197 Mr.Thirteen from the Military camp (2/2)
The Desolate Man had left the wilderness thousands of years ago. To those people in the Central Plains, they are legends that were long forgotten. On the way to the frontier fortress, the Academy summarized and recalled what had happened for them, thus letting them understand the history between the two. For the commoners in the Central Plains as well as them, this tribe had remained as a mystery.
”But I've heard that the Desolate Man tribe is only left with 100 thousand people. Even if all of them decided to fight for their tribe, it'll not cause a threat to the Central Plains. On the other hand, should the Left-Tent palace sent all their cavalries, they will be like locust swarm attacking south...”
”In you eyes, the strong Left-Tent palace, whose grassland was being snatched over forcefully by the Desolate Man, was being chased to the south and was forced to go over the line which we Tangs had drawn. This was something that can be accomplished with only a 100 thousand of those Desolate Men, who are the born-warriors. Now, why aren't you afraid of them since we have given them sufficient time in the North to build up their foundation and grow stronger? Why both West-Hill Divine Palace and imperial court are not nervous as well?”
Ning Que smiled and answered, ” Do not forget, with adequate food and drinks, it's easy to give birth and build families.”
Chang Zhengming kept silent for a long while before questioning again, ”Then what should we do?”
Ning Que stared at the distant black smoke in the wilderness and thought for a while before he said, ”Looking at the situation right now, I suppose West-Hill Divine Palace and imperial court have the same thinking, which is to force the Left-Tent palace Chanyu to have a battle with the Desolate Man Tribe. We are in charge of providing him with weapons and food, they are in charge of fighting the war.”
Chang Zhengming was confused and asked, ”They lost to the Desolate Man and was forced to move south. Why would the Left-Tent palace be so dumb to return to battle against them again?”
”And that's why we are here...The Divine Hall and imperial court are clear of their decision when they gave Chanyu the right to choose. Either he joins them in the battle, or he fight with the Desolate Men with their support. For the former, he would definitely die, but for the latter, he might still have a chance to survive. After all, there's a difference between 'definitely' and 'might'.”
Chang Zhengming was stunned, for he never thought that things would be so complicated. He sighed as he commented, ”This is a tough decision indeed.”
Ning Que patted on his shoulder and added, ”Chanyu thought so too.”
Just then, numerous cavalries from the West Road troops appeared behind the meadow. The captain who was leading the troops looked at Ning Que with a worry face. It seemed like he wish to approach him yet he dare not.
Chang Zhengming gazed at the nervous-looking cavalries below the meadow and recognized them as the General's Mansion's direct cavalries at once. He was slightly taken aback and subconsciously took a glance at Ning Que, who was beside him.
The Tang captain below the meadow looked up at Ning Que and said with distress, ”Mr.Thirteen, we're too close to the battle ground and it's really dangerous. Shall we return to the military camp?”
”Mr.Thirteen?” Chang Zhengming stared at Ning Que and asked questioningly.
Ning Que glanced at the nervous -looking cavalries below the meadow as he sighed reluctantly, patted off the dust from his buttock and stood up. He then explained to Chang Zhengming, ”They don't know my real identity, only know that I am ranked 13.”
Chang Zhengming followed and stood up.
”I'm the lead for the Academy. Though I'm not responsible for your life and death, but I would still need to be concerned about what you guys are up to.”
Ning Que stared at him and said, ”Today, I'm just here to understand more about your situation. But since I'm being rushed by someone, I gonna take my leave first. I'll head over to the Blue Water Battalion tomorrow. Situ Yilan and Wang Ying are there.”
”Take care then.” Chang Zhengming added with a serious note.
”I'm just an ambassador going round to do checking and going round to eat, drink and spread my name. What's there to take care of?”
Ning Que self-mocked before he waved his hand to gesture that there was no need to send him off. He then patted the dust from his buttock and went down the meadow.
When he reached the bottom of the meadow, he looked at the captain who had been with him for the whole month, and the nervous-looking soldiers who were looking around, afraid that the grassland cavalry could attack them any moment. He said reluctantly,
”We're still within our Tang Military camp, why are u guys so nervous? Are all of you going to follow me everyday?”
The captain replied with a stern tone, ”This is an order from the top. We must ensure your safety.”
Upon recalling the freedom yet boring life at the frontier fortress for the past one month, Ning Que could not help but shook his head and remarked, ”I am just an average practial student, yet I am surrounded by over ten elite cavalries everyday. How can I accept this? I am not General Xia Hou, I should not have such luxury.”
The captain remained polite and respectful as he explained, ”Mr.Thirteen, though we do not know your real identity, but the order from the General's Mansion is clear. Your safety is much more important than the General's safety.”
This was indeed a truthful answer.
Not many soldiers from the West Road knew about Ning Que's true identity. The reason why the General's Mansion was so concerned over his safety was also not because General Xia Hou knew about his identity as a secret guard and understood that he was on the order of the Emperor to spy on them, so he purposely distant him from his army. It was only for one simple reason.
There were over ten students from the Academy that were sent to the front line for practice. It was the Tang rule that these students must undergo real battles and fight in order to be trained up to standard. Thus, from the officials in the palace, to the generals in the frontier fortress, all of them would only treat these youngsters as average soldiers. However, Ning Que was not an average Academy student, he was a student from the Second floor of the Academy.
For all these years, no one from the Second floor of the Academy joined the troops for practice, except for Ning Que. As the core disciple of the Headmaster of Academy, if he were to get into trouble in the front line, or even if he were to just suffer from a small cut, everyone would be in deep trouble.
General Xia Hou might be spared from his Majesty, but wouldn't have the courage to face with the Headmaster of Academy's disappointment in him.
As such, from Chang'an to the frontier fortress at the wildness near the north of Yan Kingdom, Ning Que was not as free as he used to be in the field riding on the horse, instead, he was escorted by the West Road troops like an important person.
The Military camp was carefully taking care of his needs and ensuring his safety, and whether it's wine or meat, they would do their best to satisfy all his wants...except that they would never allow him to be near any danger. Hence, other than going around the frontier fortress to every military camp and showering his concerns to the Academy students like Chang Zhengming, he had nothing to do.
Looking at the cavalries that treated him in an attitude of respect, Ning Que couldn't help but sighed again and put his finger in his mouth to make a whistle. In the next moment, a big black horse came galloping from behind the meadow. Though there was a heap of luggage on its back, it was still able to gallop at a fast speed and its mouth was busily chewing. Though no one was sure what it was chewing that made it so happy since the grasses here on the meadow were all covered with frost.