Chapter 1425: Chapter 1426: General An Returns

But because Great General Ma Da Gong was too cruel, the soldiers were afraid of being killed by him on the spot. So, like the other soldiers, they dared not mention this and expressed that they didn’t know.

…

Elsewhere, as dawn broke, An Jing and Li Wuyu finally emerged from the mountains.

However, because Chilin’s patrols were at the border, An Jing and Li Wuyu hid at the base of the mountain and did not immediately return to the city.

Once one wave of patrols passed, and before the next wave arrived, An Jing and Li Wuyu hurriedly ran in the direction of Xilin City.

“General An has returned! Quickly open the gates!” Luo Fengsheng, the guarding general on the city wall, shouted as soon as he saw An Jing.

After shouting, he also instructed someone to quickly notify Xiao Changyi that An Jing had returned.

At the same time, Luo Fengsheng hurriedly descended from the city wall.

As soon as An Jing entered Xilin City, she ran into Luo Fengsheng. She clasped her hands in salute and asked, “General Luo, how are things in the city these past two days?”

“All’s well.”

“And the Great General?”

“The Great General left the city and went to the military camp early this morning. This General has already sent someone to inform the Great General of your return.”

“Thank you!”

“Deputy General Ye and the female soldiers all returned safely, right?”

“They’ve all returned. Some were injured to varying degrees, but Doctor Zhu has seen to them all, and it’s nothing serious.”

“Doctor Zhu attended to them? What about Gong Juechen, the military doctor?” An Jing immediately sensed something was amiss. Although Gong Juechen was the military doctor, he was strictly assigned to the women’s military camp. Yet now, despite the women being injured, another military doctor had tended to them. It was very peculiar.

Luo Fengsheng replied, “Military Doctor Gong violated military orders and left the camp without permission. He was given twenty lashes as punishment and is currently recovering at the posthouse in the city.”

An Jing was stunned. “What did he leave the camp for?”

“Apparently, he was worried Deputy General Ye was in danger, so he went into the mountains to search for her. After he returned, the Great General punished him with twenty lashes in accordance with military law.” Originally, Luo Fengsheng didn’t know that An Jing and the others had gone into the mountains. However, yesterday when he personally led a patrol to the border, he saw Tobanya and her group coming out of the mountains and deduced that An Jing and the others had been there as well.

After pausing briefly, Luo Fengsheng continued, “But it was also thanks to him going into the mountains. Deputy General Ye’s group encountered a landslide, and Deputy General Ye was buried under the earth. If not for his timely efforts to dig her out, Deputy General Ye might have already perished.”

An Jing was startled. “Where is Deputy General Ye now?”

“General An, there is no need for concern. Deputy General Ye is doing well now and is taking care of Military Doctor Gong at the posthouse.”

An Jing nodded, feeling considerably relieved. Seeing Moon Stepping not far away, An Jing let out a whistle, and Moon Stepping galloped toward her.

“General Luo, I’ll leave the city defense to you. We’ll head to the posthouse first.” Riding Moon Stepping with Li Wuyu, An Jing clasped her hands again in salute toward Luo Fengsheng before riding off toward the posthouse.

Her husband was also staying at the posthouse.

And she was staying there with him.

She also brought the ten female soldiers and Ye Zhi into Xilin City rather than stationing them outside the city.

Strictly speaking, Gong Juechen belonged to the women’s military camp, so naturally, he was stationed inside Xilin City with them.

However, without an order from Xiao Changyi, the Great General, Gong Juechen had left Xilin City on his own. This was as serious as leaving camp without authorization. It was no wonder Xiao Changyi had punished him with twenty lashes.

If there were no punishment, it would be impossible to maintain authority and discipline.

Thinking of this, An Jing became a little worried. Her husband had ordered the punishment on Gong Juechen. Given Gong Juechen’s personality, he likely wouldn’t take it to heart, but Ye Zhi might hold a grudge over it.