Fifty miles south of Chang'an City.
This place is still within the scope of Chang'an City, but the surrounding area already looks like a rural village and is not as prosperous as Chang'an City. However, there are still many merchants on the customs road who are transporting goods to Chang'an City.
Now, in addition to the city of Chang'an, the outside world has also begun to prosper. Along the surrounding city walls, a lot of land has been utilized, and these places have also become markets outside the city.
Although the items sold are not expensive, many people in the city are willing to come out to buy things, mainly because these things are cheaper outside the city. If you are lucky, you can buy the same things for half the price.
"Feeling a little excited?"
Cheng Ying was now dressed as a young man, following Li Xiang. With the armor on, although it looked a bit strenuous, she didn't look like a woman.
"I used to go to the army quite often, but I never really went to the battlefield. And it seems that the army back then was different from the army now."
After joining this army, Cheng Ying's first feeling was that the army had changed, and the changes were very big. Take the guards around Li Xiang for example, they looked very strong, and most importantly, they had various weapons.
The Tang army was able to conquer the world and win wars in surrounding areas. If this army had not changed, it would have been impossible to achieve so many victories.
"Everything needs to develop. If we stand still, the Tang Dynasty won't be able to expand its territory, and there's a high possibility that our own land will be swallowed up by others. Take the swords they use, for example. They are so much more advanced than before. Although I don't approve of them engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy, if it really came to that, we could cut off their weapons with a single blow. What do you think our chances of winning are?"
The journey was very boring. The two men rode their horses as they moved forward. According to Li Xiang's plan for today, they had to walk at least 80 kilometers before they could rest. This was not a fast speed. If they were the soldiers under Huo Qubing, they would have no problem walking 200 kilometers a day.
But many people around were soldiers in Chang'an City, and many of them came from relatively wealthy families. After receiving the order this time, many of them still wanted to cheat, but Li Xiang's words stunned them. If anyone claimed to be sick at this time, he would immediately leave the army and be demoted to a commoner.
Although he is just an ordinary auxiliary soldier in the army now, at least he receives a salary from the court. If he leaves the army just like that, he will be the same as an ordinary citizen. How can he do this?
Although they are unwilling to go to the battlefield, they are even more unwilling to lose this identity. What's more, if they expand their thinking and follow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to the battlefield, there will basically be no danger, and they can also get a lot of benefits. The most important thing is that your merits will not be coveted by others. If you really have some merits on the battlefield in the future, it will be a glory for your family when you come back.
So these people made up their minds and followed Li Xiang to the southern battlefield to fight. Maybe they could win back a title, and then their descendants wouldn't have to worry for at least three generations.
"Your Highness, what you said makes sense. I wonder where I can follow Your Highness? I want to go to the real battlefield. You can't leave me in Nanzhao Kingdom, right?"
Cheng Ying said with some concern that if they stayed in Nanzhao Kingdom, they would be far away from the battlefield. Li Xiang did have this idea. Although Li Xiang respected women, he would never want his women to go to the battlefield. After all, swords and knives on the battlefield are blind. Even leaving a scar would be a lifelong regret.
However, after Cheng Ying walked for a while, he didn't find anything wrong for at least dozens of kilometers, which shows that his physical fitness is very good. In this case, let Cheng Ying follow him to the battlefield. Anyway, the place where he is is very safe. If he encounters any emergency, he can discuss it with Cheng Ying seeing his condition.
"For the first three days, we'll have to march a hundred and fifty miles every day. As long as you don't take the carriage and ride with me every day, and you can hold on, I'll take you wherever I go. But there's one thing I must say first: on the battlefield, you must obey me in everything."
After hearing what Li Xiang said, Cheng Ying nodded. Is this a big deal? When she was a child, she often rode on horseback. Although she hadn't ridden for a long time, she would never forget some skills.
In addition, this girl also had some little thoughts. If she stayed in the Nanzhao Royal City, she would not be able to accompany Li Xiang. After returning to the capital, it would be even more impossible for her to have Li Xiang. If she could be with Li Xiang more often, wouldn't her belly grow faster?
"That's no problem, but my two maids can only ride in a carriage. They are different from me."
Cheng Ying looked back and saw Li Xiang's carriage pulling behind him. Now, a wide cement road has been built from Chang'an City to Nanzhao Royal City. Li Xiang led the army forward, and the government offices along the way had closed the roads in different time periods, so that they could reach 150 miles a day.
"They haven't received this kind of training, so naturally they're not included in this kind of assessment. However, I have no choice but to leave them in Nanzhao City. If you follow me, you'll have to endure hardships along the way, and you'll have to do everything yourself."
After leaving the Nanzhao Royal City, Li Xiang could still guarantee safety with Cheng Ying alone. If he had a large group of maids and followers, would he really be going to the front line to fight? Li Xiang really felt that it would be inappropriate at that time.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. It's not like Ying'er hasn't suffered before, and I'm not really a young lady."
When Cheng Ying said this, there was inevitably a look of disappointment on her face. This was also very normal. When Cheng Yaojin's legitimate sons and daughters were not yet born, Cheng Ying's status in the family was still good. But when those legitimate sons and daughters were born, the illegitimate children naturally had to step back. This was not just the case with Cheng Yaojin's family, it was the same for every family.
"Don't worry. Aside from status, everything else is equal. You've been with me for quite some time, so you know how I behave."
We cannot decide on official positions in the court, but we must treat everyone equally in life.
