Chapter 81: Feng Sheng Overjoyed: Zhu Ying Has Broken Jincheng!

At first!

Zhu Ying had indeed planned to leave some of the tribute.

But seeing how Zhao Yong and the others behaved, Zhu Ying knew that if the treasury’s gold and silver were handed over, those Huaixi toughs would swallow it all.

If so,

Zhu Ying might as well let his own men take their share.

Though military regulations existed, such spoils of war were rarely questioned—it was an unspoken understanding in the army.

“Understood, sir.”

Wei Quan immediately accepted the order.

“Go.”

Zhu Ying waved his hand.

He took at least seventy percent of the treasury’s gold and silver, leaving just thirty percent—enough for every soldier under his command to receive a share.

Meanwhile!

After Zhao Yong and Wang Bi stormed out in fury,

their faces grew darker by the moment.

“Zhu Ying is too arrogant.”

“How dare he show such disrespect?” Wang Bi said coldly.

Zhao Yong’s face darkened with rage.

“Why are you silent?”

“Are we just going to swallow this?”

Seeing Zhao Yong’s silence, Wang Bi asked sharply.

“What can we do?”

“His military command is still under Danning Border Army. Danning Border Army serves as auxiliary, not main force, and is not under our control.”

“Even if we wanted to act against him, we have no authority over his troops.”

“He answers directly to Duke Ying,” Zhao Yong said grimly.

“So we just have to endure it?”

“We’ve been generals for years, earned countless battle merits—yet now we’re humiliated by a green boy. If he pays no price, I won’t accept it,” Wang Bi said coldly.

“What’s your plan?”

“You mean kill him?” Zhao Yong glanced at him, replying coldly.

“If we can’t do it openly, can’t we do it secretly?” Wang Bi lowered his voice.

“What exactly do you intend?”

“What can we possibly do to him?”

“He’s a Great Ming general now. If we go too far, the capital won’t let us off,” Zhao Yong said heavily.

“We’ll take it one step at a time.”

“But I’ll find an opportunity to teach him a lesson,” Wang Bi’s eyes glinted with cold intent.

…

Kaiyuan City!

As with Jincheng, under Lan Yu’s command, the army pressed forward in relentless waves.

But just as before, when Zhu Ying hadn’t yet attacked, the Yuan forces held Kaiyuan City tightly—even Lan Yu, a battle-hardened commander personally overseeing the assault, could not breach the walls.

Heavy losses. No breakthrough.

Under the night sky.

In the main command tent!

“Marquis Yongchang.”

“This won’t do.”

“We’ve attacked for half a month already—our casualties exceed ten thousand.”

Feng Sheng’s face was grim.

Facing this question,

Lan Yu’s expression was equally dark.

“Grand General.”

“Hala Zhang’s defenses are tight, and the Yuan command troops are pushing hard. Our men have scaled the walls several times, only to be driven back each time.”

“It’s a stalemate. There’s no way but brute force.”

“I believe the situation at Jincheng is the same,” Lan Yu stood and replied loudly.

“Report!”

“The Ministry of War has delivered an edict from the capital.”

“By pigeon message.”

A personal guard rushed into the tent, clutching a small bamboo tube.

Hearing the edict had come from the capital,

Feng Sheng’s face darkened further.

He could already guess what the message contained.

“Read it.”

Feng Sheng waved his hand.

“Your servant obeys.”

The guard immediately opened the bamboo tube and took out the edict.

He unrolled it.

The guard read aloud: “After nearly a month of offensive operations in Liaodong, we have gained no results. I am deeply displeased.”

At this point,

the guard stopped.

“Grand General.”

“That’s the entire message,” the guard said respectfully.

Feng Sheng’s face grew even darker.

The expressions of all officers in the tent mirrored his.

Without doubt,

the current Emperor was furious at the lack of progress in Liaodong.

“Generals, did you hear that?”

“The Emperor is deeply dissatisfied with our lack of results,” Feng Sheng said coldly.

“Ten days.”

Lan Yu stood, his face set with determination: “Within ten days, I will break Kaiyuan City. If I fail, I will accept punishment!”

“Hmm.”

Seeing Lan Yu’s resolve, Feng Sheng’s expression softened slightly.

“What’s the situation at Jincheng?” Feng Sheng turned to the commander of the personal guards.

“Report, Grand General.”

“The situation at Jincheng is the same as Kaiyuan’s—stalemated.”

“Compared to Hala Zhang defending Kaiyuan, Jincheng is held by Manjier, the top general under Naha’er. His ability is even greater,” the guard commander said respectfully.

“Jincheng and Kaiyuan are the shields of Liaodong.”

“If we break one, the other’s defense will crumble.”

“For now, we can only rely on brute force,” Feng Sheng sighed.

“Rest assured, Grand General.”

“I will break Kaiyuan before General Fu does,” Lan Yu said carefully.

Just then!

“Report!”

“General Fu’s urgent message!”

“Jincheng victory!”

A voice outside the tent interrupted Lan Yu.

“Victory?”

Feng Sheng’s expression changed, a flicker of joy appearing: “Has Duke Ying broken Jincheng?”

“Broken Jincheng?”

Lan Yu’s confident expression shattered instantly.

“Bring him in!” Feng Sheng called eagerly.

At once,

the tent flap opened.

A personal guard from Fu Youde strode into the tent.

"Your servant pays homage to Grand General."

The personal guard entered the camp and bowed respectfully to Feng Sheng.

"No need for such formalities."

"How is the situation at Jincheng?" Feng Sheng raised his hand and asked urgently.

The current Emperor had just sent an angry edict; if the battle drags on any longer, he will demand accountability, and as the commanding general, Feng Sheng could not escape blame.

Now he only sought a swift victory to report back to Yingtian.

"Reporting to Grand General."

"Jincheng has been breached."

"Here is the detailed battle report; please, Grand General, review it."

The personal guard shouted loudly, holding up the battle report written in Fu Youde’s own hand.

"Bring it here at once," Feng Sheng waved his hand.

The commander of the personal guard immediately stepped forward, took the report, and presented it to Feng Sheng.

After receiving the report, Feng Sheng immediately unrolled it.

When he saw its contents,

Feng Sheng widened his eyes in surprise, then burst into laughter: "Hahaha, good, good, very good!"

"Zhu Ying."

"Has lived up to the Emperor’s and Crown Prince’s high expectations."

"I never expected."

"That he would breach Jincheng."

Feng Sheng laughed loudly, visibly thrilled.

For Feng Sheng,

the fall of Jincheng was unquestionably good news.

It would spare him from imperial accountability.

Consider this:

It had only been eighteen days since he took command of the army to attack Liaodong—less than a month—and this victory was not late at all.

He no longer needed to live in fear of punishment.

He could now report success.

But at this moment,

Lan Yu stepped forward, his face filled with shock and doubt.

…

PS: Please follow for updates, and vote for recommendations and monthly tickets—deeply grateful. The serialization start date is confirmed: this Sunday afternoon; the author will then sprint at full speed. Mwah.

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(End of Chapter)