If I fail to overcome the tribulation, I can only return to the Ming Dynasty and become a prince.

Chapter 204 The Vanguard of the Army
On February [-], the dragon raised its head, Emperor Yongle Zhu Di swore an oath in Nanjing and announced the Northern Expedition.

On the eighth day of February, the 15-strong army set off and headed north from the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Haihai Road.

On the seventh day of March, the emperor arrived in Peiping. The emperor's grandson Zhu Zhanquan and Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui accompanied the army. The army also arrived in Peiping. After joining Zheng Wang Zhu Zhanjuan, Zhu Di ordered Zhu Gaosui to garrison Peiping. The army left the Great Wall from Xifengkou Pass and marched. Arrive in Xinghe after more than a month.

On April [-], Zhu Di reviewed the army in Xinghe, and Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhanjuan accompanied the emperor in the review.

"Do you think our Ming Dynasty soldiers are majestic?" Standing on the military parade platform, Zhu Di was wearing armor and holding a riding crop. He looked high-spirited and asked proudly to his two grandsons standing beside him.

"The army is mighty and majestic, and our Ming army is invincible in the world!" Zhu Zhanji understood Zhu Di's character, so he naturally hurriedly flattered him at this time.

On the other hand, Zhu Zhanquan looked at the endless array of troops and the gleaming weapons in their hands, and said with some horror: "With the application of firearms, soldiers may no longer carry swords on their backs and ride on horses in the battlefield. This way It may be difficult to see the scene in the future.”

Hearing this, Zhu Di was not angry, but nodded in agreement: "That's right. A cavalry with superb martial arts needs to be trained from an early age. It won't be possible without ten or eight years of hard work, but a cavalry who has only trained for three years can't do it." A month-old musketeer could smash his head from two hundred paces away.

The application of new firearms will definitely change the future of war. You two monkeys will inherit the Ming Dynasty in the future. I am not worried about Zhanjuan. His understanding and application of new firearms are already unique.

But Zhanji, you don't have any idea about new firearms yet. You should take advantage of this Northern Expedition to learn more about new firearms. If you are to command an army in the future, I don't know what weapons the soldiers use and what effect they can have. But it won't work. of. "

"Grandson, take the order!" Zhu Zhanji glanced at his brother and bowed with him to accept the order.

During this expedition, Zhu Zhanji wore a suit of armor that was tailor-made for him in a smaller size. After all, he was only a 15-year-old boy now, and his body bones had not fully grown yet, so he could only wear a smaller size of armor.

Zhu Zhanjuan, on the other hand, was wearing a prince's official uniform. He didn't seem to be here to fight. He looked a little out of place and conspicuous among the army who were all wearing armor.

But Zhu Di didn't say anything about this. Instead, he condoned Zhu Zhanchun's behavior. Not only did he allow Zhu Zhanchun not to wear armor, he also allowed him to march not on horseback, but in the carriage he brought with him. You can have a maid to serve you.

This is unimaginable to Zhu Zhanji.

He has been fighting with Zhu Di since he was a child. Although Zhu Di is not strict in running the army, the military discipline is still very strict. Not wearing armor, marching in a carriage, etc. are considered trivial matters, but bringing a woman into the military camp is a big deal for Zhu Di. It's a bit difficult for Zhanji.

Zhu Zhanji really didn't understand what Zhu Zhanqi was doing by taking his personal maid to Mobei. It really didn't look like he was going to fight, but more like going out for an outing.

If it was just like this, Zhu Zhanji wouldn't say anything. After all, the army has its own rules. It was a violation of military discipline for Zhu Zhanyu to bring a woman into the military camp.

But the weird thing is that Zhu Di ignored this and even gave Zhu Zhanquan various permissions, allowing him to take the maids in and out of the military camp, and also allowed him to ride in a carriage during the march, looking completely indulgent. Zhu Zhanji was confused.

However, during today's military parade, Zhu Zhanji didn't say much, and just followed Zhu Di with a low eyebrow.

Before leaving Beijing, he went to see Yao Guangxiao, and the old monk gave him some ideas. One of them was to let Zhu Zhanji listen more and watch more, talk less and do less during this Northern Expedition.Zhu Zhanji didn't quite understand, but he still followed Yao Guangxiao's instructions very well and played the role of a well-behaved and obedient emperor grandson.

On the contrary, Zhu Zhanchun's behavior along the way was quite as wild and rebellious as the second king of Han Dynasty, and even the army began to complain about him.

However, due to the emperor's protection and the fact that the army's logistics and supplies all relied on Zheng Fan, the establishment of supply transfer stations and material warehouses along the way also made the army's march this time smoother than usual. The generals in the army could see it. Zhu Zhanjun's contribution to this matter was so important that he didn't say anything idle.

You must know that as long as you do a good job in ensuring the logistics of the army, it will be credit no matter whether you win or lose the battle ahead.

It is equivalent to saying that Zhu Zhanjuan has already made meritorious service before the battle started.

In the military, people with meritorious service can speak louder. It is not incomprehensible that Zhu Zhancheng enjoys some special treatment.

However, after reviewing the army, Zhu Zhanji was still curious and asked his younger brother: "Zhanjuan, I have also seen the New Army's drills, and I don't think there is anything special! I also had a firearms army before the Ming Dynasty. It is indeed an army." It’s true that it’s a sharp weapon, but it’s not to the point where you and grandpa said it can eliminate all the weapons and equipment in the army now, right?”

At this time, the two of them were following Zhu Di, passing in front of various armies with him, shouting slogans from time to time.

Because the 10,000+ army was indeed boundless, they were all riding on horseback. However, Zhu Zhanjuan just randomly found a gentle horse to ride on, unlike the ones Zhu Di and Zhu Zhanji rode. They are all war horses.

This made it particularly clear that the prince wearing a military uniform was not familiar with martial arts and was a weak prince.

Faced with Zhu Zhanji's question, Zhu Zhanqi just smiled and said, "Grandpa just said it, didn't you understand what he meant?"

Zhu Zhanjun obviously didn't want to answer this question. He pinched the horse's belly and asked the docile little mare under his crotch to run faster and catch up with Zhu Di in front. He also shouted the slogan "The Ming Dynasty is mighty". , which made Zhu Zhanji, who still wanted to ask more questions, look depressed.

After reviewing the army, the Ming army continued to march, and after walking for another half a month, they arrived at Guangwu Town. Further north, it was no longer within the control of the Ming Dynasty, and they were about to start a head-on confrontation with the Mongols with real swords and guns.

But at this time, Zhu Di suddenly overcame all opinions and appointed Zhu Zhanquan as the vanguard of the army, asking him to take three guards under his command, plus three new troops assigned by the emperor, for a total of six guards and [-] troops. The vanguard of the army.

At this time, Zhu Zhanju also put away his previous behavior of a arrogant and lewd prince. After putting on a light armor, he led his troops and set off.

However, no Mongols were encountered along the way until they reached the Yinma River.

It was as if these Mongols knew that the Ming Dynasty was sending troops, gave up control of the Yinma River, and withdrew.

(End of this chapter)