Chapter 197: The Imperial Seal!!

Without realizing it, Zhu Ying had been separated from his family for nearly a year.

Although the battlefield’s killing and attribute gains had intoxicated him, it was false to say he did not miss his wife and children after so long.

“Xi’er is already over a year old.”

“I wonder if that little rascal has been mischievous.”

“I wonder if he’ll even remember me when I return.”

Zhu Ying murmured softly, his mind conjuring his son’s face, a gentle smile unconsciously spreading across his own.

“He probably doesn’t remember—I left when he was just a few months old, too young to understand.”

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Ying sighed and shook his head, yet a faint smile still lingered on his lips.

Thinking of his wife and child, the longing on Zhu Ying’s face deepened.

But!

Fortunately, the Yuan Emperor has already been captured.

Next comes the march home—a month and more southward, and by the time we reach the Great Ming’s northern frontier, I may even make it back in time for the New Year.

Just imagining it, Zhu Ying’s heart burned with urgency—he longed to rush home and reunite with his family.

“The Yuan Emperor is dealt with. Next, we go to Mount Langjuxu to retrieve the Imperial Seal.”

Zhu Ying snapped back to focus, thinking of the seal, his eyes instantly sharpening.

“The Imperial Seal!”

“By Heaven’s Mandate, Long Life and Eternal Prosperity.”

These eight characters weighed a thousand catties, echoing in his heart.

This time, Zhu Ying insisted on the northern campaign not only to eradicate the Northern Yuan, but above all, to seize the Imperial Seal.

At this moment,

the massacre and revelry within the Northern Yuan’s temporary court still raged!

With Zhu Ying’s orders, the soldiers killed without mercy and looted without restraint—the entire court descended into chaos, like a hell on earth.

Flames roared skyward; shouts of battle and screams of the dying intertwined.

Ming soldiers, eyes red, swung their weapons, slaughtering enemies without restraint.

Yet for a land not worth governing, how could Zhu Ying ask his troops to hold back?

After the battle ended, the Northern Yuan’s remnants would deal with themselves.

The next day!

At Mount Langjuxu.

Below the mountain, Ming soldiers filled the landscape, banners snapping fiercely in the cold wind, their formation stern and imposing.

Tens of thousands of Ming troops, mounted and armed, gazed up at the peak with steadfast, yearning eyes—as if declaring their victory to the mountain itself.

At this moment, on the ascent path,

Zhu Ying wore his sword at his waist, no long blade carried, his body still caked in dried blood.

The dried stains gleamed under the sun, stark and vivid, recording the hardship and glory of his campaign.

He climbed steadily upward, each step firm and powerful—the path up the mountain, the path to a general’s apotheosis—his face radiating undeniable authority.

Behind him, his officers and personal guards surrounded him.

They followed closely, steps perfectly synchronized, every face filled with reverence and loyalty, eyes never leaving Zhu Ying’s back.

Perhaps!

To the steppe tribes, Mount Langjuxu was just an ordinary hill, nothing extraordinary—but to the Han Chinese, since the great general Huo Qubing achieved his legendary feat of sealing the mountain, this place had become the ultimate proving ground for Han generals.

To reach this spot was the supreme military honor.

No Han general could refuse it.

The climb met no resistance.

At the summit, one could look down upon all other peaks.

“General.”

Chen Heng stepped forward, voice trembling with barely contained excitement: “I never thought we’d one day stand here on Mount Langjuxu.”

He gazed around the peak, eyes brimming with emotion and awe.

“Sealing Langjuxu,” Zhang Wu breathed deeply, his face alight with exhilaration and pride, still unable to believe they had truly done it.

“My achievements as a general have reached their zenith,” Wei Quan knelt on one knee, head bowed, voice trembling—not from fear, but from overwhelming emotion.

This time, common soldiers remained stationed at the mountain’s base.

All officers above Garrison Commander, including the military inspector accompanying the army, had come here.

“During the Han dynasty, the Xiongnu court was also near this very mountain.”

Zhu Ying stood with hands behind his back, his gaze deep as he stared at the cliff face, speaking slowly: “Now, the Yuan court sits here as well.”

“Sealing Langjuxu is not merely climbing this mountain—it is the military triumph of crushing an enemy’s territory, of breaching their royal heartland.”

Zhu Ying stood atop the peak, walked to the cliff’s edge, and looked down.

The mountain wind howled past!

Below, the former lands of the Northern Yuan court lay spread before him.

Boundless heroic spirit surged forth.

“General, you are the second Han general after the great Huo Qubing to lead an army to this summit,” Chen Heng said, voice hoarse with excitement.

“To follow you in this life is the greatest honor of my life.”

Saying this,

Chen Heng faced Zhu Ying, knelt on one knee, face alight with fervor and loyalty.

“I swear to follow you unto death.”

His voice was resolute and absolute—as if declaring his oath to heaven and earth.

Inspired by Chen Heng,

Zhang Wu, Wei Quan, and the other officers all stepped forward, faces alight with emotion, kneeling before Zhu Ying in unison: “We, your subordinates, are honored beyond measure to follow you in this life—we swear to follow you unto death!”

Their voices rang clear and thunderous, echoing long across the peak, stirring blood and fire.

At this moment, every officer seemed to pledge, from the deepest core of their soul, as descendants of the Han bloodline, their reverence and loyalty to their general.

For the entire Danning frontier army, from generals down to common soldiers, Zhu Ying was unquestionably their military soul.

If the court ever betrayed their general, they would follow him to the death.

This was their faith and loyalty to Zhu Ying.

Years of bloodied battle, shared life and death—this bond could not be forged by mere imperial authority.

“Brothers.”

Zhu Ying turned, his gaze sweeping over every officer, eyes filled with pride and emotion: “Today’s achievement—”

“Sealing Langjuxu.”

Zhu Ying raised his voice, tone brimming with heroism: “is not mine alone—it is ours, forged together by all of you, creating a victory that will shake the world and be etched in history.”

“I, Zhu Ying, am proud of you, my brothers.”

“The countless Han heroes who once stood on this mountain are proud as well.”

Zhu Ying looked over his officers, then raised his eyes to the sky, filled with reverence—as if he could see those brave ancestors watching from the clouds.

“Today’s battle. Today’s sealing of Langjuxu—”

Zhu Ying’s voice rose, fierce and triumphant: “has washed away centuries of humiliation for the Han people. China stands once more at the pinnacle of the world.”

As he spoke these words,

Zhu Ying’s face shone with the pride of a victor.

Zhu Ying radiated boundless heroic spirit.

This glory was not Zhu Ying’s alone—it belonged to every Ming soldier who had stormed into the northern frontier, shattered the Yuan court.

At this moment!

Zhu Ying gazed across Mount Langjuxu, as if seeing the countless Han heroes of the Han dynasty watching him.

As if he could envision those ancient Han souls!

They stood clad in armor, weapons in hand, eyes firm and proud, cheering for today’s victory.

At this moment,

Zhu Ying felt the presence of the young hero Huo Qubing—defiant, towering atop this peak, proclaiming Han heaven’s might.

Huo Qubing, the youthful god of war, had ridden across this land, striking terror into the Xiongnu.

The scene of his sacrifice and sealing ceremony on this peak seemed vivid before his eyes.

He stood tall on the summit, overlooking the earth, declaring the majesty of Han to all the world.

At this moment, Zhu Ying felt an endless tide of glory—as if the spirit of the army, the enduring backbone of ancient Han, had been passed down to him.

This battle! Washed away centuries of Han humiliation.

This battle! Secured Han’s return to the pinnacle of the world.

Sealing Langjuxu! Supreme glory.

And Zhu Ying was not alone in feeling it—every soldier here clearly sensed this Han glory, this heroic spirit.

Their faces glowed with pride, their eyes filled with hope for the future.

They knew they had inherited Huo Qubing’s will—and forged history. They would be remembered, their names etched in the annals.

“To ascend Mount Langjuxu, to seal Langjuxu.”

"Inheritance of the Han military spirit."

"Bestowing a special inheritance mark: [Military Spirit – Han Might]."

"After wearing it, you may view the mark’s attributes."

At that moment, a panel notification suddenly sounded in Zhu Ying’s ear.

"Inheritance of the Han military spirit?"

Zhu Ying frowned slightly, thinking to himself: "The invisible Han legacy has fallen upon me."

"Is there truly such a thing as the spirit and fortune of the military?"

Zhu Ying murmured to himself, gazing at the sky, as if sensing something.

Hearing this panel notification, Zhu Ying could not help but feel something indescribable rise within him.

This military spirit differs from the official seal’s mark—it stems from Han inheritance, its meaning self-evident.

"Our ancestors of the Han dynasty stand above."

Zhu Ying slowly closed his eyes, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply toward the sky: "Perhaps, in some unseen way, you are watching me still."

"Here."

Zhu Ying straightened his body, his gaze resolute, silently roaring within: "I, Zhu Ying, pledge to the countless heroic spirits of Han: As long as I live, the Han people shall never again be trampled or slaughtered by barbarians. The Huaxia Han shall forever stand atop this world."

This vow within his heart brimmed with Zhu Ying’s determination and courage, as if he had sworn an unshakable oath to the ancient Han heroes.

Having lived two lives, Zhu Ying knew well the suffering the Huaxia people on this land would endure.

The Great Ming rose and destroyed the Northern Yuan, which had oppressed Huaxia for a century—but in the future, Tartars would still appear, seizing advantage from the chaos of the Central Plains to massacre its people.

But now, Zhu Ying exists!

Such things shall never happen again.

This is something Zhu Ying can achieve!

After making this vow within his heart,

Zhu Ying came back to himself.

"Brothers."

Zhu Ying turned to face the generals and shouted: "Feel it deeply."

"To seal Langjuxu cannot be in vain."

"In one hour, prepare to return south in triumph."

His words fell.

"Yes."

The generals responded in unison, their voices crisp and thunderous.

Then they rose and scattered across the mountain peak.

Who among the generals would not be curious about the site of sealing Langjuxu?

At the very least, they must leave some mark behind.

Perhaps, a thousand generations hence, traces of their presence would still remain.

Zhu Ying also slowly walked toward the center of the peak.

A stone wall came into view. Upon it, the two characters “Da Yuan” stood out clearly.

The characters were carved deeply, as if meant to etch the dignity of Da Yuan forever into the mountain.

Clearly, the Yuan court had deliberately carved them here—and perhaps beneath this wall lay lingering marks of ancient Han spirits.

Zhu Ying could easily imagine how proud and spirited Huo Qubing must have been when he stepped upon this mountain, how magnificently bold.

He seemed to see Huo Qubing standing before this wall, eyes filled with contempt, swinging his spear to obliterate the enemy’s marks entirely.

"Since we’ve come,"

Zhu Ying stared at the stone wall, a bold smile on his face: "If we leave nothing behind, it would be an insult."

Saying this,

Zhu Ying swiftly drew his Qinghong Sword from his waist.

The Qinghong Sword gleamed with cold light in the sun, its blade trembling slightly, as if eager to unleash its edge.

Then!

True qi surged along the blade. Zhu Ying drew a deep breath, gathering all his strength into his arm, and swung the sword straight down upon the stone wall.

Sparks flew before his eyes; fragments of stone rained down.

The hard stone wall was sliced open as easily as tofu beneath the Qinghong Sword’s sharpness.

Instantly, several characters were carved into the stone wall.

"Han General Zhu Ying, here crushed Da Yuan and left his mark atop the summit!"

Zhu Ying had carved these words directly over the Yuan court’s two characters: “Da Yuan.”

Each character was infused with potent true qi and Zhu Ying’s immense strength.

Each character was deeply embedded into the stone.

In the future, unless the people of the Northern Frontier completely destroyed and chiseled away the entire wall, the inscription could not be erased from the surface.

"General, mighty!"

When the generals saw Zhu Ying’s masterpiece, they erupted in excited cheers, filled with admiration and awe—gazing at the characters on the wall, it seemed as if this victory belonged entirely to their general.

"Heh."

Zhu Ying smiled, then raised his head to gaze at the higher stone wall, his resolve deepening.

He knew that when the Yuan people saw this inscription, they would surely try to destroy it.

He must carve higher still—so high they could not reach it.

Of course, this thought was not merely about carving words.

"All generals, listen!" Zhu Ying shouted, as if struck by an idea.

"Your servant is here!" the generals replied in unison.

"Burn everything in the Northern Yuan court below."

Zhu Ying coldly ordered, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "We are leaving—do not leave them a single intact structure of the Yuan court."

The court had not yet been dealt with.

Its tents and buildings still stood.

If we did not destroy them, wouldn’t the Yuan remnants profit from them?

Set them ablaze.

Reduce the entire Yuan court to ashes—that is the only right path.

"We obey the General’s command!" the generals replied in unison.

Then they descended the mountain.

Only Zhu Ying’s personal guards remained on the peak.

"The Imperial Seal."

After they left, Zhu Ying calmed his mind, his expression thoughtful.

The Imperial Seal lay somewhere on Langjuxu Mountain.

This was no accident.

Historical records state that the last Yuan emperor to claim authority over the Central Plains, Emperor Shun of Yuan, was the final holder of the Imperial Seal—and he took it with him.

The map Zhu Ying had obtained from the treasure chest may well align with this hidden historical path.

Perhaps Emperor Shun had hidden the Imperial Seal somewhere on this mountain.

Take it back to the Northern Frontier!

Ensure the Huaxia dynasties never find it again.

This might be his revenge against the Great Ming—depriving it of the Imperial Seal, and ensuring future Huaxia dynasties would never possess it, turning the ancient emperors’ sacred claim of "Mandate of Heaven" into a joke.

"The map shows the Imperial Seal is on this mountain."

Zhu Ying frowned, his eyes filled with thought: "But this mountain is vast."

Zhu Ying surveyed the peak—this mountain was enormous; finding a single jade seal here was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

"To find a jade seal here is truly like searching for a needle in a haystack."

Zhu Ying shook his head slightly, thinking inwardly: "If I were Emperor Shun, where would I hide it?"

Thinking this,

Zhu Ying began to analyze carefully in his mind.

"Emperor Shun, though an emperor, was no fool."

Zhu Ying paced slowly, thinking as he walked: "He brought the Imperial Seal to the Northern Frontier and placed it on this mountain, knowing full well that Han armies could hardly reach here."

"If Han armies did come, Langjuxu Mountain would be their inevitable destination."

Zhu Ying stopped walking, the logic becoming clear: "Emperor Shun must have known this too."

"So if he buried it along the path or elsewhere on the mountain, it might be found—but there is one place."

Zhu Ying now wore a confident smile: "The most dangerous place is the safest place. The most visible place is the safest place."

Realizing this,

Zhu Ying’s gaze immediately fixed on the most conspicuous stone wall before him.

Then!

Without the slightest hesitation.

His spiritual force directly probed toward the stone wall.

Zhu Ying closed his eyes, focused his mind, and let his spiritual force seep into the stone wall like threads.

Time seemed to freeze; the surroundings fell silent, broken only by his faint breathing.

After a while, a smile appeared on Zhu Ying’s lips.

"As expected!"

Zhu Ying smiled inwardly: “There’s something beneath this stone wall.”

Come on,

Excitement and anticipation flooded Zhu Ying’s face, as if the Imperial Seal were already before his eyes.

Zhu Ying stepped forward, then summoned a hoe from his storage space, gripped it tightly with both hands, and began digging beneath the stone wall.

Soon, he dug out a sizable pit.

The personal guards around him, without Zhu Ying’s order, dared not approach—even Liu Lei stood far away.

Zhu Ying’s personal guards had all passed loyalty evaluations, and Zhu Ying could see their values—they were his absolute loyalists.

But the Imperial Seal was of immense importance.

For caution’s sake, it was better they not see it.

With Zhu Ying’s immense strength, the earth near the stone wall was quickly excavated until it struck a stone slab.

Zhu Ying halted his actions, crouched down, and examined the slab closely. Carved upon it were Chinese characters and Mongolian script.

Zhu Ying did not understand Mongolian.

But the Chinese characters were unmistakable.

“I refuse to be driven from the Central Plains by base barbarians. I refuse to let the Yuan legacy be destroyed.”

“I am ashamed before the Yuan ancestors. I am unworthy to be emperor.”

“Yet even in defeat, I will not let those barbarians rejoice.”

“Those barbarians claim the Imperial Seal is the symbol of their emperors, the manifestation of the dragon vein.”

“I shall use this talisman, in my name, to suppress the Imperial Seal of Huaxia, to suppress the soul of their emperor, to suppress their dragon vein.”

“I will ensure those damned barbarians never become the legitimate dynasty.”

“I shall take the Imperial Seal with me into the netherworld, never to return.”

On this slab.

It brimmed with Emperor Shun’s boundless hatred toward the rise of the Great Ming and his expulsion from the Central Plains, and his desire to ensure Han dynasties would never hold legitimacy.

One must admit.

His move was indeed brilliant.

He took the Imperial Seal, buried it beneath Langju Mountain, right under the most obvious stone wall—who could have guessed?

Had Zhu Ying not had the map’s guidance, he would never have known the Imperial Seal lay here.

The Imperial Seal would have remained forever buried beneath Langju Mountain, the very peak most Han generals aspired to, never to be found.

But now.

The Imperial Seal shall be Zhu Ying’s.

……

(End of Chapter)