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

Chapter 836 The Most Elite Troops of the Ming Dynasty

"Interesting, very interesting!" Zhu Xiong Ying suddenly burst into laughter. "I want to see what kind of magic the Byzantine Empire possesses!" His warlike genes began to boil again.

He immediately summoned his generals to discuss the northern expedition against Byzantium.

"Your Majesty, the Byzantine Empire is a force to be reckoned with. Sending troops rashly could be unwise," the Minister of War cautiously advised.

"Nonsense!" Zhu Xiong Ying slammed his fist on the table and roared, "My army is invincible! What is there to fear from a mere Byzantium! Issue the order to assemble the army and prepare for the Northern Expedition!"

Seeing that the emperor had made up his mind, the generals dared not persuade him any further and had no choice but to obey and leave.

Zhu Xiong Ying watched his generals depart, a cold smile playing on his lips. He already had a plan in mind: he would bring the Byzantine Empire under his control and make the whole world submit to him!

……

Preparations for the Northern Expedition were proceeding at full speed. Zhu Xiong Ying mobilized the most elite troops of the Ming Dynasty, equipped them with the most advanced weapons and equipment, and even equipped the army with poison arrows captured from Native Americans, just in case.

At the same time, he also sent envoys to the Byzantine Empire, ostensibly for a friendly visit, but in reality to gather intelligence.

Upon their arrival in the Byzantine Empire, the delegation received a warm welcome. The Byzantine emperor hosted a banquet in their honor and personally led the delegation on a tour of their cities and factories.

The envoys were awestruck by the technological prowess of the Byzantine Empire. The towering steel buildings, bustling factories, and the massive steam-powered ships and chariots filled them with awe.

They recorded everything they saw and heard and secretly sent it back to the Ming Dynasty.

After receiving the intelligence, Zhu Xiong Ying gained a clearer understanding of the Byzantine Empire's technological strength. He realized that this war would be a tough one.

"Looks like I'll have to show some real skills," Zhu Xiong Ying muttered to himself.

……

Several months later, the Ming army marched north in a grand procession.

The Byzantine Empire had long been prepared for war.

The two armies met on a vast plain.

War is about to break out.

The Ming army, with its superior military force, quickly broke through the Byzantine Empire's defenses.

Although the Byzantine Empire's steam-powered war chariots and flying machines were powerful, they proved utterly ineffective against the overwhelming force of the Ming army.

Zhu Xiong Ying took the lead, charging into battle with his army, striking fear into the hearts of the enemy wherever he went.

The Emperor's Sword in his hand was so sharp it could cut through iron like mud, slaying countless enemies.

Seeing that all was lost, the Byzantine emperor had no choice but to lead his remaining troops to flee north.

Zhu Xiong Ying led his army in pursuit and eventually captured the Byzantine emperor.

With this, the Byzantine Empire was completely destroyed.

Zhu Xiong Ying stood in the capital of the Byzantine Empire, looking down at the subjugated Byzantine people, his heart filled with pride.

He felt that he was the king of this world and could control everything.

"From this day forward, this is my territory!" Zhu Xiong Ying declared loudly.

However, just as Zhu Xiong Ying was basking in the joy of victory, an even more shocking piece of news arrived.

In the far north, an even more powerful empire is rising... This empire calls itself "Rakshasa," and they possess even more terrifying power...

Moreover, the emperor of this Rakshasa Empire was actually a woman...

Zhu Xiong Ying stood in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, with a vast, kneeling mass of Byzantine subjects at his feet. He laughed arrogantly, his imperial sword pointing diagonally to the sky, and roared with unparalleled arrogance: "From this day forward, this is my territory!"

His ego swelled to the point of bursting, as if the whole world lay prostrate at his feet, at his mercy. The glorious achievements of conquering Byzantium and capturing their emperor made him so intoxicated that he almost forgot who he was.

Just then, a scout came running up, stumbling and terrified: "Your Majesty...something terrible has happened!"

Zhu Xiong Ying frowned impatiently. What a spoilsport! "What trivial matter dares to disturb my enjoyment?"

The scout trembled as he pulled a parchment scroll from his robes and handed it to him with trembling hands: "In the north... a powerful empire has emerged in the north... calling itself... Rakshasa..."

Zhu Xiong Ying snatched the parchment scroll, glanced at it hastily, and saw some strange, crooked symbols drawn on it that he couldn't understand at all. "What Rakshasa? It's like scribbling nonsense! Take it back and rewrite it!"

The scout was terrified and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, this...this is the script of the Rakshasa Kingdom...their envoy...sent a letter of state..."

"An envoy? A letter of state?" Zhu Xiong Ying was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. "Outrageous! I have just conquered Byzantium, and they dare to send a letter of state? Are they here to pay homage?"

The scout, his face contorted with despair, cried out, "No...it's not a court greeting...it's...it's a declaration of war..."

"A challenge?!" Zhu Xiong Ying was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face. "Hahaha! Interesting! Truly interesting! I haven't even gone to them yet, and they've already delivered themselves to my doorstep! Good! Very good! I'd like to see just who this Rakshasa Kingdom really is!"

He grabbed the scout and demanded sharply, "What's so powerful about this Rakshasa Kingdom? Who is their emperor?"

The scout answered tremblingly, "Your Majesty... the Rakshasa Kingdom... is very powerful... it is said... it is said that their emperor... is a woman..."

"A woman?" Zhu Xiong Ying's smile froze instantly, his eyes widening in disbelief. "A woman? Daring to challenge my authority? That's utterly delusional!"

A nameless fire rose within him. A woman as emperor—this was an utter disgrace to him! He felt deeply insulted, and he was determined to show this woman the consequences of challenging him!

"Pass down the order!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared, "Assemble the army and prepare for the northern expedition against the Russians!"

……

The Ming army set off again, marching northward in a grand procession.

This time, Zhu Xiong Ying's feelings were completely different from before. He had taken the conquest of Byzantium for granted, but facing the Russians, his heart was filled with anger and contempt. How strong could a country ruled by a woman be?

He even began to fantasize about how to humiliate the empress, making her kneel at his feet and beg for his forgiveness.

However, as the army advanced deeper into the north, he gradually discovered that things were not as simple as he had imagined.

The land of Russia was cold and desolate, covered in ice and snow, which the Ming army's horses and soldiers found difficult to adapt to. What made them even more uneasy was that they had not encountered any resistance along the way.

"What's going on?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked the general beside him in confusion. "Have all the Russians gone into hiding?"

An old general replied with deep concern, "Your Majesty, I feel something is amiss... Since the Russians dared to issue a challenge, they couldn't possibly flee without a fight... I'm afraid... I'm afraid they're setting an ambush..."

(End of this chapter)