Chapter 196: Capture the Emperor! Huge Windfall! Incredible Harvest!

When Zhu Ying rode up on a black horse, clad in a red robe and armor, wielding a tiger-head saber, the royal guard troops surrounding the carriage turned deathly pale; fear surged from the depths of their eyes, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

In today’s Northern Yuan, perhaps even Zhu Yuanzhang lacked the intimidation factor that Zhu Ying possessed.

Within the Northern Yuan, Zhu Ying’s name had long become synonymous with “God of Death,” striking terror into countless hearts; his reputation was so fearsome it rivaled that of Bai Qi of the Warring States, whose name alone could silence crying children in Zhao.

“Black horse, red robe and armor, tiger-head saber!”

In the Northern Yuan, everyone now knew this phrase; upon seeing a warrior dressed thus, the people and soldiers of the Northern Yuan knew instantly it was Zhu Ying.

And how could these royal guards not know?

“What?”

Zhu Ying pulled his reins, his sharp gaze sweeping over the royal guards, a cold smile curling on his lips: “You all recognize me?”

“Brothers!”

The lead royal guard commander forced his trembling body upright and screamed with all his strength: “Protect the Emperor at all costs! Fight this Zhu Ying! Charge together—kill him!”

“Kill!”

At these words, the surrounding royal guards gripped their weapons tightly, their steps chaotic yet resolute with suicidal determination, charging wildly toward Zhu Ying.

In an instant, blades, spears, and shadows clashed; the shrill clang of metal echoed all around.

Zhu Ying sneered, flicked his wrist sharply, and the tiger-head saber sliced through the air, unleashing a flurry of lethal blade flashes.

Where the blade passed, Northern Yuan soldiers fell like withered leaves swept by autumn wind, collapsing into pools of blood; splashes of crimson bloomed like grotesque flowers across his red armor.

Slaying these common soldiers was effortless.

“Slain Northern Yuan soldier, gained 1 point of internal qi…”

“Slain Northern Yuan soldier, gained 1 point of strength…”

Continuous system prompts echoed in his mind; Zhu Ying, exhilarated, eyes bloodshot and brimming with killing intent, swung his saber even faster.

No matter how many Northern Yuan soldiers stood before him, they were nothing but fish on a chopping block, at his mercy.

When he had slain to his heart’s content, Zhu Ying leapt off his horse, stepping through pools of blood and corpses, advancing step by step toward the Emperor’s carriage.

With each step, he swung his saber, cutting down every Northern Yuan soldier who blocked his path.

Within mere dozens of breaths, corpses of Northern Yuan soldiers piled around him, forming a horrifying wall of the dead; thick blood flowed like a breached river in all directions.

And now.

Zhu Ying had reached the carriage.

“Northern Yuan Emperor!”

Zhu Ying barked, leaping onto the carriage and slashing his saber upward—the curtain tore open.

Inside, the Northern Yuan Emperor wore a bright yellow dragon robe caked in dust, his Mongol-style crown askew; he cowered deep within the carriage, his body shaking uncontrollably.

Beside him, two stunningly beautiful concubines clung tightly, faces etched with terror—clearly, even in flight, this old man had not forgotten his pleasures.

Yet.

This so-called emperor showed no imperial dignity, only disgrace and the fear of death.

“Zhu…Zhu Ying.”

The Emperor raised his head, saw Zhu Ying beyond the curtain, and his eyes instantly filled with indescribable terror; his voice trembled with fear.

“I see I’m quite famous in your Northern Yuan.”

Zhu Ying smirked, a mocking grin on his lips: “Even the Northern Yuan Emperor himself knows me.”

“Let me go! Just let me go!”

The Emperor suddenly lunged forward, trembling hands reaching for Zhu Ying’s sleeve, his face twisted with desperate survival instinct: “Whatever you want—I’ll give it to you!”

“If you want to be a king, I’ll make you a king! I’ll give you the largest territory to rule as king!”

“Gold, silver, treasures, beauties—I’ll give you all of them!”

“Name your price—I’ll give you everything.”

“Just let me go—no, let me live.”

At this moment.

To survive, to avoid becoming a prisoner, the Emperor had sunk to utter humility.

Nothing mattered more than himself.

Yet he had utterly underestimated Zhu Ying.

“In my life, I’ll do anything—but I’ll never be a traitor to Han!”

Zhu Ying sneered coldly, his eyes brimming with contempt.

But!

Even as he spoke,

Zhu Ying’s gaze flickered with hesitation—he wrestled internally: should he just kill the Northern Yuan Emperor outright?

Killing a nation’s emperor!

And not just any emperor—the massive Northern Yuan Emperor—what rewards would that bring? Zhu Ying couldn’t imagine.

When he slew the Northern Yuan’s Grand General and Grand Commandant, he received second-tier treasure chests; if he killed this Northern Yuan Emperor now, wouldn’t he at least get a third-tier chest?

What could a third-tier chest yield? Zhu Ying’s heart burned with anticipation.

Yet.

Capturing this Northern Yuan Emperor held value for Zhu Ying now that was incalculable.

Within the entire Great Ming Empire, his prestige would skyrocket; capturing him was far harder than killing him, and this would greatly solidify Zhu Ying’s future standing.

“Kill him—or capture him?” Zhu Ying frowned, eyes filled with inner struggle.

As he pondered, Zhu Ying strode into the carriage, seized the Emperor’s throat—his grip like iron pincers; no blade needed, he could crush the Emperor’s windpipe with ease.

The moment he seized the Emperor,

“Captured Northern Yuan Emperor: gained 400 points in all attributes, gained 400 days of lifespan, awarded one third-tier treasure chest, awarded one second-tier treasure chest.” The system prompt chimed in his ear.

As the attributes surged into him, Zhu Ying felt a torrent of power erupt from every limb and bone; the transformation from the all-attribute boost invigorated his spirit.

“Unexpected windfall!”

Zhu Ying’s eyes sparkled with delight; he burst into laughter, thinking inwardly: “No need to kill him—and still such a massive reward! This time I’ve truly struck gold—two wins in one!”

At the moment of contact, Zhu Ying smiled, his face radiant with triumph and excitement.

To the Emperor, Zhu Ying’s smile looked monstrous.

Without killing him, he had gained such a massive attribute boost—and received a third-tier and a second-tier treasure chest. This was Zhu Ying’s first time receiving such a lavish reward.

Merely capturing him, not killing him, yielded this effect—clearly because the Emperor, as sovereign, carried far greater destiny than the generals and officials Zhu Ying had slain before.

After all, destiny was intangible.

Now that he had captured the Emperor, if he brought him back alive, this Northern Expedition’s victory would be his alone.

And with it, the glory of sealing the Wolf’s Lair—the ultimate honor for a warrior.

Regaining his composure, Zhu Ying released the Emperor’s throat, then seized his collar and hauled him out of the carriage like a chicken.

Then.

Zhu Ying drew a deep breath, channeled his internal qi, and roared: “Brothers! I’ve captured the Northern Yuan Emperor!”

His voice, thunderous and deep, echoed across the chaotic royal encampment, ringing out in all directions.

Every eye turned toward Zhu Ying.

“General’s divine might!”

“General, mighty!”

“Hahaha! The Northern Yuan Emperor has been captured by the General!”

“Mighty indeed!”

“Northern Expedition—great victory!”

“Hahaha…”

Countless Great Ming soldiers, faces flushed, eyes blazing with excitement, raised their arms and roared in unison, their cries shaking the heavens.

They had participated in this unprecedented triumph—how could they not be moved, not exhilarated?

“Brothers! Kill!”

“The Northern Expedition is won—we’ll soon return in triumph!”

“Kill!”

Zhu Ying raised his saber and shouted again.

The soldiers, frenzied as tigers unleashed, charged wildly into the surrounding Northern Yuan troops; screams of battle rose in waves.

But to the Northern Yuan, this scene was a nightmare, a death knell.

Watching their own Emperor captured, their morale shattered instantly; eyes filled with despair, some stood frozen, others discarded armor and fled.

The humiliation of Jingkang now played out perfectly before them.

Everywhere, slaughter—only Great Ming soldiers reveling in bloodshed.

Countless terrified Northern Yuan soldiers, civilians, and nobles fled in panic.

Their flight only stoked the Great Ming soldiers’ bloodlust, making the killing even more frenzied.

“Brothers! Don’t kill those nobles!”

Zhu Ying, watching the soldiers slaughter wildly, shouted a warning: “Bring them back alive—they’re great prizes!”

Looking around, the temporary royal encampment was vast; hundreds of carriages concealed countless Northern Yuan nobles.

If all were brought back, the significance for the Danning Frontier Army would be immense.

“As the General commands!”

The generals responded loudly, restraining their troops who were still slaughtering in frenzy.

Killing ordinary Yuan soldiers was fine, but we must not slaughter those Northern Yuan nobles.

Time gradually passed!

The temporary royal court at Fishing Lake, once used by the Yuan Emperor as a refuge, had become a hell on earth.

Corpses littered the ground, blood flowed everywhere, even seeping into Fishing Lake and staining vast stretches of water crimson; from afar, it looked like a sea of blood.

Yet the results of this battle were truly remarkable.

Deep within the temporary royal court, in a massive tent, a hidden treasury lay beneath the ground.

Zhu Ying stepped into the treasury; the sight before him made his pupils contract slightly, then a smile curled at his lips—excitement blooming.

“The Northern Yuan royal treasury—so much that even the Yuan Emperor couldn’t carry it away.”

Zhu Ying rubbed his hands together, his eyes brimming with greed and exhilaration: “If I don’t fill this to the brim, I’ll be disrespecting my storage space.”

Looking around, gold, silver, and jewels piled like mountains, shimmering brilliantly under torchlight, a dazzling array of treasures.

Besides gold and silver, rare weapons glinted coldly, jade objects gleamed with smooth translucence, antiques exuded ancient elegance, and scrolls and paintings breathed the aura of centuries.

For nearly a century, the Northern Yuan had dominated central China, plundering countless treasures; now, all of it fell into Zhu Ying’s hands.

Outside, his personal guards stood watch—no one dared approach without Zhu Ying’s order.

So Zhu Ying activated his storage space’s “cheat,” walking among the treasure, scanning with his eyes, selecting only the most valuable items—precious scrolls, ancient relics, gold, and silver—all vanished into his storage space.

Of course!

Since space was limited, he deliberately chose only high-value items; ordinary gold and silver would be dealt with later.

Zhu Ying’s total attributes had now surpassed 7,000 points, and his storage space held 79 cubic meters. He had already cleared out previous treasures, storing them at Black Guard outposts; now, his space contained only grain, alcohol, and weapons—perfect for a massive haul.

After Zhu Ying’s sweep, nearly half the treasury’s wealth—mostly high-value treasures—had been taken.

“War really is profitable.”

After a while, seeing his storage space full, Zhu Ying smiled contentedly, the pride in his expression unmistakable.

Half this treasury’s wealth far surpassed what Naha Chu had stockpiled in Liaodong.

After all, this was the Northern Yuan imperial family’s treasury—not something a single regional warlord like Naha Chu could match.

With the gold and silver Zhu Ying now controlled, he could easily sustain a 200,000-man army for years—this was his current wealth.

“I’ll leave the rest to Old Zhu.”

Zhu Ying glanced at the remaining gold and treasure in the treasury; though reluctant, he had no choice.

“Even after I took half, it’s still generous enough.”

“If my total attributes broke ten thousand and my storage space expanded another hundred cubic meters, I’d carry all of this away.”

“Pity,” Zhu Ying thought silently.

After one last glance, Zhu Ying turned and left the treasury.

Outside the tent, Chen Heng and Zhang Wu had been waiting a long time.

“General! This is a monumental achievement!”

Seeing Zhu Ying emerge, Chen Heng and Zhang Wu rushed forward, faces flushed with excitement, eyes filled with admiration and fervor.

Zhu Ying smiled, sat on a small stool, and said: “Tell me.”

“Besides the Yuan Emperor you captured, we took the Northern Yuan’s Chancellor and Grand Commandant.”

Chen Heng spoke rapidly, face flushed: “We captured over seventy percent of the Northern Yuan court. Not to mention countless imperial consorts and several princes and princesses.”

“And that’s just the royal family—ministers and nobles number in the thousands; we’ve taken over ten thousand captives!”

“Did any rape occur?” Zhu Ying’s expression darkened, voice stern.

“Rest assured, General—we’ve strictly enforced discipline!” Zhang Wu replied immediately.

“Remember!”

Zhu Ying’s gaze swept coldly over both men.

“We are not the immoral beasts of other armies. I can’t control what others do, but in my troops, rape will not be tolerated!”

“Now that we’ve reached this Northern Yuan court, tell the men: loot freely, kill freely—but if anyone commits rape, execute him on the spot!”

As a soldier, Zhu Ying knew what could be done—and what could not.

Having lived two lives, he knew exactly what constituted beastly conduct.

They were Han people, bound by ancient moral codes of propriety and shame. Even in conquest, killing and looting were war’s necessities—but rape? Zhu Ying truly despised it.

After victory, with so many Northern Yuan women and slaves captured, he would petition the court to distribute them as rewards to deserving soldiers—why commit rape?

“Understood!” Chen Heng and Zhang Wu replied in unison.

“Good.”

Zhu Ying’s expression softened slightly: “This court is vast. Aside from this treasury—which we’ll transport back—I won’t restrict the rest. Let the men loot freely—whatever they find, they keep.”

This was the heart of the northern frontier, thousands of miles from central China; his army couldn’t carry everyone away, nor could they haul off everything.

Many civilians had migrated here from the Northern Yuan court; though some fled, most remained.

These people would become future enemies of Han China—so loot what you can, kill what you must.

“I’ll arrange it immediately!”

Chen Heng nodded and bowed.

“One more thing.”

Zhu Ying seemed to remember something and added: “Of the Northern Yuan nobles, execute all male commoners—only bring back the women.”

“Also, according to steppe custom, kill all able-bodied men taller than a cartwheel.”

“We’re deep in the northern frontier. Taking too many captives south is dangerous.”

“Though this court is destroyed, many tribes remain, with substantial forces—the longer we delay, the greater the risk.”

In short: anything we can’t take, destroy.

The more chaos we leave behind for the Northern Yuan remnants, the longer peace will last for Han people along the northern frontier.

To the Northern Yuan, Zhu Ying was a demon of hell; to the Han people of the northern frontier, he was a hero—indeed, to all Han people under the Great Ming, he was a hero.

“Your wisdom, General!” Chen Heng and Zhang Wu replied with reverence, no dissent.

Without delay, the two generals turned and hurried off to organize their tasks.

Zhu Ying stood where he was, watching the bustling camp, no longer joining the slaughter.

The rest could be left entirely to Chen Heng and the others.

“After so long of campaigning, we’re finally returning home.”

Zhu Ying gazed into the distance, a touch of reflection in his eyes: “By the time we rejoin the Great Ming, it’ll have been a year on campaign.”

……

(End of Chapter)