Bestowed the Rank of Thousand-Household Commander!

Very soon!

The main camp's command tent.

Wei Quan led Zhu Ying into the command tent.

The moment he entered.

Everyone's eyes turned toward Zhu Ying.

Curiosity, astonishment, surprise.

All manner of emotions appeared on the faces of the many generals.

Clearly.

Seeing that Zhu Ying was so young, still merely a youth, left them all stunned.

When they had seen Zhu Ying's battle achievements, they had imagined him to be a burly, fierce-looking giant. Yet now that they saw him, he was utterly different from the image in their minds.

If not for his armor, military uniform, and the killing intent surrounding him, Zhu Ying might have passed for a scholar in a long robe.

"Reporting to Commander Bu."

"Zhu Ying, a Banner Officer, has been brought." Wei Quan bowed to Bu Wan.

"This subordinate greets Commander Bu."

Zhu Ying immediately bowed.

Bu Wan lifted his gaze and fixed it on Zhu Ying. After studying him for a moment, he suddenly laughed. "Hahaha! Truly, heroes emerge from the young! I had thought someone who earned such great merit would look fierce and imposing, but seeing you now, you are completely different from what I imagined."

"Thank you for your praise, sir."

"This subordinate is a soldier of the Ming Dynasty. It is only right that I kill enemies for the country." Zhu Ying replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Seeing Zhu Ying's attitude, without the slightest arrogance or pride in his achievements, Bu Wan nodded in even greater satisfaction before saying, "Your military merit is no small matter: the merit of killing a hundred enemies, of slaying their general and capturing their banner."

"According to the Ming Dynasty's military merit rewards and punishments personally established by His Majesty, you may be promoted five ranks."

"What are your thoughts on this?" Bu Wan asked with a smile.

"This subordinate is willing to serve the Ming Dynasty unto death."

Zhu Ying immediately bowed.

A promotion of five ranks.

Zhu Ying's heart was surging as well. For a mere Banner Officer like him, this was undoubtedly a leap to the heavens.

Power and status—everything was about to change.

After all, he had been tricked into joining the army less than four months ago. At most, it had only been a little over three months.

Yet in those short three months, he had gained military merit that others had failed to obtain even after years of service.

"Good."

Bu Wan's expression turned solemn as well.

Then.

He directly picked up a brush and took out a blank military order, writing Zhu Ying's reward decree upon it. Once he finished, he took up the Commander's seal and stamped it onto the order.

This military reward order thereby took effect.

"Zhu Ying, Banner Officer of the First Thousand-Household Battalion, First Thousand-Household Battalion, receive your appointment." Bu Wan held the military order and called out loudly.

"This subordinate receives the appointment."

Zhu Ying immediately bowed, anticipation showing on his face.

"Banner Officer Zhu Ying fought the Tatars, killing one hundred Tatars, slaying their commanding general and cutting down their battle banner, establishing the foundation for our army's victory and rendering great merit!"

"Now, according to the military merit system established by His Majesty, you are promoted five ranks and bestowed the office of Thousand-Household Commander, commanding a thousand troops. You are also awarded one hundred taels of gold!" Bu Wan announced loudly.

Zhu Ying bowed and answered loudly, "This subordinate thanks you, sir. I shall surely serve the Ming Dynasty unto death, killing enemies and earning merit for Great Ming."

Then.

Bu Wan smiled and rose from the seat of honor. Holding the military reward order, he slowly walked over to Zhu Ying and first helped him up.

Then he smiled and said, "Thousand-Household Commander Zhu, I hope you will continue striving in the future and earn new merit for the Ming Dynasty."

"This subordinate will never disappoint you, sir." Zhu Ying replied at once.

"Good."

"Receive the order."

With a smile, Bu Wan handed the military order to Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying immediately accepted the military order with both hands.

"Bestow armor, a saber, a sword, and gold."

Bu Wan waved a hand.

At once.

Several guards standing to the side, already prepared.

Immediately stepped forward.

One held armor and a helmet, one held a sword, one held a saber, and another carried a box containing one hundred taels of gold.

"The saber is for use on the battlefield; the sword is for readiness in battle."

"Thousand-Household Commander Zhu, accept them."

Bu Wan said with a smile.

"This subordinate accepts."

Zhu Ying did not hesitate. He directly took the armor, saber, and sword, while also accepting the gold.

"Generals."

"Thousand-Household Commander Zhu has been promoted five ranks in succession. This is the military merit reward and punishment system of our Great Ming."

"All soldiers of Great Ming shall be treated thus."

"I am the Prefect of Daning Prefecture, entrusted by His Majesty and the Crown Prince to temporarily serve as Commander. Therefore, I guarantee you all here: for every day I hold this office, military merit shall never be slighted. Those with merit will certainly be rewarded."

Bu Wan addressed all the generals in the tent.

"Sir is wise!" everyone shouted in unison.

"Thousand-Household Commander Zhu's military merit is outstanding. In a single battle, he slew one hundred men, killed their general, and captured their banner. Such achievements are enough to inspire the entire army of Great Ming."

"I have already decided that this battle report should be submitted to Yingtian together with the report of our defeat of the Tatars. By then, His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince will surely be greatly pleased as well." Bu Wan added with a smile.

Upon hearing this.

A trace of envy appeared on the faces of the many generals.

To submit a report to Yingtian and present it before the Crown Prince and His Majesty—what an honor was that?

If one could make the Crown Prince and His Majesty remember one's name, it would be an immense opportunity.

"This subordinate shall surely serve the Ming Dynasty unto death."

All the generals bowed in succession.

"General Chen."

"Now that Zhu Ying has been appointed Thousand-Household Commander, does your Thousand-Household Battalion have a vacant Thousand-Household Commander post?" Bu Wan turned to Chen Heng and asked.

"Reporting to you, sir."

"In yesterday's battle."

"The Thousand-Household Commander of the First Cavalry Battalion under my Thousand-Household Battalion was severely wounded while leading the charge. His post is vacant." Chen Heng replied immediately.

"Good."

"Then Thousand-Household Commander Zhu shall serve as the Thousand-Household Commander of the First Cavalry Battalion and command the Cavalry Battalion." Bu Wan nodded and declared at once.

"This subordinate accepts."

Zhu Ying's eyes lit up, and he immediately bowed.

A Thousand-Household Commander of a cavalry battalion, commanding the cavalry battalion—this was an excellent assignment.

In this era, cavalry were already the strongest fighting force. A cavalry battalion had more opportunities to earn merit than infantry, and more chances to collect attributes.

Naturally, Zhu Ying would not refuse such a boon.

"Thousand-Household Commander Zhu, take a seat."

"We still need to discuss the war against the Tatars." Bu Wan smiled at Zhu Ying, his attitude exceptionally cordial.

"Yes."

Zhu Ying nodded, holding his armor and weapons as he looked around the command tent for a seat.

"Sit here."

Chen Heng smiled and directly pointed to a seat beside him.

Zhu Ying did not refuse and took his seat.

"General Liu."

"How is the pursuit progressing?" Bu Wan looked toward Liu Zhen, who, like Chen Heng, was a Commander of the Thousand Households.

"Reporting to you, sir."

"Our army's ten thousand soldiers have continued pursuing northward for dozens of li. We have already slain quite a few Tatars and caught up with the fleeing civilians from the Tatar border tribes, intercepting them and sending them back to Great Ming in batches. We have met with little resistance."

"In this subordinate's view."

"Though these Jianzhou Tatars are affiliated with the Yuan Court, they are merely a small tribe. They do not dare to truly pit the strength of their entire tribe against Great Ming. After this, they will surely behave themselves and no longer dare reach toward Great Ming."

"Having severely crippled the Jianzhou Tatars this time, the thirty thousand troops within Daning Prefecture can devote themselves fully to suppressing the mountain bandits and roving bandits."

"In that case."

"The bandit menace will surely be eliminated," Liu Zhen replied at once.

PS: Please support by continuing to read. My thanks, deepest thanks, heartfelt thanks.