What Ning Chen was proposing really wasn't according to the regulations.

When a general was in the field, his family had to stay in the capital... To put it bluntly, they were hostages.

But Prince Wu and Princess Consort Wu were devoted to each other, and Ning Chen had decided that once she'd given birth, he would send her to join Prince Wu.

Ning Chen had never given the hostage question a thought.

They'd fought side by side for so long that he trusted Prince Wu's character.

It was also confidence in his own strength... A bird settles on a branch not because it trusts the branch, but because it trusts its own wings.

Ning Chen smiled. "Don't worry. I'll ask Her Majesty about it. There shouldn't be a problem!"

Prince Wu said gratefully, "Thanks!"

Ning Chen smiled. "What's there to thank me for? We're family."

Prince Wu blinked, then gave a small nod. "That's right, we're family... When are you planning to set out?"

Ning Chen thought for a moment. "In the next few days. I'll take some of the men with me to the Wu Kingdom... Yuan Long will lead the Ning'an Army back to the capital to start moving troops into position for retaking the eastern frontier.

Apart from the Ning'an Army, I'm leaving you every man I brought this time.

Prince Wu, things on the western frontier have just begun to improve. You have to be extra careful. Keep a close eye on the new officials. The western frontier and its people can't take any more abuse."

Prince Wu nodded. "Don't worry. I understand!"

A few days later, Ning Chen set out with Pan Yucheng and the others, and Wu Tiezhu brought along two hundred Ning'an Army soldiers as an escort. They headed straight for the Wu Kingdom.

The Wu Kingdom lay to the northwest of the Great Xuan.

So it wasn't really far from the western frontier to the Wu Kingdom... though it wasn't exactly close either.

Travel in this world was primitive. Anywhere you went was a long way.

The spring cold had a…