Chapter 383: Chapter 332: The Ceremony
As soon as the voice fell, the entire square fell silent.
Almost everyone stood on tiptoes, looking off into the distance.
Soon, the sound of ’dong dong’ came from the distant Changle Sect in the east.
"They’re coming! They’re coming!"
"So many people! I can see them!"
"It seems to be... the Imperial Guard!"
"So many of them!"
Amid countless exclamations, the figures of the Imperial Guard slowly emerged.
Leading the group was a team of about ten members of the Flag Guard Team, protecting an Imperial Guard flag as they passed in front of the crowd.
As early as half a year ago, Zheng Yi had tasked various units with crafting their own flags for review by the Ministry of War and the Cabinet, to be finally selected and approved by himself.
For instance, the Imperial Guard currently approaching had a flag that resembled a gold shield on a black background.
The Imperial Guard, the foundation of the Imperial Court.
They are the core troops guarding the Capital City and the Imperial Palace, composed mostly of the children of merit holders, the Imperial Family, bureaucrats, and wealthy merchants from the city.
Whether in terms of treatment or overall strength, they reign supreme over all other forces.
"Boom!"
"Boom boom!"
A series of neat and loud marching sounds gradually came from afar, becoming clearer.
The crowd watched, and saw squads of soldiers clad in gold armor, holding spears at a forty-five degree angle, swiftly approaching.
Unlike their previous walking, the soldiers of the Imperial Guard were now marching in... goose step!
This was a special instruction from Zheng Yi, using experience from a previous life to teach the soldiers of this world.
This march, with the body tightly drawn and steps uniform, when numbers increased, made the squad magnificently imposing.
"Step!"
"Step step!"
Step by step they came, looking like squads of robots, causing the scalp of many citizens, officials, and royal relatives to tingle.
The entire formation consisted of ten men horizontally, ten men vertically, totaling one hundred men forming a phalanx, advancing slowly.
"What an orderly army!"
"Such marching, such orderliness, only an army of many battles can achieve this!"
"Elite! Is this the elite of Great Yu?"
"With such soldiers, Great Yu could sweep across the world, nowhere would be out of reach!"
"It’s terrifying! Is this the power of Great Yu?"
"Step!"
"Step step!"
As the formation advanced, it finally reached the main entrance of the Imperial Palace.
Facing one side was a viewing platform of civil and military officials and royal relatives, while the other side faced Zheng Yi and other high-ranking officials on the Imperial City’s wall.
Then, suddenly, a slogan came from ahead of the formation.
"Look right~!"
"Swoosh...!"
With an urgent sound, soldiers marching uniformly suddenly turned their heads sharply to the right, while their bodies continued straight ahead without any extra movements.
"Loyalty to Great Yu!"
"Loyalty to Great Yu!"
"Service to the people!"
"Service to the people!"
"Duty to Your Majesty!"
"Duty to Your Majesty!"
These shouts suddenly came from within the formation.
The voices were majestic and eyes sharp.
The cries stirred the civil and military officials, royal relatives, and common people on the viewing platform to join in the call.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
"Such a magnificent military formation!"
"Great Yu’s Imperial Guard is truly formidable!"
Among the crowd, there were also some ill-intentioned people, especially envoys from Wu Country, Yur Country, and other nations not harboring goodwill towards Great Yu, who were also shocked watching the Imperial Guard march past.
"Great Yu’s Imperial Guard... Is this Great Yu’s Imperial Guard?"
"The formations are orderly, commands obeyed, this is what a true elite force is! If these people appeared on the battlefield..."
"Are these all, or is every army of Great Yu so elite?"
Among the bustling crowd, there were also several cold eyes watching the marching Great Yu formations.
"Great Yu formations? What if they are elite? They are merely mortal ants..."
"Tsk tsk, even encountering a hundred such soldiers would take some effort, but a thousand..."
"How are your observations? Shall we act directly, or... wait a bit longer?"
"Wait... a bit longer!"
"Alright...!"
On the city wall, watching the Imperial Guard soldiers pass through the square below, Zheng Yi also smiled and waved in acknowledgment.
These soldiers were elite troops, and now they all pledged loyalty to him alone.
Whenever he wished, any order he issued they would execute loyally.
Surrounding high-ranking officials were also watching the marching troops downstairs in shock, faces filled with astonishment.
They never expected Your Majesty would hold such a military parade!
It could be imagined that after today, the military might of Great Yu would spread throughout the world.
By then, those hidden spirits and demons lurking in the dark, would dare not show themselves.
"Loyalty to Great Yu!"
"Service to the people!"
"Duty to Your Majesty!"
The voices of Imperial Guard soldiers echoed continuously as they passed under the city gate.
They halted after reaching the Vermilion Bird Gate.
Under the command of their respective officers, they lined up on the square, their formation unwavering.
Next, Five Cities Military Department, local garrisons, northern Border Army and other troops of different corps, continued to advance following the march route and formation of the Imperial Guard.
The flags of different corps were not the same.
For instance, Five Cities Military Department’s flag was black with a white fish-scale shield, symbolizing defense of the Capital City and Baixing.
While the Border Army’s flag was black with a green dragon, towering forward, denoting defense at the frontier, varying and so forth.
