Zhu Ying smiled and returned the greetings of everyone who had come to congratulate him one by one, his manners impeccable and without the slightest neglect.
Seeing that all matters had concluded, Guo Ying waved a broad hand and announced loudly, "The imperial decree has been delivered. Generals, take your seats!"
"Yes!" the generals answered in unison, their voices thunderous.
They then proceeded to their respective seats in an orderly manner.
Once everyone was seated, Guo Ying's expression turned stern as he went straight to the point. "At present, only two fortified cities remain between our army and the Yuan Capital."
"According to the intelligence we have gathered, the Yuan Army in those two cities numbers no fewer than three hundred thousand."
Guo Ying's voice was low, carrying a grave undertone.
"If we launch a direct assault, this will surely be no easy battle."
"Generals, what are your thoughts?"
As Guo Ying spoke, his gaze slowly swept across the assembled generals, his eyes filled with inquiry and expectation.
"Nothing more need be said!"
Lan Yu abruptly rose to his feet, his voice booming and brimming with confidence. "After these past months of the Northern Expedition, even if the Yuan Army still has troops, their morale has long since collapsed, and their men and horses are exhausted."
"Furthermore, the Yuan Army is entirely different from the armies of our Ming Dynasty."
"Our army is united for the great cause of the Northern Expedition, while the Yuan Army consists of troops temporarily cobbled together from various tribes, each with different intentions."
"To preserve their own strength, they will never fight to the death."
"That much was clear from the cities we captured throughout this Northern Expedition. Though the Yuan Army holds a numerical advantage, they are nothing but a rabble."
"With the