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

Chapter 673 Loyal Heart and Unwavering Commitment: The Rise of the Ming Army

Outside the camp, the outskirts of Chang'an were filled with enemy military tents, so densely packed that there were almost no gaps, looking like an endless torrent of iron rushing toward their land.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the oppressive scene, sighed softly, and silently warned himself of the severity of the situation, but his will was as firm as iron.

He then turned and walked out of the tent, his mind resolute. The responsibility on his shoulders made him extremely clear-headed, and his actions at this moment would determine the fate of the battle.

He walked toward the soldiers, each step he took revealing an unwavering determination.

As the sun gradually set, Zhu Xiong Ying's figure kept appearing and disappearing in the camp.

He walked past each soldier, speaking softly to them and offering encouragement.

He knew that some of these soldiers were young officers, while others were seasoned veterans, but at this moment, they all needed a steadfast leader to stabilize morale.

Just then, Li Jinglong came to Zhu Xiong Ying's side, looking tired but with unwavering determination in his eyes.

His voice was slightly hoarse, but full of sincerity: "U.A., I am not feeling well and can no longer fight alongside you on the front lines as usual."

Zhu Xiong Ying patted Li Jinglong on the shoulder: "Uncle Jinglong, you have done so much for us. I believe that you can also provide us with tremendous support from the rear. I came to the front line not only for the safety of Chang'an, but also for every soldier who is willing to sacrifice his life for our country."

Li Jinglong nodded slightly, a wry smile on his face, mixed with a hint of relief: "It is extremely rare for a young person to have such courage and sense of responsibility. It seems I still have a lot to learn from you."

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and said, "I don't deserve such praise. It's all for the sake of getting through this difficult time together."

While they were exchanging words, the soldiers were already making their final preparations for battle. Their warhorses were restless, and the soldiers were encouraging each other.

Although the atmosphere in the camp was tense, there seemed to be an invisible force permeating the air, giving each soldier a firm resolve to face death without fear.

Soon after, Zhu Xiong Ying stood before all the generals.

His voice, like a resounding bell, echoed throughout the entire camp: "We all understand how powerful the enemy we face is, but we must hold fast to our beliefs. Chang'an is our home, and our loved ones are behind us! We cannot retreat; we can only win!"

At the command, everyone responded in unison, their momentum as fierce as a storm.

Zhu Xiong Ying knew that combat and strategy were equally important, and at this moment, he was leading the entire army toward the dawn as a leader.

Li Jinglong stood behind the formation, quietly watching Zhu Xiong Ying's figure.

That was a young figure, yet brimming with boundless potential.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that this imperial grandson was not only the future leader, but also the hope of the present.

This battle will test many people, but Zhu Xiong Ying will surely emerge from the ground and become a resilient backbone supporting this land.

The next morning, as the sun began to paint the eastern sky red, the camp was already bustling with activity.

The soldiers were packing up their tents, preparing to depart, while Zhu Xiong Ying was in the center of the camp showing the generals his improved stirrups.

"Please look, everyone. This is the stirrup that I and the craftsmen perfected together."

Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was clear and firm, and he held a stirrup that was slightly different in shape in his hand.

The traditional iron rings have been replaced by a more robust structure, and this improved design provides better balance in complex terrain.

Just then, a military officer named Li Zhi stepped forward and steadily took the stirrup from Zhu Xiong Ying's hands.

He examined it carefully, his eyes filled with surprise and admiration.

“This is indeed an innovation,”

Li Zhi said, his voice full of praise, "With this, we will have a greater advantage in mountain warfare." He handed the stirrups back to Zhu Xiong Ying, his loyalty evident in his eyes.

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded, her eyes revealing determination and expectation: "Li Zhi, this is just the beginning. I believe that as long as we dare to innovate, many problems can be solved."

Li Zhi stood up straight and solemnly swore: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will live up to your trust and protect you in commanding the army."

His voice was strong and clear, as if it were meant to reach everyone present.

Li Jinglong, who was observing from the side, frowned slightly, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

Zhu Xiong Ying is a future leader, but will these premature changes in ideas and tactics attract too much attention?

However, Zhu Xiong Ying seemed unaware of this hidden worry at this time. He turned to other generals and continued to explain his cavalry combat plan.

The generals before them were also moved and vowed to defend Chang'an to the death.

Inside the camp, the soldiers were ready to go, and the warhorses were properly prepared.

In this atmosphere, Zhu Xiong Ying not only demonstrated his vision and wisdom as a leader, but also awakened the shared beliefs in the hearts of his soldiers.

This battle was not only about the survival of Chang'an, but also a trial for all of them.

Sunlight streamed through the clouds and onto the campsite, gradually illuminating everyone's faces.

Zhu Xiong Ying stood at the front of the ranks, his figure tall and resolute. He knew that no matter what, he had to lead these loyal soldiers to meet the challenges of the future.

Standing in the center of the tent, Li Zhi continued to explain his ideas with focused expression: "Your Majesty, I believe that if we can add ferrosilicon to the smelting process, it will make our weapons lighter and stronger. This is an unprecedented innovation, but I firmly believe it will give us an advantage."

Zhu Xiong Ying listened attentively, her brows furrowed slightly, clearly captivated by these novel ideas.

He said softly, “Silicon-iron…that sounds reasonable. But if this method fails, it will not only waste resources, but may also affect the soldiers’ ability to use it.”

At this moment, Li Jinglong, who was observing from the side, couldn't help but speak up: "Your Highness, the introduction of these new materials may be too radical. We are not sure if it can truly bring about the desired changes. In addition, such changes will affect the operation of many existing systems."

Li Jinglong's voice revealed a hint of worry, clearly indicating his skepticism towards these reforms.

Faced with Li Jinglong's questioning, Li Zhi did not rush to refute it, but instead asked Zhang Xuan to come forward: "General Zhang is very experienced in weapons manufacturing. Please ask him to bring us some insights."

Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, “Gentlemen, I have worked with General Li in the past and have great trust in his judgment. Although this new material has not been widely adopted, the results of small-scale trials show that it does have potential advantages. Perhaps we should give it some trust and allow it to be tested.”

Hearing Zhang Xuan's support, Zhu Xiong Ying felt a surge of enthusiasm.

He looked around and saw hesitation and expectation in the eyes of the other generals.

He knew that change is always accompanied by uncertainty, but it is precisely this uncertainty that makes breakthroughs possible.

He said firmly, “Gentlemen, the Ming Dynasty is now at a critical juncture where innovation is needed. Perhaps Li Zhi and Zhang Xuan’s ideas cannot be accepted by everyone for the time being, but if we do not try, how will we know if they can become the key to our future victory? I am determined to promote this innovation, which will surely open up new possibilities for us.”

His attitude was firm, and the generals looked at each other, but they all felt that the moment when the bell would ring was approaching.

Zhang Xuan smiled slightly and greeted Zhu Xiong Ying: "Your Highness, with a supporter like you, all our efforts are worthwhile."

After the meeting, Zhu Xiong Ying stood outside the tent, looking at the undulating mountains in the distance, his heart filled with anticipation for the future.

He knew that this road was full of challenges, but no matter how many difficulties he encountered, he would lead these soldiers to a more glorious tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)