Chapter 740: Proclaiming Kingship and Establishing Governance

The firelight in the direction of Stabilizing Far Town was clearly visible on the city wall of Haozhou in the deep night.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stood on the north gate tower, staring at the red light that dyed half the sky red, having already stood there for three hours.

Just after midnight, the sound of horse hooves came from the direction of the official road.

One rider.

Two riders.

Three riders……

Sparse and scattered, not forming a formation.

Tang He has returned.

He led fewer than two hundred men, everyone wounded, half without weapons, supporting each other as they walked toward the gate.

Under the torches on the city wall, Tang He's left shoulder bore a deep wound down to the bone that was still oozing blood, his face as pale as paper.

"Open the gate."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang)'s voice was eerily calm.

The gate slowly opened.

Tang He looked up and saw Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) standing in the shadow of the gate opening.

"Elder brother……"

He opened his mouth, but could not produce a complete sound.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stepped forward and supported him.

"Just coming back is good."

"The others……"

"Scout Captain Chang held the rear, he's still on the road."

Tang He caught his breath.

"Stabilizing Far Town…… is a trap."

"Before the Yuan army withdrew, they poisoned the wells and granaries."

"It's not ordinary poison…… it's…… that kind of blue liquid."

"Less than an hour after our army entered the town, brothers began coughing up blood, their skin turning ashen."

"Then…… the demon soldiers from White River Town arrived."

He closed his eyes.

"Three hundred black-armored soldiers led the way, followed by over five hundred…… things that were not human."

"Their movements were stiff, but they possessed extraordinary strength, and they felt no fear even when hacked."

"We fought while retreating; when we left the city, we still had over four hundred men."

"On the road we were pursued again, losing half of our force."

"If it weren't for Scout Captain Chang arriving in time……"

His voice choked up.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) supported him as they walked into the city.

"First, treat the wounds."

"The rest, we'll talk about tomorrow."

After settling Tang He, Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) returned to the city wall.

When the sky began to lighten, Chang Yuchun's cavalry finally appeared in the field of view.

Thirty-seven riders.

The hundred-strong cavalry that set out returned as thirty-seven riders.

Chang Yuchun walked at the front, the cloth over his eyes soaked with blood, his armor shattered in multiple places, his left leg limping.

But his waist and back remained straight.

"Chief."

He cupped his fists at the base of the city wall.

His voice was hoarse, yet clear.

"Fortunately, I have not failed my orders."

"Tang He's unit withdrew; the pursuing demon soldiers have been repelled."

"But……"

He paused.

"Those things retreated in a very suspicious manner."

"They clearly had the advantage, yet suddenly stopped the pursuit, turned back, and headed for Stabilizing Far."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) furrowed his brow.

"Did you see clearly what they took away?"

"Corpses."

Chang Yuchun said.

"They dragged away the corpses of our fallen brothers, as well as the corpses of their own monsters, leaving nothing behind."

"They didn't leave a single cart."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang)'s heart sank.

"This is not normal."

"Collecting corpses on the battlefield is common, but to gather even the enemy's corpses, and to do so so cleanly……"

Unless those corpses have another use.

"Enter the city."

He said.

"Take good care of your wounds."

Chang Yuchun bared his teeth in a grin, wanting to laugh, but it tugged his wound, turning into a muffled groan.

Thirty-seven riders entered the city slowly.

The city gate was closed again.

At the chen hour, the main hall of the yamen.

All officers of the rank of squad leader and above gathered.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn.

Tang He, after a simple bandage, insisted on being present; Chang Yuchun sat beside him, his eyes now covered with clean gauze.

Xu Da, Liu Ji, Fu Youde, Zhao Pusheng, Liao Yongzhong… both new and old faces were present.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stood before the hall, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"In the Battle of Dingyuan, we lost four hundred seventy-three men."

He spoke, his voice not loud, but each word struck the hearts of those present.

"But we have also seen clearly what the enemy is."

"It is neither the Yuan troops nor bandits."

"It is a kind of evil thing that feeds on people and nests in the land."

"What they want is not just cities and grain."

"It is the lives of all people, the vitality of the entire land."

He paused.

"Against such an enemy, hiding and fleeing cannot sustain life."

"Only war."

"But war cannot be as before, seizing a mountain stronghold and waging guerrilla warfare."

"We need a foundation, we need a legitimate name, we need rules."

He turned and picked up a document drafted overnight from the desk.

"From today onward—"

He unfolded the document.

"Abolish the old designation 'Knife and Plow Camp'."

"Establish 'Wu'."

"I, Zhu Yue, shall be titled King of Wu."

A moment of silence fell below the hall.

Immediately, Xu Da was the first to drop to one knee.

"Greetings to the King of Wu!"

Tang He and Chang Yuchun followed closely after.

Then came Fu Youde, Zhao Pusheng, Liao Yongzhong…

Liu Ji rose last, performing a deep bow that touched the ground.

"Greetings to the King of Wu!"

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) raised his hand.

"All rise."

Everyone rose.

"Having established a state, we must set up institutions."

He looked toward Xu Da.

"Xu Da."

"Your subordinate is here."

"You shall be the Left Minister, overseeing military affairs and concurrently serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army."

"Yes!"

"Tang He."

"Your subordinate is here."

"You shall be the Right Minister, overseeing city defenses, provisions, and crafts."

"Your subordinate receives the order!"

"Chang Yuchun."

"I'm here!"

"You shall be the Vanguard Commander, specifically in charge of cavalry, scouts, and the vanguard."

"Order received!"

"Liu Ji."

"Your servant is present."

"You shall be the Military Advisor and Chief Sacrificial Officer, overseeing strategy, documents, and celestial phenomena."

"Your servant will devote himself wholeheartedly."

"Fu Youde."

The subordinate is present.

You are appointed Left Army Commander-in-Chief, commanding three newly formed infantry battalions.

Thank you, King Wu!

Zhao Pucheng.

The subordinate is present!

You are appointed Right Army Commander-in-Chief, commanding the original troops and the newly attached righteous army.

As you command!

Liao Yongzhong.

The subordinate is present!

You are appointed Naval Commander-in-Chief, commanding the fleet and guarding the supply lines.

The subordinate accepts the command!

All appointments are completed.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) looked at the crowd.

The structure is in place, the positions are fixed.

Next——

He walked to the map hanging in the hall.

We must do three things.

First, strengthen the base.

Haozhou's defenses must be reinforced, the moat widened, walled cities added, and granaries dispersed and hidden.

All soldiers and civilians will have their households re-registered; males aged fifteen to fifty shall all be enrolled in the military.

Implement garrison farming; in addition to training, reclaim the surrounding wasteland.

Second, clear the fields.

His finger traced the area within a hundred li around Haozhou on the map.

Within this area, all villages, forts, and mountain strongholds must submit by the deadline.

Those who resist will be exterminated.

Those who collude with demons and heretics will be annihilated.

Water sources, grain fields, and strategic passes will all be under our control.

Third——

He pointed north.

Prepare for war.

The demon forces at White River Town will not relent.

After Stabilize the Distant, the next target will certainly be Haozhou.

We must train an army capable of facing them head-on before they arrive.

An army that fears no death, dares to fight to the death, and obeys orders—an iron army.

He turned and looked down at the hall.

Everyone.

From today on, we are no longer refugees fighting for a mouthful of food.

We are an army fighting to survive.

We are men fighting to protect our elders behind us.

This path is fraught with danger, offering only a one-in-ten chance of survival.

Those who wish to withdraw may leave; I will provide travel expenses and will not hinder them.

No one below moved.

Chang Yuchun smirked.

My lord Wu, you say this.

If we feared death, we would have fled long ago.

Exactly.

Tang He continued.

In this world, hiding anywhere leads to death.

Better to follow you and give it our all.

Xu Da clasped his fists.

I am willing to devote myself unto death.

Liu Ji bowed deeply.

Though I am weak in martial skill, I am willing to wield my pen as a sword and my plans as a shield.

All together, they shouted:

Willing to give our lives!

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) nodded.

Good.

Each of you, go prepare.

In three days, I want to see the newly formed army begin training.

In ten days, I want to see the clearing of the wilderness finished.

Within one month—

He paused.

I want to see an elite force that dares to march north and dares to engage in battle.

Yes!

The crowd roared in agreement, then each went their separate ways.

Only Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) and Liu Ji remained in the hall.

King of Wu,

Liu Ji said softly.

Proclaiming kingship and establishing institutions may win popular support, but it will also invite trouble.

The Yuan court, the False Song, and even other rebel armies will likely see us as enemies.

I know.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) looked toward the hall exterior.

But in chaotic times, a title is a banner.

Only with a banner will people come to join.

Only with people does one have strength.

As for enemies……

He gave a cold laugh.

Are there few enemies in this world?

One more is not many; one less is not few.

Liu Ji fell silent.

After a moment, he asked:

Your Highness, do you have a deeper understanding of the northern demon troops?

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) did not answer directly.

He walked to the window and gazed northward.

Sir,

You say, in this world, is there a kind of power……

That can make people immortal, make the land barren, and turn living things into puppets?

Liu Ji pondered.

The ancient texts record that overseas there is a strange qi; contact with it causes living beings to mutate.

In the previous dynasty's mining disaster, blue light was also seen; those nearby often died suddenly.

But these are merely scattered rumors, not yet a system.

If such a power truly exists, capable of eroding living beings and land on a large scale, in an orderly fashion……

He paused.

That would probably be beyond human strength to resist.

So we cannot rely solely on human strength.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) took out a lump of 'strange iron' from his bosom.

We must rely on this.

And furthermore……

He looked at Liu Ji.

Rely on wit.

Find their patterns, find their weaknesses.

Then strike them down with a single blow.

Liu Ji became solemn.

I, your subject, wish to assist the King of Wu in seeking this pattern.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) nodded.

Go.

First, take care of the present matters.

Liu Ji bowed and withdrew.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stood alone in the hall.

He walked to the table, spread out paper, and picked up his brush.

He wrote three characters:

Northern Expedition Plan.

The brush tip was firm and strong, the force penetrating the back of the paper.

He knew this road had only just begun.

Proclaiming kingship was merely the first step.

Establishing institutions was merely the foundation.

The true test still lies ahead.

But at least now he has a title.

He has troops.

He has a base.

Next—

It is to carve a bloody path in this chaotic age.

A road leading to the way of survival.

Outside the window, the horn sounded again.

A new day.

A new journey.

It has begun.