Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 33 A person without integrity cannot stand; an army without integrity cannot fight.

……

Soon, the aroma of the food wafted through the air.

The cooks carried large pots and delivered the food to the drill ground.

Zhu Youjian stepped down from the platform and inspected the school personally.

The rice was golden-yellow millet, steamed until the grains were distinct and had a wonderful aroma.

The dish was a big stew, with large chunks of pork and radish stewed until very tender, the broth rich and thick, with a layer of oil floating on top.

In those times of scarcity, such rations were no less than a royal feast for these ordinary soldiers.

In fact, Zhu Youjian had some doubts in his heart, as this was not the usual food provided by the Beijing garrison.

It's very likely that they prepared an extra meal because of his presence today.

But it doesn't matter. No matter how much he teases him, the soldiers' gratitude will only be directed at him.

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction.

He turned to the crowd and announced loudly, "Eat your meals in formation! Soldiers eat first, and then the squad leaders eat!"

He then looked at Xu Yingyuan and instructed, "You will personally supervise this. Anyone who disrupts the queue or cuts in line will have their reward revoked!"

"According to the order!"

Xu Yingyuan responded loudly and immediately began to organize everyone to line up.

With the emperor's order and the threat of being expelled from the ranks, the warriors, who had just been in disarray, immediately became orderly.

They lined up in neat rows, each led by their squad leader, and took turns going forward to receive their meals.

Zhu Youjian stood aside, observing coldly for a long time.

To his surprise, no one caused trouble or fought over the food during the entire process.

Everyone lined up quietly, and after receiving their food, they went to the side and ate heartily, their faces beaming with satisfaction.

This... is not quite what he imagined.

Based on his experience organizing numerous large-scale events in his previous life, even in the most civilized later generations, there were still instances of people cutting in line and causing trouble.

Moreover, these were mostly illiterate soldiers of the Ming Dynasty.

Shouldn't a few troublemakers step forward to challenge the rules at this point, and then be made an example of to warn others, thus establishing the rules?

The scene before us was surprisingly orderly.

He was puzzled and turned to look at Sun Yingyuan, who was standing to the side, staring longingly at the rice pot, his stomach growling with hunger.

"Yingyuan, why is no one causing trouble or fighting over it?"

Sun Yingyuan was snorting, inhaling the aroma of food from afar, when he was suddenly asked a question by the emperor. He was stunned for a moment before he reacted.

He scratched his head, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "What's there to rob? Your Majesty, you're standing right here, everyone's watching. Surely no one's going to be short of food?"

One sentence, like a sudden enlightenment, made Zhu Youjian realize the truth in an instant.

Yes.

How could I have forgotten about this?

Ultimately, it all comes down to the word "trust".

Because he, the emperor, is still standing here; because he has just clearly distinguished between reward and punishment; because he has used his credibility as the Son of Heaven to guarantee this small meal.

Therefore, no one dared to cause trouble, and no one doubted his authority.

Using the emperor's reputation to guarantee the fairness of a meal is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut—a waste of a nut.

Zhu Youjian couldn't help but shake his head, finding his own spur-of-the-moment application somewhat amusing.

He silently recited in his heart: A person without integrity cannot stand, and an army without integrity cannot fight.

The ancients are not deceived by me.

He walked with his hands behind his back to the other side of the drill ground, where the soldiers who had not been selected were eating.

The food here looks similar to what the Warriors have. It's also millet rice, but there's no tempting meat in the pot. However, each person still gets a few pieces of pickled vegetable root.

When the emperor approached, everyone slowed down their eating, their eyes filled with awe and unease.

Zhu Youjian didn't speak, but simply looked around quietly before turning back to the warriors.

By this time, most of the soldiers had finished eating and were gathering in twos and threes, savoring the aroma of the meat in their mouths.

Zhu Youjian gestured for Sun Yingyuan, the newly appointed squad leaders, and the eunuchs who were helping out to come forward for a meal.

After everyone had finished eating, Zhu Youjian stepped forward, intending to serve himself a bowl and taste the flavor of the communal meal.

However, just as he took a step, Gao Shiming, like a ghost, silently appeared in front of him, carrying a tray.

On the tray was a bowl of rice that had been prepared long ago.

The bowl is a white jade bowl brought from the palace; it is crystal clear and spotless.

The rice was still chestnut rice from the pot, but it had been carefully selected, with not a single bit of burnt rice at the bottom. On top of the rice was a thick layer of marbled pork, clearly taken from the best part of the pot.

"Your Majesty, this one... has already been tried."

Gao Shiming lowered his head and said softly.

Zhu Youjian's hand, which was reaching for the rice spoon, froze in mid-air.

He looked at the bowl of rice in front of him that had received "special treatment," and for a moment, he was in a daze.

He then suddenly realized that he was, after all, the emperor.

He could wear the same clothes as the soldiers and eat the same food cooked in the same pot as them, but he could never truly share their joys and sorrows.

Because he is the ruler, and they are the subjects.

This invisible chasm existed from the moment he sat on the dragon throne.

A strange feeling welled up in his heart, and he sighed softly.

The shift of power and position is not limited to scholars and officials.

Power and status changed not only the civil and military officials, but also himself, who was caught up in them and could not escape.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Gao Banban."

He eventually accepted the bowl of rice, saying nothing more, just standing there silently, shoveling rice into his mouth one bite at a time.

The previously noisy ranks of warriors around them instantly fell silent.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and sat quietly around their respective squad leaders, all eyes fixed on the young emperor eating alone.

A strange atmosphere permeated the air.

Everyone felt something was off, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it.

That's His Majesty the Emperor! Does he really have to eat in person?

Ah, no...

Does that mean they eat the same food as them?

Shouldn't we eat the finest delicacies, but only take a bite of each dish?

Zhu Youjian swallowed the last mouthful of rice with difficulty.

He stood up and walked to the middle of the soldiers.

All eyes followed him.

He had intended to deliver a passionate speech, just as he had done in court a few days earlier, to boost morale.

But as the words were about to come out, he felt that it might not be necessary.

Trust cannot be built in a single speech.

Rules cannot be established with a single reward or punishment.

He stood before the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the young, expectant faces.

Then, in a clear and loud voice, he issued the final decree of the day.

"Preach my will!"

"All the warriors present shall form a separate battalion and be named 'Brave Guard'!"

"Those who enter this camp will receive two shi of grain per month!"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent for a moment.

Immediately, like a volcanic eruption, a deafening cheer erupted!
"Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"

Everyone, including Sun Yingyuan, knelt down excitedly and shouted those three words with all their might.

Their faces radiated the most genuine joy and the most fervent worship.

At this moment, Zhu Youjian knew that his first army, truly his own, had finally been born.

　[Historical Materials in this Chapter]

　　1. I'm so surprised! How come I can find some strange and unusual historical materials to use in every chapter? If I put these in the main text, how many words could I write!

　　2. Regarding the issue of food for the soldiers in the capital, it is as follows:

　　The Embroidered Uniform Guards ate Jingjing rice all year round, which is the finest white rice from Southern Zhili, on par with the rice in the palace—and so did that burly general.

　　- Other garrisons in Beijing ate millet harvested from Tongzhou granaries in February.

　　In August, we eat millet from Beijing, which is millet from other places.

　　- Eat high-quality Jing-style rice during training sessions and stale rice during rest periods.
　　Finally, these two chapters were supposed to be updated on July 26th. I worked my butt off to keep the plot coherent and posted them at midnight.

　　—Don't tell me tomorrow during the day, "Author, author, why didn't you update today...?"

　　
　
(End of this chapter)