Zhao Yongtang walked out of Yongding Gate and trotted with his backpack on his back.
I am familiar with this road. I ran cross-country on this road every day in the military camp.
Many soldiers returning from the Beijing camp appeared one after another on the road, all trotting forward.
When they arrived at Dahongmen, they heard drums being played inside.
Winter winter winter, winter winter winter winter!
"Brother, how many times did the drums sound?" Zhao Yongtang asked anxiously.
"It's okay, don't worry, this is the first tong drum. We just started beating." The gatekeeper, the general flag, comforted.
"That's good, I'm afraid I'll be late." Zhao Yongtang let out a sigh of relief.
Beat the first tom for a quarter of an hour, then stop for two quarters of an hour, and continue to beat the second tom. Then stop for three quarters of an hour and beat the three-tone drum. The three-way drum stops, and those who fail to do so are beheaded. These three toms total one hour.
This is Yang Fan's rule. Yang Fan's army is all firearms troops and has a lot of heavy equipment, which takes a long time.
It only takes an hour for each unit to sort out everything and be ready to leave at any time.
According to the cold weapon troops of this era, the three-way drum would not have lasted this long.
Yitong is a quantifier. In ancient times, three hundred and thirty-six hammers were used to beat a drum.
Calculated according to one hammer per second, one tom takes about five and a half minutes. Considering the interval between the two toms, it takes about six minutes. A normal drumming gathering should take no more than twenty minutes.
There are too many hot weapons in Yang Fan's army, especially the cannons which are very heavy.
The transition from the warehouse to the marching state is definitely impossible by twenty points. Also have to harness the packhorse. Also bring artillery shells and baggage. So Yang Fan's three-way drum is an hour.
Of course, if it is a pure cold weapon unit, the three-way drum will still ring a thousand times.
Hearing that the drums had begun to be beaten on the drum tower in Nanyuan, the returning soldiers on the road outside were like rabbits with an arrow in their butts, and they immediately sped up and ran for fear of losing time.
At this time, Yang Fan was sitting on a light four-wheeled carriage, with Xiao Niangpi on the left and Lin Yueru on the right. They both insisted on seeing Yang Fan off. It made Yang Fan feel very uncomfortable.
"Okay, okay, the drums have been beaten. You two can go back now. Don't worry, I will take care of myself. Women are taboo in the military camp. You go back first. Be good and obedient."
"Master, I can't bear to leave you." Xiao Niangpi hugged Yang Fan's arm with tears in her eyes.
"Master, I feel so uncomfortable." Lin Yueru held Yang Fan's arm on the other side.
"I can't bear to leave you, but it is my responsibility to protect my family and my country. Now is not the time for children to grow up. Unfortunately, I can't be by your side to watch the children being born. When I come back, they will probably be almost one year old. ." Yang Fan said with some emotion.
"Master, you haven't named your child yet." Xiao Niangpi looked at Yang Fan with tears in her eyes.
"Well, I will tell you the name of the child through the radio as soon as possible after the child is born." Yang Fan hugged their small waists and comforted softly.
"Be good, take care of yourselves and your children, and wait for my triumphant return." Yang Fan kissed them both on the cheeks.
I straightened my clothes, then opened the door and got out of the car. After waving his hand, the motorcade set off immediately to take the two ladies back to the new city.
Seeing Yang Fan getting further and further away, the two of them wiped their tears and kept waving.
"Uncle Dingyuan, we have found you." A high-pitched voice behind him said.
Yang Fan turned around and found that it was Wang Chengen. He hurriedly raised his hands and said, "I didn't know that my father-in-law is coming. I am sorry for missing you from afar."
"Hey, why are you so polite to me?" Wang Chengen waved his hand indifferently. "Your Majesty asked me to see off the three armies. Even after the drums were played, I didn't see you. I was so anxious that my hair turned white."
As he spoke, Wang Chengen kept wiping his sweat. If he missed the army's departure ceremony, he would not be able to go back and resume his life.
"Eunuch, let's take a seat on the general stage, please." Yang Fan quickly invited Wang Chengen to come up to the general stage.
"Okay, our legs are a little sore here." He and Yang Fan walked side by side on the general stage.
A row of seats has been arranged in advance. The expedition to the capital was a big deal. The Ministry of War and the Fifth Army Governor's Office will send senior officials to attend.
The three tongs and drums are over, and the 80,000-strong Beijing battalion has been assembled on the campus.
For a time, the flags were fluttering, the queues were tight, and it looked like a new atmosphere.
Li Banghua, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, clasped his hands behind his back and said with emotion: "I rarely give in to others. It has only been a few months since I handed over this capital camp to Dingyuan Bo. It's like it has been completely transformed. I don't even recognize this momentum and energy anymore." generally."
Qian Longxi, the second assistant to the cabinet, also said: "Uncle Dingyuan does have a good way of training troops, but it is a pity that he is not the same as our Donglin. Otherwise, there is no need to worry about returning to Liao in five years."
Li Banghua said: "Uncle Dingyuan is a direct descendant of His Majesty and has nothing to do with any faction in the court. He has made it clear that he will be a lonely minister. Don't think about it."
The three armies have gathered together, the time has come.
On behalf of the emperor's army, Wang Cheng'en first announced that all officers and soldiers would be rewarded five taels of silver each. Suddenly there was thunderous cheers below. Soldiers are just for food. Without money, there will be no support from officers and soldiers.
Then the imperial edict was read out, formally canonizing Yang Fan as General of the Conquest of the West, and managing all matters concerning the army.
Shang Fang is given a sword, which can be used to kill first and then play.
Those below the rank of fifth-grade military attaché can award rewards on their own. Simply fill in the blank provided by the Ministry of War and submit your application. Military attachés of rank five or above need to report to the Ministry of War for approval.
After Wang Chengen finished reading, Qin Tianjian came on stage, used the Book of Changes to divine, and then announced that it was auspicious, and the battle would definitely be won.
Then, a few strong men brought a bull, slaughtered it on the spot, and smeared the flag and drum with its blood.
Li Banghua, Minister of the Ministry of War, personally read the "Essay on the Oath", which was full of articles in the form of Han Fu with four or six rhymes. It is written with flowers in bloom and quotes from scriptures.
Yang Fan was filled with admiration when he heard this. There is no way I would be able to write such a beautiful article.
Wait until they have finished performing. Yang Fan came out and said a few words to everyone.
"I don't have anything to say. Just one sentence. If I can take you out, I can take you back. This battle is a tough battle, and the casualties will not be small. But no matter how serious the situation is, I will not abandon you. I will never give up on you. I will never let you sacrifice in vain. In my eyes, soldiers are not numbers, but flesh and blood brothers. Let’s drink this bowl of wine and go into battle together to kill the Tatars. Keep."
Yang Fan drank the strong wine in one gulp and threw the bowl down from the general ordering platform, smashing it into pieces.
"Victory with a clear flag, the Ming Dynasty is mighty." The 80,000 soldiers from the capital camp in the audience roared in unison.
Then, he also drained a bowl of wine and broke the bowl into pieces.
The sound penetrated the clouds and split the sun, making the ears of everyone on the stage buzz.
"Set off!"
Yang Fan didn't waste any time and directly ordered the departure.
Then three cannons were fired, and the army drove out of the west gate of Nanyuan one after another. Marching towards Xishan, the army will pass through Changping and Yanqing, along the valley passage of Xishan, go to Huailai, and exit Zhangjiakou via Xuanfu.
Yang Fan turned around and said goodbye to Wang Chengen and other officials. Then he got off the general platform, got on the carriage, and set off with the army under the escort of the cavalry of the Jing Ding Regiment.
