Chapter 504 Dong Mian Returns to Camp

Dong Changjun and Gu Chaoyang finally returned to the camp with the remaining troops, braving the overwhelming rain of arrows and huge rocks thrown from the mountain.

Dong Changjun almost fell off his horse.

"Second Master!"

Gu Chaoyang immediately went to support him, and was relieved to see that Dong Changjun was only slightly injured.

Dong Changjun was in so much pain that he held Gu Chaoyang's hand tightly, and his teeth almost bled.

He personally sent his only son to his death!

Gu Chaoyang could understand the grief in Dong Changjun's heart, and his eyes turned red. He didn't know how to comfort her.

Dong Mian was captured by Cheng Lian and his men, and he was definitely in great danger.

Dong Changjun was over fifty years old. How could a few words comfort her for the pain of losing her son?

"Second Master, we must take Xiaoyao Mountain and avenge Brother Mian!"

Dong Changjun closed his eyes and nodded tremblingly.

Gu Chaoyang asked someone to take Dong Changjun back to the tent to rest for a while, while he took out the topographic map of Xiaoyao Mountain to check it again.

Previously, he had only led people to explore the periphery of Xiaoyao Mountain. But today, Dong Mian's disturbance backfired, and he was able to find out the situation in the mountain.

It’s just that the price... is a little high.

There is only one road from Xiaoyao Mountain to Danzhou, and it is now guarded by Cheng Lian and his men, and fortifications have been built, making it extremely difficult to pass.

The road in Xiaoyao Mountain is steep and rugged, and difficult to travel on. The army can only advance in small teams, and in that case, the team will be stretched into a very long line.

Once they encounter an ambush along the way, the front and rear are cut off and unable to support each other, or there is an emergency in front that requires an emergency retreat, but the people behind are unaware and still moving forward, the team will immediately be in chaos.

This is a big taboo in military strategy.

The only way now is to send a small group of troops into the mountains first, completely wipe out the Northern Frontier rebels in Xiaoyao Mountain, and then let the main army move in after ensuring absolute safety.

For the entire afternoon, Gu Chaoyang locked himself in the tent, studying the deployment strategy on the map.

Until the evening, news suddenly came from outside the camp -

Dong Mian is back.

Dong Changjun was very excited to see his son come back alive. Gu Chaoyang followed Dong Changjun and saw Dong Changjun holding his son with tears in his eyes. He couldn't help but feel touched.

Dong Mian had a strange expression on his face. He just stood there woodenly, allowing Dong Changjun to hold him.

"Brother Mian, it's great that you're back!" Gu Chaoyang stepped forward and said.

Although he didn't like Dong Mian, Dong Mian was the son of Master Dong after all. He was deeply supported by Master Dong and of course he didn't want anything to happen to Dong Mian.

Dong Mian glanced at him with a half-smile and said:

"Are you disappointed that I came back alive?"

Gu Chaoyang was not a very eloquent person, and he was choked by Dong Mian's words, standing there awkwardly.

Dong Changjun said with a hint of reproach:

"Mian'er, how can you say that? When Chaoyang learned that you went to the enemy camp alone, he immediately led his troops to rescue you..."

"I was wrong, father. I was reckless today."

Dong Mian gave Dong Changjun a sensible smile, looked at Gu Chaoyang and said:

"Chaoyang, my brother was just joking, don't take it seriously."

Gu Chaoyang nodded and said it was okay, but he always felt something was wrong.

Dong Changjun then asked Dong Mian how he escaped.

Dong Mian only said that Cheng Lian captured him and locked him up in the woodshed.

The guard in charge of guarding the woodshed had received favors from the Dong family in the past. After learning of Dong Mian's identity, he risked his life to secretly release him, and let him change into the rebel's clothes. Only then did he take the opportunity to escape from Xiaoyao Mountain.

Dong Changjun was still immersed in the joy of finding his son again. He patted Dong Mian on the shoulder and said:

"It's good to be back, it's good to be back..."

After a long while, Dong Changjun said in a deep voice:

"Mian'er, although you have returned safely, today's incident was caused by you. It is against military regulations to lead troops out of the camp without permission.

Military law is as strict as a mountain. As a father and commander-in-chief, I cannot be partial to others."

"Don't worry, father. I am willing to accept the punishment." Dong Mian said calmly.

Such a sensible attitude surprised Dong Changjun and Gu Chaoyang.

Dong Changjun touched Dong Mian's head, feeling a little distressed and a little emotional.

It seems that he has finally grown up after experiencing life and death.

"Well, you dare to act and take responsibility, this is what a man of our Dong family should be like!"

Since Dong Mian had returned safely, Dong Changjun was completely relieved and summoned all the generals of the army to discuss matters.

The generals also heard the news of Dong Mian's return. When they saw him, they all had different expressions on their faces.

When the army nominated a deputy commander-in-chief, everyone did so because Dong Mian was the second master's biological son. It was nothing more than a title, and as long as he didn't do anything bad, no one would bother with him.

Later, when Gu Chaoyang arrived at the Longyou Army, he was appreciated by the Second Master and became the Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Then everyone suddenly realized that -

There is no harm without comparison.

Although Gu Chaoyang is young, he is brave and resourceful, and everyone is convinced.

In comparison, Dong Mian looks more like a complete idiot.

If Dong Mian had not been so reckless and underestimated the enemy today, how could so many brothers have died innocently?

He actually had the nerve to come back.

Dong Changjun swept his eyes across the faces of the generals and understood what they were thinking.

After everyone gathered, he announced the first thing in a deep voice -

Dong Mian sent out troops without authorization and was punished with 200 military sticks.

All the generals were slightly surprised when they heard this.

Two hundred military sticks. If someone is weak, he might even be beaten to death!

Dong Changjun was given such a heavy responsibility that others had nothing to say, and everyone's dissatisfaction with Dong Mian finally subsided a little.

Dong Mian suddenly knelt down in public, his face full of grief and guilt:

"I know I have committed a grave sin. I will not complain about the two hundred military sticks.

The child has another request..."

Dong Changjun frowned slightly, thinking that he was going to try to plead for mercy, but unexpectedly Dong Mian said loudly:

"I request that you be executed in front of the entire army at noon tomorrow.

Let everyone take this child as a warning and never dare to disregard military orders again!"

The generals looked at each other, and saw disbelief in each other's eyes.

Is this still that idiot young master?

How come he becomes a different person after being a prisoner?

"Okay." Dong Changjun nodded, feeling both relieved and distressed.

How could he not know that two hundred military sticks would cost Dong Mian half his life?

But for the sake of military morale and to make Dong Mian remember this lesson, he had to do so even if his heart was broken!

Next, everyone began to discuss the attack on Xiaoyao Mountain.

Gu Chaoyang put forward the strategy he had been researching for an entire afternoon, which was unanimously agreed by everyone.

Gu Chaoyang said again:

"With this deployment, as long as they are willing to come out and pursue us, we will have a great chance of winning.

The only thing we are afraid of is that the other side will hold their ground and keep wasting time with us."

Dong Changjun nodded.

"Well, how to lure the rebels into pursuit is a matter that needs to be carefully discussed so as to achieve victory in one blow.

It's late at night, let's go back and rest first, and discuss matters in the tent tomorrow morning."