Jump into the river

Han Shizhong selected dozens of skilled soldiers from his army and marched to Wanyan Zongbi's camp to retrieve Liang Hongyu's body. A soldier hurriedly reported, "General, someone broke into Wanyan Zongbi's camp yesterday and stole my wife's body. Wanyan Zongbi is dead."

"Who did it?" Han Shizhong asked. You have to know that Wanyan Zongbing was cunning and treacherous, and was a war god of the Jin Dynasty. Looking at the entire Song Dynasty, there was one person who could kill Wanyan Zongbing, and that person was Yue Fei. But Yue Fei was dead. He really couldn't think of anyone else except him who had such high martial arts skills to take Wanyan Zongbing's head among thousands of troops.

"I don't know." The soldier replied.

"Come on, take me to Wanyan Zongbi's camp."

Han Shizhong led his troops and rode quickly towards Wanyan Zongbing's camp. When they arrived at the Jin camp, the Jin soldiers had already disappeared, leaving only the mess on the ground and the smell of burnt corpses.

Han Shizhong stared blankly at the scorched black earth, his eyes gradually fading, like a beast losing its will to fight. He returned to his camp in panic and slumped into his chair. A portrait of Liang Hongyu still hung in Han's study. It was painted by a painter he had commissioned years earlier, and after Liang Hongyu's death, he had it hung up again.

The woman in the painting has clear features and is dressed in red. She holds a sword in her hand, and a red ribbon on her high bun flutters in the wind, making her heroic figure come alive on the paper.

It was such a woman, but he lost her forever, and even her body was nowhere to be found. A feeling of powerlessness and frustration arose in him. He grabbed the wine jug on the table and drank it down in one gulp. The spicy taste of the strong liquor flowed down his throat into his internal organs.

These days, he has been living like a walking corpse, getting himself drunk every day. In his drunken state, he seems to see Liang Hongyu smiling at him again.

That day, Han Shizhong went to Huyan Tong's house to drink again.

"General Huyan, Marshal Han has come to your house again." The personal soldier reported in a low voice, with a bit of reluctance in his tone.

Hu Yantong put down the military book in his hand and sighed: "Prepare some wine."

In just a quarter of an hour, Han Shizhong had stormed into the mansion and, without waiting to be announced, plopped down in the main seat in the hall. In just over a month, he had lost a lot of weight, his eye sockets sunken, his beard unkempt. Only his eyes, sometimes cloudy and lifeless, sometimes sharp as a knife, were still noticeable.

"Huyan, come drink a few cups with me today." Han Shizhong's voice was hoarse, not as loud as before.

"I obey your command." Hu Yantong replied respectfully and ordered people to serve wine and food.

After three rounds of drinks, Han Shizhong suddenly narrowed his eyes and said, "I heard that you've taken in a new concubine who's a great singer and dancer. Why don't you invite her out to meet you?"

Hu Yantong's wine glass trembled slightly, and a few drops of wine spilled out. He remembered that half a month ago, Han Shizhong had made the same request, and after that, rumors spread throughout the mansion.

"What? You can't bear to leave?" Han Shizhong's tone turned cold.

Hu Yantong bowed his head and said, "I dare not. It's just that my wife is vulgar and I'm afraid she will disturb the Marshal's elegance."

Han Shizhong suddenly slammed his wine glass on the table: "Even you want to disobey me?"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. Hu Yantong was silent for a moment, then finally waved his hand to the servants, "Please invite Madam Liu in."

Soon, a woman in a light green dress came over, lowered her head and saluted the two men.

Han Shizhong stared at her intently and said with a smile, "You are indeed very pretty. Come, pour me some wine."

The woman looked at Hu Yantong and saw him nod slightly before she slowly stepped forward and filled Han Shizhong's glass. When Han Shizhong took the glass, he touched her fingers intentionally or unintentionally, and the woman retracted her hand like a frightened rabbit.

"Marshal, please respect yourself." She whispered.

Han Shizhong laughed heartily. "Why, untouchable? Do you know how many women in this capital are eager to pour wine for me?"

Hu Yantong clenched his fists under the table, his knuckles turning white, but he still forced a smile: "The Marshal is drunk, why don't you take a rest for a while."

Han Shizhong was indeed drunk. He staggered to his feet and grabbed Hu Yantong's arm: "I will stay at your house today and return to the camp tomorrow."

He turned around and smiled at the woman in green, "Don't leave, have a few more drinks with me."

It was late at night, and most of the people in Huyan Mansion had gone to bed. Only a light was still on in a room in the backyard. Han Shizhong lay drunkenly on his couch, snoring like thunder.

Hu Yantong was wandering alone in the yard, the moonlight made his shadow very long.

He recalled Han Shizhong's heroic spirit at that time! Facing Jin soldiers several times his size, he remained fearless and commanded with confidence. After the battle, he shook Hu Yantong's hand tightly and announced in front of the entire army: "Hu Yantong saved my life. From today on, he is my brother, Han Shizhong. We share happiness and hardship together!"

But what about now? Ever since Liang Hongyu's death, Han Shizhong's personality had changed dramatically. He was obsessed with wine and women, even going so far as to go to the homes of the generals and have their concubines drink with him. The generals were furious but could not speak out. They could not connect the drunkard and womanizer of today with the loyal and righteous hero of the past.

Huyan Tong thought of Han Shizhong's frivolous words to his concubine at the banquet, and of how he was increasingly sinking into alcohol and sex, and his heart ached.

The Song Dynasty is in danger. Although the Song and Jin have reached a peace agreement, no one can predict when the Jin people will make a comeback. How can Marshal Han resist the foreign enemies in this state?

A surge of rage suddenly surged in Huyan Tong's heart. He wanted to rush into the room, grab the drunken man, and ask him if he still remembered the oath they had made, how Liang Hongyu had persuaded him to stop drinking, and the oath they had made to recover the Central Plains!

As if possessed by some mysterious force, Huyan Tong pushed open the door and approached Han Shizhong's couch. Beside the couch hung Han Shizhong's sword, a precious sword bestowed upon him by the emperor, engraved with the words "Serve the country with utmost loyalty."

Hu Yantong reached out to touch the sword, wanting to use the cold blade to wake the intoxicated man. He wanted to tell him that if Madam Liang were still alive, she would never want to see him like this!

The moment his hand touched the scabbard, Han Shizhong suddenly opened his eyes. There was no trace of drunkenness in those eyes, only cold vigilance and murderous intent.

"What do you want to do?" Han Shizhong's voice was as cold as ice in December.

Hu Yantong was speechless for a moment: "Marshal, I..."

Han Shizhong rolled over and sat up, his right hand already gripping the hilt of his sword. "Seeing my decline, are you planning to replace me? Or have the Jin people promised you a high position and generous salary?"

Hu Yantong was struck by lightning and fell to his knees with a thud: "I dare not! I am loyal to the Song Dynasty and to the Marshal!"

Han Shizhong sneered, "Loyalty? Your wife treated you like a brother when she was alive, and you're allowing me to tease your concubine before her body is even cold? Is this what you call loyalty?"

These words were like a sharp knife, piercing Hu Yantong's heart. He suddenly looked up, tears in his eyes: "Marshal, since you know that Sister Liang treats me like a brother, why do you humiliate me like this? Why do you treat yourself like this?"

Han Shizhong's eyes flickered, and he turned his head away: "Tomorrow you will report to Cui Deming's army in Huaiyin. I can't accommodate you here anymore."

Hu Yantong stared at Han Shizhong in amazement. After a long pause, he kowtowed heavily and said, "Marshal, Cui Deming and I have a long-standing grudge. If I serve him, I'm afraid I'll be in great danger. Marshal, don't you remember the old grudge we had during the Battle of Dayi Town?"

Huyan Tong's words suddenly reminded Han Shizhong of the Battle of Dayi Town many years ago. Back then, he was surrounded by Jin soldiers, and it was Huyan Tong who single-handedly charged into the enemy lines and carried him out from the dead. In that battle, he was struck by three arrows and nearly died. But today, he was ready to draw his sword against him. Three days ago, when he heard Huyan Tong threaten to kill him, he remained unmoved. He had never imagined that he would actually want his life today. How could he continue to keep him alive and put himself in danger?

"Go ahead, no need to say more." Han Shizhong waved to him and left the house.

Three months later, it was Han Shizhong's birthday.

Han Shizhong sat at the head of the table, accepting everyone's congratulations with an indifferent expression, drinking one cup after another.

"Marshal, General Huyan requests to see you." The personal guard stepped forward to report.

Han Shizhong frowned: "Which General Huyan?"

"General Hu Yantong, he came specially from Cui Deming's army to celebrate the Marshal's birthday."

Han Shizhong snorted coldly: "Let him in."

Hu Yantong walked into the tent, looking haggard and stumbling. He held a wooden box in his hands and knelt respectfully, saying, "I wish the Marshal a long and healthy life."

Han Shizhong glanced at him and said nothing.

Hu Yantong opened the wooden box, revealing an exquisitely crafted dagger. "This is a black iron dagger I found after searching the entire city. I remember the marshal's dagger was lost during the breakout during the Battle of Dayi Town. I've always regretted it..."

Han Shizhong suddenly stood up. Hu Yantong used the life-saving grace he had shown him during the Battle of Dayi Town to threaten him. He was not the kind of person who would be coerced, so he didn't even look at the dagger, flicked the hem of his robe, snorted coldly, turned around and left.

The generals in the tent looked at each other in bewilderment, no one daring to speak for Hu Yantong. Hu Yantong knelt where he was, his hands trembling slightly. Finally, he bitterly put away the wooden box and quietly left the tent.

When he returned to Cui Deming's army, even more cruel punishment awaited him.

"Hu Yantong left the barracks without permission and will be punished with thirty strokes of the cane!" the superior announced with a sneer.

The military club struck Huyan Tong repeatedly on his back. He clenched his teeth, not letting out a cry of pain. The pain in his mouth was not even one ten-thousandth of the pain in his heart.

He was once the most powerful general under Han Shizhong, and the "Black-faced Yama" who frightened the Jin soldiers on the battlefield. But now he has become a prisoner who can be bullied by everyone.

It was late at night, and Huyan Tong dragged his wounded body to the river near the military camp.

The river shimmered in the moonlight, flowing quietly. Hu Yantong looked at the water, and in a trance he seemed to see a scene from many years ago.

It was at the celebration banquet after the Battle of Dayi Town. Han Shizhong put his arm around his shoulders and said to the generals, "If it weren't for Brother Huyan risking his life to save me today, I, Han Shizhong, would have perished long ago! From now on, his affairs are my affairs!"

Liang Hongyu smiled and poured wine for them. "You two, one reckless and the other impulsive, are a perfect match for brothers. However, you must be more careful on the battlefield in the future."

At that time, Han Shizhong laughed heartily: "With you, Hongyu, and Brother Huyan here, what do I, Han Shizhong, have to fear?"

The words are still fresh in my mind, but everything has changed.

Huyan Tong never imagined that Han Shizhong, who once treated him as a brother and was loyal and brave, would become such a lustful and shameless person who spent all his time drinking and having fun.

Liang Hongyu died on the battlefield. He understood Han Shizhong's grief. How could he not feel his own pain? The woman who loved him like a sister, the female general who was so heroic on the battlefield, was gone from them forever.

But can sadness be an excuse for depravity?

The Song Dynasty was devastated, the people were displaced, and countless soldiers died on the battlefield. These people shouldered the heavy responsibility of recovering the lost territory.

Hu Yantong looked at the river with tears streaming down his face.

If he went back, he would only continue to be tortured by Cui Deming. A real man cannot die on the battlefield, but must submit to the hands of a villain all day long. How sad!

He slowly took off his military uniform, folded it neatly, placed it on the shore, and then walked towards the river step by step.

The icy river water flooded over his ankles, knees, waist, and chest...

"Marshal, if there is an afterlife, there will be no more barriers between us brothers..."

The river eventually drowned everything he had.

When Han Shizhong heard the news of Hu Yantong's death, he was drinking in his study facing Liang Hongyu's portrait.

"What did you say?" The wine glass in Han Shizhong's hand fell to the ground, and the wine splashed on his clothes.

The guard bowed his head and repeated, "General Huyan... committed suicide by jumping into the river three days ago. People in Cui Deming's army said that he was punished by military discipline after leaving the barracks to celebrate a birthday. He couldn't bear the humiliation..."

Han Shizhong stood there in a daze for a long time. Suddenly, he rushed to the bookcase and took out a wooden box. When he opened the box, he found a dagger and a yellowed book.

It was a gift from Hu Yantong on his birthday, but he didn't even look at it.

Han Shizhong picked up the dagger with trembling hands. There were two lines of small words engraved on it: "I will not give up until the country is restored. Marshal, please keep it in mind."

Those were the words he had said to Hu Yantong when he was drunk after the Battle of Dayi Town. Unexpectedly, Hu Yantong had always remembered them and had them engraved on his dagger.

Han Shizhong opened the booklet again and found a Northern Expedition strategy drawn by Hu Yantong himself, detailing the Jin army's deployment and the Song army's offensive routes. The last page, the ink still fresh, read:

"Marshal, I know you've lost your wife, and I share your grief. However, the Song Dynasty is in danger, and millions of people are eagerly waiting for your return. I hope you will rise up and lead us to recover our lost territory. Although I suffered humiliation in Cui Deming's army, my resolve remains unwavering, and I am ready to accept your orders at any time."

Han Shizhong sat down on the ground dejectedly, and the booklet slipped from his hands.

He recalled that rainy night when Hu Yantong, covered in blood, carried him out from the pile of dead bodies, shouting as he ran, "Marshal, hold on! We said we would recapture the Central Plains together!"

He remembered what Liang Hongyu often said when she was alive: "Aman, you have a strong temper, are easily angered and suspicious. Only a straightforward brother like Hu Yantong can speak frankly and advise you when you make mistakes. You must cherish him."

He recalled the words Huyan Tong's concubine later sent him: "General Huyan went to get the sword that day because he wanted to use it to express his determination and to encourage the Marshal to take heart. He had no ill intentions at all."

Han Shizhong hugged his head and let out a wild howl.