Chapter 55: The Most Comfortable Way to March

Li Ye looked in surprise at Princess Ruyue, who was clad in armor, looking entirely different from her usual gentle and delicate self.

Radiating a striking aura of valor, she was filled with commanding presence.

She was by no means inferior to Qin Qingxue, and perhaps even slightly surpassed her.

"Princess Ruyue, what is the meaning of this?"

Princess Ruyue smiled slightly. "I heard that Your Highness is leading an army on an expedition.

Coincidentally, I have grown quite bored staying in the capital, so I am taking this opportunity to follow Your Highness to the front lines and witness the battle."

"Are you out of your mind? You are a princess, the apple of the Prince of Equal Shoulders' eye.

If I take you into battle, won't the Prince of Equal Shoulders execute me upon our return?

Not to mention the talented young scholars of the capital, whose spittle alone could drown me."

Li Ye refused instantly, without the slightest hesitation.

Princess Ruyue had anticipated that Li Ye would respond this way and smiled triumphantly.

"Rest assured, how could following you on this campaign possibly cause you trouble?

Naturally, I have obtained my father's permission!"

"That still won't do! What if you get bruised or injured?

Besides, the enemy holds a massive advantage, and our chances of winning are slim.

Once we are defeated, the consequences will be unimaginable.

I cannot let you take such a huge risk!"

"Stop looking down on people!" Princess Ruyue put her hands on her hips, lifted her chin, and said proudly, "I have practiced martial arts with my father since childhood, and my cultivation has already reached the peak of the eighth rank.

Moreover, I have previously accompanied my father on military campaigns. As for the skill of killing enemies on the battlefield, I am no weaker than any of your generals."

Li Ye widened his eyes, looking up and down at Princess Ruyue in disbelief.

She wore form-fitting silver armor that accentuated her fine figure,

especially her slender waist, which could be spanned with a single grasp.

No matter how one looked at it, she did not resemble someone skilled in martial arts.

"What? Are you planning to have someone spar with me to see for yourself?"

"There's no need for that!" Li Ye shook his head.

The Prince of Equal Shoulders held immense authority within the military; no one would dare to lay a hand on Princess Ruyue.

Princess Ruyue pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Li Ye. "I knew you wouldn't believe me. This is a letter written in my father's own hand—see for yourself."

Li Ye took the letter and unfolded it to read.

The Prince of Equal Shoulders had actually entrusted his daughter to him.

Princess Ruyue said smugly, "Well? Do you believe it now?"

Li Ye wore a wry smile. "I honestly cannot understand. Staying in the capital is so wonderful, why on earth must you follow me to war?

Besides, the climate in the south is hot and humid, and it's not fun at all."

"Because it pleases me, and I simply want to see how you wage war!"

"Then you could easily go along with Qin Qingxue!"

"I would never tag along with them. Qin Qingxue and Shi Wushuang are together—how awkward would it be for me to trail behind them?"

"Fine! Since even the Prince of Equal Shoulders has agreed, what more can I say?

So be it, you may join the army's departure.

However, you must obey my commands and are not permitted to act on your own accord."

Li Ye said with a stern expression.

"Naturally. You are the supreme commander, and your word is law in all things!" Princess Ruyue agreed immediately.

She patted the sword at her waist and added, "With me here, I can guarantee your safety."

Ignoring her, Li Ye turned to the other generals and asked, "Are preparations complete?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, everything is ready!"

"Good, then let's set out!"

Having given the order, Li Ye stepped out of the command tent first.

Linyue, Xiaocui, and Princess Ruyue followed closely behind him.

Arriving at the assembly point, they found carriage after carriage neatly lined up.

At his command, all the soldiers boarded the carriages.

This left Princess Ruyue gaping in astonishment.

"What? What is the meaning of this?"

Li Ye explained, "On such a long journey, if the soldiers marched on foot, their bodies would be utterly exhausted long before we arrived.

Therefore, I had a large number of carriages hastily built overnight so the soldiers could ride in them.

Not only does this accelerate our travel speed, sparing the soldiers the fatigue of a forced march,

but most importantly, it saves a tremendous amount of provisions.

You could say it achieves multiple goals at once!"

Princess Ruyue was completely dumbfounded. Having campaigned with her father since she was young,

she had never witnessed such a method of troop movement.

"Well? Is this idea of mine passable?"

Seeing the shock on Princess Ruyue's face, Li Ye felt a surge of pride.

"The Sixth Highness's way of leading troops is certainly extraordinary! Still, this troop of soldiers is indeed impressive."

Li Ye and the others boarded a carriage as well and gave the order to advance.

Thus began the most effortless military march in the history of the Dayuan Dynasty.

All the soldiers, clad in armor and holding their weapons, chatted idly while riding in carriages to advance.

When they reached the city gate, Zhao Wudi was already waiting with ten thousand elite troops.

Upon seeing the massive procession of carriages rolling toward him, his eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

His brain simply stalled on the spot.

Zhao Wudi spurred his horse forward and asked, "Does Your Highness intend to transport the soldiers using this method?"

Sitting in his carriage, Li Ye nodded. "Indeed. Isn't traveling this way much more relaxing?"

"What Your Highness says is true, but..."

Zhao Wudi felt something was amiss, but could not put his finger on it for the moment.

"No need for buts! As long as it benefits the army, that's all that matters!"

"General Zhao!" Princess Ruyue waved at him in greeting.

Recognizing her identity, Zhao Wudi's eyes nearly bulged out again.

"Princess Ruyue? Why are you here too?"

"Naturally, I'm following the Sixth Highness to war!"

Zhao Wudi suddenly felt that his mind could no longer keep up.

What status did Princess Ruyue hold?

To let her follow the army into battle?

If word of this got out, wouldn't all the scholars in the capital throw a fit?

"Your Highness, is this really advisable?"

"It's a long story; I'll explain it slowly along the way! We've already wasted enough time, let the army move out," Li Ye commanded.

"Understood!" Zhao Wudi suppressed the doubts in his heart and acknowledged the order,

leading the army forward.

After half a day of marching, the troop gradually closed the distance with the main army.

After all, the five thousand main troops were mostly infantrymen traveling on foot.

The force led by Li Ye either rode horses or sat in carriages.

No matter how slowly the horses walked, they were still faster than a person's two legs.

Moreover, when the soldiers grew tired of sitting in the carriages, they would hop down and run alongside for a while, allowing the horses to get adequate rest.

The marching pace remained exceptionally steady, eliminating the need for prolonged rest stops.

By evening, the army began to make camp,

and Li Ye caught up with the main force.

He gave orders to pitch tents, build fires, and prepare meals.

At that moment, a merchant caravan arrived, laden with provisions, along with freshly slaughtered pigs and sheep,

which they delivered to the camp.

Zhao Wudi was deeply astonished at the sight.

He had never imagined that Li Ye would transport supplies in this manner.

As smoke rose from the cooking fires, the aroma of simmering meat filled the entire encampment,

drifting even into the camp of the main army.

The soldiers of the main force caught the scent of the meat and drooled with envy.

In her tent, Qin Qingxue also smelled the aroma of stewed meat and frowned.

With great displeasure, she reprimanded:

"Who authorized the stewing of meat? Bring the commander of the mess unit to me. If we eat like this on the very first day, how can our provisions possibly last?"

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, the scent is drifting over from the reserve army's camp; we are not stewing any meat here."