Chapter 25: Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan! The Demonic Monk in Black!

Hearing these words, Chen Heng's heart couldn't help but tremble.

From those words alone, it was clear that Zhu Ying was alone.

"Ha."

"General, do not worry about me."

"I will come back alive."

"Once the war is settled, I will treat the General to drinks."

Looking at Chen Heng's expression, Zhu Ying immediately said with a chuckle, "I will wait for that day."

"However, when you return, it won't be you treating me, but me treating you," Chen Heng replied with a smile.

"Deal." Zhu Ying smiled and nodded heavily.

"General."

"I shall return to the camp to make my preparations."

"See you later." Zhu Ying cupped his fists.

Chen Heng nodded and said no more, but as he watched Zhu Ying's retreating figure, his heart was filled with turmoil: "You are not even sixteen yet, already holding the rank of a Thousand-Household with boundless prospects—why do you fight so desperately?"

In truth, Chen Heng did not understand why Zhu Ying was so driven.

To fight on the battlefield with such a disregard for one's own life was a style of combat that completely ignored self-preservation.

This was not the temperament a sixteen-year-old boy should possess.

***

Returning to camp!

Zhu Ying first returned to his own tent.

"Attribute Panel."

Zhu Ying opened his attribute panel.

Host: Zhu Ying Age: 14 years old Strength: 654 points [One point corresponds to one jin of force.] Speed: 612 points [The higher the value, the faster the speed.] Constitution: 531 points [The stronger the constitution, the stronger the defense and the faster the recovery from injury.] Endurance: 525 points [The higher the endurance, the more continuous the energy and the more abundant the stamina.] Spirit: 512 points [The higher the spirit, the clearer the mind.] Lifespan: 88 years, 1456 days Storage Space: 5 cubic meters

These were the results Zhu Ying had obtained through his campaigns over the past few days; all his attributes had successfully broken through the five-hundred-point mark.

"Leading troops alone here in the Northern Frontier... I must break through one thousand points in all attributes against the Tartars and the foreign tribes. Only then will I truly possess the strength to rely on in this era," Zhu Ying thought secretly to himself.

Coming back to his senses.

"Open treasure chest," Zhu Ying commanded.

This was the reward for breaking through five hundred points in all attributes.

"Opening ordinary treasure chest."

"Obtained 5 bottles of Low-grade Yellow Rank [Inedia Pills]." A prompt appeared on the panel.

"Inedia Pills."

"Even these can be obtained."

"Fine."

"I don't know how long I'll be staying in the Northern Frontier this time. Having Inedia Pills counts as having a reserve of resources."

"More than half of the five-cubic-meter space is still empty. I should load up on more arrows, rations, and water; they could save my life in a critical moment." Thinking this, Zhu Ying headed toward the logistics army, intending to prepare more supplies.

***

Beiping Prefecture!

The prefectural capital, Beiping City!

As the fourth son of the current Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, was enfeoffed in Beiping Prefecture, commanding fifty thousand border troops to guard the region.

Inside the Prince's Mansion.

"Reporting to the Prince."

"The mobilization order from the Ministry of War has arrived. The Beiping border troops are to be deployed to Daning to join forces and attack the Yuan."

A military officer entered the main hall of the mansion and spoke respectfully to the majestic man dressed in royal robes seated in the primary position.

He was the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di.

The fourth son of the Great Ming Emperor.

"How many troops does the Ministry of War require?" Zhu Di asked the officer in the hall.

"Forty thousand troops, leaving ten thousand to garrison the border passes," the officer replied respectfully.

"The Ministry's orders cannot be defied. Furthermore, Duke Song is personally leading the troops this time, and they are already nearing the borders of Daning."

"Zhang Yu, as the Guard Commander of our Beiping Prefecture, you must not let the prestige of the Beiping Army falter," Zhu Di said with a serious expression.

"This general will certainly not disappoint the Prince," Zhang Yu bowed and replied with confidence.

"As far as this Prince knows, the Daning Prefecture has already dispatched troops northward."

"How are the results of the battle?" Zhu Di asked casually.

"Your Highness."

"This is a secret report sent back from Daning Prefecture. Please review it." Zhang Yu stepped forward and took a secret report from his robe.

Zhu Di took it and opened it.

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

"To deal with a small, barbarian tribe like the Jianzhou Tartars, even exterminating their entire clan would not be difficult."

"Who is this Zhu Ying?"

"Slaying a hundred enemies single-handedly?"

"Slaying generals and flag-bearers?"

"Among the fifty thousand border troops of Daning Prefecture, only Chen Heng and Liu Zhen possess both command capability and great courage."

"This is the first time I have heard of this Zhu Ying," Zhu Di asked with a solemn expression.

"Reporting to the Prince," Zhang Yu immediately reported, "this Zhu Ying is not an original general of Daning Prefecture, but a recruit who has only been in service for a few months."

"A recruit who has only been in service for a few months?"

A look of brilliance and surprise surfaced on Zhu Di's face.

"Yet there is no such fierce and brave warrior in our Beiping Army," Zhu Di said, his tone tinged with a hint of regret.

"Your Highness."

"It is said that Bu Wan has already submitted Zhu Ying's achievements to Ying Tian in an imperial memorial."

"Judging by the timing, perhaps the Emperor is already aware of Zhu Ying's feats," Zhang Yu said respectfully.

Hearing this, Zhu Di said slowly, "To catch my Father Emperor's eye, this Zhu Ying's future prospects are limitless."

"Your Highness," Zhang Yu asked tentatively, "should we secretly send someone to win him over?"

Zhu Di frowned and stared at Zhang Yu.

The latter's expression changed, and he immediately knelt. "This general has overstepped. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

"Go and attend to the march."

"If you encounter this person, you may attempt to make contact, but do not be too obvious," Zhu Di said in a deep voice.

"This general obeys your command." Zhang Yu respectfully withdrew.

After Zhang Yu left.

Zhu Di spoke gloomily, "Nowadays, you are indeed going too far! My Father Emperor is still here, and my eldest brother is in the prime of his life. Do you wish to drive this Prince into a position of no return?"

The moment Zhu Di's voice fell, a deep, resonant voice drifted out from within the hall: "Amitabha! This poor monk is planning for the Prince of Yan—planning for the future, and planning for destiny."

"The future? Destiny?"

"You will be the death of me," Zhu Di said coldly.

"In the past, this poor monk said he would give the Prince a white hat."

"The Prince need only watch the changes from the peace of Beiping."

"The matters of the future will follow their own course."

"The Prince possesses the aura of an Emperor."

Another voice drifted out from within.

Regarding this, Zhu Di's face wore a complex emotion.

He seemed to think of his Father Emperor, and even more of his eldest brother.

But the words of this man who called himself a "poor monk" had been stimulating him day after day for years, making it impossible for him to suppress the ambitions in his heart. Unknowingly, he had fallen completely into the trap.

Inside the inner hall!

Incense burned in the censer.

A middle-aged monk dressed in black robes sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, clutching Buddhist beads. He possessed a calm demeanor, as if everything was within his grasp.

If Zhu Ying were to see this man, he would surely cry out in shock: the demonic monk in black, Yao Guangxiao.

The key strategist in history who helped Zhu Di succeed in his rebellion.

Furthermore, after Empress Ma passed away, he met Zhu Di in Ying Tian, and upon their first meeting, he told Zhu Di that he would give him a "white hat."

What was a white hat?

Adding a "white" (白) character above the character for "King" (王) creates the character for "Emperor" (皇)!