The terrain becomes more and more difficult to travel as you go south. The mountains are densely forested, the air is humid, mist envelopes the sky, and the dark green branches and leaves cover the stubborn rocks and mud.
Jiaozhi is located in the Red River Basin. During the Chunxi period of the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty canonized Li Risui of the Li Dynasty as the King of Annan, and then renamed it the Annan Kingdom. Later, the male heirs of the Li dynasty were cut off, and his daughter succeeded to the throne and gave birth to a son, Chen Rixuan. Then it turned into the Chen dynasty. In addition to calling himself the king to China, he was also called the emperor internally and to other countries.
Annan, as a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, experienced severe civil strife. Li Jiyou, a relative of the Ming Dynasty, usurped the throne. Chen Tianping, the grandson of the former King of Annan, asked for help from the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Di sent the governor Huang Zhong and his deputy Xue Yan to lead 5,000 soldiers to send him back to Annan to succeed him. Unexpectedly, Li Jisu set up an ambush and killed not only Chen Tianping, but also Xue Yan.
Zhu Di was furious when he heard the news, and immediately sent Zhu Neng to lead an army of 800,000 (a very bragging element) to conquer Annan. Zhu Neng was the commander-in-chief and Zhang Fu was the deputy commander-in-chief. After all, Zhang Fu had no experience in leading troops independently, so Zhu Di specially asked Zhang Fu to follow Zhu Neng to practice.
The miasma in Annan was quite serious. Not long after Zhu Neng arrived, he contracted the disease and died in the army. For a time, there was no suitable general to serve as the coach, so Zhu Di directly asked Zhang Fu to be promoted from deputy coach to coach. Although it was the first time for Zhang Fu to lead an army independently in battle, he knew very well about strategy and power, and was able to force Li Jisuo and others to flee.
Annan was pacified, which meant that the homeland of the Han and Tang Dynasties was recovered; Zhu Di was very happy and directly made Zhang Fu the British Duke. Zhang Fu can be said to have gained both fame and fortune from this battle, and secured his position as the top leader.
Not long after the Annan Rebellion was put down, another rebellion broke out. Zhu Di sent Mu Sheng, the Duke of Guizhou, to put down the rebellion, but he was defeated. Zhu Di sent Zhang Fu over to continue to put down the rebellion.
Zhang Fu won many battles, while Annan lost many battles. First surrendering and then continuing the rebellion was really a headache.
…
Lu Chaoyang was a general of the Ming army in Jiaozhi. Not long ago, the general defeated the enemy at Aizijiang. However, Lu Chaoyang's men suffered heavy losses. Only a few dozen of his more than 400 brothers died. The battalion officer The Lord ordered him to recruit troops nearby.
But this conscription is just two words to say, but it is difficult to do.
The people were living a good life, who would be willing to tie their heads to their waists and join the army, not to mention that this place was sparsely populated, and even the strong men could not be found.
Just when Lu Chaoyang was feeling worried, he suddenly heard a heavenly sound coming from his ears.
"Excuse me, are you the officer in charge of recruiting soldiers into the army?"
Lu Chaoyang turned around and saw a handsome young man wearing a raincoat and riding a black horse. Next to the young man was a man in black robes riding a high horse. The man in black robes covered half of his face with a coarse linen scarf, and he didn't mind the heat.
"You are?" Lu Chaoyang couldn't believe it.
"My name is Zhu Silang, and I'm here to join the army." The young man got off his horse and smiled shyly.
…
"Where are you from?" Lu Chaoyang was a little suspicious.
This is the first time in his life that he has seen ordinary people come to his door to join the army. When ordinary people hear about the conscription, they will be so scared that they wet their pants.
Could it be a trick sent by the enemy country?
"I was born in Shuntian Prefecture, and my home is in Jinling." Zhu Gaojie took out the document from his sleeve, "Please take a look, this is the route guide and voucher for the two of us."
Lu Chaoyang took the document. All the security marks and procedures were complete, and there was no fraud.
"Who is he?" Lu Chaoyang pointed at the man in black robe, somewhat confused.
"Oh, he is my servant Aqi." Zhu Gaojie replied.
He couldn't tell Lu Chaoyang that this was the shadow attendant sent by His Majesty the Emperor to protect Zhu Gaojie.
"You, a young master from Jinling City, traveled thousands of miles to join our army?" Lu Chaoyang was somewhat doubtful about life.
Who the hell joins the army and brings a servant?
"Master, you can't say anything." Zhu Gaojie scratched his head and said, "Why don't you take Wu Gou and collect the fifty states in Guanshan? Please go to Lingyan Pavilion for a while, like a scholar with ten thousand households?"
Lu Chaoyang: "?"
Why do you think that I, a person who cannot read Chinese characters, can understand the poems and poems you are talking about?
"Although I don't understand, but... I think you are a very good young man." Lu Chaoyang said, "I promised you in advance that the battlefield is not a child's play, and you still have time to leave now."
Although Lu Chaoyang longed for a few more soldiers to join the army, he still wanted to persuade him to retreat from the "rich young man who didn't know the heights of the world" before him.
It's a pity that such a young son is dead now.
In Lu Chaoyang's memory, none of the people who came here for military merit and knighthood were still alive, and the grass on their graves grew unusually strong.
"Sir, I have traveled thousands of miles to come here, and I will not go back." Zhu Gaojie said.
"Don't regret it?" Lu Chaoyang asked.
"No regrets."
Lu Chaoyang nodded: "You kid, come on, follow me to get the weapons."
"That's not necessary." Zhu Gaojie said, "I came with weapons."
Only then did Lu Chaoyang notice that there was a long object wrapped in linen hanging on the back of the young man's waist. Judging from the size, it should be a sword.
"Let me remind you, most of the swords you young masters play with are unbladed and cannot kill people." Lu Chaoyang said.
He had seen a young master from a wealthy family join the army before. He was full of enthusiasm and brought his own weapons. But when he got to the battlefield, the young master discovered that his sword was not pointed, and was trampled to a pulp by the enemy's cavalry. Later, when the battlefield was cleared, the undertaker searched for a long time and only managed to find half a face. .
These young masters from wealthy families went to a blacksmith to get a sword and thought they were like Li Bai who could kill anyone in ten steps without leaving a trace. In fact, if they were given a real sharpened sword, they might be able to kill themselves. .
Li Bai's poems were free and romantic, which attracted later generations to yearn for the carefree life of a knight.
Alas, it’s all Li Bai’s fault.
…
Ming army commander camp
Zhang Fu, wearing armor, stood in front of the Annan map, his eyes shining with wisdom.
"How has the effect of rectifying the army these days been?" Zhang Fu asked.
Duke Mu Sheng of Guizhou said: "Each battalion has been recruiting troops, but the effect is average, but more than 4,000 new soldiers have been added."
"More than four thousand...that's enough. We must seize the time now and pursue the victory." Zhang Fu pointed at the map with his finger, "Chen Jun is now gathering in Siam and Kunpu to set up camp. They should have constructed a defensive front. If we delay any longer, our siege losses will be even greater."
"Ah, yes, yes."
The Duke of Guizhou, Mu Sheng, was also a famous general, but he also knew that Zhang Fu was far more talented than him.
Ever since Mu Sheng was defeated in Shengjuejiang, he no longer had any thoughts of competing for power with Zhang Fu. If the Ming Dynasty lost another battle because of him, then Mu Sheng would have committed suicide.
Now Zhang Fu is responsible for all matters in the army, and Mu Sheng's task is to serve as Zhang Fu's deputy general.
Zhang Fu suddenly remembered something important and asked: "Prince Qi who came from Jinling City, is it time to arrive?"
Mu Sheng was stunned for a moment: "It seems... it's time to arrive."
