Chapter 32: Zhu Ying

Bu Wan took the military report and was about to open it.

But remembering that Feng Sheng had just arrived, and as commander of this campaign against the Northern Yuan, Feng Sheng now held full authority over all troops in Danning Prefecture, Bu Wan dared not overstep—he immediately bowed and offered the report respectfully to Feng Sheng.

“Please, Your Grace, read it.” Bu Wan said.

Feng Sheng nodded and took the report, unfolding it at once.

As he read.

Feng Sheng’s expression changed instantly.

When he finished reading.

A look of astonishment even flickered in his eyes.

“Good, good, excellent.”

“It seems this old man has grown old—he underestimated Zhu Ying.”

“Never thought he was this capable.”

“Feint east, strike west—attacked under cover of night, caught the Tartars completely off guard.”

Feng Sheng suddenly burst into laughter, clearly stunned by the report in his hands.

Seeing Feng Sheng so elated, the other generals all turned toward him, curious and bewildered.

“What did Zhu Ying do to make Your Grace so pleased?” asked Zhao Yong, Marquis of Nanxiong, smiling.

This time, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang had ordered the campaign against Nalaichu, deploying over two hundred thousand troops and an elite roster of commanders.

Song Guo Gong Feng Sheng was appointed Grand General.

The left and right deputy generals were Ying Guo Gong Fu Youde and Yongchang Hou Lan Yu.

Four additional left and right assistant generals: Marquis of Nanxiong Zhao Yong, Dingyuan Hou Wang Bi, Dongchuan Hou Hu Hai, and Zheng Guo Gong Chang Mao.

These were the fiercest generals of Huaixi—perhaps arrogant, but unmatched in command and combat, all veteran heroes who had helped found the Great Ming, expelled the Yuan court, and restored Han lands.

“Could it be that Zhu Ying successfully raided a Tartar tribe?” Bu Wan thought, slightly startled.

“I underestimated Zhu Ying.”

“You read it aloud.”

Feng Sheng smiled and handed the report to his personal guard commander.

The commander took it respectfully.

“Your humble servant, Zhu Ying, reports to the Regional Military Commissioner.”

“Today.”

“My five thousand troops have operated deep within Tartar territory. Our scouts report the Tartars are concentrating forces at their Blue Banner tribe, and the Yuan court intends to send reinforcements.”

“Five thousand men are negligible to the Tartars and Yuan court—if surrounded, we face annihilation.”

“But our main army has not yet arrived. If we merely conduct minor raids, the Tartars will launch a full-scale assault on Danning, coordinating with the Yuan court for a two-pronged attack, and ruin our plan to destroy the Yuan.”

“Therefore, I must hold them back—at any cost.”

“Thus.”

“I investigated the Blue Banner tribe’s disposition: over thirty thousand troops deployed. Only a surprise attack can disrupt their formation and throw them into chaos.”

“So I divided my forces: I assigned the disobedient Battalion Commander Li Tao to harass the southern Tartar tribes, while I led four thousand troops around to strike the northern Tartar tribe first…”

“In this battle.”

“I led four thousand troops into the northern Tartar tribe. The enemy was utterly unprepared. Our surprise assault yielded great results—over ten thousand enemy heads taken! Though we suffered wounds, not a single man was left behind—we achieved a decisive victory.”

…

Feng Sheng’s personal guard commander read aloud loudly.

Hearing these battle results.

Everyone in the hall stared in shock, unable to believe what they heard.

“Zhu Ying—he actually succeeded in a surprise raid? And led four thousand troops out of the Tartar tribe with only injuries and zero casualties?”

“How is this possible?” Bu Wan was also startled.

But immediately following was wild elation.

“That boy Zhu Ying is truly formidable—he’s made us all proud.”

“With Your Grace here, this victory is a glory for Danning.” Bu Wan thought, thrilled.

Zhu Ying was his subordinate—his great achievement brought him equal honor and merit.

“Zhu Ying.”

“This man is truly extraordinary.”

“Not only did the Grand General underestimate him—we all did.”

“With four thousand cavalry, he launched a surprise raid on a Tartar tribe, killed over ten thousand, and returned unscathed—even if he’d lost a thousand, it would still be a great victory. Yet he brought every man out alive.”

“Had the report not required co-signature by the accompanying Battalion Commander, and forging it meant death, I would never have believed it.”

“Indeed.”

“Zhu Ying’s ferocity isn’t just personal—he’s a master of command. These four thousand cavalry, under his leadership, achieved such power. Though the Tartars were negligent, the greater credit lies in Zhu Ying’s command.”

…

The generals in the hall all spoke with awe.

Clearly.

They were all stunned by this report.

They were the Great Ming’s top commanders—they could launch night raids, cut through enemy lines, but achieving zero casualties? Impossible.

Of course.

All this was due to Zhu Ying’s authority and official seal, which boosted his troops’ morale, combat power, and endurance by sixty percent.

Moreover, those who followed Zhu Ying felt an invisible bond with him.

Orders obeyed without question—that was Zhu Ying’s command.

“Marquis of Nanxiong, can you see why Zhu Ying divided his forces?” Feng Sheng asked Zhao Yong.

“Zhu Ying is brilliant.”

“The Tartars likely assumed our main attack would come from the south—their front facing our territory. To strike from behind would expose them to encirclement, so they neglected their northern tribes and concentrated forces in the south.”

“Zhu Ying first struck the northern tribe, then sent one Battalion Commander to feint against the southern tribe. When the Tartars learned of the northern attack, they dismissed it as a diversion, believing the southern tribe was our true target—and thus reinforced the south. That’s why Zhu Ying achieved this victory.” Zhao Yong smiled.

Having commanded for years.

Feng Sheng saw Zhu Ying’s strategy at a glance.

Of course.

That was the way of the observer, clear-eyed while the participant was blind.

“Hahahaha.”

“Exactly.”

“That’s precisely Zhu Ying’s brilliance!” Feng Sheng laughed heartily.

Clearly, he was extremely pleased with Zhu Ying’s performance.

Then.

Feng Sheng turned to Bu Wan: “Bu Prefect, Danning Prefecture has truly produced a gifted general.”

“To receive such praise from Your Grace, Zhu Ying would surely be overjoyed,” Bu Wan replied at once, smiling.

But the next moment.

Feng Sheng remembered something, and his face darkened.

“From this report, the earlier claim that Zhu Ying withdrew his Battalion Commander to Ansha County was false—indeed, someone tried to smear him.” Feng Sheng said coldly.

At these words.

Bu Wan’s expression changed.

Indeed.

After seeing the report, they had fully believed the earlier claim.

But now, with Zhu Ying’s report in hand.

Everything was clear.

Li Tao—disobeyed orders, cowardly, fearful of death.

…

PS: Brothers, please keep reading, and cast more recommendations and monthly votes—thank you, deeply grateful, kneeling in thanks.

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(End of Chapter)