Hearing Xia Yong ask what happened, the shopkeeper was somewhat surprised.
Since Miss Jun came here, these villagers never inquired about her matters.
Even after the war with the Jurchen people began, these people remained indifferent and unconcerned, with the village chief never asking a single question.
It was as if the turmoil outside had nothing to do with them, and Miss Jun's worries and anger were also irrelevant to them.
Because of this, he had no shortage of criticisms in his heart.
Now it's wartime, do they know how much money Miss Jun has spent on their food, drink, clothing, and necessities?
Do they know how dangerous the task Miss Jun is about to undertake is?
Miss Jun took only her own people, which is evidence enough of the danger of the journey; she did not want these people to risk danger, and before leaving, she made ample preparations for their sustenance here.
Truly treating them like children and providing for them as if they were revered ancestors.
At least, they finally know to ask a question.
"Do you know the dynasty is discussing peace negotiations?" the shopkeeper said.
This matter made Miss Jun furious in public last time; it spread throughout the village, and Miss Jun didn't hide it from them, so they knew.
Xia Yong nodded.
"In the dynasty, those officials who opposed the peace negotiations have been demoted, dismissed, or have had their crimes questioned, and no one dares to oppose anymore," the shopkeeper continued, "Lord Huang has preliminarily reached an agreement with the Jurchen people on the peace negotiations, but the Duke of Chengguo has sent a memorial from the northern lands, resolutely opposing the negotiations."
Xia Yong gave an affirmative grunt again, but did not speak.
The shopkeeper looked at him and suddenly thought of a question.
"What do you think of the Duke of Chengguo?" he asked.
Xia Yong made a sound in acknowledgment.
"Pretty good," he said.
Pretty good?
"Don't you think he is very formidable?" the shopkeeper asked, "The Duke of Chengguo started driving out the Jurchen from the northern lands more than ten years ago, and it was he who reclaimed the northern lands. Isn't that impressive?"
Xia Yong's lips moved slightly.
"Waging war is never the affair of one person," he said.
Is that, a lack of recognition?
The shopkeeper raised his eyebrows as he wondered why they were so indifferent to the man everyone reveres as the Divine General, the Duke of Chengguo.
"Just say what it is with the Duke of Chengguo," Xia Yong continued, obviously not wanting to carry on with this topic, "or else Miss Jun will have gone far."
So what if she has? Do you still intend to chase after her? The shopkeeper silently grumbled to himself.
"The Duke of Chengguo resolutely opposes the peace negotiations, claiming the Jin thieves are treacherous and untrustworthy. He states that currently, their morale is lower, and their fighting spirit is dampened, while the morale of the citizens and the generals of the northern lands is high," he said, "He believes that this is a critical moment on the brink of success, and he hopes the emperor will not be misled by traitors."
"Then what?" Xia Yong asked, "The Duke of Chengguo is so formidable, did the emperor listen to him?"
Oh, is that sarcasm? The shopkeeper's eyes widened; he hadn't expected such a typically honest man to say that.
But right now, he wasn't in the mood for mockery.
"The emperor didn't listen; the emperor ordered the Duke of Chengguo to retreat three prefectures," he said while looking at Xia Yong, "The Duke of Chengguo refused."
Xia Yong looked at him.
"Then, the emperor, in a great rage, ordered a withdrawal of troops from the northern lands," the shopkeeper said.
The emperor's order to withdraw troops—a command that, although these northern troops belong to the Duke of Chengguo, they are also the emperor's, not all generals dared to refuse the emperor as the Duke of Chengguo did.
As one could imagine, the current situation in the northern lands...
.........…..
As one could imagine, the current situation in the northern lands must be chaotic.
Once the retreat begins, the momentum disperses like a bursting dam; a single retreat and a failure of a thousand miles, the Jurchen will advance unstoppably like hungry tigers descending the mountain.
Zhu Zan held the letter in his hand, which trembled slightly.
"Digging one's own grave, digging one's own grave," he suddenly let out a tragic laugh, tearing the letter in his hand to shreds and scattering it into the air.
The fragments of paper flew in the vast winter day like snowflakes.
"Northward," he said.
The men behind him exchanged glances.
"Big brother," one of them stepped forward to stop him, "but your wife is in Daming Prefecture."
Zhu Zan paused mid-step.
"Big brother," another man came forward, "Now with the emperor's command, many will harbor disloyal intentions. Uncle Qinghe, who has always been at odds with the Duke and is known for sycophancy, will definitely seize the lady. Your wife going to Daming Prefecture is like being in a den of danger. If we don't go..."
Zhu Zan gazed towards the direction of Daming Prefecture, then towards the distant northern lands.
"Mother surely knows the news by now," he clenched his fist, squeezing out the words between his teeth, "My mother is the most formidable, she will certainly find a way to protect herself."
The expressions on the faces of the men around him were complex.
"Big brother," they shouted in unison, their voices urgent.
"If the northern troops withdraw, the Jurchen will surely break through the defense lines and march southward; then, the common people who can't flee in time will be doomed," Zhu Zan spoke gravely, "We must hurry to assist father. This isn't just a matter of my father's circumstances; it's a matter that concerns the life and death of thousands of common people."
He raised his hand to prevent further words from the men.
"Travel by day and night without rest; should anyone dare to obstruct, be it government soldiers or bandits."
He took the axe from his waist and swung it down in a chopping motion.
"Let's go."
The other men responded in unison, each drawing their axes and mounting their horses, a group racing across the open field.
...........
With a creak, the sound of a snapping branch was heard, and Xia Yong, who was heading up the mountain with his head lowered, looked up to see Zhao Hanqing perched on a tree in front.
She was holding something in her arms and gazing into the distance, absentmindedly swinging her feet.
"Niuniu." Xia Yong called out.
When Zhao Hanqing saw him, she suddenly jumped up and quickly disappeared into the forest.
Xia Yong was stunned for a moment, then let out a sigh.
This child had become like this again.
He briskly walked along the mountain path and soon arrived where Xiao Zhi was, spinning thread in the sunlight as usual.
Even though Miss Jun had sent enough clothes and fabrics, Xiao Zhi still kept up her daily labor without a break.
Perhaps she just didn't want to let herself idle away her time.
"Has she gone?" Xiao Zhi asked.
Xia Yong nodded, hesitant to speak.
"Whatever you want to say, just say it." Xiao Zhi said without lifting her head.
"Princess." Xia Yong suddenly exclaimed.
The title of princess made Xiao Zhi stop spinning her thread, and she laughed softly.
"What princess? The country has been lost for decades." she said.
Xia Yong bowed respectfully.
"A princess is still a princess." he said.
Xiao Zhi looked at him.
"What are you planning to do?" she asked.
Xia Yong hesitated for a moment, then mustered his courage to speak up.
"Please forgive Xia Yong, princess. I wish to accompany Miss Jun to Hejian." he said.
"Old Xia, what are you talking about!" Yang Jing's voice called from behind, as he rushed over and landed a punch on Xia Yong, "Have you forgotten big brother's admonition?"
Xia Yong stumbled backward a few steps, but his expression became even more resolute.
"I haven't forgotten. Big brother asked us to look after sister-in-law Niuniu, to take care of everyone." he said, his voice hoarse, "But I've always regretted not going with big brother to seek justice from the feudal authority, I regret letting big brother do everything alone, how weary he must have been, he was human too, he must have felt sad when he couldn't accomplish something, yet I wasn't by his side, I didn't help him at all."
As he spoke, he pounded his chest with his fist.
"I regret it, I've regretted every day for the past ten years, I think if big brother comes back and he sets out again, I must follow him, just as when we fought the enemy back then, I'll follow him, whether we live or die, we'll be together."
Yang Jing's eyes reddened, his hands clenched, wanting to say something but unable to speak.
"I didn't follow when big brother left," Xia Yong pointed toward the foot of the mountain, "Now the disciple that big brother trained is going to do what big brother once did, to fight the enemy, serve the country, and help the people. I don't want to wait here for her return, I want to go with her, if we come back, we come back together; if not, then we don't. I don't want to wait anymore."
He said and knelt down to kowtow to Xiao Zhi.
"Please forgive Xia Yong for not being able to keep his promise, princess."
Xiao Zhi watched him.
"It was he who said to make achievements and earn glory, it was he who said following him through life and death would bring wealth and honor, it was he who said you all would be esteemed by thousands, everything was what he said. Even when the end came to nothing, you never coerced him, you followed him through life and death, not for what he promised. And yet, for those promises, he abandoned you all. Xia Yong, remember this, it's not that you have failed him; he is the one who abandoned you, he failed you."
"Sister-in-law, please stop," Yang Jing interjected anxiously, then threw another punch at Xia Yong, "What are you babbling about?"
Xia Yong kept his head lowered and didn't speak.
Xiao Zhi stood up.
"Remember, your journey to Hejian Prefecture now is not for him, it's for Miss Jun and it's even more so for the pitiable people of this chaotic world." she said.
Xia Yong and Yang Jing were taken aback and stared at her bewilderedly.
What was she saying?
Xiao Zhi smiled again.
"Of course, none of this is for the sake of making achievements or earning the reverence of thousands. It's simply pity for the suffering people in troubled times."
Having said that, she pulled out the hairpin from her head.
It was more a token than a mere hairpin.
"Xia Yong, I order you to deploy troops." she said, extending the token to him.
Deploy troops.
Xia Yong and Yang Jing trembled all over, with Xia Yong shakily receiving the token.
"Your subordinate obeys the command," he said with a quivering voice.
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