Chapter 40: Array
After several days of continuous heavy snowfall, both inside and outside the capital city were a vast expanse of pure white.
For the literati, this kind of weather is perfect for gathering around the stove to admire the snow, appreciate plum blossoms, write poetry and compose lyrics - a most elegant and delightful pastime. For ordinary families, boiling pots, drinking hot wine, watching children build snowmen and have snowball fights outside the door, is also joyful harmony.
But for the poor households under the vast sky, or the refugees who have no land to stand on and no thatched cottage to shelter from the cold, such a snowy day is enough to be a fatal thing!
Before and after snowfall, it's just unknown how many people froze to death. After the snow stopped, under the accumulated snow, there were countless "road kills"!
As soon as the sky cleared, the runners of Shuntian Prefecture urged the able-bodied men from the villages to go out and collect corpses along the way. Not even a broken mat was left behind, just thrown onto the cart like that. A whole big cart full would be pulled outside the city and burned.
In the past, when the emperor issued a decree, various departments and Shuntian Prefecture as well as wealthy households in the city would set up congee factories. For refugees and common people, having a bowl of hot congee might be enough to survive.
This year is such a scene, and it's still unknown whether the great Ming dynasty can be preserved. The emperor is anxious to the point of jumping with rage, busy raising troops and supplies, who has time to care about these things?
As for the officials in various government departments, they have different thoughts and no one will bother with this matter at this time. Moreover, with this heavy snowfall, many people's minds are actually more at ease... Last spring, when the weather was not good, a major epidemic killed so many people? Until now, this epidemic has not been completely cured, and in places where there are slightly more people, outbreaks can occur at any time. With this heavier snow, even if more refugees die, it might be better for the eradication of the epidemic?
That's just how things are in this world, when your father dies and your mother remarries, everyone looks out for themselves...
The city was in a state of chaos, and people's hearts were even more anxious. The previous noisy and tumultuous rebel army had suddenly disappeared without a trace, and many high-ranking officials and nobles secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As for the commander of the Imperial Guards, Ruo Zhihui, he felt that he had achieved some merit in front of the Grand Scholar Chen Yan, and was somewhat self-satisfied.
As for the proposal by several military officers in Jin Yiwei to continue investigating the spies, Lu Xiang was also willing to agree. Anyway, there were no funds allocated, and all expenses had to be borne by those few people themselves. If a big case was cracked, the credit would still go to him, Lu Xiang...
As the head of the secret service, he is still so mediocre and idle, very careless. Among the hundred officials in the city, how many people can feel that under this calm surface, there are actually hidden turbulent waves?
……
……
Wei Yue stayed at home for two days, and in accordance with the crown prince's intention, he also helped Feng Kechang to add a name in the capital camp, so that he didn't have to be on duty, but when there was something to enter the palace to receive instructions, it would be more convenient.
After finishing these chores, Wei Yue was fully dressed in his armor and got up early this day. After practicing a set of punches, the sky had just begun to brighten, he had already changed into his clothes and rode his horse into the palace.
This man's heart is resolute, but in reality his innermost thoughts are hotter than anyone else's. His mind is full of plans and ideas, all centered around one day re-entering the Guan-Liao region to take revenge on the Tartars for the humiliation at Songshan.
The crown prince's words in the inner court warmed Wei Yue's heart more than anyone else's. Previously, he had been suppressing his feelings, but now that they were all gone, he naturally wanted to put his mind at ease and make a good impression on the crown prince. He hoped that he could do as the young master said and lead a great army to destroy the Jian slave tribe in the future, only then would he feel relieved.
With this in mind, he rushed all the way and entered the palace after checking the plaque. When he arrived at the foot of Wansui Mountain, it was only around 7:00-9:00 am. After reporting, he also breathed a sigh of relief.
It was a big step to flow stars, and when they arrived at the left side of Shou Huang Temple, there were already shouts inside, Wei Yue's expression tightened, took a deep breath, and looked towards the wide front yard of Shou Huang Temple - Inside it was indeed a scene of hot fire!
Everyone, including Li Gong and Wang Yuan among the hundred military officers, stood upright with their hands hanging straight down at both sides of their bodies, looking up with their heads held high, gazing forward. Although they saw him standing in front of the gate, usually these sworn brothers who were closer than real brothers didn't even dare to nod slightly!
The clothes on their bodies were not the long-gown arrow-sleeved uniforms of military officers, nor were they traditional mandarin duck battle jackets. Instead, each person wore a round fur hat with a green top and red tassels, a brand-new crimson jacket with a double lapel on top, and blue trousers below that had a gathered cuff just above the calf, making them look tight and neat, unlike ordinary straight-leg pants that hung down loosely. On each person's feet were shiny black leather boots that reached up to their calves... This outfit looked handsome and neat, similar to military uniforms of old but more fitted and streamlined. Over 300 people wore it, and it was a sight to behold, with a unique masculine beauty!
He didn't know that this was a new-style military uniform specially designed by Zhu Ciyan, and with just these few hundred people, the crown prince had plenty of silver in his hands, so he first used it on his own personal bodyguards.
Money should be spent on the blade, and spending money on these things doesn't make Zhu Cihong feel any heartache.
Only uniformity can embody the beauty of the army's utmost yang and utmost firmness!
Military uniform, formation, military song...... plus the iron-like military discipline represented by the military stick!
In addition to physical training and military quality, all of these elements constitute a complete modern army. Here, Zhu Ciyan wants to build such a strong army!
"Your subject Wei Yue, reporting for an audience with Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
The situation in front of him made Wei Yue, the best in the capital camp, not dare to be slow. He hurried forward and arrived at Zhu Ci's side, knocking his head and paying respects.
"In the future, in the army, you don't have to do this courtesy." Zhu Ciwen's face was cold and stern, at this moment he didn't have any of that warmth towards Wei Yue when they were on the city wall... He looked at Wei Yue and said: "You haven't changed your clothes, for now just stand aside and watch, wait until afternoon to join in the drill practice."
"Yes, I obey the crown prince's order!"
"In three days, I've learned a new stance. If it's not good enough, I'll change from the Three Army Stance to the Five Army Stance!" Zhu Ciyan no longer paid attention to Wei Yue, took a step forward, and shouted: "Everyone listen... Attention!"
"Bang!"
It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in the sky. Even Wei Yue, who was known for his boldness, was startled by the loud noise.
But seeing over 350 people, there wasn't much change, only the feet that had just separated suddenly came together. Due to the movement being too uniform, when they touched their boots, it actually made such a loud noise!
A simple action, done by over 300 people together, actually caused such a big stir and momentum. The faces of the people present changed color.
But that's not all, the entire formation is standing in a team-by-team manner, each team has its own column, distance, and seems to have certain rules. The whole team looks like a neat and tidy tofu block, with edges and corners, looking exceptionally neat and having a strong masculine aura.
"Hmm, that's more like it......" Zhu Ciwen's lips curled up slightly, which was equivalent to a smile, and then he gave another order: "Company... right turn!"
This time, the entire phalanx collectively turned right again. After each person drew a beautiful semicircle, the boots touched together once more and let out another loud "boom".
"Cao Qing, Wei Xun, Zhang Quanbin, step forward!"
Wei Yue noticed that the three people who were called out all looked pale... They had just changed direction, and obviously slowed down by half a beat. Among them, Zhang Quanbin was still turning left first, then came to his senses and turned right again.
"Five yuan per person, let's fight."
Zhu Ciwen's expression was calm and collected, with just a slight wave of his hand, more than a dozen guards rushed forward like wolves, three men serving one, pressing him to the ground, sticks placed on his buttocks and beaten, five slaps were finished, then turned back, continuing to stand guard, looking relaxed, as if nothing had happened.
It's clear that they haven't been holding back with their rods these past few days!
The three who were beaten also gritted their teeth, although there were faint bloodstains on their pants, but they didn't make a sound... Zhu Cibei nodded and smiled: "Still looks like one, soldiers take a few rods to guide them, if they whine endlessly, what kind of soldier are they!"
"I request to be dismissed!"
The three military officers were all junior flag bearers, who now stood up straight with their right hands placed horizontally across their chests, looking solemn and requesting to be dismissed.
"Very well, request granted, return to formation."
At this point, the three battered wretches finally clenched their fists with both hands and jogged back to where they had just been standing, resuming their standing-at-attention posture.
At this time, Wei Yue was already looking at it with a shocked expression, and the eunuchs who were waiting behind Zhu Ciyan were even more stunned.
Taijian Ishikawa was an old internal officer, but at this time, he still couldn't help but whisper to the people around him: "Training soldiers to become like this, I've never seen it before."
"The young master's charter is strange, but after reading it, it seems that it really does boost one's energy."
"Soldiers still need to practice the tactics of battle formation, as they say 'no formation no fight', but this formation that I've practiced... really can't tell what kind of tactic it is. It's not a three-man formation or seven-man formation, nor is it a Mandarin duck formation, and even less so an Eight Trigrams formation or Golden Lock formation... having looked at formations for a lifetime, really can't understand it."
Zhu Ciwen's words, these people in front of him naturally didn't understand a single one.
Now he is training his core officers, previously, the reward was for virtue, and the heavy reward was for kindness. But plundering is to train courage, now demanding strict military discipline is just a matter of authority.
Only after such rigorous training, the martial officers are his core backbone, they are the ones he personally trained, the most trusted among the inner circle, the most elite among the elites, only then can he truly entrust his life to them!
As for future soldier training, he has another plan, which is not necessary to bring out now.
In front of him, these inner martial arts officers, even the smallest ones were given the position of small flag officer, and many of the original small flags became formal crown and belt generals. This was all due to the favor of this prince. In reality, those who could be chosen by him also had excellent physical quality and martial arts skills. For these people, tactical training did not need to be emphasized too much. What was truly important was the current grinding and tempering of their willpower, emphasizing collective unity and obedience, even subconscious adherence to military orders and the method of army array training!
