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

Chapter 179 Breaking Through the Yuan Capital! Zhu Di is about to make a move to test the waters! A great secret is about to be discovered!

Zhu Ying slowly stepped into the hall and threw the tiger-headed battle sword in his hand at Liu Lei, who immediately caught it.

"To surrender, or to coexist with the Yuan?"

Follow closely.

Zhu Ying glanced at the group of generals in the hall and asked in a low, cold voice.

now.

Zhu Ying did not inquire about the identities of these Yuan generals. At this moment, their identities were irrelevant; what he needed was a straightforward answer.

To surrender or not to surrender!

In reality, Zhu Ying did not want them to surrender.

Surrender might allow one to live, but for a warrior, it would be a humiliation.

If these Yuan generals before him were to remain defiant to the death, then Zhu Ying would hold them in higher regard.

of course.

Zhu Ying can also get more treasure chests.

"Which general of the Ming Dynasty are you?"

The barbarian slowly stood up, staring intently at Zhu Ying, his voice hoarse as he squeezed it out from deep in his throat.

"Zhu Ying, Marquis of the Great Ming and Commander of the Great Ning."

Zhu Ying spoke calmly and in a calm tone.

"You're Zhu Ying?"

Upon hearing this, the barbarian raised his head, his eyes widening in astonishment.

He even wanted to say something, but then he was speechless for a moment.

Not only the barbarians, but also the Yuan generals beside him were all astonished, their eyes fixed on Zhu Ying.

Every single one of them looked shocked, confused, and even more so, incredulous.

During the Liaodong War, Zhu Ying had already come into the sights of the Northern Yuan. From then on, he was regarded as a major enemy by the Northern Yuan, and his name was widely known in the Northern Yuan army.

The assassins sent by the Northern Yuan Dynasty specifically targeted Zhu Ying for assassination.

As the Ming Dynasty launched its Northern Expedition, Zhu Yingzhi's name frequently appeared in the Northern Yuan court. Each appearance was accompanied by bad news: either the Northern Yuan had lost a city or suffered heavy losses.

even!

Compared to Guo Ying, the Grand General of the Ming Dynasty's Northern Expedition, the Northern Yuan's hatred for Zhu Ying was even greater.

It was Zhu Ying who first broke through the border city of the Northern Yuan, and in just one day, he turned the Northern Yuan's years of painstaking planning into nothing.

Furthermore, his supposedly invincible 100,000 Northern Yuan cavalry were also defeated by Zhu Ying, shattering the myth of the Northern Yuan cavalry and severely damaging the Northern Yuan.

"I didn't expect that..."

The barbarian sighed deeply, his voice filled with endless emotion: "You are so young."

"Our Great Yuan Dynasty did not lose unjustly."

Although hatred still lingered in his eyes, a hint of respect for Zhu Ying also unconsciously surfaced.

On the battlefield, strength is the only standard for earning respect. Zhu Ying's outstanding military talent and invincible bravery forced the barbarians to submit.

"On the battlefield, true skill is revealed through actions."

"It's pointless to waste time talking nonsense."

Zhu Ying spoke calmly, yet every word was like a knife.

The voice just fell,

Zhu Ying moved his right hand slightly, and with a whoosh, the Azure Rainbow Sword was drawn from its sheath.

The blade gleamed coldly, exuding murderous intent.

Zhu Ying gripped the Azure Rainbow Sword tightly, his gaze cold and filled with murderous intent as he stared at the assembled generals.

"You must be the Northern Yuan Grand Commandant, Manzi!"

"Now, I will only ask you once: fight, or surrender?"

At this question, the barbarian's eyes narrowed slightly, a resolute glint in them.

He instinctively gripped his sword tightly with both hands, staring intently at Zhu Ying.

“In the past, Grand Commandant Nahachu died in battle for the country. I received the Emperor’s great favor and was granted the position of Grand Commandant. I am deeply grateful for his boundless grace and favor. How can I surrender?”

"Zhu Ying, do you dare to fight this Grand Commandant?"

The barbarian roared, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

now.

His face was full of defiance and determination, as if to say that even if he died in battle, he would defend the dignity of the Northern Yuan, which was also his last dignity as a military general.

Zhu Ying didn't speak, but a look of admiration flashed in his eyes, followed by a cold smile.

He walked steadily forward, raised his Azure Rainbow Sword, and leaped towards the barbarian.

It's clearly a move to let the barbarians make the first move.

"The Great Yuan Dynasty is invincible!"

“One day, our Great Yuan will surely make a comeback and crush the gates of your Ming Kingdom.”

The barbarian roared, his voice almost lifting the roof off the main hall.

He raised his sword high with both hands, the blade gleaming coldly, and then charged fiercely towards Zhu Ying.

As he approached Zhu Ying, he mustered all his strength and slashed down at Zhu Ying with his sword. The strike carried an unparalleled force, as if it would cleave Zhu Ying in two.

perhaps.

What he truly desired was to kill Zhu Ying and eliminate a major enemy for his Northern Yuan.

but.

The barbarian's deadly move was like child's play to Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying remained completely calm, showing no intention of dodging.

Just as the barbarian's sword was about to strike him, Zhu Ying's Qinghong sword suddenly moved.

A cold glint flashed, so fast that the sword's trajectory was almost invisible. The sword light, like a bolt of lightning, instantly pierced through the barbarian's armor and reached his heart.

"You're saying the Northern Yuan is going to make a comeback?"

“I can tell you that as long as I, Zhu Ying, am alive, your Northern Yuan will have no chance. Even if the Ming Dynasty is destroyed, the Central Plains will never give your foreign races any opportunity to take advantage of us.”

Zhu Ying spoke coldly, his voice low and firm, carrying an air of arrogant confidence.

Say it!

Zhu Ying flicked his wrist backward, and the Azure Rainbow Sword was instantly pulled out from the barbarian's chest.

The barbarian spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with death and gradually became glazed over. His body then collapsed limply to the ground with a dull thud.

"Kill the barbarian chieftain of the Northern Yuan, collect 100 points of all attributes, collect 100 days of lifespan, and receive a Tier 1 treasure chest as a reward."

The moment of the kill.

A notification sound then rang out from the panel.

After all, the barbarian was the Grand Commandant of the Northern Yuan, a very high-ranking official. After being killed by Zhu Ying, he would naturally receive a generous reward.

"Will you fight or surrender?"

Having dealt with the barbarians, Zhu Ying slowly turned his gaze to the remaining Yuan generals.

These generals are all at least commanders of ten thousand or higher. If you can kill them, you will likely get a lot of attribute bonuses, and you might even get treasure chest rewards.

For Zhu Ying, killing them was tantamount to making a profit.

"We swear to follow the Grand Commandant to the death! For the Great Yuan, kill!"

The remaining nine generals did not hesitate at all; they roared in unison, their voices echoing throughout the hall.

Their eyes burned with anger and an indomitable spirit to coexist with their nation.

They all gripped their swords tightly, and then, like nine mad beasts, they charged towards Zhu Ying.

If an ordinary general were faced with this situation, his personal guards would immediately rush forward and kill these generals to protect their commander's safety.

But Zhu Ying did not give any orders. The guards in the hall stood silently like statues, without making any moves, just staring intently at Zhu Ying, because they all knew how powerful their master was.

next moment.

Zhu Ying moved.

His figure vanished from the sight of the generals in an instant, like a black afterimage.

Before the generals could react, they saw a flash of cold light and then felt a chill on their necks.

Zhu Ying moved with an almost terrifying speed, instantly traversing between the nine generals.

The Azure Rainbow Sword in his hand flickered like a nimble light.

Almost simultaneously, the necks of the nine generals were slashed open one by one by the Azure Rainbow Sword, and blood gushed out like a fountain. Their eyes widened, their faces filled with shock and resentment, and then, the nine heads fell slowly along with their bodies.

They were all killed!

"Defeat Bei Yuan Wanjiang, collect 30 points of all attributes, collect 30 days of lifespan, and receive a common treasure chest as a reward."

"Defeat the Northern Yuan general and collect all attributes..."

……

The panel beeped repeatedly.

easy.

Zhu Ying successfully obtained six more ordinary treasure chests, which was a pretty good result for him.

"These nine heads should be given to General Chen Heng and his men, and that will be considered their merits in battle."

Zhu Ying turned to Liu Lei and said.

His tone was calm, as if the bloody battle he had just experienced was nothing more than a trivial matter.

"Yes."

Without the slightest hesitation, Liu Lei immediately gave his subordinate a wink.

Several guards quickly stepped forward, skillfully picked up the nine heads, wrapped them in a prepared cloth, and then carefully put them away.

As for the barbarian's head, Zhu Ying naturally wanted to take it personally, since he had just beheaded another Northern Yuan Grand Commandant, which was a considerable achievement.

Seeing how skillfully Zhu Ying's personal guards handled the heads, it was clear that this was not the first time they had done this.

Zhu Ying had many generals under his command. For Zhu Ying, killing these ordinary generals, or even enemy generals of equal rank, did not bring much promotion; it was merely icing on the cake.

However, for the generals under his command, these military achievements were real and could earn them promotions and opportunities for advancement.

Therefore, Zhu Ying would often secretly distribute the merits of beheading generals, which were not of much use to him, to his old brothers who had followed him for a long time, such as Wei Quan, Zhang Wu, and Luo Hua, who all benefited from this.

After dealing with these Yuan generals, Zhu Ying slowly turned his gaze to the dragon throne high above in the main hall.

The dragon throne stood high up, exuding an aura of majesty.

This dragon throne symbolizes supreme imperial power and represents the rule over the world.

Zhu Ying stared at the dragon throne, his eyes swirling with emotion.

In his eyes, there was a thirst for power, a yearning for the future, and an unwavering belief.

"One day, I will also have my own dragon throne." Zhu Ying secretly vowed in his heart, filled with endless ambition.

At this moment!

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

It seems a group of people are rushing over.

"The general has arrived!"

outside the temple.

Xiao Han shouted at the top of his lungs, and the words immediately echoed into the hall.

Immediately, the guards on duty outside the hall sprang into action, neatly spreading out to both sides to make way.

Surrounded by a group of generals, Guo Ying strode towards the main hall, leading the way and displaying the majesty of a great general.

Zhu Di, Zhu Quan, Lan Yu, Li Jinglong, and others were among them. They followed Guo Ying, their faces displaying various expressions—some excited, some thrilled, and some thoughtful.

These generals differed from Zhu Ying; on the battlefield, they were mainly responsible for command and coordination, and would not personally risk their lives to charge into enemy lines to fight.

now.

They arrived at the Grand Hall of State, a symbol of the Northern Yuan's authority, and each of them was filled with excitement.

"I've met the general."

Zhu Ying turned around, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Guo Ying.

"The Marquis of Champion is indeed exceptionally brave and fierce." "This time, in the conquest of Yuandu, it was once again the Marquis of Champion who took the lead and was the first to break in!"

Guo Ying walked forward with a smile on her face, helped Zhu Ying up with both hands, and was full of appreciation and satisfaction.

"Thank you for your praise, General."

Zhu Ying responded modestly with a smile.

"In this battle, the Marquis of Champion has once again won the greatest credit."

"We will always remember the merit of conquering the Yuan capital."

Li Jinglong walked over with a beaming smile, his eyes filled with a hint of ingratiation.

Along the way, he had long been impressed by Zhu Ying's strength and strategy.

He was filled with relief. If it weren't for Zhu Ying's presence, he, as the nominal commander of the second army, would never have had such an easy time.

During his nearly nine-month Northern Expedition, he practically won without lifting a finger.

Zhu Ying was decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, and made many meritorious contributions. Although these merits were not personally obtained by Li Jinglong, as the commander of the second army, he could still get a share of the credit. When he returned to Yingtian in the future, he would surely receive the court's favor.

It can be said that Zhu Ying's presence made Li Jinglong's Northern Expedition incredibly smooth, and also made his initial anxiety disappear without a trace.

"General Li, you flatter me."

"In this battle, all the soldiers who captured Yuandu City have made great contributions."

Zhu Ying responded with a smile, his voice steady.

He understood that taking all the credit would only breed resentment. With so many troops entering the city, it would be foolish of him to claim all the credit for the victory.

Winning first place is enough!
of course.

Upon learning that Zhu Ying had breached the city first, Lan Yu's expression turned extremely unpleasant, and he was filled with displeasure.

Originally, the generals of Huaixi all hoped to seize the credit for capturing the capital, thereby adding merit to the Northern Expedition and gaining a higher position and more rewards in the court.

But now, Zhu Ying has taken away their last chance to conquer the capital, and their plan has failed, which makes Lan Yu and the others extremely unwilling.

"All you do is talk is sweet talk. So slick at such a young age."

"He's obviously no good."

Chang Mao stood beside Lan Yu, muttering in a very low voice, his face full of disdain.

He thought his voice was too soft to be heard, but he didn't expect Zhu Ying to have such good hearing that he heard everything clearly.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ying's gaze instantly shot towards Chang Mao like a sharp sword.

Chang Mao felt a chill run from his feet straight to his head. Startled, his face turned pale instantly.

"Could he have heard me?" Chang Mao muttered to himself, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

He stood there awkwardly, his eyes darting around, avoiding Zhu's gaze.

Zhu Ying stared at Chang Mao for a moment, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes, before slowly looking away.

In his heart, he secretly wondered, "Is this guy really Chang Yuchun's son?"

"This person was both reckless and foolish in his dealings with others. No wonder the Huaixi Group was eventually purged. It was all their own doing."

Zhu Ying knew their original fate and couldn't be bothered to argue with Chang Mao.

after all.

Given the temperament and character of the people in Huaixi, if things continue as they are, their fate will likely be difficult to change.

Zhu Ying knew that these people were naturally supportive of Zhu Yunwen, but Zhu Yunwen was timid and weak. Although he was the eldest son, he was not capable of being of great use and could not shoulder important responsibilities.

In the future struggle for the throne, neither the Huaixi Group nor Zhu Yunwen will likely escape their doom.

Guo Ying slowly scanned the main hall of the Yuan court, her gaze finally settling on the Yuan emperor's dragon throne.

"The Yuan capital has fallen. The last city of the Northern Yuan has finally been captured by our Great Ming."

"From then on, the Northern Yuan Dynasty was no longer known as a dynasty."

Guo Ying was filled with emotion, her voice brimming with excitement and the joy of victory.

"Yes."

"In the past, the Northern Yuan made our Great Ming Dynasty extremely wary because, like our Great Ming Dynasty, they built cities, learned our Han culture, manufactured cannons, and even harbored the ambition to annex the Central Plains of our Han people."

"Breaking through the Yuan capital at this moment will completely strip them of their dynasty title, returning them to the Mongol era and turning them back into nomads."

"Moreover, for the Northern Yuan, the strength of the Northern Yuan royal family is not enough to completely suppress the various Northern Yuan tribes."

Zhu Di nodded slightly and slowly began to speak.

Although he did not personally fight on the front lines during this war, he always accompanied the army and had a very thorough understanding of the situation.

"Although the capital of the Northern Yuan was destroyed, and the Northern Yuan was no longer known as a dynasty."

"But as long as Emperor Yuan is alive and the Northern Yuan royal family still exists, the vast land of the Northern Frontier will remain the domain of the Northern Yuan, and their strength will still be considerable."

Li Jinglong said with a serious expression.

Although he was not good at leading troops into battle, he could still offer some insights into the analysis of such situations.

After all, he was well-versed in military strategy and had considerable experience in theoretical warfare; these remarks were consistent with his established persona.

"I believe His Majesty will make a wise decision on this matter."

"Whether to continue the pursuit or to consolidate the capital, we only need to follow the Emperor's orders."

Guo Ying spoke with a solemn expression and in a low voice.

He was also somewhat hesitant about making the next strategic decision.

Pursuing the Yuan Emperor deep into the northern border was fraught with danger; a slight misstep could lead to the annihilation of the entire army. However, if they did not pursue him and allowed the Yuan Emperor to escape, the Northern Yuan might rise again and become a threat to the Ming Dynasty once more.

Upon hearing Guo Ying's words, all the generals fell silent.

They all knew that with the fall of Yuandu, the campaign had achieved a phased victory.

However, whether they choose to continue the pursuit or consolidate Yuandu, they face enormous risks and challenges.

If they pursue deep into the northern frontier, the soldiers may get lost in the vast grasslands, encounter attacks from the Northern Yuan tribes, and ultimately be wiped out.

Throughout history, only Huo Qubing achieved the feat of sealing the wolf's lair, because he truly stormed into the northern frontier, routed the Xiongnu army, and demonstrated the might of the Han Dynasty.

But such a record is easier said than done.

"General, this humble general requests permission to pursue them."

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhu Ying stepped forward and loudly requested permission.

"Champion Marquis, you don't need to do this."

"The Emperor once decreed that we should attack the Yuan capital and destroy the Northern Yuan."

"Now, my Northern Expeditionary Army has fulfilled the imperial decree."

"As for pursuing them northwards, that's far too dangerous."

Guo Ying looked at Zhu Ying and said with a smile, without criticizing him at all.

In his eyes, Zhu Ying was a pillar of the Ming Dynasty, and he did not want Zhu Ying to take any risks.

Moreover, he was well aware of the dangers of venturing deep into the northern frontier, and even if the army were to set out, he was not entirely confident that he could bring his soldiers back safely.

The vast grasslands of northern Xinjiang may appear peaceful, but they actually conceal countless dangers.

The desert is ravaged by sandstorms, water is scarce and hard to find, and the complex terrain is like a maze, making it easy for an army to lose its way.

Once you venture deep into the area, logistical support will face enormous challenges, and a slight misstep could lead to dire straits.

Thinking about all this, Guo Ying was filled with worry.

of course!

Most importantly, Guo Ying also had his own selfish motives. He felt that with his own abilities, he was not entirely confident that he could bring the army back safely.

If they were to encounter misfortune and suffer a crushing defeat, then even if they had successfully captured the Yuan capital, recovered dozens of cities in the Northern Yuan, and gained millions of people, the great achievements of the Northern Expedition would likely vanish in an instant, and the court might even consider their transgressions to outweigh their merits.

After all.

Perhaps it was because Guo Ying was getting older that his former courage and fearlessness had gradually faded, and he had become more hesitant and fearful.

Getting old!
Therefore, he dared not give the order, much less gamble!
They didn't dare to directly agree to Zhu Ying's request to pursue them.

"General."

Zhu Ying stepped forward and said firmly, "By imperial decree, destroy the Northern Yuan."

"Their true intention was to completely dismantle the Northern Yuan, making it impossible for it to exist as a whole."

"Now, the Yuan Emperor has fled in panic, and many members of the Northern Yuan royal family and nobles have also scattered like birds and beasts."

"If the Yuan Emperor were allowed to retreat to his ancestral Mongol homeland, he would still have the opportunity to regroup the Northern Yuan forces and suppress the many tribes on the grasslands, given his prestige in the Northern Yuan."

"This is by no means the situation His Majesty wished to see."

"To truly and completely eliminate the Northern Yuan, we must capture and kill the Yuan Emperor and nip it in the bud."

"Only in this way will the Northern Yuan fall into a state of fragmentation, and the threat to our Great Ming can be completely eliminated."

"The reason why I earnestly requested the General to grant the entire Da Ning cavalry force was precisely to deal with the current situation, so that we could penetrate deep into the northern border at a critical moment, pursue the Yuan Emperor, and eliminate the hidden dangers on the northern border of our Great Ming."

Zhu Ying finished speaking in one breath, his expression becoming even more solemn.

Upon hearing these words, Guo Ying's expression changed, and her previously dim eyes brightened instantly, showing a hint of interest.

He raised his head, his gaze fixed on Zhu Ying, as if he were getting to know this young general all over again.

Zhu Ying's remarks were clear, logical, and to the point, deeply moving Guo Ying.

The generals standing nearby were also astonished, never expecting Zhu Ying to be so serious and so audacious.

They actually intend to head north and pursue them!
"Just as Yao Guangxiao had thought."

Zhu Di thought to himself, "Zhu Ying will definitely not give up the opportunity to penetrate deep into the northern frontier."

"Now, the time has come for me to make a crucial decision."

"Tonight, I must test him."

"If we can win them over, that would be ideal."

"If you can't..."

"Alas... Now that things have come to this, I have no choice but to make a decision."

A barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed in Zhu Di's eyes.

immediately.

Zhu Di took a deep breath, composed himself, and put on a gentle smile again before stepping out from the crowd.

He smiled at Zhu Ying and said calmly, "The Marquis of Champion need not be in such a hurry."

"The Yuan capital has just been pacified, and the soldiers are exhausted after days of hard fighting and urgently need a rest."

"When my Northern Expeditionary Army attacked the last two garrison cities of the Northern Yuan, the battle report was already urgently sent to Yingtian."

"Based on my prediction, His Majesty's decree will surely reach here within a few days."

"Let the soldiers rest and recuperate for the next few days."

"As for the matter of pursuing them northward, we will discuss it further and make a decision later."

Hear this!

The generals all nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Guo Ying quickly nodded in agreement: "What the Prince of Yan said is absolutely right."

"The soldiers of Da Ning have fought bravely and made great contributions; they certainly need a good rest."

"The matter of pursuing them northward is of great importance and cannot be acted rashly. Let's wait for the Emperor's decree before we discuss countermeasures together."

As Guo Ying spoke, she gestured to Zhu Ying with her eyes, hoping he could understand the current situation.

See this situation!

Although they cannot pursue immediately.

But Guo Ying had already gone this far, and Zhu Ying understood very well that Guo Ying was worried that if something happened to him after he went north, he wouldn't dare to take the blame.

Simply.

Zhu Ying nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "This humble general will obey the orders of the General and the Prince of Yan."

However, deep down, Zhu Ying was very clear that, given the current situation, this northward pursuit of Emperor Yuan was an inevitable course of action.

Given Zhu Yuanzhang's personality, who was far away in Yingtian, he would definitely issue an order to continue the pursuit.

From beginning to end, this was Zhu Yuanzhang's goal.

May the Northern Yuan cease to exist and be torn apart!

……

(End of this chapter)