Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

A second batch of spies was sent out.

This time, they learned their lesson and didn't dare to get too close. They lay far away at the edge of the dense forest, peering through the gaps in the trees at the opposite side of the valley.

When they saw the tens of thousands of troops lined up in neat rows, and the rhinoceroses and elephants standing in armor, their legs began to tremble.

Just as they were holding their breath and watching, two figures suddenly descended from the sky. One was wearing a black robe, and the other was wearing golden armor and carrying some kind of weapon. They landed steadily in front of the Ming army's formation.

"Heavens, heavenly soldiers and generals... The Ming army has summoned heavenly soldiers and generals!" The scout, slumped on the ground, trembled so much that he couldn't utter a complete sentence. His fingers gripped his companion's sleeve tightly, and then the two of them hurriedly retreated to report the news.

In fact, when Zhu Gaoxi landed, his mental energy had already swept across the distant dense forest, and the hiding place of the two scouts was immediately clear to him.

But he couldn't be bothered with them. Letting them go back and report, letting them experience fear, was more effective than capturing them on the spot.

Maybe they'll surrender right away and beg for mercy on their knees. Then he might take pity on them and let them go.

Just kidding, even if you beg for mercy, you're still doomed.

These Annamese have been harassing the border and plundering the people for more than a day or two. Their pleas for mercy are never because they know they are wrong, but because they know they are about to die.

He had already planned out the fate of these Annamese: he would keep a few alive to go back and report, half of them would be put into a gourd to be refined into elixirs, and the other half would be left for the Ming army to practice on, to see blood, and to ignite their fighting spirit that had not been on the battlefield for a long time.

Several men scrambled back to the stone fortress, this time unable to even kneel properly, collapsing to the ground, their voices trembling like leaves: "General! It's true! Tens of thousands of troops, rhinoceroses, elephants... and two heavenly soldiers descended on clouds into the Ming army camp!"

"Spreading heresy and misleading the masses! Where did these heavenly soldiers and generals come from? They're disrupting morale; drag them away and execute them!"

With a sharp shout, Ruan Wenzhong's personal guards immediately stepped forward and dragged the scout who was lying on the ground out of the tent.

The scout cried out for mercy, his voice echoing through the stone fortress's passageways for quite some time before gradually fading away.

Ruan Wenzhong turned around, his back to everyone, and pressed hard on his throbbing temples. This battle was getting harder and harder.

He could barely believe in rhinoceroses and elephants.

There are also some rhinoceroses in Annam, and he had heard that some people in the Western Regions trained rhinoceroses to fight. He had also seen war elephants from Champa. The Ming Dynasty had a vast territory, and he wondered where they got such a group of ferocious beasts. Although it was unbelievable, it was still within the reach of human beings.

Heavenly soldiers and generals? Landing on clouds? He's fought in Annam for most of his life, what kind of battles hasn't he seen? You're telling me this? There's a limit to lies, you know.

These spies were either deliberately released by the Ming army, or they were so frightened that they mistook a well-dressed Ming army captain jumping down from a high place for a deity descending to earth.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing these chaotic thoughts, and when he turned around, his expression had returned to about 70-80% composure.

He was never able to defeat the Ming army. He had only managed to hold out for so long by relying on the terrain advantage and building up defenses in dense forests and mountains.

But now the enemy not only has tens of thousands more troops, but also a legion of ferocious beasts like rhinos and elephants. How can we fight this battle? What can we use to fight it?

As for the gods, he didn't take them seriously.

However, since you don't seem to take things seriously, I hope you won't be in a rush later!

He tried to calm himself down and ordered in a hoarse voice, "Pass down the order to strengthen the defenses at the valley entrance, set up more chevaux-de-frise, and prepare more bows and arrows. If the Ming army really attacks, use the terrain and dense forests to hold them off for as long as possible."

At this moment, the Ming army was advancing towards Ailiu Pass.

Heading south from the northern foothills of Lang Son, one passes through a vast jungle area. Towering ancient trees block out the sun, vines intertwine like a giant green net, thick bamboo forests stretch as far as the eye can see, and thatch grass covers the mountains and plains. The trees obscure the view, making it an ideal place for an ambush.

The valley was narrow, making it impossible for the army to fully deploy its formation and for cavalry to maneuver freely. It was originally the ideal ambush terrain for the Annamite rebels.

However, at this moment, Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaoxi, and Zhu Bajie were riding on clouds at the very front of the procession.

Logically, the emperor and princes should have been firmly seated in the center, but Zhu Di waved his hand and said, "With the fourth prince and Marshal Tianpeng here, what's there to fear from an ambush?" He led the way directly to the front.

Below them were generals such as Zhang Fu and Zheng Heng, followed by officials from the Prince Rui's and Prince Han's residences, marching in a grand procession along the only passage through the jungle.

Zhang Fu and Zheng Heng walked below, their expressions serious, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones, discussing how to deploy their formation and allocate the vanguard and flanks after passing the Ailu Pass.

The situation was completely different up there; Pigsy and Zhu Gaochi were having a lively conversation.

Riding on the back of the Fierce Tiger King, Zhu Gaoxu leaned close to Pigsy and asked with a curious expression, "Marshal, what's the difference between you in heaven and us on earth?"

Pigsy, carrying his rake and puffing out his big belly, perked up: "Speaking of heaven, it's really quite different from here on earth. First of all, let's talk about food. Have you heard of the Peach Banquet?"

Zhu Gaoxu quickly shook his head: "Marshal, you flatter me. I certainly don't know anything about what happens in the heavens. Marshal, could you please explain in detail?"

Although Zhu Di rode on a cloud without changing his expression, his ears were perked up, making him a complete eavesdropper.

He had been listening to their conversation, but because of his status as emperor, he didn't know how to start a conversation.

But when he heard the second brother ask someone "What's it like up there?", he unconsciously leaned slightly in that direction, wanting to hear it too.

Zhang Fu and the others below listened intently, not daring to miss a single detail.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be very clear for people below to hear what's being said in the clouds, but both Zhu Bajie and Zhu Gaochi have loud voices, so the words were transmitted intermittently and they were able to hear some of them.

Zhang Fu and the others were discussing military matters in hushed tones when they heard Zhu Gaoxu ask what was different between the sky and the ground. They all fell silent, exchanged a glance, and no one spoke.

Pigsy cleared his throat and began to speak at length, "This Peach Banquet is truly extraordinary. It's hosted by the Queen Mother of the West at Yaochi, the highest-level banquet in Heaven. On the table are dragon liver and phoenix marrow, Laozi's golden pills, but the most important thing is the peaches of immortality."

These peaches are divided into three grades: those that bloom once every three thousand years and bear fruit once every three thousand years, granting health and freedom from all diseases; those that bloom once every six thousand years and bear fruit once every six thousand years, granting ascension to immortality; and those that bloom once every nine thousand years and bear fruit once every nine thousand years, granting lifespan equal to heaven and earth, and the same age as the sun and moon!