Ying Tian, Zhu Yuanzhang's Shock!

Great Ming's capital, Ying Tian City!

As the seat of Great Ming's capital, combining trade, power, and population, it was without question one of the most prosperous cities in the world in this era.

Among the people, everyone knew that the Hongwu Emperor hated evil as though it were his mortal enemy, and loathed corrupt officials and petty bureaucrats to the bone.

Naturally, Ying Tian City beneath the feet of this emperor had developed exceptionally well.

Inside and outside the city, people came and went in an unending stream.

There were merchant caravans entering the city, as well as official messengers from the various prefectures of Great Ming.

It could be said that

Ying Tian City saw an endless stream of visitors every day.

The city entrances were always exceedingly lively.

At this moment!

A fast rider carrying a command flag on his back galloped swiftly toward Ying Tian City.

The moment the fast rider arrived, the Kyoto Army stationed at the city gate immediately opened a separate passage for him, offering no obstruction whatsoever.

This had been the case throughout every dynasty.

Urgent dispatches from the frontier and urgent local military reports were not to be obstructed by anyone.

Whether local government offices or bandits and villains, none dared stand in their way.

For any major matter reported by a dispatch rider was a matter of national importance, affecting the people of the entire realm. Whoever dared intercept and kill a courier bearing an urgent report would be guilty of a crime warranting the extermination of Nine Generations.

Ying Tian Imperial Palace, Fengtian Hall!

The scene remained solemn and majestic. Civil and military officials stood in separate ranks, all clad in red official robes.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao still stood proudly atop the steps, bearing an extraordinary presence that radiated authority.

Compared with the somewhat aged Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao was in the prime of youth and possessed an even more imposing air.

"Your Majesty."

"Following allocations by the Ministry of Revenue, drawn from the national treasury and the treasuries of the various prefectures,"

"the first batch of grain, fodder, and military supplies has already been transported to Daning Prefecture, enough to sustain two hundred thousand Great Ming soldiers for half a year." Zhao Mian stepped forward and reported loudly.

"Minister Zhao, you have worked hard."

"The subsequent allocation of grain and military supplies must not be delayed either."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction.

"This subject accepts the decree." Zhao Mian respectfully received the order and stepped back.

"Your Majesty."

"According to reports from the prefectures tasked with mobilizing troops, all the forces summoned this time have entered Daning Prefecture. The Duke of Song has personally arrived in Daning and taken command of the troops."

"By now, he is surely already planning how to destroy Naha Chu." Tang Duo respectfully reported.

"With the Duke of Song personally commanding the army, and Lan Yu and the others serving as his deputies,"

"Naha Chu is no great threat." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

Huai West was full of fierce generals, all commanders capable of leading troops.

Though arrogant and unruly, they were absolutely unmatched when it came to war.

"Father Emperor,"

"the troops, grain, and supplies from the various prefectures have already arrived."

"Matters on the battlefield change in the blink of an eye. Other than providing grain and military supplies, the court would do best not to interfere too much."

"This time, Father Emperor need only wait quietly for good news." Zhu Biao said with a smile.

"Eldest,"

"do you think we have the leisure for that?"

"With the Duke of Song there, we are not worried in the least."

"Naha Chu and the Northern Yuan—we do not hold them in our eyes."

"Great Ming today is no longer the Great Ming that had only just been founded, and the Northern Yuan is no longer the Great Yuan of old." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

"Father Emperor is wise." Zhu Biao immediately echoed with a smile.

At this moment!

"Report!"

"Military dispatch from Daning Prefecture."

"A memorial for His Majesty!"

The urgent-dispatch courier hurried into the great hall and bowed respectfully.

The eyes of the entire court immediately converged on him.

"Looks like the Duke of Song is reporting to Father Emperor on the matter of moving troops," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

"Please review it, Your Majesty."

The courier removed the military report from his back and respectfully presented it.

The eunuch attendant at Zhu Yuanzhang's side immediately descended into the hall and received the report with both hands.

He respectfully handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled as he took the report and opened it. At once, a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

"Zhu Ying."

"It's Zhu Ying again."

Zhu Yuanzhang could not help speaking aloud.

His voice was not loud.

Yet it resounded throughout Fengtian Hall.

At the mention of that name, many ministers were taken aback and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang in confusion.

Quite a few ministers who remembered Zhu Ying's name, however, wore thoughtful expressions.

"Zhu Ying."

"Isn't that the valiant soldier from the Daning Border Army who slew a hundred men by himself a month ago?"

"Could it be that he has earned more military merit?"

"Most likely."

"If he had not achieved tremendous merit, a mere valiant soldier would not enter Fengtian Hall time and again for His Majesty to take notice of him."

"It seems this merit is no small thing. The Duke of Song has now taken command of the Northern Border's military authority, and every urgent report must be approved by the Duke of Song before it can be presented. This achievement must surely be extraordinary."

"For Zhu Ying to appear in Fengtian Hall again as a mere soldier is indeed rare..."

Curiosity welled up in the hearts of many in the hall who remembered Zhu Ying's name.

Of course, the overwhelming majority did not take it to heart at all.

After all, the officials within Fengtian Hall were all members of the Grand Ming Empire's aristocratic and powerful class. He was merely a valiant soldier who killed enemies—before their authority, he was beneath notice. Even if he became a commander on the Northern Frontier or rose to an even higher office, he would still be beneath notice before them, the capital officials.

"Eldest."

"Our Grand Ming is truly about to produce a promising young general."

Holding the military report, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke to Zhu Biao with delight written all over his face.

"To make Father Emperor so pleased."

"It seems this Zhu Ying has once again rendered our Grand Ming considerable military merit," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

"Yun Qi."

"Read it aloud for Us."

"Let the entire court hear that our Grand Ming has produced another valiant general."

With a hearty laugh, Zhu Yuanzhang directly handed the military report to the eunuch at his side.

"Yes."

The eunuch Yun Qi respectfully accepted the report.

He then walked to the front of the steps, faced the civil and military officials of the entire court, and read aloud, "Your subject Feng Sheng submits this memorial to His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Today,"

"your subject has arrived at Huizhou City in Daning Prefecture. The troops conscripted from every prefecture have now all gathered beneath Huizhou City, totaling two hundred and thirty thousand men."

"When arriving at Huizhou City,"

"Naha Chu of the Yuan Court had already dispatched tens of thousands of Yuan troops to attack the city. Fortunately, the Daning Border Army defended it unto death, shattering the Yuan army's hope of breaching the city. Now that our main force has arrived,"

"the Yuan army has already withdrawn from Huizhou City and shifted from offense to defense."

"Your subject is prepared to choose a day to launch a counterattack and annihilate Naha Chu."

"That Daning Prefecture was able to withstand the Yuan army's fierce assault for many days without falling is entirely the merit of the Daning Border Army."

"Among them is a capable general named Zhu Ying."

"While our main force was still half a month away, the Yuan Court had already dispatched troops. Daning's borderlands stood in peril, and the Jianzhou Tatars had further aided the Yuan Court. With Daning Prefecture's fifty thousand border troops, it was utterly impossible to defend."

"Therefore."

"When twenty thousand border troops from our Daning Prefecture charged into the Northern Frontier, Zhu Ying proposed dividing the forces to delay the enemy. One force would scatter the army of ten thousand to strike the lands in Liaodong controlled by the Yuan Court, while he himself led four thousand cavalry in an assault on the Jianzhou Tatar tribes, pinning them down so they could not rush to the Yuan Court's aid."

"To this day."

"Zhu Ying has led his army through foreign lands for nearly a month. In the first battle, they shattered the Tatars' Blue Banner Tribe and beheaded ten thousand."

"In the battles that followed, the Tatars' ten thousand cavalry were all wiped out by Zhu Ying and his army..."

PS: Thanks for the support, brothers. Much obliged, much obliged.