Chapter 183: Overwhelming Heroic Spirit! Fight for the Great Ming! Vow to Chase to the End!

"Generals, listen up."

"Receive the imperial decree."

Guo Ying, face solemn, held the imperial edict with both hands.

"We humbly receive the imperial decree."

All generals bowed deeply in salute.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"Now."

"We have secured victory in the northern campaign; our troops now stand before the last two guard cities of the Northern Yuan, poised to breach them and advance on the Yuan capital."

"A great victory is within reach."

"To our Great Ming, capturing the Yuan capital is no great challenge."

"But."

"This northern campaign!"

"My intent is not merely to seize Northern Yuan cities, but to utterly eradicate the Northern Yuan."

"To make the Northern Yuan cease to exist."

"After breaching the Yuan capital, I demand our northern army press onward—destroy the Northern Yuan, and ensure our northern frontier knows no more war."

"I will not interfere in troop deployments!"

"Supply lines and provisions will be continuously supplied by the Ministry of War until this northern campaign is truly complete."

Guo Ying read aloud, face stern and solemn.

When the imperial decree was finished being read,

Guo Ying closed the edict and looked toward the generals in the hall.

"Generals."

"Though the Yuan capital falls, the northern campaign is not yet complete."

"The Yuan emperor has fled into the northern frontier—what is your plan for mobilizing troops?" Guo Ying asked in a deep voice.

"Your Excellency, Grand General."

"The Northern Yuan is shattered; no further thought is needed. March straight in, storm the northern frontier, and capture the Yuan emperor alive," Lan Yu immediately declared.

"Erlchang Hou's thinking is far too simplistic."

"If the northern frontier were truly so easy, why would China’s dynasties throughout history have been powerless against northern barbarians, forced to rely solely on defense?"

"The northern frontier is vast, far larger than our central plains."

"It is sparsely populated; one misstep and you vanish into the northern deserts, dying of starvation."

"And if our battle lines stretch too far, our logistical support cannot keep pace."

"Under such conditions, how can we capture the Yuan emperor? How can we destroy the Northern Yuan?"

Seeing Lan Yu speak so lightly, Li Jinglong could not help but speak up.

Though he was poor at commanding troops, his theoretical knowledge was solid—he had read every historical record of northern defenses and campaigns.

"You’ll understand the reality once you’re on the battlefield."

"Now is the time to pursue northward."

"Do not disappoint His Majesty’s expectations."

"We have three hundred thousand troops in hand—the Northern Yuan’s shattered army—what is there to fear?" Lan Yu said coldly.

"If the northern frontier were so easy to conquer, then Erlchang Hou, go ahead and try—but don’t get my Great Ming soldiers killed," Li Jinglong retorted sharply.

"Grand General, issue the order—I beg to lead troops into the northern frontier and capture the Yuan emperor alive," Lan Yu said, cutting short further debate, bowing deeply to Guo Ying.

"I believe this matter requires careful deliberation and caution," Li Jinglong immediately replied.

Seeing this,

Guo Ying did not decide immediately, but turned his gaze to Zhu Ying, who had remained silent: "Prince Guanjun, what is your view? How should we move against the Northern Yuan?"

Seeing his name called,

Zhu Ying stepped forward slowly, face solemn: "I repeat my words: storm the northern frontier—Danning Frontier Army leads the way."

"Danning now fields an all-cavalry force. Give me half a month’s rations—I will storm the northern frontier and capture or kill the Yuan emperor."

These words,

Zhu Ying spoke with absolute seriousness, more solemn than ever before.

Ever since forming his all-cavalry force, Zhu Ying had already planned to penetrate deep into the northern frontier, just as he had once shattered the Jian Nu , to capture or kill the Yuan emperor.

"Prince Guanjun, do you intend only to lead your own forty thousand cavalry into the northern frontier?"

Guo Ying’s expression changed—he clearly understood Zhu Ying’s meaning.

"In the northern frontier, infantry cannot fight effectively; penetrating deep means nine deaths, one survival."

"Only cavalry can ride and strike freely across the northern frontier."

"I once fought for months across the Jian Nu lands in the northern frontier—I have experience fighting there, and I am confident I can capture or kill the Yuan emperor in this campaign. I beg Your Excellency to grant me permission," Zhu Ying said again, solemnly petitioning.

"Prince Guanjun."

"Understand this clearly."

"Once you penetrate deep into the northern frontier, nine deaths, one survival."

"You may be utterly isolated and unsupported," Guo Ying said gravely.

"I am certain: with our current infantry, we cannot capture or kill the Yuan emperor. Only cavalry can accomplish this."

"To fulfill His Majesty’s northern campaign victory, we must take this risk—if we wish to win," Zhu Ying said firmly.

Hearing this,

Guo Ying fell into deep thought.

The imperial decree had set the northern campaign’s objective: if unfulfilled, this campaign could not be called a true victory.

As Zhu Ying said, infantry would achieve little in this battle.

The Northern Yuan tribes could simply migrate northward, fleeing to places our army could never find.

Since ancient times,

whenever northern barbarians grew weak, they retreated northward, hiding everywhere. Even when China’s armies were mighty, they could never locate their hiding places or eliminate them.

Once the Han forces withdrew, the barbarians would gradually return to their original lands.

"Grand General."

"That battle crushed a hundred thousand Northern Yuan troops. Danning Frontier Army has forty thousand cavalry, and our forces now possess many warhorses—we also have nearly forty thousand cavalry."

"Thus,"

"Our northern army now has close to one hundred thousand cavalry."

"Since Prince Guanjun wishes to storm the northern frontier with cavalry, I too beg to personally lead a cavalry force into the northern frontier."

"This time, I shall compete with Prince Guanjun—let us see who captures or kills the Yuan emperor, and who earns for the Great Ming the monumental glory of shattering the Northern Yuan."

Seeing Zhu Ying petition for cavalry pursuit, Lan Yu could not hold back—he spoke up immediately.

At this moment,

it was evenly matched.

An invisible tension now filled the hall.

After all,

after this northern campaign,

it was clear: Great Ming might not see major warfare for a long time. For generals seeking promotion, this was the decisive battle.

Though Lan Yu had already received Crown Prince Zhu Biao’s promise that, should he earn merit, he would be recommended as Duke,

Lan Yu still wanted to become Duke in the most glorious way possible.

He must claim the glory of this battle.

"Grand General."

"I, Your Highness, believe"

"Prince Guanjun speaks wisely."

"In this campaign,"

"Infantry penetrating the northern frontier is suicide. Our northern infantry’s role is to advance steadily northward, drawing the Northern Yuan’s attention, while Prince Guanjun and Erlchang Hou lead cavalry to storm the frontier—only then might we have a chance to capture the Yuan emperor."

At this moment,

Zhu Di, who had stood silently beside them like an onlooker, spoke up.

He immediately endorsed the decision to send cavalry into the northern frontier.

From his perspective, this was the only viable path.

Of course,

as his words implied,

in the vast northern frontier, infantry served little purpose; cannons and heavy weapons were nearly impossible to transport; if supply lines stretched too far, the Northern Yuan would launch relentless, unpredictable raids.

Only cavalry,

striking where they advanced, sustaining themselves through war, could endure in the northern frontier.

"Prince Guanjun, Erlchang Hou."

"Since both of you are so confident, and possess the heart to serve the Great Ming and shatter the Northern Yuan,"

"how could I refuse you?"

Guo Ying looked at Zhu Ying and the other with a solemn expression.

At this moment,

Guo Ying had no other choice.

Besides relying on cavalry to confront the Yuan Emperor—or even capture him—Guo Ying knew infantry could not accomplish it.

He could only place his hope in the cavalry.

If the Northern Yuan did not collapse, this great northern campaign’s victory would not be a true victory.

“Prince Guan, Marquis Yongchang, attend.”

Guo Ying spoke at once, his expression grave.

“Your servants are present,” Zhu Ying and Lan Yu replied in unison, bowing deeply.

“Daning has forty thousand cavalry; I assign you to reinforce them to fifty thousand, drawing ten thousand from the Beiping Army.”

“As for Marquis Yongchang, I also grant you sufficient warhorses to bring your cavalry to fifty thousand.”

“The two armies, totaling one hundred thousand cavalry, shall invade the northern frontier. Your mission: capture the Yuan Emperor, or utterly dismantle the Yuan imperial clan and nobility, so that the Northern Yuan’s order ceases to exist,” Guo Ying said in a deep voice.

“Your servants accept the order.”

Zhu Ying and Lan Yu replied in unison.

To accomplish this mission,

meant everything to Zhu Ying.

To seal Langjuxu!

To seize the Imperial Seal!

Both were things Zhu Ying must obtain.

No one could stop him.

For Lan Yu, his heart desired the same: to seal Langjuxu, to cement his dukedom beyond any doubt.

“As for the infantry,”

“I shall command them personally, advancing with force against the Northern Yuan.”

“Engage enemies, draw as many as possible.”

“To create opportunity for you two generals.”

“As for the rations carried with the army...”

Guo Ying paused, turning directly to the quartermaster: “Tonight, the cooks shall work without rest. By the fastest means possible, prepare twenty days’ rations for every soldier departing.”

“Your servant accepts the order.”

The quartermaster replied at once.

“Enough.”

“Generals, is there anything else to add?”

“Speak now.”

Guo Ying scanned the warlords in the hall with a solemn gaze.

At this moment,

the broad plan was set.

Now it was Zhu Ying or Lan Yu’s turn to add.

“Besides rations,”

“I require ample arrows—each cavalryman must carry one hundred,” Zhu Ying said without hesitation.

“I demand the same.”

Lan Yu replied, unwilling to yield.

In short,

this time he would settle matters once and for all with Zhu Ying.

The glory of sealing Langjuxu,

even the feat of capturing and killing the Yuan Emperor—he would claim it at all costs.

“I shall allocate the entire army’s arrows, prioritizing the cavalry’s needs,” Guo Ying immediately agreed.

Afterwards,

the generals submitted their requests one by one; there remained little else to discuss.

The decision to march north to the frontier was settled.

Under the full leadership of General Guo Ying,

from this day,

the cooks worked tirelessly to produce rations, and supplies—arrows, bows, crossbows—were swiftly delivered to the cavalry.

In just two days,

at the Great Wall,

once the ancestral land of the Han, now decayed and neglected due to years of Northern Yuan occupation,

“The Great Wall!”

“After this battle, we shall rebuild the Great Wall of Huaxia.”

Before the decaying wall stood forty thousand Daning frontier cavalry, ten thousand Beiping cavalry.

Each soldier’s horse carried ample rations and water.

Each soldier wore red uniforms, black armor, battle helmets, and carried two quivers of arrows and a bow on their backs.

Each soldier stood in solemn readiness.

“Brothers,”

“Do you know what great feat we shall accomplish today?”

Zhu Ying, mounted on Wufeng, stood at the front, gazing at the tens of thousands of Ming soldiers, and shouted.

“Follow our general, crush the Northern Yuan!”

“Follow our general, capture and kill the Yuan Emperor!”

Tens of thousands of soldiers answered in unison, brimming with spirit, vigor, and absolute trust in Zhu Ying.

“Though the Yuan capital has fallen, though their city has been taken,”

“Yet,”

“the Northern Yuan is not destroyed.”

“The threat to the northern frontier remains.”

“Today, we mobilize,”

“and only now does our Great Ming’s true northern campaign begin.”

“Only by capturing and killing the Yuan Emperor, only by dismantling the Northern Yuan, can our northern frontier know lasting peace, can our northern people survive.”

“Today, we mobilize,”

“and you, my brothers, shall ride with me, Zhu Ying, into the northern frontier, doing as the Prince Guan Huo Qubing once did.”

“I, Zhu Ying, shamelessly bear the title Prince Guan—I must fulfill its duty.”

“This battle is perilous; the northern frontier is nine deaths, one life.”

“But for the Ming, for the people of the northern frontier, we must fight!”

“Brothers, will you follow me, Zhu Ying, into the northern frontier, to destroy the Northern Yuan?”

Zhu Ying raised his battle saber and roared.

“We swear to follow our general to death!”

“We swear to follow our general to death!”

…

Fifty thousand soldiers—whether Daning frontier troops or Beiping cavalry—raised their long sabers and shouted in unison.

Each was brimming with morale, each carried certainty of victory, fearlessness, and the resolve to die wrapped in horsehide.

This battle!

Even if we die, we shall have no regrets.

“Once, the Mongols shattered our Huaxia gates, enslaving us for a hundred years.”

“Once, in our mighty Han, Prince Guan slaughtered barbarians until they were thrown into chaos.”

“Today,”

“the roles have reversed.”

“Soldiers, follow me—charge into the northern frontier!”

“Destroy the Northern Yuan!”

Zhu Ying swung his battle saber upward.

He dug his heels into his horse’s flanks.

Wufeng let out a neigh.

He charged first toward the north.

“We swear to follow our general to death!”

“Kill!”

Fifty thousand cavalry roared as one, spurred their horses, and surged past the decaying, ruined Great Wall—long desecrated by the Northern Yuan—charging northward.

Charge at the Northern Yuan dynasty, already spent and fading!

This battle.

Zhu Ying will lead the Great Ming soldiers, as warriors of Huaxia, and utterly crush the Northern Yuan.

This battle.

Even if we die on the battlefield, wrapped in horsehide, even if we fall far from home, we die without regret.

This battle.

We fight for our descendants—we must fight.

……

The Imperial Palace of Ying Tianfu , the Fengtian Hall!

“Your Majesty, I bring news.”

“A momentous victory.”

“We have just received word.”

“The Northern Yuan’s new capital has fallen to our northern expeditionary army.”

“From this day forward, all lands once belonging to our ancient Xia, south of the Great Wall, have been reclaimed.”

“The Northern Yuan dynasty’s fate is spent.”

Tang Duo, trembling with uncontainable excitement, held the battle report aloft and proclaimed it loudly.

At this moment,

Even as a Minister, he could not hide the emotion on his face.

“The Yuan capital has fallen.”

“The Northern Yuan’s fate is ended.”

“Your servants humbly congratulate Your Majesty.”

“Our Great Ming shall endure forever.”

“Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!”

……

All court officials rose in unison, crying out in wild excitement.

……

(End of Chapter)