Chapter 62: Outstanding Military Achievements! Zhu Ying's Request!

Looking at Zhu Ying before him, Fu Youde did not hesitate in the slightest. He strode forward, paying no mind to the heavy, foul stench emanating from Zhu Ying's body.

Extending both arms, he helped Zhu Ying to his feet.

"Zhu Ying," Fu Youde laughed heartily, "I have heard your name mentioned many times within the military camp, and now we finally meet."

"General Fu is a pillar of our Great Ming, renowned far and wide. I, Zhu Ying, have long admired your great reputation," Zhu Ying immediately replied with humility.

"To campaign for over two months in the alien lands of the northern frontier, penetrating deep into the enemy's heartland and placing yourself in constant peril—you have endured great hardships," Fu Youde said with deep emotion.

When he first learned that a detachment of troops had been left behind in the northern frontier, Fu Youde had believed that the chances of anyone returning were virtually nil.

Yet, looking at them now, the reality far exceeded his expectations.

Or rather, Zhu Ying's performance in commanding troops had surpassed everyone's imagination.

Not only had he returned alive, but he had also brought back several thousand soldiers. Compared to the remarkable military achievements scored against the Tatars, such losses were negligible.

"As a soldier of Great Ming, it is my bounden duty to protect our home and country," Zhu Ying answered immediately.

Then, Zhu Ying turned around and commanded the assembled troops behind him, "All soldiers, hear my order! Pay respects to General Fu!"

As the words fell, nearly three thousand soldiers bowed without a single hesitation, their voices uniting in a thunderous roar that echoed across the military camp.

Along with the shout, an overwhelming wave of killing intent surged forward as if tangible—calm one moment, violent the next, as though the spirit of slaughter had materialized.

This was an army forged through months of bloodshed and warfare in foreign lands.

Perhaps there had been green recruits among them, but by now, they had all been baptized by the fires of war and transformed into true, battle-hardened veterans.

*These are soldiers tempered by the crucible of desperate warfare. Such murderous aura—a truly veteran army.*

Gazing at the three thousand soldiers before him, Fu Youde felt a deep sense of awe stirring in his heart.

Like Zhu Ying, the soldiers in front of him were covered in blood and grime, having fought their way out from a sea of death in the most desperate of circumstances.

Having commanded troops for many years and personally witnessed the founding of the Great Ming Empire, Fu Youde had seen many powerful armies, but this force, having clawed its way back from the jaws of death, was unquestionably worthy of his highest respect.

Fu Youde stepped forward and raised a hand. "At ease, soldiers."

"Thank you, General Fu," the soldiers replied in unison.

With a crisp rustle, everyone snapped to attention.

That formidable killing intent still lingered invisibly in the air. Thousands of sharp gazes fixed upon Fu Youde. An ordinary general might have felt intimidated under such fierce and murderous stares, but Fu Youde remained entirely calm and composed.

"You have all suffered greatly," Fu Youde said in a ringing voice.

"You ventured deep into the alien northern frontier, penetrating the enemy's heartland and putting yourselves in grave danger. You pinned down the enemy forces for the Great Ming and slaughtered countless foes in foreign lands, dealing them a heavy blow."

"For this achievement, I will memorialize Yingtian and present a report to His Majesty."

"Your military exploits will never be forgotten."

"His Majesty will surely reward you according to your merits."

"I have a humble request to make," Zhu Ying said, bowing deeply to Fu Youde with a solemn expression.

***

"Speak your mind," Fu Youde smiled.

Zhu Ying felt inside his tunic and drew out a roster stained with dried blood, holding it up reverently with both hands.

"This is the roster of the fallen soldiers from my garrison battalion."

"A total of one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight men."

"I implore General Fu to submit this to the Ministry of War and the Imperial Court, that generous consolation and care may be granted to the families of these heroic souls."

Holding the roster with both hands, Zhu Ying made his plea in a loud, resolute voice.

"We implore General Fu to memorialize the Imperial Court and grant consolation to the families of our fallen comrades!" the thousands of soldiers behind Zhu Ying shouted in unison, their voices ringing with petition.

At this moment, no one could remain unmoved.

The bonds of comradeship and brotherhood were fully displayed in the crucible of war.

At this moment, this had nothing to do with the glory won in the great battle, nor the military merits achieved.

This was the earnest desire of Zhu Ying and every single soldier under his command: to secure pensions and proper support for their brothers who had died in battle—to claim the consolation that was rightfully theirs.

The men were gone, but back in their hometowns, elderly parents still awaited them, and infant children still cried for milk.

Without official provisions and support, their families would suffer destitution.

Seeing this, Fu Youde walked slowly forward, his gaze complex as he looked upon the blood-stained roster.

Instead of taking it with one hand, Fu Youde reached out and received the booklet with both hands.

Opening it, name after name inscribed in dried blood came into view.

Every single one of these names had been written down stroke by stroke by Zhu Ying's own hand.

At the end of every fierce battle, when casualties were tallied, Zhu Ying would personally write down the names of his fallen comrades.

During the more than two months of relentless warfare, some had died directly on the battlefield, while many others had succumbed to infected wounds.

An army of four thousand men...

Now numbered fewer than two thousand five hundred.

This campaign had cost them forty percent of their force.

Even though the results were brilliant, the dead were gone forever.

"Rest assured, soldiers."

"I, Fu Youde, accept this roster."

"The pensions belonging to these soldiers will not be slighted in the least."

"This roster will be submitted by me directly to Yingtian, directly to His Majesty," Fu Youde promised loudly, clutching the roster firmly.

"Many thanks, General Fu," Zhu Ying said immediately.

"Many thanks, General Fu," the soldiers echoed in gratitude.

***

The reason why Zhu Ying made this plea for pensions here and now...

Was actually due to a lack of trust in the officials responsible for distributing relief funds.

Even though, in this current Hongwu era, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhu was extremely stern with corrupt officials—executing them on a whim—there were still many greedy bureaucrats who, driven by profit, would embezzle the pension silver, swallowing the blood-money of these soldiers who had fought tooth and nail for their lives.

To prevent this from happening...

Zhu Ying deliberately made his request to Fu Youde in front of so many military commanders.

Furthermore, he produced this very roster.

His goal was to ensure that the pensions for his men were distributed accurately and fairly, free from injustice. Only by drawing widespread attention to the matter could such corruption be stamped out.

"Where is the Chief Provost Marshal?" Fu Youde commanded loudly.

"Subordinate is here," a military officer hurried over to Fu Youde.

"Zhu Ying, you, and the men under your command—if you have proof of your military exploits, bring them out now for tallying."

"The Chief Provost Marshal will record your achievements, and rewards will be distributed accordingly afterward," Fu Youde instructed.

Hearing this, Zhu Ying nodded immediately.

He reached behind his back, retrieved a traveling pouch, and tossed it heavily onto the ground.

A human head, already faintly reeking of decay, rolled out into the view of everyone present.

Fortunately, it had been treated with anti-putrefactive powders, which could be carried along on military campaigns.

"This is the severed head of Ahasu, chieftain of the Jianzhou Tatars," Zhu Ying pointed to the skull on the ground and announced.

"Mm." Fu Youde nodded.

Then, Zhu Ying waved his hand to the soldiers behind him. "Come forward one by one, there's no need to rush."

"Understood," the soldiers chored in unison.

They then walked up in an orderly fashion, untied their traveling packs, and dumped the contents onto the ground.

*Clatter, clatter...*

Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang Wu emptied more than seventy severed ears from his pack.

Following him, Wei Quan and Zhuang Wei, two other battalion commanders, also stepped forward. From each of their packs tumbled another sixty or seventy ears.

All the generals stood by, watching in sheer astonishment.