"Apricot village?" Yun Shang ordered loudly, "bring me the map."
The soldier quickly brought over the map and spread it out. Yun Shang looked around the Jingyang city and finally found the apricot village, but she was also surprised and get the soldier over. "You said that it's here?"
The soldier nodded and said, "yes, this is the place. When I arrived at the apricot village, I met my wife. She is from it."
Yun Shang put her hand on Yunjin mountain which stretched a long distance to her. Then it was Jing Mountain, Qi Mountain and the Apricot Village.
The soldier continued, "there is water in the cave. I remember there were several pools, no less than ten of which were as big as a pond although not many."
Yun Shang was glad to hear that. She asked Liu Hua to take the others out, leaving them alone the soldier who said he was once a hunter.
"What's your name?" The hunter kept his head down until he heard Yun Shang's words. When he raised his head and saw Yun Shang, he was stunned.
"her highness is asking you!" Qi Lang frowned and shouted.
The soldier immediately said, "Xiao Dabao, my name is Xiao Dabao."
Yun Shang smiled and nodded. "Now the army of our state is very likely to be trapped in the cave you said. You say you are very familiar with the Yunjin mountain. Could you lead the way for us later?"
When he heard this, a smile appeared on his face. "Yes, your highness."
Yun Shang told him to wait aside and said to Qi Lang, "if what Xiao Dabao has said is true, the army of Ning and the people shouldn't be in too much danger at this time. Prince Jing will house the people in the apricot Village, but it's not a permanent solution to hide in it. Now the army of the state of Xia has no food at all. They must make a quick decision. I think they won't be waiting for too long before they go up the mountain. If the Xia's army finds out the cave, we'll be in great danger. "
"But, if the cave leads to the apricot village, his royal highness may come out of it directly and bypasse the attack of the army of the state of Xia? If we go there to save them, it is very likely that the Xia's military will take action. With fewer people here, we might be... " Qi Lang frowned and said in a low voice.
Yun Shang shook her head, "no, his highness won't." Yun Shang smiled for a while and said, "I know his highness well. If all the two hundred thousand soldiers disappear from the Yunjin Mountain, the army of the state of Xia would suspect and so the cave cannot be concealed. Then the Xia's army will go directly from the cave to the apricot village, which will bring disaster to the people there. Moreover, the Xia's army can invade our state without any hindrance. He won't take such a risk."
Qi Lang thought for a while and realized that it was right. He nodded. "What should we do now, your highness?"
When she was thinking, Yun Shang suddenly stood straight and made a gesture of silence to the people around her. She bowed her head for a long time, raising the corners of her mouth slowly, "What a good news!"
"What's wrong, your highness?"
Yun Shang turned to look at the generals behind her and smiled. "My secret guards told me. Just as I expected, all Prince's soldiers are hiding in that cave. The prince said that we'd better not move now, and then the Xia's troops will be out of patience soon. If Xia's army wants to go up the mountain, they will have to put out the fire. Then, we will fight with them together."
The men exchanged glances with each other and nodded. "You are right, your highness." She then went down to tell the army to take a short rest and ordered her men to watch the scene on the opposite mountain.
About an hour later, the smoke on the mountain was reduced a little. Yun Shang's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light. "It seems that the army of the state of Xia can't wait any longer. We should prepare for it as well. All the soldiers should be divided into four groups as usual. Liu Hua and Wang Chong lead the troops from two sides of the Yunjin mountain. General Qi led the soldiers straight to the current military camp where they are now. There is no escape for them. I will go to the mountain and find the prince and his people.
The generals were quickly in position. Qian Yin walked to Yun Shang and said, "Your Highness, I'll be by your side this time. Please don't send me away." Yun Shang smiled and nodded. She got on the horse, took a look at Xiao Dabao standing next to her, and said to the vice general, "bring him a horse."
Xiao Dabao immediately knelt on one knee and said, "thank you, your highness."
Yun Shang smiled and said, "if you lead the way for us today, you have made great contributions. At that time, you will surely be rewarded."
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