The first navigator of the Ming Dynasty

The sky of the grassland is very high and far away, the grass is green, and the noon sun is already very hot.

Five horses galloped across the wide, flat steppe and swept into the northern sky.

Over a low hillside and over a shallow river. Sparse and low bushes appeared in the steppe, with only an unknown tree standing alone on the low slope, casting a patch of shade.

A Ming cavalryman on horseback pointed to the tree in front of him and said to Zheng Hai: "Little Brother Zheng, let's take a rest under that tree! After two days of travel, I believe that it won't be long before we can catch up with Ma Gonggong and them."

Zheng Hai looked back at the few cavalrymen beside him and nodded: "Okay, then take a rest first." "

Five horses stopped beside a big tree on the hillside. They tied their horses and took out their water bladders and food from their horses.

"Who has extra water? My water bladder is out of water!" the

soldier who spoke looked at the other three soldiers, his eyes twinkling.

One soldier refused: "I don't have much left." The

soldier who had no water asked another

soldier: "Li Mao, what about you?" The soldier Li Mao replied with some hesitation: "I, I, mine has also bottomed out." "

Brother Zheng, look, can you give me a few sips?"

Zheng Hai took the water bladder from his horse and handed it directly to the soldier: "Give!" "

Little Zhang Er, thank you Brother Zheng, then you're welcome." Soldier

Zhang Er took the water bladder, walked towards his horse, turned to a soldier next to him and said, "Li Mao, you show Brother Zheng the map and see where we are going later." The

soldier Li Mao walked towards Zheng Hai with a roll of maps: "Brother Zheng, we should be here now, it is estimated that ten miles ahead will be the garrison before General Fu..."

Zheng Hai looked at the sheepskin map, which drew simple terrain and some markers, such as mountains, rivers, passes, etc. They were indeed not far from their destination, and it stands to reason that they should be about to catch up with the horses that set off first.

Under the direct sun, the grassland is slightly steaming, and it is not very fresh in the distance.

"Brother Zheng, thank you for the water. If there is still a chance in the future, I will definitely repay you this favor!" The

soldier Zhang Er's face smiled, his eyes narrowed into a slit, and the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes were connected to his eyes.

He handed the water bladder to Zheng Hai, stared at Zheng Hai quietly, and said, "It's so hot, why don't you take a few sips!" Zheng Hai

took the water bladder, unscrewed the lid, and found that the water bladder had some white powder at the outlet. Turning around, he glanced at the soldier Zhang Er and found that Zhang Er was staring at him.

The weather is actually okay, not very hot, but continuous travel, which consumes a lot of energy and water, and people are easy to be thirsty.

Zheng Hai shook the water bladder slightly, and some gurgling sounds came from the water bladder. The water in the water bladder is running out, only about one-fifth of it is left.

He lifted the bladder and lowered it again, his face seemed hesitant, and he closed the lid again.

"Forget it, let's go find Ma He first!" Zheng Hai said to Zhang Er: "Rest, let's go!" "

Brother Zheng, you can drink saliva first! This journey has already been more than half of the way, and it is not too late." Let's drink saliva first and quench our thirst!" the soldier Zhang Er asked Zheng Hai to drink water again.

Zheng Hai turned his back, held the water bladder in his hand, and lifted the water bladder again.

A rumbling sound of horses' hooves came from afar, rolling up a puff of yellow dust.

"Look, there's a troop of men and horses there, heading towards us!" Zheng Hai pointed to the group in the distance, drawing the eyes of all the soldiers.

"Are they our people? Could it be Ma Gonggong?" asked one of the soldiers, looking at the dust and smoke in the distance.

Zheng Hai tied the water bladder back to the saddle and said to the others, "Brothers, get on your horse! Be careful in case the other party is an enemy!"

The four soldiers looked at each other, looked at Zheng Hai, and nodded in agreement. They packed up their water bladders and food, untied their horses, and arranged their swords and quivers.

Soldier Zhang Er looked at Zheng Hai and asked with a smile: "Brother Zheng, have you drunk water?"

Do you still want to drink, do you want to take two more sips?" Zheng Hai handed the water bladder to Zhang Er again.

Zhang Er was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile: "Thank you, Brother Zheng, I just drank it, and now I'm not thirsty! Let's hurry up!" Zheng

Hai didn't speak, just nodded, holding the saddle with one hand, stepping on the stirrup with the other, and lightly straddled, sat on his war horse, and stared at the galloping cavalry.

"Let's go!" Zheng Hai pulled the reins in his hand, turned his horse's head and ran towards the cavalry.

The rest of the soldiers hesitated, looked at each other again, and followed Zheng Hai towards the cavalry.

The two groups of cavalry met head-on, and the two sides were about fifty paces apart, both wearing the cavalry uniforms of the Ming Dynasty. The cavalry opposite Zheng Hai was a cavalry squad of ten people, their armor was somewhat torn and stained with blood, and it seemed that they should have experienced a fierce battle.

Both sides looked at each other nervously, holding arrows and drawing bows in their hands, and the atmosphere was a little tense. If someone gives the order to shoot, it is estimated that there will be casualties on both sides.

"Are you General Fu Youde's subordinates?" the soldier Li Mao asked first.

The leader of the cavalry on the opposite side responded: "That's right, we are General Fu's subordinates, who is your commander? What is the purpose of coming here?"

"

Oh! I see! It's all my own brothers, everyone put down their bows and arrows, please here!" The cavalry commander on the opposite side ordered to put down the bows and arrows and put away the formation.

Zheng Hai was a little puzzled, and asked Li Mao beside him: "Isn't there a corresponding communication term such as a contact code for the connection between your troops?"

The soldier Zhang Er laughed and said: "What kind of code is used for the dialogue between the teams, it seems that you are really on the battlefield for the first time!" Hehehe, let's go."

The soldiers looked at Zheng Hai with a sneer.

Zheng Hai was a little embarrassed, and followed everyone to the station of Fu Youde's army.

Fu Youde's cavalry was divided into two groups, one leading the way in front and the other behind Zheng Hai's five-man team.

Riding all the way north, he came to the bottom of a small river valley, and the cavalry captain who led the way suddenly stopped, turned his horse's head to look at Zheng Hai and the others.

With a stabbing sound, the cavalry captain who led the way drew his waist knife and shouted: "Don't resist, otherwise you will be killed!"

On the surrounding hillside, a group of soldiers in Northern Yuan costumes suddenly stood up, densely packed, holding bows and arrows at Zheng Hai and them.

At this time, Zheng Hai and the other four Ming soldiers realized: This is a trap! They have fallen for it!