Chapter 8: The Jianzhou Tartars Subjugate Themselves to the Yuan Court!

“One hundred arrows, two bows.”

“And my refined steel saber.”

“Once we’re on the battlefield, we must kill as many enemies as possible. It’s not just about picking up attributes; it’s about earning merit and rising through the ranks.”

Regarding the future.

Zhu Ying already had a solid plan.

Kill enemies to earn merit, gain power, and build his own faction.

This era was filled with infinite opportunities, and they were not limited to the Ming Dynasty.

Beyond the Ming, there existed countless lands. As a transmigrator, Zhu Ying possessed foresight and was well aware of the turmoil the Ming would face in the future.

After the Ming Taizu, Zhu Yuanzhang, passed away, Zhu Yunwen would ascend the throne, followed by the Fourth Prince of the Zhu family launching the Jingnan Campaign to usurp the throne.

The entire Ming Dynasty would be thrown into chaos.

For now, Zhu Ying lacked the power to do anything. He could only go with the flow, survive, and grow stronger.

But once his full attributes underwent a transformation in the future and he became invincible in the mortal world, would Zhu Ying still be content to remain a subject?

Even if it wasn't in the Ming, Zhu Ying would have the capability to carve out his own territory beyond its borders.

In short.

For now, he would adapt to his circumstances. Strengthening himself—that was the true path.

Future matters would be handled in the future.

At this moment!

“Zhu Ying.”

Liu Lei walked over with a smile on his face.

“Baihu.”

Zhu Ying responded immediately.

“Everything ready?” Liu Lei asked with a smile.

“All ready. All the bows and arrows are prepared.”

“Just waiting for tomorrow’s battle.” Zhu Ying replied with a smile. He paused, then asked, “It seems the Baihu has received news of the troop deployment?”

“Tomorrow, our First Qianhu Battalion will serve as the vanguard. Within the Qianhu Battalion, our First Thousand-Man Unit is the primary formation, leading the charge tomorrow.”

“In any case, be cautious tomorrow. Although it’s just a small Tatar tribe and no match for our Ming, they are Tatars after all—extremely fierce and skilled in battle,” Liu Lei said with a serious expression.

“Understood.” Zhu Ying nodded.

“Zhu Ying, how old are you?”

“Why do you look like you haven’t even turned sixteen yet?”

“And your place of origin isn’t Danning, but Beiping Prefecture. Why did you come to Danning to enlist?”

Liu Lei asked with a hint of surprise.

Clearly.

He had gone to check Zhu Ying’s military registration records.

“The Baihu might not believe me if I told you.”

“I was set up by someone.”

Zhu Ying shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Set up?”

Liu Lei’s expression changed, and he looked at Zhu Ying deeply.

“I am only a small Baihu and can’t do much, but as long as you are in my battalion, I will do my best to protect you.” Liu Lei patted Zhu Ying on the shoulder, speaking with great solemnity.

“Many thanks, Baihu.” Zhu Ying naturally thanked him with a smile.

Deep down, Liu Lei was pondering: “To have the power to get you registered in the Danning Prefecture military rolls, the connections behind this must be significant. Zhu Ying is young; how could he have offended such people?”

……

The next day!

The Ming border.

A massive army crossed the frontier.

Currently.

Northern Yuan had not yet been destroyed.

The northern border had not been marked with boundary stones because, to the Ming, these Northern Yuan territories might one day belong to the Ming, so no markers were set where the Ming and Northern Yuan met.

The Ming army formation!

Scout cavalry moved ahead to probe for enemy traces and avoid ambushes.

Infantry followed behind as the main force.

The peripheral tribe of the Jianzhou Tatars.

The nearly ten-thousand-strong army stationed at this peripheral tribe had already gathered.

“Reporting to the Wanfuzhang (Commander of Ten Thousand).”

“The Ming army has crossed their border and entered our territory.”

A Tatar soldier reported to their commander.

“The Ming have finally come.”

The commander, Jin Guda, sighed, then asked, “How is the migration of the tribespeople going?”

“Reporting to the Wanfuzhang.”

“When we received news of the Ming troop movement yesterday, the tribespeople already began migrating toward the northern tribes,” a Tatar Qianfuzhang (Commander of a Thousand) replied.

“It’s been a day, and with tens of thousands of people, I fear they haven’t even traveled fifty miles yet.” Jin Guda’s expression was grave.

“Wanfuzhang.”

“Why are you so wary of the Ming?”

“At the end of the day, they are just Han people. Back when the Great Yuan ruled, they were the lowest-class subjects, and our status was higher than theirs. In these northern lands, the Great Yuan and our tribes are supreme. If they truly dare to engage our warriors, we will ensure they never return.”

Seeing Jin Guda’s worried face, the subordinate spoke up.

“It seems you still don’t understand the Ming, nor do you understand the Ming Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang.”

“He is not someone easy to deal with.”

“Otherwise, how could the Great Yuan have been driven out of the Central Plains?” Jin Guda sighed.

Initially.

When the Yuan court sent people to order the Tatars to harass the Ming, most followed blindly. But Jin Guda had proposed to their tribal chief that they remain neutral and not make an enemy of the Ming. After all, in his view, the Yuan court was already at the end of its rope, and its collapse might be a matter of days.

But the Ming’s national strength was rising steadily.

Yet, with the support of the majority, the Tatar tribe ultimately followed the Yuan court’s decree.

After all, they were subjects of the Yuan.

Regarding this, Jin Guda was helpless, unable to change the outcome.

Whether facing the Yuan or the Ming, his tribe was just a small one.

One wrong move could lead to the annihilation of his people.

“Wanfuzhang.”

“Now that the Ming army is attacking, do we fight or retreat?” a Qianfuzhang asked respectfully.

“In this battle, the Ming have come because they discovered our actions against them. To allow our people to retreat, we must fight.”

“Although the Ming are strong, the Great Yuan still exists. The Ming cannot mobilize too many troops to deal with us.”

“Our tribe is attached to the Great Yuan.”

“If we can defeat the Ming army in this battle, it will be of great benefit to us in the future.”

“Pass the order.”

“Prepare for battle.”

Jin Guda shouted.

Even though he was wary, the Ming were already upon them, and he had no choice but to fight.

“Yes!”

The Qianfuzhangs replied in unison.

Just then!

“Report!”

“Reporting to the Wanfuzhang.”

“The Ming army is less than ten miles away, with scout cavalry leading the way,” a Tatar cavalryman reported.

“Have you determined the size of the Ming force?” Jin Guda asked sternly.

“Reporting to the Wanfuzhang.”

“No less than ten thousand,” the Tatar cavalryman replied immediately.

“News of the Ming attack has been sent back to the main tribe; the Chief will surely send reinforcements.”

“In this battle, we only need to repel the Ming and stall them.”

“Pass my order.”

“Eight thousand cavalry will set an ambush on both flanks, five miles from the tribe.”

“Strike the Ming hard, with the infantry pressing from behind to catch them off guard,” Jin Guda ordered immediately.

When they first moved against the Ming, his peripheral tribe had over ten thousand troops, and since all his Tatar warriors were soldiers, their total strength was nearing fifteen thousand.

And reinforcements would follow.

“Ming.”

“You were able to drive the Great Yuan out of the Central Plains, which shows your capability. Today, let me, Jin Guda, see exactly how strong you are.”

“If I can defeat your Ming army, I, Jin Guda, will surely make a name for myself among the Tatars.” A sense of ambition welled up in Jin Guda’s heart.

At this moment.

The Ming army advanced in an orderly fashion.

Zhu Ying held his bow, nocked an arrow, and as his battalion was in the third row, they moved steadily forward.

……

PS: Please, please, please.

(End of chapter)