Chapter 183

"Generals."

"Listen to the edict."

Guo Ying was serious, holding the imperial edict with both hands.

"We respectfully listen to the imperial edict."

All the generals bowed and worshipped.

"By the order of the Emperor, it is said!"

"Now."

"We have already achieved the fruits of the northern expedition army, have reached the last two guard cities of the Northern Yuan capital, and are about to break the city and attack the Yuan capital."

"The fruits of great victory are about to be achieved."

"For our Great Ming, breaking the Yuan capital is not a difficult task."

"But."

"This northern expedition!"

"Our heart is not to seize the cities of the Northern Yuan, but to completely destroy the Northern Yuan."

"Let the Northern Yuan cease to exist."

"After breaking the Yuan capital, we want the northern expedition army to continue the pursuit, destroy the Northern Yuan for us, and let our Great Ming northern frontier have no more war."

"As for the specific troop movements, we will not interfere!"

"We will let the Ministry of War supply the supplies and baggage continuously until the northern expedition is truly successful."

Guo Ying read aloud, with a serious face.

When the imperial edict was read.

Guo Ying closed the imperial edict and looked at the generals in the hall.

"Generals."

"Although the Yuan capital has been broken, the northern expedition has not been completed."

"This time the Yuan Emperor has escaped into the northern frontier; what strategies do you generals have for moving troops?" Guo Ying asked in a deep voice.

"Reporting to the Grand General."

"The Northern Yuan has already collapsed; there is no need to think too much—drive straight in, kill into the northern frontier, and capture the Yuan Emperor alive." Lan Yu said immediately.

"The Marquis of Yongchang thinks too simply."

"If the northern frontier were really that simple, our Huaxia dynasties throughout history would not have been helpless against the foreign tribes in the north and could only focus on defense."

"The northern frontier is vast, even larger than our Central Plains territory."

"And the land is vast and sparsely populated; if you are not careful, you will get lost in the northern frontier desert and eventually die of exhaustion of supplies."

"And the battle line is stretched, and our army's logistics supply cannot keep up at all."

"In this situation, how can we capture the Yuan Emperor? How can we destroy the Northern Yuan?"

Watching Lan Yu speak lightly, Li Jinglong couldn't help but speak.

Although he was not good at commanding troops, his theory was sufficient; after all, the defenses and wars regarding the north throughout history could be seen in books.

"You will know the situation once you are on the battlefield."

"Now is the time to pursue north."

"Don't let down the Emperor's expectations."

"With thirty thousand troops in hand, the Northern Yuan is all collapsed troops; what is there to fear?" Lan Yu said coldly.

"If the northern frontier were so easy to fight, then the Marquis of Yongchang can try it, just don't harm our Great Ming soldiers." Li Jinglong also retorted without ceremony.

"Please, Grand General, give the order; this humble general is willing to lead the army to kill into the northern frontier and capture the Yuan Emperor alive." Lan Yu was also too lazy to say more and bowed directly to Guo Ying, asking for the order.

"This humble general feels that this matter still needs to be thought over three times and be steady." Li Jinglong said immediately.

Seeing this.

Guo Ying did not decide immediately, but looked at Zhu Ying, who had not spoken: "Marquis of Champions, what is your opinion on this matter? How should we move troops against the Northern Yuan?"

Seeing that he was called upon.

Zhu Ying also stepped out slowly, with a serious face: "This humble general still says the same thing: kill into the northern frontier, and the Daning border army will go first."

"Daning now has all cavalry; give this humble general half a month's rations, and this humble general is willing to kill into the northern frontier and capture the Yuan Emperor."

These words.

Zhu Ying was extremely serious, carrying unprecedented solemnity.

When they were all cavalry back then, Zhu Ying had already planned to go deep into the northern frontier, just like when he killed through the Jianzhou Jurchens, to capture the Yuan Emperor.

"Does the Marquis of Champions only want to lead his four thousand cavalry to kill into the northern frontier?"

Guo Ying's expression changed; he naturally understood what Zhu Ying meant.

"In the battle of the northern frontier, infantry cannot exert combat power at all; going deep into the northern frontier is a life of nine deaths."

"Only by cavalry charging can one gallop in the northern frontier."

"This humble general has experience in charging in the Jianzhou Jurchen territory in the northern frontier for several months and fighting in the northern frontier; this humble general has confidence that after this battle, I will capture the Yuan Emperor, please allow it, Grand General." Zhu Ying asked for the order again solemnly.

"Marquis of Champions."

"You have to be clear."

"Once you go deep into the northern frontier, it is a life of nine deaths."

"Even isolated and helpless." Guo Ying said in a deep voice.

"This humble general can be sure that with the current infantry of the northern expedition army, it is impossible to capture the Yuan Emperor; only by relying on the power of cavalry can it be done."

"If you want to complete the northern expedition's victory for the Emperor, you must take risks; only then can you win." Zhu Ying said in a deep voice.

Hearing this.

Guo Ying had a thoughtful look on his face.

This time the imperial edict arrived, and the current Emperor's northern expedition victory had already been set; if it could not be completed, then this northern expedition could not be considered a great victory.

And just as Zhu Ying said, in this battle, the results achieved by the infantry would not be too great.

Because the tribes of the Northern Yuan could migrate north, migrate to other places, and hide where the northern expedition army could not find them.

From ancient times to the present, throughout history.

When the foreign tribes in the northern frontier were weak, they would migrate north and hide everywhere; even if the Han army's blade was strong, they could not find their hiding place and could not solve them.

When the Han army withdrew, they would gradually return to their original places.

"Grand General."

"That battle defeated the Northern Yuan's one hundred thousand army; the Daning border army has four thousand cavalry, and our army has also obtained many warhorses and also has nearly four thousand troops."

"In this way."

"Our northern expedition army's cavalry is close to one hundred thousand."

"Since the Marquis of Champions wants to kill into the northern frontier with cavalry, this humble general is also willing to personally command a cavalry army and kill into the northern frontier."

"This humble general wants to compete with the Marquis of Champions this time to see who can capture the Yuan Emperor and who can establish this heaven-defying merit for the Great Ming to disintegrate the Northern Yuan."

Seeing Zhu Ying ask for cavalry pursuit, Lan Yu naturally couldn't help it and said immediately.

At this moment.

It seemed evenly matched.

An invisible smell of gunpowder was also permeating the hall.

After all.

After this northern expedition battle.

It was completely conceivable that the Great Ming might not have any more wars for a long time in the future; for military generals to be promoted, this was the key battle.

Although Lan Yu had already received the promise of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, as long as he made contributions in the future, he could recommend Lan Yu to become a Duke.

But Lan Yu still wanted to be a Duke, and to be a beautiful one.

He must strive for the merit of this battle.

"Grand General."

"I actually feel."

"The Marquis of Champions' words are reasonable."

"This battle."

"Infantry going deep into the northern frontier is no different from sending them to death; what our northern expedition infantry can do is to move north step by step, attracting the attention of the Northern Yuan, while the Marquis of Champions and the Marquis of Yongchang can lead the cavalry to kill into the northern frontier; perhaps only then will there be a chance to capture the Yuan Emperor."

At this time!

Zhu Di, who had been standing on the side like nothing happened, spoke up.

He agreed with the resolution of the cavalry killing into the northern frontier as soon as he spoke.

After all, from his perspective, he could only do so now.

Of course.

Just as he echoed.

In that vast northern frontier, the use of infantry was not great, and heavy weapons like cannons were difficult to transport, and if the grain road was stretched, the Northern Yuan would definitely launch attacks, which were hard to guard against.

Only cavalry.

Attack one place, kill one place, and can survive in the northern frontier by fighting to support fighting.

"Marquis of Champions, Marquis of Yongchang."

"Since the two of you are so confident and have the heart to serve the Great Ming and disintegrate the Northern Yuan."

"How can I not allow it?"

Guo Ying looked at Zhu Ying and the other with a serious face.

At this point.

Guo Ying also had no other choice.

Except for relying on cavalry to deal with the Yuan Emperor, or even capturing him, Guo Ying also knew that infantry could not do it.

He could only pin his hope on the cavalry.

If the Northern Yuan was not disintegrated, the victory of this northern expedition would not be a real victory.

"Marquis of Champions, Marquis of Yongchang, listen to the order."

Guo Ying said immediately, his expression serious.

"This humble general is here." Zhu Ying and Lan Yu responded immediately and bowed.

"Daning has four thousand cavalry; I will give you a supplement to five thousand cavalry, and transfer one thousand cavalry from the Beiping army to the ranks."

"As for the Marquis of Yongchang, I will also give you enough warhorses to make up five thousand cavalry."

"Two armies, a total of ten thousand cavalry, kill into the northern frontier; the mission is to capture the Yuan Emperor, or completely disintegrate the Northern Yuan royal family, Northern Yuan nobles, and let the Northern Yuan order cease to exist." Guo Ying said in a deep voice.

"This humble general obeys the order."

Zhu Ying and Lan Yu said in unison.

Taking this mission.

For Zhu Ying, it was of great significance.

Sealing Mount Langjuxu!

Imperial Jade Seal!

Both were things Zhu Ying inevitably wanted to obtain.

No one could stop him.

And for Lan Yu, what he thought in his heart was also sealing Mount Langjuxu, to make the name of Duke have no controversy with this merit, and to establish the name of Duke.

"As for the infantry."

"I will command it personally, pressing toward the Northern Yuan with an offensive posture."

"Kill the enemy when you meet them, and attract the Northern Yuan as much as possible."

"Create opportunities for the two generals."

"As for the dry rations carried by the army..."

Guo Ying paused and looked directly at the quartermaster: "The fire-head army will not stop tonight; you must prepare twenty days of dry rations for every soldier going on the expedition as quickly as possible."

"This humble general obeys the order."

The quartermaster responded immediately.

"Alright."

"Generals, is there anything else to add?"

"Speak now."

Guo Ying scanned the battle generals in the hall with a serious face.

At this moment.

The general plan had been set.

Next, it was Zhu Ying or Lan Yu's turn to add.

"Except for dry rations."

"This humble general also wants enough arrows; every cavalryman must be equipped with one hundred arrows." Zhu Ying didn't even think and added immediately.

"This humble general is the same."

Lan Yu also said without showing weakness.

In short.

This time he wanted to fight Zhu Ying to the end.

This merit of sealing Mount Langjuxu.

And even the merit of capturing the Yuan Emperor, he was determined to win.

"I will dispatch the arrows of the whole army, prioritizing the needs of the cavalry." Guo Ying nodded and agreed immediately.

Afterward.

The generals reported one by one, and there were not many things left.

This discussion of going north to the northern frontier was set here.

Under the full chairmanship of Guo Ying, the Grand General.

From today.

The fire-head army began to make dry rations with all its strength, and the supplies used by the army, arrows, bows, and crossbows were also transported to the cavalry.

It was only two days' time.

Where the Great Wall was.

This was the old land that belonged to the Han family in the past; this Great Wall had already decayed and was in disrepair, naturally because of the Northern Yuan's many years of occupation.

"Great Wall!"

"After this battle, it will be the battle to reshape the Huaxia Great Wall."

In front of the decaying Great Wall, four thousand Daning border army cavalry and one thousand Beiping army cavalry were already standing.

Every soldier's warhorse carried enough dry rations and water.

Every soldier was in a red military uniform, wearing black armor, wearing a battle helmet, and hanging two arrow quivers and a bow behind his back.

Every soldier was waiting solemnly.

"Brothers."

"Do you know what kind of feat we are going to complete today?"

Zhu Ying drove Wufeng, stood in front of the formation, looked at the tens of thousands of Great Ming soldiers in front of him, and said loudly.

"Follow the general, flatten the Northern Yuan."

"Follow the general, capture the Yuan Emperor."

Countless soldiers responded in unison, full of fighting spirit, full of high spirits, each carrying absolute trust in Zhu Ying.

"Although the Yuan capital has been broken and the Yuan city has been seized."

"However."

"The Northern Yuan has not been destroyed."

"The disaster of the northern frontier has not been solved."

"Moving troops today."

"Is the true northern expedition of our Great Ming."

"Only by capturing the Yuan Emperor and disintegrating the Northern Yuan can the peace of our Great Ming northern frontier be long-lasting, and the people of our Great Ming northern frontier can survive."

"Moving troops today."

"Brothers will follow me, Zhu Ying, to kill into the northern frontier and do the same thing as the former Marquis of Champions, Huo Qubing."

"I, Zhu Ying, am thick-skinned and have been granted the title of Marquis of Champions, so I should naturally fulfill the responsibility of this title."

"This battle is dangerous, and the northern frontier is a life of nine deaths."

"But, for the Great Ming, for the people of the northern frontier, we must fight!"

"Are you brothers willing to follow me, Zhu Ying, to kill into the northern frontier and destroy the Northern Yuan?"

Zhu Ying held up the battle knife in his hand and shouted loudly.

"Swear to follow the general to the death."

"Swear to follow the general to the death."

Fifty thousand soldiers, whether they were Daning border troops or Beiping cavalry, all raised the long knives in their hands and shouted in unison.

Each one was high in morale, each carrying a belief in victory, fearlessness, and wrapping their bodies in horse leather.

This battle!

No regrets even if they die.

"In the past, the Mongols broke through our Huaxia national gate and enslaved our Huaxia for a hundred years."

"In the past, when I was strong in the Han dynasty, the Marquis of Champions killed the foreign tribes until they were turned upside down."

"Today."

"The offense and defense have changed."

"Soldiers, follow me, kill into the northern frontier."

"Destroy the Northern Yuan!"

Zhu Ying raised his battle knife and waved it.

He clamped the horse's belly fiercely.

Wufeng let out a neigh.

He took the lead and rushed toward the north.

"Swear to follow the general to the death."

"Kill!"

Fifty thousand cavalry shouted in unison, moved their horses, followed Zhu Ying, crossed the decaying Great Wall ruins that had been ruined by the Northern Yuan, and killed toward the north.

Killing toward the Northern Yuan dynasty, which was already at the end of its rope!

This battle.

Zhu Ying would lead them, as Great Ming soldiers, as Huaxia soldiers, to completely defeat the Northern Yuan.

This battle.

Even if they wrap their bodies in horse leather, even if they die in a foreign land, they will have no regrets.

This battle.

Is for the descendants, and it must be fought.

Ying Tian Prefecture Palace, Feng Tian Hall!

"Reporting to the Emperor."

"Great victory report."

"Just received news."

"The Yuan new capital has been broken by our northern expedition army."

"From now on, our former Xia land, within the Great Wall, has all been recovered."

"The Northern Yuan dynasty's luck has come to an end."

Tang Duo brought unspeakable excitement, holding the victory report, and reported loudly.

At this moment.

Even as a Minister, he could not hide the look of being moved on his face.

"Yuan capital broken."

"Northern Yuan luck ended."

"We congratulate the Emperor."

"Our Great Ming, for endless millennia."

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long long live."

All the civil and military officials followed, shouting excitedly.

(End of chapter)