Ming Dynasty: Pick up attributes from the battlefield to create the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 154 Imperial Edict Arrives! Conferring Titles! Shen Yu'er is Stunned!

"Kill the Second Prince of Northern Yuan [Di Bao Nu], collect 200 points of all attributes, collect 500 days of lifespan, and receive two Tier 1 treasure chests as a reward." The panel notification sounded at the right time.

"It's done."

"The son of Emperor Yuan." Zhu Ying was secretly delighted.

Battle achievements, battle spoils, and treasure chests!

I've got them all.

The surrounding Yuan soldiers, who had been putting up a stubborn resistance, watched helplessly as their second prince was thrown from his horse and crashed heavily into the dust and blood.

Despair and terror filled the faces of the Yuan soldiers, and they instantly lost all color, turning deathly pale.

"The Second Prince is dead!"

A Yuan army officer shouted in a trembling voice, filled with endless fear and despair, his voice echoing across the chaotic battlefield.

This sound.

It was as if the death knell for the Yuan army had been tolled.

next moment.

The morale and fighting spirit of the Yuan army inside and outside the city collapsed in an instant.

"It's over, we're all finished!"

"The second prince is dead."

"We're fucked……"

"Surrender, or you're doomed!"

"I surrender..."

The cries of agony and shouts of surrender mingled together, heralding the end of this Yuan army.

"We are surrounded by the Ming army and there is no way to escape!"

"I surrender, please spare my life!"

As the shouts of surrender grew louder, more and more Yuan soldiers threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender.

The death of the landowner!
The death of the second prince of the Northern Yuan was also the death of the commander of this army.

This completely crushed the Yuan army's last will to resist.

Even their courage to break out was swallowed up by fear, and swathes of Yuan soldiers surrendered like fallen wheat fields.

Zhu Yingchong continued his relentless attack, fighting his way step by step to the city gate.

Seeing the countless Yuan soldiers inside and outside the city abandoning their weapons and surrendering, Zhu Ying took a deep breath, bolstering his strength with his powerful inner energy, and then shouted loudly: "Those who surrender will be spared! Those who do not surrender will be killed!"

This loud shout, carrying boundless majesty and murderous intent, echoed like rolling thunder across the battlefield for a long time.

This sentence also determined the life and death of countless Yuan soldiers.

Hearing their general's loud shout, the Ming soldiers charging inside and outside the city raised their weapons and shouted in unison, "The general has given the order!"

"Those who surrender to the Yuan army will be spared."

"Those who refuse to surrender will be killed without mercy."

The shouts of tens of thousands of Ming soldiers shook the heavens and the earth.

It completely enveloped the entire city gate, carrying with it endless shouts and murderous intent.

"It's gone down."

"I surrender."

"My lord, please spare my life."

"General, spare my life..."

Countless Yuan soldiers were terrified, trembling all over, and dropped their weapons.

One person can inspire ten people, and ten people can influence a hundred people.

For a while.

More and more Yuan soldiers dared not even think of resisting, and they threw down their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy.

"How can our great Yuan soldiers surrender to barbarians?"

"Let's fight these Han people."

"Kill..."

However, a few Yuan soldiers stubbornly resisted, making a final, desperate struggle. Their eyes gleamed with madness as they futilely brandished their weapons and charged towards the Ming soldiers.

However, their struggles were merely a helpless act before their death.

With the death of the local slave.

This fierce battle is nearing its end. All that remains is to eliminate the remaining enemies in the city, and the battle will be over.

The main gate of Zhen Tang City!
The city gates had long been firmly controlled by the Ming army, while outside the city, the logistics soldiers were busy shuttling back and forth.

They worked in groups of several, carrying stretchers and carefully transporting the wounded soldiers. Some were also carefully collecting the bodies. The heavy footsteps and the painful groans of the wounded mingled together, creating a tragic scene.

Surrounded by numerous guards, Guo Ying, Zhu Di, and Li Jinglong arrived at the main gate.

What greeted the three of them was a scene of utter devastation.

Corpses are everywhere.

Blood flows into a river.

only.

They held high positions, so they were naturally quite calm about it.

And this moment.

All three of them focused their attention on the city gate in front of them.

Broken city gate fragments were scattered haphazardly on the ground, and blood and scorch marks remained on the bricks and stones.

The bricks and stones of several city walls are scattered in disarray. The seven city walls, which were originally tall and sturdy, are now reduced to jagged edges and are on the verge of collapse.

But seeing this...

You can also see the thrilling battle when Zhu Ying breached the city.

Guo Ying's eyes were filled with shock and confusion. He pointed to the city gate and asked his guards in a trembling voice, "Did General Zhu break through it all by himself with a single sword?"

"Reporting to the General!" The commander of the personal guards spoke solemnly, leaning slightly forward, his tone filled with awe: "Tens of thousands of soldiers witnessed General Zhu's valiant breach of the city gates."

"All of this was done by General Zhu alone."

"The soldiers all call General Zhu a god, saying that he has superhuman strength and is like a reincarnation of the Overlord. General Zhu's bravery and strength are unmatched by ten thousand men!"

Hear the words.

"Such strength is truly divine!"

Guo Ying stared at the ruins before her, her face filled with disbelief, and murmured to herself, "General Zhu is exceptionally talented; perhaps it really is so."

"But this is truly beyond human capability!"

It wasn't just Guo Ying.

Zhu Di was also deeply shocked. His eyes were fixed on the broken city gate, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. There was both amazement at Zhu Yingyong’s strength and a hint of unease.

"Such a brave general, if he were to serve me, could be a match for a thousand troops." Zhu Di thought to himself with resentment. He knew that the Yuan army's defenses in the city were more stringent than before, but even so, Zhu Ying was still able to force his way through. This incredible strength amazed him and also made him feel a greater sense of threat.

"It's almost nightfall; the fighting in the city should be coming to an end soon."

"Let's enter the city first and let the logistics troops continue to clear the battlefield," Li Jinglong suggested at the opportune moment, breaking the silence.

Guo Ying nodded slightly in agreement: "Of course."

at this time.

A general from Huizhou Guard came running quickly.

Upon reaching Guo Ying, he immediately bowed deeply, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and respectfully reported to Guo Ying: "Reporting to the Great General, General Zhu Ying has led his army to completely conquer this city, and the commander of the Northern Yuan who was guarding this city, the second son of the Yuan Emperor, Di Baonu, has been personally killed by General Zhu Ying!"

"Our army has achieved a great victory!"

As soon as these words fell.

"The second son of Emperor Yuan? The second prince of Northern Yuan! He actually died just like that?"

Guo Ying exclaimed in surprise, her expression freezing instantly, filled with disbelief.

Zhu Di was deeply shocked. His brows furrowed, and he murmured, "The imperial family and nobility, just like that, were beheaded by Zhu Ying?"

As a member of the royal family, he knew that the royal family and nobility had a special status and should have the right to surrender.

But Zhu Ying directly killed Di Baonu, which made him think of his own identity, and a sense of unease welled up in his heart.

"On the battlefield, swords have no eyes. This is inevitable. Can we just stand by and watch this local sergeant escape?"

Hearing Zhu Di's murmur, Li Jinglong spoke up, his expression calm, and waved his hand gently, not finding anything wrong with Zhu Ying's actions.

Guo Ying smiled and echoed, a hint of disdain on his face: "That's true. As long as we can capture the city and defeat the enemy, let alone General Zhu killing this prince, we'd even kill the emperor of Northern Yuan!"

Upon hearing their words, Zhu Di fell silent. He subconsciously clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed it.

He understood that such things were perfectly acceptable on the battlefield.

Swords and blades are silent; they have no place for status or identity.

Perhaps Zhu Di was thinking about the identity of the local slave, as well as his own identity.

Even though Dibaonu was a member of the royal family, he was killed by Zhu Ying just like an ordinary Yuan soldier. If I were to commit such a heinous crime in the future, would Zhu Ying treat me the same way?

Perhaps this is what they call a guilty conscience!
There is something wrong!

"General, in this battle our army has killed countless enemies and captured many prisoners."

"General Zhu Ying had already planned to annihilate the Yuan army in the city when he attacked it."

"First, the infantry attacked and broke into the city, then the Da Ning cavalry circled around to the rear of the city, cut off the Yuan army's retreat, and formed an encirclement."

"The victory has been achieved, a resounding triumph!"

"The results of this battle have not yet been tallied, but they must have been very fruitful, with countless Yuan soldiers captured."

The commander of Huizhou Guard reported excitedly, his face beaming with joy.

He was originally in the Da Ning army, but now he serves as the deputy commander of Huizhou Guard. However, he has also made contributions in this great victory, so he is naturally very excited.

of course.

This battle.

Although they weren't the vanguard and didn't get to eat meat, they still got a taste of the spoils by following the Da Ning border army in their campaigns. They were credited with capturing cities and killing enemies.

A great success!

Guo Ying snapped out of her daze and immediately called out, "General Li!"

Li Jinglong bowed respectfully, his movements crisp and efficient: "Your subordinate is here!"

"Now that the battle in the city has been decided, the follow-up matters cannot be delayed."

"You personally mobilize the logistics troops to enter the city to clear the battlefield and treat the surrendered soldiers."

"Furthermore, this city is a grain storage place for border cities of the Northern Yuan. Immediately send people to check the granary. If we can seize the grain of the Northern Yuan army, it will be a great thing for our army."

Guo Ying made the arrangements methodically, her face dignified.

"This subordinate obeys!" Li Jinglong gladly accepted the order, a confident smile on his face.

Although he was only mediocre at warfare and commanding troops on the battlefield, he was always adept at handling logistical matters.

“Your Highness, there are many surrendered soldiers in the city. They need to be moved out of the city and kept under guard, and then escorted to the territory of the Ming Dynasty for safekeeping. Beiping Prefecture can be used as a place to keep the surrendered soldiers under guard.”

"This matter still needs your arrangement," Guo Ying said, turning to Zhu Di.

"This subordinate obeys the order." Zhu Di also obeyed the order, a thoughtful look on his face, as if he was considering how to properly arrange for these surrendered soldiers.

"The battle here is over. The two armies will face little resistance in their attack on the five northern border cities."

"Next, we will launch a full-scale attack and head straight for Beiyuan Xindu!"

Guo Ying's eyes shone with anticipation.

This Northern Expedition has already achieved considerable success, killing countless enemies, and the wish for a great victory in the Northern Expedition seems to be just around the corner.

"General, the results of the battle here need to be tallied quickly and reported to Yingtian immediately." Li Jinglong reminded him with a smile, a hint of urgency flashing in his eyes, his hands unconsciously rubbing together.

Guo Ying laughed and said, "You rascal, you're afraid of being late in reporting your war achievements!"

The words fell.

"Hahaha." The two looked at each other and laughed, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.

"I will personally submit this battle report after the results are tallied," Guo Ying said, his tone tinged with pride.

"The General is wise!" Li Jinglong immediately echoed, his face beaming with smiles and his eyes narrowing into slits.

Da Ning Prefecture, Zhu Residence!

More than half a month has passed since Zhu Ying set out on his northern expedition.

Today, the area in front of the Zhu residence was bustling with activity. The streets were packed with people who were whispering and discussing among themselves, their faces filled with curiosity and excitement.

Some stood on tiptoe, trying to peek into the mansion, while others whispered, wondering what big event might happen today.

The county soldiers of the prefecture stood in neat rows around the perimeter, their long spears gleaming coldly in the sunlight as they maintained order.

Bu Wan, the prefect of Daning Prefecture, also arrived at the gate of the Zhu residence today.

He was dressed in official robes, with a solemn expression. His gaze kept drifting forward, his hands were behind his back, and he paced back and forth, revealing a hint of tension and anticipation.

The matriarch of the Zhu family, Shen Yu'er, dressed in a plain long dress, held her several-month-old son, Zhu Xi, in her arms and stood in front of the mansion gate with a hint of nervousness and anticipation on her face.

The little one looked around curiously in his mother's arms, waving his little hands from time to time and making babbling sounds.

Butler Lin Fu and the servants of the manor stood neatly to one side, each with a respectful expression on their face and their eyes fixed on the front.

at this time!

A sound of footsteps followed.

After a while...

Hundreds of Jinwu Guards, clad in red cloaks, stood in neat rows in front of the Zhu residence.

They stood tall and straight, like statues, their red capes fluttering in the breeze, displaying royal majesty.

A centurion of the Imperial Guard, holding a golden imperial edict, stepped forward with steady steps. His eyes were focused and serious, and every step he took was firm and powerful, symbolizing the majesty of the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

"Shen Yu'er, wife of Zhu Ying, the Marquis of Champion, hear the imperial decree!"

The commander of the Imperial Guards spoke in a loud, booming voice, like a great bell, breaking the noise of the scene.

Shen Yu'er's heart tightened, and she subconsciously hugged her son tightly. Sensing his mother's tension, Zhu Xi also stopped playing, staring wide-eyed with a bewildered expression.

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Then, Shen Yu'er slowly knelt down.

The servants behind him and the common people gathered in the street all knelt down.

Even Bu Wan, the prefect, dared not be negligent in the slightest. He immediately knelt down, his head slightly lowered, his face full of respect.

In the Ming Dynasty, seeing an imperial edict was as if the emperor himself were present; even those without official rank were required to pay homage upon receiving an imperial edict.

"The Crown Prince, by the order of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, declares!"

"Commander of Da Ning, Earl of Champion Zhu Ying, was ordered to lead troops on a northern expedition. In the first battle of the northern expedition, he was brave and invincible, and in one day he broke through the border city of the Northern Yuan. He made great contributions to the country and deserves a reward."

"now."

“Remember that Champion Earl Zhu Ying made the first contribution to the Northern Expedition. Once the Northern Expedition is successful, he will be rewarded in the capital based on his military achievements.”

"Zhu Ying's wife was virtuous and kind."

"now."

"By imperial decree, Zhu Ying's wife, Shen Yu'er, was granted the title of Fourth-Rank Imperial Lady, enjoying the corresponding Imperial Lady's salary and the privilege of not having to kneel before the Emperor."

"In addition, he was granted 500 taels of gold, 500 bolts of brocade, a box of tribute fruit, and 100 servants."

"Appreciate this!"

The commander of the Golden Guard loudly proclaimed, and the sound spread.

Shen Yu'er was stunned when she heard the imperial edict.

Her eyes were wide open, filled with shock and disbelief, and her lips were slightly parted, but she couldn't utter a sound.

At that moment, she seemed frozen in time.

Although Shen Yu'er came from a merchant family and had not received much formal education, she was well aware of the weight of being a Lady of Imperial Decree.

In the Ming Dynasty, for women, the title of Imperial Noblewoman was just as precious as the noble title for men.

Back in the Shen family, she had heard the wives of her so-called elder brothers talk about how glorious it would be to obtain the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree.

However, the current emperor despises merchants, so it's simply a pipe dream for a merchant's wife to obtain an imperial title.

Of course.

To her utter surprise, the title of Imperial Noblewoman, which countless women dream of, actually fell into her lap.

"Madam Zhu, please accept the decree." The commander of the Imperial Guard smiled and gently reminded her, his smile carrying a hint of respect.

This was clearly a sign of respect for Zhu Ying.

But Shen Yu'er was still in shock and couldn't come to her senses for a moment. Seeing this, Bu Wan, who was kneeling beside her, gently nudged her and hurriedly reminded her, "Yu'er, why don't you accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude!"

Shen Yu'er then came to her senses, quickly kowtowed, and loudly replied, "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness, and thanks His Highness the Crown Prince for your great kindness!"

The commander of the Imperial Guard, holding the imperial edict, slowly walked to Shen Yu'er and said respectfully, "Madam Zhu, please rise."

After all, Zhu Ying was now a renowned figure in the Ming army and had become a model soldier, so his wife was naturally highly respected as well.

Shen Yu'er slowly stood up, and the maid behind her immediately stepped forward to help her.

Shen Yu'er handed Zhu Xi, whom she was holding, to Lin Fu. Lin Fu took the child with both hands, his movements gentle.

"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses gratitude."

Shen Yu'er respectfully accepted the imperial edict with both hands, her hands trembling slightly. This was the first time she had ever received an imperial edict.

"Guards, bring the Emperor and the Crown Prince's rewards into the mansion!"

After handing over the imperial edict, the commander of the Golden Guard immediately gave orders to his subordinates.

"Yes."

The Imperial Guards responded in unison, carrying the boxes in single file. The boxes made a dull thud as they scraped against the ground.

Simultaneously.

One hundred servants were also brought into the mansion. They lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound, and moved their feet lightly, as if afraid of disturbing the solemn atmosphere.

As slaves, their lives and deaths were entirely at the mercy of their masters.

"Madam, these are the slave contracts for one hundred servants. Please keep them safe."

The commander of the Imperial Guard took out a box and handed it to Shen Yu'er.

"Thank you very much." Shen Yu'er thanked them, took the box with both hands, and carefully put it away.

"Prefect Bu."

The commander of the Imperial Guard turned his gaze to Bu Wan.

"exist."

Bu Wan immediately bowed deeply, feeling both uneasy and secretly expectant.

"By order of the Crown Prince, the Prefect is requested to make preparations, as His Highness Prince Ning will be entering Daning to assume his fiefdom in the next few months."

"At that time, I would like to ask the Prefect to cooperate well with Prince Ning in managing the affairs of Daning Prefecture. After the assistance is completed, you may return to Yingtian to report on your duties."

"His Highness the Crown Prince said that the Prefect has governed Daning Prefecture well over the years, bringing peace and prosperity to the people and making great contributions. The court will not overlook the Prefect's merits."

"After you return to the capital, His Highness the Crown Prince will personally receive you."

Upon hearing this, Bu Wan's face flushed red with excitement, his eyes instantly welled up with tears, and his body trembled slightly.

For a subject, gaining the approval of his lord is a great honor.

The Crown Prince himself dispatched the Imperial Guards to deliver this message—what an extraordinary honor!
"Please convey to Your Highness the Crown Prince that I, Bu Wan, swear to serve the Ming Dynasty to the death and will never fail the expectations of the Emperor and the Crown Prince."

"As long as I serve in the prefecture of Daning, I will faithfully perform my duties every day and live up to the Emperor's grace!"

Bu Wan calmed himself down, bowed deeply to the commander of the Imperial Guard, his movements solemn and devout, as if declaring his loyalty to heaven and earth.

"Lord Bu, there's no need for such formalities. I will relay your words to the Crown Prince as they are."

The commander of the Imperial Guard replied with a smile.

"Yes." Bu Wan nodded emphatically.

……

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(End of this chapter)