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

Chapter 176 Zhu Quan: Fourth Brother, why does this Zhu Ying look so much like Xiong Ying?!

Zhu Ying smiled and returned the greetings to each of the people who came to congratulate him, showing perfect manners and without the slightest negligence.

Seeing that everything was settled, Guo Ying waved his hand and announced loudly, "The imperial edict has been delivered. Generals, please take your seats!"

"Yes!" the generals responded in unison, their voices booming.

They then proceeded to their respective seats in an orderly fashion.

Once everyone was seated, Guo Ying's expression hardened, and he cut straight to the point: "Currently, our army is only two garrison cities away from the Yuan capital."

"According to the intelligence we have now, there are no fewer than 300,000 Yuan troops in these two cities."

Guo Ying's voice was low and serious.

"If we launch a full-scale attack, this will be a tough battle."

"Generals, what are your thoughts on this?"

As Guo Ying spoke, her gaze slowly swept over the generals, her eyes filled with inquiry and expectation.

"Nothing else!"

Lan Yu suddenly stood up, his voice booming and full of confidence: "After these months of Northern Expedition, the Yuan army still has troops, but their morale has collapsed and they are exhausted."

"Furthermore, the Yuan army and our Ming army are completely different."

"Our army is united in the cause of the Northern Expedition, while the Yuan army is a temporary force cobbled together from various tribes, with different intentions."

"In order to preserve their own strength, they will never fight to the death."

"This can be seen from our success in conquering cities along the way. Although the Yuan army had the advantage in numbers, they were nothing more than a rabble."

"Of the remaining two fortified cities, I will lead a large army and surely be able to conquer one of them."

"The city will fall within three days!"

Lan Yu stood tall and proud, surveying his generals with an air of arrogance and confidence, as if victory and the fall of the city were already in sight.

"Since Marquis Yongchang has said so, then my two armies will attack the other one."

"If we launch our attacks simultaneously, we will be able to breach the Yuandu Garrison City at the fastest speed."

Li Jinglong also quickly stood up and said with a determined look.

Although he wasn't as arrogant as Lan Yu, his words were full of fighting spirit.

of course.

The source of his confidence lies in Zhu Ying.

Seeing that both commanders had made their stance so firm, Guo Ying nodded in satisfaction and, without wasting any more words, immediately said, "Good! Then we will launch an attack on these two garrison cities tomorrow."

"After capturing these two cities, our army will launch a direct attack on the Yuan capital and completely annihilate the Northern Yuan!"

"This unparalleled achievement in the Northern Expedition will belong to our army!"

Guo Ying's voice was passionate and stirring, full of lofty aspirations, and also meant to encourage the generals.

As soon as he finished speaking, all the generals shouted in unison, "We obey the General's order!"

"Alright, with a great battle imminent, all generals, please return to your camps and rest."

The agreement was reached at this point.

Guo Ying waved her hand, signaling everyone to step back.

His face showed a hint of fatigue, but even more so, he looked forward to tomorrow's big battle.

The success of the Northern Expedition is drawing ever closer.

"I will retire at the end!"

The generals all stood up, bowed respectfully to Guo Ying in unison, and then filed out.

After everyone else left, only Zhu Di and Zhu Quan remained in the tent.

"Your Highness Prince Ning."

Guo Ying looked at Zhu Quan, who was sitting in the first seat on the right, and said with some concern, "This time, you will be staying in the same camp as His Highness the Prince of Yan."

"Your personal guards will also be placed here."

The words fell.

"Thank you for your trouble, General." Zhu Quan smiled and stood up to express his gratitude: "I came here mainly to observe and learn."

"General, you are very busy and need not worry about me too much."

"After the Northern Expedition is over, I will still return to Daming."

Compared to Zhu Di's dignified and capable demeanor, Zhu Quan appeared quite immature, though his smile was gentle, humble, and very polite.

Apart from Zhu Yuanzhang's second and third sons, the other royal children were all doing well.

"After the battle ends tomorrow, Prince Ning can go to General Zhu Ying to inquire about the situation in Daning Prefecture."

Guo Ying suggested with a smile. Naturally, this also carried a deeper meaning, seemingly hinting at something.

Zhu Quan immediately nodded in agreement: "I will remember what the General said."

"The Marquis of Champion is young and promising, unlike ordinary people. I really need to learn more from him."

Zhu Quan's words were full of admiration for Zhu Ying, and his eyes also held a sense of anticipation, hoping to have a real conversation with Zhu Ying.

"Haha, then I won't disturb the two princes' rest any longer."

Guo Ying laughed a few times and didn't keep the two of them any longer.

"General, we shall take our leave now," Zhu Di said with a smile and a fist salute.

The same applies to Zhu Quan.

Soon.

Inside Zhu Di's tent, Zhu Quan was like a bird just released from its cage, full of curiosity about everything around him.

Even though it was just a small military tent, he looked around excitedly: "Fourth Brother, do you usually live in this tent?"

Zhu Quan reached out and touched the fabric of the tent, then carefully observed the surrounding furnishings, occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise.

Obviously.

This is the canary who has just left the capital city of Yingtian and is now free to roam.

Being away from the capital and no longer living under his father's strict rule was a great benefit for Zhu Quan.

Now, he is free.

however!
Zhu Di, however, had no interest in chatting with him about these trivial matters.

With a serious expression, he looked at Zhu Quan and asked, "Seventeenth Brother, what do you think of Zhu Ying?"

As he spoke, Zhu Di's eyes were deep and sharp as he stared at Zhu Quan, as if he could see right through him.

"What do you think of Zhu Ying?"

Zhu Quan was taken aback by the sudden question, a look of confusion appearing on his face. He frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

After a while.

The scene of seeing Zhu Yingshi in the tent just now flashed through Zhu Quan's mind.

Zhu Ying's calm demeanor, especially his eyes—no, those eyes—revealed a familiar, almost déjà vu.

This involuntarily reminded Zhu Quan of his childhood playmate, Zhu Xiong Ying.

Zhu Quan subconsciously lowered his voice, glanced around warily to make sure no one was eavesdropping, and then said with a serious expression, "Fourth Brother, don't you have a feeling?"

As he spoke, Zhu Quan's voice trembled slightly, as if he was suppressing his inner excitement.

"What does it feel like?"

Zhu Di pressed for an answer, a hint of curiosity showing on his face.

"Zhu Ying, he looks so much like Xiong Ying."

Although Zhu Quan's voice was low, every word he spoke struck Zhu Di's heart like a heavy hammer.

"Although he doesn't look much like U.A. when he was a child, his eyes are exactly the same."

“If I hadn’t seen Xiong Ying buried with my own eyes, I would have really suspected that Zhu Ying was Xiong Ying.”

"They look so alike, they're practically identical."

"It's exactly one person's eyes."

"Moreover, if you look closely, looking down into his eyes, it seems as if he has some of the features of Yu-Hei in his former days."

Zhu Quan's eyes flashed with amazement and doubt. At this moment, he was also looking at Zhu Di, as if trying to find the answer from Zhu Di.

Upon hearing Zhu Quan's words, Zhu Di's long-buried doubts were instantly ignited.

Those thoughts that he had deliberately forgotten now surged into his mind like a tide.

"Does Seventeenth Brother also think Zhu Ying resembles Xiong Ying?"

Zhu Di asked in surprise, his voice rising slightly, filled with disbelief.

“Xiongying used to play with Fourth Brother a lot, so Fourth Brother was naturally better at recognizing people.”

"Those eyes are practically identical."

Zhu Quan nodded affirmatively, his expression becoming increasingly serious.

The words fell.

Zhu Di's expression instantly became very complicated. He remained silent and fell into deep thought.

"Ugh."

Zhu Quan sighed deeply, his eyes filled with endless nostalgia: "When we were little, Xiong Ying always took me and my twelve brothers to play everywhere."

"At that time, although he was young, he had a lot of clever ideas and could always come up with all sorts of novel and interesting ways to play."

"Moreover, as long as Xiong Ying is around, no matter how much trouble we cause, Father's anger will dissipate instantly."

"Since the passing of Xiong Ying and the Empress Dowager, Father Emperor seems to have become a different person, and he is immersed in grief every day."

"My older brother is no longer as cheerful as before; he always seems preoccupied."

"If only U.A. were still here."

talking.

Zhu Quan's voice was choked with emotion, and his eyes were filled with nostalgia and longing for the good old days.

There is also a longing for his nephew, with whom he grew up and played.

Zhu Di listened quietly to Zhu Quan's recollections, but felt nothing; instead, his expression grew increasingly grim.

His hands clenched unconsciously. If Zhu Xiong Ying was really still alive, wouldn't his newly ignited ambition have become a colossal joke?

As the eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying possessed the righteous right to rule the Ming Dynasty, the support of the court's etiquette and laws, and the backing of the nobles of Huaixi. His position was as solid as a rock and no one could shake it.

Even if what Yao Guangxiao said is true, that the future Crown Prince Zhu Biao will not live long, as long as Zhu Xiong Ying is there, nothing will change.

"Could it be that there is some kind of connection between Zhu Ying and Xiong Ying?"

At this moment, when someone else pointed out that Zhu Ying and Zhu Xiong Ying were extremely similar, Zhu Di couldn't help but feel an indescribable unease.

The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became, and the sense of unease grew stronger.

"Fourth Brother, why do you look so pale?"

"Could it be that you caught a cold?"

Zhu Quan snapped out of his reverie, looked up, and saw Zhu Di's grim face. A sense of worry immediately welled up in his heart.

He stepped forward with concern and reached out to feel Zhu Di's forehead.

Zhu Di then snapped out of his daze, stepped back, and forced a smile: "It's nothing, I was just lost in thought."

"Hearing you mention U.A. High School reminds me of many things from the past."

Zhu Di's smile appeared somewhat stiff, and a trace of worry lingered in his eyes.

"Sigh, I only dare to say such things in front of my fourth brother."

"When I was in Yingtian, I didn't dare to mention Xiong Ying even in front of my mother."

"After all, this is a taboo between Father and my elder brother."

"Anyone who accidentally mentions it will inevitably be punished."

Zhu Quan sighed and shook his head helplessly.

You can tell.

Even mentioning his father, the emperor, revealed a sense of fear in him, and he seemed to still feel lingering fear when recounting what had just happened.

"When Father sent you to take up your fief, did he say whether Liaodong Prefecture would be under your control from now on?"

"Also, how is the military power in Daning Prefecture arranged?"

Zhu Di suppressed the turmoil in his heart, changed the subject, and asked with a smile.

His eyes seemed nonchalant, but upon closer inspection, one could discern a hint of tension and anticipation hidden within.

"The 50,000 border troops of Daning Prefecture should be under my command."

Zhu Quan truthfully replied, "But I'm not so sure about Huizhou Guard and the two guards in Liaodong Prefecture."

"Moreover, Father has not yet issued a specific decree on the restriction."

"I don't know whether I will be in charge of the Da Ning Guard or the Huizhou Guard in the future."

Zhu Quan frowned slightly, looking somewhat bewildered.

He didn't know much about how he would control the Da Ning Prefecture and its military power in the future.

of course.

Even if what I know at this moment is not entirely clear.

In front of Zhu Di, Zhu Quan told him everything he knew without reservation.

He was simple-minded by nature, and his trip to his fiefdom was solely at the behest of his father, the emperor, and he only wanted to govern Daning Prefecture well.

Although he was a prince, he knew in his heart that all financial and military power was still under the control of the imperial court and directly under the command of the Ministry of War.

The greatest power of a border vassal king lies in his ability to more flexibly deploy troops to deal with crises when facing foreign invasion.

The border vassal system meticulously established by Zhu Yuanzhang was interconnected, protecting the Ming Dynasty's territory while also serving as a check and balance among the various factions.

however!
Zhu Yuanzhang never anticipated that this system would cause so much chaos in the originally planned historical future.

"It seems that in the future, the Emperor will likely send another prince to oversee Liaodong Prefecture."

Zhu Di astutely deduced this from Zhu Quan's words.

Liaodong Prefecture was a vast area, and it was guarded by 100,000 troops. Zhu Yuanzhang would never have entrusted it entirely to Zhu Quan for control.

The military power of each border vassal king was subject to certain limitations.

It won't be too big.

This also made it easier for the imperial court to control and manage the situation.

"Liaodong Prefecture is so important, they will definitely send another vassal king."

Zhu Quan nodded in agreement, then changed the subject, saying, "I just wonder if I will have any good generals serving under me in the future."

"If Zhu Ying could stay in Daning, that would be the best thing."

"With him here, I don't need to worry about foreign invasions when governing Da Ning."

"He became the champion before he was even twenty years old. He was truly young and promising, which is admirable."

When Zhu Ying was mentioned, Zhu Quan's eyes gleamed with admiration; he had full confidence in Zhu Ying's abilities.

Of course, there was also an expectation that Zhu Ying would continue to command the army in Daning Prefecture.

"After this Northern Expedition, his official position will surely be promoted to a higher level."

Zhu Di said affirmatively.

He knew his father and elder brother's style of doing things very well. Since they had given Zhu Ying such a generous reward, bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Champion, and announcing his achievements to the world, he was quite surprised.

Once the Northern Expedition is successfully completed, Zhu Ying's promotion is inevitable.

"Indeed." Zhu Quan nodded in agreement, without a doubt.

at this time!

Zhu Quan felt a wave of fatigue wash over him. He yawned, stretched, and laughed, "Fourth Brother, we're going to attack the city tomorrow. I'm exhausted from the journey today."

"I'll go back to my tent to rest first, and come back to watch the siege tomorrow."

Zhu Quan waved his hand casually and turned to walk out of the tent. His steps were heavy, clearly indicating that he was extremely tired.

After Zhu Quan left, Zhu Di looked at the empty tent and slowly spoke, his face showing undisguised solemnity: "Do you think it's possible that Zhu Ying is really Zhu Xiong Ying?"

The words fell.

The camp was completely silent!
After a long while, a faint sigh came: "Your Highness, you are too attached to appearances."

"The dead cannot be brought back to life; you're overthinking it."

The voice seemed to come from inside the tent, carrying a sense of helplessness and persuasion.

“When I first saw him, I had a similar feeling, as if I saw Zhu Xiong Ying.”

"When my seventeenth brother mentioned it today, the thought I had been suppressing resurfaced."

"I'm really worried. What if Zhu Ying is really connected with Zhu Xiong Ying? Then... do I still have a chance?"

Zhu Di's voice was filled with anxiety and unease, and his expression showed a struggle.

"Although I know it's almost impossible, I always have a nameless worry in my heart that I can't shake off."

Zhu Di's brows were furrowed, as if he were trapped in a nightmare from which he could not escape.

"Since Your Highness has such concerns, you must already have a plan in mind."

Yao Guangxiao's voice rang out again, calm and deep.

"I do not want him to respond to Heaven."

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhu Di's eyes: "Regardless of whether he is related to Zhu Xiong Ying, as long as he cannot be used by me, he will definitely be my great enemy."

"Perhaps this is the reason for my deepest unease. Since I cannot control him, I would rather destroy him."

Zhu Di clenched his fists tightly, as if he wanted to crush the fear and unease in his heart.

“In that case, this humble monk has a plan that may grant Your Highness’s wish,” Yao Guangxiao said slowly, with a hint of seriousness in his voice.

"What strategy?" Zhu Di asked impatiently, full of anticipation.

"The Ming army's northern expedition has reached the Yuan capital city and will surely be captured soon."

“Emperor Yuan will surely flee north.” Yao Guangxiao said unhurriedly, “The greatest achievement of this northern expedition is to completely destroy the Northern Yuan and cause it to fall apart. This is exactly what the current emperor wants.”

"Therefore... when Emperor Yuan fled, Guo Ying would definitely have ordered a pursuit."

Yao Guangxiao gradually became serious, as if he had already deduced many of the scenarios for the subsequent Northern Expedition.

Zhu Di's heart stirred, as if he understood something.

"The entire Da Ning Border Army under Zhu Ying's command is cavalry, with a strength of nearly 40,000."

"If we pursue them, Zhu Ying will definitely be the first to be attacked. Once he penetrates deep into the northern border, it will be difficult for him to escape unscathed."

"The heartland of Beiyuan is a vast grassland and desert, where it is easy to lose one's way, and it is also the home ground of the Beiyuan tribes."

Zhu Di continued, his eyes filled with even more murderous intent.

“If we leak even a little more military intelligence to the Beiyuan tribe, such as Zhu Ying’s location… how could the Beiyuan tribe let him go?” Yao Guangxiao’s voice turned cold.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's face showed a struggle: "The Northern Yuan has always been the greatest enemy of our Great Ming."

"If Zhu Ying ventures deep into the northern frontier and never returns, that is his own fate."

"But I cannot betray this information to the Northern Yuan and cause the deaths of my Ming soldiers."

That concludes this discussion.

Zhu Di, however, said firmly, "After all, I am only wary of him."

"His death alone is enough."

Under Yao Guangxiao's influence, Zhu Di, despite his ambition for the white hat, still maintained his bottom line when it came to the greater good.

"That was merely a suggestion from this humble monk."

"Whether Your Highness agrees or not is entirely up to you," Yao Guangxiao said calmly.

"Of course, the northern desert is full of unknowns."

"Your Highness could actually test Zhu Ying. If he can be of use to Your Highness, that would be even better."

Yao Guangxiao's words carried a faint smile, as if he were hinting at something.

"nature."

Zhu Di nodded heavily, but his expression remained solemn: "My elder brother has been so kind to him, how easy is it to get him to submit to me!"

……

(End of this chapter)