Feng Sheng Arrives at Daning!

"Your subordinate welcomes Duke of Song."

"Welcome, generals."

Bu Wan led the officials of Daning Prefecture in bowing to the arrivals.

The old general at the head smiled faintly and raised a hand. "Lord Bu, no need for such ceremony."

"Thank you, Duke of Song," Bu Wan immediately replied.

"What is the current situation in Daning Prefecture, and with the Northern Yuan and the Tatars?" Duke of Song Feng Sheng immediately asked.

Bu Wan glanced around and at once led the way. "Duke of Song, perhaps we should enter the hall and discuss this in detail first. There are too many eyes and ears here, after all."

"Very well."

Feng Sheng did not refuse and followed Bu Wan into the government office.

The thousand personal guards accompanying Feng Sheng were also deployed in perfect order around the government office, while a portion escorted Feng Sheng inside.

A duke of the current dynasty held an exceedingly lofty status.

Should he suffer any injury at all, it would be a major event capable of shaking Great Ming.

Inside the main hall of the government office!

Feng Sheng sat high in the seat of honor, while the many generals accompanying him took their seats in orderly fashion.

"Reporting to Duke of Song."

"The Yuan Court has now dispatched troops to attack Huizhou City on the border of Daning Prefecture."

"Your subordinate has already deployed twenty thousand border troops to defend it. Though the Yuan Court's offensive is fierce, they ultimately cannot breach the city. It can hold until Great Ming's main army arrives in support, at which time we can turn defense into offense," Bu Wan immediately reported.

"And what of the Northern Frontier?" Feng Sheng asked again.

The reason he had arrived ahead of the main army was to learn the state of the battle firsthand and find the best way to destroy Naha Chu.

"Reporting to Duke of Song."

"Before the Yuan Court mobilized its forces, the Jianzhou Tatars, who are attached to the Yuan Court, sent men to disrupt the peace of Daning Prefecture and slaughter the common people. By order of His Highness the Crown Prince, the Daning Border Army set out to suppress the bandit threat, though in truth we were also attacking the Jianzhou Tatars—securing Daning's peace and drawing the Yuan Court's attention."

"After a battle along the border with the Jianzhou Tatars, Great Ming drove them back more than a hundred li from their territory."

"During the pursuit, the Tatars avoided battle, intending to delay our army."

"Therefore, our army split its forces. The main force struck at Yuan Court territory in Liaodong from the Northern Frontier, drawing the Yuan Court's attention and tying down the Yuan army, while several thousand elite cavalry were left in the Northern Frontier to delay the Tatars," Bu Wan truthfully reported on the current situation.

Upon hearing this, Feng Sheng frowned. "Wouldn't the several thousand men left in the Northern Frontier be in grave danger?"

He had commanded troops for many years.

Even from Bu Wan's few words, he could discern the state of the battle and the larger situation.

"For Great Ming, everything is worth it."

"Though the Jianzhou Tatars are merely a small tribe, every one of their people is a soldier. If we do not hold them back, they may well coordinate with the Yuan Court in attacking Great Ming. Using several thousand men to pin down the Jianzhou Tatars is worth it, so long as they can hold until Great Ming's main army arrives," Bu Wan immediately replied.

Feng Sheng nodded.

From the broader picture, that was indeed the case.

"By the way."

"Where is that Thousand-Household Officer Zhu Ying, the one who cut down a hundred men, slew a general, and brought down the banner?" Feng Sheng asked with a smile.

Though he had been mobilizing troops elsewhere, Feng Sheng was aware of the victory reports sent back to Yingtian.

Moreover, His Majesty had already issued an edict ordering the entire army to recite these achievements to bolster morale.

"Reporting to Duke of Song."

"The plan to split our forces, launch a surprise attack on the Yuan Court, and use cavalry to hold back the Tatars was proposed by Thousand-Household Officer Zhu Ying."

"Zhu Ying is fierce, brave, and fearless. He proposed the plan and took on this duty."

"He has now requested to command five thousand soldiers in disrupting the Tatars within their Northern Frontier territory and delaying their mobilization."

"Your subordinate has already promoted Zhu Ying to acting garrison commander according to the military merit system, placing five thousand troops under his command."

"Once he completes the mission, Zhu Ying can be formally appointed garrison commander," Bu Wan immediately said.

"Zhu Ying truly has courage, as well as the loyal and righteous heart to defend the nation. He is worth cultivating," Feng Sheng praised.

Just then!

"Report!"

"A military dispatch has arrived from Ansha County."

One of Bu Wan's personal guards hurried over, holding a military report in both hands.

Could it be that they have already withdrawn? Bu Wan thought to himself.

He immediately gestured.

The guard promptly presented the military report.

Bu Wan quickly opened it, and his expression abruptly changed.

"Prefect Bu, what happened?" Seeing Bu Wan's expression, Feng Sheng immediately asked.

Bu Wan said gravely, "Zhu Ying was somewhat too rash."

"Please have a look, Duke of Song."

As he spoke, Bu Wan handed the military report in his hand to Feng Sheng.

After Feng Sheng accepted the report, his expression changed at once as well.

"He was indeed too rash."

"The Tatars have an army numbering in the tens of thousands."

"Using one thousand cavalry as a feint while four thousand cavalry seize the chance to raid their camp—the Tatar tribe is on high alert. This is a suicidal move."

"If this old man were commanding the troops, I would harass them step by step, avoid a direct clash with the Tatars, and simply delay them," Feng Sheng said slowly, a trace of disappointment surfacing on his face.

Clearly, this military report had been submitted by Li Tao, who had already withdrawn to Daning.

This time, Li Tao had already led his men back to Daning. To avoid being held accountable later, he naturally had to wash his hands clean of the matter—and he had to report that Zhu Ying was headstrong and willful, insisting on attacking a Tatar tribe with such a small force.

"Zhu Ying truly was far too rash this time. It is dangerous," Bu Wan sighed as well.

This time, he could even picture the outcome of Zhu Ying and the four thousand cavalrymen under his command being surrounded, crushed, and wiped out by the Tatars.

"What a pity."

"Such a young and valiant general, yet in the end he possesses only courage and strength, without knowing how to command troops," Feng Sheng said with a faint sigh.

Before coming here, he had heard that the current Emperor had especially commended Zhu Ying, saying that his martial prowess was the greatest among Great Ming's soldiers and that every Great Ming soldier should learn from him.

But now...

"Is there any way to contact Zhu Ying?"

"If we can reach him, tell him to withdraw at once."

"As for the Tatars, there is no need to worry for now. Within ten days, Great Ming's two hundred thousand troops will gather at Daning," Feng Sheng said in a deep voice.

"This subordinate will immediately order the Thousand-Household Officer stationed in Ansha County to send people to find him," Bu Wan said at once.

Clearly, although Zhu Ying had committed the errors of rashness and underestimating the enemy this time, his merits had still been acknowledged by the current Emperor. They had just begun proclaiming throughout the army his feat of slaying a hundred enemies. If he truly died on the Northern Frontier, it would not be good for Great Ming.

"Mm." Feng Sheng nodded and said no more.

After taking his seat, Feng Sheng was preparing to arrange the subsequent troop deployments and offensive strategy.

Just then!

"Report!"

"A carrier pigeon message from Zhu Ying, the Northern Frontier Defense Commander."

"Please review it, my lord."

A soldier responsible for tending the carrier pigeons hurried into the hall and bowed respectfully.

"A carrier pigeon message from Zhu Ying?"

Bu Wan's expression held a trace of surprise.

"My lord."

"Back when Commander Zhu was left behind to guard the Northern Frontier, he specifically asked General Chen for several homing pigeons to relay messages," Bu Wan's personal guard at the side replied.

"Then it seems Zhu Ying is unharmed."

A smile appeared on Feng Sheng's face.

"Bring it up at once." Bu Wan immediately beckoned to the soldier in the hall.

The latter quickly stepped forward and removed Zhu Ying's military report.

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