Ming Dynasty: Gain one supernatural power every day

"Set off immediately! Next stop: Changjiang Ferry. Once we get there, start the slaughter!" Zhang Fu gave the order, and the soldiers of the Beast Camp mounted their mounts, formed neat ranks, and passed through the teleportation portal one by one.

Changjiang Ferry Crossing is a place where a wide river meets the gentle slopes and hills on both banks.

There were no closed city gates here. The Annamese garrison set up wooden palisades and simple fortresses along the river, relying on infantry to guard the palisades, small warships to patrol the river, and a small number of reconnaissance cavalry to patrol the banks.

This semi-open river defense system was somewhat effective against Ming troops who marched long distances by land, but it was completely ineffective against surprise attacks from teleportation portals that descended from the sky.

On the earthen slope behind the ferry crossing, two Annamese patrolmen were lazily leading their horses along the riverbank, chatting idly in Annamese as they went.

"I've heard the Ming army is very powerful. Can we defeat them?"

"Who knows? We're only a small force; we can manage to guard the ferry crossing, but if a real fight breaks out, I'm afraid—"

As they were talking, a magnificent golden gate suddenly appeared out of thin air before them.

Amidst the shimmering golden light, the door slowly opened, and several figures emerged from the white light.

The two patrolmen were so frightened that their legs went weak, the reins fell to the ground with a thud, and the horse reared up, neighed, and broke free of the reins and ran away.

"Are you seeing things...?"

"I hope I don't see ghosts in broad daylight..."

The two were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground, mouths agape, eyes wide open like saucers, their minds completely blank.

His eyes were big, like copper bells.

A golden gate suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the rear.

"Hello, what currency?" Zhu Gaoxi was still half-reclining on the cloud chair when he floated out of the portal. He saw the several Annamese soldiers sitting on the ground, smiled and waved to them, greeting them in Annamese.

"Hey, there are a few Annamese barbarians here. What are you looking at? Never seen a god before?" Zhu Gaoxu, riding out on his Tiger King, saw the Annamese soldiers slumped on the ground and grinned.

He was in incredibly good shape right now. He had just taken a pill and was full of energy. He was still holding the battle sword he had just cleaned after killing someone, and he was just wondering where he could try his skills again.

"Old—old—tiger!"

"You-you-you monster!"

Several Annamese soldiers saw Zhu Gaoxi sitting on a cloud chair floating in the air, and then they saw Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Di riding tigers out of the gate, followed by people riding lions.

"Demon—demon—demon, what the hell? If you're so capable, go fight 110!" Zhu Gaoxi possessed the Book of Myriad Manifestations and could understand Annamese. Hearing them stammering "demon—demon—demon," he imitated their tone and cursed, then directly pulled out his alchemy gourd. "Come in, you lot."

A faint light flashed at the mouth of the gourd, and before the patrolling soldiers could even cry for help, they were sucked in, along with their whips and swords that had fallen to the ground.

Several soldiers peeked out from behind the wooden fence near the ferry crossing, but Zhu Gaoxi also took them in.

Even a small mosquito is still meat, and we can't waste it.

"Annam barbarians! The Ming army has reached the Changjiang ferry crossing! Come out and surrender immediately, or face the consequences!"

Zhu Gaoxu, riding his tiger king, stood on the riverbank and roared at the top of his lungs toward the Annamese camp on the other side of the ferry.

The Tiger King roared to the sky in unison, the sound waves rolling so loudly that the several small Annamite warships moored on the river shook violently.

Zhu Gaoxi placed the teleportation portal in a very strategic location, right behind the river defense camp.

All of the defensive fortifications built by the Annamese garrison were constructed facing north, with wooden palisades, arrow towers, barricades, and trenches all aligned with the northern land route.

They never dreamed that the enemy would attack from behind.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the Annamese camp on the opposite bank, who were still caught off guard, and chuckled: "These barbarians probably won't even realize we're coming from behind until they die."

"What was that sound???"

"Where did that tiger's roar come from?"

"What are those people in the back? Why are there so many of them!"

"Are those Ming army flags? Where did so many Ming soldiers come from? When did they get behind us!"

"Is someone floating in the air up ahead? Sitting on a cloud?"

The soldiers in the Annam camp were dozing behind the fence when they suddenly heard tiger roars and shouts of battle from behind. They sprang up from the ground, gripped their weapons, and looked north.

But there was nothing to the north, and Ming army flags suddenly appeared from the south.

To the south was their rear, the supply dock at the Changjiang ferry crossing. There were only a few small grain transport boats and two dozing patrolmen there. How could the Ming army possibly appear from there?

When the news reached the central command tent, the Annamese general was drinking tea. Upon hearing the report, he smashed his teacup: "What? The Ming army has reached the rear? How did they get here! Are all the soldiers in the northern theater useless? The Ming army has come slapping us in the face and we haven't heard a thing? Have they all died?!"

Northbound An Man: Thank you for your blessings

He hurriedly climbed to the tallest watchtower in the center of the camp, and leaned on the wooden railing to look south.

Upon seeing this, his legs immediately went weak.

A massive Ming army was arrayed on the south bank, their banners fluttering like a forest and their armor gleaming.

At the very front were two fierce tigers with piercing eyes and white foreheads, and on their backs sat two people dressed in military uniforms.

Then, a little behind, were Ming generals riding lions. The lions roared and paced back and forth, their sharp claws digging deep grooves in the ground.

Then came rows of rhinoceros vanguard battalions, their rhinoceros horns adorned with gleaming iron tips.

Further on, dozens of war elephants lined up in two rows, with soldiers on their backs holding spears and bows and arrows, looking down at the opposite bank from above.

What made his eyes almost pop out was that there was a person in front of the formation, half-reclining on a white cloud chair, floating leisurely in mid-air.

"Why do the Ming army have so many war elephants, and even rhinoceroses??" The garrison commander's voice trembled so much that he could barely hear himself.

"General, what should we do..." The personal guard beside him had a dry throat and his legs were shaking like a leaf.

"That person...is that person floating in the air? Could it be a monster..." Another guard pointed at Zhu Gaoxi on the cloud chair, his finger trembling so much he couldn't find the right direction.

The camp was in complete chaos.

The soldiers closest to the southern fence could see it most clearly; it wasn't the rumored "Ming army with ferocious beasts" at all, but countless ferocious beasts.

Their entire camp only had two war elephants, which were just for show to intimidate the nearby chieftains; they were usually so poorly fed that they were barely given any fodder.

On the other side, elephants lined up in rows, rhinoceroses stood in procession, and lions and tigers rode on their backs—a spectacle even more complete than the animal paintings at a temple fair.

What's even more frightening is the person floating in mid-air, with the white cloud beneath them gleaming softly in the sunset—it's as eerie and terrifying as can be.

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head to look at Zhu Gaoxi, who was reclining on a cloud chair beside him, and rubbed his hands together, asking, "Fourth brother, how should we fight? It's up to you!"