In Dongling, there was no precedent of an unmarried woman becoming a female general.
In fact, Ming Ruonan was not the only female general in Dongling. However, almost all of them had married first, followed their husbands to the battlefield, and only earned the title of general after winning military achievements alongside them.
Even then, the public still referred to them as "Lady So-and-so." Only within the ranks of the army would the soldiers address them as "General."
Chapter 171