Chapter 96: Training

At the Jingjiao Longxiang Army Camp, dawn was just breaking, and the Training Ground was already filled with soldiers.

Ten thousand elite troops of the Longxiang Army formed a square formation, each standing perfectly upright, eyes fixed forward, not a hair's movement.

Zhu Yong stood on the command platform, a horsewhip in hand, pacing back and forth.

He had been standing like that for almost half an hour.

Some soldiers below began to have trembling legs, fine beads of sweat forming on their foreheads, yet no one dared to move.

"All steady now, soldiers—if you can't even stand steady, what battles can you fight?" Zhu Yong's voice boomed like a great bell.

It was a method he recalled from memories of a past life: Standing Military Posture.

When they first began training, the soldiers didn't understand, thinking it useless and preferring to practice more Sword and Spear.

But after half a month of practice, the results appeared.

Stand steady, and the formation stays steady.

A steady formation makes the battlefield less chaotic.

After another half‑incense‑burn time, Zhu Yong finally ordered, "Rest for fifteen minutes, drink water!"

"Thank you, General!" three thousand voices shouted in unison, their sound shaking the heavens.

Only then did the soldiers move their limbs, taking turns to fetch water.

The water was saline, able to replenish the fluids and electrolytes they had lost.

At the edge of the Training Ground, a few civil officials passing outside the camp watched from afar, whispering to each other.

"This Wu King's training is really odd, standing so long—what's the use?"

"Exactly, I heard he even makes soldiers fold blankets into squares—what a pointless hassle?"

"Shh, keep it low, don't let them hear…"

…

Zhu Yong actually heard them, but was too lazy to pay attention.

He walked to another square formation nearby, where a group of special people stood.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, Zhu Di, Zhu Su—the four princes—and Chang Mao, all wore ordinary soldiers' uniforms, standing perfectly upright.

When Chang Yuchun learned that Zhu Yong would train troops, Chang Mao specially sent his own son.

Zhu Shuang's legs trembled the most, his face turning pale.

Zhu Gang was no better; his lips were bitten to the point of bleeding.

Zhu Di, though also weary, had a resolute gaze and stood the steadiest.

Zhu Su, the youngest at only eleven, was already about to collapse, tears swirling in his eyes.

After all, being the youngest and having little interest in martial training, he dared not tell Second Prince Zhu Yong, so he endured it.

Chang Mao stood at the front; though also tired, his back was straight, his eyes bearing a spirit of not giving up.

"All right, you're princes, sons of dukes, but in this camp you are soldiers; soldiers must look like soldiers," Zhu Yong said as he walked over, looking at them.

Zhu Shuang couldn't help shouting, "Second Prince, we will never bring you shame…"

"Fine, then Second Prince, just watch carefully…" Zhu Yong looked at his younger brother with satisfaction, unable to hide a simple grin.

After another fifteen minutes of standing, Zhu Yong finally allowed them to rest.

Zhu Shuang plopped onto the ground, rubbing his sore legs.

Zhu Gang also collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.

Zhu Di, though also tired, remained standing, moving his limbs.

Zhu Su burst into tears, saying, "Second Prince, I don't want to train anymore, it's too painful…"

Zhu Yong squatted down, looking at him, "Sixth Prince, Second Prince knows you have no interest in martial affairs, but your body is still a bit weak; once you've trained it to be stronger, you won't need to come again."

Zhu Su wiped his tears and looked at Zhu Di.

Zhu Di came over, patted his shoulder and said, "Sixth Prince, Second Prince is right—training in martial arts is never without hardship."

Chang Mao stood aside, silent, but his gaze now held a bit more respect.

When he first arrived, he didn't at all submit to Zhu Yong.

He thought this Wu King was just a bit stronger, a bit fiercer in battle—why train him?

But after half a month of training, he was convinced.

Zhu Yong's training methods, though odd, were indeed effective.

Standing Military Posture builds endurance, Folding Blankets hones meticulousness, Marching trains formation, Obstacle Run trains agility…

More importantly, Zhu Yong himself never slacked.

He stood as long as the soldiers stood; he ran as far as the soldiers ran.

He even trained harder than the soldiers.

"Chang Mao," Zhu Yong called.

"Here!" Chang Mao instantly stood upright.

"Take them to the Obstacle Run for one hour," Zhu Yong said.

"Yes!" Chang Mao accepted the order, leading several princes to the obstacle field.

Zhu Yong walked back to the command platform, looked at the resting soldiers below, and shouted, "Listen up, this afternoon we train Weighted Run: thirty jin each, run ten li; anyone who fails will have half their dinner cut!"

The soldiers answered in unison, "Yes!"

It was harsh, but no one complained.

Because Zhu Yong's pay was high, the meals were good, and they truly saw battle, this training indeed saved lives.

More importantly, Zhu Yong never deducted pay, never mistreated soldiers; merit earned reward, faults were punished.

Soldiers are willing to follow a general like that.

In the afternoon, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao quietly arrived at the Military Camp.

The two were not wearing dragon robes or Crown Prince robes, only common clothes, standing on the earthen slope outside the Training Ground, watching.

On the Training Ground, the soldiers were carrying thirty‑jin sandbags, running.

Dust swirled, but the formation remained orderly.

Zhu Yong ran at the front, his sandbag twice as heavy as the others', yet his speed did not lessen.

"Imperial Father, you see, my second brother's method of training troops is truly unique," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "We've reviewed half a month of training memoranda; the troops this youngster trains have a different spirit, vitality, and morale."

He pointed at the running soldiers: "Look, they run so hard, yet no one falls behind, the formation stays intact; if this were on the battlefield, Obey Orders would be far stronger than those chaotic shouts."

Just as he spoke, Zhu Yong came running over with his unit.

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, he was momentarily stunned, but still continued to lead the unit and finish the final lap.

After finishing the run, he disbanded the unit and came over to salute.

"Father, big brother, why have you come?"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, "Came to see the troops you trained; not bad, they look proper."

Zhu Biao added, "Second brother, where did you learn this method of training troops?"

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "I came up with it myself; I think training this way makes the soldiers more obedient and more capable in battle."

He couldn't possibly say it was modern military training brought over from memories of a past life!

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't ask further, merely saying, "The methods you train with can be written into regulations, distributed to the various garrisons, so they can also learn them."

"Yes, Father," Zhu Yong replied.

The three entered the Central Command Tent, and Zhu Biao took out several Memorandum.

"Second brother, take a look at this."

Zhu Yong took it and saw that they were several Memorandum impeaching him.

The contents were similar, accusing him of training the troops too harshly, mistreating the soldiers, and violating benevolence.

"Which group of civil officials is this again?" Zhu Yong frowned and said.

Zhu Biao nodded, "It's still those people, Wang Guangyang and Tao Kai leading the charge, saying you make the soldiers stand that long is torture, Folding Blankets is unnecessary, Weighted Run is abuse…"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, "They don't know a damn thing; if training isn't strict, going onto the battlefield is a death sentence. Yong Er, ignore them; train however you think fit."

Zhu Yong gave a simple smile and said, "I hadn't intended to deal with them either."

Zhu Biao added, "However, second brother, though your training method is good, you must mind the limits; I heard that a few days ago several soldiers fainted from exhaustion?"

"There were three, but they slacked off and skipped breakfast, not fainted from training; I've already punished them and let them eat a full meal before training again," Zhu Yong explained.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded satisfactorily, "That's right; strictness must be strict, but you can't truly ruin the troops."