His Highness the Crown Prince's Decree!

In this era!

Although firearms had already appeared, cavalry was still the mainstream of the age, and horsemanship was of paramount importance.

In just an instant.

Zhu Ying went from barely knowing how to ride a horse to being proficient in horsemanship. Of course, only actual riding would bring his horsemanship to perfection.

"With so many people around, it really isn't convenient to take out the Fine Steel Saber. I'll find a chance to test how sharp it is." Zhu Ying thought to himself.

Coming back to his senses.

He then began cultivating according to the Iron Body Technique.

With the Attribute Panel activated, Zhu Ying had unknowingly undergone a transformation. His constitution had become a numerical attribute, and the gains from cultivation could be fully reflected through his attributes.

However, he likely would not be going out for some time.

After all, the mountain bandits around Ansha County had already been wiped out.

Initial official appointment.

Do you wish to condense the Authority Seal?

"An official seal?" Zhu Ying froze for a moment before saying, "Condense it."

Official seal successfully condensed.

Official seal equipped.

Small Banner Official Seal: Commands the soldiers under one's command. The combat strength, morale, and endurance of subordinate soldiers increase by ten percent.

"This official seal is freaking amazing."

Delight filled Zhu Ying's face.

Daning Prefecture City!

Main hall of the Prefectural Yamen!

Many officials of Daning Prefecture had gathered within the main hall.

There were not only civil officials, but also many military generals commanding troops throughout Daning Prefecture.

"Mountain bandits and roving outlaws have been causing trouble along the borders of Daning Prefecture, repeatedly committing crimes and harming the people! His Highness the Crown Prince has already issued a decree. The bandit unrest is by no means accidental. Barbarians must be secretly supporting them in an attempt to throw Daning into chaos. Therefore, Daning must resolve the scourge of mountain bandits and roving outlaws as soon as possible—not only those within Daning Prefecture, but also the forces supporting them from behind." Bu Wan, the Prefect of Daning, said gravely.

At those words!

A military official immediately spoke up. "Lord Bu, this subordinate has just received a military report from Ansha County. The mountain bandits within several dozen li of the county seat have already been eliminated. There were several hundred of them, along with dozens of chests of gold, silver, and valuables. Moreover, according to the report, these bandits were indeed unusual. They were no ordinary mountain bandits or roving outlaws, but seemed to have received training. Their accents also sounded like those of the barbarians from the Jianzhou Tatars."

"The Jianzhou Tatars?" Bu Wan's expression changed slightly.

"Although Northern Yuan has already been driven out of the Central Plains by our Great Ming, its prestige and influence remain."

"The Tatars are naturally its vassals. It is no surprise that they are helping Northern Yuan disrupt the borders of our Great Ming."

"Furthermore, using mountain bandits and roving outlaws to plunder the wealth of Great Ming's people also benefits the growth of their tribal strength." Another military official spoke.

"General Chen, General Liu."

"In your view, how should we completely eliminate the bandit problem in our Daning and cut off the barbarians' intentions of sowing chaos here?"

"The Crown Prince has issued a decree this time. We must thoroughly eradicate the bandit scourge in Daning and secure peace along Daning's borders."

"This matter must be handled swiftly and cannot be delayed." Bu Wan looked at the two military officials and asked.

As the Prefect of Daning, he was in charge of the prefecture's civil affairs. Yet because it was a border prefecture, Bu Wan had also temporarily been granted authority by the court to oversee military matters. Still, he could not fully control the military power. The key purpose of this discussion was to comply with the Crown Prince's decree.

Hearing this!

Chen Heng and Liu Zhen exchanged looks before saying, "My lord Prefect, Daning has one guard, a total force of fifty thousand men. Judging from the current situation, the Jianzhou Tatars have colluded with Northern Yuan to disrupt our Great Ming! If we wish to resolve the bandit problem in Daning Prefecture, then the Jianzhou Tatars must pay the price. Only by driving them away from the areas bordering Daning Prefecture and strictly defending the border can we prevent these Tatar barbarians from infiltrating again."

"You mean to deploy troops against the Jianzhou Tatars?" Bu Wan asked, deep in thought.

"My lord Prefect."

"This is the only way to eliminate Daning's hidden danger."

"The Jianzhou Tatars are not weak. Their population exceeds one million. Though they border Great Ming, their tribes are scattered, and not all their strength is concentrated along our border."

"As long as we hurt them badly in one battle, the bandit problem in Daning Prefecture can certainly be resolved." Chen Heng said at once.

"How many troops will be needed?" After considering for a moment, Bu Wan asked again.

"To deal with the Jianzhou Tatars."

"Twenty thousand men will be enough."

Chen Heng answered immediately.

"Twenty thousand will be enough?"

"General Chen, are you certain?"

"The Tatars have three tribes, and the Jianzhou Tatars are not weak." Bu Wan said sternly.

"In reply to my lord Prefect."

"This subordinate has conducted many investigations into the three Tatar tribes. They are divided into three branches and are not truly united. The Jianzhou Tatars are close to Great Ming, but not all their strength is directed at Great Ming. This troop deployment is only meant as a warning, to hurt the Jianzhou Tatars badly, not to destroy their tribe. Twenty thousand troops will definitely be enough."

"Moreover, the fact that they secretly sent people into Daning Prefecture to incite bandit unrest proves that they do not dare go too far against Great Ming."

"A round of killing after deploying the troops will be enough to intimidate them." Chen Heng said immediately.

Upon hearing this.

Bu Wan nodded as well. "In that case, we shall proceed as General Chen suggests."

"Chen Heng, Liu Zhen, receive your orders."

Bu Wan immediately declared.

Chen Heng and Liu Zhen, both Commanders of the Prefecture, stepped forward. This rank belonged to military officers within the Ming guard system; they could also be called commanders of ten thousand men, leading vast armies.

"This general is present."

The two immediately bowed.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has decreed that the bandit scourge in Daning Prefecture must be resolved with utmost speed, restoring peace to the people of Daning."

"Now."

"I shall act in place of the Commander and order the two generals to lead the soldiers of each guard in an expedition against the Jianzhou Tatars. Cut off the root of the bandit problem and drive the Jianzhou Tatars one hundred li beyond the borders of our Great Ming." Bu Wan declared.

He also wrote a written order.

Then stamped it with the Commander's official seal.

"This general accepts the order." The two generals answered at once.

Ansha Town, Thousand-Household Guard!

Six days had passed since their return to the city after suppressing the bandits.

Inside the barracks.

Zhu Ying opened his eyes. Looking at the sky outside the barracks, which had only just begun to brighten, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"A whole night of cultivation."

"Comfortable."

Feeling his newly gained attributes, Zhu Ying grinned.

Over the six days.

Zhu Ying had not wasted a single moment. After the bandit suppression, he had cultivated with all his strength every day.

Six days.

His strength had increased by sixty points, his constitution by sixty points, and his endurance by sixty points.

Zhu Ying clenched his fists and could feel the increase in his strength.

His power had truly grown stronger.

Just then!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A burst of drumbeats suddenly rang out.

"Emergency assembly."

"Could it be time to suppress bandits again?"

Zhu Ying's expression changed, then anticipation surged within him.

"Brothers, get up quickly."

Zhu Ying immediately shouted.

The ten soldiers in the barracks did not dare delay. They got up from their beds, dressed themselves, swiftly put on their armor, and picked up their sabers and bows.

"Small Banner."

"Are we going out to suppress bandits again?"

One soldier asked nervously.

The others all turned their eyes toward Zhu Ying.

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