"Brother Liang, Mu Lan's current condition is definitely not suitable for leading a team to suppress bandits anymore."
Jin Feng turned to look at Zhang Liang: "I'll discuss it with her later. If she is willing to hand over the military talisman, you will temporarily lead the bandit suppression team."
"Is this possible?" Zhang Liang hesitated.
Since ancient times, dispatching troops and generals has been a major event, so in Zhang Liang's mind, military symbols are very sacred things.
"I'll go ask, I guess it's not a big problem." Jin Feng replied.
To a certain extent, the Changxin Army and the Qingyuan Army were the private armies of the Qing family, otherwise Nishikawa Mu would not have mobilized them so easily to suppress the bandits.
This also illustrates from the side the extent of Dakang's emphasis on culture over military affairs and the degree of corruption.
Nishikawa Mu just took the initiative to mobilize thousands of troops under the banner of Zhenyuan Escort Bureau.
If nothing else happens, Chen Ji in the palace may never know about this in his lifetime.
After explaining the matter of apprehending Mr. Feng, Jin Feng walked out of the tent and walked up to Qing Mulan.
At this time, Qing Mulan no longer looked as cheerful as usual. She hadn't washed her face for several days, her hair was messy, and she looked very embarrassed.
And until Jin Feng walked up to him, he didn't notice it and was still in a daze.
Seeing Qing Mulan like this, Jin Feng couldn't help but sigh slightly.
Everyone's growth requires time and sufficient training, and Qing Mulan is no exception.
Before this, she was just an armchair military enthusiast. This was her first time officially leading an army. Who knew she would meet an opponent like Mr. Feng?
Jin Feng knew that Qing Mulan was a proud person, and this failure was a huge blow to her.
If you get through it, you will definitely make great progress.
But if you can't handle it, you will probably become completely depressed. Then, like most rich ladies of this era, your parents will decide to marry a well-matched young man from a rich family, and you will be locked up in a deep house and compound from then on.
It is not easy to meet someone who dares to speak out for women among the children of a wealthy family. Jin Feng does not want to give up Qing Mulan so easily.
But it was impossible to spare her any favors.
Otherwise, it will not only break the rules, but also chill the hearts of the families of the sixty bodyguards who died in the battle, as well as the hearts of the remaining bodyguards.
After thinking for a moment, Jin Feng lightly kicked Qing Mulan: "Hey, I'm back!"
"First...sir!"
Qing Mulan was startled. She looked up and saw Jin Feng. She was a little helpless and pushed her hair back from her forehead.
"Are you going to just sit here and be in a daze?"
Jin Feng waved to Amei next to him and asked her to help him move a stone.
"Sir, am I useless?"
Qing Mulan rubbed her hair and said with guilt on her face: "You used so few people to wipe out the entire bandits in Jinchuan, and not a few people died. I have more than a thousand people here, as well as the heavy crossbows you supported.
, catapult, the result..."
Speaking of this, Qing Mulan, who had always been strong, choked up and became speechless.
"Mu Lan, you did make an irreparable mistake this time," Jin Feng said in a lighter tone and continued: "Everyone makes mistakes, and so did I. I made the mistake of underestimating the enemy.
After wiping out the bandits in Jinchuan, I thought that the bandits were just a bunch of local chickens and dogs and did not attract enough attention. I knew that you had never commanded a battle before, but I still handed over a team of 5,000 people to you at once."
This is not to comfort Qing Mulan, but also Jin Feng's own reflection.
This time he really underestimated the enemy. He forgot how long he had been planning and how much thought he had put into dealing with the bandits in Jinchuan.
This is enough to deal with bandits in one county, but Qing Mulan has to deal with bandits in the entire Xichuan, so the difficulty can be imagined.
"Sir, you trusted me and that's why you gave me the team."
Qing Mulan shook her head blaming herself and said: "It's all my fault, I'm useless..."
"What's the point of talking about this now? Can your apology help A Qin and the others come back to life?"
"The mistake has been made. Now I give you two choices. You can choose for yourself."
"First, let the Qingyuan Army and Changxin Army return to their respective camps, and this bandit suppression operation will be stopped."
"Second, the bandit suppression team is temporarily under the command of Brother Liang. You go back and follow the rules of the Zhenyuan Escort Bureau and accept your punishment!"
Jin Feng thought Qing Mulan would think about it, but as soon as he finished speaking, Qing Mulan immediately replied: "Sir, I accept the punishment!"
"You have to think carefully. Last time Da Zhuang made a command mistake, which resulted in the death of the escort, but he was fined twenty military sticks. Your mistake this time is much more serious than Da Zhuang's. I estimate that he will be fined at least forty military sticks.
"
Jin Feng asked: "Dazhuang was injured last time, so there was no punishment for the time being. You can take good care of yourself now. Once you accept the punishment, it will be implemented immediately. Have you thought about it."
"Forty military sticks?!"
Before Qing Mulan could speak, Amei was reluctant: "Sir, you can't! If you hit her with a forty army stick, the lady will be beaten to death! Mr. Zhou Mu will not agree to it!"
"If you can't, just take your people and get back here!"
Jin Feng turned to look at Amei, and his voice suddenly rose a few degrees: "Zhenyuan Escort Agency only has escorts, not young ladies!"
"This slave is willing to accept the punishment for the young lady!"
When Amei saw that Jin Feng was really angry, she quickly cupped her fists and begged for mercy.
"Amei, stop talking." Qing Mulan pulled Amei: "Everyone is responsible for what they do, and you have to bear the mistakes you make!"
"Miss..." Amei, who had always been calm, was so anxious that her eyes were red.
Forty military sticks are easy to say, but if they really hit you, most people really can't bear it.
"I'll give you one night to think about it, and give me an answer tomorrow morning."
"Sir, I have already made my choice, there is no need to think about it."
Qing Mulan's tone gradually became firmer: "My father has taught me since I was a child that I have to admit when I'm wrong. Even if my husband doesn't let me stay in Xihewan, I will return to Xichuan after receiving the punishment."
Jin Feng took another deep look at Qing Mulan, turned around and left without saying anything else.
That night, Qing Mulan did not go back to the tent, but went to the tent where the bodyguard's body was placed, and stood outside the tent holding a black knife to keep vigil for the bodyguard who died in the battle.
At eight or nine o'clock, a dull thunder suddenly sounded in the sky, and then it started to rain.
It was already late autumn and the night was already very cold, but no matter what Amei tried to persuade, Qing Mulan did not go back.
Amei had no choice but to find an umbrella to hold for her.
But the wind picked up again at night, and no matter how careful Amei was, Qing Mulan's legs were still wet from the rain.
Jin Feng did not try to dissuade him and allowed Qing Mulan to stand in the rain all night.
The autumn rain never stops once it starts. The next morning, the heavy rain still did not stop, and Qing Mulan was still standing in the rain.
Now Jin Feng was a little worried.
Taking advantage of the clear sky in the middle of the morning, I immediately arranged for Liu to prepare for his return journey.
Amei let out a long sigh of relief when she got the news of her return.
In recent days, Qing Mulan had not eaten or slept well. If she had been wet for another day, she would have been knocked down by the cold without waiting for the military stick.
Just as he was about to inform Qing Mulan, a pigeon landed on Amei's shoulder.
There was also a small note tied with oilcloth to the pigeon's leg.
Amei took off the small note, unfolded it and took a look, her expression suddenly changed.
He hurried to Qing Mulan: "Miss, His Highness is coming!"