"Your subordinate does not understand what the general means."
Zhu Ying understood perfectly well, but outwardly, he still played dumb.
Seeing Zhu Ying like this, Fu Youde did not expose him. Instead, he said gravely, "General Zhu, be careful in the army from now on."
"Thank you for your guidance, General."
Zhu Ying replied while pretending ignorance despite knowing full well.
"Go."
"Rest well for a few days."
Fu Youde waved his hand.
Zhu Ying clasped his fists in salute, then slowly withdrew.
As he watched Zhu Ying's departing figure, Fu Youde's face was heavy with thought.
"Huai West, Huai West."
"Huai West brings success."
"Huai West brings the end."
"Alas."
Fu Youde muttered to himself, seeming to carry a thousand thoughts, a thousand burdens.
After leaving the main command tent—
Escorted by his personal guards, Zhu Ying slowly made his way toward his own camp.
"The Emperor values me. The Crown Prince values me. They grant me a title and promote me."
"Beyond truly rewarding merit, it is more about setting up a standard in the army and suppressing Huai West."
"Imperial power..."
"In one stroke, it has pushed me onto the opposing side of Huai West's fierce generals."
Zhu Ying pondered silently to himself.
Originally—
When Zhu Ying had received his rewards, he had not quite seen through them. After all, those rewards had seemed to be earned through his own military achievements.
But after seeing the unfriendly looks cast at him by the many generals in the tent, Zhu Ying immediately understood.
Imperial power was elevating him in order to suppress Huai West's prestige within the army.
"However..."
"Since you are elevating me, why would I refuse?"
"Huai West..."
"According to history, they will ultimately be slaughtered clean by Zhu Yuanzhang."
"A group of spoiled soldiers and