As the bright flags of the sun and moon danced, 80,000 cavalry left the camp and headed north. The remaining troops changed their formations and followed suit.
Zhu Biao then stepped down from the high platform. Li Shanchang led the officials from the six ministries and bowed to Zhu Biao and said: "May Your Highness return in triumph and regain the homeland of Yanyun for our Ming Dynasty!"
Zhu Biao also politely said a few words to the civil servants, and then the three brothers of the Zhu family couldn't help but jump out. The three boys looked at their brother in gold armor with admiration. They felt excited just now when they were listening in the audience.
It was so bad that my voice became hoarse.
Zhu Biao smiled and patted his brothers on the head and said: "Second brother and third child, you two should learn from Uncle Xu and don't get angry. If you behave well, I will give you two good horses when I come back!"
Zhu Xi and Zhu Fan both nodded quickly. There was no shortage of good horses wherever the eldest brother went. Uncle Xu brought back quite a few from the last Northern Expedition. Unfortunately, the horses they got were not the best horses. The eldest brother has always been generous to them. They will definitely be able to do it this time.
Bring them the best.
Zhu Biao saw Xu Da leading the noble generals over, looked at Zhu Biao and said with a smile: "Your Highness is here to make immortal achievements. I wish His Highness success immediately!"
Zhu Biao said sternly: "The predecessors planted trees for future generations to enjoy the shade. I would also like to thank Uncle Xu."
Xu Da's face straightened and he said: "Those are all your Majesty's achievements. I am just a warrior leading troops."
Zhu Biao talked to Xu Da for a while, and then he saw Xu Da glance at Zhu Di next to him. Zhu Biao smiled and said, "I will take the fourth child with me. Uncle Xu, don't worry."
Then Zhu Biao led Zhu Di onto the horse, and then he bowed his hands to the Manchu civil and military officials on the side, and set off under the escort of 30,000 pro-army troops.
The army moved very slowly, especially the logistics troops, who carried siege equipment.
Two hundred thousand people came out in force, smoke and dust were everywhere along the way, and birds and animals were scattered everywhere they passed.
It is not easy to lead so many people. Fortunately, he does not need to worry about the affairs of the soldiers below. Otherwise, how many of the 200,000 people can he watch?
Zhu Biao was in charge of the general, and they were responsible for the rest. Zhu Biao sent Zhu Di to look after the grain and grass in the rear, and ordered the army to stop making noise and to act according to the commander's flag.
The soldiers and horses went ahead without moving the food and grass. The army only carried a month's food and grass, and the rest had already been transported to Shuntian Mansion by water. If something happened to this month's food and grass, the soldiers below would be hungry and might loot along the way.
All villages and towns.
Zhu Biao was sitting in the central army and was escorted by 30,000 personal troops. Zhu Biao did not bring a carriage and could only ride a horse along the way. However, he had been riding a lot recently, and the skin on his inner thighs was already very strong.
After marching for half a day, Zhu Biao took the water bag from Liu Jin, took a sip and said: "It's almost done. Instruct the flag bearer to order the whole army to bury the pots to make rice and rest for an hour."
After Liu Jin accepted the promise, he immediately told Zhu Biao what he wanted to say, and walked for another three quarters of an hour before the army stopped. There was no way, there were too many people, and it would take time to convey the order level by level.
The pro-army troops on the side immediately began to set up a military tent. After Zhu Biao walked in, more than ten generals walked in soon. After paying homage to Zhu Biao, they found a seat and sat down.
Zhu Biao asked: "What happened to the ban on noise in the army?"
Wang Zhi, the Marquis of Liu'an, returned: "Military orders have been issued. No noise is allowed during the march. Anyone who disturbs the morale of the army by making noise for no reason will be whipped fifty times!"
Zhu Biao nodded. Making noise in the ancient army was a serious crime, especially during marches and battles. These soldiers were uneducated and could easily believe rumors.
If we let it go, tomorrow it will be reported that the prince has hundreds of women in his tent, eating, drinking and having fun every night...
After a while, food was served, including steamed buns, porridge, and dried meat. This was the food for the generals. As for ordinary soldiers, before marching, they would carry a long cloth bag filled with rice, wheat, and sorghum.
Waiting for food. When the fire is on, each person takes out a handful, cooks a pot and eats it together. When there is no condition to turn on the fire, just grab a handful and eat it raw.
This kind of food can be eaten for about four or five days, and then Huotou Camp will make perforated sesame cakes that are easy to carry. After the round cakes are cooked, a small hole is poked in the middle, and strings are strung together, so that they can be carried on the march.
Generally, veterans will save some dried pickles and some vinegar cloth for themselves. They soak the cloth repeatedly in vinegar and salt and then dry it in the sun. Then they can get "vinegar cloth". When the frontline sergeant goes on an expedition, he only needs to bring a piece of cloth with him.
When eating, cut off a piece of cloth and boil it with military rations, and you will have rice with vinegar and salt.
And if you are lucky and encounter large areas of wild vegetables or animals, you can improve your food. If you march for half a month and there is enough food and grass inside and outside the enemy, the generals will order a good meal, which can be regarded as stabilizing the morale of the army.
After finishing the meal, Zhu Biao personally led the people around again to see how the horses were eating.
Then, when the time came, the army continued to move forward until it got dark, and then the order was given to set up camp on the spot.
Many of today's soldiers suffer from night blindness, which makes it easy for them to get into trouble when marching at night.
Zhu Biao arranged for Lan Yu to inspect the night, and then called Zhu Di to have a meal together. After the meal, Liu Jin took out snacks from somewhere. The two brothers talked for a while and then fell asleep together. Quan Xu
The leader was on duty outside the tent.
From now on, the march will be like today, starting at dawn, resting for an hour at noon, and resting as soon as it gets dark.
Many soldiers among them broke the commandments, made noises, fought, and stole money. The most serious one was when a team of scouts met a couple who went to the mountains to pick wild vegetables. They uttered obscene words and were scolded by their husbands.
He actually killed someone and raped his wife!
The scouts from the other two teams who returned to the camp to report after completing their spying discovered that they knew they had violated military regulations and were about to run away. Two of them were shot dead and then captured and taken back to the camp.
This made Zhu Biao very angry, but since the dead could not be resurrected, he had to order people to collect the bodies of the couple first, and then sent people to nearby villages to investigate.
Those who committed the crime knew they were facing death, but they looked calm, and their eyes showed numbness and pleasure.
After a while, all the generals arrived at the tent, and Chang Yuchun said: "These dogs violated the military prohibition. Please order the general to behead them in public!"
When Guangde Hou Huagao entered the tent, he knelt down to apologize. Those people were all his subordinates.
Zhu Biao said with a cold expression: "Of course they will die. General Hua is not strict in his rule. He will get ten military sticks in one go!"
Hua Gao breathed a sigh of relief. He thought the prince would use him to establish his authority!
After a while, Quan Xu came in and reported: "Come back to the general, the deceased is a citizen of Liuli Village. We have asked the village elder to come here to verify it."
Zhu Biao sighed and said: "Invite the village elder to come to the big tent!"
After a while, several young people came in supporting an old man. They all looked scared and even walked a little unsteadily.
