Chapter 8: The Jingnan Campaign in Fengtian Officially Commences!

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Now, the golden finger of attribute acquisition has been activated!
Battlefield, war!
This is the key to Zhu Zheng’s rapid strengthening.
Since he has already been drawn into it, Zhu Zheng no longer fears.
Are nobles and generals born with privilege?
Now Zhu Zheng is very confident in this goal.
As long as he steadily advances, acquiring attributes to empower himself and gaining longevity to live longer, the future is promising.
Military uniforms and weapons continue to be distributed.
Soon enough, Zhu Zheng receives a set of military uniform and a battle knife.
“This knife is far inferior to the fine steel blade I obtained from the treasure chest.”
“The level of weapons in this era is just like this.”
Zhu Zheng draws the battle knife for a look, then immediately stores it in his storage space, hanging his fine steel blade at his waist instead.
After all, sharp weapons are extremely important on the battlefield.
With his own blade, Zhu Zheng naturally feels much more at ease.
“All logistics soldiers, heed orders.”
“Take off your official uniforms and put on the military uniforms.”
Zhang Fu shouts loudly.
Under his command, although many officials feel reluctant inside, surrounded by soldiers, no one dares to disobey.
So five hundred officials take off their official uniforms and begin changing into logistics soldiers’ attire.
The Ming military uniform is entirely red.
However, as the Beiping army is a border force, theirs is black and red.
Military uniforms from other regional armies differ slightly as well.
Once they put on the military uniforms, the original officials are no longer recognizable.
In their place are the reorganized logistics troops.
“From today onward,”
“You are the First Thousand-Strong Logistics Battalion attached to my Beiping army, directly under my command.”
“Also,”
“I will appoint you a deputy battalion commander to take direct charge,” Zhang Fu announces loudly.
Then, Zhang Fu looks to the side at a young officer under twenty and calls out, “Zhu Xu.”
“At your command,” the young officer immediately stands up and replies loudly.
“From today,”
“I entrust these five hundred logistics troops to your leadership,” Zhang Fu says.
“At your command,” the young officer responds immediately.
Others might not recognize him, but upon hearing the name and seeing his appearance, Zhu Zheng already understands.
“Zhu Gaoxu, the second son of Zhu Di.”

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“Historically, Zhu Gaoxu was also a fierce general.”
“There are records that Zhu Di favored his second son and disliked the eldest son, Zhu Gaochi.”
“The crown prince was often ill; you should encourage him.”
“That remark drove Zhu Gaoxu wild,” Zhu Zheng thought silently.
At that moment!
Among the officials, a logistics soldier over fifty years old steps forward, looking distressed.
“This old soldier dares to ask the battalion commander a question.”
“I don’t know if the commander will answer?”
The official steps forward, staring at Zhang Fu and asking loudly.
Seeing him, everyone’s gaze gathers.
“Sergeant Cao,” Zhu Zheng observes, “this is my immediate superior, the hundred-man officer of the household department, Cao San.”
“What do you wish to ask?” Zhang Fu asks sternly.
“There was constant killing and fighting outside the Prince of Yan’s mansion last night.”
“There are rumors that the Prince of Yan is rebelling. Is this true or false?”
“If the Prince of Yan truly rebels, this old soldier would rather die than follow him.”
“Rebellion and treason bring death to the nine clans.”
“One dead old soldier is better than nine clans wiped out,” Cao San asks loudly.
This question causes many reorganized officials to fix their gaze on Zhang Fu, awaiting an answer.
After all, this concerns the nine clans.
If it was truly rebellion and treason, there would be few followers.
“Since you asked,”
“I, the battalion commander, will tell you.”
Facing the question, Zhang Fu remains calm, seemingly well prepared.
Then Zhang Fu gestures.
Two soldiers bring forth a prepared cloth banner, smeared with blood and bearing bold characters.
“Purge the treacherous court, pacify the nation’s calamity!”
On the banner, these words are displayed.
“Gentlemen,”
“Those of you with good sources may have already known what our great Ming is enduring.”
“Since His Majesty Emperor Jianwen ascended the throne, many sons of the Hongwu Emperor and many Ming princes have suffered unjust disasters.”
“King Zhou, King Min, King Qi, King Dai,”
“have all been stripped of their royal titles, reduced to commoners, and imprisoned.”
“Even King Xiang, unable to bear the humiliation, burned down his entire family—what a sorrowful tragedy.”
“All of them are the current emperor’s own uncles and the Hongwu Emperor’s own sons.”
“But although these acts are carried out under the name of His Majesty Emperor Jianwen, in truth, treacherous ministers have taken power at court, deceiving and manipulating the emperor, causing the emperor to turn against his own flesh and blood and bringing infamy of unfilial and destabilizing the country.”
“Last night’s battle,”
“was the treacherous ministers’ attempt to ambush the Prince of Yan, who counterattacked. Before dying, they shouted that the Prince of Yan was rebelling, aiming to frame him as disloyal.”
“Today,”
“I, Zhang Fu, speak on behalf of the Prince of Yan to inform you all and the people of Beiping city, Beiping prefecture, and all the great Ming.”

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“This campaign by the Prince of Yan is not rebellion, but a response to the ancestral injunction set by the Hongwu Emperor, to purge the treacherous court and pacify the nation’s calamity, eradicating traitors for the nation.”
“Fengtian Jingnan!”
Zhang Fu shouts loudly.
As his words fall, the reorganized logistics troops all breathe a sigh of relief.
The ancestral injunction of the Ming dynasty is known throughout the land.
When the injunction was set, it was already proclaimed to the world.
By this injunction,
If the state has traitors, if the court has treacherous ministers,
Regional princes may purge the treacherous court, protect the emperor’s authority, and safeguard the great Ming.
Many commoners are aware of this.
Moreover, the court’s treatment of many princes has already spread throughout the land, truly violating the bonds of kinship and blood.
It appears the treacherous ministers indeed dominate.
“Indeed.”
“Rebellion needs justification.”
“With the name ‘Fengtian Jingnan,’ this is no longer rebellion but purging the treacherous court.”
“Every soldier under Zhu Di’s command will see themselves as the righteous army, not rebels,” Zhu Zheng thought silently.
At this moment, observing the changing expressions of the surrounding officials,
He personally experienced what it means to have a just cause.
No wonder every dynasty in Chinese history has emphasized having a just cause for war.
“Soldiers of the logistics troops,”
“The state has traitors, the court has treacherous ministers.”
“Disrupting the world and committing evil.”
“Are you willing to follow the Prince of Yan, purge the treacherous court, and pacify the nation’s calamity?”
Seeing the moment ripe, Zhang Fu drew his sword from his waist, raised it high, and shouted loudly.
“Swear to follow the Prince of Yan to the death!”
At this moment,
All the logistics troops shouted in unison.
Their aura had already changed.
“Good.”
“Now obey my orders.”
“Logistics troops, advance out of the city.”
“Beiping prefecture is currently controlled by treacherous ministers. The Prince of Yan has ordered the seizure of the surrounding passes and cities.”
“The logistics troops will accompany the army, clear the battlefield, and protect the main forces.”
Zhang Fu immediately issued the order.
…