Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

[Successful promotion of high-yield rice varieties will be rewarded with 1000 reputation points]

The curved-shaft plow has been adopted by ten villages; an intermediate level of mechanical knowledge will be awarded.

[Fifty injured and sick farmers were treated; an award was given for intermediate-level medical skills and a formula for a hemostatic powder.]

Zhu Qiwu was busy checking his newly unlocked medical skills when he suddenly heard the rapid sound of hooves behind him. Xu Da dismounted, panting, and said, "Seventh Brother! It's terrible! The Yuan army has sent 30,000 troops and is marching towards Chuzhou!"

Zhu Qiwu's expression changed: "When did this happen?"

"Just received a scout report!" Xu Da wiped his sweat. "They're less than fifty li from Chuzhou!"

Zhu Yuanzhang strode over, followed by Li Shanchang, Tang He, and others: "Seventh Five, what do you think?"

Zhu Qiwu quickly pulled up the system map to check the Yuan army's movements. Suddenly, his eyes lit up: "Fourth Brother, we don't need to fight head-on! The main Yuan army is in the east, we can..."

He leaned closer to Zhu Yuanzhang and whispered his plan. Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up as he listened, and finally he couldn't help but slap his thigh and exclaim, "Brilliant! That's the plan!"

He turned to his generals and ordered: "Tang He, take three thousand men to ambush in the west of the city; Zhou Dexing, lead five hundred light cavalry to circle around to the rear of the Yuan army and cut off their supply lines; Xu Da, follow me to meet the enemy head-on—Seven Five, you…"

“I’m taking the newly formed firearms battalion to the high ground south of the city,” Zhu Qiwu interjected. “The terrain there is treacherous, perfect for an ambush.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Good! Remember, defeat is the only option; victory is not permitted. Lure the Yuan army to the pre-arranged battlefield!"

The generals obeyed and left, but Zhu Yuanzhang stopped Zhu Qiwu: "Qiwu, this time..."

"Don't worry, Fourth Brother," Zhu Qiwu said with a smile. "I know what I'm doing. Besides, don't I still have the Heaven-Shaking Thunder?"

Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated for a moment, then took his sword from his waist: "Take this. Seeing this sword is like seeing me; in a crisis, you can execute first and report later."

Zhu Qiwu solemnly accepted the sword, feeling its weight. He knew that this was not only a sign of trust, but also a responsibility.

The following morning, the Yuan army arrived at the walls of Chuzhou. Commander-in-Chief Toqto'a Temur, gazing at the rebel banners fluttering atop the city walls, sneered, "Zhu Chongba? Just a peasant. Issue the order: attack the city!"

The Yuan army surged toward the city gate like a tidal wave, only to find the gate suddenly opened, and a troop of rebels charged out on horseback. The leading general, wielding a long spear, was none other than Xu Da.

"Yuan dogs, prepare to die!" Xu Da shouted, leading his troops straight towards the Yuan army's central camp.

Toqto'a Timur laughed loudly: "Overestimating themselves! Send the order to surround them!"

The Yuan army swiftly changed formation, completely surrounding Xu Da's troops. Xu Da fought and retreated, leading the Yuan army south. Seeing this, Toqto'a Temur frowned: "Something's wrong! Where's Zhu Chongba? Why hasn't he appeared?"

Before the words were finished, shouts of battle suddenly erupted from the west of the city. Tang He led his ambush troops out, heading straight for the Yuan army's supply convoy. Toqto'a Timur's face changed drastically: "We've fallen into a trap! Quickly, send reinforcements to the supply convoy!"

Just then, three plumes of red smoke suddenly rose from the high ground south of the city. Zhu Qiwu stood atop the mountain, watching the Yuan army camp descend into chaos, a cold smile playing on his lips: "The time has come."

He raised a brass megaphone and shouted the order: "Artillery Battalion, prepare—fire!"

Dozens of thunderbolts ripped through the sky, exploding amidst the Yuan army's ranks. The explosions were deafening, and flames shot skyward. The Yuan warhorses were startled and scattered in all directions, the soldiers cried out in despair, and their formation instantly crumbled.

"Excellent!" Zhu Yuanzhang, standing on another high ground, watched this scene and excitedly pumped his fist. "Well done, Qi Wu!"

Li Shanchang, observing the battle through his binoculars, said, "Your Highness's tactic of 'feinting to the east while attacking in the west + fire attack' is truly ingenious. The Yuan army is now attacked from both sides, their supplies have been burned, and their morale will surely plummet."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Send the order down! The entire army will attack! Today's battle will ensure that the Yuan army never returns!"

The rebel army surged forth from all directions, their battle cries shaking the heavens and earth. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Toqto'a Timur sighed, "Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

The Yuan army retreated like a receding tide, pursued relentlessly by the rebel army. Zhu Qiwu stood atop the mountain, watching this great victory, as system notifications blared incessantly:

[Defeated the Yuan army, rewarded with 5000 reputation points and intermediate military talent]

Successfully commanding a large-scale battle will reward you with Commander Talent and the Complete Guide to Military Strategy.

Unlock the achievement 'Emerging Talent' and be rewarded with the special item 'Summoning Order' (which can summon a historical general to assist in battle once)

As Zhu Qiwu was checking the new rewards, he suddenly heard a familiar laugh coming from down the mountain: "Seventh Brother! Well done!"

He turned his head and saw his fourth brother riding a chestnut horse galloping up the mountain, followed by Xu Da, Tang He, and others. Zhu Yuanzhang dismounted and hugged Zhu Qiwu tightly: "Well done! This battle annihilated at least five thousand Yuan soldiers and captured a large amount of grain and supplies!"

Xu Da grinned and said, "Seventh Brother's thunderbolt was too powerful! The Yuan army was blown to smithereens, and even Toqto'a Timur's command flag was burned!"

Tang He added, "Yes! If it weren't for Lao Qi's prior arrangements, how could we have won so easily?"

Zhu Yuanzhang released Zhu Qiwu and looked earnestly into his eyes: "Qiwu, your fourth brother owes you a favor. Without you, this battle wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

Zhu Qiwu shook his head: "Fourth Brother is joking. Without you and all the brothers, I couldn't accomplish anything on my own."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, then turned to his generals and said, "Tonight's victory banquet is a feast to celebrate! Let's go see what we're going to do with the prisoners."

The group chatted and laughed as they descended the mountain, with Zhu Qiwu lagging behind. He quietly opened the system interface, looking at the newly acquired "Summoning Order," a thought flashing through his mind—who could this item summon? Han Xin? Or Yue Fei?
"Seventh Brother!" Xu Da shouted from ahead, "What are you daydreaming about? Let's go!"

Zhu Qiwu responded and quickly followed. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on him, casting a long shadow. He knew this was just the beginning. More challenges awaited him in the future—but with the system, with his fourth brother and his brothers, he feared nothing.

At the victory banquet, Zhu Yuanzhang publicly announced: "From this day forward, Qi Wu will be my military advisor! All major military matters must be discussed with him!"

The generals cheered, but Zhu Qiwu noticed a complex look flash across Li Shanchang's eyes. He knew that this future prime minister would not easily submit. Sure enough, after the banquet, Li Shanchang approached Zhu Qiwu privately: "Young master, you are young and promising, I admire you. However… the position of military advisor is no small matter. Young master, you must be careful not to betray the lord's trust."

Zhu Qiwu smiled and said, "Mr. Li, rest assured. I, Zhu Qiwu, dare not promise anything else, but I can guarantee one thing—I will never do anything to harm Fourth Brother or the righteous army."

Li Shanchang stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "In that case, Shanchang can rest assured. If you need anything, young master, please don't hesitate to ask."

Zhu Qi nodded, but a sense of unease crept into his heart. He knew that in this vortex of power, any negligence could be fatal. He had to be even more careful, using the system to help his fourth brother achieve his great ambitions while also protecting himself and those around him from harm.

Night deepened, and Zhu Qiwu stood outside his tent, gazing at the starry sky. The system interface flickered before his eyes, displaying various data and rewards. He sighed softly—half a year had passed since he transmigrated to this era, and from initial confusion to his current resolve, he had experienced far too much.

"Seventy-five." Zhu Yuanzhang's voice came from behind, "Still not asleep?"

Zhu Qiwu turned around: "Why isn't Fourth Brother asleep either?"

Zhu Yuanzhang walked to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him: "Today's victory has reminded me of many things. I remember when I was a child, our family was so poor that we couldn't even get enough to eat. Now, however, we have been able to lead so many people to defeat the Yuan army..."

He paused, his voice low and menacing: "Seven Five, do you think... we can really overthrow the Yuan Dynasty and establish a new dynasty?"

Zhu Qiwu turned to look at his fourth brother, seeing the expectation and unease flickering in his eyes. He knew there was no standard answer to this question, but he still said earnestly, "Yes. Fourth brother, you are destined to achieve great things. And I... will always be by your side, helping you realize this dream."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, a smile brimming with confidence and strength: "Good! With you saying that, your fourth brother is relieved. Come on, let's go back to sleep. There's still much to do tomorrow."

The two walked side by side toward the tent, their shadows stretched long by the moonlight. Zhu Qiwu watched his fourth brother's retreating figure and silently vowed in his heart—no matter what the future held, he would protect this family and this hard-won hope.

A system notification suddenly sounded: [Gaining the absolute trust of the important figure Zhu Yuanzhang, rewarded with a loyalty detector (which can detect the loyalty of others to the host) and an introduction to the art of imperial strategy].

Zhu Qiwu's lips curled up slightly—this system was getting to know him better and better.

Zhu Qiwu and Zhu Yuanzhang returned to their tent. Although it was late at night, the tent was not quiet. Xu Da, Tang He, Zhou Dexing, and other generals were all there. They sat around a simple wooden table with a tattered map spread out on it, marked with charcoal pencils showing the terrain and the Yuan army's garrison situation in various places.

Zhu Yuanzhang strode in and said loudly, "Brothers, you're all still awake!"

Xu Da stood up first and said with a smile, "Fourth Brother, we were just discussing our next action plan. The Yuan army has deployed its defenses tightly in several surrounding towns. We need to think of a way to break this deadlock."

Tang He also stood up, scratched his head and said, "Yes, Fourth Brother, we have won several battles before, but the Yuan army has also learned to be smart and no longer easily disperses its forces. If we launch a strong attack, we may suffer too many losses."

Zhou Dexing frowned and pointed to a spot on the map, saying, "Fourth Brother, I think we can start here. This place is strategically important, but the Yuan army's defenses are relatively weak. If we can capture it by surprise, we can cut off part of the Yuan army's supply lines."

Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the table, carefully examined the map, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "Dexing's idea is good, but we still need to consider the follow-up measures. Once the Yuan army discovers that the supply line has been cut off, they will definitely send a large force to retake it, so we need to prepare an ambush in advance."

Zhu Qiwu stood aside, listening to the discussion, his mind also deep in thought. At that moment, a system notification sounded in his mind: [Current situation detected. Mission triggered: Assist Zhu Yuanzhang in formulating a perfect battle plan. Success will reward a random advanced military strategy book.]

Zhu Qiwu's eyes lit up; this mission had come at just the right time. He cleared his throat and said, "Fourth Brother, brothers, I also have an idea."

Everyone looked at Zhu Qiwu, and Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Qiwu, please speak freely."

Zhu Qiwu walked to the map and pointed to the terrain Zhou Dexing had mentioned, saying, "This is indeed a breakthrough point, but we cannot be satisfied with just cutting off the supply line. We can send an elite force, disguised as scattered Yuan soldiers in defeat, to infiltrate the Yuan army's rear camp."

Tang He's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Seven Five, your idea is quite novel, but how can we infiltrate it?"

Zhu Qiwu smiled slightly and said, "We can capture a few Yuan soldiers in advance, change into their clothes, and have them teach us some simple Yuan army codes and passwords. When we arrive at the Yuan army camp, we can claim that we are fleeing from a defeat at the front and can blend in smoothly."

Xu Da stroked his chin, pondering, and said, "This method is feasible, but what happens after we infiltrate the camp?"

Zhu Qiwu continued, "After infiltrating the main camp, this elite force will look for an opportunity to set fire to the Yuan army's grain and fodder piles. Once the grain and fodder are on fire, the Yuan army will inevitably be thrown into chaos. Our main force on the periphery will then launch a general offensive, attacking from both the front and the rear, and we will surely achieve a great victory."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up with admiration. He said, "Seventh Five, your plan is excellent. However, this elite force that has penetrated deep behind enemy lines must be brave and skilled in battle, and familiar with the terrain. I think we should let Xu Da lead the team, what do you think?"

Xu Da clasped his hands in a fist and said without hesitation, "Fourth Brother, rest assured, I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

Tang He, standing to the side, said anxiously, "Fourth Brother, I also want to go with Brother Xu. More people mean more strength."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Alright, Tang He, you will go with us. However, you must be careful. If you are discovered, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Xu Da and Tang He replied in unison, "Yes!"

Zhou Dexing then said, "Fourth Brother, I will lead the rest of the brothers to lie in ambush on the perimeter. Once you have succeeded, we will launch an attack immediately."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhou Dexing on the shoulder and said, "Dexing, the battles on the periphery are also crucial. You must arrange the hiding places for your brothers to ensure that we can launch surprise attacks on the Yuan army."

Zhou Dexing said confidently, "Fourth Brother, don't worry. I've already thought of several excellent hiding places to make it impossible for the Yuan army to defend against."

After everyone had discussed and agreed, Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Alright, now that the plan is set, everyone go back and prepare. Tomorrow morning, Xu Da and Tang He will select elite soldiers for camouflage training. Zhou Dexing, you will lead the other brothers to survey the surrounding terrain and determine the ambush locations."

They then left their tents to prepare for their respective tasks.

Just as Zhu Qiwu was about to leave with the others, Zhu Yuanzhang called out to him, "Qiwu, stay here for a moment."

Zhu Qiwu stopped and returned to Zhu Yuanzhang's side, asking, "Fourth Brother, is there anything else?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Qiwu and said earnestly, "Qiwu, this battle plan owes a great deal to you. Although you are young, you are quick-witted. With you by my side, I feel much more at ease." (End of Chapter)