“Thump, thump…”
The sound of horse hooves grew from distant to near.
At first, it was just like muffled thunder.
But very quickly, the sound echoed all around.
Faintly, it seemed even the ground was trembling along with it.
“We haven’t run into bandits again, have we?”
Du Heng glanced at Fan Qinghu, saying jokingly, “They aren’t coming to hunt you down, are they?”
“You’re really dreaming, you bastard!”
Fan Qinghu snorted, “This is clearly a large-scale cavalry!”
If these were bandits, how many would it take to make such a huge commotion!
“Hmm!”
Shen Jing nodded, “Listening to this commotion, it can only be large-scale cavalry activity.”
Hearing the commotion outside, Madam Su and You Rong also lifted the carriage curtain and poked their heads out.
“It couldn’t be that they’re coming for us, could it?”
Shen Jing asked Madam Su and You Rong with a smile.
“You think too highly of us.”
Su Yourong rolled her eyes at him, “Listening to this commotion, there are at least a thousand cavalry! If they were really coming for us, why would they need such a large force!”
A thousand cavalry coming for them?
Isn’t this clearly using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?
“Don’t scare yourselves.”
Madam Su smiled indifferently, then instructed, “Everyone, clear the main road, don’t block the way.”
At Madam Su’s instruction, everyone moved off the main road.
At the same time, the commotion in their ears grew louder and louder.
Accompanied by the sound of ten thousand horses galloping, the entire earth seemed to tremble.
Under their gaze, a dense mass of cavalry appeared in their line of sight.
Su Yourong’s eyelids twitched, and she turned to look at her mother, “It looks like the Suanni Iron Cavalry!”
“It is those killers!”
Madam Su nodded slightly, “It seems Prince Ji has already raised an army! They should be heading to Qu Prefecture!”
“What Iron Cavalry?”
Du Heng looked at Madam Su and You Rong with a bewildered expression, “Garlic Paste Iron Cavalry?”
What a terrible name!
Why not call them Sweet and Sour Iron Cavalry?
Hearing Du Heng’s words, Shen Jing immediately looked over with a dark expression, “I told you to read more, but you wouldn’t listen! Suanni Iron Cavalry! The divine beast Suanni!”
Garlic Paste Iron Cavalry?
He really could come up with that!
“Yes, it’s the Suanni Iron Cavalry!”
Su Yourong explained, “This is one of the three most elite cavalry forces of our Great Zhou, named because the heart-protecting mirror on their chest is in the image of the divine beast Suanni…”
The Suanni Iron Cavalry, the Longxiang Imperial Guards, and the Yan Yun Swift Cavalry.
These three cavalry forces are the three most elite cavalry forces of Great Zhou.
As for individual strength, the Longxiang Imperial Guards, who belong to the Imperial Guards, are naturally the strongest.
However, the selection for the Longxiang Imperial Guards is extremely strict, not only considering horsemanship and martial arts but also family background.
Therefore, the number of Longxiang Imperial Guards is not large, reportedly only around five hundred.
The strongest overall force is the Yan Yun Swift Cavalry, who have long defended against foreign enemies in Yan Yun’s two prefectures.
The Yan Yun Swift Cavalry are not only brave and skilled in battle but also numerous.
The Suanni Iron Cavalry, on the other hand, belong to the Left Warlord Army, and together with the Right Warlord Army, they guard the capital, their nature being between Imperial Guards and border troops.
The Suanni Iron Cavalry is also the only elite cavalry among the three elite cavalry forces that can be mobilized for different missions.
However, the number of Suanni Iron Cavalry is also not very large, probably around three thousand.
If a real battle were to break out, the Longxiang Imperial Guards and the Suanni Iron Cavalry combined would likely not be a match for the Yan Yun Swift Cavalry.
While Su Yourong was telling them about the situation of these three elite cavalry forces, the dense mass of cavalry had already approached them.
These cavalrymen were clad in black armor, carried lances, and had sabers at their waists, each with two horses.
Even though they were just marching normally, they exuded a powerful sense of oppression.
Looking at these majestic cavalrymen, Shen Jing couldn’t help but feel secretly envious.
Having lived two lives, this was his first time seeing such a large-scale cavalry.
A thousand cavalry, it didn’t sound like many, but when they truly galloped past his eyes, the shock was simply indescribable.
Damn it!
If only he could swap his horse with one of these cavalry horses!
While Shen Jing was lost in thought, a cavalry general in black armor suddenly subconsciously glanced in their direction.
After a closer look, the general spurred his horse towards them and observed them from a distance of several feet.
“What are you looking at?”
Madam Su directly stepped down from the carriage and glared angrily at the general who was staring at them, “Ning Ji, you brat, you don’t even recognize your old mother, do you?”
It really was them!
Ning Ji’s expression tightened, and he quickly called a messenger, whispering, “Pass the order, everyone is to take a detour, and do not get too close to these people ahead!”
Damn it!
They were going to suppress a rebellion!
Meeting their mother and daughter on the way was probably an inauspicious sign!
After instructing the messenger, Ning Ji quickly dismounted, and from a few feet away, saluted Madam Su, “Your nephew Ning Ji greets my aunt!”
As Ning Ji saluted, a large number of cavalry left the main road they were facing and detoured across the grassland on one side of the road.
It felt as if there were ghosts in the middle of the main road!
Seeing this, Madam Su’s face suddenly fell, “If you’re going to detour, detour further! Don’t let our bad luck rub off on you two!”
“Aunt, please don’t misunderstand.”
Ning Ji looked embarrassed and said with a forced smile, “Your nephew is afraid that the dust raised by the army will dirty…”
“Alright! You don’t need to explain, I know very well what you’re thinking!”
Madam Su interrupted Ning Ji impatiently, not moving forward, and asked from a few feet away, “Are you going to Qu Prefecture? Has Prince Ji raised an army?”
“Yes!”
Ning Ji nodded in reply, “Prince Ji rebelled in Qu Prefecture four days ago, and your nephew has been ordered to lead two thousand men to reinforce! The military situation is urgent, your nephew cannot stay long, please forgive me, Aunt!”
“Go, go!”
Madam Su waved her hand impatiently, then reminded Ning Ji, “Swords have no eyes on the battlefield, be extra careful yourself! Don’t get hurt and then blame it on the bad luck from us two!”
“No such thing! If your nephew gets hurt, I won’t blame anyone, only myself for not being skilled enough!”
Ning Ji gave a dry laugh, bowed, and said, “Your nephew takes his leave.”
With that, Ning Ji quickly mounted his horse.
“Wait!”
Just as Ning Ji was about to spur his horse and leave, Shen Jing suddenly called out to him.
Under Ning Ji’s puzzled gaze, Shen Jing walked up to Su Yourong, put his arm around her, and kissed her as if no one else was around.
Watching this scene unfold, Ning Ji was stunned.
Who was this young man?
How dare he act so intimately with Su Yourong?
Was he not afraid of losing his life?
Or did he simply not know about Su Yourong’s situation?
When their lips parted, Shen Jing turned to look at Ning Ji, “My name is Shen Jing, and I am Su Yourong’s husband!”
Husband?
Ning Ji’s eyes suddenly widened.
Su Yourong got married?
This time, had they finally met someone with a strong fate?
After a brief moment of distraction, Ning Ji recovered, looked at Shen Jing with admiration, and said with a double meaning, “You are a real man, I’ll remember you! I hope we’ll have a chance to drink together!”
With that, Ning Ji suddenly squeezed his horse’s belly and spurred his horse away.
Watching Ning Ji leave, Shen Jing couldn’t help but sigh.
Prejudice in people’s hearts is a great mountain.
So many elite cavalry, yet they chose to detour because of Su Yourong’s reputation as a husband-killer?
That sounded utterly ridiculous!
If they played like this, during a war, if Su Yourong just stood there, would the enemy army all retreat three steps?