Phi-Fic Chapter 517 Xiao Ruofeng Returns North to Ezhou, Situ Xue Parts Away at the Ends of the Earth
Chapter 517 Xiao Ruofeng Returns North to Ezhou, Situ Xue Parts Away at the Ends of the Earth
By the afternoon, the northern camp of Ezhou had been largely dismantled.
The Northern Army had finished lining up. Although their military bearing was not very neat, the aura of grim determination that came from surviving countless battles was still strong.
Xiao Ruofeng stood at the front of the group, with generals such as Lei Mengsha and Xun Yichuan beside him.
Ye Xiaoying leaned against the carriage, his face still pale, but his back was ramrod straight.
"Your Highness," Xun Yichuan rode forward, "everything is ready, we can depart now."
Xiao Ruofeng nodded, but did not give the order immediately.
He turned his horse around to face south, then suddenly dismounted and knelt on one knee.
This action stunned everyone.
"Your Highness!" Xiao Ping exclaimed.
Xiao Ruofeng ignored him and instead bowed deeply towards the southern horizon.
Once, twice, three times.
Each kowtow felt as heavy as a blow to the heart of each person.
After finishing his kowtow, he stood up, remounted his horse, and projected his voice with internal force, clearly reaching the ears of every soldier:
"Brothers on the southern expedition, Xiao Ruofeng is incompetent and has failed to bring you home."
"Today, I, Xiao Ruofeng, apologize to the 160,000 soldiers who died in battle!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he drew his sword, the Haoque sword gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"On this journey to Tianqi, regardless of life or death, honor or disgrace, I, Xiao Ruofeng, will never shirk my responsibility. But there is one thing I urge all my brothers to remember—"
He pointed his sword northward, his voice as sharp as metal and stone.
"We have been defeated today, but the backbone of the Northern warriors is not broken! If we ever return to the battlefield, I, Xiao Ruofeng, am willing to live and die with you all to avenge this humiliation!"
"Live and die together! Avenge our humiliation!"
Someone shouted it out first, and then more than 50,000 people roared in unison, their voices shaking the wilderness!
The defeat and dejection of the army vanished in an instant. In its place came a tragic and heroic spirit of fighting to the death.
Xiao Ruofeng looked at the soldiers, his eyes slightly red.
He knew that these men might never see the battlefield again. Upon their return to the capital, this remnant army would likely be disbanded, its generals demoted, and its soldiers sent back to their fields.
But at least for now, their souls haven't dissipated.
"set off!"
At a single command, the army set off.
Smoke and dust billowed as they headed north.
Xiao Ruofeng walked in front and did not look back.
Some roads, once taken, cannot be turned back.
Some people, once betrayed, can never be made up for.
All he could do was take these surviving brothers with him on his final journey.
On the city wall of Ezhou, several garrison commanders silently watched the defeated army depart.
"The Prince of Langya... what a pity." An old general sighed.
"What's there to regret?" the younger general beside him sneered. "With an army of 200,000 defeated like this, anyone else would have committed suicide to atone for their sins long ago."
"What do you know!" The old general glared at him. "In that battle in the southwest, anyone would have lost. Baili Luochen was well prepared, and his evil magic of the medicine man was unstoppable. The Prince of Langya has already done his best to bring these people back."
The young general wanted to retort, but was interrupted by another voice.
"Shut up, all of you."
Everyone turned around and saw that the Prefect of Ezhou had somehow climbed the city wall and was watching the receding dust with a complicated expression.
"Your Excellency, Prefect..."
"Pass down the order," the Prefect of Ezhou said slowly, "What I saw and heard today must not be circulated. Anyone who disobeys will be punished according to military law."
"Yes!"
The group acknowledged the order and withdrew.
The governor of Ezhou stood alone on the city wall, the autumn wind blowing his official robes.
He recalled a day long ago when Langya Prince Xiao Ruofeng was still the famous "little teacher" at Jixia Academy. He had traveled to Ezhou with Lei Mengsha and had met him once.
At that time, Xiao Ruofeng was dressed in white, his hair as white as snow. He talked and laughed as he pointed out the state of the country. How spirited and dashing he was!
But now...
"Alas... royalty, nobleman, and dashing young master, it's all fate and destiny!"
The governor of Ezhou muttered to himself, then turned and descended the city wall.
On the official road outside the city, the army had already disappeared into the distance, becoming a black line.
Tianqi City lies to the north, awaiting the return of the defeated generals, unsure whether they will be met with forgiveness or swords and axes.
Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in Qianzhou, Baili Luochen stood atop the city wall of Juzhou, also gazing northwards.
“My lord,” Chen Dunru said in a low voice, “Our scouts have reported that the remnants of the Prince of Langya’s forces have marched north from Ezhou and will arrive in Tianqi soon.”
"Understood," Baili Luochen replied indifferently.
"What do you think Emperor Mingde will do with the Prince of Langya?"
After a long silence, Baili Luochen slowly said, "Xiao Ruojin may seem kind and generous, but he is actually extremely suspicious. This time, Xiao Ruofeng suffered a great defeat and lost many soldiers, which is the perfect opportunity for him to seize power!"
He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "It's just a pity about Xiao Ruofeng. That child could have become a wise and virtuous king, assisting his elder brother and bringing peace to the world. But being born into an imperial family, some things are not his choice!"
Chen Dunru sighed, "If only the Prince of Langya could come to our side..."
“He won’t come.” Baili Luochen shook his head. “That child values loyalty and the fundamental principles of loyalty between ruler and subject. Even if forced into a desperate situation, he will not betray the Xiao family!”
He gazed at the northern horizon, his voice low and deep:
"This land will ultimately be washed away with blood!"
The mountain wind blows across the city walls, banners flutter in the breeze. The war in the southwest has temporarily subsided, but an even greater storm is brewing.
……
It is located in the northwest of Shannan East Road, about 100 li away from Qilei Mountain.
Situ Xue appeared alone in the fenced courtyard of an unnamed mountain village, her hand resting on her lower abdomen, gazing in the direction of Tianqi.
"Xiao Ruofeng," she murmured to herself, "Don't blame me for leaving without saying goodbye. I don't want to get involved in the court's intrigues, not to mention I already have your child... If one day you can stay in the martial world with me, then let's stay together forever..."
The morning light shone on her pale face, and her eyes held an unprecedented resolve.
Now that Xiao Ruofeng has returned to the capital after his defeat, the court is abuzz with impeachments and rumors. For the sake of her child, for him, and for herself, she has no choice but to leave the Langya Prince's Mansion.
Situ Xue is not heartless. As a woman of the martial world, what can she do for Xiao Ruofeng in this treacherous Tianqi City?
It would be better to leave the palace secretly while the various forces are not paying attention to him, so that at least he won't become Xiao Ruofeng's weakness.
……