252: Chapter 253 The Yisibaxi Army, the Rebellion in Quanzhou

Lu Chen's gaze finally withdrew from the distant west and slowly fell on Chen Youding.

Chen Youding felt as if he were being pressed down by a great mountain, making even breathing difficult.

"Chen Youding," Lu Chen spoke, his voice still calm.

"I am here!" Chen Youding looked up sharply, his voice loud, attempting to hide his inner nervousness.

"You did well regarding the Quanzhou matter," Lu Chen said. "The Ispah, those jumping clowns, were well-exterminated."

Chen Youding's heart shuddered, and he quickly said: "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's heavenly might, I dare not take the credit!"

Lu Chen nodded slightly, his gaze passing over Chen Youding and falling on Zhang Dingbian behind him.

Zhang Dingbian's body shook and he lowered his eyes, like a silent iron tower.

Lu Chen didn't say much, turning his gaze to the Azure Dragon Army banner and the hundred thousand silent, standing elite iron cavalry beneath it.

His voice suddenly rose, no longer just majestic, but carrying the clanging sound of iron horses and golden spears, spreading throughout the military formation:

"Azure Dragon Army!"

"Roar!"

The hundred thousand soldiers of the Azure Dragon Army suddenly straightened their chests and let out a heaven-shaking roar, waves of sound rolling out and dispersing the silence from before.

"You all suppressed the Semu rebels in Quanzhou, displayed the prestige of our Ming Kingdom, and achieved great merit!"

"Now!" Lu Chen changed the subject, pointing his finger toward the southwest.

"The land we are about to step foot on is—the Ilkhanate!"

"I hope the Azure Dragon Army can continue its efforts and achieve new merits!"

"For the Ming! For Your Majesty!!" someone shouted first.

"For the Ming! For Your Majesty!!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!!"

The shouts of "kill" were like a tsunami, wave after wave, unending. The soldiers struck their shields with their weapons, making a dull and heart-stopping thunderous sound.

Even the Mongol cavalry, who had just been in awe of Lu Chen, were infected by this fanatical atmosphere and began to howl excitedly, waving their scimitars.

The Marquis of Dongliao and the Marquis of West Yu looked at each other, their throats a bit dry; they seemed to understand why this Ming Emperor was so young yet could unify the world.

This kind of soul-stirring power was too terrifying.

Lu Chen raised his hand and pressed down lightly.

The clamorous waves of sound miraculously subsided, leaving only heavy breathing and the whistling wind.

Everyone's gaze focused on that black-clothed figure in mid-air.

Lu Chen's eyes turned cold, like the Siberian winter wind.

"Those semu people," his voice wasn't high, yet it carried a bone-chilling hatred, "are just a pack of ungrateful white-eyed wolves!"

"Think back then, Pu Shougeng of Quanzhou in the Southern Song. As a Song official, receiving a Song salary, he slaughtered over three thousand members of the Southern Song Zhao Imperial Clan! He opened the city gates to surrender, leading the tartars into the city!"

"How shameless! How malicious!"

Mentioning past events, many Han sons in the military formation clenched their fists, fire igniting in their eyes.

This history of humiliation was a pain carved into their bones.

"Our Ming raised troops to expel the tartars and restore China!" Lu Chen's voice became more impassioned. "But these semu people, instead of repenting, helped the tyrant."

"They secretly accumulated strength in Quanzhou, formed private armies, and attempted to establish an Islamic State to split our Huaxia territory!"

"Their hearts deserve execution! Their crimes deserve extermination!"

"These semu people enslaved our Huaxia people on behalf of the former Yuan, lording over us for nearly a hundred years!"

"However, since the Yuan Court has already repented and returned this world to my Ming, and the Mongol soldiers are also doing their utmost in this western expedition! Very well!"

"But these semu people, their crimes are unpardonable!"

"Now, we are coming to their door, precisely to settle these blood debts one by one!"

Lu Chen paused, his gaze like a knife, sweeping across the angry or excited faces below.

"In this campaign, the goal is clear!"

His voice was decisive and beyond doubt.

"Every single semu official of the Ilkhanate, kill them all!"

"Every single charlatan in the temples throughout the Ilkhanate, except for the Persian Manichaeism that has already submitted to our Central Plains Ming Cult, kill them all!"

"Every single wealthy semu merchant across the Ilkhanate who hoards for speculation and oppresses the people, kill them all!"

Three consecutive "kill" words, like three bolts of thunder, struck everyone's heart.

Killing Intent!

Unmasked Killing Intent!

Bone-chillingly cold, it permeated the entire wilderness.

Even the clouds on the horizon seemed to be stained with a layer of blood by this Killing Intent.

Chen Youding, Zhang Dingbian, Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, and others all lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at the Emperor who now seemed like a God of Slaughter descended to earth.

Lu Chen's voice rang out again, like a final judgment: "I only want results!"

"In this battle, the evil must be completely eradicated!"

"Pull out these tumors that have occupied the Western Regions and caused chaos for a hundred years by the roots, and wipe them out completely!"

"Let this land, from now on, only echo the voice of our Huaxia and only obey the commands of our Ming!"

"Do you understand?!"

"Roar—!!!"

This time, the response was no longer a simple acceptance of orders, but the bloodthirsty desire and soaring Battle Intent of hundreds of thousands of soldiers that could no longer be suppressed!

Killing Intent, Battle Intent, and absolute worship of the Emperor mixed together, forming a suffocatingly terrifying aura.

The Marquis of Dongliao and the Marquis of West Yu felt their legs trembling again, but this time, it wasn't out of fear, but excitement!

The Ming Emperor had acknowledged them, these surrendered generals! The tens of thousands of Mongol soldiers who died during this western expedition were worth it.

From now on, whether they be semu people or charlatan merchants, before the Mongol scimitars, they were all lambs to be slaughtered!

"We obey the decree!"

The Marquis of Dongliao and the Marquis of West Yu were the first to respond loudly, their voices trembling slightly with excitement.

"We obey the decree!"

Chen Youding, Zhang Dingbian, Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, and others roared in unison.

"We obey the decree!!!"

The roar of hundreds of thousands of soldiers shot straight into the clouds, as if to tear the sky apart!

Lu Chen nodded with satisfaction.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

When dealing with these alien races with deep roots, different faiths, and diverse cultures, kindness is useless; only iron and blood can make them truly understand awe!

Otherwise, the disaster of Pu Shougeng in Quanzhou would be a warning not far behind!

His gaze once again turned toward the southwest, the land that was about to be swept by the flames of war.

This time, Lu Chen didn't speak again, his figure slowly descending.

Behind him, the four peerless Imperial Concubines also drifted down like Fairies.

Not until the feet of the five touched the solid ground did that god-like pressure enveloping the field weaken slightly.

But the hundreds of thousands of soldiers still maintained their standing posture, their gazes fanatically following that black-clothed figure.

Chen Youding quickly stepped forward a few paces, wanting to report the specific marching plan.

Lu Chen waved his hand, walked to the table spread with a map, and his finger swept across it casually, "Advance in three columns."

"But the speed must be fast!"

"I give you one month."

His finger finally landed on the capital of the Ilkhanate—Tabriz.

"In one month, I want to see our Ming's Dragon Flag atop the walls of Tabriz!"

The generals' hearts shuddered.

Flatten the Ilkhanate in one month?

This goal could only be described as insane!

The Ilkhanate had a vast territory and was by no means a weakling; its cities were fortified and its terrain complex.

In one month, even with day and night marches, just the marching alone might not reach Tabriz!

But looking at Lu Chen's calm yet unquestionable gaze, no one dared to raise an objection.

"We will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!" Chen Youding said through gritted teeth.

"Within one month, we shall conquer Tabriz!"