The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 733

"Zhifu, go to sleep first. We need to conduct an emergency drill with these soldiers and students around midnight. We also need to keep them alert."

Zhou Chu looked at Yu Dayou and said.

When Yu Dayou heard this, although he didn't quite understand the specific meaning of the field training, he could roughly understand it.

As for why Zhou Chu chose midnight for the impromptu training exercise, Yu Dayou didn't know. He only needed to know that he should obey Lord Zhou's orders, since the military emphasized strict adherence to orders.

“I asked them to set up a thousand-household camp for Zhifu.”

Lin Lu had just learned of Yu Dayou's promotion to commander of the Jinwu Guard, and naturally, a commander needed his own tent.

"General Lin, there's no need to trouble yourself for now. I'll sleep with the soldiers tonight, and we can talk about it tomorrow."

Yu Dayou said.

"also."

Hearing this, Lin Lu nodded. Lin Lu had been leading troops in battle for many years and often ate and slept with the soldiers, so he didn't find it unbearable.

Yu Dayou found a tent, went inside, and fell asleep immediately. He knew very well that since Lord Zhou had told him to conserve his energy, he probably wouldn't have time to sleep in the latter half of the night.

Not only Yu Dayou, but most of the soldiers went to bed early. Only the students, listening to the deafening snoring around them and the unbearable smell of feet, tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Time passed slowly, and as midnight approached, a bugle call suddenly sounded in the military camp, instantly waking the soldiers who had been fast asleep. They looked outside with sleepy eyes, wondering what had happened.

This 10,000-strong army was only of average military quality among all the armies of the Ming Dynasty. Their response to the bugle call did not meet Zhou Chu's expectations, not to mention the students. Many students were just asleep when the bugle call woke them up, and their heads were buzzing.

"Sir, what is the purpose of sounding the bugle in the middle of the night?"

The commander of this unit was named Chen Huan. He approached Zhou Chu with slight dissatisfaction and asked a question.

"This is a temporary training exercise. Your people and all the students will have to participate in the training."

Zhou Chu looked at Chen Huan expressionlessly.

"That won't be necessary, sir. My men are all seasoned veterans; do they really need to train with these greenhorns?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Huan became even more unwilling.

Do you think your soldiers are very capable fighters?

Zhou Chu looked at Chen Huan and asked.

"That depends on what kind of enemy you're facing."

Upon hearing this, Chen Huan felt a little uneasy. If he were facing anyone else, he could have answered with complete confidence, but this was Zhou Chu. Chen Huan knew Zhou Chu's military achievements, and he had no confidence at all in the face of this god-like figure of the Ming Dynasty.

"Here's what we'll do. I'll use my trained soldiers, a thousand men, to defeat your ten thousand. If your men win, you can do whatever you want afterward, and I won't say a word. If you lose, don't utter a single word."

At this moment, many torches were lit around the training ground, and the firelight reflected on Zhou Chu's face, making him appear extremely cold and murderous.

This was the first time Chen Huan had seen this side of Zhou Chu, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

"Everything is very adult-like."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu looked at Lin Lu behind him.

"Go and bring over the Tiger Legion."

After the Tiger Legion and the Black Tortoise Legion returned to the capital, they were temporarily incorporated into the Tiger Guard of the Five Military Commands to protect the capital and the palace. Of course, this was only a temporary incorporation, and in the event of war, these two special forces would certainly be the first to be deployed.

For tonight's training exercise, Zhou Chu specially ordered Lin Lu to bring over a thousand Tiger Legion soldiers, just to give the ten thousand soldiers and students a little shock. The Tiger Legion was a target that Zhou Chu set for them.

Of course, Zhou Chu didn't expect them to reach the quality of the Tiger Legion. After all, the food for Chen Huan's army was much worse than that of the Tiger Legion. However, having a goal would give them the motivation to train.

Yun Jin was originally one of the academy's instructors, but today was just for student recruitment. Moreover, Yun Jin is currently pregnant. Zhou Chu originally planned to have her teach at the academy after she gave birth. However, Yun Jin is a restless person. Staying at home to rest during her pregnancy these days has made her extremely bored. Fortunately, Yang Shi and Princess Deqing keep them company while they play mahjong.

At Yun Jin's insistence, Zhou Chu agreed to let her teach at the academy once the official students were confirmed.

The thousand elite soldiers were already waiting in the academy, and soon Lin Lu led them to the training ground.

"You must be wondering why I woke you up. This is my first lesson for you, to show you just how big the gap is between you and the top-tier army."

Zhou Chu looked down at the soldiers and students below and spoke loudly.

“These thousand soldiers were personally trained by me. They were there when General Lin campaigned east and west, wiped out the Jurchens, and launched a surprise attack on Yarkand. If you can defeat these thousand men, you can go back to sleep. If you can't, then you need to train them properly, understand?”

Zhou Chu said sternly.

"clear...."

The sounds from below were sparse and disorganized.

"You people think you can go to war? Do you really think you can fight a war just by reading a few military treatises?"

Zhou Chu looked at their reactions and sneered.

After saying this, Zhou Chu turned around and looked at the Tiger Legion behind him.

Do you understand what I just said?

"Have!"

Upon hearing this, the thousand Tiger Warriors responded in unison with a "Yes, sir!"—a unique way for the Tiger Warriors and the Black Tortoise Army to respond to their superiors.

This resounding voice shook the heavens and instantly woke up the soldiers and students who were still somewhat drowsy. They stared in shock at the thousand people in front of them, wondering if the voice they had just heard could really have come from these thousand people.

"Now I feel that using these thousand elite soldiers to fight you is simply bullying you."

Zhou Chu looked at Chen Huan and sneered.

"Get ready. The battle will officially begin in fifteen minutes."

Zhou Chu didn't give Chen Huan a chance to speak and gave the order directly.