The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 672 shattered the brief peace.
Just as the air inside the tent was gradually returning to calm, a series of arrogant footsteps shattered the brief peace.

General Qi swaggered in, his expression carrying a hint of disdain, as if he didn't take the people around him seriously.

The soldiers all turned their heads, knowing in their hearts that this General Qi was highly favored in the court and had always acted arrogantly.

Tang Gui's deputy—the always calm and decisive female general—stepped forward, her eyes fixed intently on General Qi.

The atmosphere around us instantly became tense, as if a piece of air could be sliced ​​off.

No one dared to utter a sound; they could only wait and see how things unfolded.

"General Qi, please have some self-respect; this is military territory."

The female general's voice remained steady, carrying an unquestionable firmness: "Here, everyone should follow the same military discipline."

General Qi snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "Military discipline? After this battle, I will report my achievements to His Majesty. You, a mere deputy, do you think you can order me around?"

"In the military, whoever makes a mistake must be punished,"

The female general responded expressionlessly, "There are no exceptions before military law."

At this moment, the soldiers watching whispered among themselves, some even wondering how the female general could possibly stop this general with such a powerful background.

The scene grew increasingly tense, and the air seemed to freeze.

"Since you are so confident,"

The female general continued decisively, "Why don't we have a contest and prove with our martial arts who should obey orders?"

General Qi was taken aback for a moment, then gave a disdainful smile. "Fine, I'll accept your challenge."

His voice was like a sharp blade, cleaving through the air with a chilling force.

The others in the tent also watched with bated breath.

Zhu Xiong Ying and Li Jing Long stood aside, knowing that this battle was not only about their personal honor and disgrace, but also a symbol of stability and order in the army.

The female general's composure and decisiveness have earned her the secret admiration of many.

In the ensuing contest, the two clashed amidst the dust, their swords flashing like lightning and their blades gleaming like stars.

General Qi's offensive was like a whirlwind, but the female general proceeded step by step, never losing her ground. With just one sword strike, she forced General Qi to retreat in defeat.

Finally, General Qi stopped, his panting clearly audible.

Everyone saw that the female general's sword was steadily pointed at General Qi's throat, but she did not strike.

In an instant, all around fell silent, with only the sound of each other's breathing audible.

"General Qi, you have been defeated."

The female general calmly sheathed her sword, took a step back to show respect to her opponent, and spoke without a trace of smugness.

General Qi's face was stiff, but he knew he had nothing to say in this situation.

He then turned and retreated back into the crowd, gritting his teeth inwardly.

The soldiers present realized that the female general's perseverance and decisiveness not only upheld military discipline but also demonstrated her undeniable leadership abilities.

Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes revealed admiration. He knew that this kind of military spirit was what the Ming Dynasty needed.

After all this, the tension in the tent gradually dissipated, and the sunlight once again pierced through the curtains, shining clearly on the ground, as if drawing a perfect conclusion to this confrontation.

The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, and the air inside the tent still carried the lingering warmth of last night's exhilarating duel.

Zhu Xiong Ying walked to the table, picked up a map, and turned his gaze to Li Jinglong, trying to sort out the upcoming military operations.

However, Li Jinglong seemed distracted, his gaze constantly drifting outside the tent.

“I’ve always thought she was extraordinary,” he suddenly said, as if responding to a thought that had been running through his mind. “She genuinely cares about the future of the military, rather than being led by the nose by any personal interests.”

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded, deeply agreeing.

The woman's performance showed him the qualities required of a truly outstanding leader.

Li Jinglong seemed to remember something, and his tone became more serious, "But General Qi is not so easily convinced; he is a seasoned fellow."

Just then, a commotion arose outside the tent, and a messenger rushed in, his face beaming with undisguised excitement.

"Your Highness, Lieutenant General Li! The female general has returned with the spoils of victory and is reporting outside the camp!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying and Li Jing Long looked outside simultaneously. They saw a group of soldiers carrying several captured enemy weapons and supplies, all looking proud. The female general stood in the front row with a firm gaze, expressing her victory to General Qi.

"This is a victory, and also an encouragement to our morale,"

Li Jinglong spoke softly, his appreciation evident in his words.

However, General Qi's expression was not so good, especially when he saw the spoils of war.

His brows furrowed, and he lowered his voice: "Her actions are far too high-profile."

Zhu Xiong Ying took a step closer and looked at General Qi's slightly twitching fist, sensing the resentment and anger in his heart.

"General Qi, sometimes, acknowledging the success of others is also a manifestation of loyalty to one's duty."

Upon hearing this, General Qi did not reply immediately, but simply gazed silently at the female general.

The female general seemed to sense General Qi's complex emotions, and stepped forward, bowing slightly.

"General Qi, I am not doing this for myself, but to remind our brothers that victory can be achieved through battle."

Her voice was calm yet firm, drifting into everyone's ears on the cool morning breeze.

At this moment, General Qi's expression softened slightly. Although he was still wavering, something deep within him seemed to have been touched.

The soldiers around her looked at the female general with excitement and admiration, their morale soaring as if they had been injected with a new vitality.

Zhu Xiong Ying and Li Jing Long exchanged a glance. Without saying a word, they both knew that the march would be much smoother because of this high morale.

The sun had already risen, and its warm rays shone on the faces of every soldier, temporarily melting away yesterday's battles in the peaceful atmosphere of the morning.

The morning sunlight shone through the gaps in the tent and fell on Zhu Xiong Ying's face. He stood up, looked around, and saw every expectant face.

He cleared his throat and said, "Gentlemen, the challenges we face are undeniably formidable. But I do not believe that a sudden retreat at this time would be a wise move."

His words were firm and unwavering. As his voice echoed, the entire tent fell silent, and everyone's attention was focused on him.

"I have a plan,"

Zhu Xiong Ying lowered his voice, his eyes filled with deep thought, "We need to spread a rumor among the enemy troops, making them believe that we are about to launch a full-scale attack. This will disrupt their plans, buy us time, and also inspire our soldiers."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he observed their reactions to the idea.

Li Jinglong spoke first, nodding slightly with approval in his eyes: "A good plan, Xiong Ying. This move can not only confuse the enemy, but also boost our army's morale. It is indeed worth a try."

Just then, a soldier rushed in, panting, and reported: "Your Highness, the enemy has already encamped outside Chang'an City and is about to launch an attack."

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhu Xiong Ying swiftly issued the order: "Immediately summon all generals to accompany me to the front lines for deployment. Although the enemy we face is formidable, we must not waver at this critical moment."

The accompanying generals immediately began preparations, their eyes showing a hint of panic, but even more so confidence and determination.

Although Zhu Xiong Ying was a little nervous, having never seen such a large enemy force before, he became even more determined in his direction.

(End of this chapter)