Chapter 201: Chapter 165 The Battlefield is Not a Place for Pleasurei

Translator: 549690339

After hearing Wu Junwan’s words, Chai Jiliang also felt there was some truth to them and immediately responded, “Princess Junwan’s speculation is not without reason, however, the North Prince is the God’s Son of the Mysterious Moon Palace. It’s highly likely that the Palace Master of the Mysterious Moon Palace went to North City for this reason.”

Wu Junwan walked to the center of the great hall and gazed at the light rain drifting outside the hall before saying, “Mr. Chai, do you really think the God’s Son matters that much to the Mysterious Moon Palace? In my view, as long as Chu Yue, the Goddess, is alive, the North Prince can be considered the God’s Son. If Chu Yue were to die, then to the Mysterious Moon Palace, the North Prince would just be an ordinary Prince.”

“If the Mysterious Moon Palace still acknowledges the North Prince as the God’s Son, then it can only mean that the North Prince possesses something the Mysterious Moon Palace wants to obtain.”

“Something that a superpower nation and the Mysterious Moon Palace both want, Mr. Chai, aren’t you curious as to what it could be?”

The superpower that Wu Junwan was referring to was evidently the mysterious nation that had provided the North City with fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry. A country that could produce fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry in a flash and was willing to back the North Prince with them must undoubtedly possess formidable strength.

They should know, even their martially esteemed Great Wu Dynasty didn’t have fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry, so it was no exaggeration for that mysterious nation to be termed a superpower.

Upon hearing Wu Junwan’s analysis, Chai Jiliang pondered deeply for a long time.

Wu Junwan continued, “I am now even more curious as to what value the North Prince holds. It seems I must arrange for some people to go to North City.”

As she spoke, Wu Junwan glanced at Chai Jiliang and then asked, “Mr. Chai, do you have anything else?”

Upon hearing Wu Junwan’s mature and gentle voice, Chai Jiliang instantly snapped back to reality and quickly replied, “This official has nothing further.”

“This official will take his leave now.”

Having said that, Chai Jiliang turned and left.

Watching Chai Jiliang’s retreating figure, Wu Junwan seemed to be lost in thought.

After Chai Jiliang had left the great hall, a maid spoke up beside Wu Junwan, “Princess Junwan, this servant heard that Mr. Chai recently turned down another marriage proposal.”

Wu Junwan said indifferently, “Too talkative.”

Seeing that Wu Junwan seemed angry, the maid quickly shut her mouth.

At that moment, Wu Junwan murmured to herself, “I truly envy the Yue Emperor, I wonder when I will be able to be like her.”

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

Lu Chen had been waiting in Tianguang City for a month and had lost more than ten pounds.

He had never had to wait this long for anyone before.

Though Lu Chen was a Prince, and his treatment was better than that of an ordinary soldier, the conditions in Tianguang City couldn’t compare to Yan County. Furthermore, the road between Tianguang City and Yan County was difficult, and after the snowfall, transporting supplies became even more challenging.

The food, amenities, and lodging in Tianguang City couldn’t compare to those in Yan County, but fortunately, Lu Chen was adept at adapting to his environment.

Moreover, he was, after all, a Prince who had led his troops on a mission; if he complained about the poor conditions, what battles would they fight in the future?

At this moment, Lu Chen was warming himself by a stove, examining this stove that had been sent from Yan County.

Mu Jingwu said, “Prince, this subordinate has heard that some common folks were picking up black rocks to burn instead of firewood, but the next day they were found poisoned to death at home. Are we really going to use these black stones as a substitute for firewood?”

What was burning inside the stove was treated coal that the craftsmen had processed. Although Lu Chen was no longer in Yan County, he had made arrangements for his work at the North Prince Mansion.

The making of stoves and the mining of coal were activities that commenced after Lu Chen left Yan County.

As for coal, people in this world didn’t understand it and still thought it was stone. Now, the citizens of Yan County referred to coal as black rock.

At first, the common people didn’t know that black rocks could be ignited.

Half a month ago, the Prince’s Mansion introduced a kind of fuel and stove called “coal,” which could burn all night once ignited.

Ever since these specially made stoves and coal became available, people hardly needed to get up at night to add wood to their braziers. The coal and stoves from the North Prince Mansion quickly became popular throughout North City, and then some common people discovered that the material used to make coal was black rock.

Thinking to save wherever possible, some commoners quietly started using black rocks as fuel, only to result in many of them being poisoned to death by the fumes produced by the burning rocks.

This also caused some common people to worry whether coal might also poison to death.

Although the North Prince Mansion had already posted notices explaining to the common people that coal had been treated with certain substances to remove the poisonous materials and also reminding everyone to maintain ventilation, there were still those who dared not use coal.

It wasn’t just the common people—some officials in North City were also afraid to use coal, including Mu Jingwu standing before me.

After hearing what Mu Jingwu had said, Lu Chen responded, “Captain Mu, hasn’t the Prince’s Mansion already issued notifications detailing the precautions for using coal? Why do you still harbor a psychological aversion to coal?”

Mu Jingwu replied, “I just feel that the smoke from the burning coal is irritating to the nose and might be harmful to the body.”

Lu Chen said indifferently, “That is normal. The coal briquettes we are using are very different from ordinary black rocks. The toxic gases released upon burning these briquettes have been greatly reduced. As long as ventilation is maintained, there won’t be any problems.”

“North City will rely on what you call black rocks to get through the winters from now on. You all need to get used to them quickly. If even you officials are afraid to use coal, how could the common people dare to use it?”

Mu Jingwu said sheepishly, “What the Prince says is true.”

Just then, Xiao Pengthian entered the room, “Prince, Yan County has sent a few maidservants over, saying they have come to take care of you.”

Lu Chen, being a Prince, held a prestigious status and was not like ordinary people. Some in the North Prince Mansion feared that Lu Chen might suffer hardships in Tianguang City, so they had specifically sent some maidservants to care for his daily needs.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen’s brows furrowed.

While their concern was certainly a good thing,

he was currently leading troops in battle—how could he indulge in such special treatment? He immediately said, “Send them back, tell them the Prince needs no one to look after him.”

This…

Mu Changtian interjected from the side, “Prince, after all, you are a Prince, and the conditions in Tianguang City are harsh. How could you be without someone to take care of you?”

Lu Chen said sternly, “This is a battlefield, not a place for pleasure-seeking. Nobody should seek special treatment, not even the Prince.”

Even though Bai Qingqing had been by Lu Chen’s side throughout the month, he had not once touched her.

If he had been in the rear, in Yan County, he could do as he pleased, but not on the battlefield. Lu Chen had plans to reform the military camps in the future, and if the Prince himself behaved inappropriately at the front line, other officers would follow suit.

If the officers followed his example, the soldiers might well be led astray, so no matter how much Lu Chen restrained himself, he would not touch Bai Qingqing.

Seeing Lu Chen’s serious expression, Mu Changtian couldn’t help but feel a certain admiration for him.

It was no small feat for someone as fond of pleasure as Lu Chen to have abstained from women for so long in Tianguang City.

Military discipline in the Great Sum army had always been rather poor, and it was much the same with the armies of other great dynasties.

After a moment of surprise, Xiao Pengthian immediately said, “I will send them back right away.”

Thereupon, Xiao Pengthian turned and left.

At that moment, Lu Chen addressed those in the room, “Remember my words, from today onward, there must be no women like military prostitutes in the camps at the front lines. After the war, when the soldiers return to the rear, they can do as they please. But at the front, everyone must behave themselves.”