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

Chapter 676 Perseverance and Determination
"are you serious?"

He paused for a moment, then his tone became somewhat displeased, "But didn't we already agree that this would be treated as if it never happened?"

Xiao Li laughed, but this time his laughter carried a hint of meaning. "Yeah, I was thinking, how boring it would be if it had never happened."

The air was thick with the tension of an argument. Old Zhang walked over from a distance, frowning, clearly dissatisfied with their conversation.

"Xiao Li, what are you up to now? Last night's events aren't over yet, and you're doing this again..."

His words were laced with reproach.

Xiao Li shook his head, his eyes firm and unwavering.

“Old Zhang, I’m not up to any tricks. This is a good opportunity; we might be able to learn a lot from it. Besides, His Highness needs manpower.”

Old Zhang glared at Xiao Li, knowing full well that Xiao Li wasn't just doing this for the sake of studying. "You brat, you're clearly trying to stir up trouble! What will His Highness think of us if this continues?"

Xiao Qiu didn't know how to interrupt, staring at the ground while her mind raced with thoughts.

Going to the border is risky, but staying in the camp would likely invite criticism.

After much deliberation, his heart clenched, and he said, "Xiao Li, I really don't think this is a good idea."

Xiao Li did not waver; on the contrary, he seemed even more determined.

“I won’t force you, but I believe this operation will benefit you, me, and our entire camp.”

The atmosphere in the camp was somewhat tense. The soldiers stood in twos and threes, whispering among themselves, but no one stepped forward to express their opinions.

After hearing what Xiao Li said, Lao Zhang was indignant. He was even more worried that this would shake Zhu Xiong Ying's prestige in the camp.

At this moment, Zhu Xiong Ying slowly walked out of the tent. He noticed the commotion and walked over with a hint of curiosity.

He didn't speak, but just looked at Xiao Li and Xiao Qiu, waiting for them to continue.

Xiao Qiu clutched the hem of her clothes with one hand, finally making up her mind.

"Xiao Li, are you sure this is for the good of the camp, and not just for your own selfish reasons?"

Xiao Li nodded, his gaze focused and sincere.

He said nothing more, turned to face the distance, his eyes resolute.

After much deliberation, Xiao Qiu finally made her choice.

As Zhu Xiong Ying arrived, the onlookers gradually dispersed, anticipating further developments in the situation.

The undercurrents behind this chaotic battle are about to quietly unfold.

Xiao Qiu and Xiao Li stood in a corner of the campsite, with only the rustling sound of the wind gently blowing the tent in their ears.

Ignoring everything else, Xiao Qiu's heart clenched. "Xiao Li, aren't you afraid of making Lao Zhang even angrier?"

Although Xiao Li was shrewd, he seemed somewhat indifferent to this, saying, "Hey, what's there to be afraid of? Besides, His Highness Zhu Xiong Ying is truly good at judging people and knows our intentions."

At this moment, Xiao Qiu was still somewhat hesitant. Just as she was about to continue asking questions, Zhu Xiong Ying came towards her, his gaze shifting from Xiao Li to Xiao Qiu.

His tone was gentle yet authoritative: "I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, you'll gain something from coming with me this time."

Xiao Qiu nodded, feeling a little more at ease.

"Your Highness, do you really think this is a good opportunity?"

His voice was cautious, because he knew this was not just an operation, but something that concerned the future.

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled slightly, seemingly understanding Xiao Qiu's fear.

"It's an opportunity, but also a challenge. If we want to gain a foothold on the border, we must seize this opportunity. Rest assured, His Majesty has already made thorough arrangements."

Old Zhang stood not far away, seemingly busy with his own affairs, but his ears were constantly listening to what was happening over there.

He sighed softly to himself, "Your Highness seems quite confident. I just hope these lads won't hold us back."

As time went on, preparations at the camp gradually came to an end.

As evening fell, the bugle call signaling departure resounded throughout the camp, and the troops assembled in the twilight.

Zhu Xiong Ying rode at the very front, his posture upright, while Xiao Li and Xiao Qiu rode on either side of him, their expressions serious.

The wind gradually cooled down, and the gloom in Xiao Qiu's heart seemed to be dispelled by the afterglow of the setting sun.

He turned his head slightly and whispered to Xiao Li, "Xiao Li, I know what you're thinking this time. Thank you."

Xiao Li smiled easily, "No need to thank me, let's keep going. Who knows what awaits us at the border?"

By the time they reached Black Wind Ridge, it was completely dark. Surrounded by jagged rocks, the group had to slow their pace under the cover of night.

The moonlight shone on Zhu Xiong Ying's face, making him appear exceptionally calm and serene for a moment.

Old Zhang followed the group forward. Although he was dissatisfied, he could not deny that Zhu Xiong Ying's purpose for this trip was clear.

"Your Highness, the mountain path is difficult to traverse. We must be extra careful,"

Old Zhang finally toned down his sarcastic remarks and picked up his pace.

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded in acknowledgment, "Don't worry, our team will be safe and sound."

Then, he turned to Xiao Qiu and Xiao Li and added, "You must be vigilant about your surroundings; this is not a safe place after all."

The group continued their journey into the night.

Looking at the dark mountain shadows ahead, Xiao Qiu knew that this was only the beginning of their journey and a new chapter in his destiny.

As night deepened, the surrounding mountains seemed shrouded in mystery. Zhu Xiong Ying led his team slowly along the winding mountain path of Black Wind Ridge.

Suddenly, a scout rushed back to the camp and brought the latest urgent intelligence to Zhu Xiong Ying.

"Your Highness, the barbarians have attacked the border again, and we need to respond immediately."

The scout reported urgently, his brows furrowed with unease and anxiety.

Zhu Xiong Ying's expression was solemn, but she had already made a quick decision in her heart.

He immediately summoned his generals, his eyes blazing, "Gentlemen, the barbarians are coming with fierce force, but this is our golden opportunity to repel them in one fell swoop. Follow me and attack!"

After speaking, Zhu Xiong Ying waved his hand, signaling the troops to immediately assemble and await orders.

Xiao Li immediately suggested from the side, "Crown Prince, after defeating the barbarians this time, if we can take advantage of the momentum to pursue them, we will surely inflict heavy losses on the enemy army and force them to retreat back into the city."

Zhu Xiong Ying considered it briefly and nodded in agreement, saying, "Your insightful words are exactly what I was thinking."

His gaze swept over the generals beside him, and he added, "Be sure to follow Xiao Li's instructions to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Xiao Qiu, standing to the side, remained calm and fearless, rushing to the front of the group.

He stood before the soldiers and encouraged them in a loud voice: "Gentlemen, the safety of the Ming Dynasty's borders rests entirely on this. We must step forward and defend it to the death!"

As the bugle sounded again, the army rushed to the front lines.

The sounds of war drums and shouts echoed in the night sky, making one's blood boil.

Facing such a large-scale battle for the first time, Xiao Qiu's heart was pounding in her chest.

Despite his composure, he couldn't hide his inner unease.

The battle was extremely fierce. Amidst the flashing swords and the clash of blades, the two armies fought back and forth, creating a scene of blood and carnage that resembled a hellish landscape.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Xiao Qiu decided to step forward herself to encourage the soldiers.

But when he faced the brutality of the battlefield, he was instantly overwhelmed by the blood-red landscape, felt a wave of dizziness, and almost fell off his horse.

"Xiaoqiu!"

With quick reflexes, Xiao Li immediately grabbed Xiao Qiu's arm to steady him and prevent him from losing his composure in front of everyone.

With her mind steadied, Xiao Qiu pushed away the unbearable dizziness and managed to stand up.

He took a deep breath and solemnly said to the soldiers watching him with concern, "I'm sorry, I'm fine. Please don't be distracted."

Xiao Qiu's heart remained unsettled for a long time, overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness.

Why is war always so tragic?

These questions kept swirling in his mind, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

At this moment, he was certain of one thing: no matter how difficult it was, he would fight to the end for the Ming Dynasty and for these soldiers.

The tide of battle gradually turned, and Zhu Xiong Ying demonstrated outstanding command skills. Under his command, the enemy forces suffered successive defeats and eventually collapsed completely.

Li's pursuit strategy was thus put into practice, forcing the barbarians to retreat.

"A resounding victory indeed!"

Old Zhang patted Zhu Xiong Ying on the shoulder excitedly, feeling very proud, but at the same time he could vaguely see Xiao Qiu's perseverance and determination.

(End of this chapter)