Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

The army left Yingtian Prefecture and marched southwest along the official road.

Zhu Di personally led the expedition, following the traditional route of the Ming Dynasty's southern campaign. Starting from Nanjing, he went up the Yangtze River, passing through Taiping Prefecture and Chizhou Prefecture, then through Anqing into Huguang, and then south through Yongzhou Prefecture into Guangxi. He exited through Zhennanguan and entered Annam.

This road has been the main passage for the Central Plains dynasties to move south since the Qin and Han dynasties. There were post stations and relay stations along the way to ensure the supply of food and military intelligence for the army.

During the Yongle era, the army's marching speed was not much faster than that of the previous dynasty. The infantry and supply troops could not move quickly, and they also had to take over post stations, replenish water sources, and send out scouts to conduct reconnaissance along the way. On average, they could only march thirty or forty li per day.

But this time was different, because we have the sun of our Great Ming Dynasty—Prince Rui. There's no need to wait for provisions; he even took care of the welfare of the people along the way.

Wherever the army went, the news spread. Often, before the vanguard even reached the next post station, the local people had already spontaneously set up incense tables and longevity tablets along both sides of the official road. Of course, that's another story.

Let's start with the first day. At noon, the army officially set off from Yingtian Prefecture. By dusk, the vanguard had already arrived at Caishiyi in Dangtu County, Taiping Prefecture.

Caishiyi was a medium-sized post station on the banks of the Yangtze River, originally only able to accommodate about a hundred people. However, before the army set off, the Ministry of War had sent people to make preparations along the way. Several days in advance, the postmaster led his men to clean up the post station inside and out, and leveled a large camp on the open ground next to the post station for the army to camp.

The postmaster was a short, stout middle-aged man in his forties surnamed Ma. Since receiving the notice from the Ministry of War three days ago, he hadn't had a full night's sleep. He and a dozen postmen worked around the clock for three days straight, repainting all the guest rooms in the post station and even scrubbing the stone path in the courtyard clean.

As dusk settled, Zhang Fu's messenger rode back from the front of the column on a fast horse, shouting along the way, "At Caishiyi ahead, the army shall set up camp here."

Before the messenger's hoofbeats had even faded, the bugles of each battalion sounded one after another, and the entire marching column, like a huge machine wound up to its fullest extent, began to come to an orderly stop.

The vanguard cavalry dispersed first, setting up a cordon on both sides of the official road. The infantry of the central army began to move the supply tents and baggage to the open space next to Caishi Post Station. The rearguard battalion was still behind, slowly advancing with supplies and siege equipment.

The engineers carried shovels and axes to the edge of the camp and began digging trenches and setting up barricades. Everything was carried out in an orderly manner according to the military system of the Ming Dynasty.

Ma Yicheng was already waiting at the entrance of the post station.

He was dressed in a clean official robe. He saw a cloud of dust rising from the official road in the distance and heard the earth-shaking sound of horses' hooves and the roar of beasts getting closer and closer. His legs began to tremble.

After all, he had lived half his life and the highest official he had ever seen was the prefect who was just passing through the area. Today, however, the emperor, princes, the Duke of Yingguo, and most importantly, the legendary first ancestor of Taoism, Prince Rui, also known as Yama, had all arrived.

He felt that it was already quite an achievement that he could stand up to greet them, after all, Wang Duoyu couldn't even stand up after seeing a billion dollars. Besides, he was afraid that if he didn't perform well, he would be sent away by Prince Rui.

However, the first to arrive at Caishiyi were not the main army, but those few somersault clouds in the sky.

As the postmaster was standing on tiptoe, peering towards the official road, several of the postmen helping him suddenly pointed to the sky and screamed, "What's that! Clouds! There's a tiger on the clouds! Is that a person?!"

"Is the legend true? Is Prince Rui really a deity?"

Ma Yicheng felt his knees buckle, and before he could react, a whole group of people behind him had knelt down. The postmen were kneeling, and even the old yellow dog guarding the post station was so frightened by the scene that it lay on the ground, too afraid to move.

Several white clouds were slowly descending from the sky, and on the clouds lay several tigers larger than a person, with people dressed in black military uniforms sitting on their backs.

The one standing on the first cloud, exuding an imposing aura that commands respect, must be the current emperor. Beside him, on a cloud, sits a young man with an ethereal air, exactly as described in the rumors; this must be Prince Rui.

The man riding the white tiger dismounted, flipping off the ground with a thud that shook the roof tiles of the post station: "Ah, finally we've arrived at the post station. I'm getting a bit hungry. Hey, you must be the postmaster here? What are you kneeling for? Hurry up and bring your men to greet me! Prepare some wine and meat for me!"

Ma Yicheng's legs were as weak as noodles, and he almost couldn't stand up after several attempts, but how could he dare to be disrespectful in front of the Emperor? He gritted his teeth and forced himself to get up from the ground.

His body trembled violently, and his voice was barely audible: "Your humble...your humble servant, Ma Wencai, the postmaster of Caishi Post Station, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty! Welcomes Prince Han! Welcomes Prince Rui!"

Zhu Di stepped down from the somersault cloud, glanced at the trembling postmaster kneeling on the ground, and said indifferently, "Get up."

Ma Yicheng stood up nervously and hurriedly led the several important figures into the post station.

Zhu Gaoxi walked at the very back. This was the first time in his life that he had left Yingtian Prefecture to travel far away, and everything he saw seemed new and exciting.

The courtyard of Caishiyi is not large, but it is clean and tidy. There is also an old locust tree in the courtyard. When the twilight shines through the branches and leaves, it has a bit of a rural charm.

He looked around at the surroundings and nodded to himself. To be honest, the conditions here would be about the same as a slightly cleaner guesthouse in later times. There was also a faint musty smell in the air inside.

However, he also knew that when marching on the front lines, it was good enough to have a roof over one's head; one couldn't be picky.

The main hall of the post station had been cleaned until it was spotless. The tea set on the table was the best set of celadon porcelain in the post station. Although it could not compare to the imperial kiln in the palace, it was already the most treasured possession of Postmaster Ma.

Zhu Di sat down in the main seat, and Zhu Gaoxu plopped down next to him. Ma Yicheng personally brought up a teapot to refill the tea for the important figures.

Zhu Gaoxi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and frowned slightly.

Well, the taste of this tea is hard to describe. The water quality is so-so, and the brewing is so-so. Having gotten used to tea brewed with modern technology and even spiritual liquid, drinking this is truly a case of "no comparison, no harm."

Zhu Gaoxu also took a sip, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of his fourth brother's expression. He immediately understood that his fourth brother definitely didn't like the taste.

He put down his teacup and patted Zhu Gaoxi on the shoulder: "Fourth brother, don't take offense. Things outside are like this, certainly not as good as what you have at home. But when you're on a military campaign, you'll have to make do, so don't be too critical."

Zhu Gaoxi put down his teacup and nodded: "It's nothing, Second Brother. I just feel that this tea is indeed a bit lacking."

He set his teacup aside and casually swept his hand across the empty table next to him: various colorful drinks and fruit teas appeared out of thin air, emitting cool air, a sight that was soothing to behold on this summer evening as dusk deepened.

He picked up a cup and handed it to Zhu Di, then took another cup and placed it in front of Zhu Gaoxu. He then pushed the remaining cups toward Ma Yicheng and the other postmen who were helping out: "Come on, you can have some too."

As Ma Yicheng watched, His Highness Prince Rui waved his hand and said something. Suddenly, a bunch of colorful things appeared out of thin air on the empty table, emitting a cold draft.

He was so frightened he almost lost his balance again, but luckily a courier nearby caught him in time.

Ma Yicheng hurriedly waved his hand, his voice still trembling: "No, no, how could this humble subject dare to accept Your Highness's reward?" Several postmen also quickly shook their heads, each tucking their hands into their sleeves, but their eyes couldn't help but glance at the cups of chilled fruit tea.

Zhu Gaoxu, unable to bear it any longer, rang out again in his loud voice: "You're being given this as a reward, so drink it! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you know? Even the high-ranking officials in the capital might not have tasted this stuff, let alone your little inn! What are you refusing for? Hurry up, stop dawdling!"

The postmaster knelt down again with a thud: "Thank you for Your Majesty's great kindness! Thank you for the reward from Prince Han! Thank you for the reward from Prince Rui!" Several postmen also knelt down and kowtowed.

Zhu Gaoxu, watching their expressions, couldn't help but laugh: "Look at your ignorant faces! This is my fourth brother's supernatural power. Don't make a fuss. Get up, all of you. You're in for a treat today. What my fourth brother conjured up is celestial tea, something usually only available at his residence. Come, have a sip."

Only then did Ma Yicheng cautiously pick up the cup and take a small sip.

The cool tea slid down his throat, and most of the heat in his body subsided. Several couriers also took a sip, and their faces showed expressions of disbelief.

Soon after, Zhang Fu and several key generals arrived.

Their lion mounts were parked in the open space outside the post station, guarded by their respective personal guards. Several lions lay together, occasionally flicking their tails, which frightened the post station's staff so much that they all huddled in the kitchen and dared not come out.

Ma Yicheng reluctantly served tea and water himself, and every time he passed through the courtyard, he would walk around the lions, wishing he could stick his back to the wall.

"Your Majesty, the army has already set up camp on the open ground next to the post station." Zhang Fu entered the main hall, first bowed to Zhu Di, then spread out the map he carried with him and pointed to the markings on it.

"Today we marched thirty li, and the vanguard has reached Caishiji. At the current pace, we should pass through Taiping Prefecture by noon tomorrow, and enter Chizhou Prefecture the day after tomorrow. The post stations along the way are open, and the supply lines are secure."

"Hmm." Zhu Di looked down at the map, tracing a line along the official road with his finger. "Have the post stations in Chizhou Prefecture been arranged?"

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has already sent people to inform the people along the way. Horses have been prepared at all the post stations in the prefectures and counties. However, the people in the prefectures and counties along the way have heard that His Highness Prince Rui is going to war with the army. These past few days, they have been waiting on both sides of the official road. In some places, incense tables have even been set up several days in advance. When we pass through Taiping Prefecture tomorrow, the number of people will probably be quite large."