Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

Zhu Di pondered for a moment before speaking, "Fourth Prince, what do you mean? How are we going to get through with so many troops?"

Zhu Gaoxu reacted even faster, looking eagerly at his fourth brother: "Fourth brother, did the Dao Ancestor pass on a new divine power to you? What kind of divine power is it? Tell your second brother quickly!"

He rushed to Zhu Gaoxi, his expression exactly the same as when he received the jade token – eager and impatient.

Zhu Gaoxi glanced at Zhu Di, secretly admiring him. He had only said one sentence, yet Zhu Di had already deduced that he had a way to lead the army away. Having been emperor for so many years, his shrewdness was indeed beyond that of ordinary people.

He nodded: "Yes, I saw yesterday that the army was marching too slowly. At this rate, it will take several dozen days to reach Annam. Fortunately, the Dao Ancestor passed on a new supernatural power to me, called the Teleportation Technique."

"Teleportation magic?" Zhu Gaoxu scratched his head. "What does that mean?"

Zhu Gaoxi explained: "It means opening up a channel between two spatial coordinates, instantly compressing the distance between the two places to zero, so that people and objects can instantly travel from one end of the channel to the other end."

Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi both fell silent.

Spatial coordinates, compressed distance, instantaneous channel—I recognize each of these terms individually, but when put together, it's like listening to gibberish.

However, their comprehension skills are not bad. Although they may not understand the principles, they understand the core meaning, which is that they can directly reach their destination.

Zhu Di asked, "You mean, you can get the entire army from here to Annam in an instant?"

"right."

Zhu Gaoxu slapped his thigh, a huge smile spreading across his angular face: "Great! Fourth brother! I've been so bored these past few days! Ever since you made me young again, I haven't had a proper battle. I've been itching to stretch my muscles! Those Annamese barbarians have been causing trouble for so long, I'll go and take care of them for you!"

As he spoke, he swung his fist and accidentally kicked the tiger king next to him. The tiger king was confused by the kick, let out a low growl in protest, and then lay back down to continue licking its paws.

Zhu Di also showed the most obvious smile since the start of the expedition.

His gaze swept across the official road outside the post station and toward the southern horizon: "Good! If we can get to Annam quickly, that would be the best. Qiu Fu is locked in a fierce battle there. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can end the conflict."

He paused, a hint of self-satisfaction creeping into his voice, "After we've dealt with the Annamese barbarians and demonstrated the might of our Great Ming, we'll go after the Jianzhou Jurchens and the Japanese that Fourth Brother mentioned. Doesn't your eldest brother always complain about being poor? Once we conquer the Japanese, we can spend the money however we want, and let's see if he'll still complain about being poor then."

Upon hearing Zhu Di's words, Zhu Gaoxi thought to himself, "Old foxes are shrewder."

Before even attacking Annam, the Yongle Emperor had already set up his next target, and even devised a plan to silence his elder brother. His efficiency was truly ingrained in his very being.

Zhu Di: I came from a rebellious background, no, I came from a background of "purging the emperor's inner circle". Back then, the Prince of Yan's mansion of 800 people successfully started the Jingnan Rebellion. Was I out of my mind?

Upon hearing the word "Japan," Zhu Gaochi, standing to the side, seemed to be ignited. His eyes widened, and his fists clenched: "Yes! And those little Japanese devils! And the Jianzhou Jurchens! Just you wait! When the time comes, I'll ride my mighty tiger king and tear them all to shreds! I'll show them what the might of the Great Ming Dynasty is all about!"

After his initial excitement subsided, Zhu Di, being the emperor after all, immediately considered practical matters.

He wiped the smile from his face, turned to Zhu Gaoxi, and asked, "Fourth brother, what do you need to prepare for this teleportation spell? Do you need to set up an altar and perform a ritual beforehand? Do you need to clear the area? Tell me, and I'll have someone arrange it."

Zhu Gaoxi shook his head: "No need, there's no need to prepare anything. Just let the soldiers continue packing. Those who need to dismantle the tents should dismantle them, and those who need to pack the supplies should pack them. Once they're done, they should assemble in the open space. The rest is up to me."

Zhu Gaoxi suddenly remembered something important: teleportation was possible, but where should he teleport to?

He turned to Zhu Di: "Father, where do you want me to designate the exit? Where will the army land after it arrives?"

Zhu Di stood with his hands behind his back, pondering for a moment.

He quickly reviewed the situation in Annam in his mind. Qiu Fu's main force was currently confronting the rebel army in Jian Ding north of Lang Son. The two sides were locked in a stalemate in the Lang Son Valley. Several Ming army attacks were blocked by the rebels who relied on the terrain.

If they could lead a large army directly to Qiu Fu's central command tent, they could not only instantly reverse the balance of power, but also catch the rebels off guard.

"Let's set it next to Qiu Fu's camp," Zhu Di raised his head, his gaze steady. "The closer to the front line, the better. Ideally, it should be an open area behind the central command tent, so that the army can immediately deploy its formation upon arrival."

Zhu Gaoxi mentally estimated the coordinates.

He had never been to Qiu Fu's camp, but he had seen the Annam military intelligence map presented by Zhang Fu before, and had a general impression of the terrain around Lang Son and the Ming army's deployment positions.

On the northern slope of Lang Son, Qiu Fu's central command tent was set up on a terrace against the mountain. Behind the tent was a wide valley, just large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of troops in formation. "Understood."

Zhu Di nodded, asked no further questions, turned and strode into the camp, with the messenger following closely behind.

A moment later, generals Zhang Fu, Zheng Heng, Xue Lu, and others received orders: after the army was fully organized, the entire army was to assemble in the open space on the west side of the camp without fail.

When Zhang Fu received the order, he was directing his soldiers to dismantle the tents. He paused for a moment, and the command flag in his hand stopped in mid-air.

Meet at the open space? Aren't we supposed to continue south?

He glanced at the messenger, wanting to ask what it was about, but swallowed his words. Oh well, he'd just obey orders. He wouldn't ask what he shouldn't ask; he'd find out when he got there.

The main reason was that Prince Rui was accompanying them, and no one knew whether Prince Rui was going to demonstrate some kind of magical technique again.

Zhang Fu waved his command flag and roared with booming voice, "Pass down the order! Speed ​​things up! The entire army must assemble in both open and open terrain within half an hour!"

Zheng Heng and Xue Lu were also completely confused, but neither of them said anything and went off separately to urge the troops on.

The soldiers sped up the dismantling of the tents, which were quickly rolled up and tied up. The supplies were reloaded onto the backs of the rhinoceroses and war elephants. The entire camp was busy but orderly.