Volume 4: Hot! The whole world is a warring state Chapter 642: A New Generation of Generals
"Boom! Hey! Boom! Hey!"
In March of the seventeenth year of the Tianqi reign (1635), in the chilly spring, the new school year of the Ming Imperial Military Academy officially began.
The opening of military academies is naturally different from the opening of ordinary schools: starting from the first day of February, the new students have already undergone a month-long queue training. They have also learned the bayonet hand-to-hand combat techniques based on the boxing and sword manuals left by Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang, which were improved by Cheng Zongyou in combination with the existing weapons .
So, when the school officially opened on March 1st, when the real principal of the school, Zhu Youdong, arrived here, what he saw was the strict formations on the playground and the vigorous masculine energy that burst out when the students did bayonet fighting drills.
"Well, not bad, Dean Ma, your recruits are very good."
"Your Majesty is joking." The person who succeeded Li Shizhong as the executive dean of the Imperial Military Academy was Ma Ran, who was disfigured in the Battle of Sarhu. This Liaodong man, who had a neat scar from his forehead to the corner of his mouth, smiled strangely and said, "These are all your Majesty's soldiers."
"Hahaha, that's right, they are all my soldiers!"
Since returning to China in December, Zhu Youdong has spent very little energy on ordinary affairs: the country has been basically straightened out, and what remains is development, improvement, fine-tuning, and accumulation. In addition, he re-established the prime minister, giving up some power while also freeing himself from mundane affairs. So in the past two or three months, the emperor's main tasks are three:
One, have children with your wives. This worked faster, at least your queen and concubine were pregnant again.
Second, go to Fangshan Academy of Sciences whenever you have nothing to do. This has not yet achieved obvious results: Fangshan's electrical research has successfully produced batteries, but due to the lack of electrical theory, no further progress has been made. As for plastics, Fushan, the young genius, has produced a lot of strange things, but there is still a long way to go before it can be truly used on a large scale.
The last one is also the one that Zhu Youdong has devoted most of his energy to in the past few months: training political commissars!
In his view, guerrilla warfare in the Americas has reached its limit, and purely military means are indeed unable to bury Spain's rule in the Americas. Now, it is time to let the evil colonists experience the superb ability of our party to mobilize the masses in the historical plane.
In short, this period of time was the most relaxing time for him after more than 30 years of hard work. It was also because of this that he, as the nominal dean, had time to attend the opening ceremony of this semester.
"Your Majesty, this year's junior class students are here. The Second Prince is also in the team. Look, he's the one in the first row closest to the podium."
"Where?" Zhu Youdong, who was focusing on the overall situation at first, immediately picked up the telescope in front of him and after a simple adjustment, he quickly found his son.
"Well, this brat walked pretty well."
Haha, the emperor was talking about his son. Ma Ran, as a minister, could only puff up his face, which always moved his muscles strangely because of the scar, and tried hard to smile.
The Imperial Military Academy of the Ming Dynasty began accepting applications for new students in October every year. First, there was an initial screening of qualifications: this was a place to train national officers, and those whose families had traitors or corruption were rejected. After the Lantern Festival, the school held an entrance examination, and on February 1, the selected students entered the school. After a month of simple training in formation and hand-to-hand combat, the school officially started.
However, the enrollment of military academies is different from that of ordinary schools. In addition to candidates of appropriate age from society, it also recruits existing officers from the army. Although there is a big difference in age, physical condition and military skills between the two, and the teaching after the formal opening of school is basically separate. But at least on this occasion, the young students and those young and middle-aged soldiers who have been recommended by officers at all levels for excellent performance in the army and have been selected for admission through layers of selection, all marched in step and accepted the inspection of His Majesty the Emperor.
Zhu Youdong's second son, Zhu Ciyan, would not be fourteen for several months after the beginning of the year. He had not yet finished his studies at Fangshan Middle School, so he was naturally not a formal student at the Military Academy. However, because his physical education was too poor, Cheng Zongyou stuffed him here to participate in a month of military training.
When he entered school, Cheng Zongyou made up a random name for him to hide his identity. However, this child inherited his mother's friendliness, and as the eldest son, he always had a lot of money. So in just one month of military training, he made a lot of friends in the junior class.
He knew that his father was on the rostrum, but he had no intention of going to see his father after the entrance parade: to be honest, it was really pleasant to conceal his identity and get along with people of the same age, and he really didn't want to expose himself in front of his new friends.
After the instructor announced that they would have a half-day off this afternoon, he happily shouted to his companions, "Brothers, we have everything. Go back and take a shower. We will go to Nanyue Authentic Restaurant and eat from noon to night!"
"OK!"
"Hahaha, Xiao Cheng, you're great. Hey, this month, you treated us to meals every time you had a day off. That must have cost a lot, right?"
"Hey! What's money? Money is a bastard! Just use it for your own pleasure!"
He was showing off his wealth arrogantly, and he almost had the words "I have too much money, it's really a problem" carved on his face. However, he didn't notice that the friends who were noisy around him before, now became quiet like quails with their throats pinched.
"I'm telling you guys, this time when we go to the restaurant, we must... eh?"
"Zhu Ciyan."
"Oh no!" The thirteen-year-old boy turned around and said helplessly in a low voice: "Father."
"Huh?"
"Hiss~"
When he called him "Father", all the young men who had been getting along with him as equals and had a very pleasant relationship with him for the past month opened their mouths in surprise.
After a moment of stagnation , the young men looked at the scarred dean standing next to the middle-aged man Zhu Ciyan called father, and the way he was respectfully guarding the emperor. One person took the lead, and everyone followed, kneeling on one knee: "Students greet the emperor!"
"Hahaha, don't be so polite, everyone, stand up. Um, Zhu Ciyan, are these your classmates from military training? How about introducing them to your father?"
"Oh." Zhu Ciyan turned around with an unhappy look on his face and pointed at the boy closest to him: "This guy is Zheng Sen, from Fujian."
"Wait." Hearing the name Zheng Sen, Zhu Youdong took two steps forward: "Your name is Zheng Sen? Then who is Zheng Zhilong to you?"
"Your Majesty, that is my father."
"I see. Hahaha, very good, excellent. Zheng Sen, how old are you this year?"
"The student is twelve years old."
"Yeah, very good." At first, he was surprised that Zhu Ciyan, who had always been very well-behaved in front of him, became an arrogant and show-off boy when he was away from him. But now, Zhu Youdong no longer cared about these things. He glanced at the several young men around him who looked very energetic, and his interest suddenly became high: "What about you, what are your names? Where are you from? How old are you this year?"
"Your Majesty, my student's name is Zhang Huangyan. I am from Ningbo, Zhejiang, and I am about to turn fifteen."
"Your Majesty, my name is Zhang Tongchang. I am from Huguang, no, Jiangling, Hubei, and I am fourteen years old this year."
"The student's name is Li Dingguo, he is from Yulin, Shaanxi, and he is fourteen years old."
"Student Li Laiheng, from Mizhi, Shaanxi, thirteen years old this year."
"Student, no, I am Mu Tianbo, your Majesty. I am ashamed that I only made up my mind to apply for the Royal Military Academy last year, which resulted in wasting time. I am already seventeen years old this year."
"Hahaha, you're seventeen and you're already saying you've wasted your time, then how are we supposed to cope with this, Dean Ma?"
Among the dozen or so young men who were friends with Zhu Ciyan, Zhu Youdong had no impression of most of their names. But even these few people were enough to surprise him!
Although his son seems to have a problem of spending money recklessly, the money is well spent! Look at what kind of friends he has made? Let's not talk about those who have left their names in history, let's talk about Zhang Tongchang who seems to be less famous, his great-grandfather is Zhang Juzheng!
Very good, Master Cheng was right to send this brat for military training for a month, and the benefits are really huge.
"Okay, I just heard that you want to go to the Nanyue Authentic Restaurant?"
"Your Majesty." Zhang Huangyan, who looked very thin, smiled bitterly and said, "The Second Prince, the Duke of Qian, and the son of General Zheng, have all made us suffer. Although we knew before entering the school that there must be many children of nobles in this military academy, we really didn't expect..."
"Hahaha, what's the big deal? Well, although many people's identities have been revealed today, I hope you won't hurt the friendship that we have worked so hard to build up . Although there will inevitably be some differences in your identities after you graduate from the military academy, at least today, I hope you can be as happy as always. Fang Zhenghua."
"The servant is here."
"Ask someone to tell Zhu Yunkeng to save the best Accord for us. I want to treat you all."
"As you wish."
After giving the order, he turned around and searched his pockets, only to find to his embarrassment that he had no money.
Then he casually took off a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Zhu Ciyan: "My father has treated me to this meal, but I guess you wouldn't be able to relax if my father were here. Go by yourselves, eat and drink as much as you want, and have fun!"
"Yes, thank you, Father!"
No need. Zhu Youdong said silently in his heart: The one who should say thank you is me.
Who are these people? This group of young men are the future new generation of generals of our Ming Dynasty! And...
He thought of his eldest son Zhu Ciyi, who had officially opened his government a few days ago and came to bid farewell to him with his staff. He could not hide his surprise when he thought of the boy, who was about to turn 17 and was about to go to America, introducing his staff to him. He could no longer suppress the happiness in his heart: My Ming Dynasty is full of talents!
