C173. My Oath in Every Heartbeat.

C173. My Oath in Every Heartbeat.

The Youzhou warship departed with a smooth glide.

Relief washed over Chen Xi as Yuan Li sheathed his sword. Despite the winter chill, his back was drenched in sweat.

"Take Master Chen away for a thorough interrogation," Yuan Li commanded coldly, his face devoid of emotion. "Find out what they did to our esteemed General Chu and where they've taken him."

Jia Qing received the broadsword with a deep rumble, acknowledging the order with a curt, "Yes."

Panic seized Chen Xi as he struggled. "I don't know anything!" he cried out, his voice laced with desperation.

Before he could utter another word, he was whisked away by the guards.

Alone at the bow of the ship, Yuan Li remained standing, his face exposed to the wind. Lin Tian approached cautiously.

"My Lord," he advised, "the wind is strong. Perhaps you should retire to your quarters and rest."

Yuan Li gazed down at the vast expanse of the sea. The dark waters churned, their coldness evident even from afar. Lost in thought for a moment, he spoke in a voice roughened by emotion, "How dare they claim Chu Hechao is dead?"

Lin Tian had a feeling that things would turn out this way, and his heart ached. He comforted Yuan Li, saying, "Great General has great blessings and surely can turn danger into safety."

Yuan Li remained silent.

No one knew the fear that gnawed at him, churning within him like the turbulent waves of the Bohai Sea. Fear seemed to engulf Yuan Li on all fronts, threatening to consume him entirely.

No one could understand the turmoil in Yuan Li's heart.

He had always believed that no one's departure from another would render them unable to live. But even someone as strong as him, these days seemed to pass by in a haze of confusion.

It felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out, aching and pulsating. The thought of Chu Hechao actually being dead left Yuan Li feeling lost and empty.

They hadn't grown old together, hadn't done so many things yet.

Yuan Li couldn't fathom what the future would be like without Chu Hechao.

Chen Xi's words today had hit him hard, but he was unwilling to believe it, or dare to believe it. Whether it was self-deception or not, Yuan Li refused to accept that Chu Hechao was dead.

He repeated to himself over and over, it couldn't be true.

The Yangzhou navy trailed far behind, unable to match the speed of the Youzhou warships, steadily falling behind. As they neared Yuan Li's territory, they reluctantly turned back.

Yuan Li didn't return to Jizhou but went directly to the coast of Youzhou.

As the warships entered their own territory, a collective sigh of relief swept through the men on board.

Upon reaching the shore, the navy was already awaiting them. After disembarking, Yuan Li wasted no time and instructed Kong Ran and Gu Yue to lead all the navy and warships to set out and attack Prince Chen in one month.

Currently, the navy had 45,000 men, surely outnumbered by the Yangzhou navy.

However, the most formidable force in Youzhou was not the navy but the infantry.

Yuan Li did not return to the Chu Mansion nor visit his parents but went directly to the Youzhou military camp. He dispatched 50,000 Youzhou soldiers to deal with the Bohai navy, planning to not only take the navy but also transport an additional 50,000 soldiers via water route to support Xuzhou.

Later, he mobilized an additional 100,000 Youzhou soldiers and sent requests to Bingzhou and Jizhou, urging each to dispatch 50,000 troops to join forces, totaling 200,000 soldiers marching by land route to advance towards Xuzhou.

With a total of 300,000 troops, Yuan Li was determined to see Prince Chen defeated and settle the blood debt.

As news of Yuan Li's mobilization of troops in Youzhou spread, the incident of Chu Hechao's mysterious disappearance and likely demise quickly spread throughout the north.

Generals like Yang Zhongfa and Guan Zhihuai in the Northern Frontier were chilled to the bone upon hearing the news. After a moment of disbelief, they immediately dropped what they were doing to seek Yuan Li for clarification.

Those unable to come urgently sent messengers with inquiries.

Without the time to personally address these individuals and letters, Yuan Li delegated the matter to Zhou Gongdan, Guo Mao, and Liu Jixin. Before long, the circumstances surrounding Chu Hechao's demise were made known to all.

Chu Hechao had been ambushed by Prince Chen and plunged into the Huai River. Yuan Li had searched for half a month without success, and his current whereabouts remained unknown.

Even Yuan Congyun followed along, uncertain of his fate.

Ever since Chu Hechao went to the battlefield, Yang Zhongfa had imagined many times the possibility of his own death or the deaths of Chu Hechao and their comrades. But when reality struck, he aged instantly, his eyes filled with tears as he muttered, "It can't be."

He Lang, who rushed back day and night from the Northern Frontier, had bloodshot eyes and bulging veins on his neck. He choked out a few sobs, his expression fierce with agony.

"Where is Duke Wen now? I want to see him," He Lang clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. "I want to join Duke Wen in avenging the General!"

Yang Zhongfa closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady his trembling hands. "I will go with you!"

Zhou Gongdan sighed, "Since returning, Lord has not taken a day off and is still in the camp organizing troops and checking supplies. If you want to find him, that's where he'll be."

Yang Zhongfa and He Qiang soon found Yuan Li in the Youzhou camp.

At the first sight of Yuan Li, the hatred and grief that had been deeply rooted in their hearts momentarily paused, almost not recognizing Yuan Li.

Yuan Li had lost a significant amount of weight, his once well-fitted clothes now loose. The easy smile that used to grace his face was gone, replaced by a cold and solemn demeanor that made his pale complexion reveal the toll those days had taken on him.

Yuan Li noticed them as well, exchanging a few words with some military leaders before approaching them. Without any pleasantries, he asked, "What's the matter?"

Yang Zhongfa was at a loss for words, choking out, "How... how did you... become so thin."

He Lang felt a mix of discomfort and relief, thankful that Yuan Li truly cared for the General as a family member. The distress was from the General's tragic death, affecting everyone deeply.

He couldn't hide his concern and sorrow, saying, "Lord Wen, the General... You need to take care of yourself to stay strong."

Yuan Li's expression remained unchanged as he simply nodded, asking, "Why have you come to see me?"

He Lang spoke with bitterness, "Generals and I have come to request to join you in heading south to attack Prince Chen!"

Yuan Li didn't hesitate long before agreeing, "With the General absent, only Jia Qing remains, which is not enough. I had planned to bring you warriors along, not just you and Yang Zhongfa, but also Guan Zhihuai. Guan Zhihuai has already agreed to march south by land route. Do you wish to take the water route or the land route?"

After some consideration, He Lang and Guan Zhihuai decided to lead 200,000 troops by land, while Yang Zhongfa and Jia Qing would accompany Yuan Li with 100,000 troops by water.

Yuan Li turned to He Lang, saying, "Go back and pack your bags, time is of the essence. Once the provisions are ready, the infantry will set out."

He Lang agreed without hesitation and promptly excused himself to go back and pack his belongings.

Yang Zhongfa, on the other hand, stayed behind. He was not like He Lang, who saw the relationship between the General and Yuan Li as simple friendship or family.

Yang Zhongfa couldn't fathom how Yuan Li had endured these days without the General.

"Lord Wen," he spoke hoarsely, "you..."

Words of comfort and consolation failed to escape Yang Zhongfa's dry throat.

He chuckled bitterly, wiped his face, unable to console others when he himself was in distress. Seeing Yuan Li's condition, he knew his own discomfort couldn't be less than Yuan Li's.

Suddenly, Yuan Li stated, "I believe he's not dead."

Yang Zhongfa looked up at him.

But Yuan Li didn't meet his gaze; instead, he stared into the distance, lips pressed tightly together. "He definitely hasn't died."

Although it was a bold statement for something as elusive as a disappearance, Yang Zhongfa found himself believing a bit. He recalled Yuan Li's miracles, the divine connection between him and the General. It gave him a sense of strength.

A pair chosen by the heavens, how could the General have left early?

Nodding firmly, he declared, "You're right, the General has escaped death many times. He is truly blessed and will surely be safe."

Feeling a bit of relief, Yang Zhongfa stood with Yuan Li for a moment before snapping back to reality. "Lord Wen, the General left something with me, instructed me to give it to you if anything happened to him."

Yuan Li was taken aback, turning to him. "What is it?"

"Follow me," Yang Zhongfa led Yuan Li back to his residence, into a secluded courtyard.

As soon as the main door opened, Yuan Li's eyes fell upon numerous wooden boxes and piles of letters on the table, almost filling up the entire room.

Seeing this, Yuan Li could already guess what they were, his heart softening. "These... are they from him?"

"Yes," Yang Zhongfa glanced inside, unable to hold back a smile that turned into a sigh. "The battlefield is unpredictable, and the General feared he may never return... Even if all was well on the battlefield, he was afraid he might depart eight years ahead of you, being eight years older. So, in these past years, the General secretly prepared many things. The letters are written monthly for eight years, the gifts the same. Besides the twelve sets per year, there are also birthday gifts for you. He made an agreement with me that if I left first, he would look after my family. If he left first, I would take care of you."

Yuan Li's eyes welled up, at a loss for words for a moment.

"Lord Wen, our General truly cares for you and holds you close to his heart," Yang Zhongfa wiped his eyes, mustered his spirits, and said, "For the General's sake, you must also take care of yourself, eat well, sleep well, to put the General's mind at ease. This room is rarely visited, take your time to look around, I won't disturb you any longer, I'll go pack my belongings."

Yuan Li gave a hoarse response from his throat, unsure if Yang Zhongfa had heard him clearly.

As Yang Zhongfa left, Yuan Li was left alone in the courtyard. He closed the door, walked around the room slowly, and eventually stopped at the table, picking up a letter at random.

The letters ranged from old to new, and the one Yuan Li held happened to be written by Chu Hechao just before leaving for Xuzhou.

The handwriting was familiar, the words were familiar, full of chatter and reminders for Yuan Li to take care of himself, as if Chu Hechao was speaking directly to him. As Yuan Li read on, his vision blurred, tears streaming down and falling onto the envelope.

One drop, two drops, the hot tears wrinkled the paper.

Through the haze, Yuan Li only saw the last sentence.

"Do not worry, as long as there is a breath, I will live for you as well."

*

On the river.

In the cramped, dirty fishing boat, dozens of people were hidden in the bottom cabin amongst ropes and barrels.

Someone entered quietly, and the others eyed him warily until they realized he was one of their own and lowered their weapons.

The person hurried to Yuan Congyun's side, producing herbs and clean cloth hidden in his arms, whispering, "Sir, the people on the boat are poor, so we could only manage to get these things to exchange for medicine for the General."

Yuan Congyun shook his head with a wry smile. "It will do, there's no better option at the moment."

Taking the herbs and cloth to the other side, Chu Hechao was leaning against the wall, resting with closed eyes. Despite his pale complexion, disheveled appearance, and bandaged upper body, he exuded a sense of strength and sharpness when he opened his eyes to gaze at Yuan Congyun.

"General, it's time to change the bandages," Yuan Congyun said.

Chu Hechao nodded, taking off his shirt for Yuan Congyun to tend to him. As Yuan Congyun worked, Chu Hechao finally spoke, "What time is it?"

His voice was hoarse, his throat affected by the plunge into the Huai River.

"The sun has already set, it's almost dusk," Yuan Congyun replied in a hushed tone. "The winter in the south isn't too cold, not even the river has frozen over."

Chu Hechao adjusted his clothes and made a sound of acknowledgment, instinctively reaching for the jade Buddha around his neck, only to find it missing, his mind drifting to Yuan Li.

"Unknowingly, a day has passed by," Yuan Congyun showed a hint of relief. "Fortunately, in another half month, we'll reach Jiaozhou."