Chapter 180: Setting Out on an Expedition

Early in the morning, Zhu Gaoxu stood upon the reviewing stand.

Below were over two thousand soldiers.

Compared to when they first arrived, these men were no longer the same.

They had long since shed the immaturity and weakness from their faces.

They had replaced them with the steadfastness and unyielding spirit of the present.

Anyone who saw these two thousand-plus soldiers standing motionless in the cold wind could not help but exclaim in admiration at such elite troops and strong warriors!

Watching the spirited soldiers below, Zhu Gaoxu could not help but nod.

"I won't waste words; soldiers are raised for a thousand days to be used in a single moment. Now, whether you are mules or horses, you finally have the chance to be led out for a run."

"Before that, I will say only one thing: as soldiers of the Great Ming, there is only the talk of dying on our feet, never of living on our knees!"

"For this long time, you have understood my character: merits will be rewarded, faults will be punished. The time to build your careers is today!"

"Finally, I leave you with one last sentence: even alone, one can still look down and laugh at the enemy. If you die in battle, it is but burying your bones in the yellow sand—have no fear!"

"March!"

Without any long-winded or impassioned speech, Zhu Gaoxu drew his sword from his waist after a few simple words, pointed it toward the heavens, and ordered the entire army to set out.

All the soldiers moved in perfect unison, one thousand light cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry, heading toward the outside of the camp.

Interspersed in the middle were three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Now, these Embroidered Uniform Guards did not need to focus too much on Zhu Gaoxu's safety.

After all, with Zhu Gaoxu in the Military Camp, surrounded by his own men, focusing solely on his safety was nothing but a waste of resources for the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Most of the Embroidered Uniform Guards were now mid-to-low-level officers; the only high-level officers and commanders were Mao Xiang and Zhu Gaoxu.

Lao Zhu had not assigned him any military supervisors or inspectors, so this army was entirely under the control of Zhu Gaoxu.

At the very least, Zhu Gaoxu's word was law in this Military Camp; there was no second voice, nor was anyone playing tricks behind his back.

As the army marched north, when passing the gates of Jingcheng, Zhu Gaoxu still saw a few acquaintances standing in the Ten-Mile Pavilion.

They were acquaintances, not family.

Yan Zhenzhi, Guo Zhen—who had only spent a day with him—and Li Quan, who ultimately had not listened to advice and had come along with his daughter.

Seeing these few, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly let out a long roar toward the sky, the sound piercing and powerful, as if it would shatter the nine heavens; then, without looking back, Zhu Gaoxu flicked his horse whip and galloped away.

The four riders behind him followed closely.

As for how others felt about this scene, it left a deep impression on the young Guo Zhen...

So cool...

Zhu Gaoxu did not know that by simply venting his emotions, he had gained a little fan.

Zhu Gaoxu sat on his horse, traveling along the road, getting further and further away from Jingcheng.

By noon, the army had marched thirty or forty kilometers, and Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand, ordering the entire army to rest.

Eat if you need to eat, rest if you need to rest.

Zhu Gaoxu dismounted and sat by the roadside, somewhat lost in thought.

Mao Xiang, who was nearby, sat down beside Zhu Gaoxu with his rice bowl and asked, "Does Your Highness have something on your mind?"

Hearing Mao Xiang's words, Zhu Gaoxu snapped out of it, nodded, and replied, "Continuing like this is not the way."

The army's marching speed was not slow, covering seventy kilometers a day.

But even so, it would still take more than ten days to reach the North.

Furthermore, Zhu Gaoxu could not let the main force keep up such a forced march; if they didn't get proper rest and then suffered from the climate upon arriving in the North, it would be a disaster.

Therefore, the time would only be slower.

And Zhu Gaoxu had no time to waste slowly with the main force.

If he rode a fast horse and didn't rest, he could reach Shandong in three or four days.

Don't forget, his mission was not just to eliminate some mountain bandits and rebels, but to thoroughly govern the North.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu said directly to Mao Xiang, "I think we can split into two groups. I will take Ada and the other three and go ahead, while you lead the main army to catch up slowly. I will arrive first to handle matters, and when you arrive, we can wipe out the bandits along the way."

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's proposal, Mao Xiang shook his head like a rattle.

What a joke; they had only been away from Jingcheng for half a day, and he wanted to fly solo.

That aside, he couldn't just take four people.

This was not Jingcheng; if something really happened, he, Mao Xiang, could not bear the responsibility.

Thinking this, Mao Xiang shook his head and said, "Your Highness, please do not make it difficult for this subordinate. Your personal safety is far more important than handling matters. Although we are slow, we are safe. You should stay with the army."

Having said that, Mao Xiang prepared to slip away with his rice bowl.

How could Zhu Gaoxu let him leave so easily?

I've already told you my idea; you have to agree whether you want to or not.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu also knew that Mao Xiang was worried about him.

And taking only four people was indeed too few.

"Don't go."

As he spoke, Zhu Gaoxu stood up, grabbed Mao Xiang, and said to him, "Then, if I take one hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards and ride fast horses to go ahead, that should be fine, right?"

"One hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards?"

After hearing this, Mao Xiang lowered his head and began to ponder.

One hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards was not a small number; they could certainly handle any minor thieves or bandits they encountered.

Plus, with Zhu Gaoxu's status, the prefectures along the way would certainly provide excellent hospitality.