Chapter 42: Rallying the Troops

On the seventh day of the third month of the Hongwu Third Year, at the Dajiao Chang outside Yingtian Prefecture.

Just after the Mao hour, the sky was only just turning a pale fish‑belly white, and the training ground was already packed with a sea of people.

Fifty thousand troops stood in formation, and the War Flags rustled in the morning wind.

The frontmost rank was three thousand cavalry on uniformly jujube‑red war horses, each rider upright and sharp‑eyed.

Behind them were twenty thousand infantry, their spears like a forest.

Further back were archers and firearm soldiers, and at the rear the logistics convoy.

On the Pointing Platform, Xu Da, clad in iron armor, stood with his sword at his side.

To his left stood Li Wenzhong, and a vacant spot on his right was kept for Chang Yuchun, who was now training troops in Beiping; the army would meet him later.

Xu Da's gaze swept the crowd below and lingered on the particularly conspicuous figure before the cavalry formation.

Wu King Zhu Yong.

The youth wore a special set of Mingguang Armor today, its plates flashing cold light in the dawn.

Beneath him was a jet‑black Mongol horse, taller than ordinary war horses, specially selected by Zhu Yuanzhang from the Yuma Jian.

On both sides of the saddle hung a pair of drum‑vessel golden hammers, their heads larger than a human head.

Xu Da nodded silently in his heart.

Kaiping City's three‑hammer breach, Helin City's one‑hammer siege, the front‑line slaying of Yesu… He had read these exploits countless times in the military reports.

Though it was not his first time seeing the youth, every encounter still made him exclaim that he was truly a born fierce general.

"Third brother, look at Second Prince." Among the ranks below, Zhu Di nudged Zhu Shuang beside him and whispered.

Zhu Di tiptoed forward, smacking his lips, "Second Prince, that outfit is truly imposing; when we grow up, we'll be like that too."

"You must first master your martial arts; you can't even lift those hammers that Second Prince wields." Zhu Gang poured cold water on him from the side.

Zhu Di retorted, "I can't lift it now, but I'll be able to later!"

A few princes had come especially to see him off.

Zhu Yuanzhang originally forbade them, but Empress Ma said the younger brothers should see how the elder brother leads the nation into battle, so he consented.

At the Chen Hour, the drums rose suddenly.

After the three‑beat drum, a detachment of honor guards marched from the city‑gate direction.

First came a bright‑yellow great banner.

Beneath the banner rode a white horse, Crown Prince Zhu Biao in an apricot‑yellow python robe, wearing a wing‑shàn crown, his expression solemn.

Xu Da led the generals down the platform to greet respectfully, "We, your servants, present ourselves before the Prince!"

"Generals, rise." Zhu Biao dismounted, helped Xu Da up, his gaze sweeping the faces of the generals before finally resting on Zhu Yong.

The two brothers exchanged a glance.

Zhu Biao walked to Zhu Yong, adjusted the strap under his helmet, and softly said, "Second brother, heading to Mobei, be careful in all things."

"I understand." Zhu Yong nodded dimly.

Zhu Biao took another item from his bosom, a brocade pouch.

"Mother asked me to give this to you. Inside are the peace talismans she prayed for at the temple, and… also some marching notes I wrote; you read slowly, so let Zhang Wu and Chen Heng read them to you." he paused.

Zhu Yong took the brocade pouch, tucked it close to his chest, and said, "Thank you, big brother."

Zhu Biao patted his shoulder, turned, and ascended the Pointing Platform.

Below, fifty thousand eyes simultaneously turned toward the platform.

"Soldiers!"

Zhu Biao's voice, clear and bright, rode the morning wind across the training ground.

"Today you march out to secure the Northern Frontier of Great Ming forever, to bring peace to the people of the world! Kuokuo Tiemuer has entrenched in Mobei, repeatedly violating the border passes and plundering our people; if this thief is not eliminated, the northern lands will not be at peace!"

He paused, looked at Marshal Xu Da and called, "General Xu!"

"Present!" Xu Da clasped his fists.

"General Chang!"

In the direction of Beiping, as if by resonance, Chang Yuchun, a thousand miles away, was also arranging his troops.

"General Li!"

"Present!" Li Wenzhong stepped forward.

"Mu Ying!"

A roughly twenty‑something young commander stepped forward in response.

His angular face and steady eyes with a hint of sharpness marked him as Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son, Mu Ying.

Zhu Biao looked at him, his eyes softening, and said, "Mu elder brother, on this journey watch over Second brother and keep him from acting rashly."

"Your Highness, rest assured." Mu Ying grinned, showing white teeth.

He had grown up beside Empress Ma and was deeply attached to Zhu Biao.

Finally, Zhu Biao turned to Zhu Yong and said, "Wu King Zhu Yong!"

Zhu Yong was startled, then realized he was being called, quickly clasped his fists and said, "I'm here!"

"You will lead five thousand detachments with the main army. This is your first independent command; you must obey Marshal Xu Da and General Chang's orders, but charge when you must, kill when you must, and do not let Great Ming's majesty be tarnished!"

"I understand!" Zhu Yong nodded heavily.

Zhu Biao took a wine bowl from a attendant, raised it high and said, "This bowl is offered to Heaven and Earth, to our ancestors, to protect Great Ming!"

He tipped his head, drank it all, and smashed the bowl onto the ground.

"Bang!"

The porcelain bowl shattered.

Below, fifty thousand people shouted in unison, "May Great Ming be protected! May Great Ming be protected!"

The sound of the waves thundered across the heavens.

After the oath ceremony, the army set out.

Zhu Biao escorted them all the way to Shili Changting.

At the parting, he seized Zhu Rong's horse reins and whispered, "Second brother, Kuokuo does not compare to Yesu; this man is deceitful, his tactics are treacherous, you are unmatched in bravery, but remember not to go in alone, lest you fall into an ambush."

"Big brother, don't worry, I'll remember," Zhu Rong nodded earnestly.

Although Zhu Rong was no longer on his first campaign, he was now Zhu Biao's twin brother, and Zhu Biao's worries were no less than those of Empress Ma, who acted as a mother.

Therefore, he could only repeatedly admonish Zhu Rong to be careful.

After all, on the battlefield, hidden arrows are hard to defend against.

"In short, remember this: go! The sooner you go, the sooner you return," Zhu Biao said, patting the horse's neck.

Zhu Rong turned the horse's head and caught up with the column.

The army stretched like a long dragon, winding northward.

On the tenth day of the third month, the army arrived at Xuzhou.

They rested here for a day, replenishing Grain and Fodder.

In the camp, Zhu Rong examined a map inside his own tent.

Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng stood guard outside the tent.

"Prince." The tent curtain lifted, and Mu Ying stepped in.

Zhu Rong looked up; he was still unfamiliar with this sworn brother, only knowing that he was his parents' adopted son, raised from childhood by Empress Ma.

"General Mu." he rose.

General Mu waved his hand and laughed, "What title should I use? Just call me brother. Though this is our first meeting, I've long heard of you—breaking the gates of Kaiping City with three hammer blows, impressive!"

His tone was sincere, his eyes clear.

Zhu Rong could feel that this sworn brother genuinely praised him.

"Nothing much…" Zhu Rong scratched his head.

"Don't be modest." Mu Ying sat opposite him, pointing at the map, "General Xu asked me to tell you about the marching route for the coming days. We will head north from Xuzhou, pass Jinan, reach Dezhou, then follow the Canal northward to Tongzhou, and finally to Beiping to rendezvous with General Chang."

This leg will take roughly twenty days.

Zhu Rong listened attentively.

"General Xu said that for now you should follow the central army, and along the way observe how General Li coordinates marches and sets up camps."

Mu Ying said, then lowered his voice, "But privately, General Li's tactics are too steady; General Chang is truly fierce. You'll see when we reach Beiping."

Zhu Rong nodded.

He recalled Chang Yuchun at Kaiping City; he could have besieged without attacking, yet insisted on leading the charge himself.

"I know General Chang's temperament," he said with a simple grin.

Mu Ying also laughed, "Right, you fought side by side at Kaiping. Speaking of it, your tactics were quite clever; General Chang's armor‑shedding technique baffled many renowned physicians, yet you managed to save him."