"Alright, I'll go."

Seeing that Zhao Cheng agreed, Yuan Zhang smiled and said, "I am very pleased that you have the courage to prove your innocence."

Zhao Cheng said, "I am as innocent as a virgin, so I don't need to prove it. I just want to seize the opportunity to do business in Yun Jing City."

Yuan Zhang asked, "Is making money that important?"

"Why not eat meat porridge?" Zhao Cheng sighed.

"What?" Yuan Zhang asked in surprise.

Zhao Cheng rolled his eyes at Yuan Zhang and said, "You were born into an imperial family and have never experienced hardship, so how would you know how important money is?"

Yuan Zhang became increasingly puzzled and asked, "I don't understand. The Right Chancellor rose to prominence when he was young. Did you ever experience hardship?"

Zhao Cheng said indignantly, "I was poor in my past life! Do you understand nine-to-five? Do you understand how to eat instant noodles in every way?! Do you understand borrowing money to pay off loans?! Do you understand your girlfriend running off with someone else?!

"A past life? The prince consort is joking." Yuan Zhang smiled dismissively, little did he know that Zhao Cheng was telling the truth.

"Alright, since you've agreed... take off your black flower robe!"

"exist!"

"This afternoon, you will escort five hundred men to Muqiaokou. Tomorrow, you will select another hundred elite soldiers to accompany the prince consort to the assassination camp."

Tuo Tiewuhua exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness is going to Muqiaokou?"

"Hmm." Yuan Zhang straightened his light armor and said, "Recently, some fishermen have reported to the border troops that they occasionally hear strange noises under the Mu Bridge while fishing. I sent people to investigate, but they didn't find anything. After thinking it over, I wonder if the Southern Zhou army is secretly doing something under the bridge. I've decided to go and take a look myself and inspect it for a few days."

Tuo Tiewuhua said worriedly, "If it's for a few days... won't five hundred people be too few? I'll select two thousand elite soldiers to go with you!"

Yuan Zhang waved his hand and said, "Two thousand men would be too much of a commotion. This matter can only be carried out in secret. Although I am going to inspect Muqiao, the water level on the west side of Muqiao is gradually decreasing, and a dirt road is about to appear. I need to observe the situation of the Southern Zhou army on the other side. It may be an opportunity for an attack."

Zhao Cheng couldn't help but interject, "During the state banquet, the Prince of Nan Zhou took two princesses from Da Jing and formed an alliance with Da Jing, promising to develop friendly relations. Why are you still fighting each other?"

Yuan Zhang smiled and shook his head, saying, "I told you, you're just the young prime minister, not your father."

Zhao Cheng clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yuan Zhang and humbly said, "I hope the Champion King will enlighten me."

Yuan Zhang also had the urge to lecture. He glanced at Zhao Cheng and said, "Marriage alliances are matters of state, intended for peaceful coexistence between the two countries. But there is never any peace on the border."

Zhao Cheng understood and said, "In other words, although we are allied, on the border, you fight me and I fight you. You occasionally annoy me, and I occasionally launch a surprise attack to make you suffer heavy losses. As long as we don't start a major war, we will still be at peace on the surface?"

Yuan Zhang smiled and said, "This young man is teachable."

"That's a really flashy move."

Yuan Zhang ignored Zhao Cheng's complaints and looked at Tuo Tiewuhua, saying, "Go and make the arrangements."

...

Yunjing County has two important military cities: Yunjing City and Yunshui City.

Yunjing City to the west borders Hechong County of the Southern Zhou Dynasty, while Yunshui City to the east borders Jinjiang County of the Southern Zhou Dynasty.

In recent years, the army of the Southern Zhou Grand Commander has been stationed in Hechong County, while only a small number of regular troops are stationed in Jinjiang County. As a result, Yuan Zhang's Zhennan Border Army is also stationed in Yunjing City, facing the Yang family of Southern Zhou across the water.

The water here is not the East-West River, but a lake.

This is Wei Lake, which also marks the boundary between Yunjing County and Hechong County.

There are several bridges connecting the two counties, as well as a few small dirt roads that are exposed during droughts.

As for the official road between the two countries, there was no one in Hechong County, but there was a road between Jinjiang County and Yunshui City.

Therefore, in order to avoid affecting normal trade between the two countries, the Southern Zhou Dynasty deployed its troops in Hechong County for many years.

Tuo Tiewuhua led a hundred elite soldiers and Zhao Cheng's group to the shore of Wei Lake. Pointing to the opposite bank, he said, "This is the best spot to cross the water without being detected."

It was early morning, and the sky was filled with sunlight but not the sun itself. Zhao Cheng held his hand to his eyes and looked across the river. He could vaguely see some camps and asked, "There are also Southern Zhou army camps on the other side. Won't we be discovered if we go through here?"

Tuo Tiewu explained, "Walking on the bridge or the dirt road will definitely get us discovered; only by taking the waterway will we have a chance."

Zhao Cheng asked, "Then how can you be sure this is the best location?"

Tuo Tiewuhua said, "Because there are the fewest patrol points on the other side from here."

Zhao Cheng asked, "How did you know that?"

Tuo Tiewu said, "We naturally have our own methods."

Zhao Cheng understood and said, "I understand, you're a spy from our Great Jing."

The black-flowered boat, having tauted its cover, blew a whistle, and a series of arrow-shaped boats emerged from the reeds.

Tuo Tiewu said, "What we're doing is inherently risky; there's no absolute possibility of success. We'll just do our best."

Zhao Cheng was startled and said, "We can't go by boat, can we? That would be too conspicuous!"

Tuo Tiewu pointed to the small boat and said, "This is an arrow boat. Its characteristics are that it is fast and goes straight to the other side, making it a small target."

"Do you really think the people of Southern Zhou are blind?" Zhao Cheng shook his head.

Tuo Tie Wu Hua said unhappily, "What Southern Spy Star, Victorious General? I think you're just a coward."

Zhao Cheng never cared about such provocations and said frankly, "I never said I was brave. It's just that I don't agree with your method. We came here on a mission, so we can't just throw our lives away."

"Then what good ideas do you have?" Tuo Tiewuhua asked, her face full of dissatisfaction.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!