Chapter 31: Feng Sheng Approaches Da Ning!

“This official welcomes the Duke of Song.”

“We welcome the various Generals.”

Bu Wan led a group of officials from Daning Prefecture to bow in salutation to the newcomers.

The veteran general leading the group smiled slightly and raised a hand. “Lord Bu, please, rise.”

“Thank you, Duke of Song,” Bu Wan replied immediately.

“What is the current situation in Daning Prefecture, Northern Yuan, and with the Tartars?” Duke of Song Feng Sheng asked immediately.

Bu Wan glanced around and promptly led the way. “It would be better for the Duke of Song to discuss this in detail within the hall; there are too many eyes and ears here.”

“Very well.”

Feng Sheng did not refuse and followed Bu Wan into the government office.

The thousand personal guards accompanying Feng Sheng were also highly disciplined, distributed outside the office, with a portion protecting Feng Sheng as he entered.

A Duke of the current dynasty held an extremely high status. Should any harm befall him, it would be an event significant enough to shake the entire Great Ming.

Inside the government hall!

Feng Sheng sat in the seat of honor, and the accompanying generals took their seats in an orderly fashion.

“Reporting to the Duke of Song.”

“Currently, the Yuan court has dispatched troops to attack Huizhou City on the border of our Daning Prefecture.”

“This official has already deployed twenty thousand border troops to defend. Although the Yuan offensive is strong, they ultimately cannot breach the city. They can hold out long enough for the Great Ming's main army to arrive with reinforcements, at which point we can turn defense into offense,” Bu Wan reported immediately.

“And what of the Northern Frontier?” Feng Sheng asked further.

The reason he had arrived ahead of the main army was to grasp the state of the war; there was no better way to respond than to strike and destroy Naha'chu.

“Replying to the Duke of Song.”

“Before the Yuan court mobilized, the Jianzhou Tartars, who are affiliated with the Yuan, sent people to disturb the peace of Daning Prefecture and harm the common people. Following the decree of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Daning border troops were deployed to suppress the bandits. In reality, this was also an attack on the Jianzhou Tartars to stabilize Daning, secure its peace, and divert the attention of the Yuan court.”

“After the battle on the border with the Jianzhou Tartars, their territory was pushed back a hundred miles by our Great Ming.”

“During the pursuit, the Tartars avoided combat, intending to stall our army.”

“Therefore, our army adopted a strategy of splitting forces. The main force struck the Liao Dong territories of the Yuan from the Northern Frontier to attract their attention and pin them down, while leaving several thousand elite cavalry in the Northern Frontier to stall the Tartars,” Bu Wan reported the current situation truthfully.

Hearing this, Feng Sheng frowned. “Are those several thousand men left in the Northern Frontier not in danger?”

Having commanded troops for many years, he could discern the tactical situation from Bu Wan's brief words alone.

“For the sake of the Great Ming, it is all worth it.”

“Although the Jianzhou Tartars are only a small tribe, their entire population is mobilized for war. If we do not stall them, they might coordinate with the Yuan to attack the Great Ming. Using several thousand men to hold back the Jianzhou Tartars is worth it, as long as they can hold out until our main army arrives,” Bu Wan replied immediately.

Feng Sheng nodded. From a strategic standpoint, that was indeed the case.

“By the way,” Feng Sheng asked with a smile, “where is that Thousand-man Commander Zhu Ying, who slew a hundred men and cut down generals and banners?”

Although he was away deploying troops, Feng Sheng had heard the reports of victory from Hetian. Furthermore, the current Emperor had already issued an edict to have these battle results recited throughout the entire army to boost morale.

“Replying to the Duke of Song.”

“The strategy of splitting forces to launch a surprise attack on the Yuan and using cavalry to stall the Tartars was proposed by Thousand-man Commander Zhu Ying.”

“Zhu Ying is fierce and fearless; he proposed the strategy and took up the mission.”

“He has now requested command of five thousand soldiers to harass the Tartar territories in the Northern Frontier to delay their mobilization.”

“This official has, according to the military merit system, temporarily promoted Zhu Ying to Acting Guard Commander, commanding five thousand troops. Once the mission is completed, Zhu Ying will be formally commissioned as a Guard Commander,” Bu Wan said immediately.

“Zhu Ying... he indeed possesses courage, and he has a heart of loyalty and righteousness to protect the nation. He is worth cultivating,” Feng Sheng praised.

Just then!

“Report!”

“A military report has arrived from Ansha County!”

One of Bu Wan's guards hurried forward, holding a military report.

*Could it be that they have retreated?* Bu Wan thought to himself.

He gestured, and the guard immediately presented the report.

As Bu Wan quickly opened it, his expression changed drastically.

“Prefect Bu, what has happened?” Seeing Bu Wan's expression, Feng Sheng asked immediately.

With a heavy expression, Bu Wan said, “Zhu Ying has been too impetuous. Please, Duke of Song, have a look.”

As he spoke, Bu Wan handed the report to Feng Sheng.

After taking the report, Feng Sheng's expression also changed instantly.

“He is indeed too impetuous. The Tartars have tens of thousands of troops. Using one thousand cavalry for a feint and four thousand to attempt a surprise camp raid... the Tartar tribes are heavily guarded. This is a suicide mission.”

“If it were I commanding the troops, I would conduct gradual harassment and avoid direct confrontation with the Tartars, merely stalling them,” Feng Sheng spoke slowly, a hint of disappointment appearing on his face.

Clearly, this report was sent by Li Tao, who had already retreated to Daning. Having already led his subordinates back to Daning, he naturally wanted to wash his hands of the matter to avoid future accountability, and he would certainly report Zhu Ying's obstinacy in insisting on attacking the Tartar tribes with such inferior numbers.

“This time, Zhu Ying was indeed too aggressive. It is dangerous,” Bu Wan sighed.

He could already envision the scene of Zhu Ying and his four thousand cavalry being surrounded and annihilated by the Tartars.

“A pity. Such a young and valiant warrior... in the end, he has only bravery, but lacks command experience,” Feng Sheng said with a touch of lamentation.

Before coming here, he had heard that the current Emperor had specifically praised Zhu Ying, calling his bravery the finest among the Great Ming soldiers and a model for all to follow. But now...

“Is there any way to contact Zhu Ying? If we can, tell him to retreat immediately. As for the Tartars, there is no need to worry for now. Within ten days, two hundred thousand of our Great Ming troops will gather in Daning,” Feng Sheng said in a deep voice.

“This official will immediately order the Thousand-man Commander guarding Ansha County to send men to find him,” Bu Wan said at once.

Clearly, although Zhu Ying had committed the error of being too aggressive and underestimating the enemy, his merits had been recognized by the Emperor. The Emperor had just ordered the entire army to celebrate Zhu Ying's feat of slaying a hundred enemies. If he truly died in the Northern Frontier, it would not be a good thing for the Great Ming.

“Mm.” Feng Sheng nodded and said no more.

After sitting down, Feng Sheng prepared to arrange the subsequent troop deployment and offensive strategy.

Just then!

“Report!”

“A carrier pigeon message from Guard Commander Zhu Ying in the Northern Frontier! Please, My Lord, have a look!”

A soldier responsible for the pigeons hurried into the hall and bowed respectfully.

“A message from Zhu Ying?” Bu Wan looked surprised.

“My Lord,” one of Bu Wan's guards replied, “when Guard Commander Zhu was stationed in the Northern Frontier, he specifically requested several carrier pigeons from General Chen to transmit messages.”

“In that case, Zhu Ying is safe.” A smile appeared on Feng Sheng's face.

“Bring it up immediately!” Bu Wan waved to the soldier in the hall.

The soldier quickly stepped forward and retrieved Zhu Ying's military report.