Chapter 196: The Young Lady Can Be As Steadfast As a Mountain

"The Duke of Chengguo's heir is a household name in our northern lands..."

"The Duke of Chengguo's heir could ride atop a horse at the age of three..."

The deep voice of Lao Jiu continued in the room.

Three years old, do we really have to start from his childhood?

Ding Dashan couldn't help but wipe his sweat.

"Big Brother Lao Jiu," he hurriedly interjected, "so you are quite familiar with the Duke of Chengguo's heir."

Lao Jiu shook his head.

"Not familiar," he said crisply.

Not familiar? Yet you talk as if you're rearing with excitement, as if he were your own son.

Ding Dashan and the others were speechless once again.

"Though we're not familiar, who doesn't know about the Duke of Chengguo's heir? At such a young age, he is exceptionally astute and capable of stabilizing the nation..." Lao Jiu continued.

Stop right there, here we go again.

Ding Dashan and the others hurried to interrupt.

"Yes, we share the same view," they said in conjunction.

"The Duke of Chengguo's heir is truly formidable in martial prowess," they admitted.

"We too have long admired his reputation."

Everyone chimed in one after another.

"It's just a pity we've never had the chance to meet him," Lao Jiu nodded and said.

Their identities were somewhat special, but even though they were considered heretics by the dynasty and the military and were to be purged, they still held such high esteem for the Duke of Chengguo and his son; it was evident they sincerely wanted to defeat the enemy.

"Big Brother Lao Jiu, you indeed are true heroes," Ding Dashan said sincerely.

"We won't keep this from you any longer," Mao Tietou suddenly said from the back, "the Duke of Chengguo's heir might actually be here. He is aiming to travel to the northern lands, but right now he is being pursued by the dynasty. The news has also spread; the Jurchen people will definitely want to capture him."

"So we hope that if you meet the Duke of Chengguo's heir, you can lend a helping hand if possible," Ding Dashan also anxiously added.

"Although we can't help openly, we will definitely provide convenience to you in secret," Army Head Wang added.

Lao Jiu smiled at their remarks.

"We are departing to do just that," he said, "We aim to find the Duke of Chengguo's heir and ensure his safe return to the northern lands."

So that's how it is, this was actually their purpose for coming here too, probably as arranged by the Duke of Chengguo himself.

Just as I thought, what father wouldn't look out for his son.

This makes perfect sense.

Dealing with the Jin thief in Kaide Prefecture not only stabilized the court but also cleared the path for his son from danger.

Duke of Chengguo truly possesses foresight, securing victory from a thousand miles away.

Admiration, truly admirable.

"We shall take our leave," Lao Jiu stood up and bowed as he spoke.

Decisive and straightforward, except when speaking about the Duke of Chengguo and his son.

But this also makes sense; people tend to talk more about those whom they hold in great esteem.

Ding Dashan and the others hastened to pay their respects and send them off, watching Lao Jiu leave the barracks. As he moved, soldiers gradually began to emerge from their surroundings, seemingly casual, but slowly gathering behind Lao Jiu, soon disappearing into the night.

......................

In the deep winter, the streets of Qingyuan Prefecture were even more desolate.

However, compared to the previous period, it was much better.

There were even merchant shops reopening.

The Jurchen troops had not retreated, but they had not broken through Duke of Chengguo's defense line either. Moreover, the latest news said that Kaide Prefecture had also been reclaimed, and the scattered Jurchen soldiers were being systematically cleared out.

The rear was relatively secure.

"If there's anything, just give us a shout, and we'll come over. Miss Jun, you shouldn't always come here in person," the Shopkeeper of Qingyuan Prefecture said while seeing Miss Jun out.

Looking at the dozen or so men standing in the courtyard.

Although there were a few more people than before, the times were still turbulent. If a small group of Jurchen soldiers broke through the defense line, as had happened in Kaide Prefecture, what good would these dozen men do?

"It's just on the way," Miss Jun said.

Just on the way? Just casually passing by Qingyuan Prefecture? The Shopkeeper was somewhat perplexed, watching Miss Jun already mounting her horse, as the dozen men also mounted theirs.

"Shopkeeper, you go back. If there's anything, just send a message, and I will come over," Miss Jun said.

I send a message, and you come over—that seems backward, doesn't it?

The Shopkeeper watched the young girl with a mix of helplessness and amusement. In her short time here, she seemed to have become the master, while he had been relegated to a guest.

Miss Jun's entourage attracted a great deal of attention as they traveled through the streets, livening up the atmosphere considerably.

"Miss Jun."

Passersby greeted her with respect and joy.

Miss Jun has not left, which surely means that Qingyuan Prefecture must be stable, and everyone can stay here with peace of mind.

Although Miss Jun does not treat their illnesses, local doctors can consult her for perplexing cases, effectively giving the people the support of a dependable mountain at their back.

Word of this gradually spread, stabilizing not only Qingyuan Prefecture, but also the civilian hearts in several nearby prefectures.

This proved more effective than the feudal authority's repeated reassurances.

"With this young lady here, it seems that she is more effective than stationing two thousand soldiers," General Peng mused, amusing himself with the thought.

"I truly cannot fathom why Miss Jun would stay here. The northern lands are already so dangerous," Magistrate Zhou, looking at the approaching Miss Jun and her company inside the city gate, lamented once more.

"Lord, that's not the right way to look at it," General Peng said bluntly, "We have not fled in the face of danger either, have we?"

Attempting to reason with this coarse man is like casting pearls before swine, thought Magistrate Zhou, giving him a sharp glance.

"She's an outsider, a young lady; can she really be compared to us? She doesn't even live on the emperor's stipend," he said.

"Lord Zhou, you are being rather narrow-minded," General Peng retorted, patting his armor, "Whether an official, a soldier, or a civilian, all are subjects of the great Zhou, and defending our homes and country is our duty."

You think you know so much! You can hardly recognize ten big characters and now you presume to lecture me, Magistrate Zhou thought, not bothering to engage further with him. He briskly walked down from the city gate and nodded with a smile to Miss Jun.

Miss Jun dismounted and greeted Magistrate Zhou and General Peng with a bow.

"My lords, you have been working hard," she said.

Magistrate Zhou and General Peng quickly waved their hands.

"Not at all, not at all; just doing our duties, earning our keep," they said.

After speaking, they felt something was amiss.

This young lady seemed like a superior coming to offer comfort.

"Miss Jun, please be careful on your journey," Magistrate Zhou said, dismissing his peculiar thoughts and expressing his concern.

"Let us escort you," General Peng declared loudly.

"Absolutely not," Miss Jun said softly yet firmly, refusing the offer, "With the enemy at our borders, Duke of Chengguo's military orders have been clear: we must not use the soldiers for private purposes."

General Peng was taken aback by her words, his face reddening slightly.

"Besides, I know how to take care of myself when I go out," Miss Jun said with a smile, "These brave men are more than capable of ensuring my safety."

These brave men...

General Peng and Magistrate Zhou looked at the men surrounding her—simple and honest-faced men who appeared quite dull, the very mountaineers from Zhangqing Mountain.

Aside from the tripwire and a few heavy arrows they had witnessed previously, General Peng had not had any further contact with these mountaineers. The initial shock he experienced had faded, and seeing as these mountaineers followed the orders of a young lady, they were probably just ignorant villagers after all.

Fortunately, there were quite a few of them, enough to deter any would-be aggressors.

"Sentries are stationed in the vicinity. If there is danger, Miss Jun must immediately call for help," General Peng said solemnly.

Miss Jun nodded in agreement, mounted her horse, and left the city gate under the escort of the crowd.

"We're really not escorting her?" Magistrate Zhou asked.

"There's no need; nearly all the bandits and rogues within our territory have been eradicated," General Peng replied, "Some were killed, and others have fled upon hearing rumors."

Thinking about this, Magistrate Zhou also felt quite emotional.

In troubled times, bandits and rogues are common plagues. Ever since the outbreak of war, many thieves appeared within Qingyuan Prefecture's territory, and the common people were often plundered. But with the troops spread thin and the bandits coming and going unpredictably, there simply wasn't the capacity to pursue and eliminate them.

But soon news came that many of these bandits had been slain and their corpses exposed.

As for who did it, no clues could be found.

In these times of refugees, the wealthy hired guards for protection. It was likely these bandits foolishly picked the wrong targets and ended up killed instead.

No matter who killed them, clearing out and deterring these bandits was a good thing for feudal authority.

Standing on the city gate and looking at the clear and orderly streets inside, Magistrate Zhou noted that if not for the tightly shut city gate and the disciplined soldiers in readiness, Qingyuan Prefecture would seem no different from before, showing no signs of wartime chaos and panic.

It was truly beyond imagination, and he didn't know which god or Buddha was to thank.

Regardless of the deity, he was grateful to heaven for its protection, and even Magistrate Zhou, a disciple of the saint, couldn't help but silently offer a prayer of thanks.

"However,"

Something suddenly occurred to General Peng, and he spoke up.

"It seems that a particularly ferocious bandit has appeared within our territory."

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