Chapter 264: Conclusion (4)
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
After Lixia comes Xiaoman, and as Xiaoman passes, the weather becomes increasingly hot, with the Duanwu fast approaching.
The army led by Marquis Wuan recaptured Jiuchuan, with reports of victory after victory. The hundred thousand soldiers of the Wutuo tribe were defeated, and the remnants fled to the west, only to be annihilated by the Fuyue army. Thus, He Yan led the army for nearly three months, decisively winning back the desert and reclaiming Jiuchuan.
The people of Jiuchuan cheered day after day, celebrating the hard-won victory. Within the army of Jiuchuan, no one dared to underestimate this young female marquis anymore. She had proven her bravery and strategic prowess with this victory.
He Yan sat in her room, tallying up the spoils of war. In the final battle, they had captured a significant number of prisoners and gained substantial loot. A deputy general walked in and respectfully said, “My lord, the governor of Jiuchuan wishes for you to stay a while longer, at least until after Duanwu.”
The Wutuo soldiers of Jiuchuan had no chance of retaliation anymore. Originally, once matters here were settled, she would have immediately returned to the capital. However, it seemed that the people of Jiuchuan, grateful to the soldiers of Jiuchuan for driving away the Wutuo bandits, hoped they would stay a little longer.
Especially that female general.
When she was on the battlefield, she was awe-inspiring and intimidating, but towards ordinary civilians, she was unusually patient and kind.
He Yan asked, “How many days until Duanwu?”
“Five days,” the deputy general replied.
He Yan fell silent for a moment. “Very well, we will set out immediately after Duanwul.”
The people who had just experienced war needed some hope. Perhaps staying behind could give them strength to face the future that needed to be rebuilt.
Apart from fighting, there was not much else she could do for the people here.
The room was simple and plain. When the Wutuo soldiers occupied Jiuchuan, they looted and burned everything of value in the city. Even the room she currently resided in had half of its walls scorched.
He Yan looked at the map on the table and let out a barely audible sigh.
After all, Jiuchuan had been reclaimed.
There was still no news from Yunzi and Jijun, but the reports from the other side of the river had come back, indicating that things were going quite well. The swift victory in Jiuchuan could be attributed to the fact that she had led the army to suppress the Western Qiang rebellion in the past. The terrain of Moxian was similar to that of Jiuchuan, and since the army of Jiuchuan had previously stayed in Moxian, their conquest had gone smoothly.
She wondered how Yan He and Xiao Jue were doing now.
As she was thinking, someone came in. It was unexpectedly Wang Ba, who took out a letter from his pocket and said, “A message has come from Jijun.”
After the consecutive deaths of their brothers, Wang Ba had become much more composed. It was hard to see the domineering and arrogant demeanor he once had in Liangzhou Garrison.
He Yan took the letter eagerly and opened it.
The last time they received a letter from Jijun, they only knew that the epidemic was not optimistic. After so long, they didn’t know how things were now.
The letter was not long, with only a few words. As He Yan read it, her expression became grave.
Seeing her change in expression, Wang Ba asked, “What’s wrong? Are those Wutuo people causing trouble?”
He Yan shook her head. “Yan He is in trouble.”
The letter was written by Yan He. Although it only briefly mentioned a few things, every sentence made He Yan’s heart sink. Jijun had been in a tight deadlock with the Wutuo people for the past few months, but overall, things had been good, except for Yan He. The letter mentioned that he had been poisoned by the Wutuo people with an incurable poison. Hearing that Jiuchuan had been recaptured, and Yunzi and Bingjiang were not in the same direction as Jijun, the only place closer was Jiuchuan.
Yan He wrote that he probably didn’t have much time left and feared that there would be no one to lead the troops after him. He asked He Yan to come to his aid. In the end of the letter, he even joked, saying that when He Yan sought his help back then, he led his troops to come, and now, it was time to repay the favor.
Although there was still a joking tone, He Yan knew that the situation must not be too good. It was worth noting that Lin Shuanghe had gone to Jijun with Yan He. If it were just an ordinary poison, how could Lin Shuanghe not be able to cure it? Yan He’s letter mentioned that his time was running out…
She stood up suddenly.
Wang Ba asked, “What are you going to do?”
“I’ll give the order. We can’t wait until after Duanwu. We’ll organize our troops today and set out for Jijun tomorrow.”
…
In the summer, the vegetation was lush. After a night of rain, the soil emitted a damp smell.
By the river, a man dressed in coarse clothes was grinding the herbs in front of him, carefully mixing several kinds of herbs together.
A passing soldier kindly advised, “Doctor Lin, you’ve been busy all night. You should take a break.”
Lin Shuanghe looked up, revealing a tired face full of stubble. He looked very haggard due to the overnight work, with bloodshot eyes, which looked quite frightening at first glance.
He raised his head, seemingly squinting in the sunlight. After a while, he shook his head and said hoarsely, “No.”
The patrolling soldier was a bit puzzled. Lin Shuanghe had been inexplicably busy for the past few days. He had been working on some herbs day and night. According to reason, now that the epidemic had been brought under control, he didn’t need to work so hard. However, he seemed anxious, and the soldier didn’t know why.
But Lin Shuanghe didn’t listen, and there was nothing he could do. He just shook his head and left.
Lin Shuanghe looked down at the herbs in the jar.
It had been nearly two months.
He had not developed an antidote, and what was worse, Yan He’s poison had become deeper and deeper, and he had started to cough up blood. He had brought some herbs to temporarily make Yan He look less haggard, so as not to arouse suspicion from the Yan family’s soldiers. The poison had already penetrated his internal organs, and Lin Shuanghe was very clear that Yan He didn’t have much time left.
He had been working tirelessly day and night, hoping to find a solution, but there was none. No matter how hard he tried, the poison in Yan He’s body remained unaffected.
He had to admit his own powerlessness.
In the past in Shuojing, although he was known as the “White-Clothed Divine Physician ,” the women he treated were difficult and complicated cases, but their lives were not in danger. In life, the greatest concern is life and death. As long as there is life, there is hope. But now, he had to watch his friend approach death day by day, and as a doctor, he felt helpless.
Lin Shuanghe bowed his head, grinding the herbs, muttering to himself, “Faster, faster…”
The herbs in the mortar were pounded into juice by the iron pestle, splashing onto his face, emitting a bitter aroma. As he continued, a great sense of powerlessness and sadness swept over him, and he stopped his movements, his eyes suddenly turning red.
He had never been so eager as he was now to advance his medical skills, just a little bit more, and he could save Yan He. Instead, he was doing something meaningless like this now.
But the people around him didn’t know that every battle their commander fought cost him his life.
Lin Shuanghe stood up, washed his hands by the river, paused for a moment, and approached Yan He’s tent.
A suppressed cough sounded, and when Lin Shuanghe lifted the tent, he saw Yan He wiping the blood from the corner of his lips.
“You!” he exclaimed in surprise.
“Lower your voice,” Yan He shook his head at him, “Don’t let others see.”
Lin Shuanghe lowered the curtain, took a few steps forward, grabbed Yan He’s wrist, and took his pulse. Yan He quietly allowed his actions. After a moment, Lin Shuanghe let go of his hand, his lips trembling as he looked at him.
Yan He asked, “How much time do I have left?”
Lin Shuanghe didn’t answer.
“In that case, it must be these few days.” Yan He smiled, with some reluctance in his smile, but also some resignation. “Counting the time it takes for me to send a message to He Yan, she should arrive in a few days. The timing is just right. I wonder if I’ll still be able to see her.”
“…No,” Lin Shuanghe instinctively spoke, “I can still make an antidote, wait for me, I will definitely succeed. Moreover, those Wutuo people must have an antidote… as long as we find them, we’ll surely get the antidote!”
“You’re as stupid as ever. Even if you’ve never been to battle, you should have a bit of brains,” Yan He sneered, “Those Wutuo people saw the arrow hit me with their own eyes. It took a lot of effort to remove it. How could they possibly hand over the antidote? Believe it or not, even if I capture their commander now and use his life as leverage, they still won’t hand over the antidote. There’s only one possibility. If I’m willing to surrender and be their pawn, maybe I’ll be lucky enough to save my life, but I, a member of the Yan family, won’t do such a thing.”
“A Gui De Zhonglang General…” Yan He chuckled, “Even if they lose this battle, it won’t be a loss.”
“And you,” Yan He frowned at him, “If you could make an antidote, would you wait until now? Forget it, you’re just a doctor, not Yama, how can you decide life and death? Don’t think too highly of yourself. You should save your own miserable life and wait for Marquis Wuan to come and save you.”
Lin Shuanghe looked pained.
In the past, although he and Yan He often quarreled and were weary of each other’s company, they were classmates who grew up together after all. Although Yan He despised him for his arrogance and combativeness, and he looked down on Yan He for his lack of scholarly pursuits, after so many years, they could still be considered “friends”.
“You don’t have to look so gloomy,” Yan He glanced at him, seeming disgusted by his expression, “Doctors like you, aren’t you accustomed to life and death? Why can’t you be as open-minded as I am? What are you feeling so bad about? In a few decades, you’ll come down to accompany me anyway. I’ll go and spar with that female classmate who dresses as a man first.”
Even at this point, he still wanted to spar. Lin Shuanghe couldn’t help but smile. After he smiled, he felt even more sorrowful. After a moment of silence, he asked, “Have you ever thought about what will happen to Madam and Muxia in the future?”
Yan He’s originally indifferent expression suddenly froze.
He remembered the woman who always smiled gently at him, her heartfelt expectations before he left. She was so considerate, knowing about his news… She should cry, she should be very sad.
Suddenly, Yan He also felt sad. A wet cotton ball seemed to block his chest, making it hard to breathe.
After a long time, he slowly spoke, “Before I left, I promised Chengxiu that I would do my best to return to see Muxia as soon as possible.”
“But now, it seems that I will break my promise.”
He smiled self-deprecatingly, “Chengxiu hates people who break their promises the most. If I don’t go back, she should be angry. Lin Shuanghe, if you see her later, please explain to her that it’s not intentional.”
“I have a bad temper. Although everyone respects me on the surface, I know that they actually don’t like me, just like you, Xiao Huaijin, and He Yan. I can’t be a good friend, but I’m not bad as a husband. I originally wanted to continue to improve and become the best father in Shuojing. But…”
His voice was low, “There’s no chance now.”
Lin Shuanghe wanted to say something, but he opened his mouth and found that he didn’t know what to say.
“I originally thought that if Chengxiu gave birth to a daughter, I would name her Muxia, and if it was a son, I would name him Liangjiang. But now, I think if it was a son, I could also name him Muxia.”
“I originally wanted to watch her grow up with my own eyes, and when she grew up a little, I would teach her that a good general does not hesitate to die to avoid disgrace, and a martyr does not surrender to save his life. But now, it’s impossible. However, I also think there’s nothing better than this to teach her. When she grows up and knows that her father died on the battlefield, she will understand without me having to teach her.”
When he spoke of the unborn Mu Xia, his gaze finally softened, full of affection and tenderness.
Lin Shuanghe closed his eyes.
These last words, like countless sharp needles, pierced his heart together.
“You don’t need to be sad for me, or feel pain for me. A general who dies on the battlefield has the best ending. Although I have regrets, I have no regrets.” Yan He stood up, walked out of the tent, and looked into the distance, towards the direction of the city wall.
“Everyone who goes to the battlefield has already prepared to die here.”
“In a few days,” he said, “Let’s continue forward.”
…
When He Yan arrived at Jijun, she saw a Lin Shuanghe who was completely different from the past.
The elegant young man who always wore a white robe and carried a folding fan was now disheveled and unrecognizable. His clothes were stained with blood and mud, his face hadn’t been washed for days, his beard was unkempt, and his appearance was so desolate that He Yan almost didn’t recognize him.
“Brother Lin…” She dismounted and approached, asking.
“You’re here,” a hint of vitality finally appeared in Lin Shuanghe’s dim eyes, and he stuttered, “Come and see Yan He.”
Yan He died on the battlefield.
He was poisoned with an incurable toxin. Knowing that vigorous activity would only spread the poison faster and deeper, but because of the war, he refused to stop, like a candle that was about to burn out, desperately burning until he burned himself out.
He died just after winning a battle.
The young general lay in his tent, his face cleaned of dirt, his hair tied high as he did in his youth. The silver spear was placed beside him, vaguely reminiscent of his former vibrant self. However, when He Yan passed by, he would never again call her out for a challenge with his brow furrowed and his arrogance displayed.
“He knew his time was running out. Before he left, he asked me to give these to you.” Lin Shuanghe handed the box to He Yan. Opening it, He Yan found neatly written documents inside, detailing all the military situations and troops on the side of Jijun. It was all meticulously organized by Yan He, ensuring that He Yan wouldn’t be clueless upon her arrival.
He had been very considerate. At the last moment of his life, he still thought about this war.
“How is it going on the side of Jijun?” He Yan asked.
Lin Shuanghe shook his head, his voice low, “After Yan He left, the morale of the Yan family soldiers was in chaos. The Wutuo people took advantage of this opportunity to launch two consecutive attacks. Without Yan He, the Yan family soldiers became like scattered sand, unable to form an effective resistance.”
He Yan said, “It’s not the fault of the Yan family soldiers. Originally, Jijun’s position was easy to defend and difficult to attack. They occupied favorable terrain, and if Yan He wanted to attack the city, it was already a very difficult task, let alone resorting to such despicable means.”
“And now…”
“I’m going to meet with the deputy commander of the Yan family soldiers and discuss our next steps,” He Yan replied.
Lin Shuanghe nodded silently.
As He Yan turned to leave, she suddenly remembered something, paused, and turned back to look at Lin Shuanghe.
“Brother Lin,” her voice was calm, her gaze seemed to have a comforting power, “It’s not your fault that we couldn’t save Yan He.”
With just one sentence, Lin Shuanghe found an outlet for the self-blame and guilt that had plagued him these past few days.
“No,” his voice trembled slightly, showing a vulnerable expression in front of He Yan for the first time, “It’s because I couldn’t find the antidote…”
After Yan He left, his subordinates finally learned of the news that Yan He was poisoned. They blamed him, the so-called miracle doctor, for not finding the antidote to save their general. Countless accusations and rebukes echoed in his ears day and night, even causing Lin Shuanghe to wake up from nightmares at night.
The woman in red armor looked at him and spoke gently, “You are a doctor, not a deity. You can only treat illnesses and save lives, not determine life and death. Yan He was hit by the poison arrow of the Wutuo people. If you want to avenge him, you have to win this battle.”
“You need to pull yourself together, Dr. Lin,” she changed her title, “I need your help.”
“Jijun needs you.”
…
In the tent, Yan He’s deputy Chen Cheng blurted out, “What did you say, surrender?”
“It’s a pretend surrender,” He Yan spoke, “Since the Wutuo people already know that General Yan is not here, and the Yan family army is leaderless, they will inevitably launch a pursuit in the next few days. Instead of being continuously constrained by them, it’s better to pretend to surrender. After our people enter the city, the Fuyue Army and the Yan family army will press on from the rear, and we can break through the city gate in the chaos.”
“When the general was here, we always confronted the Wutuo people head-on, and the Yan family soldiers never surrendered, even if it was fake!” Chen Cheng rebutted.
He Yan didn’t get angry, she just looked calmly at him, “You should be very familiar with the terrain of Jijun since you’ve been here for so long. If we don’t break through the city gate and keep camping outside the city, it will only be a waste of time. Although General Yan led you to confront the enemy head-on and won many battles, killed many Wutuo people, but what was the result in the end? In the end, Jijun was still occupied by the Wutuo people. Without entering the city, we can’t win this battle!”
“What do you understand?” Chen Cheng was excited, “You don’t understand General Yan at all. You and that Lin Shuanghe are in cahoots, just a bunch of troublemakers!”
Yan He’s death was a heavy blow to everyone in the Yan family army. They hated Lin Shuanghe for not revealing the truth earlier, but they knew nothing about Yan He’s efforts.
He Yan’s brows furrowed.
Beside her, the deputy commander of the Fuyue Army scolded, “What do you mean by ‘just in name’? Lord He has just led the army to recapture Jiuchuan and won battles. What makes you look down on us?”
The Yan family army hadn’t seen He Yan’s prowess on the battlefield, but the Fuyue Army had a clear view. If He Yan was just a figurehead, then there would hardly be any truly capable generals in Great Wei.
“I’m not here to discuss with you,” He Yan said coldly, “I’m here to give orders. If you don’t obey, you know the consequences of disobeying military orders,” she drew her long sword from her waist with a swish, its blade gleaming coldly, “Feel free to try.”
“You…” Chen Cheng gritted his teeth, “You’re leading the Fuyue Army, not the Yan family army. The master of the Yan family army is only General Yan. Who are you to command us?”
“I am authorized by your general to take the military seal, and your general personally requested my leadership!” With a flick of her hand, the military seal fell into everyone’s sight.
“Now,” the woman’s gaze was clear and steady, “any objections?”
With the military seal in hand, she could now command the Yan family army. Even if Chen Cheng had ten thousand objections, he couldn’t say anything at this moment.
He gritted his teeth, “None.”
“I know you’re not convinced,” He Yan said, “So, I will personally lead the vanguard of the pretended surrender.”
Chen Cheng was taken aback.
The first group to enter the city was undoubtedly the most dangerous, like lambs entering a tiger’s mouth. The Great Wei troops were all outside the city, surrounded by the Wutuo people. If the Wutuo people suddenly changed their minds and attacked…
This group of soldiers would be doomed.
“Are you… sure?” Chen Cheng asked in disbelief.
He Yan glanced at him, and inexplicably, Chen Cheng felt a flush on his face from her gaze. The woman’s voice was calm and plain, “Leading by example is something every commander does, not just your General Yan.”
“Also,” she continued, “Doctor Lin follows your general’s orders as well. If you want to blame all the responsibility on a doctor and ignore the Wutuo people who caused your general’s death, then it’s a matter of not distinguishing right from wrong. But,” her voice carried a hint of sarcasm, “if your general were to see this scene, he would probably be very disappointed in the army he built.”
“I…” Chen Cheng wanted to say something more, but the woman had already ignored him and walked out of the tent.
As soon as He Yan stepped out of the tent, she was stunned. Lin Shuanghe was standing outside the tent, staring at her blankly. It seemed that he had heard everything she said inside.
Hearing it didn’t matter; she had always thought so.
“Thank you,” after a moment of silence, Lin Shuanghe took the initiative to speak, with a wry smile, “But, by speaking up for me like this, you’ve probably caused them to dislike you even more.”
“I was just telling the truth,” He Yan looked into the distance, “You followed Yan He here, curing diseases and healing wounded soldiers along the way. It’s as if you had your head tied to your belt. But,” she smiled, “don’t hold it against them. They’re just too sad for a moment, thinking irrationally. Given time, they’ll understand.”
“I don’t hold it against them,” Lin Shuanghe took a deep breath and changed the subject, “I heard you mentioned pretending to surrender just now?”
“The Fuyue Army’s camp is not close to here. The Wutuo people probably haven’t realized our arrival yet. With everything planned out, surrendering now would make them believe it and open the city gates. Only by opening the city gates can we have a chance to defeat the Wutuo people.”
“Isn’t it very dangerous for the vanguard troops to enter the city gate first?”
The wind blew, causing the woman’s tied-up hair to gently flutter.
Her voice, however, was firm, showing no hesitation.
“All battlefields are dangerous,” she said, “I’m not afraid of danger.”
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
