Chapter 19: Opening Treasure Chests and Mobilizing for War!
Page (1/3)
In the present-day Great Ming, after thirty years of governance under the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, every fundamental institution of the Ming Empire had naturally been perfected.
The military ranks were especially clear and well-defined.
Beginning with Banner Captain, followed by Banner Commander, Hundred-Man Commander, Deputy Battalion Commander, Battalion Commander, Military Marquis, Garrison Commander, and Assistant Regional Military Commander.
Once one attained the rank of Assistant Regional Military Commander, one could be addressed as a general.
“Four Common Chests and one Tier-One Chest.”
“Open them all.”
Coming back to himself, Zhu Zheng immediately communicated with the panel and issued his command.
At once, it responded.
“Opening four Common Chests.”
“Obtained one Refined Steel Dagger.”
“Obtained five bottles of Premium Golden Wound Medicine.”
“Obtained one bottle of Bloodburst Pills.”
“Obtained the Yellow-Tier Low-Grade martial technique, Consecutive Slashes.”
“Opening one Tier-One Chest.”
“Obtained the complete design blueprints for a flintlock musket.”
In the blink of an eye, all five chests had been opened, and the panel immediately displayed the results.
“It seems that only the martial technique is truly useful. The others appear to be of limited value.”
“A flintlock musket.”
“A product from another age. But if it cannot be organized into an army and mass-produced, its usefulness will be limited. Even with the blueprints, actually establishing a production process will be far from simple.”
“Never mind. I’ll keep it. Sooner or later, it will come in handy.”
Zhu Zheng thought this to himself.
Coming back to his senses, Zhu Zheng turned his gaze once more toward the Bloodburst Pills, and their attributes appeared before him.
Bloodburst Pill: Increases the user’s strength and stamina twofold for half an hour.
“Excellent.”
“If I take one of these, my strength will exceed a thousand.”
“Who on the battlefield could withstand a single blow from me?”
Zhu Zheng thought excitedly.
“A martial technique.”
“I’ll claim it and begin cultivating it.”
“This is the sort of thing that can save one’s life on the battlefield.”
With that thought, Zhu Zheng extracted the martial technique and began learning it.
…
Beneath the veil of night.
Within Tongzhou City, in the main hall of the former government office.
“General Zhang.”
“The army surrendered at Tongzhou has now been reorganized. The surrendered troops who had belonged to the imperial side have also been broken up and incorporated into the military structure of our Beiping Army.”
“Our army now numbers thirty-three thousand men, including the five thousand Yanshan Guards stationed in Beiping City.”
Chen Heng bowed as he reported to Zhang Yu, who occupied the seat of honor.
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
“You have all worked hard, generals.”
Zhang Yu nodded and spoke in a deep voice.
“Everything is for the sake of the Ming, and for His Highness the Prince of Yan.”
All the generals in the hall spoke in unison.
Nearly ten military officers and generals were gathered inside the hall.
Everyone holding a rank above Garrison Commander had assembled here.
“Generals.”
“You have surely seen the situation we face.”
“Although our army has already seized two strategic cities in Beiping Prefecture…”
“The situation remains far from optimistic.”
Zhang Yu spoke with a grave expression. He then slowly rose and walked into the hall.
Several personal guards carried out an enormous map.
The assembled officers gathered around it.
The map depicted Beiping Prefecture.
Zhu Di had been enfeoffed in Beiping Prefecture for many years. When it came to familiarity with the region, no one could possibly surpass him.
“The treacherous ministers have long intended to eliminate the prince.”
“They have now stationed troops at Juyong Pass and Huailai City.”
“Moreover, they have deployed garrisons in several smaller cities along the front line, including Jizhou, Zunhua, and Miyun.”
“These cities form an impenetrable net, trapping our army firmly within it.”
“Our army now has only two paths before it. One is to head north, but that is the territory of foreign tribes. Going there would be no different from seeking death.”
“So we have only one choice: tear through the treacherous ministers’ defensive line and destroy this vast net in one decisive stroke.”
Zhang Yu raised his hand and pointed at the map, indicating each of the enemy’s defensive positions.
The situation was now perfectly clear.
The generals dispatched by the imperial court had no intention of confronting them head-on. They planned only to hold their fortified positions.
“General Zhang.”
“The treacherous ministers’ objective is obvious. They intend to trap our army and slowly bleed us to death, then mobilize even more troops to encircle and annihilate us.”
“The situation is truly unfavorable.”
Chen Heng spoke gravely.
“In the past, our Beiping Army numbered nearly one hundred thousand.”
“They were all elite soldiers of the northern frontier. But with the treacherous ministers running rampant, they broke up our Beiping Army and transferred its units elsewhere to guard against the prince.”
“Based on our present estimates, their forces should number between seventy and eighty thousand.”
“Now that the treacherous ministers know His Highness has launched a campaign to purge the court of corrupt officials, they will certainly be enraged. Within a month, they will surely mobilize even more troops here.”
“Therefore, we must destroy this vast net within a month. Otherwise, our army will be in grave danger.”
Zhang Yu spoke with a solemn expression.
“Please issue your orders, General.”
“We junior officers swear to fight the treacherous ministers to the death.”
“We swear to follow His Highness the Prince of Yan unto death.”
Every general present was a devoted follower of Zhu Di. Naturally, there was no need for further persuasion.
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
“According to our intelligence…”
“Song Zhong has stationed the majority of his forces at Huailai and Juyong Pass. These are the core of the vast net.”
“As for cities such as Jizhou, their combined garrisons number fewer than twenty thousand.”
“To tear open this net, we must first capture all of these cities.”
Zhang Yu stared at the map, his finger moving from one location to another.
The objectives were now clear.
“General Chen.”
When his hand came to rest on Jizhou, Zhang Yu called out.
“Present,” Chen Heng immediately replied.
“Jizhou has a garrison of no fewer than six thousand men. I am entrusting the city to you.”
“This junior officer will not fail you. I shall capture the city.”
“General Zhang Wu,” Zhang Yu continued.
“Present.” A young battle-tested general immediately stepped forward.
“Zunhua also has no fewer than six thousand troops stationed within it. I am entrusting the city to you.”
“This junior officer accepts the order.”
Zhang Wu accepted the command with delight.
Finally, Zhang Yu’s gaze fell upon Miyun City. His expression was solemn.
“Miyun has the largest garrison of them all, numbering more than ten thousand troops. I shall personally lead the army to attack it.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Heng immediately said, “General Zhang, although the First Assistant Commander Battalion of Beiping is the most elite force in our army, the enemy’s strength is comparable to ours, and they also possess the advantage of the city’s fortifications. Capturing it may prove difficult.”
“Would you like me to transfer additional troops from my command?”
Zhang Wu immediately added, “I can also transfer some troops from my command.”
At this, Zhang Yu smiled confidently.
“I have received His Highness the Prince of Yan’s trust, as well as General Qiu Fu’s solemn charge. That is why I have accepted the responsibility of leading this army.”
“The campaign to purge the court has only just begun. How could our army retreat?”
“The plan for this campaign shall be settled as follows.”
“Within five days…”
“We must capture these three cities. Once they have fallen, we shall attack Juyong Pass and then take Huailai.”
“Only by doing so…”
“Can our army find a chance to survive.”
“If we cannot tear this vast net apart, our army will be in grave danger.”
“Generals…”
“Our very survival hangs in the balance. I hope all of you will join forces and fight with everything you have.”
Zhang Yu gazed at the assembled generals and spoke solemnly.
“This junior officer understands.”
“We swear to fight the treacherous ministers to the death.”
All the generals spoke in unison.
…
Page (3/3)