Chapter 5 Advice

This time, Zhong Min was pleased. Zheng Ruyu finally gave an order that she was willing to accept.

After getting off the carriage, Zhong Min wrapped his cotton coat more tightly against the cold wind and walked quickly forward to see what was going on.

"Where are you going?" Zhong Min had just taken a few steps when a nosy soldier stopped him and started questioning him.

"Hey, bro, I have to go to the bathroom urgently. I need to find a place to relieve myself." Zhong Min stared at the nosy soldier with a longing look, trying to act as genuine as possible.

"No, the prince hasn't ordered a break. No one is allowed to leave the team." The soldier said in a tone that did not allow for negotiation: "Hurry back, or you will be punished by military law."

Zhong Min was furious when she heard this, but she had to endure it for the time being. "If it's not possible, then it's not possible. Why are you being so harsh? I have something else to do. Concubine Zheng asked me to ask what happened and why she suddenly stopped leaving."

When the soldier heard it was Concubine Zheng's order, he said indifferently, "We really don't know. If you want to report, go to the front and ask the prince yourself."

The look on his face seemed to indicate that he knew Zhong Min didn't dare to ask. Seeing this, Zhong Min rolled his eyes at the soldier and walked forward.

Go ahead, do you think she doesn't have the guts? Anyway, it was Zheng Ruyu who asked her to ask, and if the prince was unhappy, he couldn't blame her. If she didn't ask clearly, Zheng Ruyu would use this as an excuse to scold her half to death as soon as she got in the car.

At the front of the army, three horses stood side by side, facing the wind. The man in the middle was Prince Mu, Xiao Mingzheng, who appeared to be discussing something with two generals. Zhong Min couldn't speak up to interrupt them, so he stood back and observed the situation, finding the right moment to speak.

"Your Highness, General Luo is overly cautious. In my opinion, beyond these three miles we reach the territory of Muzhou. Prince Liang simply wouldn't have the guts to attack you here. If Your Highness is concerned, I can send a small group of men to explore the way." The bearded middle-aged general confidently said to Prince Mu, "Even if there's an ambush, each of my hundred elite soldiers can withstand ten, and will certainly keep Your Highness safe!"

"General Cheng, don't underestimate the enemy. The two or three miles ahead are steep slopes on both sides. The road in the middle is not only narrow but also unobstructed. It's the perfect high ground for an ambush. Once we enter the ambush circle, let alone more than a hundred elite soldiers, even if there are more, we're afraid there's no way back."

Another general, Luo Jiaxing, argued forcefully. His face was young and handsome, far better looking than General Cheng's. He clearly wasn't impressed by General Cheng's bravado.

"So, if that's what you're saying, then we won't leave?" General Cheng scoffed, not taking the fair-faced boy seriously at all. "If we don't leave, won't we just fall into Prince Liang's trap? If His Majesty can't get back to the barracks before dark, I'm afraid something terrible will happen!"

"That being said, the prince's safety..."

Before Luo Jiaxing could finish his words, Prince Mu Xiao Mingzheng, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up: "There is an ambush ahead, so we must be vigilant. But even if we fight to the death, I will return to the barracks on time!"

Xiao Mingzheng was handsome and heroic. His thick sword-like eyebrows and straight nose all revealed his determination and perseverance. It was said that he was the most courageous commander ever stationed in the northwest border.

Once his words came out, it was like a final conclusion, and no one refuted them.

"Yes, sir!"

Luo Jiaxing and General Cheng received the order at the same time. When Prince Mu's gaze fell on General Cheng again, the middle-aged man, who was quite self-righteous, immediately became excited: "Your Highness, please rest assured. I will risk my life to escort you back to the camp safely and ensure your safety."

After saying this, General Cheng raised his hand loudly and instructed the deputy general beside him, "Pass the order down, all troops, please be on alert, slow down and follow in order. Fifty elite soldiers will follow me to lead the way, thirty elite soldiers will follow General Luo in the middle to guard the prince, and the rest of the troops will cover the rear. You must ensure the prince's safe return to the camp at all costs!"

Hearing this, Zhong Min couldn't help but shook her head. This General Cheng was really a coward, brave but not wise. With such a deployment, it was surprising that he didn't suffer a great loss. In this way, she was afraid that her life would be buried in vain.

"Won't I be used as a living arrow in a moment?" Zhong Min murmured. Seeing that there was no need to ask any more questions, he turned around and prepared to go back to the carriage to think of another way to escape.

Unexpectedly, this unintentional remark was overheard by Luo Jiaxing. Luo Jiaxing did not agree with General Cheng's arrangement in the first place. Seeing this, he immediately turned around and scolded Zhong Min, "Who is there? What are you mumbling about?"

As a result, everyone immediately noticed Zhong Min who was about to leave. Seeing this, Zhong Min had no choice but to step forward and prepare to reply.

She felt that given her current status, she should have performed a formal ceremony, but she was worried that her gesture, which was barely discerning, would frighten others. So, she simply gave up and replied with a smile, "I am a maidservant serving Her Majesty Zheng. Since you suddenly stopped, I have come here to inquire about the reason."

Don't hit someone who smiles at you. Although she usually has a slightly more masculine personality and doesn't quite understand or get used to the complicated rules and etiquette of this time and space, she still understands this principle. Moreover, in this special period, I guess these so-called big men who are doing big things won't pay too much attention to such trivial details.

"What did you just say?" Xiao Mingzheng spoke up. He ignored Zhong Min's explanation and frowned slightly at Zhong Min's presumptuous reaction. "I seem to have heard that you are quite dissatisfied with General Cheng's arrangements."

It turned out that Xiao Mingzheng also heard Zhong Min's muttering, but he did not take the words of a maid seriously. Seeing that Luo Jiaxing deliberately called the maid forward, he thought that he was probably dissatisfied with General Cheng's arrangement, so he used the maid's words to make suggestions.

"In reply to your Highness, I have no complaints. I am just worried that if we continue on this path and encounter an ambush, as General Luo said, no matter how many people we have, they will all die in vain."

Zhong Min, concerned for her own safety, didn't hesitate. She gently warned, "General Cheng's bravery is undeniable, but this isn't an ordinary ambush. If the enemy takes up advantageous ground, lying in wait, they'll easily wipe out everyone in the ambush with sufficient bows and arrows. Our army doesn't even have the ability to fight back. The further we spread out, the easier it is for us to be shot. We can't even protect ourselves, let alone His Majesty."

These words shocked everyone. General Cheng, who had been so confident, suddenly felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured down on him, and was speechless for a long time. Luo Jiaxing, on the other hand, was full of agreement. These were exactly what he wanted to say. He was just worrying about how to convince Prince Mu to give up his idea of ​​forcing his way forward, but he didn't expect that a little maid would say it first.

"Who are you?" Xiao Mingzheng stared at Zhong Min with sharp eyes, but no one could tell anything.

He had seen the maid in front of him before. She was indeed the servant of Concubine Zheng. However, just based on what she said, it was enough to prove that she was not an ordinary maid. Instead, she seemed like an experienced veteran on the battlefield. There should not be such a bold and unruly person in Prince Mu's mansion.