Chapter 200: Father, you are being unreasonable

As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers all around also began to grumble indignantly.

"Exactly! The Imperial Court has never cared about our Northern Frontier Army; we've had to rely on ourselves for everything."

"And they're still not satisfied, even wanting to find the Prince to hold him accountable."

"Is fighting the Rakshasa Kingdom something you can just do on a whim? They have a Matchlock Team and strong troops; if we let our Northern Frontier Army take the field, wouldn't that be like throwing eggs against a rock?"

The soldiers argued incessantly, but Xiao Moting did not express his stance.

This time, the opponent was the entire Daliang Kingdom.

Although the Northern Frontier Army had powerful equipment and weapons, the Daliang Kingdom's army had far more men, and... they were all fellow countrymen.

If both sides truly went to war, countless people would die in battle, and blood would flow like a river.

Whether the soldiers who died in battle were from the Northern Frontier Army or the Daliang army, they were all common people.

Xiao Dabao gritted his teeth and looked up, saying.

"Prince, you should leave first! We will hold off the Imperial Court's army here. As long as you return to the Northern Frontier Camp, there is still a chance to make a comeback!"

After he finished speaking, everyone else also expressed their agreement.

Xiao Moting's brows knitted together.

He knew that everyone wanted him to escape alone.

But as the Chief Commander, how could he abandon his own army and flee back to the Northern Frontier Camp by himself?

"No, don't say any more!"

Xiao Moting refused in a deep voice.

At this moment, Xiao Lujing walked in.

The young boy's face held a calmness inconsistent with his age, and he spoke in a cold tone.

"Father, you go! I will sneak into the Yuan Clan army and kill Yuan Canghai."

Xiao Moting refused flatly without even thinking.

"Your mother... no, Shennü Daren went to such great lengths to save you, not to have you go and throw your life away. Your illness hasn't healed yet; go back and lie down to recover!"

The Yuan Clan army was not a place one could just go to or leave as they pleased.

Furthermore, by Yuan Canghai's side, there was also the National Preceptor Zhou Yanli.

Even though he himself was one of the best in the Northern Frontier, Zhou Yanli, despite looking cold and detached, was actually able to fight him to a draw.

This person was terrifyingly strong!

If Xiao Lujing went, he shouldn't expect to come back alive.

Xiao Lujing said coldly, "I can kill..."

"I am your father, and I have the final say. Children should talk back to adults less."

Xiao Lujing was silent for a moment.

"Father, you are being unreasonable."

The soldiers in the tent all went quiet, staring in unison at this father and son arguing, with some even secretly stifling their laughter.

Xiao Moting stared at Xiao Lujing, "It seems your illness is cured, is it?"

"Yes." Xiao Lujing was very composed, "I am already recovered and can carry out military duties. Assassination, killing, silencing... all are no problem."

Xiao Moting nodded and turned his head to look at Xiao Dabao.

"Did you bring the math workbook you haven't finished?"

"I brought it, but that multiplication and division is just too hard. I've been memorizing the multiplication table for a month and still can't remember it, and there are still several books I haven't finished..."

"Give them to Xiao Lujing. He does one book, you do one book. You two can come out once you're finished."

Xiao Lujing's small face immediately darkened.

Xiao Dabao, who had been watching the spectacle, was also dumbfounded.

"No, Prince, the one arguing with you is your son, it has nothing to do with me, why do I have to do it too..."

Several soldiers walked in and dragged the two of them away.

In the tent, the group of soldiers could no longer laugh.

It was fortunate they didn't have to do problems; things like quotients and divisors were too complicated, harder than killing people on the battlefield.

Xiao Moting was expressionless as he looked up and scanned the crowd.

"Alright, let's continue discussing business."

The soldiers came back to their senses.

"By the way, I think we can deal with the Yuan Family Army like this..."

The atmosphere returned to tension.

Just as everyone was arguing endlessly, Xiao Moting suddenly reached out and caught a note drifting in the air.

"Has Shennü Daren written another letter?" The surrounding soldiers were instantly invigorated.

Xiao Moting unfolded the note.

On the white paper was Bai Wei's elegant handwriting.

"Xiao Moting, I am currently on my way back to the village; you all should still be at the military camp outside the city."

"Have the main army rest first; don't let everyone get too tired, because I have already thought of a way to deal with the Yuan Family Army. After I return to the village, I will send the items to you."

"This method will allow the Northern Frontier Army to win without losing a single soldier, and the Yuan Family Army will suffer a great loss on their own."

"This time, I am going to make Yuan Canghai take a huge fall!"

Once the note arrived, the heavy atmosphere that had permeated the army was instantly swept away.

The group of soldiers who had been frowning just a moment ago all breathed a sigh of relief, and many even had smiles on their faces.

"Shennü Daren has come to help us again!"

"It seems we have a good chance of winning this battle."

"That goes without saying. When has Shennü Daren ever failed to win? I believe in Shennü."

Qin Zhan also hurriedly asked Xiao Moting.

"Prince, what shall we do now?"

Xiao Moting pondered for a moment, "We shall proceed as Shennü Daren instructed; the entire army will rest and reorganize while awaiting the next order from Shennü Daren."

A cheer immediately erupted in the camp.

The news that Shennü Daren was going to deal with the Yuan Family Army spread through the camp like the wind.

A relaxed smile appeared on the faces of all the soldiers.

Everyone was just an ordinary person, and no one liked war.

If it were not for the necessity of protecting their homes and country and going into battle to kill the enemy, they would also want to be at home, gathered together with their families.

Since the entire army was to rest and reorganize, Xiao Moting kept his troops still and ordered the Cook Battalion to light the stoves and prepare meals for the soldiers.

The aroma soon began to drift out.

There was still quite a lot of the supplies that Shennü Daren had sent previously remaining.

Therefore, the Cook Battalion made a big stew today, throwing all the ingredients in the camp into the pot to boil together.

The soldiers held their earthenware bowls, crowding around the pots to scoop out food, chatting while they ate.

For a time, the atmosphere in the Beijiang Junying was relaxed and filled with steam.

Three miles away.

A massive, dark army was neatly stationed, with strict military discipline and a somber atmosphere.

In the camp, flags bearing the red character "Yuan" fluttered.

Inside the largest tent, Zhou Yanli sat upright behind a desk, his thin back straight, with white cloth bandages wrapped around his shoulder blades, through which bloodstains were faintly seeping.

Yuan Canghai had a burly and tall physique, wearing a suit of black armor, his dark face covered in stubble, and his appearance was fierce.

He stood beside the desk, bowing slightly, his expression very cautious.

"National Preceptor, is your injury alright?"

"It is of no concern," Zhou Yanli said coldly. "The Yang Clan Army from Donghai Prefecture will arrive the day after tomorrow. Make arrangements early so that we can capture Xiao Moting and his troops in one fell swoop."

"It has already been arranged," Yuan Canghai said, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes. "Xiao Moting, this time it is not that I want to kill you, but that you have offended the Emperor; it is the Emperor who wants your life."

Having finished speaking, he looked at Zhou Yanli again.

"National Preceptor, the Emperor issued a secret decree to me, saying that after defeating the Northern Frontier Army, I am to escort Xiao Moting back to Shengjing and throw him into the Heavenly Prison for trial."

"However... if some accident were to happen on the road, such as Xiao Moting falling off a cliff or dying from a fall from his horse..."

"National Preceptor, could you help me predict whether the Emperor would vent his anger on me if Xiao Moting were to die? After all, he is his own son. If he dies at my hands, I am afraid the Emperor will settle scores with me later, hehe..."