Chapter 43: Zhu Di’s Excitement—Zhu Zheng Again!

Looking at the soldier standing before him, Zhu Di immediately asked with deep concern, "How goes Juyong Pass?"

At this moment, Zhu Di had no other thoughts whatsoever. He knew that the outcome of the battle was the absolute crux.

It was a matter of life and death!
Nothing less.

"Reporting to Your Highness," the personal guard replied, "Juyong Pass has been successfully breached by our forces. Song Zhong is dead. This is the detailed battle report. Please read it, Your Highness."

With a trembling hand of excitement, the guard held up the battle report and offered it respectfully.

Upon hearing this, a rush of indescribable excitement surged across Zhu Di’s face, and his entire expression instantly lit up with relief and joy.

"Splendid! Excellent!"
Zhu Di laughed aloud, overwhelmed with joy.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ma He hurried over to the guard in the hall, swiftly received the battle report, and respectfully presented it to Zhu Di.

Taking the report, Zhu Di hurriedly unfolded it and began to read with rapt attention.

As his eyes scanned the contents, his gaze slightly narrowed, revealing a look of profound astonishment.

After a short while, having read the report from start to finish, Zhu Di wore an expression of utter shock and deep admiration.

"Zhu Zheng," Zhu Di murmured, "truly is a blessed general sent to aid me."

"Song Zhong personally guarded Juyong Pass, using the strategic terrain to block our vanguard, bolstered by firearms such as cannons, making the fortress exceedingly difficult to conquer."

"Yet, Zhu Zheng personally led the charge, forcefully breaking open the fortress gates and bravely slaying numerous enemy generals."

"Out of the seven enemy commanders above the rank of Vice Regional Commander, he single-handedly killed four of them, including Song Zhong himself."

"Such ferocious valor is simply beyond imagination."

Holding the report, Zhu Di felt an indescribable wave of joy welling up in his heart.

From the dispatch submitted by Qiu Fu, one could easily discern the cruel and harrowing nature of the battle for Juyong Pass. While the report could not fully capture the entirety of the carnage, Zhu Zheng’s military achievements were laid out in stark, brilliant detail.

He had boldly smashed open the fortress gates!
He was the first to charge into the stronghold.
With unmatched bravery, he had slain numerous enemy commanders and countless ordinary soldiers.
In the end, he had even executed Song Zhong, single-handedly sealing the victory of the entire campaign.

Naturally, this was a battle result beyond all expectations.

Recovering his composure, Zhu Di set down the battle report, immediately drew out a blank imperial decree, picked up his brush, and began to write.

His strokes were vigorous and full of spirit.

Having finished writing, Zhu Di immediately took out his princedom seal and stamped it upon the decree.

A brand-new decree had thus been forged.

"Speedily deliver this decree to General Qiu," Zhu Di commanded the guard in the hall, holding up the document. "Reward them strictly in accordance with the decree."

"Furthermore, instruct General Qiu to capitalize on the momentum of this great victory, recapture all remaining cities within Beiping Prefecture as swiftly as possible, and reorganize the surrendered soldiers to the greatest extent so they may return to my command."

Ma He immediately stepped forward, took the decree, and respectfully passed it to the guard.

"This subordinate obeys the command," the guard said, respectfully bowing to Zhu Di before swiftly retreating from the hall.

Clearly, this decree contained the rewards meant for Zhu Zheng.

As for Zhu Zheng, Zhu Di could now boldly and unreservedly employ him.

Zhu Zheng was a clever man. Early on, he could have taken his family far away from the vortex of this rebellion, yet he had resolutely chosen to stay. Furthermore, he was the son-in-law of one of Zhu Di’s most trusted ministers, making him family in the truest sense.

They were bound to the exact same vessel.
If Zhu Di failed, everyone on this ship would die.

And Zhu Zheng!
He possessed ferocious, peerless valor.

This was amply demonstrated through multiple battles. Having such a formidable warrior under his command filled Zhu Di with nothing but joy, and he would certainly reward him according to his merits.

He would never treat him shabbily.

"Ma He," Zhu Di said, watching the guard turn and leave, unable to suppress his laughter as the previous gloom was swept away, replaced entirely by excitement and ease. "My greatest crisis at hand has been resolved."

Juyong Pass!
The most crucial strategic fortress guarding his territory.

Now that it was controlled by his troops, they had reclaimed a vital barrier for Beiping City, making the city far more secure.

Furthermore, Song Zhong was dead, and the army under his command had been thoroughly crushed by the Yan forces. Next, these routed soldiers would be reorganized and absorbed into Zhu Di's own military strength.

As long as they recovered the cities in the days to come, they would secure a mutually reinforcing defense line. Facing the impending crusade of the imperial court's main army, he would finally have the power to defend rather than remain in the passive position he had suffered before.

"This humble servant congratulates Your Highness," Ma He dropped to his knees at once, offering his felicitations.

"Ha-ha!" Zhu Di laughed heartily, feeling exceptionally gratified.

Just at that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the hall.

"It seems a great victory has been won at Juyong Pass, seeing how happy my lord is."

Draped in formal princely consort attire, the poised and graceful Xu Miaoyun walked in at a leisurely pace. Hearing Zhu Di’s booming laughter, she spoke with a gentle smile on her face.

"Miaoyun," Zhu Di turned to her, beaming. "We have won."

"Juyong Pass has been breached by our forces, and that old fool Song Zhong has been killed."

"Right now, the morale of the court's loyalist troops stationed in Beiping Prefecture has utterly collapsed. Recovering our lost territories is a matter of these next few days."

"Once we take back the entirety of Beiping Prefecture and fortify our cities, when the imperial court's main army comes to attack another day, I will finally have the power to mount a defense instead of being as passive as before."

Zhu Di stood up, speaking to Xu Miaoyun with radiant enthusiasm.

Within the entire prince's residence, Xu Miaoyun was the only one before whom Zhu Di could completely let down his guard.

"This concubine congratulates Your Highness," Xu Miaoyun stepped forward, smiling as she offered her congratulations.

"Miaoyun," Zhu Di chuckled, directly taking her hand.

Ma He, who had been serving nearby, quietly withdrew from the main hall.

"Do you know who the greatest contributor to this victory is?" Zhu Di asked gently, an eager warmth lingering on his face.

"Could it not be Qiu Fu?" Xu Miaoyun asked playfully with a smile.

"Qiu Fu certainly deserves credit for commanding the troops, but the true foundation behind breaching the city and slaying Song Zhong does not rest with him."

"This time, Song Zhong hoarded sixty to seventy thousand soldiers to guard Juyong Pass. It was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and our forces were numerically inferior to begin with. It is fair to say breaking through and capturing the pass was nearly impossible."

"However—"

Zhu Di paused for a fraction of a second, a look of awed brilliance surfacing on his face. "Do you remember that man named Zhu Zheng?"

"Guo Zi's son-in-law? This concubine remembers him," Xu Miaoyun nodded, then asked with a hint of surprise, "Could it be that he is the hero of this battle?"

"Indeed, it is none other than him," Zhu Di nodded affirmatively, declaring on the spot, "This young man possesses peerless valor and is truly formidable."

"Facing the enemy's artillery bombardment, this lad actually forced open the fortress gates, led his troops straight into the city, and fought his way through, slaying countless enemies. Out of the seven commanders above the rank of Vice Regional Commander guarding Juyong Pass, he slaughtered four of them single-handedly."

"This young man is truly extraordinary."

"I have been enfeoffed for many years and have fought countless battles in the north, but this is the first time I have ever laid eyes on such a ferocious warrior."

"Do you know how Qiu Fu wrote his report?"

"In this battle, not only did Zhu Zheng behead several enemy generals, but the number of enemy soldiers he personally killed exceeded two to three hundred."