Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Yan army camp, Zhu Di was inspecting the soldiers.
After inspecting the army meeting, he returned to the military camp to rest and discuss matters with the generals, Zhang Yu, Zhang Wu, Zhu Neng and others.
In the 24th year of Hongwu, Zhu Di followed General Fu Youde deep into Mobei and persuaded Nai'er to surrender without spending that battle. In addition to learning countless war skills from Fu Youde, Beiyuan's vitality was seriously damaged.
After this battle, the Beiping frontier fortress became much more peaceful.
If Bei Yuan loses his vitality, he will not often cross the Great Wall and think about plundering the Central Plains.
However, Zhu Di, a grassland people in the north, knew very well that without sufficient supply lines, it was almost impossible to exterminate the nomadic tribes.
They can always grow like weeds, so military affairs at the frontier cannot be slacked off, and year-round military training is also a must.
At this time, a soldier came and delivered a letter to Zhu Di.
Zhu Di unfolded it and took a look. He was stunned for a moment, and then thought about it carefully.
This letter was naturally sent by Zhu Gaosui. It recorded the Yuanyang Formation and the fact that Li Xiao and others defeated the bandits without any casualties.
"Last time I just had a casual conversation with the third child. I didn't expect the third child to be so reliable!"
Zhu Di was quite surprised by this, and was very glad that he also called the third child, otherwise he would not have gotten so much interesting news.
"Hey, there is such a thing on the border of Cangzhou. There are bandits blocking the grain shipped to Peiping! Fortunately, Li Xiao came across this matter and solved it easily. Is this the Mandarin Duck Formation used?"
Zhu Di was not too surprised. Last time on the football field, he saw some of Li Xiao's skills in arranging troops, but he didn't expect that he could really use it on the battlefield!
"Li Xiao, Li Xiao, you have given me so many surprises."
Looking at the letter, Zhu Di couldn't help but smile.
"Your Highness, why are you so happy?"
Seeing that King Yan was suddenly happy, Zhang Yu asked curiously.
"Haha, I have studied a new formation. I happen to be in the army today, so I just want to practice it and try out the effect of the formation!"
Zhu Di is a person who values practice and immediately plans to give this mandarin duck formation a try.
He looked at everyone and asked, "Who dares to compete with me?"
Upon hearing this, everyone waved their hands and said: "I don't dare to defeat His Highness King Yan."
"No one accepts the challenge?" Zhu Di smiled and kept scanning these generals, "Then I will have to choose for myself."
Finally, his eyes rested on Zhang Wu.
Pointing at Zhang Wu: "It's just you!"
Hearing this, Zhang Wu's face darkened. He was really unlucky. How could he compare to King Yan?
Zhu Di raised his voice slightly: "Zhang Wu, are you not confident?"
Zhang Wu was stunned for a moment and shouted: "Yes!"
It made the others laugh, which was obviously a guilty conscience.
Zhu Di laughed and said: "Since you are so confident, let's add some luck."
After thinking about it, in order to prevent Zhang Wu from being passive and lazy in fighting, he pointed at Zhang Wu and said, "How about betting on your salary for three months?"
"This is absolutely impossible."
Zhang Wu was immediately frightened.
A competition is a competition, don't make fun of your salary.
If I lose my three-month salary, what will happen next?
Zhu Neng joked: "Zhang Wu, are you a man? It's okay. If you lose, come and drink with me."
Zhang Yu also teased: "Don't be afraid. It's not shameful to lose to King Yan. It's shameful to lose your courage."
Zhang Wu glanced at these two people. It's not a big deal to watch the excitement. It's not you who is emotionally involved, right?
Zhang Wu smiled flatteringly and said, "Well, Your Highness, how about betting a month's salary?"
"What? Are you still asking for advice and bargaining with me?"
Zhu Di smiled secretly in his heart, waved his hand and said: "Then it's half a year's salary, that's it!"
"." At this time, Zhang Wu really looked bitter.
"However, I can't bully you and give you some."
Zhu Di just wanted to try the formation, not really to extort Zhang Wu's money. He added: "In this way, you can choose the reference personnel. You can also choose my king's people, and I will not personally choose them." How about going into battle?"
As soon as this statement came out.
Everyone was stunned for a moment.
Isn't this giving money to Zhang Wu?
His Royal Highness King Yan does not play, but Zhang Wu can play, which is a big difference.
Moreover, Zhang Wu was asked to select people by himself?
Can you still choose someone from His Highness King Yan?
Isn’t this a sure loss?
Soldiers are also divided into good and bad. There are soldiers who are physically strong, brave and good at fighting.
There are also soldiers who are thin and slightly timid.
Zhang Wu could choose some of the most elite soldiers for himself and the weak ones for His Highness King Yan.
In addition, Zhang Wu himself led the team in person, so even His Highness King Yan couldn't win.
Is there any formation that can make up for such a big gap?
Hearing this, Zhang Wu was stunned. It took him a long time to recover and asked: "Your Highness, are you serious about what you said?"
Zhu Di said angrily: "Is this the first day you have met me? I always keep my word. When have I ever said such big things?"
"Ha ha ha ha."
Zhang Wu couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness, don't blame Zhang Wu for not reminding you to prepare half a year's salary for me."
Zhu Di chuckled: "Then you have to be able to take it."
Zhang Wu asked again: "Is the competition about cavalry or infantry?"
Zhu Di said: "Comparing infantry, one hundred households against one hundred households!"
The military system of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty included 10 people for a small banner, 50 people for a general banner, 112 people for a hundred households, 1120 people for a thousand households, and 5600 people for a guard.
If you hear it is a pawn, then you will have an advantage!
Because when infantry fights, the soldiers' physical strength can give them greater advantage.
"Okay! It's settled!"
In order to prevent King Yan from repenting suddenly, Zhang Wu hurriedly bowed and said: "I will go and choose the infantry for Your Highness, King Yan."
After saying that, he slipped away without looking back.
Zhu Di smiled and shook his head, this Zhang Wu.
In fact, Zhu Di didn't think he would definitely win, it was just practice anyway.
Even if he loses, it doesn't matter. Zhang Wu's family is not in a good situation and he still has a mother and children to support. This way he can be subsidized.
Zhu Neng, Zhang Yu, Qiu Fu, and others next to him now looked envious.
This is giving money!
It's still infantry versus infantry, and the gap has widened again!
Zhu Neng clapped his hands and said with regret on his face: "Oh, if I had known that His Highness King Yan still had this condition, I would have taken it!!"
Qiu Fu also grinned: "Your Highness, can you give me another chance?"
"I gave you a chance but you didn't use it."
Zhu Di said angrily: "I asked you just now, but each of them avoided answering, with dodgey eyes. Oh, I regret it now, it's too late!"
The other side.
Zhang Wu walked much more briskly, and his heart felt like honey.
He first selected his own people. He was the left guard of Yanshan Qianhu, and he was responsible for ten hundred households.
In order to ensure that the strength of each household is equal, the soldiers are evenly matched with strong and weak soldiers.
He directly selected the heads of each hundred households, and then selected the ten most brave and skilled soldiers from each hundred households.
From this, the strongest team of hundreds of households was formed!
These are his confidants, and he knows their strength very well.
Zhang Wu selected the people and began to lecture.
"Today I have selected you to form the strongest team. We are going to fight the strongest opponent. Please cheer up for me one by one. If you win today's competition, I will treat you all to a meal!"
Upon hearing this,
This newly formed team of hundreds of households is all very energetic and eager to try.
These people are all good fighters and very powerful characters on the battlefield.
After finishing your own team.
Zhang Wu then began to help His Highness King Yan select the team.
"What should I choose? The weaker the better."
Zhang Wu was thinking as he walked. As he walked, he came to the territory of the Huotou Army in the military camp. They were cooking.
Huh?
Seeing these fire-headed soldiers with fat heads and big ears, Zhang Wu's eyes suddenly lit up!
Yes, fire-headed soldiers are soldiers too, why can't they fight?
Just select these people for Your Highness.
As a result, Zhang Wu immediately walked into the Huotou Army, held up his waist badge, and said loudly: "According to the order of King Yan, come here to select a hundred people for a martial arts competition!"
Hearing this, the people who were cooking Huotoujun were stunned.
Did you hear that right? ?
Let them engage in martial arts training? ?
Isn't this a joke?
One of them shouted: "General Zhang, are you mistaken? We are the Huotou Army."
Zhang Wu said seriously: "That's right, it's you Firehead Army who have been picked. You guys lack exercise on weekdays, and His Highness King Yan just wants to train you."
Everyone: "????"
Is this really true?
One of the fire-headed soldiers pointed at the cooking dish in the pot and said, "Are you ready to cook this meal?"
Zhang Wu said with a smile: "Of course we have to do it. How can we practice without a full meal? You continue to cook, and I will select a hundred people. After the meal, the people I selected will come to the King of Yan's camp to wait for orders."
After listening, everyone in the Huotou Army was speechless.
Why do you need to cook, and why do you need people to perform martial arts, but you don't want to give them a rest?
Zhang Wu didn't care about so much, so he walked in directly and started selecting candidates.
"You, you, you and you. Remember it later, don't forget it."
Zhang Wu walked in and selected several fat men in succession.
One of the fat men, who was out of breath while walking, said: "General Zhang, are you not mistaken? How can I compete with my physique? Aren't you deliberately trying to make things difficult for us? We are bound to lose."
Zhang Wu said in a deep voice: "Look at you, you are so fat and big-eared. You often eat secretly, right?"
The fat man explained: "I misunderstood. With my physique, I can gain weight even if I drink water."
Zhang Wu sneered: "Stop talking nonsense, come as you are told. Do you dare to disobey military orders?"
The fat man shrank immediately.
Good guy, the feeling is that His Highness King Yan discovered that they were eating secretly, so he specifically asked Zhang Wu to pick them out, right?
Thinking of this, these fat men who were selected couldn't help but feel frightened. They thought to themselves how to explain it to His Highness King Yan later.
Why did you suddenly take care of this?
Isn't it well known that the Huotou Army steals two bites of each dish? Who knows?
That’s not called stealing, that’s called tasting the food and trying it for saltiness! !
That's it.
Zhang Wu selected more than a hundred fat men for Zhu Di.
After noon, the whole army had dinner.
These fat men were led by Zhang Wu to the open space in front of Zhu Di's tent to wait.
These fat fire-headed soldiers were all in a nervous mood, preparing to face Zhu Di's wrath.
"His Royal Highness King Yan, everyone has already chosen for you."
Zhang Wu walked into the camp, where Zhu Di and others were having a meal.
Zhu Neng teased: "Zhang Wu, it took so long to select, I'm afraid it took a lot of thought. Let me guess, they are all thin soldiers?"
The words fell,
Including Zhu Di, everyone else burst out laughing.
Zhang Wu's face did not change, he cupped his hands and said: "Your Highness, I will never do such a thing. The people chosen for you are all strong people."
After saying that, he almost laughed.
A group of fat people, they are not just physically strong people, they are just a little too strong.
"oh?"
Zhu Di was a little confused and said: "How come a thousand people don't believe me? Are you so kind?"
"Your Highness doesn't believe it, you can tell just by looking at it."
Zhang Wu pretended to be calm.
"Then take a look."
After saying that, Zhu Di put down the food in his hand and stood up to go out and take a look.
Zhang Yu, Zhu Neng and others also dropped their food and walked towards the outside of the camp.
When they left the camp, everyone was stunned.
Good guy!
He is indeed not a thin soldier.
This is to select the fattest people in the Yan army. Without exception, they are all fire-headed soldiers.
Even if you choose some weak soldiers, that's fine.
This Wu is so outrageous that he actually selected all the cooks in the army and gave them to His Highness King Yan.
"Ha ha ha ha."
Zhang Yu, Qiu Fu and others couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.
Zhu Di twitched the corner of his mouth, pointed at these fat men, and looked at Zhang Wu: "Is this the soldier you chose for me?"
Zhang Wu chuckled and said, "Your Highness, let me ask you if you are strong."
"Your mother, you are truly a 'good' general for my king!"
Zhu Di was very angry and had black lines on his head.
Zhang Wu teased: "Your Highness, don't underestimate the Huotou Army. The famous Tang Dynasty general Xue Rengui came from the Huotou Army!"
"Get out!" Zhu Di put his foot on Zhang Wu's butt, kicked him out, and cursed: "See you at the martial arts arena in two hours!"
"okay."
Zhang Wu touched his butt and ran away.
Zhang Yu couldn't stand it and said from the side: "Your Highness, do you want the competition to be cancelled?"
Zhu Di waved his hand: "Since I have promised to let Zhang Wu choose people, I can't go back on it!"
He walked towards the group of fire-headed soldiers and said loudly: "You are all eating so much. No wonder the army is short of food. It seems that a lot of my food has been eaten by fat rats like you."
Upon hearing this, the faces of the fire-headed soldiers in the audience changed drastically.
"Your Highness, Prince Yan, forgive me, but we can eat some."
Someone else quibbled: "Your Highness, that's a food test."
Zhu Di was too lazy to listen to these nonsense, and waved his hand and said: "However, today I will give you a chance to make meritorious service. I will personally train you and win this competition, otherwise your salary will be deducted for one month!"
Seeing that things were turning around again, everyone thanked him one after another: "Thank you, Your Highness, King Yan!"
That's it.
Zhu Di began to be patient and train these fire-headed troops.
According to the formation drawings sent by Zhu Gaosui, they were divided into ten teams and formed ten sets of mandarin duck formations.
The weapons needed for the formation are all available in the military camp, including firecrackers. However, the firecrackers have been changed to bows and arrows, and arrows without arrows are used. After all, it is a martial arts exercise and cannot really hurt people.
As for Lang Xian, Zhu Di immediately called for people to prepare, and it was ready in less than a quarter of an hour.
Although they are from the Huotou Army, they are still soldiers of the Yan Army, so training is not difficult.
Moreover, King Yan personally trained them, and everyone was extremely serious, and no one dared to slack off.
Two hours passed quickly,
The formation is almost done.
He led the soldiers to the martial arts arena, and all the generals followed him.
Zhang Wu, on the other hand, had already been waiting at the martial arts arena with his men, looking like he was going to win.
The soldiers put on their armor and replaced their weapons with blunt weapons used in the competition.
For example, there are spears with the tip removed, and arrows without arrowheads.
Once a vital point is hit, the soldier will consciously lie down and become a "dead man".
Even in this case, someone will still be injured during martial arts.
After both parties are ready.
Zhu Di sat on the martial arts stage and began to enjoy the competition to see if this mandarin duck formation was so magical.
At this time, Zhang Yu acted as the referee and waved the small flag in his hand.
Woo——
Dong Dong Dong————
The horn sounds and the drums sound!
The competition officially begins!
"Brothers, rush for me!"
Zhang Wu took the lead, holding a spear and shouting: "Shoot an arrow!"
A hundred people rushed toward each other.
The archers behind shoot arrows into the sky.
On the other hand, these fat men all stood still, waiting for work.
Each team in the Yuanyang Formation had a commanding captain who immediately ordered the arrows to be blocked and directly blocked the arrows with a large shield.
Then, he ordered the archers behind him to shoot arrows, and the archers shot arrows one after another.
However, this archery technique obviously cannot be practiced in a day or two. The bow and arrow only hit one or two people, causing one or two casualties to the opponent.
Zhang Wu laughed when he saw this, these fat guys are really useless.
They will all be knocked down by the next charge.
Zhang Wu's soldiers have already rushed to the front and are preparing for a hand-to-hand battle.
But at this time, the wolf military police on both sides took action. The big bamboo swept away, forming a cross fire, and immediately swept the people in front to the ground.
Although these fat men are not flexible, they are very strong.
This three-meter-long bamboo dances effortlessly.
Someone fell to the ground, and the pikemen behind him immediately stabbed him with their spears, and shot them again, one barrel at a time.
Zhang Wu's personnel were greatly reduced in an instant.
"Damn, what an insidious move."
Zhang Yu cursed, can we still play like this in this battle?
"Grab this bamboo and pull it back for me!"
But they ignored the fat man's strength and couldn't pull it at all.
Zhang Wu commanded the team again, don't be afraid of being injured, and it's not really dead. Just rush in with all your strength. As long as the two people in front are dispersed, the formation will collapse on its own.
Since you can't rush through the middle, then rush to the side.
"Side impact!"
Zhang Wu commanded.
The soldiers began to attack from the side, but soon discovered that something was wrong.
Both volumes feature four pikemen, armed with two-meter long spears.
In the blink of an eye, someone else was turned into a hornet's nest.
On Zhang Wu's side, in order to quickly resolve the battle and improve mobility, the weapons equipped to the soldiers were all long knives, which were not as long as the spears.
There were people holding big forks on both sides, making it impossible to get in.
As soon as he entered, his neck was stabbed, and then he was stabbed several times with a spear.
Even though the people under Zhang Wu were all brave men, they couldn't hold back their strength and had nowhere to use it. Facing this mandarin duck formation, it felt like beating a bastard again, it was airtight.
"Damn it, surround them first."
Seeing that there were fewer and fewer soldiers in the team, Zhang Wu became a little anxious.
He began to feel that something was wrong. The most fearless thing about this formation was that others would take the initiative to attack. It was almost a completely defensive formation.
If we keep fighting like this, I'm afraid we'll lose!
(End of chapter)
