Coming back to his senses.
Zhu Ying continued extracting the martial techniques he had obtained. All three were ranked techniques.
One had to know.
There was a vast difference between unranked and ranked items, not just for martial techniques, but for weapons and the like as well.
Once something was ranked, its power became far greater.
The initial rank was Yellow Tier, followed by Mystic Tier, Earth Tier, and Heaven Tier.
"Frenzied Dance Saber Technique—fierce and domineering. Not bad."
"Divine Arrow Volley—once mastered, I can fire arrows in rapid succession and bring my strength to its fullest."
"Mountain Collapse Fist is also a martial technique that can fully unleash my own strength, even multiplying it severalfold."
"Not bad."
After extracting the three martial techniques, Zhu Ying was even more satisfied.
Without question, these three martial techniques were no ordinary skills. Zhu Ying would need to cultivate them to improve them.
And on the battlefield, there was no better place to cultivate.
"Treasure Eagle Bow."
Zhu Ying extracted it again.
A black-gold longbow appeared in his hand.
Simply holding it.
Zhu Ying could clearly feel its weight.
The moment he gripped it, the attributes of the Treasure Eagle Bow appeared before his eyes.
Treasure Eagle Bow: Yellow Tier Mid-grade! Possesses armor-piercing properties. The greater the strength used, the greater its power!
"As expected of a ranked treasure bow. I won't have to worry about snapping my bowstring with my strength anymore." Zhu Ying smiled.
He then extracted the Fine Steel Saber.
A saber meant for mounted combat appeared in his hand.
Its hilt was made of iron, while its blade was forged from fine steel, gleaming with a sharp, chilling light.
With a single grip, Zhu Ying knew that the saber weighed fifty or sixty jin.
"This time, the rewards are quite good."
"With these weapons and martial techniques, I'll be even safer on the battlefield." Zhu Ying thought with great satisfaction.
"Right, the Authority Seal."
Zhu Ying came back to his senses.
He immediately thought of the Authority Seal condensed by the panel.
When he had been a Squad Leader, the Authority Seal had already proven quite useful. In the great battle, all ten soldiers under his command had survived, and they had all been recruits. Their survival in such a battle showed just how significant the seal's effect had been.
"The host has advanced to Battalion Commander and may condense the Battalion Commander's Authority Seal. Condense it?"
"Condense it." Zhu Ying did not hesitate in the slightest.
A Squad Leader commanded ten men and could grant boosts to combat strength and morale.
As a Battalion Commander, his authority would naturally be greater. If it could raise the combat strength of all his subordinates, it would be even more beneficial for Zhu Ying's advancement in rank. After all, now that he had become a Battalion Commander, his personal kills and merits were no longer counted for much. He had to achieve major military accomplishments to earn further promotion.
Personal kills were no longer the key. Leading troops to kill the enemy was what truly mattered.
Thus, Zhu Ying understood very clearly just how important this Authority Seal was.
The next moment!
Battalion Commander's Authority Seal: Commands a thousand soldiers under one's command. Increases the combat strength, morale, and endurance of subordinate soldiers by sixty percent.
"As expected, advancing five ranks at once has raised the combat strength boost from ten percent to sixty percent."
"All of this can be displayed on the battlefield." Zhu Ying thought to himself.
Coming back to his senses.
"Next, I'll cultivate properly and wait to take over the Cavalry Battalion tomorrow." Zhu Ying thought.
He circulated the Iron Body Cultivation Method and began his daily required cultivation.
The night passed quickly.
The following morning!
Zhu Ying ended his night-long cultivation.
He put on his armor and wore his saber.
He was now dressed as a Battalion Commander, clearly distinct from ordinary soldiers.
He walked out of the tent.
Liu Lei was already waiting outside with fifty men.
"Reporting to Battalion Commander."
"Personal Guard General Officer Liu Lei and fifty personal guards await your orders."
Liu Lei stepped forward and bowed first.
"Greetings, Battalion Commander."
All fifty personal guard soldiers knelt on the ground.
"This... is authority."
Seeing this scene.
Zhu Ying could not help but feel a sense of emotion in his heart.
"Rise." Zhu Ying said solemnly.
"Thank you, Battalion Commander."
All the personal guards answered in unison.
Then.
Liu Lei stepped forward and presented a register to Zhu Ying.
"Reporting to Battalion Commander."
"This is the personal guard roster," Liu Lei said.
"Good."
Zhu Ying nodded and accepted the roster.
At that moment!
A series of footsteps sounded.
Chen Heng, surrounded by a group of personal guards, approached Zhu Ying.
"General Chen."
Seeing him, Zhu Ying immediately stepped forward to greet him.
Chen Heng waved a hand, indicating that there was no need for formalities.
"Have you chosen all your personal guards?"
Chen Heng glanced over the group and asked with a smile.
"Reporting to General, this is the roster." Zhu Ying immediately handed the roster to Chen Heng.
Chen Heng accepted it but did not look at it. Instead, he walked before the personal guards, his expression turning stern.
"Everyone."
"Do you know the duty of a personal guard?"
Chen Heng stared at the personal guards and asked loudly.
"Reporting to General."
"As a Battalion Commander's personal guard, we must protect the Battalion Commander's safety with all our strength," Liu Lei replied loudly.
"Correct."
Chen Heng nodded, then swept his gaze across them and continued, "But the duty of a personal guard is bound to the master he serves. On the battlefield, a personal guard is the one who takes the blade for his master. That is the duty of a personal guard! As personal guards, your responsibility is to protect the master you serve! Zhu Ying is a Battalion Commander. If he dies on the battlefield, none of you may live!"
"Do you understand what that means?"
Chen Heng's voice carried a warning.
The words personal guard were not merely two words. Once they became personal guards, their lives no longer belonged to themselves. Their foremost duty was to protect the superior they served.
This was also a safeguard granted by the current Emperor to generals commanding armies. On the battlefield, blades had no eyes. The life or death of a general was also crucial to an army's victory.
The purpose of personal guards was to protect their general. If the general they protected died while they remained alive, that was their crime, and death would be unavoidable.
"This subordinate understands."
All fifty soldiers, including Liu Lei, answered in unison.
"Of course."
"As a Battalion Commander's personal guards, you will receive pay one rank higher. That is what you deserve," Chen Heng added.
After explaining the matters concerning the personal guards.
Chen Heng finally turned to Zhu Ying. "Battalion Commander Zhu, come with me to the Cavalry Battalion."
"Yes."
Zhu Ying nodded at once.
Before long.
Led personally by Chen Heng.
They arrived at the encampment of the First Cavalry Battalion.
"Welcome, General Chen."
As soon as Chen Heng arrived.
The Cavalry Battalion had already gathered in full.
However, of its original thousand troops, only six or seven hundred remained. Clearly, they had suffered losses in yesterday's battle.
"Let me introduce you."
"These two are the Deputy Battalion Commanders of the Cavalry Battalion, Zhang Wu and Fan Qing."
Chen Heng pointed to the two officers before him.
Then he pointed at Zhu Ying. "This is Zhu Ying, the newly appointed Battalion Commander of the Cavalry Battalion. From now on, he will command the First Cavalry Battalion."
"Greetings, Battalion Commander Zhu."
Zhang Wu and Fan Qing bowed to Zhu Ying.
Though they could both see that Zhu Ying was very young, many years younger than themselves, this was the Hongwu Era. One could not rise in rank without military merit, and Zhu Ying's name had already spread throughout the encampment.
Zhang Wu and Fan Qing had also heard of him.
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