Chapter 161: The casualties of war 1 (2/2)

”Because I want to, plus I could offer medical help to the refugees and injured soldiers”

”But it could be dangerous, you could get injured”.

”And so could you, I can not let you go through this alone. Don't worry, I would get in your way”

Lu Yaozhu looked at her stubborn expression and sighed, ”okay”

**********

The next day, Lu Yaozhu and Su Liya left at daybreak, before leaving they stood just outside the city gates and underwent a short ritual in the Emperor's presence. Emperor Zhong sat at the tower by the gates until they were completely out of sight.

Every morning for the next four days Emperor Zhong often sat at the tower to see the soldiers off. Although they tried without end to keep the conditions at the borders under wraps, rumours began to spread. The frequency of recruitment and deployment of soldiers raised a lot of suspicions.

Emperor Zhong had people monitoring the situation at the borders, he was informed as soon as Lu Yaozhu arrived at Ningzhuo with his wife. The Narashi Warriors had just crossed the Frozen shark river a few hours after Lu Yaozhu arrived at Ningzhuo which would put them toughly three days away from the border.

Emperor Zhong folded threw the report his soy master sent into the fire and glanced at his chief eunuch Caihong. ”How are things with the Empress?”

Chief Eunuch Caihong understood the question his master was asking and replied, ”her highness has not been informed of the conditions at the borders”.

”Good, the last thing I want is for her to come charging in here. It is not my fault that her favourite nephew took such a risk. I can not be blamed for every bad decision he made.”

”General Lu is an adult, I am sure her highness would understand that you had no control over his choice”.

He raised his teacup high, ” here is to hoping that she does, meanwhile, keep an eye on the seaport. Although it seemed safe, I can not help but worry about the safety of the crown Prince”.

”Yes”

********

Meanwhile in a well-lit tent of the tiger claw camp of Droko tribes a few kilometres away from the southern borders of Northern Wei

A hairy muscular man dressed in a black half armour stood at the head of the squat shaped control table that contained a detailed map of the southern borders of Northern Wei when a soldier ran in with a letter from their contact at the southern seaport.

The man raised his hands and gestured for the other occupants of the room to keep silent. The other men didn't have to be told twice, they kept silent while the general read through the letter.

The Tiger claw troupe was part of the major forces of the Droko tribe and led by the king of Droko tribes nephew Prince Du. A giant-sized man of over 6 ft 5 popular for his massive beards.

Prince Du let out a hearty laugh as he rolled up the letter and threw it into the fire. His mean looked up expectantly, they had served him long enough to know that if getting a response like this from him wasn't easy. It had to be something interesting.

Prince Du picked up the jar of wine next to his hands and drank straight from the bottle, a few drops of the wine fell on his beards but he didn't take offence with that. ”Tell the men to drink and be merry tomorrow, we will give the silly Emperor a huge hit.”

”Yes!” His men chorused and left the room.

The next day, Prince Du led his elite troops after the Crown Prince of Northern Wei. He had come here out of duress but the prospect of ending the life of a spoiled near like the crown Prince made it worth the worry.

Zhongshan Cheng was ambushed on his way back to the seaport tower from a small farming village a short distance from the seaport. He had gone there to meet with his mother's former Nanny, he had a few questions about the events that occurred before his mother's death. The Nanny initially tried to refuse his demands but after he said a few words, she gave in and told him all he wished to know.

An arrow flew past his headache rode out of the village, knocking him out of his horse.