Recaps

Guilichi persuaded the Yuan Emperor to rely on cavalry against the Ming invasion while Manzi warned that the border cities needed to be defended. At Zhentang City, Zhu Ying led the assault, smashed through its sealed gate and seven walls, and faced a barrage of ballista bolts.

• Guilichi convinced the Yuan Emperor to place him in command and prioritize cavalry warfare, while Manzi cautioned that losing the border cities would endanger Great Yuan.
• Dibao Nu refused requests for reinforcements as the Ming Army arrived at Zhentang City under Zhu Ying's command.
• Zhu Ying ordered an artillery barrage and led the infantry charge toward the city, deflecting the Yuan archers' arrows with his shield.
• Zhu Ying shattered the iron gate and seven walls with his saber and repeated shield charges, stunning the Yuan defenders.
• The Yuan soldiers fired three ballistae at Zhu Ying, and he stepped away as their bolts struck the spot where he had stood.

Zhu Ying slaughtered his way through Zhentang City, broke the Yuan Army’s resistance, and pursued its fleeing forces. He killed Dibao Nu with a thrown spear, earning a major reward as the battle reached its decisive end.

• Zhu Ying dodged the Yuan Army’s ballista bolts, killed the commander and soldiers guarding them, then cut through the defenders with his saber and sword.
• Liu Lei and Chen Heng led their troops into the city while Zhang Wu held the cavalry back to block the Yuan Army’s escape route.
• Guo Ying, Zhu Di, and Li Jinglong learned that Zhu Ying had breached the city and discussed the campaign’s progress as the battle continued.
• Dibao Nu ordered a gradual retreat, but Zhang Wu’s cavalry surrounded Zhentang City and showered the fleeing Yuan soldiers with arrows.
• Zhu Ying charged toward the rear gate, spotted Dibao Nu fleeing, and pierced him with a thrown spear, receiving attribute and lifespan rewards along with two Tier 1 treasure chests.

Zhu Ying killed Dibao Nu and captured the city, prompting the Yuan Army to surrender and the Ming commanders to prepare their next advance. Back in Daning, Shen Yu'er received a noble title and lavish rewards, while Bu Wan was told to assist Prince Ning’s upcoming arrival.

• Zhu Ying killed Dibao Nu, whose death broke the Yuan Army’s morale and led many soldiers to surrender as Zhu Ying ordered that surrendering troops be spared.
• Guo Ying, Zhu Di, and Li Jinglong learned that Zhu Ying had captured the city and slain Dibao Nu; Guo Ying ordered the battlefield cleared, prisoners secured, and the granaries inspected.
• Guo Ying planned to continue the campaign against the remaining border cities and advance toward Northern Yuan’s New Capital after the results of the battle were tallied.
• A Crown Prince’s edict arrived at the Zhu Residence, honoring Zhu Ying’s battlefield achievement and granting Shen Yu'er the title of Fourth Rank Imperial Lady, along with gold, brocade, tribute fruit, and one hundred servants.
• The Golden Guard informed Bu Wan that Prince Ning would establish his fief in Daning within the next few months and that Bu Wan should assist him before returning to Yingtian.

The Crown Prince summoned Shen Yu'er to Yingtian, and Bu Wan and Lin Fu explained the political reasons for her move and helped arrange the household’s affairs. In Yingtian, Shen Wansan learned that skilled attackers had massacred eighteen Shen Family caravans in Beiping, and he struggled to identify who was behind the attacks.

• The Golden Guard centurion delivered the Crown Prince’s personal invitation for Shen Yu'er to travel to Yingtian, and Shen Yu'er arranged to leave after settling the residence’s affairs.
• Bu Wan explained that Shen Yu'er’s move would reassure the court about Zhu Ying’s military authority and prepare for his return, while Lin Fu promised to accompany her and oversee the household’s businesses.
• Shen Wansan reviewed the Shen Family’s accounts in Yingtian before Shen Rong and Shen Mao brought news of eighteen caravans attacked in Beiping, with over three hundred servants killed and nearly three thousand gold lost.
• Shen Rong reported that only Shen Family caravans had been targeted and that Shen Wang’s investigation had found no leads.
• Shen Mao described the attackers as trained elites, and Shen Wansan considered how to respond to the unexplained massacre.

Shen Wansan’s family learned that Shen Yu’er had been granted a noble title, while the Shen family debated how to respond to Zhu Ying and the raids on their caravans. On the Northern Yuan front, the Ming army captured all ten border fortresses and approached the capital as Yuan officials argued over whether the emperor should withdraw.

• Shen Wansan ordered stronger protection for Shen family caravans and plans to report the bandit raids to Beiping Prefecture, while his sons warned that local authorities might be ineffective.
• Shen Wansan suspected Zhu Ying was behind the attacks, rejected reporting him without evidence, and proposed contacting him while considering how Shen Yu’er’s background could be used.
• A steward told Shen Wansan and his sons that Zhu Ying had won new merits and that Shen Yu’er had been granted the Fourth Rank Imperial Lady title, prompting regret and anger.
• The Ming army captured all ten Northern Yuan fortified cities after Zhu Ying’s first-day breakthrough and advanced toward the Northern Yuan capital.
• Grand Commandant Manzi urged the Yuan Emperor to withdraw to the Northern Frontier, but court officials argued that his departure would damage morale and insisted the capital could withstand the Ming army.

As Great Yuan prepared to face the Ming army, Zhu Ying learned that Shen Yu'er and her son had been summoned to Yingtian and judged that the move would secure his future promotions. At the Prince of Yan’s camp, Zhu Ying received an imperial decree honoring his wife, and his system rewarded him with an ordinary treasure chest.

• Manzi urged the Yuan Emperor to retreat to the Northern Frontier, but the emperor trusted his assembled forces and ordered Guilichi to destroy the Ming army.
• Zhu Ying’s Daning cavalry defeated more than a thousand Yuan soldiers and gathered their horses to strengthen the border army.
• Liu Lei told Zhu Ying that Shen Yu'er and her son had been summoned to Yingtian after Shen Yu'er received a fourth-rank honorary title; Zhu Ying accepted the move as useful for his career.
• Liu Lei reported that Uncle Lin had opened a trade route with Beiping and planned restaurants there, while Zhu Ying proposed expanding into Liaodong and Yingtian.
• Zhu Ying joined Zhu Di, Li Jinglong, and the other generals in the command tent, where Li Jinglong presented an imperial decree honoring Shen Yu'er.
• Zhu Ying accepted the decree, triggering a system reward of one ordinary treasure chest, and the generals congratulated him.

Zhu Ying proposed using the Dragon Gate Formation to trap Northern Yuan’s 100,000 cavalry, and Li Jinglong ordered the army to advance according to his plan. After the war council, Zhu Di questioned Zhu Ying about attacks on the Shen Family’s caravans but remained uncertain whether he was responsible.

• Zhu Di and the generals discussed Northern Yuan’s cavalry advantage, and Li Jinglong asked Zhu Ying how he would counter it.
• Zhu Ying revealed that he knew the Dragon Gate Formation, assigned infantry to form it, and planned to release Ming cavalry against trapped Yuan troops.
• Zhu Di ordered the army to advance steadily toward the royal pastures, where he expected Northern Yuan’s cavalry to attack.
• Zhu Di spoke privately with Zhu Ying about the profitable wine and restaurant businesses, then questioned him about the bandits targeting the Shen Family.
• Zhu Ying denied arranging the attacks and urged Zhu Di to have the authorities hunt down the bandits; Zhu Di let him leave while remaining suspicious.
• Yao Guangxiao warned Zhu Di that Zhu Ying was difficult to read, and Zhu Di admitted he still hoped to bring him under his control.

Zhu Ying rejected the Shen Family’s attempt to buy peace and threatened to destroy them after learning Shen Yu’er was Liu Bowen’s granddaughter. Meanwhile, Shen Yu’er and her son arrived in Ying Tian under Golden Guard escort and were taken to their residence to await the Crown Prince’s summons.

• Zhu Di questioned Yao Guangxiao about whether Zhu Ying had arranged the attack on the Shen Family and ordered Gao Zhi to capture the supposed bandits for evidence.
• Zhu Ying told Liu Lei to keep the Black Guard’s attacks on the Shen Family going while avoiding evidence, then received Shen Cong, who offered fifty thousand taels of gold and threatened to reveal Shen Yu’er’s identity.
• Zhu Ying ordered Liu Lei and Xiao Han to sever Shen Cong’s hands, sent him back with a threat to destroy the Shen Family, and ordered the Black Guard to expand beyond Beiping Prefecture and kill Shen Family members on sight.
• Zhu Ying read the letter and learned that Shen Yu’er was Liu Bowen’s granddaughter, concluding that the Shen Family had forfeited any remaining protection by mistreating her and trying to use her identity against him.
• Shen Yu’er arrived in Ying Tian with her son, Zhu Xi, and the household’s carriages and chests, escorted by more than a hundred Golden Guards.
• Centurion Zhang led Shen Yu’er’s party through a dedicated city entrance and toward their residence, where they would wait for Crown Prince Zhu Biao’s summons.

Zhu Quan agreed to travel north and observe the Northern Expedition before taking up his fief in Daning, while Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao discussed Zhu Ying’s military prospects and welcomed the safe arrival of Zhu Ying’s wife and child in Yingtian. Zhu Quan prepared to leave the next day, and Consort Yang urged him to serve the court and guard the frontier.

• Shen Yu'er and young Zhu Xi arrived at Zhu Ying’s residence in Yingtian, where the servants welcomed them, and Centurion Zhang returned to the Eastern Palace.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Zhu Quan to leave for the Northern Frontier the next day to observe the army before taking up his fief in Daning, and Zhu Biao explained the purpose of the assignment.
• Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao discussed whether Zhu Quan could shoulder Daning’s responsibilities, Zhu Ying’s potential as a future military commander, and the threat posed by the Northern Yuan’s one hundred thousand elite cavalry.
• Luo Yang reported that Zhu Ying’s wife and child had safely reached Yingtian, and Zhu Yuanzhang told Zhu Biao to protect them from the Huai West faction.
• Zhu Quan visited Consort Yang and told her he would first join the Northern Expedition army, and she urged him to fulfill his duties and guard the frontier.

Zhu Biao told Lu clan how the Shen Family had betrayed Zhu Ying, while Shen Wansan learned that Shen Yu'er had gained a title and that Shen Yan'er had been divorced by the Lü Family. Hoping to avert disaster, Shen Wansan sent Shen Rong to seek Shen Yu'er's forgiveness, but she rejected the Shen Family and ordered them driven away.

• Zhu Biao explained that the Shen Family had broken Shen Yu'er's betrothal to Zhu Ying and helped drive him to enlist, prompting Lu clan to decide her brother should cut ties with the family.
• Shen Rong informed Shen Wansan that Shen Yu'er had arrived in Yingtian and become a Fourth Rank Imperial Lady, and Shen Mao reported that the Lü Family had divorced Shen Yan'er.
• Shen Wansan, fearing Zhu Ying's influence, ordered Shen Rong to bring generous gifts to the Zhu Mansion and ask Shen Yu'er to forgive the Shen Family.
• Shen Rong arrived at the Zhu Mansion with gifts, but Shen Yu'er denounced him and denied that the Shen Family was her family.
• Lin Fu ordered the guards to drive away any Shen Family members who came again.

After cutting ties with the Shen Family, Shen Yu'er learned that Shen Wansan had given up on reconciling with Zhu Ying. On the Northern Frontier, Guilichi led the Northern Yuan cavalry into Zhu Ying’s Dragon Gate Formation, which Zhu Ying activated as the enemy arrived.

• Shen Yu'er’s guards beat Shen Rong and the Shen Family servants, and she declared that she had no ties to the Shen Family.
• Shen Rong reported his defeat to Shen Wansan, who concluded that reconciliation with Zhu Ying was impossible.
• Guilichi sent Mengha and Nali with sixty thousand cavalry to pursue the Ming vanguard, believing he could crush the Ming Army on the plains.
• Liu Zhen’s cavalry retreated as bait, drawing the Yuan cavalry toward Zhu Ying’s Dragon Gate Formation.
• Zhu Ying assigned commanders to the formation’s eight gates while Guo Ying, Zhu Di, and Li Jinglong watched from the rear camp.
• As the Yuan cavalry charged the formation, Zhu Ying swung his flags and ordered, “Formation, activate!”

Zhu Ying used the Dragon Gate Formation to trap and slaughter the Northern Yuan cavalry, leaving Mengha and Nali to retreat with the surviving troops. After witnessing the formation’s power, Zhu Di resolved to win Zhu Ying over at any cost.

• Zhu Ying commanded the Dragon Gate Formation as sixty thousand Northern Yuan cavalry charged, and the Ming archers repelled their first attacks behind the shield wall.
• Zhu Ying opened gaps in the shield wall and lured more than forty thousand Yuan cavalry into the formation before closing the passages and trapping them.
• Zhu Ying divided the trapped cavalry with shifting shield walls, then ordered the Ming soldiers to attack with arrows and spears.
• Mengha and Nali ordered the remaining Yuan cavalry to retreat after they failed to break through the formation.
• Guo Ying and Li Jinglong praised the Dragon Gate Formation’s power, while Zhu Di decided to win Zhu Ying’s service at any cost.

Zhu Ying’s forces trapped and slaughtered Northern Yuan cavalry in the Dragon Gate Formation, then met Guilichi’s remaining cavalry in a fierce battle. The Ming cavalry broke through the Yuan ranks, and Zhu Ying killed Guilichi, leaving Northern Yuan’s supposedly invincible cavalry in defeat.

• Mengha and Nali reported that the Ming Army’s Dragon Gate Formation had trapped their cavalry, and Guilichi ordered his fresh troops to charge.
• Zhu Ying offered the trapped Yuan soldiers a chance to surrender, then rode out with his guards to rally the forty thousand Ming cavalry.
• Guilichi led the Northern Yuan cavalry south, and Zhu Ying’s archers opened fire before both armies clashed.
• Zhu Ying and the Ming cavalry broke through the Northern Yuan ranks as Zhu Di watched in disbelief.
• Zhu Ying cut through Guilichi’s personal guards, pursued the fleeing general, and beheaded him.

Zhu Ying killed Guilichi, routed the Northern Yuan cavalry, and led the Ming Army to a decisive victory. After the pursuit ended, he ordered casualty reports and care for the wounded, then checked his accumulated treasure chests.

• Zhu Ying killed Guilichi, announced his death to the Yuan Army, and ordered the enemy to surrender or die.
• The Yuan Army's morale collapsed, and Zhu Ying led the Ming cavalry in pursuing and slaughtering the fleeing soldiers.
• Guo Ying, Li Jinglong, and Zhu Di watched the victory and praised Zhu Ying's strategy and command.
• Zhu Ying's army pursued the Yuan forces until nightfall, then camped and celebrated their victory.
• Zhu Ying ordered his officers to count casualties and care for the wounded, and learned that 57 of Liu Lei's 650 personal guards had died.
• Zhu Ying asked for his treasure chest tally and learned he possessed 12 ordinary chests, 5 Tier 1 chests, and 1 Tier 2 chest.

After Zhu Ying’s victory over Northern Yuan’s cavalry, Guo Ying praised him, promised him captured warhorses for the Daning Border Army, and arranged to report his achievements to Yingtian. At Lan Yu’s camp, the generals learned that Zhu Ying had defeated the iron cavalry, ending the threat that had stalled their advance.

• Guo Ying told Zhu Ying that the Crown Prince had once considered making him a son-in-law, then reported that the Dragon Gate Formation had killed more than 12,000 Yuan soldiers and captured more than 31,000.
• Zhu Ying asked for enough captured warhorses to make the Daning Border Army entirely cavalry, and Guo Ying ordered Li Jinglong to provide them.
• Zhu Ying gave Guilichi’s head to Li Jinglong, who promised to submit it and Zhu Ying’s achievements to Yingtian; Guo Ying also pledged to report the victory to His Majesty.
• Zhu Di admitted that he envied Zhu Ying’s chance to fight, while Guo Ying and Li Jinglong left to discuss the next advance and Zhu Ying returned to rest.
• Lan Yu received an urgent order announcing that Zhu Ying had defeated Northern Yuan’s iron cavalry, and he told his astonished generals how Zhu Ying used the Dragon Gate Formation and killed Guilichi.

Lan Yu received word that Zhu Ying had routed Northern Yuan’s hundred thousand cavalry and accepted that his own military achievements would be eclipsed. Northern Yuan’s court rejected a retreat to the ancestral homeland, while news of the Ming victory reached Ying Tian City and the palace.

• Lan Yu ordered his generals to attack the cities with all their strength after Guo Ying’s report confirmed Zhu Ying had routed the Northern Yuan cavalry.
• Chang Mao worried that Lan Yu would lose his chance to become a Duke, but Lan Yu admitted he could not suppress Zhu Ying and told Chang Mao to avoid him.
• A messenger told the Yuan Emperor that Guilichi had died and fewer than twenty thousand of Northern Yuan’s hundred thousand cavalry had escaped after Zhu Ying defeated them.
• Manzi urged the Yuan Emperor to retreat to the ancestral homeland, but Ma’er Ke’er and other ministers opposed the move, and the Yuan Emperor chose to remain in the capital.
• Three dispatch riders announced a great Northern Expedition victory as they reached Ying Tian City, then carried their urgent dispatch into the imperial palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang received Guo Ying’s report that Zhu Ying had used the Dragon Gate Formation and led Ming cavalry to crush the Northern Yuan’s hundred thousand iron riders. The court celebrated the victory and urged a rich reward for Zhu Ying, while Zhu Yuanzhang considered what to grant him before the Northern Expedition ended.

• Guo Zhen announced that Guo Ying had sent an urgent report of a great Northern Expedition victory, and Zhu Yuanzhang summoned the couriers.
• The couriers presented Guo Ying’s report, which said Zhu Ying had trapped more than forty thousand Northern Yuan riders with the Dragon Gate Formation and defeated the remainder with Ming cavalry.
• Yun Qi read that the Northern Yuan lost more than forty thousand cavalrymen, over thirty thousand were captured, and Ming forces suffered fewer than ten thousand deaths.
• Zhu Yuanzhang and the court celebrated the defeat of the Northern Yuan iron riders, and Zhu Biao and Fu Youde called for Zhu Ying to be richly rewarded.
• Zhu Yuanzhang agreed Zhu Ying deserved a reward but said final honors would wait until the Northern Expedition ended, then asked Zhu Biao what reward he should grant now.

Zhu Biao secured Zhu Ying’s promotion to Marquis of Victory and approved a proclamation praising his defeat of the Northern Yuan cavalry, despite Zhu Yuanzhang’s concerns about raising a powerful commander. After sealing the edict, Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang discussed the Northern Expedition, the princes’ appointments, and summoning Zhu Ying’s family to court.

• Zhu Biao proposed elevating Zhu Ying to Marquis of Victory and granting Zhu Ying’s wife the title Third-Rank Imperial Lady, and Zhu Yuanzhang approved both honors.
• Fu Youde and Tang Duo urged the court to announce the victory across the realm, and Zhu Biao supported proclaiming Zhu Ying’s achievements by name.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the victory and Zhu Ying’s role in it proclaimed throughout the realm, while the courier presented Guilichi’s head and saber for burial.
• After court, Lu Ben considered courting Zhu Ying as an ally for Yun Wen, while Tang Duo avoided revealing his own thoughts about the marquis.
• Zhu Biao stamped the imperial edict with the jade seal despite Zhu Yuanzhang’s worries that Zhu Ying’s rising prestige might become dangerous.
• Zhu Yuanzhang decided to send Fifteenth Prince to govern Liaodong as Prince of Liao and proposed summoning Zhu Ying’s wife and children to commend them.

Zhu Yuanzhang reviewed the Imperial Guard’s incomplete investigation into Zhu Ying, then ordered agents placed among the rewards and servants sent to the Zhu residence. Yun Qi delivered an edict promoting Shen Yu'er to a Third-Rank Titled Lady for Zhu Ying’s Northern Expedition victory, while the townspeople questioned whether Ming cavalry could truly defeat the Northern Yuan’s iron cavalry; the chapter ended with the Shen Family steward rushing in to announce trouble.

• Zhu Biao accepted the imperial edict from Zhu Yuanzhang and left Wenyuan Pavilion.
• Zhu Yuanzhang questioned Jiang Yan about Zhu Ying’s background, business dealings, age, and military training, then ordered Imperial Guard agents placed among Zhu Ying’s new servants without informing Zhu Biao.
• Yun Qi arrived at the Zhu residence and proclaimed Zhu Ying’s victory over the Northern Yuan’s iron cavalry, promoting Shen Yu'er to a Third-Rank Titled Lady and bestowing wealth, goods, and one hundred servants.
• Shen Yu'er accepted the edict, arranged for Lin Fu to manage the new servants, and privately worried about Zhu Ying’s safety in the Northern Frontier.
• The townspeople debated whether Zhu Ying’s cavalry could really have defeated the Northern Yuan’s famed iron cavalry.
• The Shen Family steward rushed into the main hall and shouted that something terrible had happened.

Shen Wansan learned that Zhu Ying would be made Marquis of Victory and regretted turning him into an enemy, while Shen Cong returned with both hands severed and reported Zhu Ying’s threat against the Shen Family. The Crown Prince arranged the gradual announcement of Zhu Ying’s victory and summoned Shen Yu’er and her child to the Eastern Palace.

• The Shen Family steward told Shen Wansan that Shen Yu'er had received the rank of Third-Rank Honored Lady and Zhu Ying was set to become Marquis of Victory for his Northern Expedition achievements.
• Shen Wansan accepted that Zhu Ying's victory was genuine and feared the Shen Family could no longer rely on Huai West to protect it.
• Shen Cong returned with both hands severed and said Zhu Ying had vowed to fight the Shen Family to the death.
• Shen Rong learned that Zhu Ying was becoming a marquis and fell silent, while Shen Wansan warned him against provoking Zhu Ying.
• Zhu Biao ordered Lu Ben to prepare a gradual proclamation of the Northern Expedition victory and sent Luo Yang to deliver a decree to the Zhu residence.
• Zhu Biao summoned Shen Yu'er and her child to the Eastern Palace for an audience the following day, and Lu Ben went to see Lu clan.

Lu Ben and Lu clan planned to win Zhu Ying’s support for Zhu Yunwen against the Huai Xi faction, while Shen Yu'er brought Zhu Xi to meet Zhu Biao at the Eastern Palace. The chapter ended with Zhu Biao staring at the child and mistaking him for Xiongying.

• Lu Ben warned Lu clan to befriend Zhu Ying and stay vigilant against Zhu Yunteng, and she promised to send a gift to Zhu Ying’s household.
• Lin Fu told Shen Yu'er that he had found locations for restaurants and a distillery in Yingtian, while she worried about her audience with Zhu Biao.
• Luo Yang summoned Shen Yu'er and Zhu Xi to the Eastern Palace, where Imperial Guards escorted them to meet Zhu Biao.
• Shen Yu'er entered the hall with Zhu Xi and waited while Zhu Biao reviewed memorials and issued orders about military supplies.
• Zhu Biao praised Shen Yu'er, then saw Zhu Xi and was stunned, murmuring the name Xiongying.

Zhu Biao met Shen Yu'er and her son Zhu Xi, whose resemblance to his dead son Zhu Xiongying and unexpected call of “Grandpa” stirred his grief. After Shen Yu'er returned home, Lu clan learned of Zhu Biao's tears and realized he still mourned Zhu Xiongying.

• Zhu Biao was stunned by Zhu Xi's resemblance to Zhu Xiongying and welcomed the child into his arms, while Shen Yu'er explained that she and Zhu Xi had settled in Yingtian.
• Zhu Biao told Shen Yu'er that bringing her from Daning would keep her safe and warned her family not to expand its business beyond its distillery and taverns.
• Zhu Biao asked about Shen Yu'er's estrangement from the Shen Family, then reassured her that she did not need to answer and showed affection for Zhu Xi.
• As Shen Yu'er left the Eastern Palace, Zhu Xi called Zhu Biao “Grandpa,” prompting Zhu Biao to answer and privately weep for Zhu Xiongying, Chang clan, and his mother.
• The attending eunuch told Lu clan about Zhu Biao's affection for Zhu Xi and his tears, and Lu clan concluded that Zhu Biao still grieved for Zhu Xiongying.
• At the Zhu Residence, Shen Yu'er and Lin Fu discussed Zhu Biao's warning about commerce and wondered why Zhu Xi had been so unafraid of him.

Ying Tian City celebrated Zhu Ying’s elevation to Marquis of Victory after his cavalry defeated the Northern Yuan, while the Shen Family feared his growing influence. Back on the Northern Frontier, Zhu Ying continued pursuing routed Yuan forces and strengthening himself as the Northern Expedition advanced.

• An official proclaimed Zhu Ying’s victory over the Northern Yuan and his elevation from Count Champion to Marquis of Victory, prompting cheers throughout Ying Tian City.
• Zhu Yuanzhang worried about Zhu Ying’s rising prestige, while Zhu Biao celebrated the proclamation and expressed confidence in his choice.
• Lin Fu and Shen Yu'er received congratulatory gift notices from powerful officials, and Lin Fu advised them to accept the notices but refuse the gifts to avoid suspicion of factional dealings.
• Shen Wansan learned that Zhu Ying had become Marquis of Victory, and Shen Yan'er regretted not marrying him instead of Lu Hao.
• Nearly a month after the Northern Yuan cavalry’s defeat, Zhu Ying and Wei Quan’s forces destroyed or captured fleeing Yuan soldiers as Zhu Ying gained rewards and reflected on his growing strength.

Zhu Ying joined the Northern Expedition’s commanders near the Yuan Capital and received an imperial edict promoting him to Marquis of Victory for crushing the Northern Yuan cavalry. The edict also brought rewards from the system and news that Madam Zhu had been granted a noble rank, while Guo Ying was ordered to advance cautiously.

• Zhu Ying told Chen Heng and Zhang Wu that he aimed to ride deep into Northern Yuan territory and achieve the feat of Fenglangjuxu.
• Zhu Ying entered the main tent, where Zhu Di and Zhu Quan watched him with surprise and curiosity.
• Guo Ying praised Zhu Ying’s role in the Northern Expedition and announced that an imperial envoy had arrived with a decree.
• The Imperial Guards Thousand Household proclaimed Zhu Ying Marquis of Victory and ordered his name celebrated alongside the Northern Expedition’s victory.
• The envoy told Zhu Ying that Madam Zhu had been made a Third-Rank Imperial Lady, and Zhu Ying received three treasure chests through the system.
• The envoy relayed Zhu Yuanzhang’s warning against advancing rashly, and Guo Ying promised to proceed carefully before the generals congratulated Zhu Ying.

Zhu Quan told Zhu Di that Zhu Ying looked remarkably like the supposedly dead Zhu Xiongying, deepening Zhu Di’s fear that Zhu Ying threatened his ambitions. Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao discussed testing Zhu Ying’s loyalty and the possibility of eliminating him during a pursuit into the Northern Frontier.

• Guo Ying announced that the Ming army would attack the Yuan Army’s two remaining fortified cities the next day, with Lan Yu and Li Jinglong each leading an assault.
• After Guo Ying suggested Zhu Quan learn about Daning from Zhu Ying, Zhu Quan explored Zhu Di’s tent and discussed his future military authority over Daning and Liaodong.
• Zhu Quan told Zhu Di that Zhu Ying’s eyes and features strongly reminded him of Zhu Xiongying, stirring Zhu Di’s doubts and anxiety.
• Zhu Quan recalled their childhood with Zhu Xiongying and said he hoped Zhu Ying would remain in Daning to defend the region.
• After Zhu Quan left, Zhu Di admitted to Yao Guangxiao that he feared Zhu Ying might be Zhu Xiongying and said he would rather destroy him than let him become an enemy.
• Yao Guangxiao proposed exploiting the coming pursuit of the fleeing Yuan Emperor to endanger Zhu Ying, but Zhu Di rejected leaking military intelligence to the Northern Yuan and agreed to test whether Zhu Ying could be made to submit.