Chapter 102: Time to Take the Medicine

Zhu Yong just stepped out of the big tent, and heard Chang Yuchun shouting from behind, "Yong Er, wait!"

Zhu Yong stopped, and asked curiously, "Chang Shu, what's up?"

Chang Yuchun walked over, patted his shoulder, "It's cold up north, bring extra warm clothes; the Nüzhen are cunning, don't underestimate them."

"I know, no matter how cunning, they can't stand my hammer…" Zhu Yong chuckled.

Chang Yuchun laughed loudly, "You kid are fiercer than Chang Shu was in his youth! Alright, go! Stay safe."

Zhu Yong nodded and headed toward his own camp.

Along the way, the soldiers saluted him solemnly when they saw him.

"Wu King!"

"General!"

Zhu Yong replied to each, a goofy smile on his face.

Back at the Longxiang Army camp, Zhang Wu, Chen Heng, Wang Gui, and Chang Mao were already waiting inside the tent.

"General, how did the meeting go?" Zhang Wu asked.

Zhu Yong recounted the troop deployment plan.

Chang Mao exclaimed excitedly, "Attack the Southern Barbarians… great! Those barbarians are quick in Kaixuan, let's see where they run this time!"

Wang Gui said more calmly, "General, the Nüzhen are scattered; wiping them out one by one will cost time and effort. We only have fifty thousand cavalry—how can we fight?"

Zhu Yong walked to the small map and said, "The Nüzhen are divided into three major groups: Jianzhou, Haixi, and the Wildmen. Jianzhou Nüzhen are around Changbaishan, led by the fierce brother Tie Mu Er.

The Haixi Nüzhen occupy the Songhua River basin, and the Wildmen Nüzhen are farthest north, the most dispersed."

He pointed at the Jianzhou spot and said, "Capture the king to catch the thieves; the fierce brother Tie Mu Er is the strongest Nüzhen. Defeat him first, and the other two groups will be easy to handle."

"How do we attack?" Chen Heng asked.

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "The fierce brother Tie Mu Er knows our main force is at Kaixuan, so he'll be on guard. We can feign an attack on Haixi, lure him to send reinforcements, then ambush him midway."

Wang Baobao lifted the tent flap and, hearing the words, praised, "Good plan, I, the junior commander, am willing to lead my unit as bait, feigning an attack on Haixi."

Zhu Yong shook his head, "No, Elder Brother knows the Grassland well; he should lead the main assault, and let Chang Mao handle the bait."

Chang Mao was startled, "Me?"

"Hmm, you're full of youthful vigor; the fierce brother Tie Mu Er won't be overly guarded. Take five thousand cavalry, make a big show, strike Haixi, but remember, only harass, don't engage in hard fighting; just draw out the Jianzhou reinforcements."

Zhu Yong looked at him and said.

Chang Mao clasped his fists and said, "Junior commander, at your command!"

Zhu Yong turned to Wang Baobao, "Elder Brother, take twenty thousand infantry and ambush at Eagle's Mouth Gorge on the southern slope of Changbaishan; it's the mandatory route from Jianzhou to Haixi, the terrain is treacherous and perfect for an ambush."

"Good!" Wang Baobao nodded.

"Zhang Wu, Chen Heng, each of you take ten thousand troops, flank the Jianzhou stronghold from east and west; when the fierce brother Tie Mu Er sends troops to aid, we will strike his lair."

"Understood!"

"Wang Gui, follow me with the remaining ten thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry as a reserve, ready to support at any time."

After the assignments, Zhu Yong said, "We set out in three days; these few days, let the brothers rest well, inspect weapons and horses. It's cold up north; make sure thick clothing, fur hats and gloves are ready."

"Yes!"

The generals obeyed and departed.

Zhu Yong sat alone in the tent, looking at Changbaishan on the map.

In his past‑life memories, the Nüzhen later became a great menace.

This life, he will eradicate them completely while they are still weak.

It's not conquest, it's annihilation.

Leave no room for them.

…

At the same time, Yingtian Prefecture.

The palace, Wu Ying Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang held the freshly delivered battle report, a smile unable to be hidden on his face.

"Well done! What a Zhu Yong! Ten thousand broke fifty thousand, lifted the siege in a day, and captured twenty thousand! In Xu Tiande's military report, they praised Yong Er to the heavens!"

Empress Ma sat beside him, also pleased but more worried.

Zhu Biao stood at the lower seat, laughing, "Second brother has achieved a great feat this time; the Kaixuan garrison of eight thousand was besieged for eight days. If we had arrived a few days later, the city would have fallen.

This battle saved over ten thousand soldiers and civilians; the merit is immeasurable."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "He deserves a reward; when Yong Er returns, we'll reward him handsomely!"

He looked at Zhu Biao and said, "Biao, what reward do you think is appropriate?"

Zhu Biao thought and said, "Second brother is now Wu King, his title has reached its peak; better give him something tangible: increase his food stipend by three thousand shi, grant him a red‑seal iron certificate, and expand the Longxiang Army to fifty thousand."

"Approved! All approved!" Additionally, an edict to Liaodong: every participating soldier receives five taels of silver, officers double that, the families of the fallen receive twenty taels, the wounded ten taels," Zhu Yuanzhang declared with a sweeping gesture.

"Yes, I will attend to it at once," Zhu Biao bowed.

Empress Ma suddenly said, "Zhong Ba, Yong Er's wife entered the palace a few days ago and looks thinner; she must be worried about Yong Er. When you issue the decree, also grant some gifts to the Wu Wang Fu to ease her mind."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, "Your sister thought it through; then reward the Wu King's consort with ten hu of pearls, a hundred bolts of silk, and have the Imperial Kitchen send daily supplements."

"Thank you, Father Emperor," Zhu Biao said on behalf of his sister‑in‑law.

…

Wu Wang Fu.

Guanyin Nu sat by the window, holding a letter.

【9】 The letter, sent by Zhu Yong through a military courier, was brief:

The letter was entrusted by Zhu Yong to a courier in the army to bring back, and it was written very simply:

"Wife, I won a battle at Kaixuan, all is well, don't worry, it's cold, wear more clothes, and I'll return after the war. Yong."

She turned those few sentences over and over, reading them more than a dozen times.

"Consort, the palace has sent a reward," Xiao Zhu reported as he entered.

Guanyin Nu set the letter down and rose to greet.

The eunuch announced the decree, and the gifts were arranged across the courtyard.

After the proclamation, the eunuch laughed, "Wu Consort, the emperor and empress have specially instructed that you take good care of your health and wait for King Wu's triumphant return."

Guanyin Nu gave thanks and had someone reward the eunuch.

Back in the room, she placed a hand on her flat belly and whispered, "Child, your father has won another battle; when you are born, he should return…"

Xiao Ying brought the prenatal medicine and said, "Consort, it's time to take the medicine."

Guanyin Nu finished the medicine and picked up the letter again to read.

The handwriting was crooked, but each stroke was pressed in with great force.

She seemed to see that simple, honest man under the lamp, clumsily holding the brush, writing a home letter stroke by stroke.

"You must return safely…" she prayed softly.

……

The seventh day of the ninth month, Liaodong.

Zhu Yong led fifty thousand cavalry, left Kaiyuan, and marched north.

Autumn deepened; the grass on the steppe had turned withered yellow, and the wind lifted clouds of yellow sand.

Chang Mao commanded five thousand cavalry as the Vanguard, marching grandly toward the Haixi Tribe direction.

Wang Baobao led twenty thousand cavalry, quietly turning toward Eagle's Mouth Gorge.

Zhang Wu and Chen Heng each commanded ten thousand, flanking from both wings.

Zhu Yong personally led fifteen thousand central troops, advancing slowly.

After marching for three days, they had entered Nüzhen territory.

At dusk that day, a scout reported, "General, General Chang Mao has engaged the Haixi Tribe, beheading three hundred and burning two camps. The Haixi Tribe leader has sent someone to Jianzhou for aid."

"Brother Tie Mu Er, any movement?" Zhu Yong asked.

"Jianzhou has gathered ten thousand cavalry, led personally by Brother Tie Mu Er, expected to depart tomorrow to rescue the Haixi."

Zhu Yong nodded, "Send word to Wang Baobao: prepare an ambush at Eagle's Mouth Gorge. Send word to Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng to strike the camp tonight while Jianzhou's forces are thin."

"Yes!"

Night fell.

Zhu Yong stood on the hilltop, gazing north.

There, in the direction of Changbaishan, deep in the forested mountains, lay the Nüzhen homeland.

In this battle, he intends to make this land a place where no Nüzhen dares to offend Great Ming again.

"General, when shall we set out?" Wang Gui asked.

Zhu Yong looked toward the night sky, the stars twinkling.

"Once Zhang Wu and Chen Heng succeed, we will go to Eagle's Mouth Gorge and send Brother Tie Mu Er a big gift."

He grasped the Double Hammers at his side.

The icy feel steadied his mind.

He had slain his way along this road, from Kaiping to Helin, from Bu Yu Er Hai to Kaiyuan.

Countless souls perished beneath the hammers.

But he never regretted it.

Because what he protects is this newborn nation, and those who wait for him in Yingtian.

Father, mother, elder brother, sister‑in‑law…

"Send the order: the whole army rests for two hours, depart at the hour of the Rat."

"Yes!"

Zhu Yong turned and left the hill, his figure merging into the night.

In the distance, Changbaishan's outline shimmered faintly in the moonlight, like a dormant giant beast.

And the Ming army's blade already pointed at its throat.