Chapter Summaries

In Daning Prefecture, Zhu Ying fought in his first battle after the Shen Family framed him into military service. After killing two bandits he discovered that kills granted him Strength points, and the chapter ended as the bandit leader charged the centurion.

• Zhu Ying advanced with the Ming soldiers toward a bandit hideout, cursing the Shen Family for falsifying his age and forcing him into the army.
• The bandits ambushed the government troops with arrows, and the centurion ordered the archers to return fire before leading the spearmen into battle.
• Zhu Ying shot a bandit and received a notification that he had collected 20 Strength points, which made him feel stronger.
• Zhu Ying killed a second bandit, gained another 20 Strength points, and decided to use the battlefield to grow stronger and seek revenge on the Shen Family.
• The bandit leader urged his men to break through and charged toward the centurion, cutting down government soldiers along the way.

Zhu Ying saved Liu Lei by killing a powerful bandit leader, then discovered he could loot attributes and lifespan from corpses. He began collecting loot from the dead bandits, leaving the soldiers amused by his apparent determination to check each body.

• The bandit leader overpowered Liu Lei, but Zhu Ying shot him through the chest and heart, then finished him with his saber.
• A notification identified the bandit leader as a Tatar Centurion and awarded Zhu Ying 20 points to all attributes and an ordinary treasure chest for his first kill of an enemy with an official rank.
• Liu Lei resumed command, and the government troops killed all 48 bandits, though four soldiers died and more than a dozen were wounded.
• Liu Lei thanked Zhu Ying for saving his life, learned he was a 13-year-old recruit, and told him to come for help with anything in the army.
• Zhu Ying checked his Attribute Panel and discovered his looted attributes had been added to his stats.
• Zhu Ying touched the bandit corpses and looted attributes and days of lifespan, then ran from body to body while veteran soldiers watched and laughed.

Zhu Ying’s forces cleared a bandit stronghold and uncovered evidence that the bandits may have been foreign raiders, while Zhu Ying secretly stored one hundred taels of silver. Meanwhile, the Shen Family arranged to end its marriage agreement with Zhu Ying and send Shen Yan to marry Lu Hao; Shen Yu’er confronted her family over their treatment of Zhu Ying.

• Liu Lei ordered the soldiers to collect the bandit treasure and report the suspected Jianzhou Tatar connection up the chain of command.
• Zhu Ying secretly used his storage space to take one hundred taels of silver from a chest before the soldiers set out for Ansha County.
• Shen Rong told Shen Wansan that Zhu Ying had been entered into the Daning Prefecture Military Registry, and Shen Wang said he was unlikely to return alive.
• Shen Wansan sent Shen Rong to arrange Shen Yan’s marriage to Lu Hao and authorized him to ensure Zhu Ying could not expose the Shen Family’s actions.
• Shen Yu’er burst into the main hall and angrily challenged Shen Wansan and Shen Rong for putting Zhu Ying in danger, but they ordered her to leave.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao addressed the rising banditry in Daning Prefecture and prepared a campaign against Naha Chu. In Ansha County, Zhu Ying received a promotion and silver for his role in suppressing bandits, just as a panel notification appeared.

• Zhu Biao reported to Zhu Yuanzhang that bandits had committed more than a hundred crimes in Daning Prefecture, and they suspected the Northern Yuan was behind the unrest.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Zhu Biao to prepare provisions for Feng Sheng’s campaign against Naha Chu and commanded Daning’s gendarmerie to suppress the bandits.
• Wei Quan announced that the Ansha Garrison had cleared bandits within fifty li of Ansha County and began awarding military merit.
• Wei Quan promoted Zhu Ying to Junior Banner Officer and awarded him fifty taels of silver for killing five enemies and a bandit leader.
• A panel notification appeared before Zhu Ying.

After Zhu Ying became a Squad Leader, he studied his Attribute Panel and opened three treasure chests, gaining a cultivation method, a saber, and horsemanship. He resolved to grow stronger, take revenge on the Shen Family, and prepare for a possible war against the Northern Yuan.

• Zhu Ying was officially promoted to Squad Leader and placed in command of ten recruits.
• Zhu Ying examined his attributes and concluded that killing bandits and collecting their drops had greatly increased his strength.
• Zhu Ying opened three ordinary treasure chests and received the Iron Body Cultivation Method, a Fine Steel Saber, and Mastered Horsemanship.
• Zhu Ying extracted the cultivation method and learned that a full day of cultivation increased his Strength, Constitution, and Endurance by ten points each, with diminishing returns as his attributes rose.
• Zhu Ying vowed to avenge the Shen Family’s plot to send him to his death and resolved to cultivate quickly before the expected campaign against the Northern Yuan.

After Zhu Ying gained an official seal and spent six days strengthening himself, Daning officials ordered an expedition against the Jianzhou Tatars to end the bandit unrest. An emergency assembly sounded at Ansha Town, and Zhu Ying prepared his soldiers for another mission.

• Zhu Ying condensed and equipped a Small Banner Official Seal that boosted his subordinates' combat strength, morale, and endurance by ten percent.
• Bu Wan heard that bandits near Ansha County had been eliminated and that they appeared linked to the Jianzhou Tatars.
• Chen Heng and Liu Zhen persuaded Bu Wan that twenty thousand troops could strike the Jianzhou Tatars and stop their support for the bandits.
• Bu Wan ordered Chen Heng and Liu Zhen to lead an expedition and drive the Jianzhou Tatars one hundred li beyond Great Ming's borders.
• Zhu Ying spent six days cultivating and increased his strength, constitution, and endurance by sixty points each.
• An emergency drum call roused Zhu Ying and his ten soldiers, who prepared for a possible new bandit suppression mission.

After learning that Jianzhou Tatars had organized the bandit unrest in Daning Prefecture, Zhu Ying and the Ansha Thousand-Household Battalion marched to the border to join a campaign against them. The Ming commanders planned an assault for the next day, while Zhu Ying prepared for battle by marking more than a hundred arrows with his name.

• Zhu Ying reassured his worried soldiers and led them from the barracks to the parade ground.
• Wei Quan announced that the Jianzhou Tatars had recruited bandits and ordered the Ansha Thousand-Household Battalion to depart for the border.
• Two days later, Chen Heng and Liu Zhen met with the generals and Thousand-Household Officers at the Daning border camp.
• Chen Heng ordered two Thousand-Household Battalions to attack the Jianzhou Tatars from the front the next day while other troops struck their flanks.
• Zhu Ying and his ten brothers marked their names on arrows, and Zhu Ying prepared more than a hundred for the coming battle.

Zhu Ying prepared for his first battle as the Ming army advanced against a Jianzhou Tatar frontier tribe. The Tatars prepared an ambush, leaving the two armies close to their first clash.

• Zhu Ying prepared his bows, arrows, and saber, and Liu Lei warned him to be careful before offering to protect him in the Hundred Household Battalion.
• The Ming army crossed the northern frontier, while Tatar commander Jin Guda learned that the Tatars’ migration was progressing slowly.
• Jin Guda decided to fight the Ming army to buy time for his people to retreat and ordered eight thousand cavalry to ambush the approaching force.
• Zhu Ying advanced with his Hundred Household Battalion in the third row, bow ready, as the Ming army approached the Tatar tribe.

Zhu Ying fought in the Ming Army’s first clash with the Tatars, killing enemies and raising all his attributes beyond 200 points. As the armies became locked in a bloody melee, Jin Guda sent Tatar cavalry to attack the Ming flanks and charged into battle himself.

• Chen Heng ordered the Ming archers to fire on the approaching Tatar cavalry, and Zhu Ying killed enemy riders while collecting attribute points.
• The Tatar cavalry answered with a rain of arrows that killed and wounded Ming soldiers, including several of Zhu Ying’s comrades.
• After Zhu Ying’s kills exceeded twenty, his panel awarded him an ordinary treasure chest.
• Chen Heng led the Ming cavalry and spearmen into a charge, and the two armies collided in a chaotic melee.
• Zhu Ying’s attributes all surpassed 200 points, earning him another ordinary treasure chest as he continued firing.
• Jin Guda ordered his reserve cavalry to encircle the Ming Army, then charged toward the formation himself.

Zhu Ying slaughtered Tatar soldiers as he fought through the chaotic battle and set his sights on the Tatar commander Jin Guda. After rescuing Chen Heng from an encirclement, Zhu Ying charged toward Jin Guda, leaving Chen Heng stunned.

• Zhu Ying killed Tatar infantrymen with his Fine Steel Saber, collected their ears as proof of merit, and grew stronger from the kills.
• Zhu Ying led his soldiers into the melee, cutting down Tatars while the outnumbered Ming Army continued fighting.
• Jin Guda spotted Chen Heng's banner and led Tatar cavalry toward the Ming commander.
• Jin Guda's forces surrounded Chen Heng, who fell from his horse and was nearly killed.
• Zhu Ying fought through the attackers, rescued Chen Heng, and charged toward Jin Guda.

Zhu Ying killed the Tatar commander Jin Guda, broke the enemy battle banner, and helped turn the battle into a rout. After the fighting, his extraordinary feats and fifty-eight recorded enemy kills were reported for a major reward.

• Zhu Ying overpowered and killed Jin Guda, gaining an attribute increase and an ordinary treasure chest.
• Zhu Ying cut down the Tatar banner and called on the enemy soldiers to surrender, causing their forces to panic and retreat.
• Liu Zhen arrived with reinforcements and encircled the Tatars as Zhu Ying pursued the fleeing soldiers.
• After the battle, the First Hundred Household Battalion gathered to tally its severe losses and record military merits.
• Zhu Ying presented Jin Guda's head, the broken banner, and fifty-eight enemy ears, astonishing Liu Lei and the merit officials.
• The deputy hundred household commander recorded Zhu Ying's feats and promised to report them for a major reward.

After the battle, Zhu Ying inspected his greatly increased attributes, received treatment for his wounds, and collected more attributes from the battlefield. That night, Chen Heng and Liu Zhen discussed their victory and the near-death danger Chen Heng had faced.

• Liu Lei brought a military physician to treat Zhu Ying, whose wounds healed quickly after the arrow was removed.
• The military physician bandaged Zhu Ying and said his bleeding had stopped and his injuries were not serious.
• Liu Lei praised Zhu Ying’s battle record but warned him not to risk his life chasing promotion; Zhu Ying remained determined to gain power against the Shen Family.
• Zhu Ying wandered among the battlefield corpses, collecting attributes before the logistics troops cleared the field.
• That night, Chen Heng complained that Liu Zhen’s encirclement had been too slow, and Liu Zhen defended his efforts as they acknowledged their victory.

After Great Ming defeated the Jianzhou Tatars, Bu Wan learned that Zhu Ying had killed 103 enemies, slain their commander Jin Guda, and cut down the Tatar battle banner. The generals marveled at Zhu Ying’s achievement as Bu Wan asked Chen Heng how many ranks the military regulations entitled Zhu Ying to gain.

• Chen Heng and Liu Zhen discussed the Tatars’ improved weapons and the warning the battle had provided.
• Bu Wan arrived and heard Chen Heng report that Great Ming had killed more than 5,800 Tatars and captured over 3,000, while suffering heavy casualties.
• Chen Heng presented a separate report on Zhu Ying’s exploits, and Bu Wan confirmed with Chen Heng that the account was true.
• A guard read aloud that Zhu Ying had killed 103 Tatars, slain their commander Jin Guda, and cut down their battle banner.
• The generals praised Zhu Ying’s feat, and Bu Wan asked Chen Heng how many ranks the regulations allowed Zhu Ying to be promoted.

After Zhu Ying’s battle exploits earned him a proposed five-rank promotion, the generals summoned him to the main camp for his reward. Zhu Ying left the camp anticipating advancement and greater authority.

• Chen Heng calculated that Zhu Ying deserved five promotions for killing over a hundred enemies, slaying a general, and capturing a banner, and the generals agreed.
• Bu Wan ordered Zhu Ying summoned to the main camp, while Liu Zhen tried and failed to persuade Chen Heng to assign Zhu Ying to his command.
• Zhu Ying collected his post-battle attributes, received an ordinary treasure chest, and checked his strengthened stats.
• Wei Quan announced Zhu Ying’s feats to the soldiers and escorted him to the main camp to receive his military reward.

Zhu Ying received a five-rank promotion to Thousand-Household Commander for killing a hundred Tatars, slaying their general, and capturing their banner. Bu Wan appointed him to command the First Cavalry Battalion, then the generals discussed the pursuit of the fleeing Tatars and plans to suppress bandits.

• Wei Quan brought Zhu Ying before Bu Wan and the assembled generals, who were surprised by his youthful appearance.
• Bu Wan praised Zhu Ying’s battlefield achievements and promoted him five ranks, awarding him the office of Thousand-Household Commander and one hundred taels of gold.
• Bu Wan presented Zhu Ying with his military order, armor, a helmet, a saber, and a sword, and promised the generals that merit would be rewarded fairly.
• Chen Heng reported that the First Cavalry Battalion’s commander had been severely wounded, and Bu Wan appointed Zhu Ying to take command of the battalion.
• Liu Zhen reported that Ming troops had pursued the Tatars north, killed some, and intercepted fleeing civilians, and he said the Jianzhou Tatars would likely avoid further conflict while the army turned to suppress bandits.

Bu Wan revealed that Daning Prefecture’s campaign against the Jianzhou Tatars was meant to distract the Northern Yuan while Great Ming prepared a major invasion against Naha Chu. After the council, Zhu Ying was praised for saving Chen Heng and learned he had been promoted to Thousand Household Commander.

• Bu Wan told the generals that Great Ming had ordered two hundred thousand troops to attack Liaodong and destroy Naha Chu, while Daning Prefecture’s forces would draw the Northern Yuan’s attention.
• Bu Wan explained that the troops in Daning would attack unless the Northern Yuan sent reinforcements, in which case they would defend and await the main force.
• Chen Heng thanked Zhu Ying for saving his life and promised to take him to the Cavalry Battalion the next day.
• Chen Heng reminded Zhu Ying that he could choose fifty personal guards from his former unit or have them assigned.
• Zhu Ying returned to the camp, where he told Liu Lei and the gathered soldiers that he had been promoted five ranks to Thousand Household Commander.

After Zhu Ying became Battalion Commander, Liu Lei joined his personal guard as its General Officer and recruited soldiers for the remaining positions. Zhu Ying opened ten treasure chests, gained new weapons, martial arts, skills, and crafting methods, and mastered the Hundred Paces Through Poplar archery skill.

• Zhu Ying accepted Liu Lei's offer to serve as General Officer of his personal guard and tasked him with selecting forty more men.
• Liu Lei announced the recruitment, drawing eager volunteers from several Hundred Household Battalions.
• Zhu Ying inspected his new armor and weapons, stored one hundred taels of gold, and opened all ten treasure chests.
• The treasure chests yielded archery and martial skills, weapons, five hundred taels of gold, and methods for refining fine steel and high-quality gunpowder.
• Zhu Ying extracted the Hundred Paces Through Poplar skill and gained archery abilities beyond those of ordinary people.

After advancing to Battalion Commander, Zhu Ying gained powerful weapons, martial techniques, and an Authority Seal before preparing to take command of the First Cavalry Battalion. Chen Heng explained that Zhu Ying’s personal guards would face death if he died, then introduced him to the Cavalry Battalion’s officers.

• Zhu Ying extracted the Frenzied Dance Saber Technique, Divine Arrow Volley, Mountain Collapse Fist, Treasure Eagle Bow, and Fine Steel Saber.
• Zhu Ying condensed a Battalion Commander's Authority Seal that increased his soldiers’ combat strength, morale, and endurance by sixty percent.
• The next morning, Liu Lei presented Zhu Ying with the roster of fifty personal guards, and Chen Heng warned them that they would die if Zhu Ying died on the battlefield.
• Chen Heng escorted Zhu Ying to the First Cavalry Battalion, where he introduced Deputy Battalion Commanders Zhang Wu and Fan Qing and named Zhu Ying their commander.

Zhu Ying took command of the depleted First Cavalry Battalion and won the soldiers' loyalty with a pledge to lead them in battle. In Yingtian, Zhu Yuanzhang prepared a 200,000-man campaign to reclaim Liaodong as a victory report arrived from Daning Prefecture.

• Chen Heng ordered Zhu Ying to familiarize himself with the Cavalry Battalion for three days before continuing the attack on the Jianzhou Tatars.
• Zhang Wu reported that 689 soldiers remained in the First Cavalry Battalion after its heavy losses.
• Zhu Ying addressed the soldiers and pledged to lead every charge, prompting them to swear they would follow him unto death.
• Zhao Mian reported that supplies for 200,000 soldiers were being sent to Daning and Beiping, while Tang Duo said the troops were marching toward Daning.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Feng Sheng to bring him Naha Chu's head and reclaim Liaodong, then asked Zhu Biao about Daning.
• A messenger arrived at court with a victory report from Daning Prefecture.

Zhu Yuanzhang received a victory dispatch from Daning Prefecture and learned that Zhu Ying had killed 103 enemies and captured the enemy commander and banner. He ordered Zhu Ying’s exploits publicized and told Bu Wan to prepare for a larger Northern Yuan assault.

• A messenger delivered Bu Wan’s victory dispatch, reporting that Daning’s army had defeated the Jianzhou Tatars, killed more than six thousand, captured over three thousand, and suffered four thousand casualties.
• Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao read a second report stating that Zhu Ying had killed 103 enemies, slain the Tatar commander, and cut down the enemy banner.
• Court officials questioned the report’s credibility, while Zhu Yuanzhang recalled Chang Yuchun’s battlefield feats and praised Zhu Ying as a blessing for Great Ming.
• Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the Ministry of War to spread Zhu Ying’s achievements throughout the army and affirmed that Bu Wan had rewarded him appropriately.
• Zhu Yuanzhang instructed Bu Wan to hold Daning Prefecture against an expected major assault from the Yuan Court and the Tatars.