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

Chapter 212 The Generals' Loyalty? True Sworn to Follow to the Death!

after all!

Zhu Quan is the son of the current emperor and a prince appointed by imperial decree.

Since Bu Wan has not yet completely stepped down, he naturally dares not go too far and is naturally very restrained.

This is completely different from facing Zhu Ying.

The Marquis of Champion has already surpassed him, the Prefect, in terms of position.

But after so many years together, Bu Wanyu and Zhu Ying are already considered elders, like uncle and nephew.

"In that case, Prefect Laobu will have to take over."

Zhu Quan immediately thanked him.

Just arrived.

Zhu Quan did not act like a prince. Among Zhu Yuanzhang's many sons, Bi Jiong was either cruel or arrogant. Zhu Quan's personality was considered one of the better ones.

He did not immediately display the majesty of a vassal king and intimidate the crowd.

"Your Highness Prince Ning."

"I will accompany you to the government office to familiarize yourself with it first."

"And the Prince's Mansion."

"It was completed half a year ago, and the Imperial Clan Court has arranged enough servants to take care of it. It's just waiting for Your Highness to arrive and stay there," Bu Wan explained carefully.

The vassal king becomes a vassal!

The Prince's Mansion would be repaired in advance.

These are all the responsibility of the Imperial Clan Court.

This is a rule that was established after Zhu Yuanzhang founded the country.

Prince's residences have their own set of standards.

"Prefect Bu."

"Take me back to the government office first. I also want to take over the administration as soon as possible. I can't afford to be negligent in my duties in Da Ning Prefecture from now on," Zhu Quan said with a smile.

"Your Majesty."

"please."

Bu Wan immediately turned to the side and gestured for him to enter.

"it is good."

Zhu Quan nodded.

but.

Just as we were about to go in.

Zhu Quan turned to Zhu Ying and said, "Thank you for your care along the way, Marquis of Champion. Perhaps Marquis of Champion will be coming to the capital to pay his respects in the next couple of days. Tonight, I would like to treat Marquis of Champion and Prefect Bu to a meal."

"I don't know what to do?"

talking.

Zhu Quan also looked expectant, as if afraid that Zhu Ying would refuse.

"Your Highness Prince Ning."

"Since you've invited us, why not have a good drink together in the army today?"

“Before I went to war, I made a promise to the soldiers of the border army.”

"Once they return in triumph, I will treat them to a big feast."

"Moreover, there are also some soldiers from Huizhou Guard and General Mu Sheng on this trip," Zhu Ying said with a smile.

At this moment, Zhu Ying was eager to return to Yingtian and reunite with his wife and children. As for the meal, that could be discussed later.

"it is good."

Upon hearing Zhu Ying's suggestion, Zhu Quan immediately nodded and smiled, "It is my honor to be able to celebrate with the soldiers in the army."

"Then tonight, let's drink until we drop with Champion Hou."

Seeing Zhu Quan's reaction, Zhu Ying smiled and nodded, "Okay."

"Bu Bo".

"Together tonight."

"It can also be considered a farewell banquet before leaving Daning Prefecture."

Zhu Ying then invited Bu Wandao.

“Such a grand event, I will go myself,” Bu Wan said with a smile.

Subsequently.

Bu Wan led Zhu Quan into the government office, while Zhu Ying led his personal guards back to the Da Ning army camp.

After this great victory, the army did not immediately split up, but instead returned to Daming first, and then each took up their respective posts.

We've returned to the military camp in Daning City!

Looking at this familiar place, Zhu Ying was overwhelmed with emotions.

"Finally home."

Looking at the main gate of the military camp in front of him, Zhu Ying muttered to himself.

It would be a lie to say I don't miss it after being away for so long.

After all, Zhu Ying also grew up here.

Zhu Ying arrived.

immediately.

At the camp gate, a soldier with his head down stepped forward and took Zhu Ying's warhorse, Wufeng, by the reins.

At first, the soldier did not attract Zhu Ying's attention, but seeing that he was looking down and acting suspiciously, Zhu Ying took a closer look.

This look.

They immediately knew the identity of the person in front of them.

"Li Tao."

Zhu Ying called out calmly.

Hear the sound.

The soldier leading the horse trembled, as if an unspeakable fear was welling up inside him.

"Lord...Lord Marquis."

Li Tao raised his head, looking at Zhu Ying with trembling fear.

"It's okay."

Zhu Ying glanced at Li Tao, but said nothing more. He dismounted and walked into the military camp.

The guards followed Zhu Ying toward the military camp. When they passed Li Tao, some of them who knew him only glanced at him, but their eyes were full of coldness.

This person.

He was a commander of a thousand men under Zhu Ying when Zhu Ying was first promoted to acting garrison commander.

Zhu Ying originally intended to march north to attack the Jurchen Tartars, but Li Tao disobeyed military orders and led the army away.

After that, a report was submitted.

He was directly dismissed from his official post and demoted to a soldier.

At the very beginning.

Li Tao even harbored thoughts of revenge, but as Zhu Ying's official position grew higher and higher, and as Zhu Ying gradually became famous in Daning and Liaodong, his so-called revenge naturally became a joke.

And now.

Zhu Ying was like a god of war among the entire Da Ning border army, and even among all the armies in the northern frontier.

Every soldier held him in high esteem.

Therefore, news of Li Tao's past actions against Zhu Ying, and even his disobedience of Zhu Ying's military orders, had already spread.

Li Tao had a miserable time in the border army of Daning and was ostracized.

after all.

This is human nature.

Zhu Ying gained power and became famous throughout the land, and countless people wanted to curry favor with him.

Zhu Ying didn't even need to say a word; someone would naturally deal with Li Tao.

So judging from Li Tao's appearance, he must have held at least the official rank of a thousand-household commander in the past, and he was quite arrogant.

Now they're living humbly and subserviently.

Moreover, as a member of the military household, unless he becomes old, frail, or disabled, he has no chance of being discharged from the military.

so now.

Seeing Li Tao again, Zhu Ying still felt a bit emotional, but no matter how miserable Li Tao's life was, it was none of Zhu Ying's business.

After returning to the military camp.

Zhang Wu and Chen Heng were already waiting inside.

"General."

When Zhu Ying entered the general's hall, all the generals came forward to greet him.

"Alright, now that we've all returned victorious, relax a bit," Zhu Ying said with a smile.

"Yes, General."

All the generals responded in unison.

here.

Those waiting in this main hall were all old brothers who had followed Zhu Ying for many years.

Generals including Zhang Wu, Chen Heng, Wei Quan, Luo Hua, and Liu Zhen.

Two deputy commanders and five assistant commanders.

This also represents the entire lineup of generals in the Da Ning Guard.

"Brothers,"

"We have returned in triumph today, so I won't waste any more words. All of you brothers' military achievements have been reported to the governor. Based on the merits you have made alongside me, I won't say you'll be promoted three ranks, but each of you might be promoted two ranks."

"I can guarantee that."

"Moreover, they might even be granted a noble title."

Zhu Ying smiled and addressed the generals before him.

Listen to Zhu Ying's words.

Excitement also appeared on the faces of all the generals.

For them.

May you be promoted and ennobled!

This is undoubtedly a great thing, needless to say. Their achievements this time are considerable.

Every battle was won by their generals leading them to achieve great feats.

From the very beginning of the Northern Expedition that broke through the Chengde, to the capture of the Yuan capital, the destruction of the Northern Yuan royal court, and the capture of the Yuan emperor.

The Da Ning border army has almost never missed a major victory.

but.

After exchanging a glance, Chen Heng and Zhang Wu seemed to have thought of something else.

So he immediately stood up and knelt down in front of Zhu Ying.

"General."

"Now that the general has returned to Yingtian to pay homage, he will surely be promoted and ennobled for his military achievements. But I only beg the general not to abandon us old brothers."

"This humble servant is determined to follow the general for the rest of my life and never leave him," Chen Heng said solemnly, kneeling on the ground and clasping his hands in a respectful gesture.

"This humble general feels the same way."

Zhang Wu also clasped his hands in a fist salute, his face resolute.

Seeing the two of them like this.

The other five generals in the hall also stood up and knelt behind Chen Heng and his companion, saying in unison, "Your humble servants are willing to follow you to the death, General. Please do not abandon your old brothers!"

this moment.

The generals of the Da Ning border army all had such firm and earnest gazes.

For more than three years.

They followed Zhu Yingnan in his campaigns across the north and south.

Conquer Liaodong, pacify the Northern Yuan, trample the northern frontier, and break through the royal court.

There have been countless times we've shared life and death together; it's impossible to say for sure.

Every general, and even every soldier, kept these things in mind, though they lost count of how many battles they fought.

but!
Who are their generals? Who is their military spirit?

They will remember forever.

This life.

They only obey their general.

If Zhu Yingzhen were to leave the northern frontier and the Da Ning border army, they would truly be reluctant to part with him.

With the formidable fighting prowess of the Da Ning border army, which has become the number one army in the land, they truly would not submit to any general other than Zhu Ying.

I watched as these old brothers pleaded for the second time.

Zhu Ying slowly stood up, walked into the hall, and then said with a serious expression, "Brothers!"

“You are all generals who have followed me, Zhu Ying, in countless battles, and you should all know what kind of person I am.”

"How could I bear to part with you all? How could I bear to part with the brothers of the Da Ning border army?"

"Even if I am granted an official position and made to stay in Yingtian upon my return to the capital, I will not choose to stay."

"Battlefield, frontier, defending the homeland."

"This is my destiny, Zhu Ying."

“At least for now,” Zhu Ying said in a deep voice, his tone full of determination.

"This humble general swears to follow the general to the death."

The seven generals shouted in unison, their eyes filled with loyalty to Zhu Ying.

That's right.

It is loyalty.

For the emperor.

The emperor was far away and they had never even seen him.

But their general had saved them countless times on the battlefield. A ruler who treats his subjects with sincerity should be repaid with his life.

"Alright, get up, all of you."

"If I am promoted this time, I will request to continue guarding the northern frontier."

"My return to the capital this time is uncertain. I hope you all stay well in Daning."

"Wait for me to come back."

Zhu Ying glanced at it and said with a smile.

"Yes."

Having received Zhu Ying's promise, the generals all stood up excitedly, filled with fervor.

And this time!
Zhang Wu glanced at Liu Lei, who was standing next to Zhu Ying, and then at the many guards stationed outside the general's hall.

"General."

"This humble general dares to inquire about something."

Zhang Wu looked at Zhu Yingdao with some trepidation.

"Speak your mind. After all these years, stop with the nagging." Zhu Ying snapped irritably.

"Ask the general."

"How can one truly pledge allegiance to the general, like Commander Liu and the general's personal guards, and gain the general's genuine trust?" Zhang Wu asked with a serious expression.

As soon as these words fell.

Chen Heng also stared intently at Zhu Ying, his eyes filled with eagerness.

It's not just him.

The same was true for the other five generals in the hall.

Wei Quan, Liu Zhen, Luo Hua, and four others.

Are you talking nonsense to me?

Zhu Ying stared at Zhang Wu with a stern face.

"This humble general is not talking nonsense."

"On the battlefield, the general saved his subordinate countless times."

"If it weren't for the general, this humble general would have died long ago."

"This humble general's life has long belonged to the general."

“Don’t say that General is now a high-ranking official of the Ming Dynasty with a limitless future. Even if General were a commoner, I would still be willing to resign my post and follow you, vowing to repay you with my life,” Zhang Wu replied solemnly.

"This humble general feels the same way."

Chen Heng, Wei Quan, and the other four also spoke seriously.

You can tell.

Their coming today, though prepared, demonstrates their stance.

"Do you know what will happen if this gets out?"

"The current emperor will not let you off the hook." Zhu Ying frowned slightly.

Zhang Wu's words were, in fact, quite treasonous.

The words themselves conveyed the message that loyalty to Zhu Ying came first, and to the imperial power second.

Since ancient times!

Perhaps this was also true of generals throughout history; officers knew only the general, not the emperor.

In the past, Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, was the same, donning the yellow robe.

now.

These old brothers and generals under Zhu Ying's command may have had the same thoughts as Zhao Kuangyin before he donned the yellow robe: they were determined to follow Zhu Ying for life and be his loyal retainers.

"General."

"We are simply expressing our sentiments."

"In the future, we are willing to serve the general to the death, not only the Ming army, but also those of us who are willing to follow him to the death," Chen Heng said.

See this!

Zhu Ying laughed.

The moment they revealed their feelings.

Zhu Ying could already see his loyalty scores; each one was above 90, indicating absolute loyalty.

None of the seven generals before him harbored any disloyalty.

"It seems you've recognized the extraordinary qualities of Liu Lei and my personal guards," Zhu Ying said with a smile, cutting to the chase.

These words were spoken.

All the generals wore expressions of anticipation.

"Commander Liu, and the general's personal guards are all incredibly brave and strong."

"Everyone is a strongman."

"Before they became the general's personal guards, they were all just ordinary people like me."

"We, your humble servants... also wish to become your men and serve you," Zhang Wu said nervously.

This expedition lasted for more than a year.

The combat strength of Zhu Ying's personal guards has overturned the generals' perceptions.

On the battlefield.

The long sword swept horizontally.

The impact of the hilt can send enemies flying more than ten steps away, and the blade can even shatter shields when it strikes.

It wasn't just one person.

Rather, this applies to every one of Zhu Ying's personal guards.

Seven hundred guards.

They followed Zhu Yingchong at the forefront of the battle, yet their casualties were the fewest among the Da Ning border troops.

Hard to imagine.

This filled Zhang Wu and his companions with curiosity and longing from the very beginning.

Because they understand too.

This must have been bestowed by their general, which is why these seven hundred guards are so formidable.

And today I reveal my true feelings.

Besides their genuine desire to follow Zhu Ying to the death, they also saw another path: their general was no ordinary man.

……

(End of this chapter)