The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 443 His Majesty's flesh and blood, descendants of the Han Dynasty, must not be dishonored.
In early summer, Chengdu was unusually quiet after a failed coup attempt.

Li Zhi sat calmly in the main hall of the Wu Prince's Mansion, which originally belonged to Liu Yong, playing with a jade seal in his hand.

"Young master, Liu Yong has been settled in the west courtyard and is heavily guarded."

Cheng Wu bowed and reported, "But he keeps roaring all day long, saying that he must see the young master."

Li Zhi chuckled softly:
"What is the point of talking about bravery when the generals of a defeated army are defeated? There's no need to pay them any mind."

He put down the jade seal, picked up paper and pen, and said, "The most urgent task is to deal with the hidden danger of Deng Ai."

He wrote a letter and handed it to his personal guards:

"Send this urgent message to General Jiang Wei in Zitong."

At this time, in Zitong City, Jiang Wei was discussing military affairs with Wei Yan.

Both were quite shocked to hear of the changes in Chengdu.

"Boyue, is this true?"

Wei Yan slammed his fist on the table and stood up, "Is Liu Yong really plotting a rebellion?"

Jiang Wei finished reading Li Zhi's letter with a solemn expression:
"Wenchang, Young Master Li said in his letter that Liu Yong has been captured alive."

"But Deng Ai led his troops to flee to Mianzhu, which may cause future troubles."

"We hope that we will send troops to annihilate them immediately."

Wei Yan laughed loudly:

"Alright, alright! What are we waiting for? Let's set off right now!"

Wei Yan was eager to make a name for himself and was impatient to send troops out.

Jiang Wei pondered for a moment and said:
"However... without an imperial edict, if we send troops without authorization, I'm afraid..."

"Bojo is overthinking it!"

Wei Yan disagreed, saying, "Suppressing rebellions is the duty of a subject."

"To stand idly by and do nothing would be a grave crime!"

Jiang Wei finally made up his mind: "Good! Immediately muster the troops and march on Mianzhu!"

Thirty thousand Han troops marched out of Zitong and headed straight for Mianzhu.

When the news reached Mianzhu, Deng Ai was training his troops at the drill ground.

"General! Jiang Wei and Wei Yan are leading a large army to attack, and they are less than thirty miles from the city!"

The scout rushed in with the news.

Deng Ai's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank.

He had long known that Liu Yong was unlikely to achieve great things, but he never expected him to fail so quickly.

"Master's compilation!"

Deng Ai summoned his general and said, "You will lead five thousand troops out of the city to meet the enemy. You must stop the vanguard of the Han army."

Shi Zuan accepted the order and left, but returned in a sorry state in just two hours:

"General! The Han army is too powerful, and I... I fear I cannot withstand them!"

Deng Ai sighed deeply:
"It is the will of Heaven!"

Master Zuan knelt down and advised:

"General, perhaps... perhaps we should surrender?"

Deng Ai sneered:

"Surrender? Do you think I, Deng Shizai, am a coward who fears death?"

But seeing the panicked soldiers in the city, he finally softened his heart.

"If you want to surrender, then surrender. Don't worry about me."

Shi Zuan wept bitterly and eventually surrendered the city with most of his soldiers.

When Jiang Wei led his army into the city, he saw Deng Ai standing alone in front of the government office, holding a long sword, while his personal guards had already dispersed.

"Deng Ai!"

Jiang Wei pulled his horse back and shouted, "The situation is hopeless, why not surrender now?"

Deng Ai laughed loudly, looking up at the sky:

"Jiang Boyue, my plan failed; it is the will of Heaven!"

"If we fail today, we will only die!"

Jiang Wei remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised his hand:
"Then I will grant your wish. Fire the arrow!"

Arrows rained down, and Deng Ai raised his sword and roared, his voice shaking the surrounding fields:

"My ambitions remain unfulfilled, and Heaven does not favor me!"

"What a pity! What a tragedy!"

Pierced by a thousand arrows, this once mighty general of Sichuan finally fell in a pool of blood.

Jiang Wei dismounted, walked to Deng Ai's corpse, and sighed softly:
“Give him a grand funeral.”

Three days later, Jiang Wei and Li Zhi met in Chengdu.

The two key figures in quelling the rebellion finally met at the Wu King's residence.

"General Boyue, you've worked hard."

Li Zhi greeted them at the gate of the mansion with great respect.

Jiang Wei bowed in return:

"Your Excellency's strategic planning and bloodless suppression of the rebellion make you a true hero."

The two exchanged a smile and entered the mansion hand in hand.

During the banquet, Li Zhi said:
"The Shu region has been plagued by successive rebellions, and the people are filled with fear."

"I believe that the most urgent task is to win over the hearts of the people of Shu."

Jiang Wei nodded:

"...What you say is absolutely right, young master."

"Since the Shu region has just been pacified, the main focus should be on appeasement."

So the two discussed it and decided to temporarily appoint Li Hui as the governor of Yizhou and Qiao Zhou as the deputy governor of Yizhou.

Most of the other officials in Shu and former members of the Cao family retained their original positions.

This measure successfully calmed the public and the situation in Chengdu quickly stabilized.

The previous unrest and fear among the people has been alleviated.

That day, the two discussed follow-up matters again in the mansion.

"General Boyue," Li Zhi said cautiously, "the Shu region needs a senior official to guard it. Does the general have anyone in mind?"

The war and rebellion in Shu have now been temporarily quelled.

The southern region also sent messengers to deliver a proclamation.

Although Nanzhong was not directly controlled by the Han Dynasty, it was still important to the court in Luoyang.

As long as the people of the south don't rebel, that's enough.

Since they nominally submitted, the Han officials had no intention of provoking the minority region.

However, once the rebellion ended, the troops sent south would eventually have to return.

If they remain in Shu for an extended period, they will soon follow in Liu Yong's footsteps.

However, if everyone leaves and there is no one in charge, the Shu region is likely to fall out of the control of the imperial court.

Therefore, it is still necessary to select a trusted person to take charge in Shu.

Jiang Wei replied without hesitation:
"I am willing to stay and guard the Shu region to prevent any further unforeseen events."

Li Zhi shook his head and said:

"...General, you mustn't."

"General, you have now made great contributions. If you stay in Shu, you may arouse suspicion."

“Those veteran officials in the court who have made great contributions to the military will definitely take this opportunity to impeach the general for abusing his power.”

Jiang Wei remained silent upon hearing this.

How could he not know the dangers within the court?
only……

Li Zhi continued:
"It would be better if I stayed behind to guard the area."

"With my father maneuvering in the court, no one dares to say anything."

"General, you can escort Liu Yong back to the capital to report. This would be the best course of action."

Jiang Wei pondered for a long time, and finally sighed:

"Your considerations are thorough, sir; I cannot match them."

"However... young master is young, and guarding the Shu region alone, I'm afraid..."

Li Zhi smiled:

"Don't worry, Boyue. Although I am young, I know how to use both kindness and severity."

"Moreover, with Li Hui, Qiao Zhou, and others assisting us, nothing will happen."

With the plan finalized, three days later, Jiang Wei led his victorious army, escorting Liu Yong back to Luoyang.

Li Zhi personally escorted him ten miles out of Chengdu.

Upon parting, Jiang Wei suddenly dismounted and bowed deeply to Li Zhi:
"Take care, young master."

Li Zhi quickly returned the greeting:

"Bon voyage, General."

Li Zhi stood there for a long time, watching the dust settle as the army marched away.

Cheng Wu whispered from the side:

"Young master, it's time to go back."

Li Zhi turned around, his gaze resolute:
"Back in the city, Sichuan is in dire need of rebuilding, and we still have a lot to do."

……

The early summer breeze, carrying the unique humidity and heat of Sichuan and Chongqing, permeates the winding roads of Sichuan.

The vegetation grew wildly, almost swallowing up this ancient road that has stood for a thousand years.

A group of soldiers in bright armor were escorting a lone prison cart, struggling to make its way through the towering mountains.

The wheels rolled over the gravel, making a monotonous and piercing sound that startled the birds in the woods.

The cage was made of hardwood, and a huddled figure could be vaguely seen through the gaps in the thick wooden fence.

That was Liu Yong, the former prince and Liu Bei's second son.

He was stripped of his title and peerage.

He is now just a prisoner awaiting punishment, being escorted to Luoyang.

He had to face his awe-inspiring father and the judgment of the entire court.

The charges were "resentment towards the court, speaking rebellious words, plotting rebellion, and raising an army in revolt."

These sixteen characters, like eight red-hot iron nails, nailed away all his future and life.

Liu Yong suddenly raised his head, his face covered by disheveled hair.

A pair of once clear eyes are now bloodshot, burning with flames of humiliation and madness.

He gripped the cold wooden fence tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and roared at the soldiers escorting him.

His voice was hoarse from days of cursing, yet it still carried a trace of the arrogance that belonged to the imperial family.

"You insolent brats! How dare you treat me like this!"

"I am a prince of the Han Dynasty, of the blood of the Son of Heaven!"

"Open this cage immediately, or when I have an audience with the Emperor one day, I will surely ask my father for help..."

"No, we beg His Majesty to behead you dogs and exterminate your entire clan!!"

The cursed roar echoed through the silent valley, startling more birds into flight.

The soldiers were expressionless, some staring straight ahead, others scanning the mountains and forests on both sides warily.

It was as if the piercing sound was just the noisy chirping of cicadas in the forest.

Their orders were to escort the prisoner; whether he was crazy or stupid, crying or cursing, was none of their business.

However, some people find it unbearable.

Mi Wei, the Tiger-like General of the Central Army, was a young general with a resolute face.

He rode up to the middle of the column and whispered to General Jiang Wei, who was riding alongside him.

His brows were furrowed, and his voice carried barely suppressed anger:
"General, this scoundrel barks all day long, making a racket that is undermining the morale of the army."

"Why not send someone to gag him and keep quiet?"

Mi Wei addressed Jiang Wei as Grand General.

Because from the moment Jiang Wei successfully crossed Yinping and Liu Yong accepted Cao Rui's surrender, marking the end of the Cao Wei regime.

The imperial court promptly bestowed corresponding rewards.

Just like Chen Deng back then, during Chen Deng's campaign against Wu.

He added the character "大" to his title of General Who Conquers the South, and was promoted to Grand General Who Conquers the South.

The same applies to Jiang Wei, who relied on his achievement in destroying Wei.

Jiang Wei was immediately promoted from General Who Guards the West to Grand General Who Guards the West.

As long as he can return to Luoyang safely.

He would then become the most sought-after emerging general in the Han Dynasty.

After all, most of the older generation of generals died of illness or old age.

Among the younger generation of generals, none have achieved such great merit as the destruction of Wei.

Jiang Wei sat upright on his horse, his posture as straight as a pine tree.

His gaze was fixed on the distant mountains shrouded in mist, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.

Upon hearing Mi Wei's words, he slowly shook his head.

The voice was calm yet firm, carrying an undeniable force:

"Yuanxiong, no!"

“Even if the prisoners in the cage have committed a thousand sins, they are still Your Majesty’s flesh and blood, descendants of the Han Dynasty.”

"How can we, your subjects, be subjected to such humiliation?"

“He was filled with resentment and could not vent his anger, so he let him curse him.”

"Human strength has its limits, and the vocal cords will eventually fail."

"When their strength is exhausted and their lips and tongue are parched, they will naturally shut up."

His words, like a mountain stream, calmly washed away the restlessness in Mi Wei's heart.

Miwei opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

But seeing Jiang Wei's deep and determined eyes, he swallowed his words.

He turned his horse around and returned to his position.

Just as Jiang Wei had predicted.

Before noon, Liu Yong's cursing gradually subsided.

It became intermittent, like a candle flame about to burn out.

That hoarse voice, like a broken bellows, was filled with pain with every contraction.

He finally stopped his endless self-proclaimed "prince" title and threats of beheading and exterminating his entire clan, and began to shout new things in his broken voice:

"Water...give me water!"

"In this sweltering summer heat, do you wish to kill your lord with thirst?!"

"Nai Gong" is a vulgar self-reference used by commoners, and it seems even more strange and pathetic that it came out of the mouth of this former pride of heaven and royal nobleman.

A young soldier glanced at his comrades, then at the prison cart, and ultimately dared not be negligent.

He took off the leather water pouch from his waist, carefully approached the wooden fence, and tried to pour water into Liu Yong's eagerly open mouth.

however,
The moment the water touched his lips, Liu Yong suddenly shook his head, knocking the water bag to the ground.

The precious clear water gushed out, only to be instantly absorbed by the parched land.

His face showed extreme disgust and dissatisfaction, and he hissed:
"How can such filthy things be ingested!"

"I want honey water! Honey water! Quickly bring me honey water!"

The young soldier was stunned. Looking at the overturned water bag and the water stains on the ground that were disappearing rapidly, a nameless anger rose within him.

The constant anxiety he felt along the way, along with Liu Yong's endless insults and absurd demands, finally shattered his last shred of reverence for the "prince" status.

He couldn't help but chuckle, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Honey water? Heh, do you still think you're some pampered noblewoman in the palace?"

"This is a path of exile, not a haven for you!"

"To have clean water to survive is already a great blessing from heaven; how dare we ask for honey water?"

"What a fool's dream!"

The sarcastic words were like whips, lashing at Liu Yong's sensitive and fragile nerves.

He trembled all over, his eyes wide open, as if he wanted to tear the soldier apart with his gaze.

However, due to extreme exhaustion and anger, he was unable to utter a sound for a moment.

Just then, a calm voice rang out, not loud, but instantly silencing the crowd:

"shut up!"

Jiang Wei had arrived before them without them noticing.

His gaze swept over the rude soldier with lightning speed.

The soldier, upon meeting that gaze, felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and hurriedly lowered his head, remaining silent as a cicada in winter.

Jiang Wei stopped looking at the soldier and instead turned his gaze to Liu Yong, who was panting heavily and acting like a madman inside the prison cart.

That prince who once lived a life of luxury,

At this moment, his robes were stained, his hair was disheveled, and his face was covered with sweat, dust, and a sickly flush from excitement.

A complex emotion, extremely difficult to detect, flashed deep within Jiang Wei's eyes.

It seemed like pity, yet also like helplessness.

He paused for a moment, then turned to his attendants and gave the order:
"Go and find some honey to mix with water for His Highness to soothe his throat."

The order was given calmly and naturally, as if it were an ordinary instruction.

The attendant hesitated slightly, but seeing Jiang Wei's unwavering expression, he immediately accepted the order and left.

Before long, they actually found a small jar of wild honey in some corner of their luggage in this desolate wilderness, far from any village or shop.

It was carefully mixed with water, poured into a rough earthenware bowl, and handed to the railing cart.

This time, Liu Yong didn't spill it. He practically snatched the earthenware bowl, tilted his head back, and greedily drank the slightly sweet honey water in one gulp.

The sweet liquid slid down my burning throat, bringing a moment of relief.

He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

His chest heaved violently; he stopped cursing and making no further demands.

It just curled up in the corner of the cage, like a wounded beast licking its wounds.

Night slowly descended, like a giant black curtain covering the rolling mountains.

The team set up camp on a relatively flat roadside near a stream.

One after another, campfires were lit, the flickering flames reflecting the soldiers' tired yet vigilant faces.

Deep in the mountains and forests, the howls of unknown wild beasts echoed, adding to the sense of desolation and unease.

The cage was placed in the center of the camp and heavily guarded by soldiers.

Liu Yong tossed and turned inside the car, then suddenly pounded on the wooden fence and shouted in his still hoarse voice:

"Let me out! I need to use the restroom!"

"It's urgent! Open this door immediately!"

The guards exchanged glances.

Mi Wei came over upon hearing the noise and scrutinized Liu Yong inside the cage.

He squeezed his legs together, his face showing anxiety, which did not seem fake.

Mi Wei pondered for a moment, considering that he was, after all, a prince.

He couldn't very well let the filth defile the carriage, so he waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to unlock the carriage doors.

But he still issued a stern warning:
"Your Highness may relieve yourself behind the haystack to the side, but please know—"

He pointed to two burly soldiers holding sharp blades.

“The two men will follow closely behind; do not go astray and endanger your own life.”

The heavy chains were opened with a clang.

Liu Yong, dragging his shackles and handcuffs, jingled as he moved out of the prison cart.

His days of imprisonment left him with a staggering gait.

Under the close watch of two soldiers, one on his left and one on his right, he staggered toward the tall haystack at the edge of the camp, which was used for nighttime shelter and feeding horses.

The night was deep, and the starlight was dim.

The light of the campfire had become dim by this point.

Liu Yong moved to the back of the haystack, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

Two soldiers, dutiful and attentive, followed closely behind and stopped about ten paces away.

With his back to the haystack, his eyes warily scanned the surrounding darkness, while his ears were perked up, catching any sounds behind him.

The forest was silent, save for the rustling of the wind through the grass, and...

The faint sound of clothes being undressed could be heard.

Suddenly, there was a muffled "thump".

This was followed by a short, seemingly suppressed scream.

Then came a chaotic struggle and the sound of mud splashing everywhere.

A sergeant frowned and whispered:
"What happened? Did you slip and fall into a cesspool?"

Behind the haystack, there was indeed a pit that the army had temporarily dug for their own convenience.

Although not deep, it is filled with filth.

The two looked at each other and saw disgust and helplessness in each other's eyes.

"It's really troublesome!"

Another soldier spat.

"Go and see, pull him up."

"Don't let him drown; we can't afford to suffer the consequences."

The sergeant who was called on looked reluctant, but he couldn't disobey the tacit assignment.

He muttered a curse under his breath and tucked his sword back into his waistband.

Holding his nose, he carefully circled around to the back of the haystack, and his figure disappeared into the darkness.

Time passed little by little.

A more pronounced struggle and thrashing sound came from behind the haystack, mixed with muffled sobs that seemed to be covered by a mouth and nose.

But soon, the sounds subsided, leaving only a deathly silence.

The soldiers who remained in place waited for a while, but neither their comrades brought Liu Yong out nor did they hear any instructions or noise.

An ominous premonition gradually rose in my heart.

He tentatively called out his companion's name, but received no response.

A night breeze blew by, and he felt a chill on the back of his neck.

"not good!"

He drew his sword sharply and shouted towards the campfire:
"Help! Help! Something's happened!"

The shouts shattered the silence of the night.

Instantly, the camp erupted into commotion, like water rippled by a stone thrown in.

Mi Wei was the first to charge forward with his sword drawn.

Immediately afterwards, more soldiers held torches, illuminating the area behind the haystacks as bright as day.

The sight before them made everyone gasp in shock:
Beside the hastily dug pit, the soldier who had gone in to look for Liu Yong lay sprawled on the filth.

His eyes were wide open, his face frozen in extreme terror and pain.

Several thick iron chains were tightly wrapped around his neck—

Those were the shackles that were originally on Liu Yong's hands and feet!

The chains were deeply embedded in his flesh, clearly indicating that he had been tightly constricted by immense force, and he was already dead.

As for Liu Yong, he has vanished without a trace!

Only the broken pieces of shackles, scattered on the ground, were left, broken in some unknown way.

And a line of crooked, wet footprints leading into the dark depths of the forest tells the story of what just happened.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

Mi Wei was furious, his face turning ashen, and he kicked a nearby haystack.

"They actually let a cripple in shackles kill someone right under our noses and escape?!"

He turned around abruptly, his eyes blazing with fury as he swept over the terrified soldiers.

"What are you all standing there for! Chase them! Search the mountain immediately!"

"He's wearing broken shackles, he can't have gone far!"

The camp was immediately thrown into chaos.

The soldiers hurriedly picked up their weapons, lit more torches, formed a search formation, and prepared to rush into the mountains and forests.

"Wait a minute."

A calm voice rang out again, silencing all the noise.

Jiang Wei had arrived at the scene without anyone noticing.

He crouched down and carefully examined the chain marks on the neck of the dead soldier, then picked up the broken shackles from the ground and looked at the broken ends.

My gaze finally fell on the line of footprints leading into the darkness.

His face still showed little panic, only a deep solemnity.

"Yuanxiong, calm down."

Jiang Wei stood up and dusted off his hands.

"Although Your Highness is cunning, even though the shackles are broken, the chains on your hands are still in place, which will greatly hinder your movement."

"In addition, he has been mentally and physically exhausted recently."

"After days of imprisonment, his energy is depleted. How far can he escape?"

He paused, then pointed to the line of footprints.

"Look, the footprints are messy and uneven, clearly indicating a panicked and powerless state."

"Pass down the order: all units must guard the key routes of the camp and not panic."

“Select twenty elite scouts to follow me and track the trail.”

"He is already at the end of his rope; capturing him will be as easy as turning one's hand."

Jiang Wei's composure acted like a stabilizing force, instantly calming the situation that was about to spiral out of control.

Miwei took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and carried out the order.

The campfire crackled, illuminating Jiang Wei's resolute profile.

He personally selected twenty scouts who were agile and familiar with the mountains and forests.

Everyone was armed with sharp blades and crossbows, accompanied by hunting dogs, following the faintly discernible footprints illuminated by torches.

They silently disappeared into the dark forest, which resembled the gaping maw of a giant beast.

Within the mountains and forests, vines intertwine and thorns abound.

The traces left by Liu Yong are indeed clearly discernible.

Broken branches, trampled grass, and the occasional mud and water droplets on the leaves.

He was clearly disoriented, driven only by his survival instinct, desperately fleeing into the depths of the mountains and forests.

Before they had gone three miles, the scouts who were scouting ahead gave a signal.

Jiang Wei strode forward,

At the foot of a steep slope covered in moss, a figure was huddled among the rocks and bushes.

Who else could it be but Liu Yong?
He looked even more disheveled now than he had in the cage.

The robe was torn to shreds by thorns, revealing the shirt underneath and streaks of blood on the skin.

His face and hands were covered in mud.

He tried to stand up and continue running, but apparently injured his ankle while sliding down that steep slope.

His ankle was unnaturally swollen, and the slightest movement made him wince in pain, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Even so, he still gripped the ground with both hands.

Dragging his injured leg, he moved backward little by little, like a desperate crawling insect.

Hearing footsteps and the light of torches behind him, Liu Yong turned around in alarm.

Seeing Jiang Wei's familiar figure approaching steadily like a mountain in the firelight, he let out a howl like a trapped wild beast.

He struggled even more fiercely, but only in vain added a few more wounds to the rubble.

Jiang Wei did not immediately order the capture.

He signaled the soldiers to spread out, forming a loose encirclement.

She slowed her pace, taking steady steps toward the prince struggling in the dust and despair.

The iron boots rustled softly on the mountainside covered with fallen leaves.

In the stillness of the night, what Liu Yong heard was like a death knell.

"Don't come any closer! Jiang Wei! Don't come any closer!"

Liu Yong screamed, his voice distorted with extreme fear.

He grabbed some pebbles and dirt from the ground and threw them haphazardly at Jiang Wei, but they were weak and powerless.

"Get out of my way! I am a prince of the Han Dynasty!"

"You lowly slaves, how dare you approach me!"

Jiang Wei neither dodged nor avoided the mud, letting it fall onto his armor.

He walked up to Liu Yong, who was only a few steps away.

Then, he did something that surprised everyone—

He slowly squatted down, bringing his line of sight to Liu Yong, who was slumped on the ground.

The flickering firelight illuminated his calm, expressionless face.

It also reflects Liu Yong's face, which is distorted by fear, pain, and madness.

There were no rebukes, no mockery, not even a single common phrase of persuasion to surrender.

Jiang Wei simply stared at Liu Yong quietly for a long time.

He then spoke softly, in an almost peaceful tone, even tinged with a barely perceptible weariness:

"Your Highness, that's enough."

"Let's go back together."

This simple sentence contained no harsh words or stern tone.

But it was like an invisible hammer, completely shattering the last psychological defense that Liu Yong had been struggling to maintain.

All his arrogance, all his resentment, all his struggles, at this moment, deflated completely like a punctured balloon.

He stared blankly at Jiang Wei, at the genuine calm in the other's eyes and at a deep, complex emotion that he couldn't comprehend.

Then, without warning, he burst into tears.

The crying was no longer a frantic scream.

Rather, it is the most primal grief and fear from the bottom of one's heart when a person with nowhere else to turn realizes that all hope has been lost.

Tears mingled with the mud on his face, streaming down his face.

He cried, his whole body trembling, gasping for breath, choking out intermittent sobs:
"Go back... go back?"

“Bruce…they…how will they treat me?”

"Will...will they kill me?"

"They'll treat me like a pig or a dog...poison me..."

"Or...or be beheaded in the marketplace?"

Jiang Wei remained silent and did not answer immediately.

He knew that any hasty promise at this moment would be hypocritical.

He simply waited quietly, waiting for Liu Yong's crying to subside slightly.

a long time,

When the wailing turned into sobbing, Jiang Wei slowly spoke.

The sound was deep and clear, drifting in the night breeze:
"Your Highness's life or death is not something your subject can presume to decide."

"This is the law of the court, and a decision made by His Majesty's own heart."

“However,” he paused slightly, his gaze fixed on Liu Yong’s tear-blurred eyes.

"Your Highness is of imperial blood and His Majesty's flesh and blood."

"Even if there is a huge mistake, there is absolutely no reason to harm a life."

"Your Majesty is benevolent, and the court discussions will certainly take into account the bond between family members."

"The right path is for me to return home and await Your Majesty's judgment."

These words both highlight the harshness of reality and offer a glimmer of hope.

More importantly, it was built on Jiang Wei's reputation for always keeping his word.

Liu Yong stopped crying and stared blankly at Jiang Wei.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, falling on Jiang Wei's cold, hard armor.

It gleamed with a cool light, yet strangely brought a sense of eerie credibility.

His violently heaving chest gradually calmed down, and the madness and fear in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a complete, ashen despair and resignation.

"...Boyue...I'm sorry for you..."

After saying this, he stopped looking at Jiang Wei and instead turned his gaze to the endless, dark night sky.

It was as if I was trying to find the answer in that depth, but in the end I only saw nothingness.

He took a long, deep breath.

The scent carried the chill of a mountain forest night and the earthy smell of soil.

Then, as if he had used up his last bit of strength, he collapsed to the ground.

She murmured, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible:
"Enough... enough... Boyue."

"Take me away... I... I no longer wish to be a fugitive..."

The words fell,

He closed his eyes, as if he were asleep.

But his slightly trembling eyelids and clenched fists revealed the turmoil in his heart that was far from over.

Jiang Wei stood up and then gently waved to the soldiers behind him.

Two soldiers stepped forward. This time, their actions were no longer as rough as before, but they were by no means gentle either.

They lifted Liu Yong, who was limp as a rag doll, from the ground.

They put him back in the spare, heavier shackles and handcuffs.

Liu Yong offered no resistance, like a soulless puppet, allowing them to manipulate him at will.

He was taken back to the camp and locked in that cold, heavy cage once again.

The heavy chains snapped shut, locking the door to freedom once more.

The campfire was still burning, crackling softly.

The soldiers silently packed their gear, preparing for the night's vigil and tomorrow's journey.

The mountains and forests returned to silence.

Only the unknown wild beasts would occasionally let out a long howl.

Inside the prison cart, Liu Yong huddled in a corner, burying his head deeply between his knees.

From that moment until he arrived in Luoyang a few days later, he never made a sound again.

There were no more angry roars, no more humiliating pleas, no more frantic curses.

There was only deathly silence, like a tomb.

That silence was more oppressive and unsettling than all the previous clamor.

In the east, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

The long Shu Road still winds silently among the mountains, leading to an unknowable future.

……

(End of this chapter)