Chapter 80: The Huaixi Warlord Enraged by Zhu Ying!

They fought with all their strength, attacked with all their might!

All to reach the General’s residence before Zhu Ying and capture Man Jier.

But in the end, they were still one step too late.

“This is Man Jier’s residence—he lived here for years; the house must be filled with countless treasures.”

Wang Bi turned his head, gazing at the general’s residence, his eyes burning with greed.

A general in the field.

Does not always obey the emperor’s orders.

There are many reasons for this.

After an army breaches a city, the looting, killing, and plundering that follow are the result of commanders turning a blind eye.

After all.

Not every general is noble; many have selfish motives.

“These soldiers are Zhu Ying’s men; he’s already taken control of this residence.”

“We’ve lost our chance to profit from this general’s residence,” Wang Bi said darkly.

“Why does he get all the benefits?” Zhao Yong sneered.

He strode directly toward the Jincheng General’s Residence.

“Stop.”

Zhuang Wei, stationed outside the residence, immediately stepped forward to block him.

Seeing Zhao Yong in his cloak, he bowed deeply: “Your Excellency.”

Though he didn’t recognize him.

From Zhao Yong’s cloak and battle armor alone, Zhuang Wei knew he held a rank above Assistant Commander—he dared not be disrespectful.

“Move aside.”

“I am entering this residence,” Zhao Yong said coldly.

Zhuang Wei stood straight, calm and unyielding: “Our General Zhu is currently clearing this Jincheng residence, eliminating remaining Yuan forces. He has ordered that no one enter without his permission.”

“Insolent!”

“How dare you speak to me like this?”

Zhao Yong frowned, glaring coldly at Zhuang Wei.

He drew his sword from his belt, pointing it directly at Zhuang Wei, radiating menace.

“I follow my commander’s orders—I act as commanded,” Zhuang Wei replied calmly, showing no fear.

“I am Zhao Yong, Regional Military Commissioner of the Northern Expeditionary Army.”

“Is my order not an order?”

“Is my order not an order?”

“I command you to step aside,” Zhao Yong barked.

“Our unit is the First Assistant Commander Cavalry Battalion, directly under General Fu and General Feng Sheng.”

“We are not under Zhao Yong’s command,” Zhuang Wei replied, still calm.

“I am not under Commander Zhao Yong’s command,” Zhuang Wei replied calmly, unmoved.

Zhao Yong’s eyes blazed with fury: “Disobeying a superior officer—I have the right to execute you on the spot.”

Zhao Yong’s eyes blazed with fury: “Disobeying a superior’s order, I have the right to execute you on the spot.”

Clap. Clap. Clap.

A sound of clapping echoed through the air.

Everyone turned to look.

There stepped forward Zhu Ying, drenched in blood, clapping slowly.

“General Zhao has quite the imposing authority,” Zhu Ying said with a tone of mockery.

“General Zhao really knows how to wield his authority,” Zhu Ying said with a touch of sarcasm.

Zhao Yong’s face darkened with cold fury.

“Zhuang Wei.”

“How could you be so disrespectful to General Zhao?”

“After all, every soldier in our Assistant Commander Battalion should thank General Zhao—and General Wang as well.”

“Had it not been for your full support in recommending me to lead the assault, this breach of the city would never have been ours.”

“If not for the full support of the two generals recommending me to lead the assault, this breach of the city would never have fallen to our Qianshi Camp.”

“Thank both generals for their recommendation!”

Zhu Ying smiled and shouted to the soldiers surrounding him.

Zhu Ying smiled and shouted to the surrounding Qianshi Camp soldiers around him.

The Assistant Commander soldiers hesitated not—they all bowed to Zhao Yong and Wang Bi: “Thank you, Generals, for your recommendation!”

Thousands of soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the ground, echoing through the entire Jincheng General’s Residence.

Zhao Yong and Wang Bi’s faces turned ashen.

At that moment, their gazes at Zhu Ying were murderous—they longed to tear him limb from limb.

At this moment, their gazes fixed on Zhu Ying like predators ready to tear him apart, longing to reduce him to bloody shreds.

They had never imagined Zhu Ying would be so reckless, so utterly indifferent to their status and rank.

They simply didn’t understand Zhu Ying at all.

Zhu Ying appeared mild-mannered, but he was truly vengeful—anyone who provoked him would face relentless retaliation.

It was Zhao Yong and Wang Bi who started this conflict. Now that they stood on opposite sides, did they really expect Zhu Ying to back down? To grovel before them?

It was Zhao Yong and the others who started targeting him; now that they stood on opposite sides, did they really expect Zhu Ying to back down? To beg for mercy?

Others feared the entrenched power of the Huaixi warlords. But Zhu Ying? He feared nothing.

His name had already reached Yingtian—and entered the eyes of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

His name has now reached Yingtian, even entering the eyes of His Majesty Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

The imperial court planned to elevate him to weaken the Huaixi warlords’ influence in the army. This was imperial backing—Zhu Ying would naturally align himself with imperial will.

Getting too close to the Huaixi faction would be dangerous. But standing against them? That was advantageous.

Zhu Ying would seize this opportunity.

Facing their furious stares,

Zhu Ying merely smiled at them, then continued speaking to himself.

Zhu Ying chuckled at the two, then went on speaking to himself.

“I heard you two generals attacked fiercely upon entering the city, which eased the pressure on my men from Yuan resistance.”

“So I was the first to reach this Jincheng General’s Residence.”

“I slew its commander—Man Jier, a Yuan prince.”

“Here, Man Jier’s head—soon I’ll present it to General Fu.”

“Yes, Man Jier’s head is right here; I’ll present it to General Fu shortly.”

Zhu Ying lifted Man Jier’s severed head from his belt, displaying it clearly to Zhao Yong and Wang Bi.

Zhu Ying also lifted Man Jier’s head from his waist, showing it clearly to Zhao Yong and the other.

Zhao Yong and Wang Bi’s eyes nearly burst into flames; their hands gripped their sword hilts with all their strength. Had they not feared consequences, they would have drawn their blades and slashed Zhu Ying down then and there.

But reason held them back—otherwise, they were finished.

After all, Zhu Ying was a favorite in Yingtian.

Zhao Yong glared at Zhu Ying, voice hoarse: “Let’s go.”

Zhao Yong glared fiercely at Zhu Ying and rasped, “Let’s go.”

He left with an air of humiliation, his personal guards fleeing behind him like cowards.

Wang Bi did the same, swiftly retreating with his entourage.

They had come for the treasure—but now they only wanted to escape.

They had never imagined Zhu Ying would be so stubborn, so reckless.

“Damn. Two arrogant fools.”

“Can’t beat you? I’ll ruin you with whispers.”

Watching Zhao Yong and Wang Bi flee in disgrace, Zhu Ying sneered, savoring the moment.

Watching Zhao Yong and Wang Bi retreat in disarray, Zhu Ying sneered, savoring the satisfaction.

Zhu Ying called out loudly.

“Your servant is here!”

Wei Quan rushed over.

Zhu Ying whispered: “The residence’s treasury holds much gold and silver left by the Yuan. Take your men, divide it fairly—ensure every soldier gets a share. Those chasing enemy troops get their portion too. And for the fallen—give them extra.”

“General, won’t this violate military law?” Wei Quan worried.

“Didn’t you see Zhao Yong and Wang Bi? They came here for exactly this!”

“If this gold falls into their hands, they’ll divide it among themselves. Better it goes to our own brothers,” Zhu Ying said grimly.

“Once this silver and gold enters the army, they’ll divide it among themselves. Better to let our own brothers benefit than give them the advantage,” Zhu Ying said grimly.

……

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(End of Chapter)