Strong Winds Return Home

Huang Wangxiang followed his gaze and looked over.

The people outside the city had heard the news that the Yan army was about to attack, and became increasingly anxious. They all crowded around the guards in charge of registration, crushing forward in the darkness and demanding to enter the city as soon as possible. The guards pulled out glinting swords and reprimanded them loudly, but failed to deter them, so they hurriedly sent people to the city wall to ask how to deal with the turmoil.

“Your Majesty,” Yuan Zong said, “we can’t let them in! Firstly, there is not enough food in the city, and secondly, the identities of these thousands of people have not been investigated. If they are the Yan army disguised as refugees, the consequences will be disastrous.”

What he said was reasonable, but Liu Xian’an asked: “What if they really are refugees?”

If they were really refugees and were left on the battlefield where two armies were battling, what would happen was obvious. It was also because it was so obvious that Yuan Zong and the other generals chose not to talk about it, and only spoke of the danger of letting people into the city, but now this matter was directly brought to the table by Liu Xian’an.

Yuan Zong said angrily: “The emperor doesn’t need to see a doctor now, you can go back!”

Liu Xian’an ignored him, and looked at Huang Wangxiang: “The people at the city gate are all like me and my brother, they believe that as long as they enter the city, they will be able to eat. That’s why they all came here, because they want to live.”

A look of pain appeared on Huang Wangxiang’s face. The headache accumulated from days of insomnia rushed up at this moment, and he couldn’t even stand firmly.

The people next to him hurried forward to support him, and Yuan Zong drew his sword, pointing it at Liu Xian’an: “Deceitful thing, no matter whether you are a spy or not, you will not be able to survive today.”

“Is it because I told the truth?” Liu Xian’an raised his voice. “I am a doctor, and a doctor should save people. And General Yuan is a general, so his natural mission should be to save people. Why do you want to kill me now because I want to save lives?”

When he said this, he was neither humble nor overbearing, and stood with his hands behind his back, truly intending to petition for the people. Huang Wangxiang commanded: “Lao Yuan, put down your sword!”

Yuan Zong shouted: “Your Majesty, don’t listen to his nonsense. The purpose of not letting the refugees outside the city to enter is to protect the people already inside the city. It is not a departure from the original intention!”

Liu Xian’an asked: “The purpose of not letting the refugees outside the city enter is to protect the people already inside the city. General Yuan said it himself. How is this statement different from those of Dayan’s officials? What is the difference between Sanshui City and those cities with closed gates along the Bai River?”

Yuan Zong grew angry from embarrassment. He believed that Liu Xian’an was here to shake the morale of the army, and raised his sword to strike without a word, but was stopped by someone. The old general Miao Changqing blocked him and said: “Lao Yuan, calm down!”

Huang Wangxiang’s face also flushed, partly because of the chaos in the city, and partly because of Liu Xian’an’s accusations and Yuan Zong’s sudden savage act. There was a shrill ringing in his ears. War was coming soon, and this was bound to be a bloody battle. No matter if they won or lost, it would bring great casualties. If they lost, they lost. If they won, they would attack all the way to the royal city, and he probably wouldn’t be able to achieve the slogan “everyone has something to eat” that he carried in his heart.

Yuan Zong had already loudly ordered people to drive away the refugees outside the city and close Sanshui City’s gate. The news exploded like a bomb, sending out more shrill cries and pleading. Just as Liu Xian’an said, Sanshui City had also become like the cities along the Bai River. There was no difference.

At this thought, Huang Wangxiang held himself up against the city wall. His throat was faintly sweet, and he said with bloodshot eyes: “Lao Yuan, let them in.”

“Your Majesty!” Yuan Zong said, “How can we let them in without verifying their identities? The Yan army has already slaughtered Qingyang City. Should we let them slaughter Sanshui City as well?”

“How does the general know that Qingyang City was slaughtered by the Yan army?” Liu Xian’an looked at him. “Which warring party does not want to win the hearts of the people on both sides of the war? Since the Yan army won a complete victory, why would they massacre the city? Apart from gaining a reputation of brutality and pushing more people to the enemy camp, can there be any other purpose for this move?”

“Liang Shu has killed countless people, and massacring cities is not uncommon! Where is there a good thing about the Yan Dynasty’s dog official!” Yuan Zong said, “Desist, everyone is unable to see through your false appearance as a spy today, so I won’t kill you, I’ll torture you carefully in two days instead. Someone, drag him down and imprison him!”

Liu Xian’an retorted: “Which of your two eyes saw Liang Shu killing countless people? Can this unreasonable act of massacring a city be condemned with the words, ‘dog official?’” The person was dragged down by two soldiers, still shouting back, “Who was the general who stayed behind in Qingyang City? Did the emperor really know him?”

This question caused Huang Wangxiang’s hands and feet to go cold. He didn’t know him, not at all. He only listened to the other party’s rhetoric at the time and was so impassioned and deeply moved that he handed over the entire city.

Yuan Zong took two steps forward: “Your Majesty, prepare for battle!”

Huang Wangxiang gazed toward the outside of the city again. The Yan army cavalry was in the distance, refugees fleeing nearby.

The two soldiers escorting Liu Xian’an walked faster and faster, but they didn’t go to the prison, and instead turned into an alleyway. Liu Xian’an said: “What were you doing, going so fast just now? I could have said a few more words.”

The Wang family brothers disguised as soldiers said: “Second Young Master Liu, it is better not to speak. I think Yuan Zong is like a mad dog. He can only bare his teeth, and can’t talk any sense.”

“I wasn’t reasoning with Yuan Zong, but with Huang Wangxiang,” Liu Xian’an said. “He’s not a bad person. Perhaps if I stayed longer, the war could be avoided.”

“But the people around him would not allow the young master to continue talking. The situation just now is already very dangerous,” Wang Fan said. “Although Huang Wangxiang assumed the title of ruler, he is unlike the prince, who has supreme authority over the army. Every so-called ‘general’ there has his own ideas, and they will never surrender.”

Liu Xian’an stopped in his tracks: “But I think I convinced Huang Wangxiang eighty or ninety percent just now.”

Wang Fan said: “Then he can either rely on the remaining one or two percent of his determination to fight, or……”

Liu Xian’an swiftly turned his head to look at the tower.

And there was a riot going on.

Huang Wangxiang staggered to the ground, clutching his belly with blood spilling between his fingers. Miao Changqing supported him in disbelief: “Lao Yuan, you are mad!”

Yuan Zong brandished the sword, its blade still covered in blood. There were many other generals standing behind him, and although some showed hesitation, they did not speak in the end.

Just now, Huang Wangxiang had ordered the refugees to be allowed into the city, and Yuan Zong tried his best to stop him. Huang Wangxiang drew his sword and scolded him furiously, the two fought, and during the struggle, General Yuan’s sword pierced the new emperor’s belly. As for whether it was intentional or unintentional, no one saw it clearly, but intentional or not, it didn’t matter much, because everyone other than Miao Changqing chose to stand behind Yuan Zong.

They didn’t understand. It was clear that the original route was the way to great victory, and now was a good time to take advantage of the victory and go north. Why did the emperor become confused all of a sudden and insist on taking risks for thousands of refugees? If they had known this, they might as well have elected General Yuan to sit on the dragon chair.

Huang Wangxiang was carried off the city wall.

In a dimly lit room, Liu Xian’an bandaged his wound, his fingertips stained with blood. Huang Wangxiang listened to the noise outside for a while, then asked, panting: “Was it really my people who massacred the city?”

Liu Xian’an said: “Yes. I heard from the surviving people that when the Yan army broke through the city, the defenders did not fight hard, but aimed their swords at the common people. They slaughtered the city first, then killed themselves, and cursed, ‘In the next life, I will be a wolf or a tiger.’ There was no other resistance. They were not greedy for life, but only had an ignorant and savage courage.”

Huang Wangxiang murmured: “You aren’t a doctor, are you?”

“I am a doctor, but not entirely a doctor.” Liu Xian’an put pressure on the wound.

Huang Wangxiang’s eyes clouded with tears: “I was wrong.”

“If you cannot live on and have to beg for a bite to eat, if you want to kill all corrupt officials, there is nothing wrong with that,” Liu Xian’an said. “However, there are some things that cannot be done just by thinking about them. A society where everyone has food cannot be achieved by just one person or dynasty. It requires the effort of tens of thousands, or hundreds of millions of people.”

“And I don’t have the ability to manage tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of people,” Huang Wangxiang said. “I also won’t see that day.”

“But there are always people who will see it.” Liu Xian’an slowed his voice. “Brother Huang, everything you have done today, even if you lose, even if you are wrong, it is not completely meaningless. At least it is a kind of attempt. And isn’t that what history is? Many people and many attempts, pushing the great wheel of time forward.”

Huang Wangxiang looked at him and smiled dryly. “Little brother, thank you.”

Liu Xian’an said: “No need for thanks.”

Huang Wangxiang struggled to grasp his sword with his blood-stained hands. “You go, ba, take this sword. The guard at the northwest gate is mine. If he recognizes the sword, he will let you go. Lao Yuan has already become suspicious of you, so it is not advisable to stay here for long. When you leave, take Lao Miao with you.”

As soon as these words fell, Miao Changqing’s scolding came from outside the courtyard: “Audacious! The Emperor is still inside, who told you to come!”

A-Ning ran in to report: “Ge, many people have come outside, saying they want to arrest us and send us to prison.”

Huang Wangxiang pushed himself up and shouted: “All of you, get out!”

Although he was weak, he was the “Emperor” who had not abdicated. Yuan Zong had not yet ascended the throne, so his subordinates didn’t dare to be too presumptuous. Miao Changqing was also guarding the door with a sword, white-haired and glowering, which was quite frightening, so they just surrounded this courtyard without stepping inside.

And Huang Wangxiang was dying. He felt exhausted, but at the same time, there was a sort of tranquility. He was about to let go and see his wife and children. He did not want to be an emperor in the next life, but wished to continue being a farmer, rely on his own hands for food and clothing, and raise a pair of children to study. So he smiled a little, and then completely entered the darkness.

Liu Xian’an gently covered his eyes for him.

A-Ning was also in a heavy mood. He stood by the bed and asked: “Young Master, what shall we do next?”

“Let’s go to the ruined temple,” Liu Xian’an said. “The prince is about to attack.”

“But there are still many of Yuan Zong’s people outside, and they have already identified us as spies.”

“We are not on the same side as them.”

Liu Xian’an picked up Huang Wangxiang’s sword and stepped out of the room. When Miao Changqing saw the sword, he asked tremblingly: “The Emperor…..”

“He died of his mortal wound. My condolences.” Liu Xian’an said, “General Miao, how many people do you have under your command?”

Miao Changqing hadn’t come out of his grief yet, and said: “One hundred.”

“Good, one hundred.” Liu Xian’an said, “Yuan Zong seems to be completely insane, and I don’t know if he will also order people to massacre the city when he is at the end of the road. General Miao, we must protect the common people.”

“All right.” Miao Changqing nodded. “We’ll just do this.”

Outside the city, all of the refugees had been expelled to the dense forest. Yuan Zong had ordered the gates to be closed and defensive weapons were set up along the city walls. Some, with a wink, already called him “Emperor” in advance. Yuan Zong didn’t refute, and was quite willing to accept it, so everyone began to shout long live. When the Yan army was about to approach the city, they wholeheartedly embraced the new emperor, and he ascended the throne.

Zhou Yi had disguised himself among the soldiers surrounding him, always ready to hear what new orders this person would issue so that he could inform Second Young Master Liu ahead of time. He was really amazed, and didn’t understand why this person was still in such a good mood at this time.

Yuan Zong wore a bright yellow cloak, standing majestically on the high wall.

Gao Lin handed the looking glass to Xiao Bing, and rode his horse to walk side by side with Liang Shu, wondering: “That is Huang Wangxiang? What is he doing in the cold wind, wrapped in such a big cloak? Is he not afraid of being blown away?”

“You take care of him,” Liang Shu said. “Prepare your bow and arrow. You go down and command that the city will be broken through in three days!”

T/N: Lol at Yuan Zong posing on the wall within arrow range. He actually thinks he’s not cannon-fodder.