Zhu Ping’an issued an order to the Zhe Army: from this moment on, everyone must intensify their training in horsemanship, mounted shooting, and slashing. For now, the focus is on horsemanship, with mounted shooting and slashing as supplementary skills. In the short term, they are not expected to master mounted shooting and slashing, but everyone must learn to ride a horse.
Of course, the mounted shooting here refers to the use of firearms, not bows and arrows.
Issuing orders is easy, but training is hard.
First, the newly purchased horses and mules were not accustomed to the sound of firearms. Every time a firearm was discharged, the horses and mules would panic, neighing and running around. It took a great deal of effort to calm them down.
To help them adapt to the sound of firearms as quickly as possible, Zhu Ping’an ordered the soldiers to practice firing their weapons near the horses, so that the animals could get used to the noise.
This was how the army’s horses had been trained to adapt in the past.
In addition, firing firearms on horseback was not easy. For one, the firearms currently used by the Zhe Army were too long, making them unsuitable for firing from horseback. Secondly, reloading firearms on horseback was much more difficult than on the ground.
In fact, Zhu Ping’an knew that the most suitable firearm for mounted shooting was not the matchlock gun, but the flintlock gun. However, technological limitations made this impossible.
Zhu Ping’an could only subtly share his limited knowledge of flintlock guns with the equipment division, hoping to guide their thinking and help them avoid detours in their research and development. However, it would be a long time before they could produce a flintlock gun.
The trigger alone was a significant hurdle, not to mention the hammer, spring, and flint.
Nevertheless, with the right direction, their research and development progress could be greatly accelerated.
The future looked promising.
While the Zhe Army training ground was filled with dust and soldiers were sweating in the cold winter, Zhu Ping’an’s uncle, Zhu Shouren, Hu Wei, and Xia Qiang were feeling quite pleased with themselves.
At noon, as they reluctantly left their tent, pinching their noses as they prepared to queue for food, a soldier approached from a distance carrying a food box.
At first, Zhu Shouren and the others thought the food was for Zhu Ping’an, as he was the supreme commander of the Zhe Army and entitled to such privileges. After all, it was only right that he didn’t have to queue for food like the common soldiers.
“Ha, Brother Zhu, it seems our words have had some influence on Commander Zhu. Look, here comes his special meal,” Hu Wei said with a slight smile, whispering to Zhu Shouren.
“This is a good start,” Xia Qiang also smiled. “In the future, Commander Zhu will take more of our advice.”
“If only we could have the same treatment,” Zhu Shouren said with some regret. “Queuing for food with those common soldiers is so demeaning. They can’t even read, yet they get to queue ahead of us.”
“Yes, it would be great if we could have that treatment,” Xia Qiang nodded, his eyes filled with longing.
He wasn’t longing for the meal itself, but for the power and status that such treatment represented.
“That day will come,” Hu Wei patted Xia Qiang’s shoulder, speaking with confidence.
“Let’s hurry. Since my nephew has his special meal, he won’t be queuing. I don’t want to eat leftovers again,” Zhu Shouren shook his head and urged.
“Let’s go,” Xia Qiang and Hu Wei nodded, quickening their pace. They didn’t want to eat the soldiers’ leftovers either.
As they approached the soldier carrying the food box, the soldier greeted them, quickening his steps. “Secretary Zhu, Secretary Hu, Secretary Xia…”
The title of “secretary” sounded good, at least it had the word “official” in it. Zhu Shouren felt as if he had drunk fine wine, his heart filled with joy, and a smile appeared on his face as he nodded slightly.
Hu Wei and Xia Qiang felt the same.
After nodding, the three continued forward, not intending to stop. They were in a hurry to queue, as their experience that morning had taught them not to cut in line again.
Seeing that they weren’t stopping, the soldier carrying the food box called out to them, “Secretary Zhu, Secretary Hu, Secretary Xia, where are you going? Aren’t you eating?”
What kind of question was that? Were they supposed to eat air? They didn’t have the same privileges as their nephew/Commander Zhu.
“We’re going to queue for food,” the three of them found the soldier’s question somewhat baffling.
“Secretary Zhu, Secretary Hu, Secretary Xia, why are you queuing? Commander Zhu has ordered me to bring you your meals. He said that you are different from the rest of us, as you need to think and prepare for exams. So from now on, your three meals a day will be delivered to your tent.”
The soldier explained.
“What? This food is for us?” The three of them were shocked, their mouths agape.
“Yes. From now on, the three secretaries won’t need to queue for meals. We will deliver your meals to you on time,” the soldier repeated.
“Did you hear that? This food is for us,” Zhu Shouren and the other two exchanged glances, their faces filled with surprise and joy.
Just moments ago, they had been wondering when they would receive such treatment, and now it had happened so quickly.
“Thank you, thank you. We’ll trouble you from now on,” Hu Wei was the first to react, nodding his thanks to the soldier.
“Ahem, take it to the tent,” Zhu Shouren coughed, his demeanor instantly becoming more dignified.
The three returned to their tent, and after the soldier left, they couldn’t help but look at each other and laugh.
“Commander Zhu specifically ordered someone to bring us food. He must have recognized our talents to give us such treatment,” Xia Qiang opened the food box, looking at the meals inside with excitement.
“Of course. As they say, gold will always shine. We three are true gold, unafraid of fire, and it’s only natural that my nephew has recognized our worth,” Zhu Shouren nodded without modesty, agreeing.
“It must be because of our answers last time that impressed Commander Zhu, which is why he’s giving us this special treatment,” Hu Wei analyzed.
“Definitely,” Xia Qiang agreed, then added with some regret, “It’s a pity that the book Commander Zhu was reading and the tasks he assigned us were related to military matters, so we couldn’t gain any inspiration. Otherwise, we could have impressed him even more.”
“It’s fine. As long as our thinking is on the right track, there will be plenty of opportunities. Let me tell you, my nephew loves reading. When he was a child, he would even read books while using the outhouse. When he returns to his tent at noon, he’s sure to be reading. When we visit his command tent this afternoon, we’re bound to gain something,” Zhu Shouren said nonchalantly.
In the afternoon, before they could visit Zhu Ping’an’s command tent, another good thing happened.
That afternoon, the Zhe Army distributed their pay, and the three of them received one and a half taels of silver as their salary, along with five taels of silver as a settling-in allowance.
This made them even more excited, further convincing them that Zhu Ping’an had recognized their talents and value, which was why he was treating them so well.
They were feeling more and more pleased with themselves.
