To put it simply, the selection of forwards is to select a commando team composed of elite soldiers. They perform the most dangerous, difficult and important tasks.
When it comes to rewards based on merit, naturally the merits are the greatest and the rewards are the most generous. In the Ming army system, participating in the selection of forwards has always been the only way for ordinary soldiers and lower-level officers to obtain military merit.
Boss Zhu's military merit is very valuable. If nothing else, it can be exchanged for an official position that can be inherited by his descendants!
In the previous dynasty, only aristocrats could enjoy the glory and wealth from generation to generation. Now Lord Hongwu allows them to enjoy it as long as they fight the enemy bravely and make enough achievements. This attraction is really too great.
Especially when you see that your former colleagues have inherited hundreds or even thousands of households, and you haven't found a hereditary replacement yet, can you not feel itchy?
Even a lazy man like Li Laoba wanted to join the vanguard and seek wealth in danger. This shows how successful the Ming Dynasty's military merit system was at least in the Hongwu Dynasty.
~~
Two thousand forwards stood in front of the Chinese military tent with their heads held high, looking at their coach with intense eyes.
Fu Youde, the Marquis of Yingchuan, the general who conquered the South, personally announced to them:
"Now there is a dangerous mission waiting for you - tonight, I will personally lead two thousand warriors to descend from the cliff dozens of feet high to kick the Yuan army's camp! This battle is very dangerous.
Be careful, you will be shattered into pieces, you will be trapped in a tight siege, and you may never come back. Victory or death, there is no other possibility!"
Fu Youde said, his majestic eyes swept over the selected leaders, and said in a deep voice: "As I said again, those who don't want to join should leave immediately, don't hold everyone back!"
The chosen frontman shouted loudly: "Don't retreat!"
Yu Min didn't say anything, but she didn't dare to stand up and say that I wanted to quit. The atmosphere had reached this point, and he was the only one to back out. The psychological pressure was too great.
"Okay, since we won't retreat, let's live and die together!" After Fu Youde said this, he waved his hand, and a soldier brought the Zhuangxing wine. The picker in front took it with both hands and drank it down in one gulp.
The bowl was passed to the colleague at the back, and the wine was poured and drank.
When it was Yu Min's turn, his hand holding the wine bowl was trembling a little. Drinking was strictly prohibited in the army. The ban would only be lifted under one circumstance, that is, when he was going to "die."
"Drink, you should drink!" Muchun, who was in charge of pouring the wine, urged: "Drinking is a beautiful thing!"
Yu Min quickly picked it up and took a sip. She was choked by the spicy liquor and coughed non-stop, with mucus coming out of her nose.
It made everyone laugh.
Yu Min stood there at a loss holding the wine bowl, her face was red, she didn't know whether it was from embarrassment or from drinking.
"Drink, there is still more than half a bowl, don't waste it!" a group of bad guys shouted.
Yu Min was about to grit his teeth and continue to drink, but someone held him down. When he looked up, he saw that it was his Qi Qianhu.
Qi Xiang took his wine bowl, drank it for him in one go, and handed the bowl to the next pick.
Yu Min quickly thanked Qianhu, and Qi Xiang pursed his lips and said, "Is this your first time drinking?"
"Yes, my mother doesn't allow drinking." Yu Min nodded.
"Hahaha, is this your first time on the battlefield?" Qi Xiang patted his helmet, as if he saw his son.
"Yes." Yu Min nodded again.
"Don't be afraid, there is a first time for everything. Once it happens, it will become familiar twice." After Qi Xiang finished speaking, he went forward.
"Qianhu is such a good person." Yu Min murmured excitedly.
"Quickly pull him down, he's just a glutton for alcohol." Niu Zongqi, who was also a striker, said through the young man's filter.
At this time, after Zhuang Xing finished drinking the wine, the two thousand soldiers quietly left the camp.
The atmosphere in the military camp also became tense, and preparations began for a frontal attack.
~~
Two thousand selected soldiers, led by Marquis Yingchuan, walked in the deep mountains and dense forests.
The soldiers were chatting and laughing in a relaxed manner while marching. Only Yu Min did not dare to say a word. He kept holding his weapon tightly and looking around vigilantly.
Niu Zongqi patted him on the shoulder and startled him again.
"What are you doing? You were so surprised." Niu Zongqi quickly covered his mouth to stop him from screaming.
When Niu Zongqi let go of his hand, Yu Min asked in a low voice: "Aren't you afraid that someone will ambush us?"
"You're so scared. Who can find anyone in these deep mountains and forests?" Niu Zongqi couldn't help laughing and reminded him: "Relax, you're wasting your energy like this."
"Yes." Yu Min nodded quickly, but his body was still tense.
"Find a topic and let's chat. After a few words, we will relax." Niu Zongqi taught him with a smile.
"Yes." Yu Min nodded and thought for a long time before remembering the content of the chat and asked in a low voice: "I heard that Qi Qianhu was the emperor's personal soldier back then?"
"Yes." Niu Zongqi nodded and said: "And he is the oldest soldier. Twenty-eight years ago, when the emperor just left Haozhou and went to Hezhou to establish a business, thousands of our families defected to the emperor."
"Ah?!" Yu Min was so shocked that she couldn't open her mouth from ear to ear: "So awesome!"
"Shh..." Niu Zongqi raised his finger to his lips, telling him not to make a fuss and said: "We, Qianhu, are the most annoying people to mention this. Just know it, don't talk nonsense everywhere."
"Why is it such a glorious thing?" Yu Min didn't understand.
"Why? Alas, you are such a child..." Mr. Niu flicked his helmet and said, "You will know when you grow up."
"Oh..." Yu Min pressed down her helmet and didn't ask any further questions.
~~
At the second watch, two thousand soldiers, led by the general, reached the edge of the cliff.
Fu Youde then whispered to the soldiers: "In the middle of the canyon, the light on the high place is Puding Fort, and the circle of lights on the lower side is our target. I observed the terrain in the morning, and this is the shortest place in the entire area.
, let’s go down from here, about forty feet.”
"There are a total of forty ropes, and a group of fifty people will defend on the spot immediately after landing to cover the safe whereabouts of the follow-up troops. We will act together when everyone is here." Fu Youde looked at the Big Dipper in the sky.
In this era, generals must understand astronomy and geography. In terms of astronomy, the most important thing is to observe the Big Dipper and obtain useful information.
The Big Dipper is a good assistant for the general. After learning, it can be used as a compass, a clock, a calendar, and a ruler.
It will circle around the North Star every twelve hours, making it the most accurate clock in this era. As long as you practice diligently and observe more, you can accurately grasp the current time through its position.
Fu Youde withdrew his gaze and told the time: "It's just the second watch. Before the third watch, everyone must be in place! Let's get started!"
After saying that, his soldiers stepped forward and threw down the rope. The other end of the rope was already firmly tied to a stone or a thick tree trunk.
Then the soldiers took out an '8'-shaped iron ring, grabbed the rope with the other hand, made a 'U'-shaped rope ear, passed the rope ear through the big ring, then buckled it to the small ring and tightened it
.
Finally, use a buckle to fasten the small ring to the waist belt, and all the preparations are completed.
Muchun and others grabbed the rope at the lower end of the iron ring with one hand and put it behind their hips, grabbed the upper rope with the other hand, and slowly moved backwards to the edge of the cliff.
He slowly released the rope with both hands, his legs were splayed and he stared at the cliff, and he slowly descended down the cliff...
