembered for eternity."

Chen Heng said with a serious expression.

"That goes without saying."

Zhang Wu also nodded heavily.

Very quickly!

The three of them arrived at the main camp.

The personal guards stationed outside immediately pulled back the curtain for Zhu Ying.

Entering the camp.

It was already full of people.

Guo Ying sat upright in the main seat.

But today.

It was not Lan Yu and Zhu Di sitting on the left and right sides.

Instead, a man who looked a few years younger than Zhu Ying, dressed in a prince's robe, sat in the first seat on the right, while Zhu Di sat in the first seat on the left.

Lan Yu and Li Jinglong sat in the second positions.

"Which of Old Zhu's sons is this person?"

Zhu Ying swept his peripheral vision and naturally saw the man in the prince's robe in the first seat on the right immediately.

From the prince's robe on his body, one could naturally conclude that he was a son of Zhu Yuanzhang, and also already enfeoffed as a Prince.

"General Zhu has arrived."

As Zhu Ying walked in, the commander of Guo Ying's personal guards inside shouted loudly.

Instantly!

The gazes of the generals in the tent turned toward the tent entrance.

Zhu Ying!

Currently in the Northern Expedition army, although his official rank was not the highest and his title was not the highest, his prestige was absolutely the highest.

Just by the fact that Zhu Ying had routed one hundred thousand Northern Yuan iron cavalry, this was the foundation.

And the man in the prince's robe sitting in the first seat on the right also immediately raised his head, looking at Zhu Ying with great curiosity.

As Zhu Ying approached step by step, walking toward the center of the tent.

The expression of this man in the prince's robe also became incredibly shocked, his eyes widening in great astonishment.

"Xiongying... is it Xiongying?"

"These eyes, they are too similar."

"They are exactly the same as Xiongying when he was a child."

The man in the prince's robe stared fixedly at Zhu Ying, especially at Zhu Ying's eyes, the shock in his eyes indescribable.

"Why is this vassal prince the same as Zhu Di?"

"Staring at me the moment he sees me."

As soon as he entered.

Zhu Ying felt the gaze of that man in the prince's robe; although he did not know who he was, the moment he saw him, his gaze was exactly the same as when he first saw Zhu Di.

His eyes were completely fixed on him.

If he were a woman, it would be fine, and one might guess he was interested.

But the problem was he was not.

These men of the Zhu family were truly strange.

"This subordinate pays respects to the Grand General."

Arriving at the center of the camp, Zhu Ying immediately led Chen Heng and the other to bow and salute.

"Hahaha."

"General Zhu, no need for such formalities, take your seat."

Guo Ying laughed loudly.

He waved his hand.

Pointing to the third seat on the left.

Right beside Lan Yu.

Having been in the army for so long, and having fought for so long, ever since Liaodong, Lan Yu had always found Zhu Ying an eyesore, and of course, Zhu Ying also found Lan Yu an eyesore.

But today they had to sit together; this was indeed a rare occurrence.

If there was no maneuvering by Guo Ying in this, it would definitely be a strange thing.

However.

Zhu Ying did not say much, but sat directly beside Lan Yu.

Lan Yu, on the other hand, was expressionless and did not even glance at Zhu Ying.

As for Chen Heng and Zhang Wu, they sat in the two seats behind Zhu Ying.

"Everyone has arrived."

Guo Ying scanned the room and said with a smile.

"Reporting to the Grand General."

"Everyone has arrived," Li Jinglong said with a smile.

"Our two Northern Expedition armies have gathered, merging into one; this also signals that breaking through the Northern Yuan capital is not far off," Guo Ying said with a loud laugh, his expression also very moved.

"Grand General."

"We are now only two garrison cities away from the Yuan capital."

"Even if the Yuan army is garrisoned for defense, they are ultimately a defeated force, their morale lost; the day we break through the Yuan capital is not far off," Li Jinglong said very seriously.

The situation on the battlefield was now completely clear.

Naturally, there was no need for more words.

"Marquis Yongchang."

"Have all the troops of your army merged?" Guo Ying asked, looking at Lan Yu.

"Reporting to the Grand General."

"All the forces of my army have merged," Lan Yu immediately replied, cupping his hands.

"Our Northern Expedition army currently still has nearly two hundred and sixty thousand troops; compared to the Yuan soldiers killed and captured, our casualties can be called minor."

"This Northern Expedition is about to reach the Northern Yuan capital; this military merit was achieved by all the soldiers."

"And even more so, the merit of the leadership of all the generals."

"I, here, thank all the generals."

Guo Ying, at this moment, cupped his hands very solemnly and said to the generals in the tent.

"Grand General, you are too kind."

The generals also cupped their hands in return.

Guo Ying smiled, changed the subject, and looked directly at Zhu Ying.

"Of course."

"The reason this Northern Expedition battle has been so rapid, the troop movements so swift, and the Yuan army slaughtered until they were in total disarray."

"The greatest military merit undoubtedly belongs to General Zhu."

"If it were not for General Zhu breaking the Northern Yuan border city in one day, if it were not for General Zhu routing the one hundred thousand Northern Yuan iron cavalry."

"Today."

"Our two armies would never have gathered here so quickly, and might even have been blocked and routed by the Northern Yuan iron cavalry," Guo Ying said loudly, his words showing no attempt to hide his recognition of the military merit Zhu Ying had achieved and the results he had attained.

Regarding this.

The generals in the second army all nodded one after another, expressing their agreement.

After all, this was a fact.

But the generals of the first army, Lan Yu, Chang Mao, and other Huaixi generals, were noncommittal and sneered, not even showing an expression of agreement.

Perhaps in their hearts, they had to admit that Zhu Ying was excellent at commanding troops and had routed the Northern Yuan iron cavalry, but on the surface, they still loathed him to the extreme.

"And the military merit belonging to General Zhu."

"The current Emperor has already bestowed rewards."

Guo Ying smiled, but his expression gradually became serious.

"Bring in the Imperial Envoy."

Guo Ying said loudly, and also quickly stood up from his seat.

The generals in the tent were startled and also stood up one after another, including Zhu Ying.

"Why is this reward coming so quickly? Why not wait until after the Northern Expedition is over?"

Zhu Ying was also slightly surprised, but a look of anticipation appeared on his face.

It was just right that the reward had come; he could get another treasure chest.

As Guo Ying's voice rang out.

From outside the tent.

A Battalion Commander of the Imperial Guard, dressed in battle armor and wearing a red cloak, walked in slowly.

In his hands, he held two imperial edicts, appearing extremely solemn.

Watching his arrival.

Everyone dared not show any negligence and bowed one after another: "We subjects welcome the imperial edict."

The Imperial Guard Battalion Commander stood in the hall, opened one of the imperial edicts, and immediately read aloud: "By the order of the Emperor, it is decreed!"

"Regarding the battle at the Northern Yuan Royal Pasture, I am already clear."

"One hundred thousand Northern Yuan iron cavalry wanted to destroy our Northern Expedition army and cut off our Northern Expedition path."

"Earl of Champions, Daning Regional Military Commissioner Zhu Ying, used formations to resist the enemy and cavalry to break the enemy, routing the one hundred thousand Northern Yuan iron cavalry, achieving a complete victory."

"I am deeply proud."

"Zhu Ying is worthy of the name of our Great Ming Champion, worthy of the backbone of our Great Ming generals, and even more worthy of the military soul of our Great Ming soldiers."

"Hereby."

"Earl of Champions Zhu Ying, having merit in breaking the enemy, deserves heavy grace and heavy rewards."

"At the request of the Crown Prince, promote 【Earl of Champions】 to 【Marquis of Champions】."

"And in the name of 【Marquis of Champions Zhu Ying】, along with the merit of the great victory of the Northern Expedition and the results of the battle of crushing the Northern Yuan iron cavalry, announce it to the world to show imperial grace."

"Respect this."

The Imperial Guard Battalion Commander read aloud.

Regarding this, no one dared to be the slightest bit negligent.

And as the reading of this imperial edict concluded.

In the tent, the expressions of the many generals were different; some were shocked, some were jealous, some were deeply envious, and others were full of admiration.

It could be said.

These generals were truly diverse.

"The name of Marquis of Champions Zhu Ying shall be announced to the world along with the great victory!!"

Especially this sentence.

This was enough to move all the generals.

Because everyone knew very well that once it was announced, he would be famous throughout the world and gain endless prestige.

Moreover.

This was even more of a natural "gold medal for exemption from death."

Under such great prestige.

It could be said that with the merit of building great achievements for the country, in the future, as long as he did not rebel, this prestige alone could protect his life.

"What virtue or ability does he have? How can he receive such honor?"

"To have his name announced to the world along with the great victory."

"What kind of imperial grace is this?"

"Is the Emperor really going to abandon us in Huaixi? To suppress us in Huaixi, he actually bestows such grace upon this Zhu Ying?" Chang Mao stared fixedly at Zhu Ying, his eyes filled with intense jealousy and unwillingness.

Lan Yu clenched his fists, and a look of unwillingness also emerged on his face.

Although the rank of Duke was incredibly honorable, with this merit of being announced to the world, the rank of Duke seemed to count for little.

This was a solid, supreme honor!

Let alone them.

Even the Grand General Guo Ying, who was commanding the Northern Expedition, was the same, his old face full of shock.

Although he knew the envoy from Ying Tian had arrived, he had not expected that the current Emperor would actually bestow such a heaven-defying honor and heaven-defying grace upon Zhu Ying.

"The Emperor."

"How could he agree to such heaven-defying grace?"

"Given the Emperor's temperament, it shouldn't be like this, right?"

"He would not allow a subject to possess such prestige."

Deep within, Guo Ying was secretly astonished, his heart pounding wildly.

As an old general who had followed Zhu Yuanzhang through the founding of the dynasty and the subsequent campaigns, Guo Ying had clearly seen the Emperor's character through the fate of Hu Weiyong and the many powerful nobles who had died under Zhu Yuanzhang's blade.

To suppress his subjects with majesty—this was the foundation of the Emperor's rule.

Such grace had never been seen before.

Nor had anyone dared to imagine it.

Yet now, it had truly fallen upon Zhu Ying, a battle commander not even twenty years old.

And not just a commander under twenty, but one enfeoffed with a marquisate—the most prestigious Marquis of Champions at that!

This was enough to make everyone feel bitter and jealous.

"Could it be the Crown Prince?"

Guo Ying had a second thought: the imperial decree promoting Zhu Ying to Marquis of Champions had been proposed by the Crown Prince, so it seemed likely that this public announcement had been drafted by him as well.

After all.

In the Hongwu reign of the Great Ming, the Crown Prince was the only one who could issue such decrees.

"If that is the case."

"Zhu Ying's future is unimaginable," Guo Ying thought to himself.

Meanwhile, the two men to the left and right below Guo Ying.

Zhu Di and Zhu Quan both wore expressions of shock.

"He is truly worthy of being our eldest brother."

"Such grace and such high regard—truly, there is no one else like him in the entire court."

"Eldest brother, it seems you also knew of Zhu Ying's capabilities, which is why you bestowed such profound grace," Zhu Di thought, his own feelings incredibly complex.

His own eldest brother!

His prestige was too great.

And his boldness was even greater.

If it were him—if he were the Crown Prince—perhaps he would not have granted Zhu Ying such immense favor.

Perhaps the promotion to a marquisate would be one thing.

But to announce it to the world, letting all the people know of Zhu Ying's battle merits and achievements, making him a hero of the entire Great Ming Empire—this boosted his prestige far too much.

"No wonder Eldest Brother kept telling me to learn well from Zhu Ying when I came; looking at it now, he is indeed worth learning from."

"Crushing the one hundred thousand iron cavalry of the Northern Yuan."

"Marquis of Champions."

"He doesn't look much older than me, yet he has achieved such things."

Zhu Quan gazed at Zhu Ying, his heart filled with inexplicable emotion.

And as the protagonist of this imperial decree, Zhu Ying.

Could not help but feel moved in his heart: "Zhu Biao! He truly has great boldness!"

"This public announcement, issued alongside the news of the great victory in the Northern Expedition—although Zhu Yuanzhang is an emperor for the ages, he is extremely wary of his subjects. This act of boosting prestige by announcing it to the world was definitely not his doing; it must be Crown Prince Zhu Biao."

Regarding this public announcement, Zhu Ying only had to guess for a moment before he realized who had added his name to it.

Through history!

He understood Zhu Yuanzhang too well.

The only one capable of doing such a thing was Zhu Biao.

"What a pity."

"If Zhu Biao had not died young, he might well have become an enlightened ruler surpassing Zhu Di."

At this moment.

Zhu Ying could not help but sigh in his heart.

However.

Seeing that the generals in the tent were all so shocked and speechless, Zhu Ying remained very calm.

What they pursued was actually something Zhu Ying did not care for.

So-called prestige and fame.

The so-called death-exemption medal was, to Zhu Ying, optional.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang was an emperor for the ages, if he were to try to kill him, Zhu Ying would show no mercy and would absolutely turn the Great Ming upside down, relying on his current strength and the many blueprints for weapons, cement, concrete, and other technologies that surpassed this era.

In the future.

As long as Zhu Ying wanted to, he could surely build a powerful nation that surpassed this era.

Surpassing the Great Ming!

That would be a matter of course.

For now, Zhu Ying was in the Great Ming, taking what he needed.

"Subject Zhu Ying, receives the decree and expresses gratitude."

Zhu Ying was very calm as he bowed.

The Battalion Commander of the Imperial Guard immediately stepped forward and placed the imperial decree into Zhu Ying's hands.

"Host has been promoted to 【Non-hereditary Marquis】, rewarded with one First Rank treasure chest."

"Received one imperial decree, rewarded with one ordinary treasure chest," the panel prompted.

"Marquis of Champions."

"This imperial decree is also the Emperor's grace."

"Upon learning that the Marquis of Champions had crushed the Northern Yuan iron cavalry in the northern frontier, the Emperor has already bestowed the title of Third Rank Lady upon Lady Zhu."

"Lady Zhu now enjoys infinite glory in Ying Tian," the Imperial Guard Battalion Commander said to Zhu Ying very respectfully.

"Subject Zhu Ying, thanks the Emperor for his great grace," Zhu Ying said immediately.

He took this imperial decree once more.

"Received one imperial decree, rewarded with one ordinary treasure chest," the panel prompted again; another treasure chest was obtained.

"An imperial decree!"

"Good stuff!"

"I obtained two treasure chests so easily, and for being named Marquis of Champions, there is also a First Rank treasure chest."

"Every time an envoy from Old Zhu comes, it's a good thing," Zhu Ying thought with satisfaction.

"Grand General."

"Now that the decree has been read, the Emperor specifically asked me to pass a message to the Grand General," the Imperial Guard Battalion Commander looked at Guo Ying.

"Please speak."

Guo Ying said immediately.

"The Emperor says that now that the strongest iron cavalry of the Northern Yuan has been crushed by our Great Ming, the Northern Yuan is no longer a cause for concern."

"The Emperor hopes the Grand General will not be greedy for merit or advance rashly, but will proceed steadily and surely," the Imperial Guard Battalion Commander said respectfully.

Upon hearing this!

Guo Ying bowed immediately: "Please tell the Emperor that I will certainly advance steadily and will never be greedy for merit or advance rashly."

"In that case."

"I shall take my leave now."

The Imperial Guard Battalion Commander nodded, said no more, and respectfully exited the tent.

Following this.

Guo Ying's gaze fell upon Zhu Ying, and he laughed loudly: "Marquis of Champions! Today calls for congratulations!"

"Congratulations to the Marquis of Champions."

Li Jinglong and Mu Sheng offered their congratulations immediately.

"Congratulations to the Marquis of Champions."

The many generals in the tent also offered their congratulations to Zhu Ying one after another.

Even the Huaixi generals cupped their fists and went through the motions.

……

(End of chapter)