The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 642 The Price of Victory

On the battlefield in the North, the wind still howled, and the air was filled with the stench of blood.

Zhu Xiong Ying stood in the center of the battlefield, his cold gaze sweeping over his surroundings.

The enemy's vanguard had been completely defeated, yet the unease in his heart never dissipated.

"Your Highness, the enemy's vanguard has completely collapsed. All the soldiers have either been annihilated or fled back to their camp."

Li Jinglong strode forward, his voice tinged with excitement.

"This is our most decisive victory since we entered the North."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded slightly, his gaze remaining cold and stern.

"This battle is just the beginning; the main force of the Timurid Empire has not yet been mobilized."

His voice was calm, yet full of deep thought.

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong frowned slightly and then said, "But Your Highness, this time we annihilated their vanguard, and their morale will surely be affected."

"Would the main force of the Timurid Empire still dare to launch an attack?"

Zhu Xiong Ying did not respond immediately, but instead gazed quietly into the distance.

"It was precisely because we annihilated their vanguard that they were forced to counterattack."

"They will not give up this battlefield easily."

His voice was low and deep, his tone revealing utter calmness and rationality.

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong frowned even more deeply.

"Does Your Highness mean that the Timurid Empire might launch a more intense, full-scale offensive?"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded, a cold glint in his eyes.

"good."

"The enemy must be urgently mobilizing their main force at this moment, preparing to launch a larger-scale offensive."

"We must be fully prepared before they launch a full-scale attack."

He said this with unwavering decisiveness and resolve.

Li Jinglong's heart tightened slightly, then he cupped his hands and said, "Your subordinate understands, I will make the arrangements immediately."

With Li Jinglong gone, Zhu Xiong Ying stood alone on the battlefield, coldly surveying the surrounding scenery.

The corpses and blood scattered everywhere reflected the brutal battle that had just ended.

He knew that this was just the first test laid by the Timurid Empire.

The real battle has just begun.

***
As evening fell, Zhu Xiong Ying returned to the camp.

General Lan Yu was already waiting in the tent. Upon seeing Zhu Xiong Ying enter, he immediately cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, we have achieved a great victory this time, but the enemy's main force has not yet moved. Should we strengthen our defenses in advance?"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded, then sat down in front of the map, his gaze serious.

"The main force of the Timurid Empire must be gathering, and we cannot underestimate it."

"Judging from their troop movements, what follows is likely to be a protracted war."

He said this with a calm and thoughtful tone.

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu nodded and then said, "Your Highness's judgment is extremely accurate."

"We must make defensive preparations in advance to ensure that our rhythm is not disrupted by enemy surprise attacks."

Zhu Xiong Ying frowned slightly and said slowly, "It's not just about defense."

"We also need to take the initiative and disrupt their plans."

"If you only defend, you are more likely to fall into a passive position."

Although his voice was calm, every word he spoke carried unwavering determination and resolve.

Upon hearing this, General Lan Yu's eyes flashed with surprise, and he then respectfully said, "Your Highness is wise."

"This subordinate will immediately mobilize elite troops and launch a proactive attack in accordance with Your Highness's plan."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded and then said, "In this battle, we must not only achieve a military victory, but also completely suppress the Timurid Empire strategically."

"We cannot give them any breathing room."

His tone was filled with utter coldness and determination.

Upon hearing this, General Lan Yu immediately accepted the order and left.

Zhu Xiong Ying sat alone in his tent, his eyes fixed on the map, calculating each move he would make next.

He knew that the key to this battle lay not only in the outcome on the battlefield, but also in the long-term strategic planning for the entire Ming Dynasty.

Whether it was Zhang Jing and others in the court, or the enemy forces of Timur's empire, their goal was to weaken his position in the court and shake the foundation of his grandson.

"I absolutely cannot lose this battle."

Zhu Xiong Ying silently made a vow in her heart, her eyes flashing with a cold, sharp light.
A few days later, Zhu Xiong Ying personally led his elite troops in a rapid raid on the Timurid Empire's front lines.

The battle was swift and clean, catching the enemy off guard.

"Your Highness, this raid was a great success. We have captured the enemy's front-line positions in one fell swoop."

"Their logistical supply lines were also severely impacted."

Li Jinglong reported this with a face full of excitement.

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded slightly, her gaze remaining calm.

“This is just the first step.”

"The Timurid Empire reacted quickly; they will soon mobilize more troops to counterattack."

His voice was calm and firm, clearly indicating that he had anticipated the enemy's reaction.

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong's excitement subsided slightly, and he immediately asked, "Your Highness, what should we do next?"

Zhu Xiong Ying pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Continue to strike their supply lines."

"The enemy's logistical support is key to their protracted war."

"As long as we cut off their supplies, we can completely thwart their offensive plans."

He spoke with utmost calmness and deep thought.

Li Jinglong nodded in agreement and then quickly went to relay the order.

Zhu Xiong Ying watched him leave, but remained vigilant.

He knew that the Timurid Empire would not easily abandon their plans.

Although their vanguard and forward positions were defeated by the Ming army, their main force was still in the rear.

"This battle is far from over."

"The real test is yet to come."

Zhu Xiong Ying pondered silently, his eyes revealing unparalleled coldness and determination.

***
Night fell, and the battlefield fell silent.

Zhu Xiong Ying stood alone on the watchtower, gazing into the direction of the Timurid Empire, his heart filled with thought.

Suddenly, a scout rushed over, looking somewhat nervous.

"Your Highness, the enemy's main force is beginning to assemble, and it seems they are preparing to launch a full-scale attack!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying's gaze sharpened slightly, then he calmly asked, "What is their troop strength?"

The scout immediately said, "According to our reconnaissance, the enemy's forces are enormous, far exceeding our previous estimates."

"They've probably come out in full force this time."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying frowned slightly and pondered to himself.

"The enemy has finally revealed its true fangs."

"It seems they have made up their minds to fight us to the death in this battle."

He muttered to himself, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Pass down the order to immediately strengthen frontline defenses and put all troops on combat readiness."

"At the same time, we mobilized our reserves to be ready to deal with a full-scale enemy attack at any time."

He said this with unwavering decisiveness and resolve.

The scouts immediately obeyed and left, and the entire camp quickly entered a tense state of preparation for battle.

Zhu Xiong Ying stood on the watchtower, coldly gazing at the enemy camp in the distance.

He knew this would be the decisive battle.

Regardless of the outcome, this battle will determine the fate of both the Ming Dynasty and the Timurid Empire.

"I will never let them succeed."

"This battle must be won completely."

Zhu Xiong Ying silently made a vow in her heart, her eyes shining with a determined light.

***
The battle broke out as scheduled the following morning.

The enemy's main force swept in, overwhelming and menacing.

Zhu Xiong Ying led the Ming army in a tenacious resistance.

"Your Highness, the enemy's offensive is exceptionally fierce, and our defenses are under immense pressure!"

Li Jinglong rushed over, his face full of anxiety.

Zhu Xiong Ying calmly gave instructions, her tone remaining steady.

(End of this chapter)