Chapter Forty-two Good Hands

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  Gentlemen, remember to cast a solemn vote for me!

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  In the late afternoon, Zhu Ciyan summoned a group of military officers and had them sit around him in a circle.

  "Fighting requires personal bravery. For example, if someone comes at you with a knife, if you can block it, you'll preserve your life; if you can't block it, they'll take your head."

  With these trusted military officers, Zhu Ciyan didn't have many empty words. He himself sat cross-legged on the ground and started by telling everyone present to lift their spirits.

  They are all characters with high martial arts skills, Wang Yuan's boxing and swordsmanship, Li Gong's pear flower spear, Wei Yue's archery on horseback, none of which are not excellent. How can the top-notch people in this aspect not understand the truth implied in Zhu Ciyan's words?

  "But when one man fights, he relies on his own bravery and martial prowess, even cutting down the enemy's commander and capturing their flag. He must be skilled in combat. But what if it's a battle between tens of thousands of men? What should the commander do then?"

  "Then we must talk about the law of battle formation!" Wang Yuan, stroking his short beard, interjected: "What is meant by 'formation before battle' is that when there are many people, you have to form a team. If they have 1,000 men, we also have 1,000 men. If their 1,000 men can all attack you, but your formation is poor, then your 1,000 men can only be used as 600, isn't that the biggest fool?"

  "Ah, right!"

  Zhu Ciwen also recently stayed in the capital for a long time and finally understood. The ancients were not all fools, why did they talk about dog fart formations and come up with so many fancy formation shapes? In fact, it's just that apart from famous generals, when facing an enemy formation, ordinary people don't have any feeling in their hearts.

  How can you arrange a few thousand people under your command, it's already difficult for ordinary people to do so, let alone tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or even millions?

  Han Xin's so-called Liu Bang can bring 100,000 people, is not belittling, but this ** Hou's flattery is really good...

  "So, to achieve precise control of the formation, the whole army must act as one person. When it should be square, it is square; when it should be round, it is round. Especially at the moment of deployment, there is advance without retreat, and the pace is almost uniform..."

  Zhu Ciwen looked at Wang Yuan and smiled: "If that's what you're saying, then don't we need to practice walking too?"

  Everyone present was straightening their waist, looking at this young prince who was not yet weak with respectful eyes.

  This old man, apart from his increasingly skilled martial arts, the articles in his chest are also getting better and better. In the afternoon when practicing walking, the pace is controlled by the waist drum urgently called from the palace. Whoever doesn't walk on a straight line or subconsciously lowers their head to look at the road, or takes big strides... will be ruthlessly hit with the military stick.

  After being beaten with three to five sticks on average per person, everyone was gone by dusk.

  It's impossible to say that there wasn't a little anger in his heart when practicing this way. But the Crown Prince personally explained it, speaking clearly and concisely, and immediately made the reasoning clear.

  "What's wrong!" Wang Yuan tugged at his beard with all his might, and said in a rather vexed tone: "Why didn't anyone practice this walking method before?"

  "Qi Shaobao's various small formations are actually quite particular." Zhu Cibin smiled and said to the crowd, "However, we are cavalry now, and it's not necessary to practice those things. Time is urgent, what I can temper you with now is just these in front of us. A soldier must be strict and disciplined, not arrogant or impatient, when the order is given, only know to move forward. The law of military formation, posture, and movement is also very important... It's like this, everyone disperse."

  This can also be regarded as a small gathering of talents, the dozen or so people in front of us, except for a few old hundred officials, are all talented individuals who have been discovered and promoted by Zhu Ciyan, they had no chance to stand out in the traditional army, but now they are full of enthusiasm and loyalty, with only two words: effective death.

  Everyone stood up at the same time and did not kneel down. They just saluted together and then returned to their barracks.

  Inside the Forbidden City, it's so urgent that Zhu Ciwen has already arranged for accommodations on Mount Wansui. The place is really big, and accommodating a few hundred people is like child's play; it feels like scattering a handful of sand in the desert.

  He was in a hurry to train, and for the past few days, he had been working day and night without rest. Watching him, it seemed like nothing was wrong with him, even when talking to a group of military officers, his face was expressionless, as if afraid of missing something... But actually, in his heart, he was also very anxious.

  "Wei Yue, stay behind!"

  "Yes."

  After the crowd left, Zhu Ciyan glanced at this person... In the afternoon training, Wei Yue was late, but his coordination was very high. Although he also received a few sticks, because he was very dedicated, he learned quickly. In the whole team, only he and a few others were beaten the least.

  He understood in his heart: "This guy... understands my intentions."

  Now this will, the team column line stop, in the future of course is also useful, for near at hand big things, may also have help. But before this armed forces, must be firmly grasped in one's hands, to put one's own authority deeply into people's hearts deepest place…… What else can more conveniently and quickly achieve this goal than modern army's training method?

  His heart is deep, his actions are gradual... Through the ages, Zhu Ciwen's mind and actions have also gradually begun to resonate with this era...

  "How is it?" Zhu Ciwen stood up at this time, standing on the high platform, looking forward with his eyes, the entire Forbidden City was in sight.

  In a place like this, he should have had a heroic spirit, but at this moment, he really couldn't muster up the heroic spirit.

  The entire Forbidden City looked bleak, the snow in the alleys had been swept clean, but the roofs of the palaces were mottled and desolate, adding a few more touches of melancholy.

  It's late, and the Forbidden City is filled with people walking around. From this mountain of ten thousand years, it looks like a swarm of green, white, and red ants.

  At this moment, in the Forbidden City, has he already acted as he wished and initiated the relocation of Nanjing ahead of schedule?

  Having boarded the Wang Jiayan line, it was also natural to have some connection with Li Banghua and others. The crown prince, of course, did not say anything directly, but privately hinted that Zhu Ciyu could still do it.

  This matter is extremely important, and in the past, Zhu Ciyan was unable to contact these ministers at all. According to the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty, the crown prince could supervise the government and govern, but times were different. Since Jiajing, the status of the crown prince has been very embarrassing, and he absolutely cannot openly interfere with court politics. So Zhu Ciyan was trapped in the deep palace, saying that he could influence the court situation is a huge joke.

  Helpless, the crown prince could only grasp this small branch of the army, painstakingly managing it, and even disguising himself to rob and plunder, all within the system, he really had no other way to speak.

  Now at this time, even a dying dragon has encountered a little water that can save its life. How could it let go of such an opportunity?

  Under his instructions, following the historical inertia, it was still Li Mingrui who spoke first, but Li Banghua must not propose the prince's southern migration and supervision of the country. On the contrary, this old minister had to insist on agreeing with Li Mingrui, as long as Li Banghua and Wang Jiayan etc. were unanimous in their words, at the most critical moment, they would support the proposal for southern migration together, then everything could be settled.

  There are still a few days before the Spring Festival, and Li Zicheng is still far away in Xi'an, even with a long whip it's not possible to reach. As long as the decision to move south has been made, after the New Year everyone will pack up their belongings, and the officials, eunuchs, palace staff, etc. who have been designated to follow, at most half a month later, before January next year, several thousand people will set off towards Tianjin in a grand procession...

  Time is pressing, and Zhu Ciyan has made secret arrangements, so the matter of going south cannot be delayed!

  He can wait until now to ask, Wei Yue is already extremely impressed. Of course, the development of things will not change with Zhu Ci's urgency or not, if the prince doesn't even have this much city and heart, then it's better for everyone to die together...

  "Regarding what Young Master said..." Wei Yue no longer referred to him as "Your Highness" or "Young Master" in private, except during training sessions.

  As for being called "master" by eunuchs and the like, that's something I'd rather die than say.

  He bowed his head, and with a respectful expression replied: "In response to your words, Left Censor-in-Chief Li Mingrui has already submitted a memorial. Tomorrow is the imperial court conference, and both Left Censor-in-Chief Li Laodaren and Wang Shilang will submit memorials..."

  Wei Yue's expression also became relaxed, and he smiled: "Everything is going according to my plan, no need to use force. Let Mr. Feng secretly take the lead in coordinating, although the second master of the Feng manor has retired, his influence still remains. Tomorrow at the imperial court meeting, those who agree with the southern migration will surely rise up... In this situation, the emperor's intention can be determined, and everything will go as I expected."

  "It's supposed to be like this."

  Zhu Ciyan also let out a long sigh, if it's like this, then everyone is really ready to leave... Now the northern region is in such a state of disrepair, with prices and people's livelihoods in shambles, and disasters occurring one after another, just let Li Chuang and Jian Nu deal with it... The south has found its backbone, rather than Fu Fan and Lu Fan fighting for the top spot, I'm afraid the situation will also be different from history?

  With the wealth of Jiangnan, this loss and that gain, what about the things at the bottom?

  At this thought, Zhu Ciyan's face also had a smile... really looking forward to it.

  ……

  ……

  Coming down from Wansui Mountain, Zhu Ciyan still didn't rush to the Qianqing Palace. Recently, his courage has also grown bolder, except for the morning's courtesy visit, he no longer dares to be lazy, and in the evening, most places don't go to pay respects, only busy with his own important matters, only Chongzhen is still indispensable, but at this time the emperor is still dealing with affairs and meeting people, it's better to wait until nightfall before going to pay respects.

  Besides, he has his own affairs.

  Coming out of the long street from the east, and then to the middle left gate, in the twilight, on the palace gate steps where the snow still existed, a brocade-clad guard officer was breathing white air, trampling the creaking accumulated snow, constantly walking to keep warm.

  From a distance, they saw the imperial prince's procession approaching. The brocade-clad guards immediately jogged over and knelt down in the remaining snow to pay their respects.

  "Get up, get up!" Zhu Ciwen laughed and helped the agile Li school lieutenant to his feet, smiling: "From now on, come in every day, don't mention so many rules."

  "Your Excellency, I dare not... The rites must not be neglected."

  Zhu Ciwen smiled and asked directly: "How was it today?"

  "A team of grain transporters came from Shanxi and stayed overnight at the inn where they were staying. This morning, they left through De Sheng Gate, saying they were going back to Shanxi Province." Li, the captain, furrowed his brow and replied: "Following Young Master's orders, we didn't dare to alarm them, but just continued to surround the place where they would set foot."

  "Good, you've done a great job!" Zhu Ci Xuan smiled and praised: "In just a few short days, you were able to track down the thief's whereabouts and set up an ambush, truly worthy of being part of the Imperial Guard, and among the best of the Imperial Guard!"