Chapter 14: Summoning Zhu Ying

"Reporting, Excellency."

"Zhu Ying has achieved such great merit. According to the rewards and punishments for military service in our Great Ming, based solely on the number of enemies he killed, he is eligible for a promotion of four ranks. If we also account for his feat of slaying a general and capturing a battle flag, he can be promoted by an additional rank," Chen Heng said without hesitation.

Chen Heng had already performed a careful calculation after seeing the battle report.

Below the rank of Thousand-man Commander (Qianhu), one could be promoted based on the merit of killing enemies; however, above the rank of Thousand-man Commander, simple enemy kills were no longer sufficient for promotion.

This was the system of military rewards and punishments personally established by the current Emperor.

Below the rank of Thousand-man Commander

As long as you could kill enemies for the country, you could continue to rise. If you achieved great feats such as slaying a general, you could be promoted further.

Everything followed the military merit laws decreed by Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Currently, Zhu Ying is a Squad Leader (Xiaoqi). A promotion of five ranks would allow him to hold the rank of Thousand-man Commander."

"My God."

"To rise five ranks in a single day—who could have achieved that before the founding of our Great Ming?"

"Back when the Emperor was in his 'Hidden Dragon' days, he rose from a common soldier to a Vanguard, and that wasn't even five ranks."

"A five-rank promotion... his future is limitless."

"The number of enemies he killed in this battle exceeds what an ordinary soldier could kill in a lifetime. Perhaps he is a natural-born fierce general."

"Killing a hundred men in a single day, slaying a general and a battle flag—there is no trickery here. A five-rank promotion is well-deserved."

"Indeed."

"This is how the military should be..."

Hearing Chen Heng's words, the generals within the command tent were all astonished, yet none voiced any objection.

After all, what was discussed in the military was combat merit; merit was everything.

As military officers, if they were to reject such a promotion based on merit, they would be rejecting their own future paths. No general would be so foolish.

"Since there is a system of military merit to follow,"

"Then the rewards should be granted accordingly."

"General Chen, is Zhu Ying at the camp?" Bu Wan smiled and asked immediately.

"Reporting, Excellency, he is resting at the camp," Chen Heng replied instantly.

"Quickly summon Zhu Ying to the tent. This official also wishes to see what such a courageous soldier from our Daning Prefecture looks like," Bu Wan said with a smile.

It wasn't just him.

Many generals in the tent were also filled with curiosity.

Chen Heng immediately looked toward Wei Quan: "Thousand-man Commander Wei, Zhu Ying is in your battalion. Go and summon him to the main camp."

"I obey your command."

Wei Quan bowed deeply and quickly withdrew.

At that moment!

Liu Zhen leaned in toward Chen Heng and said with a grin, "Brother Chen, can we discuss something?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Heng glared and said immediately, "Not a chance."

"I haven't even said what it is yet, and you're already refusing?" Liu Zhen said, looking speechless.

"Even if you haven't said it, do you think I can't see through you? You want Zhu Ying under your command, don't you?"

"In your dreams."

"Such a fierce general belongs under my command," Chen Heng said proudly.

Looking at Chen Heng's expression, Liu Zhen could only watch with indignation.

***

The First Thousand-man Battalion.

By the campfire.

Many soldiers were gathered around the fire eating flour cakes, their conversations filled with the sense of survival following a great battle.

In the Northern Borderlands.

Even though autumn had just begun, the nights were extremely cold; without a campfire, it was truly freezing.

Zhu Ying sat by the fire.

As he ate his flour cake, his heart was filled with joy.

"List picked-up attributes," Zhu Ying communicated with the panel.

The next moment

"Picked up 98 points of Strength."

"Picked up 102 points of Speed."

"Picked up 103 points of Constitution."

"Picked up 99 points of Endurance."

"Picked up 89 points of Spirit."

"Picked up 454 days of Lifespan."

These were the attributes Zhu Ying had successfully picked up after the conclusion of the great battle.

"Congratulations to the host for breaking through 400 points in all attributes. Reward: one Ordinary Treasure Chest."

As these attributes integrated, the panel's notification followed.

"Attribute Panel," Zhu Ying immediately checked.

Host: Zhu Ying Age: 14 years old Strength: 584 points [One point corresponds to one jin of force.] Speed: 512 points [The higher the value, the faster the speed.] Constitution: 431 points [The stronger the constitution, the stronger the defense and the faster the recovery from injury.] Endurance: 415 points [The higher the endurance, the more inexhaustible the energy and the more abundant the stamina.] Spirit: 402 points [The higher the spirit, the clearer the mind.] Lifespan: 88 years, 1138 days Storage Space: 4 cubic meters

"That's five treasure chests now."

"I hope I can open some more treasures this time. The key is to increase my strength to ensure survival on the battlefield," Zhu Ying thought to himself.

Just as he was preparing to open the chests

"Where is Zhu Ying?"

A voice rang out under the night sky.

The surrounding soldiers all looked up toward the source of the voice.

"Squad Leader, it seems the Thousand-man Commander is calling for you!"

A soldier beside him shouted to Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying was startled. Coming to his senses, he looked up and hurriedly stood up. "I am here!"

The next moment, Wei Quan strode over.

Upon seeing Zhu Ying, he sized him up from head to toe and then immediately smiled. "Good lad! I didn't expect such a figure to emerge from my battalion."

"Thousand-man Commander, is there something the matter?" Zhu Ying asked tentatively, though he was secretly hoping for something.

"Brothers!"

"Do you know how many Tartars the soldier Zhu Ying from our battalion killed single-handedly in this engagement?" Wei Quan looked around and shouted loudly.

The gazes of the soldiers in the battalion converged upon him.

"Our battalion's Zhu Ying is incomparably brave!"

"With his own strength, he slew over a hundred Tartars, cut down their main general, and tore down their battle flag, heavily crushing the enemy's morale and securing our great victory!"

"On this occasion, I have been ordered by the Commander to specifically summon Zhu Ying to the main camp to receive his rewards according to his military merit!" Wei Quan declared loudly.

At this moment, Wei Quan's tone carried a sense of pride.

Although this military merit was not earned by him, and he hadn't known Zhu Ying before—after all, he commanded over a thousand men and couldn't know everyone—after this, who in the entire Daning Prefecture would not know his name?

Since Zhu Ying had made a name for himself in his battalion, Wei Quan naturally felt great prestige!

"Killed over a hundred enemies."

"Slew the Tartar main general?"

"Is... is he even human?"

"Zhu Ying, our battalion actually has such a fierce powerhouse."

"He is definitely going to be promoted."

"He doesn't look very tall or sturdy, how can he be so powerful?"

"Comparing people just makes you feel frustrated..."

Many soldiers were stunned by these combat results.

"Zhu Ying."

"Follow me."

"The Commander and two other generals are waiting for you."

Wei Quan smiled at Zhu Ying and led the way.

"I obey your command."

Zhu Ying bowed deeply and followed.

"It seems I really am getting promoted this time."

"Although the Hongwu Emperor is ruthless toward corrupt officials, he places extreme importance on the military, with strict rewards and punishments for military merit."

"I wonder how many ranks I will rise by this time."

"I hope it's a high promotion. Having more power will surely mean more opportunities in the future," Zhu Ying thought with deep anticipation.

Promotion and advancement—his goal was very clear.

This was also the reason he fought so crazily on the battlefield; it wasn't just to pick up attributes to strengthen himself, but also to gain power.