On the outskirts of the capital.
In the western camp.
Tens of thousands of soldiers let out thunderous cheers when they saw Zhu Qiyu's honor guard.
"Hooray."
"Hooray."
"Hooray."
They were sincerely thanking the new emperor for giving them the food and pay they deserved.
People of Ming Dynasty.
They only wanted to eat and wear warm clothes.
Of course, he would be very grateful if he had some money left.
It was the same for the soldiers in the western camp.
When the Emperor paid them the silver that he owed them for several months, he would bestow them with some cloth, meat, and wine.
They were extremely grateful.
The tsunami-like shouts not only made Zhu Qiyu feel a myriad of emotions.
The officials and generals were the same.
It was as if this was the first time they had seen these soldiers who were filled with passion and fighting spirit.
Even though there were many old and weak people in this army.
When Zhu Qiyu was about to reach the front of the camp, he jumped down from his horse.
All the civil and military officials staggered in fright.
How could the Emperor do this?
If he fell or fell, or if something was wrong, then his dignity would be gone.
The accident didn't happen because the Emperor's posture was very stable. It was obvious that he was very proficient in riding horses.
Of course, only Zhu Qiyu himself knew that the reason why he could master horseback riding was all due to the system's reward.
The reason why he came to the Western Jiujiang Camp this time was because he had chosen the system's mission.
Option 3: Use your outstanding riding skills to raise the loyalty and morale of the soldiers in the western camp. Reward: Martial Force 10, Dragon Emperor's Sword Roar Technique raised to perfection.
Seeing the new emperor get off the horse, many veterans who had been on the battlefield showed respect and admiration in their eyes.
Only they knew what the Emperor's stance revealed.
On the Drill Ground.
Zhu Qiyu watched the training of tens of thousands of soldiers as usual.
He also gave high praise and encouragement.
Of course, it was also a reward of resources.
Just when the civil and military officials thought that it was about to end, the new emperor spoke again.
"Everyone, how many soldiers do you see in our camp?”
All the civil and military officials were silent.
They knew that what should have come had come.
"Fifty-six thousand three hundred and eighty-two people. Among them, there are nearly ten thousand old, weak, sick, and disabled.”
Zhu Qiyu said it himself.
The camp in the western suburbs was supposed to have 100,000 elite soldiers, but now there were slightly more than half of them.
There was also a portion that was just to make up the numbers.
In that case, those meritorious officials and generals had eaten the empty pay of nearly fifty thousand soldiers.
This was the elite army protecting the capital.
If even the camp in the western suburbs of the capital was like this, one could only imagine what the armies of other places were like.
It was simply unimaginable.
Even if the Emperor did not point it out, the civil and military officials could imagine it.
Zhu Qiyu swept his gaze across the civil and military officials who had their heads lowered, as well as the dozens of sinners who were kneeling on the ground, trembling in fear.
He really wanted to tell all the civil and military officials that this was just one of the messes that Imperial Brother had left for me.
"Zhen has read the memorial you sent to plead for mercy for them. Your memorial said that their ancestors and fathers had made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty and asked me to forgive them.”
"Alright, I'll do it. I will give them a chance."
All the civil and military officials quivered when they heard the new emperor's words.
Was the new emperor so easy to talk to?
Why did it feel bad?
After that, Zhu Qiyu walked up to the group of officials and generals who had committed crimes.
"Your father's generation fought on the battlefield and made many great achievements for my Ming Dynasty and the people of the world.”
"Now, you have inherited their titles and military positions, and you are responsible for guarding the capital. However, he committed a heinous crime."
"In front of all the soldiers and officials, I will give you a chance. A chance to redeem yourself."
The dozens of meritorious officials and generals who had committed crimes all cried out in gratitude when they heard that there was hope of survival.
However, many people were extremely grateful.
However, his lowered eyes were filled with hatred.
"You are all generals. I won't test your literary talent, but your riding and archery.”
"Let's go around the drill ground, ride a circle, and shoot ten arrows in a row. As long as you can beat me, you can enter the military camp to atone for your sins.”
Zhu Qiyu's words immediately caused everyone to exclaim.
Be it the officials, the generals, the royal family, or even the tens of thousands of soldiers, they were all dumbfounded.
Wasn't the Emperor deliberately sparing these people?
One had to know that the ancestors of these meritorious officials and generals had all made a fortune through military achievements. Which family was not skilled in riding and archery?
The new emperor was competing with them in riding and archery?
Wasn't this clearly sparing their lives?
Zhu Qiyu turned to those meritorious officials and generals, as well as the royal family."What do you think of my proposal? Is it fair?"
Those meritorious officials, generals, and relatives of the royal family hurriedly said,""Your Majesty is benevolent and generous. This proposal is the best and very fair.”
In their eyes, the emperor might know how to ride a horse, but when it came to riding and archery?
Haha…
Some of the upright civil officials looked disappointed.
It seemed that the new emperor had compromised with these meritorious officials and relatives.
He was really going to let off these sinful generals.
"Sigh."
Yu Qian, Wang Wen, and Chen Xun looked at each other, their expressions revealing faint disappointment.
Zhang Yi, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly raised his head and widened his eyes.
"Your Majesty, do you mean what you said?"
Zhu Qiyu smiled." I am the Emperor of Ming. You are not joking." Moreover, in front of thousands of soldiers and civil and military officials, would I go back on my word?”
"Alright, we are willing to compete with Your Majesty in riding and archery. I'll go first."
The Earl of Jingyuan, Zhang Yi, stood up and shouted at a cavalryman beside him,"Why aren't you bringing the horse over?"
Just from this scene, one could see how arrogant and despotic these descendants of meritorious officials were usually.
Even though he had become a sinner, he still could not change his habit of bullying his soldiers.
The cavalryman in the western camp was frightened by the notorious reputation of the Count of Jingyuan. He glanced at the new emperor.
Zhu Qiyu nodded lightly.
The cavalryman then led his horse to him, and then gave him a strong bow and a quiver of arrows.
The Earl of Jingyuan leaped onto his horse and galloped forward, shooting an arrow.
Whoosh! An arrow shot out.
He steadily hit the target in the middle of the field.
The descendants of the meritorious officials who were watching all cheered loudly.
Many people even looked at the new emperor with a smile on their faces.
The meaning was self-evident.
After that Jingyuan Earl Zhang Yi had circled around.
The soldier who was inspecting the target reported back.
"Out of ten shots, six on the bullseye, three on the edge, and one off target.”
Such excellent results won the applause of many meritorious officials.
The Jingyuan Earl Zhang Yi arrogantly raised his chin and sneered at everyone.
Zhu Qiyu looked at the next person indifferently.
"Zhou Liang, Marquis of Pingnan, four out of ten shots, two edge shots, four misses.”
"Calm Bochang Flying Tiger, ten shots, zero, all missed the target.”
"Du Duan, Marquis of Pingxi, fell off his horse and broke his leg.”
…………
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