Chapter 205: Hard Training, the Prince is Weak

Chapter 205: Hard Training, the Prince is Weak

Chapter 205: Hard Training, the Prince is Weak

September is the beginning of autumn.
But the midday sun was still scorching, as if the power of summer was still lingering, baking the earth golden and hot.

Under the scorching sun, the soldiers of the front army scout unit stopped training.

They were wearing heavy armor, holding long spears and short blades, and were resting in the shade of the trees around the parade ground.

Sweat trickled down their faces.

It flowed down the cheeks and chin, and finally dripped onto the dry land, evaporating without a trace in an instant.

Under the armor, the clothes were already soaked and stuck tightly to the body, revealing the discomfort.

The soldiers were either sitting or lying down, wiping the sweat from their foreheads with their sleeves, breathing heavily, their faces flushed red.

The same is true for Lu Yunyi, but his physique is much better than that of the soldier.

Still able to move, he wandered around the training grounds.
Urge the soldiers to stand up and go to the north side of the parade ground to replenish salt water.
There were nearly twenty large vats there, five of which contained salt water, and the rest contained cool water.

Although it is autumn, the sun is still scorching.

If soldiers were to train under the sun and suffer from heat stroke or even heat stroke, it would not be worth it.

Lu Yunyi only has these five thousand soldiers he can rely on, and he would be heartbroken for a long time if one of them died.

More and more soldiers stood up unsteadily.
Although they had replenished their water several times during the exercise, they still felt thirsty and rushed to the drinking water.

Lu Yunyi walked while holding a loud speaker and shouting:

"After drinking the water, I cleaned myself up, changed into clean clothes and had lunch. I had roast duck and boiled mutton.
Brothers, please don't be polite. Eat as much as you can.
When you start training, you need to eat better to avoid hurting your body."

Ok?
The soldiers who were still standing there and didn't want to move opened their eyes wide.
He stood up quickly and hurried to line up.

It is said that roast duck is a way of eating that originated in the palace, and His Majesty likes it very much.

They came from all over the world, and they had never even seen it, let alone eat it!
Li Jinglong, however, had no dignity at all as a duke at this moment, and lay sprawled under the shade of a tree.
There were four guards standing beside him, fanning him with large cattail leaves.
Li Jinglong's chest kept heaving, he sneezed from time to time, and his nose was runny.

Hearing the call, Li Jinglong turned his head from facing east to face west.

Looking at Lu Yunyi who was still full of energy, he couldn't help feeling a little despair.

They can run so fast! These people can run so fast!
After running for a whole morning and falling behind to rest several times, he still felt broken.
At this moment, Xu Zengshou, his face flushed, ran over.

He handed over a large bowl of salt water and said with a chuckle:
"Brother Jinglong, get up and drink some water.
The general said that in hot weather, if you don’t replenish your body with salt water in time after strenuous activities, you may die.”

Huh? Li Jinglong was startled by what he said and quickly got up.

He took the salt water with some suspicion, took a sip, and immediately frowned.

"Drink it quickly, you'll get used to it." Xu Zengshou urged.

Li Jinglong hesitated for a moment, frowned, and drank the salt water in one gulp.

"Do you usually practice like this?"

Li Jinglong sat on the ground, moved his body slightly, leaned against the tree and asked.

"I don't run on weekdays, I just do some sword-wielding and arm and leg exercises.
This is not about going to the southwest to fight, the training method must also change,

Otherwise, the soldiers will not be able to adapt and will die on the battlefield."

Li Jinglong had a strange look on his face. Seeing Xu Zengshou speaking seriously, he couldn't help but wonder in his heart, is this still the idiot Xu Zigong from the capital?
Li Jinglong was not concerned about Xu Zengshou's changes.

He was concerned about whether they would still have to practice in the afternoon, so he asked:
"It's time to take a break in the afternoon."

Xu Zengshou looked strange:

"How is that possible? Could it be that the enemy only comes to fight in the morning and not in the afternoon?"

Li Jinglong pursed his lips, choking and unable to speak. He sighed and asked:

"The sun is very strong in the afternoon. What if I get sunburned to death?"

Xu Zengshou raised his eyebrows at him and gave him a reassuring look:

"Don't worry, Brother Jinglong, Lord Lu has considered everything.

We'll take a two-hour break at noon.

Wait until the sun is about to set before practicing to avoid the scorching sun."

Hearing this, Li Jinglong's face darkened and he rolled his eyes.
Just lying on the ground, not wanting to talk.

Not far away, Xu Yungong and Deng Zhen, who had watched the whole morning's training, looked surprised and serious.

Both of them folded their hands over their chests, looking thoughtful.

Deng Zhen asked tentatively:

"Why do I feel that Lu Yunyi's training is more methodical?"

Xu Yungong stood aside and nodded in agreement:

"It's the first time I've seen such neat steps.

That slogan is also good and catchy.
You can let the other guards in the capital give it a try."

Deng Zhen looked thoughtful and said:

"This is a small matter. I think this method can be used on the infantry formation of the ceremonial guard.
Let your majesty and all the civil and military officials take a look."

"Let's try it now."

"Walk."

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye it was September 12, the 21st year of Hongwu.

This day, before dawn,

The entire Puzikou City was completely silent, and the front scouts had already lit many torches.
Faint lights lit up one by one between the tents, like starlight, gradually converging into a sea of ​​light.

The soldiers who had rested early opened their eyes one after another.

They quickly washed, put on their armor, and walked out of their tents in an orderly manner.

Their figures were vaguely visible in the dim firelight, and no one spoke.
After breakfast, the soldiers began to assemble quickly, moving swiftly and silently.

They lined up in an orderly manner.

The long-separated warhorses have been led out, and the familiar sound of horse hooves can be heard.

Maybe it's been a long time since I last saw my master.

The war horses were so excited that they kept running and snorting.

The slightly stiff tail bristle swings back and forth, indicating excitement.

Until this time, the sun began to peek out from the horizon, revealing a faint dawn light.

Lu Yunyi, who was at the front of the team, slowly opened his eyes.

Two days of training made his skin dark again, but it could not hide the sharpness in his eyes.

The day of the martial arts performance will be three days later, and today is also the day for martial arts training.

Lu Yunyi waved his hand gently, holding a loudspeaker, and spoke in a calm and peaceful voice:
"Set off."

As he spoke, the messenger beside him waved the flag continuously.

The camp gate was opened by the soldiers, making a slow and heavy sound.

The main road inside the military town of Puzikou City was revealed, and the soldiers began to move, slowly leaving the military camp.

At the same time, many camps in Puzikou City were opened one after another.

Soldiers poured out from inside, including infantry and cavalry.

Not far away, many guards from the Five Military Commandery were already waiting in the camp, quietly watching the Northern Expedition Army leave and head for the large parade ground in the north of the city.

When the northern expeditionary army had all left,
The Shouzhong Guard and Shen Ce Guard, which belonged to the Central Army Commandery, also left Puzikou City and followed behind to ensure that the army on the northern expedition did not make any unusual movements.

On the south bank of the Puzikou River, near the north gate of Yingtian City,
Guangyang Guard and Yingtian Guard were also waiting there, waiting to lead the ceremonial guards for the northern expedition.

This will form a pincer attack from the front and back.

If there are any unusual movements among these 20,000 troops, they can be stopped immediately.

After nearly an hour of tossing and turning, the sky was already bright.

The front scouts had just arrived at the large parade ground in the south of the city.
Compared to the small parade ground in Yingtian City, the large parade ground in the south of the city is several times larger.
Lu Yunyi roughly estimated that the length and width should be two hundred feet each, and should be able to accommodate four or five hundred thousand people.

When he saw a troop of soldiers training in the training ground, he was stunned.
I saw that the three or four thousand people were marching in neat rows.

He was shouting slogans "one, two, one".

Compared to the messy appearance of other soldiers, this army seemed quite organized.

The other front-line scouts were also shocked.
Lu Yunyi couldn't help but stretch out his hand and scratch his head.

Two days ago, Lord Shen told him that this method was very good and should be implemented in the army.
But I didn't expect it to be so fast. I had already started practicing in just two days. "Brother Yun'er, they have taken all the limelight.
I was thinking about showing off our skills while we wait for the guards of honor."

Liu Heiying was feeling indignant and couldn't help muttering.

Lu Yunyi laughed:
"The rules of the ceremonial guards are set in advance and rehearsed in advance, so there can't be any mistakes.
If you suddenly do something like this, we two brothers might lose our heads.”

Li Jinglong, the Duke of Cao, who was standing on one side, also laughed:
"Black Hawk, even though you have thick skin and strong flesh, you can't stand up to that beheading sword."

After two days of training, Li Jinglong's skin became darker.
He was no longer as handsome as before, but seemed more resolute and his voice was louder.

He is about the same age as Liu Heiying, and the two get along well.

Liu Heiying curled his lips and said, "Then I will say that it was Duke Cao who ordered it, and I will chop you off first."

Li Jinglong laughed loudly, not caring at all about the solemn atmosphere in the parade ground:
"Your Majesty is my great-uncle, so we can be considered as royal relatives.

Although I was defeated for the time being, I still had to stand in the back when the heads were chopped off, and Brother Black Hawk had to chop them off first."

Liu Heiying curled his lips and muttered:

"You are so ungrateful. You are a duke. If you fall, we won't even be considered a poor family."

Li Jinglong was stunned and laughed again:

"Brother Black Hawk, you don't know how expensive firewood, rice, oil and salt are until you run a household.
My Caoguo Mansion relies on the legacy of our ancestors. There is no room for advancement and we can only go downhill. You, on the other hand, have great potential.”

As he spoke, Li Jinglong showed some emotion:

"My father once said that the days of following Your Majesty to conquer the world were the happiest.
But once he conquered the world, his original ambitions and aspirations disappeared, his energy and spirit were gone, and his physical problems increased.

Those old military marquises died of old age after the founding of the country, and the familiar faces disappeared.
Although my father was young at that time, he looked like a sixty-year-old man and was depressed and unhappy.

When I inherited the title, I stood at the top of the Ming Dynasty. There was no more room for advancement or titles.

I live a life just like my father.

But you are different, full of vigor and vitality,
There are countless merits waiting for you to achieve, countless official positions waiting for you to seize, there is hope."

Li Jinglong was thinking of something and suddenly became very mature, which made Liu Heiying look strange.

He was still young and could not understand what Li Jinglong was thinking. In his opinion,

Li Jinglong was a high-ranking official, and his family had more than a million in silver.

Do whatever you want and live freely.

Not only Liu Heiying, Lu Yunyi also couldn't empathize with Li Jinglong's mental state.

Just as he said, there are so many official positions ahead of him and countless things waiting for him to take care of.

Liu Heiying thought for a long time but still couldn't figure it out, so he patted his stomach and laughed:
"Duke Cao, we must make great achievements this time.

Let's have a taste of what it's like to be a duke in our lifetime, and then we can grieve over the past years together."

Li Jinglong was stunned, and suddenly a smile appeared on his lips, and he laughed out loud again.

"It's really interesting. Being with you guys is much more interesting than being in Yingtian.

Brother Black Hawk, you don't know.

There is no one in the world who does not want to be a duke.
But you have to pretend to be secretive and uninterested. How hypocritical! "

Liu Heiying disagreed and curled his lips:

"What's the big deal? A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier. What's wrong with talking about it?"

"That's right, that's right, this is a wonderful statement."

Li Jinglong felt that although he had been tired these days,
But it is more enjoyable than these years.
At least you don't have to put on such a modest and gentlemanly appearance.

At this time, Liu Heiying rummaged in his pocket.

Then he took out a small Buddhist bead and handed it over. It was a bracelet that couldn't be simpler.

"Hey, this is a unique piece from Tianjie Temple. We should be considerate of it."

Li Jinglong was stunned and blinked, not understanding what the Tianjie Temple's only piece meant for a moment.

Liu Heiying explained:

"I bought this with Brother Yun'er at the Tianjie Temple last time. This broken bead costs fifty coins. I'll give it to you."

Li Jinglong took it hesitantly, and looked it over in front of his eyes.
The more I look at it, the more I like it, and I feel very happy.

Lu Yunyi watched quietly from the side, observing carefully.
Although Li Jinglong was a high-ranking official and experienced, he was still a child under 20 years old.

Just as the three of them were talking happily, a loud roar suddenly came from the front.
"The front scouts, listen up and go to the training ground for martial arts practice!"

Lu Yunyi looked in the direction of the voice, his eyes slightly narrowed.

The messenger was holding the brass trumpet that had come from his hand.

Without any hesitation, Lu Yunyi also raised the loudspeaker in his hand and shouted:

"All soldiers, listen up! Enter the training ground and maintain formation!"

The next moment, soldiers led by Lu Yunyi rushed out.

The sound of war horses' hooves began to sound, from slow to fast, and then a little bit faster.

Unlike the scattered and disorderly soldiers,

The troop assembly and rapid march was something the scouts of the front army had practiced long ago.

The purpose is to make most of the horse's hooves land on the ground at the same time on the battlefield to reduce the mess.

This would disrupt the enemy and cause them to misjudge the number of scouts in the front line.

This move yielded a lot of gains in several battles.
The enemy often thinks that the front scouts do not have that many soldiers.
But in fact, the real soldiers were hidden in the sound of horse hooves.

The sound of "dong dong dong" rang out on the training ground.

Lu Yunyi was in high spirits as he sat on a warhorse again after such a long time.
Not only him, looking around, the soldiers around him all had excited expressions.

Suddenly, Lu Yunyi's eyes focused and he saw several figures on the viewing platform not far away.
His vision was excellent, and he could see the figures of General Lan Yu and Duke of Shen Deng Zhen at a glance.

And there are the Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, who are in the middle and only met once!

At this moment, they all raised their hands and held the telescope in front of their eyes.

Obviously, he was observing the soldiers on the parade ground.

Lu Yunyi's heart sank, and he spoke loudly:
"Everyone, pay attention. His Majesty and the Crown Prince are here. Be alert and don't lose face!"

For a moment, the relaxed formation of the front scouts suddenly became cold.

As they marched, they already showed the outline of a battle formation, exuding a fierce murderous intent.

On the viewing platform, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang held a telescope and spoke calmly:
"This telescope is indeed a good thing, and it will be of great help to the military.
If I had this thing to observe the water level on Poyang Lake, Han Cheng and the others would not have died trying to save me."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was hollow, echoing in the viewing platform, and all around was silent.

Zhu Biao still closed one eye and spoke lightly:
"Father, I have already asked the Ministry of Works to manufacture 200 of them. Once they are completed, they will be sent to the southwest."

"Well, we should take care of the southwest first and let Mu Ying fight well. Don't lose face for the Ming Dynasty."

"Don't worry, Father. Marquis Xiping is a master at using troops. He will surely defeat Silunfa in one fell swoop."

"Well, the young man next to Jiujiang is Lu Yunyi?" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked.

The prince did not go looking for them, because his sights were also fixed on the scouts at the front, so he immediately spoke:
"Reporting to the Emperor, that is right.
Jiujiang heard that Yun Gong had made some achievements in his army,

I rushed over in a hurry. After two days of training, I feel much more energetic. "

"Oh, that's what a man should be like. It's not manly to be clean and white all day long."

Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang realized something, and immediately looked away, glancing sideways at the prince:
"I'm not talking about you."

Zhu Biao looked down, his eyes fixed:
"I know. I have started exercising recently."

"Oh? Your contribution?"

Zhu Yuanzhang then looked at Lan Yu, with the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, as if expressing his excitement.

Lan Yu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is busy with government affairs all day long. He really needs to exercise more and rest more."

Zhu Yuanzhang cast his eyes towards the prince:

"Well, Prince, these are your uncle's sincere words.
When I was young, I was strong and sturdy, and no one could get close to me.
You have only lived for so long, you should practice hard."

"Yes, yes, Father is right. Look, Father, it's about to begin."

The prince's perfunctory intention is self-evident.

Zhu Yuanzhang curled his lips:
"You are getting more and more disobedient as you grow older."

(End of this chapter)