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

Chapter 150: Discussion between Zhu Yuanzhang and his son! Rewards are determined! Confer the Fourth Rank Imperial Edict on Madam Zhu Ying!

With Tang Duo's introduction, all the civil and military officials in the court came to their senses.

Everyone had different expressions, some were amazed, some were moved, and then they all bowed in unison to congratulate Zhu Yuanzhang.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Fengtian Hall was warm, and the ministers' congratulations were heard one after another.

In any case, although Zhu Ying's achievements in killing the enemy were shocking and unbelievable, the fact that he captured the city in the first battle of the Northern Expedition is indisputable.

As a general, Li Jinglong would never lie to the emperor about such a significant victory.

After all, deceiving the emperor is a serious crime in the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Even if Li Jinglong had great courage, he would never dare to commit fraud in such a major matter that concerns the country's war, the morale of the army and the people.

Even if he is a relative of the current emperor.

As the topic was brought back on track, Zhu Biao came back to his senses from the depths of his thoughts.

He bowed slightly, his expression solemn, and said in a clear voice: "Father! The first battle of the Northern Expedition has been victorious. This is a great joy for our Great Ming."

After a brief pause, Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with a determined gaze and continued, "I believe that since Zhu Ying has made such a great contribution in the first battle, he should be rewarded. This will inspire the entire army and let them know the merits of our Ming Dynasty's reward."

Zhu Biao spoke earnestly, and after that, he bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang again with an extremely sincere attitude.

Hear the words.

A gentle smile appeared on Zhu Yuanzhang's face. He nodded slightly and said, "What Biao'er said makes sense."

Then, his tone changed, his expression becoming more thoughtful. "However, the war has only just begun. All rewards will have to wait until the Northern Expedition is completely concluded."

"Haven't you always wanted to summon Zhu Ying to Yingtian for an audience?"

"After the Northern Expedition is over, I will issue an order for Zhu Ying and his family to come to the capital to meet the emperor."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with affirmation: "Of course, he has made great contributions this time, so he must be rewarded and praised."

"We should draft an imperial edict to praise him and record this military achievement in detail. When the Northern Expedition is over, we can reward him together based on his merits."

Obviously.

Zhu Yuanzhang had his own profound considerations regarding the matter of rewards.

Today, Zhu Ying is no longer the unknown soldier who fought and won meritorious service in the Liaodong battlefield. Instead, he is the commander of a garrison in the Ming Dynasty who holds military power. His status is already quite high.

In the past, in order to boost morale and inspire the fighting spirit of the soldiers, the commander could give rewards on the battlefield to motivate the entire army.

But now, Zhu Ying has already held the high position of commander. If he is rewarded generously in the first battle, then if he makes great military achievements in the future, he will really face the embarrassing situation of not being able to receive any more rewards.

For an emperor, if he really reaches the point where he can no longer be given more titles, it is definitely not a good thing. Instead, it may lead to a series of unpredictable problems.

"Father, Zhu Ying has already married and has a child."

"According to the Emperor's wishes, Zhu Ying's wife cannot be directly rewarded for her contribution to the Northern Expedition. Perhaps she can be granted an imperial edict."

"When Liaodong was pacified, I had this intention in mind, but I was busy with other things and forgot about it."

"This time Zhu should make another great achievement, it is as it should be." Zhu Biao said with a smile, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Haha." Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, and his laughter echoed in the Fengtian Hall, full of kindness and infinite trust in Zhu Biao.

Subsequently.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Biao'er really thinks highly of Zhu Ying."

Then, he changed his tone and said without any hesitation, "Okay. Since you've asked, I'll definitely grant you this imperial decree."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced around and shouted, "Draft an imperial decree. Zhu Ying, expand the country's territory and destroy the powerful enemy in the northern border."

"The merit of breaking the city in the first battle of the Northern Expedition will be recorded for now. When the Northern Expedition is over, we will reward you all together."

"Zhu Ying's wife was granted the title of [Fifth Rank Imperial Edict], enjoying a fifth rank salary and the privilege of not kneeling when meeting the emperor."

Next to the Fengtian Hall, the official in charge of drafting the imperial edict immediately wrote it down with full concentration.

He quickly picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote furiously on the paper, recording Zhu Yuanzhang's order word for word. He would wait until the court meeting was over before presenting it to the emperor, affixing the imperial seal on it, and sending it to the northern border.

"Biao'er, is this okay?" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and looked at Zhu Biao with loving eyes.

"Isn't the fifth-rank imperial edict a bit low?" Zhu Biao thought for a moment and offered his opinion with a smile.

"After all, this is the first time I've been conferred an imperial title, so that's enough."

"If Zhu Ying makes further contributions to the country, we will not only promote him, but also continue to confer a higher title on his wife."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately responded with a smile, his eyes revealing his expectation for Zhu Ying's future achievements.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhu Biao immediately bowed and expressed his approval of Zhu Yuanzhang's decision.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased that Zhu Biao valued Zhu Ying so much that he personally asked for the title.

In this way, all the civil and military officials in the court knew that Zhu Ying was someone Zhu Biao valued.

Over time, Zhu Ying will definitely be grateful to Zhu Biao and will swear to serve Zhu Biao until his death in the future.

The emperor treats his subjects with kindness and grace, and this is the subtlety of the art.

Zhu Yuanzhang could bestow rewards, but the favor had to be reaped by Zhu Biao.

In other words, this was a tacit double act between father and son, which not only demonstrated the royal grace but also consolidated Zhu Biao's prestige.

"The first battle of the Northern Expedition has broken the city. This is indeed worth celebrating." Zhu Yuanzhang's expression straightened up, and he looked at Tang Duo and said in a calm tone: "Mr. Tang, keep a close eye on the war in the northern border."

"Any news related to the Northern Frontier must be reported to the Crown Prince immediately."

"This Northern Expedition was also personally planned and commanded by the Crown Prince."

Obviously, Zhu Yuanzhang intended to give the credit for Liaodong to Zhu Biao, so that Zhu Biao would be recorded in great detail in history.

In this Northern Expedition, Zhu Yuanzhang undoubtedly wanted to give the credit to Zhu Biao in order to establish Zhu Biao's prestige and provide additional support for Zhu Biao's smooth succession to the throne in the future.

The court meeting proceeded in an orderly manner, time passed quietly, and after an hour, the court meeting ended.

In the Fengtian Hall, only Zhu Biao and his son were left.

"Biao'er, what do you think?" Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the report sent by Li Jinglong again, with a meaningful smile on his face, and asked softly.

"When Zhu Ying first appeared in the court, he was already a warrior of the time if he killed a hundred enemies. Now, he has broken through Zhenxia City and killed more than a thousand enemies by himself."

Zhu Biao's expression was serious, his eyes revealing an unusual solemnity: "Then... he has already surpassed the power of ordinary people."

talking.

Zhu Biao's expression also changed slightly, as if he was still amazed by Zhu Ying's bravery.

"My son is somewhat relieved now. Fortunately, he is a general of the Ming Dynasty, not the Northern Yuan Dynasty, and certainly not a foreign race."

"Otherwise, our Ming Dynasty will really encounter a strong enemy." Zhu Biao said seriously again.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded solemnly and said in a deep voice, "You are right. Fortunately, this Zhu Ying is from the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, he would be a formidable enemy."

After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have thought of something important. He slowly raised his head, stared at Zhu Biao, and said earnestly: "Biao'er, I must remind you of something about Zhu Ying. You must keep it in mind."

"Dad, go ahead." Zhu Biao's expression instantly became serious. He listened attentively, realizing that his father had something extremely important to tell him.

"This man is so brave and powerful that using him to fight against the enemy is truly a blessing for the Ming Dynasty."

"But this is also a good thing that it's under control. As for Zhu Ying, neither my father nor I have ever met him. We only know of his extraordinary abilities from reports, and we don't know his true nature."

"If you can subdue Zhu Ying in the future, that would be great. If he is truly loyal to you, then you can use him."

Speaking of which.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and his tone turned icy. "But... if we can't truly gain his loyalty, if we can't truly suppress and control him, then this man must be killed. Such a brave and powerful man is too dangerous!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao's face changed instantly and a chill surged in his heart.

However, feeling Zhu Yuanzhang's extremely serious expression, Zhu Biao knew very well that what his father said was by no means alarmist.

Based on the content described in Li Jinglong's battle report, one can fully imagine how brave and powerful Zhu Ying is!
Kill a thousand enemies?
This is simply unimaginable. Is it possible for human beings to do this?

You have to know that it was a fortified city heavily guarded by the Northern Yuan army. The soldiers and generals in the city were strong and the defense was extremely tight.

If Zhu Ying is out of control one day, the situation will be unimaginable and the consequences will be immeasurable.

"I'll remember what you said, Dad." Zhu Biao took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner turmoil. "Although I've never met Zhu Ying, I'm confident that I can make him serve the Ming Dynasty loyally."

"What Dad thinks will never happen." Zhu Biao raised his head, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang firmly, and replied very solemnly, with confidence in himself in his eyes.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly, his eyes filled with relief. He nodded and said, "I also believe that you can subdue Zhu Ying. What I just said is to prepare you mentally."

"In the final analysis, judging from Zhu Ying's performance, he leads by example and is quite friendly. As long as you treat him well, he will definitely be a sharp sword in your hands."

"Furthermore, after this battle, his family can be brought to Yingtian."

"When a general leads troops outside, it is best to have checks and balances."

"Before, Zhu Ying was alone and difficult to control, but now he has a family and children, which is naturally a good thing for you." "To control subordinates and maintain checks and balances, you naturally have to target the weak spots of your ministers. Only by instilling fear, respect, and desire in them can you truly control them."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and taught Zhu Biao earnestly the ways of being an emperor.

For Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao was the greatest masterpiece of his life. He regarded Zhu Biao as his hope to achieve the same great achievements as Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty.

"Father, I will learn from your words." Zhu Biao replied respectfully, with a humble and serious attitude.

"Alright." Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder and said in a relaxed tone, "There's no need to be so restrained between you and me, father and son."

"Today, you were in the court to ask for merit for Zhu Ying and an imperial decree for Zhu Ying's wife. This was correct."

"For people who value friendship like this, showing kindness is the way to win them over."

"You can handle the matter of this imperial edict and other rewards on your own. We won't interfere." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled again, his eyes full of trust and support for Zhu Biao.

"I understand, son." Zhu Biao nodded with a smile, understanding his father's deep meaning.

……

Northern Frontier! Outside Zhenxia City.

As soon as the daybreak broke and the morning light was dim, all the logistics troops were dispatched.

They were busy shuttling in and out of the city, cleaning up the battlefield in a tense and orderly manner.

Outside the city, the scene was in a mess, with corpses lying all over the ground. The logistics soldiers worked in groups of two, laboriously carrying the corpses onto the carriages.

Some people held ropes in their hands and carefully tied up the bodies to prevent them from falling during the transportation process, while others were directing from the side to ensure the cleaning was carried out.

Inside the city, there was also a busy scene.

Corpses were pulled out from time to time by carriages, but the armor on the corpses had been removed.

This is naturally the rule for cleaning the battlefield. Even if the armor is broken, it can be re-smelted and recast. On the battlefield where supplies are relatively scarce, every usable item is particularly precious.

"Meet General Zhu."

When Zhu Ying walked towards the city gate under the protection of his personal guards, the surrounding logistics troops and the Da Ning border troops guarding the city gate instantly had fanaticism and awe in their eyes. They saluted in unison, their voices loud and uniform.

"No need to be so polite." Zhu Ying nodded with a smile, and there was a hint of gentleness in his smile.

After reaching the city gate, Zhu Ying finally had time to carefully examine the damage he had caused to the city gate.

The city gate was already broken into pieces. On the city wall where the gate was originally embedded, cracks appeared like hideous scars, which was shocking to the eye.

These cracks vary in width, and in some places you can even put a hand in.

"It seems I need to be more restrained in the future." Zhu Ying said in his heart.

If the city gates and city gates in front of us are not repaired in the future, the cracks will inevitably continue to spread and may eventually lead to the collapse of the city gates.

"Break the plaque on the city gate."

Zhu Ying raised his head and looked at the three words "Zhenxia City" hanging on the city gate. His brows frowned slightly, a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes, and he gave the order directly.

In order to humiliate the Ming Dynasty, the Northern Yuan Dynasty built cities on the border, most of whose names were directed at the Chinese ethnic group.

"To suppress Han", "to suppress Tang", "to suppress Xia", in the eyes of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, perhaps they still wanted to enslave China forever as they did before.

This highly insulting behavior filled Zhu Ying with anger.

"Yes." Liu Lei immediately accepted the order.

There were many ladders at the city gate, and the guards acted quickly, working in groups of several to carry the ladders directly.

With deft movements, they quickly positioned the ladder against the city gate and climbed up. After reaching the plaque, they worked together to lift it from the gate. It arced through the air before falling heavily to the ground, shattering instantly.

Looking at the broken plaque of "Zhenxia City", Zhu Ying nodded. He strode forward, stepped directly on the broken plaque, and walked towards the city.

Inside the city, the logistics troops were busy coming and going, dealing with the corpses.

Although the bodies were being gradually moved, blood still seeped out from all over the city, gathering into pools of dark red blood.

The air was filled with a strong smell of blood, which was nauseating.

Zhu Ying glanced at him calmly and quickened his pace.

When they arrived at the gate of the general's residence, Mu Sheng had been waiting there for a long time, his eyes looking into the distance. When he saw Zhu Ying coming, he immediately clasped his fists and greeted him, saying loudly, "General Zhu."

"What's the important matter that the general summoned you for?" Zhu Ying asked directly.

Originally, Zhu Ying was resting in the military camp, but Guo Ying suddenly sent someone to wake him up and summon him urgently.

"The next step should be to mobilize troops." Mu Sheng replied with a smile, a hint of speculation on his face.

"Let's go." Zhu Ying nodded and immediately walked into the general's mansion.

Mu Sheng followed Zhu Ying closely, step by step, and even deliberately lagged behind Zhu Ying half a step while walking.

Obviously, Mu Sheng's actions also show his conviction in Zhu Ying.

Although they were both commanders, Mu Sheng knew that he was not as brave and strategic as Zhu Ying, and in this battle, he also obeyed Zhu Ying's command.

In the main hall!
Guo Ying sat upright in the main seat, looking dignified and imposing without even getting angry.

Zhu Di and Li Jinglong sat on the left and right sides respectively.

When Zhu Ying came in, he immediately bowed to Guo Ying and said loudly, "I pay my respects to the great general."

"General Zhu, have you had a good rest?" Guo Ying asked gently with a concerned smile on his face.

"Thank you for your concern, General. I have had a good rest now." Zhu Ying replied with a smile.

"General Zhu led his troops to capture the city in one day yesterday and killed countless enemies. It really surprised me." Guo Ying stared at Zhu Ying and praised loudly.

"This is my duty." Zhu Ying replied calmly and steadily.

Zhu Ying was naturally used to this kind of thing.

"The results of this battle are out. General Zhu, do you know how many Yuan troops our army annihilated in this battle?" Guo Ying smiled and asked tentatively.

"In this battle, according to my estimation, there are no less than 40,000 Yuan troops fighting against our army. They should be half of the troops guarding this city." Zhu Ying frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and slowly replied.

Upon hearing this, Guo Ying's eyes flashed with admiration, and he immediately smiled and said, "General Zhu is indeed worthy of being my great general, both wise and brave. I didn't expect that he could even estimate the troop strength so clearly."

"Yes, according to statistics, there were originally more than 80,000 Yuan troops stationed in the city, including 50,000 young and strong men."

"But after the outer city was breached by General Zhu, the second son of the Yuan Emperor, who had been stationed there, led most of the troops to evacuate."

"In this battle, according to statistics from the logistics troops, nearly 30,000 enemies were killed and over 20,000 captured, including young and strong men, who were the cannon fodder of the Yuan army."

Guo Ying spoke slowly, describing the results of the battle in detail.

"This will make future battles more difficult."

"Although we captured the city this time, many Yuan soldiers also escaped."

Zhu Ying said with a serious expression.

"With such a result in the first battle, Yuan Ting is nothing to worry about."

"However, General Zhu, you killed enemies all day yesterday. Do you know how many Yuan soldiers you killed?" Guo Ying narrowed his eyes slightly and asked tentatively.

"Of course I can't remember this number." Zhu Ying replied calmly.

However, deep down in his heart, Zhu Ying knew clearly that more than two thousand Yuan soldiers died at his hands in the day's battle yesterday.

Not only did it bring him eighty years of lifespan, but it also allowed all his attributes to successfully break through to six thousand.

"According to statistics from the logistics troops and the pacification forces, General Zhu has killed over 1,500 enemies."

"General Zhu...are you...a human being?"

Guo Ying widened his eyes, staring at Zhu Ying with an indescribable shock, as if he could not calm the waves in his heart.

After seeing the battle results jointly counted by the Du Zhenfu and the logistics troops, Guo Ying almost popped his eyes out.

There are more than 1,500 people, and there are only more, no fewer.

After all, it can be confirmed that these were killed by Zhu Ying, because the bodies of those dead Yuan soldiers were covered with knife and sword marks that penetrated deep into the bone marrow, and there were also broken arms and debris. Those who died at the hands of Zhu Ying hardly had a good death.

When they heard this number, Zhu Di and Li Jinglong on the side instantly focused their attention on Zhu Ying.

"I was born with supernatural powers because of my good parents. So it is easier for me to kill the enemies." Zhu Ying smiled and answered lightly with a bit of nonchalance.

After all, he didn't know how to answer.

……

(End of this chapter)