Chapter 448: Breaking a Promise |
“Gentlemen, have I been walking too fast?”
The soldier leading the way noticed that Ji Yuan and Chang Yi couldn’t keep up with his pace, so he assumed that he was walking too fast. After all, the two behind him were just scholars, who had mentioned that they had come by carriage but had disembarked early.
Ji Yuan quickly replied to the soldier.
“Don’t worry, sir, we can keep up!”
Chang Yi nodded in agreement.
This made the soldier a little embarrassed, and he scratched his head.
“Gentlemen, please don’t address me like that. You are learned mean, while I am just a soldier. I can hold off the enemy, but for everyone to live a good life, we still need you.”
Ji Yuan couldn’t help but glance at the soldier again, surprised by his awareness. He and Chang Yi quickened their pace slightly.
Most of the surrounding soldiers were also watching Ji Yuan and Chang Yi, who were clearly not dressed in military attire, speculating about who they were and what they were doing there.
“Gentlemen, this is the General’s Residence in our city. Commander Liao usually resides here. However, you must first pay your respects to the General before you can see Commander Liao.”
“Of course.”
Ji Yuan responded. The soldier who had led the way ran ahead to announce their arrival at the mansion gates.
Before long, Ji Yuan and Chang Yi met the general of the city. He was neither fierce nor imposing, but rather unremarkable in appearance and bearing. However, all the soldiers treated him with great respect.
At this moment, Ji Yuan and Chang Yi stood in the main hall. There was a large table in the room with a large map spread out on it, covered with markings. The general sat in a chair behind the table, looking at Ji Yuan and Chang Yi.
He had a letter from the Military Commander of the Northern Gate, indicating that he had compared the documents repeatedly and questioned the two men.
“You came from Zhongdao County? We haven’t received any supplies in a long time. What’s the situation there? The last time we sent a messenger, he just gave us a perfunctory reply, saying he would deliver military rations and supplies to us as soon as possible, but now we don’t even have a piece of pig iron!”
The general stood up from his seat and pointed to a spot on the map.
“We have been stationed here for three years. In these three years, we have fought countless battles and lost countless brothers. I have lost count of how many battles we have fought and how many brothers have died. But what about our supplies and our pay? I even know that some brothers sent their saved pay to the rear, but none of that pay actually reached their homes. It is probably in the pocket of some official!”
At this moment, only General, Ji Yuan, and Chang Yi were in the room. He didn’t speak loudly because he was afraid that his brothers outside would hear him, but he spoke with great force, and a strong killing intent rushed towards them.
As cultivators, Ji Yuan and Chang Yi could clearly sense the bloodthirsty power. Even ordinary demons would probably be frightened, but for cultivators with profound cultivation like them, it was nothing.
Ji Yuan could only cup his hands in a gesture of respect and calmly reply.
“General, Mr. Chang and I are not officials of the country of Yuanzhao. We have only obtained a document and come here to deliver a message. We know nothing about military pay and provisions. We hope the general will understand.”
“That’s right. Mr. Ji and I came all the way from Liao Zhengbao’s hometown, and we were unaware of this matter.”
In the past, Chang Yi, though still polite, would rarely speak so much to mortals. It wasn’t that he looked down on them, but rather that he felt there was no need to waste his time. Mortals were too stubborn; if they couldn’t understand something with just one sentence, they wouldn’t want to continue.
But at this moment, it wasn’t just because he was following Ji Yuan, but also because the people before him were truly worthy of respect. Rather, all the soldiers in this city were worthy of respect.
“Haah…”
The general let out a breath, calmed himself down, and sat down again.
“Gentlemen, you must have been frightened. This matter truly has nothing to do with you. I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you.”
The general had his helplessness, and the soldiers in this city had theirs. They couldn’t retreat; if they did, what would happen to the country of Yuanzhao? Moreover, the order to garrison the city remained in effect, so retreat wasn’t even an option.
“By the way, have you two received any other news along your journey? We don’t need any military or political intelligence, just tell us about the state of the populace!”
Chang Yi glanced at Ji Yuan, seemingly hesitant about whether to recount what had happened, but Ji Yuan nodded to him, and he then began to speak.
“Recently, a great plague broke out in Yuanzhao, sweeping across at least one-third of the country, with countless people infected and dying.”
“What!?”
The general sat up straight, his hands gripping the wooden armrests of the chair tightly. It made a series of creaking sounds.
“A plague?! What’s the state of the plague now? Has Changgudao County been affected?”
Ji Yuan spoke up.
“The plague has been brought under control. As long as the subsequent management is well governed, it should not break out again. However, those who died in the plague cannot be brought back to life… As for the specific areas affected, we don’t know, mainly because we do not know the names of the regions.”
Upon hearing this, the general expression was helpless, neither crying nor laughing.
“Well governed… The court… never mind, I’ve already sent someone to summon Commander Liao, he should arrive soon.”
“Thank you, General!”
“Hmm, it’s good that my men have news from home… By the way, someone, bring tea to these two gentlemen!”
Hearing the order, a soldier entered, acknowledged it, and then went out again.
After a short while longer, a tall and burly man in leather armor strode in briskly with two soldiers, his face clearly showing excitement and joy.
“Where are the letters from home? Where are the letters from home?”
Liao Zhengbao had a very loud voice; his voice was already booming even before he arrived, a stark contrast to his father’s honest and unassuming demeanor.
Upon entering the hall, Liao Zhengbao first clasped his hands in a salute to the general, and then looked at Ji Yuan.
“Where’s the letter from home? Where’s the letter from home? Have my parents finally replied? It’s not easy to find someone who can write letters home, and we don’t have any extra money to buy pens and ink. I’ve been waiting for this letter for so long, and it’s finally here!”
Liao Zhengbao was very emotional. From his words, it was easy to tell that he had written more than one letter home, but none of them actually reached his family.
Ji Yuan sighed slightly, then cupped his hands in greeting and said solemnly.
“It was not written down, only a verbal message and a token were sent.”
As he spoke, Ji Yuan took out a forearm-length object that had been wrapped in cloth from behind his back and handed it to Liao Zhengbao, who quickly unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing a wooden sword.
The wooden sword also has a small figure carved on it, along with several lines.
With tears in his eyes, Liao Zhengbao gently stroked the wooden sword his father had made for him when he was a child, as if he were seeing the happy times of his childhood.
“It’s mine, the wooden sword my father made for me. I never thought it would still be here, it’s still here! I couldn’t find it before I joined the army! It’s… it…”
Liao Zhengbao suddenly raised his head and looked at Ji Yuan and Chang Yi.
“How are my parents? How are the people in the village?”
Ji Yuan answered solemnly.
“Don’t worry, Commander Liao. Your father and mother are both doing well. They are healthy and can eat and sleep well. Not only that, your father also mobilized the whole village to build a public cemetery to find a place to bury the remains of those found in the wilderness. He is a well-known man of good character.”
“Oh, that’s good, that’s good!”
Ji Yuan finally smiled and then said.
“Oh, right, they had a child late in life. You have a younger brother now named Liao Baogui. He is six years old.”
“Really? Really!”
Liao Zhengbao was overjoyed, gripping the wooden sword tightly with both hands, and then slapped his thigh.
“Oh dear, this wooden sword should have been left for my younger brother to play with. Why did you bring it to me? Wouldn’t a message have sufficed? By the way, what message did my parents bring me?”
“Well……”
Ji Yuan was usually eloquent and quick-witted. He had saved lives and turned the tide many times with his words. But this time, he was uncharacteristically speechless for a moment. Then he took a step closer to Liao Zhengbao and whispered in a voice that only Liao Zhengbao could hear.
“The Liao family elders hope that you can come home. You have been away from home for many years while serving in the army, and they miss you very much.”
Liao Zhengbao was slightly taken aback. He looked at Ji Yuan and Chang Yi, then at the others in the room, and spoke directly.
“Let me go home?”
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly fell deathly silent. Several soldiers looked at Liao Zhengbao, and even the general subconsciously sat up straight and looked at him.
When Liao Zhengbao spoke loudly, Ji Yuan and even Chang Yi already had a vague idea of what answer he would give.
After saying those words, Liao Zhengbao stared at the wooden sword in his hand, remaining silent for a long time, before finally letting out a deep voice.
“Do you two have such great abilities that you can make me return to my hometown?”
Chang Yi glanced at Ji Yuan, and seeing that he didn’t speak, he answered.
“This matter is no problem for Mr. Ji and me. The fact that we were able to obtain the official documents and have someone escort us here is enough to prove this point.”
“Hahah, you two gentlemen are nothing but two weak scholars. Although there are many good-for-nothings behind you, there are still checkpoints, and the government is not just for show. Getting an official document might be easy, but if I go back like this, it will be considered desertion. If discovered, I will be beheaded, and my family will be implicated, and you might even be implicated!”
Chang Yi continued.
“This is a minor matter and can be resolved.”
“Hahaha, I don’t believe you!”
Liao Zhengbao glanced up at Chang Yi as he spoke, then continued looking down at the wooden sword.
The general in his seat hesitated, gripping the armrests tightly once more. His inner struggle was no weaker than Liao Zhengbao’s. Just as he was about to offer his help, Liao Zhengbao suddenly looked up at Ji Yuan and Chang Yi.
“Gentlemen! Thank you for bringing me news from home. Please… give this wooden sword to my younger brother on my behalf!”
Liao Zhengbao returned the wooden sword to Ji Yuan, his words firm and resolute.
“My father built a cemetery and is a well-known as a good man in the village. As his son, I certainly cannot disgrace him by deserting. I have a brother at home, and I have brothers here too! I would like to trouble you two gentlemen to go back and tell my parents and brother that Zhengbao will return home in triumph in the future, but for now… I’m not going back… Hah…”
Liao Zhengbao’s last breath trembled.
Ji Yuan sighed softly, patted Chang Yi’s shoulder and shook his head slightly, then turned to Liao Zhengbao.
“Are you sure you want to make this decision?”
Chang Yi couldn’t help but chime in.
“Do you know who Mr. Ji and I really are? Do you know that if you go back, you will not only reunite with your family, but also receive blessings that ordinary people rarely have? Do you know that…”
“Do you know the camaraderie I share with the thousands of brothers in the city? Do you know the torment I would feel if I were to leave them behind? Just thinking about it now makes my conscience uneasy!”
Before Chang Yi could finish speaking, Liao Zhengbao, his eyes red, roared at him.
“I know you two gentlemen are very capable, I know! But I’ve already made up my mind, thank you!”
Chang Yi was not angry at being contradicted like this. Instead, he smiled and nodded at Liao Zhengbao. Then he took out a talisman from his sleeve. In Ji Yuan’s eyes, it flashed and settled, but in the eyes of those around him, it was just a regular talisman.
“Here, this is a peace talisman. Your parents prayed for blessings for you, and said you should carry it with you at all times. You won’t refuse this, will you?”
Liao Zhengbao was stunned for a moment, then quickly snatched it away.
“Why didn’t you take it out sooner? Of course I will carry it with me!”
Ji Yuan watched this scene with a smile, nodded to Chang Yi, and then looked at Liao Zhengbao and the seated general.
“In that case, Mr. Chang and I will have to break our promise!”
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