At this time, the atmosphere here is becoming more and more solemn and solemn.

Standing on the steps at the foot of the gate, which were more than four feet above the ground, Zhu Mingzhong used his unique sharp eyes to look at the officers wearing new military uniforms at the bottom of the steps.

Of course, he also enjoyed this gaze, coughed lightly, and then raised his voice, and said in a loud Jianghuai official dialect:

"Ladies and gentlemen, this scripture has been ordered by the imperial court and entrusted by the fathers and elders to train soldiers and generals and crusade against the Qing captives, and it has been nearly a year. Relying on the blessing of our Chinese ancestors like heaven, and relying on the loyalty and courage of the soldiers, although it is a newly built army, my loyal and righteous army up and down is all fearless in battle, and the more they fight, the stronger they become. Capture Jiangyin, attack Changzhou, Kenandu, Dingjiangbei, and Suqian bloody battles, although repeatedly encountered strong enemies, but repeatedly won battles, so that the world Qing prisoners heard the name of our loyal and righteous army is full of fear, but also made the world say that the courage of the loyal and righteous army can be said to be the best in the world, this is the glory of all our loyal and righteous soldiers, and the pride of all my loyal and righteous soldiers. ”

Speaking of this, Zhu Mingzhong glanced at all the officers again with his somewhat compelling gaze, and saw that all of them had become rejuvenated because of these words, so he continued excitedly.

"My loyal and righteous army can get today's heroic name, attract the attention of the world, and be trusted by the people of the world! Where did it come from? It depends on the spirit of all officers and soldiers to obey orders, sincere unity, courage and fearlessness, and benevolence and righteousness. In this way, the soldiers of our loyal and righteous army are willing to cast the glory of today's military flag with blood, and this scripture briefly thinks that these 16 words are the spirit of our loyal and righteous army. As long as my loyal and righteous army can achieve these sixteen words, he will definitely be able to completely annihilate the Qing captives and restore my China and Zhongxing Daming! To this end, today's award ceremony is hereby held. ”

It was only then that the officers in the audience knew the purpose of today's unusual rally.

What award does the commander want to award?

To whom?

For the loyal officers who have already experienced the award, they only think that this is another award, is it that everyone is not left behind? No, the last time the medal was awarded, although almost everyone received the Medal of Loyalty, the Order of Loyalty and Valor also had a rank.

Just when everyone was looking at Zhu Mingzhong. At this time, I saw a soldier carrying a wooden table out of the place, and then laying red silk on the wooden table. It was only then that everyone saw that a very delicate long knife was laid flat on the platform. Thousands of pairs of eyes were concentrated on that platform, could it be to appreciate the knife?

Under the gaze of everyone, I saw Zhu Mingzhong say with a solemn expression:

"This scripture commanded fifty swords. Each saber is engraved with the words "take righteousness and become benevolent, and serve the country with loyalty", which is Zhu's expectation for you, and also the expectation of the people of the world for you, and I hope it will become the ambition of all my loyal and righteous soldiers. ”

Originally, Zhu Mingzhong was going to issue a hundred swords in the first batch, but yesterday he temporarily changed his mind and issued fifty swords instead, in order to increase the value of this saber.

But to whom are these fifty waist knives issued?

He pondered for several days before he came up with a list of fifty people. But who to give the first knife made him a little difficult to decide.

Regarding the initiative of the Loyal and Righteous Army, the first number should belong to Zhang Jinsheng. However, in terms of the contribution to the attack on the city, the first number should belong to Xiaobao. On the merits of the curtain, the first should belong to Zhu Daxian. It wasn't until the early hours of this morning that he decided on the owner of the No. 1 waist knife.

I saw Zhu Mingzhong shouting on the steps.

"Zhang Jinsheng, the former commander of the Loyal and Righteous Army!"

"Mark it in!"

Zhang Jinsheng, who was named, couldn't help but tremble when he heard his name, and suddenly felt a heat in his chest, and immediately walked up the steps and saluted Zhu Mingzhong respectfully. In any case, he did not expect that he would be the first, after all, in the army, there are more pro-confidants in Jinglu.

"Training soldiers bravely, outstanding achievements, attacking cities and plundering land, winning successive battles, Zhang Jinsheng is the first hero in my loyal army. This knife is given to you, please Jin Sheng do not forget the original intention of forming an army, fight bravely to kill the enemy, report to the country and the people, restore my China, and rejuvenate the Ming Dynasty. ”

Took the knife with both hands, at this moment, Zhang Jinsheng only felt that his eyes were hot, and tears almost didn't flow out, and when he walked down gratefully, just when people were envious that he was the first to be given a knife, a guard took out a saber from the wooden table and handed it to Zhu Mingzhong's hand.

"Qian Lei, the left senator of the Economic Affairs Department!"

Qian Lei, who was named, trembled suddenly, as a civil official, he didn't expect to be named at all, he was even stunned for a moment before responding.

"The lower official is here!"

Then he stepped up the steps and saluted, but it was not a military salute, but a salute.

"If he doesn't have Qian Lei to manage the rear in the future, how can my loyal and righteous army have no worries, repeatedly attack, and repeatedly defeat strong enemies, and the loyal and righteous army can have today, Qian Lei has made great contributions. This scripture is given this sword to reward Qian Lei for planning the work of the place. ”

When Qian Lei took the sword with a solemn expression, he noticed that unlike the knife used by the officer, he, as a civil official, got the sword, and doesn't this mean that he is the first civil official, this consciousness made his whole person instantly stiffened, and he looked even more grateful to Jingluo.

Then Zhu Mingzhong shouted loudly:

"Li Chengqian, Admiral of the Left Army of the Loyal and Righteous Army!"

"Mark it in!"

"Create a sailor, start from scratch, crisscross the rivers and seas, and raise the prestige of our army. Li Chengqian is the general of my loyal and righteous navy, and the headquarters will give you this knife, I hope you will not forget to take righteousness and become benevolent, and serve the country loyally. ”

"Ding Shujie, commander of the thirteenth battalion of the Loyal and Righteous Army!"

"Here!"

"Scholars from Rong, Hongtao Weiluo, famous far and wide. Yu Shujie is an outstanding general in my loyal army, and this scripture gives you this knife. ”

Then, Zeng Guofan presented the saber and sword to Zhu Daxian, Wu Pinya, Yu Xiaobao, Ding Renjie, Li Fengqi, Gu Yanwu, Zhang Xiaowu, Zhang Xiaowen and other more than 40 people. The sun shone on the hilt of the gorgeous scabbard, and the gilded and jade-inlaid places were all colorful and dazzling. Some officers were even overjoyed to push their sabers out with their thumbs, and immediately a sharp edge stabbed out of their scabbards, so that people couldn't even open their eyes. And the officer next to him stared at the knife with mixed eyes. At this moment, almost everyone poured out joy, admiration, and envy, of course, there was inevitably jealousy, and all kinds of complicated emotions were churning in the hearts of the knife recipients and bystanders.

These forty or so swords and swords were sent down, as if a fire was thrown into the grass, and in an instant, a ball of flames burst into the air, and like a violent rush hitting the sea, suddenly rolling up monstrous waves on the originally calm sea. Almost all the officers and civil servants looked at the swords and swords with blazing eyes.

Good not knives!

It's a name!

All the officers thought so in their hearts, and they thought in their hearts, and at this moment, they seemed to have found a new purpose for themselves in life, which was to wear this saber.

"Brethren,"

Zhu Mingzhong's words sounded again, evoking the officers who were immersed in all kinds of mixed moods.

"Of the fifty swords and swords that have been forged by this scripture, forty-five have been issued, and there are still five left. Brothers who did not receive a waist sword could go up the stairs to report their exploits. This strategy will be based on merit and merit, and the best will be awarded. ”

One stone stirs up a thousand waves, this is precisely Zhu Mingzhong's cleverness, the last five, he is not without a suitable candidate in his heart, but to hand over the matter to these officers themselves, this sentence is like a scoop of water suddenly poured on a hot oil pot, and the oil pot suddenly exploded.

At this moment, almost everyone's expressions changed, some were grinning there, some were encouraging others, some were thinking alone, some were sweating on their heads, some were red and white, almost everyone was itching in their hearts, and they were eager to try, but no one dared to jump up the steps.

After all, everyone is eager to get the saber, but they all weigh the battle exploits they have made in their hearts, weigh the war exploits, and weigh whether they are qualified to wear this sword.

The reason why no one took the initiative was because they all knew that among the 2,000 people present, how many of them had not made repeated military exploits, and how many of them had not come from the sea of blood?

"Junmen, if you don't reward this knife, you will definitely not accept it!"

Suddenly, a stunned young man rushed out of the team, breaking the silence. After a year, everyone immediately recognized it as Wang Dahu, the commander of the 23rd Battalion, who was born as a personal soldier of Jinglu, and still habitually calls him "military gate" until now.

After walking up the steps, Wang Dahu, who doesn't talk much on weekdays, will have his cheeks flushed, and he couldn't speak for a while. He had grievances in his heart, and the reason why he was wronged was because Jinglu didn't mention him and didn't give him the knife.

Zhu Mingzhong, who knew that Wang Dahu had grievances in his heart, appreciated his courage to recommend himself, so he said loudly.

"Big Tiger, you are from Zhu's own soldiers, so Zhu did not give you this knife, so as not to make people think that Zhu is favoritism! Now that you have stood up, let you tell me in public, what are your achievements? ”

Junmen's explanation made Wang Dahu stunned, and the grievances in his heart dissipated in an instant. He looked at the approving gaze cast by the military gate, and he immediately said loudly:

"The battle of Jiangyin, marked the left and right of the army, rushed to kill in front, and once captured more than ten people with a blade. The battle of Tongjimen, marked under the banner also led a team of personal soldiers, rushed to kill hundreds of zhang, during which no less than dozens of people were killed, the battle of Suqian, marked a battalion of heavy soldiers with tie armor, the whole battalion died more than half of the battle, and never retreated. Junmen, with these military exploits, can I get this sword? ”

Zhu Mingzhong, who looked at Wang Dahu and knew that he was qualified to hold this knife, did not answer him, but looked at the officials in the audience and asked.

"Brothers, with Wang Dahu's military exploits, can you get this sword?"

As soon as his words fell, the more than 2,000 people in the audience immediately shouted loudly.

"Available! Available! ……”

In this burst of deafening shouts, Zhu Mingzhong looked at Wang Dahu and said.

"Dahu, have you seen it, who among the brothers does not know about your military exploits? With this military feat, how can you not get this sword! Bring a knife! ”