Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times-Chapter 659 - 503: Two Kings March Out from Liuzhou_2

Over seven hundred people in the troop—neither a large nor a small number—startled those early risers who were preparing to set up their stalls when the army passed by.

"Is that... is that Prince Mu and Prince Changsheng?"

"Didn’t they just have the bride-pride ceremony yesterday? Why have the two of them left the city so early? They seem to be in a rush!"

"Could something have happened? Those accompanying them, aren’t they Prince Changsheng’s personal guards? Look at that fierce demeanor; it’s terrifying..."

"I haven’t heard of any issues though. Yesterday’s bride-pride ceremony went perfectly smoothly. What could possibly go wrong?"

"..."

The crowd’s bafflement grew and by dawn, Liuzhou City was abuzz.

A king’s decree suddenly appeared at the entrance to the City Lord’s Mansion.

"Prince Changsheng’s son, the little Prince Yaoyao, has been abducted. Prince Mu and Prince Changsheng have set off for the Southern Border. The affairs of the Liuzhou Region will be managed by Mr. Ban Shan! This..."

"Setting off? Prince Mu’s million-strong army is still stationed outside Liuzhou City. How can the two princes set off?"

"Did they really set off just with the few hundred men from Prince Changsheng’s guards?"

"That is the Southern Border! A barbaric territory! When Prince Mu first campaigned in the Southern Border amidst its internal strife, he led a million-strong army to seize the opportunity to win. Now things are not the same! To go with so few men—is that not courting death?"

"Amitabha, may the heavens protect, and bless the two princes with a victorious return, and keep the little prince safe and sound..."

"..."

The turbulence in Liuzhou City was swiftly suppressed by Mr. Ban Shan’s decisive actions. With a million troops stationed in Liuzhou, even disturbances in the Capital City could not shake Liuzhou City in the slightest!

The entire city was anxious and hopeful, only wishing for the safe return of the two who had set out.

The journey from Liuzhou City southwards to the Southern Border was more than a thousand miles, involving mountainous terrains and arduous paths. Even as Gu Changsheng and his troops marched quickly, the journey took a considerable amount of time.

Along the way, despite many objections, Gu Changsheng still insisted on cutting his wrist and bleeding every few days, storing the blood for his subordinates to carry.

Each time, Zhou Mu’s face would darken considerably.

"Reporting to your lordship, if we continue forward, we will soon enter the territory of Bashu. The water flows rapidly in Sichuan, and the suspension bridges are extremely dangerous. If the army wishes to pass, it is essential to ensure no abnormalities at the other end of the bridge! " a vanguard soldier reported, riding fast on a lone horse.

On hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s eyes deepened; to reach the Southern Border, passing through Bashu was a necessity.

The people of Bashu were skilled in witchcraft, and it was the homeland of the girl Tan Nv.

Thinking of Tan Nv who was still in a coma back in Liuzhou City, he wondered how she was now; however, with the careful attention from the people in the mansion, she was likely safe.

"The path through Sichuan is more challenging than reaching the blue skies. It has been 48,000 years, unable to communicate with the Central Plains! The territory of Bashu is the most dangerous place for military expeditions, with natural barriers everywhere. Although the Lord of Bashu provides tribute annually, it essentially operates as an independent nation, having always kept its distance from the Central Plains. For us to lead troops through Bashu will not be easy!" Zhou Mu said gravely, looking at the Geomancy Map on the table.

Frowning, Gu Changsheng approached the Geomancy Map, leaned over to take a closer look, and pointed, "Across the great river of Sichuan stands Jinchuan City of Bashu, so boldly built at the border. If we are to cross Sichuan, we must ensure that the people in Jinchuan City do not interfere!"

On hearing this, everyone’s face grew solemn.

"That’s easier said than done. Bashu functions as an independent nation and has deep ties with the Southern Border going back generations. If we march our army there, they would hardly let us pass easily," Zhou Mu said with concern.

By the time the troops reached the border of Bashu, they were on the far southwestern edge of Great Zhou’s territory. From thereon, with high mountains and treacherous roads, every step had to be taken with great caution; one misstep could lead to the entire army’s destruction!

"Gu Changsheng, aren’t your soldiers adept at disguises? Why not dress up as traveling merchants to sneak past Bashu?" Borjigin Nian suggested with a blink of her profound eyes.

"Princess Nian, you jest. The army might be able to disguise itself and pass through, but what about the supplies? Weapons, bows, arrows, provisions—how could we sneak those past? Do you think the people of Bashu are fools?" Yuan Bao scoffed from the side.

Lady Changsheng often said Yuan Bao was foolish and dimwitted, but he thought Princess Nian was not much smarter than him!

"So what do we do? People and weapons must pass through Bashu, but a single suspension bridge can stop us. Are we supposed to just stop there?" On hearing this, Borjigin Nian spoke sheepishly, "We’ve been traveling for over two months just to reach the border of Bashu, and the Southern Border is still so far away... how much longer must we travel?"

As Borjigin Nian spoke, she ungracefully rubbed her bottom; the journey had mostly been on horseback, and her bottom was nearly worn out!

She would have to shamelessly ask Gu Changsheng for some medicine to apply; it was truly unbearable!

Gu Changsheng, hearing this, looked up from the Geomancy Map, catching Borjigin Nian’s little action, and shook his head slightly.

Even though Borjigin Nian was not as pampered as other imperial relatives and nobles, she was still of royal descent. Even though she had traveled to various countries in search of handsome men, those were leisurely tours, nothing compared to a military expedition.

"The suspension bridge of Sichuan spans over twenty miles, the water beneath flows rapidly, with cliffs on both sides. One small slip would mean irreversible doom, falling into an abyss. Even if the army could move quickly in the Dark Night, it would take half an hour to cross the bridge; if those guarding the bridge were to make any sudden moves, they would be trapped on the bridge with no options left, facing certain death!" Gu Changsheng indicated on the Geomancy Map, speaking gravely, "I cannot let them take this risk!"

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