Just as Hu Zongxian, Duke Wei and others thought, Zhang Jing's destination was the Zhejiang Army camp.
Zhang Jing and his men were about to reach the Zhejiang Army camp. When they were about a mile away, they heard two loud "booms" and then a series of "bangs".
The loud bang frightened the horses under everyone, and everyone quickly reached out to calm the horses.
"What's going on? Was there thunder?"
The people accompanying them looked ahead in confusion, not knowing what had happened and wondering if it was thunder.
"It's a sunny day today, not a rainy day, so why is there thunder?" Someone looked up at the sky and shook his head.
"What's wrong with a sunny day? Isn't there a saying that there is a bolt from the blue?" someone else said.
"It's not thunder, it's the sound of cannons and muskets." Duke Wei and Hu Zongxian spoke almost at the same time.
Although the Duke of Wei did not attach importance to firearms, he was a military general after all, and he commanded a battalion. There were cannons and muskets in the barracks, although the proportion was not high and he did not pay much attention to practicing firearms in normal times, but after all, they would occasionally fire cannons and muskets. You could tell the sound of cannons and muskets as soon as you heard it.
In addition, Duke Wei also knew how much Zhu Ping'an valued firearms, and he had seized a lot of firearms from his camp alone.
Hu Zongxian had been dealing with the military from his time as the inspector of border troops to the inspector of Zhejiang. He was naturally familiar with the sounds of artillery and muskets, especially the border troops. In order to guard against the Tatars, artillery was installed on the city walls to a greater or lesser extent. He could recognize the sound of a cannon the moment he heard it.
"Oh, that's the sound of cannons and muskets." Everyone reacted belatedly after hearing this.
"Let's go and see how the Zhejiang Army is training."
When Zhang Jing heard the sound of firearms, he immediately said with great interest, and then he squeezed the horse's belly hard and rode away first.
When Zhang Jing first met Zhu Ping'an and discussed his military affairs with him, Zhu Ping'an said that firearms were the most important among all weapons.
It is really better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. This is a good opportunity for me to see how the Zhejiang Army practices firearms and how Zhu Ping'an regards firearms as of vital importance.
"drive!"
Everyone followed Zhang Jing and drove his horses straight to the Zhejiang army camp.
The sentry on the watchtower of the Zhejiang Army camp saw Zhang Jing and his party early on, and loudly reminded the guards at the gate that a group of unknown origin was riding horses towards the camp, and to be on high alert.
The guards at the gate made preparations immediately and set up roadblocks thirty meters in front of the gate fully armed.
Just like the previous three inspections, an armored tiger guard led the way on horseback among Zhang Jing's party.
What was different this time from the previous three times was that before the tiger guards reached the gate, they were blocked by a simple deer antler roadblock set up by the guards thirty meters in front of the gate.
Behind the deer horn roadblock were five fully armed gate guards, wearing cotton armor that only exposed their faces, with swords on their waists and muskets in their hands, shouting, "This is the Zhejiang Army camp, stop! Who are you? Who is behind you? What are you doing here in my Zhejiang Army camp?"
The tiger guards hurriedly pulled the reins of their horses and shouted to the Zhejiang Army guards behind the roadblock, "Governor General Zhang Jing, Imperial Envoy Zhao Wenhua, Vice Minister of War Huang, Duke Wei of Yingtian, and Zhejiang Provincial Supervisor Hu are here to inspect the Zhejiang Army camp. Why don't you quickly move the antlers, open the gate, and welcome the Governor and his entourage?"
"Sorry, please wait a moment. You said that the Governor and his entourage came to our Zhejiang Army camp. What proof do you have? After we verify their identities and report to the inside, we can enter the camp after getting permission from my master."
The guard behind the antlers shook his head without hesitation and said seriously that he must strictly follow the regulations.
"What are you talking about? Quickly remove the antlers and open the gate. Who else dares to impersonate the Governor?"
Tiger Guard urged impatiently.
The governor and his entourage were right behind him and would arrive in a few words. He had specially ridden his horse over here to order the barrack guards to quickly open the gate and welcome the governor and his entourage into the camp, so as not to waste the governor and his entourage's precious time.
The previous few families were all fine, why are you Zhejiang Army so troublesome and long-winded? If the governor and his men came and found that the Zhejiang Army guards not only did not open the gate to welcome them, but also stopped at a roadblock 30 meters in front of the camp, they would definitely think that they were not doing their job well, and their future would be bleak.
"Sorry, this is a restricted area of the camp. You are not allowed to trespass! If you are in a hurry, please bring your credentials. Once we verify your identity, we will report it to you. After getting your permission, we will open the gate and invite you into the camp."
The Zhejiang Army guard said with a fist clasped, and stretched out his hand for identity verification.
"Don't you understand what I'm saying? Is there anyone so bold as to impersonate the Governor-General and his entourage?!"
Hearing this, the tiger guard's face became even more impatient. Seeing that the guard was going to repeat the same old thing, he immediately took off his waist badge with an impatient look on his face, and threw it forcefully to the Zhejiang Army guard behind the antlers, urging with an unhappy look, "Okay, you want proof, right? Here, this is my waist badge. I am Zhang Bao, the governor's personal guard. Look carefully with your dog eyes. It's all right now, right? Why don't you quickly move the antlers and open the gate."
"Sorry, this is just your badge, and it can only verify your identity. Didn't you say that Governor Zhang and his party came to inspect our camp? Their identities must also be verified, and only after confirmation can we report inside." After checking Zhang Bao's badge, the guard returned it to the Tiger Guard with both hands, still with no intention of moving the antlers away.
"I say you are mentally ill. My identity has been verified. What are you still doubting? Is there anyone who dares to impersonate the governor and others? Do you think you have lived too long?" Tiger Guard said with his eyes wide open and a sullen face.
"Sorry, it's official business. If you want to enter the camp, you must first verify your identity." The Zhejiang Army guard insisted.
Seeing that the Zhejiang Army guards were still insisting, the Tiger Guards could not help but stare at them, pointed their whips at them, and threatened them viciously, "Don't refuse a toast. If you delay the Governor's inspection, can you afford it? If you make the Governor unhappy, you will be in trouble with just one word."
"Zhang Xiaoqi, please don't embarrass us. Our Zhejiang Army has military orders and disciplines. If we let you into the camp without verifying your identity and obtaining permission, we will be seriously violating military orders and disciplines. We don't need to wait for the adults to be unhappy. My adults will make us pay for it."
The Zhejiang Army guards clasped their hands and said helplessly.
By this time, Zhang Jing and his entourage had already arrived on horseback. It was too late. Zhang Bao could not help but glare at the Zhejiang Army guards in anger and annoyance, and cursed them viciously, "Damn you, look at what you have done! You will suffer the consequences!"