Chapter 173: Salvation (Part 2)
Perhaps it was because Prince Cheng was blessed with a long life, or perhaps it was the effect of the spiritual spring water, but he managed to overcome the high fever, and the fever gradually subsided. After eating, he recovered a little.
After feeling a little better, Prince Cheng insisted on getting down and walking by himself. This time, no matter what Su Fengzhang said, he refused to let him carry him and continue on his journey.
There was no other way, so Su Fengzhang had to find a thick branch to use as a crutch, which at least made it easier for him.
However, after spending a few days together, he finally understood how stubborn and persistent Prince Cheng was. Even though walking in the snow was difficult and legs buried in the snow were more likely to get frostbite, this pampered prince did not complain at all.
Every time at this time, Su Fengzhang would doubt the scene he saw in the cave. The fragile appearance of Prince Tiancheng seemed to be a bubble, or his own illusion.
But the more this happened, the more an inexplicable heartache lingered in his heart. Seeing Prince Cheng stumbling forward once again, Su Fengzhang couldn't help but step forward and take his arm. "Prince Cheng, let's support each other and walk forward. This way, we'll save energy and be safer."
Prince Cheng sneered, obviously thinking that Su Fengzhang's excuse was really ordinary.
I didn't realize when I was in the capital that the top scholar born into a civil family had such good physical strength. After so many days in the snow, Prince Cheng himself was already exhausted. If it weren't for his faith, he would have collapsed long ago.
Su Fengzhang was fine, he seemed to be at ease and even slowly got used to this damn bad weather.
Last night, this man even caught a snow rabbit from the snow, which added meat to his meal that day. When Prince Cheng woke up the next day, he felt that his strength had recovered by three points.
However, his hands and feet were stiff at this time, and he did not refuse Su Fengzhang's kindness.
The two of them walked forward supporting each other. In the howling north wind, each other's warmth became the warmest existence.
Prince Cheng tried his best not to put his power on the people around him, and suddenly asked, "Master Su, what is the purpose of studying and becoming an official?"
Su Fengzhang laughed and said, "I haven't had any ambitions since I was a child. At first, I just felt that farming was too tiring and business was of low status, so I chose to study. After all, after my eldest brother died, I became the eldest son in the family and had to shoulder the responsibility of supporting the Su family."
Upon hearing this, Prince Cheng laughed and said, "Lord Su, this doesn't sound like something you would say."
Su Fengzhang raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Which one is not like that?"
Prince Cheng pointed out: "Of course it's the sentence about not having any ambitions."
Su Fengzhang laughed: "There's nothing I can do. I guess I don't want much."
In other words, what he wants cannot be obtained by just working hard in this era, especially spiritual freedom. If he wants to get these, he has to challenge the entire social system.
Prince Cheng didn't know if he understood what he was saying. He sighed and said, "Then I just want too much, so I feel tired."
"But Lord Su, you proposed the Xuanwu Ceremony and sent an envoy to the Xianbei. Aren't you aiming for a high position?"
“Everyone says it’s lonely at the top, but they don’t realize that those who are at the top can do whatever they want.”
Su Fengzhang just laughed after hearing this, and after a while he replied, "What a pity, my last name is Su."
A man named Su will always be a subordinate in this dynasty unless he has the ability to change the dynasty. Even if he reaches a position second only to the emperor, he is actually just a chess piece.
Su Fengzhang had considered all these things, but regardless of whether he had the right to change the dynasty, even if he did, he would not want to experience war. It was always the common people who suffered in war, and the Great Zhou was far from the point where the people were living in dire straits.
We cannot drag the entire world into purgatory because of our own selfishness.
Prince Cheng also laughed and suddenly said, "What a coincidence, my last name happens to be Qin."
After saying this, both of them tacitly stopped talking about the topic. After walking for a long time, the snow scene around them became natural. Looking at it day and night, it was not as scary as it was at the beginning.
Sometimes, Prince Cheng would even have a strange idea in his mind that it would be nice to continue like this. Perhaps because his body was suffering at this time, he felt very calm in his heart, with a kind of peace that he had never experienced in his life.
When they heard the sound of horse hooves, the two people walking on the snow looked a little dazed, almost thinking it was an illusion.
The one who arrived, dusty and tired, was He Jun, riding a fine horse. Before the horse had even stopped, He Jun jumped off and walked quickly to the side of Prince Cheng. Seeing that he was safe and sound, he breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, fortunately."
Along with He Jun came dozens of people who were obviously born in the military, and they all breathed a sigh of relief at this moment.
Prince Cheng was still leaning on his cane, but he looked stronger than before: "Ajun, I've been waiting for you for a long time."
"Get on the horse and leave here first. I'll explain to you on the way." He Jun said this, and naturally someone came over with a horse.
This time He Jun was obviously well prepared, so Su Fengzhang and Prince Cheng did not need to share a horse.
He Jun didn't ignore Su Fengzhang. He glanced at him, bowed, and said, "Sir Su, this time is all thanks to you. I will definitely reward you handsomely when I return to the Great Zhou."
Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "It is my duty as a humble official."
Prince Cheng interrupted them: "Okay, now can you tell me what happened?"
Anger flashed across He Jun's face, and he snorted coldly, "I used to think the Fourth Prince was a hypocrite, always talking about morality and justice, but I didn't expect him to be so irresponsible when faced with problems, and he has no affection for his brothers at all."
"That day, an avalanche hit the diplomatic mission and everyone was scattered. I was injured and unconscious. Fortunately, a soldier from the Zhenbei Army was with me, so I was able to survive."
"There are eight of us who survived. The Fourth Prince was only slightly injured. After he woke up, he ordered the others to continue moving forward, so as not to waste time searching for others."
"With you gone, those people naturally have no choice but to listen to the Fourth Prince. If I wasn't still breathing, I'm afraid the Fourth Prince would have wanted to throw me on this Cloud Mountain."
There was indignation in He Jun's tone. Although he was speaking lightly now, the situation at that time could be imagined. The Fourth Prince was quite jealous of the Fifth Prince and did not have much friendship with He Jun. He did not do anything at that time only because the Zhenbei Army was present.
Prince Cheng's face also turned cold. He could fully imagine the Fourth Prince's rage at that time. Perhaps in the heart of this Fourth Prince, he wished that he would die in Yunshan.
He Jun added, "When I woke up, I was already in the Great Zhou. I had no choice but to ask for help from the border troops to come and pick you up."
Prince Cheng frowned and asked, "Is there any news from Yunzhou City?"
He Jun's originally furrowed brow relaxed a little: "At least the city hasn't been breached yet."
This was already the best news among all the bad news. He Jun added, "The Fourth Prince has already led his men to Yunzhou. He must be trying to atone for his sins. He can't even wait a moment."
Prince Cheng then asked, "Who is the commander guarding Yunshan City right now?"
He Jun mentioned a name, and Prince Cheng smiled when he heard it: "So it's an old friend."
Riding a horse is naturally much faster than walking. In less than half a day, they arrived at Yunshan City. Yunshan City is also located in the border, but compared with the famous Yunzhou City, it is just an unknown border town.
Not only is it located in a remote area and backed by the dangerous Yunshan Mountain, the local economy and agriculture are also underdeveloped. It has always been a place of exile. The generals who were sent to Yunshan City were naturally ostracized by the court.
This was a good thing for Prince Cheng, simply because the general defending the city was born in the Liu family army. Although Liujia Village had long been in name only and had fallen into extreme poverty during his uncle's time, the bond of kinship still existed.
If not, it would be impossible for He Jun to borrow troops from here, and Prince Cheng would not be able to obtain confidential information.
Just like now, Prince Cheng was sitting in the general's mansion, flipping through confidential war reports, something that the Fourth Prince had never touched before.
But the more he looked at him, the more his brows furrowed. He pinched his brows and said, "Although Yunzhou City has not been destroyed, the situation is extremely critical."
He Jun also said: "Who would have thought that the Xianbei people would come up with such a disgusting idea."
It turned out that the Xianbei people failed to keep Prince Cheng and the Fourth Prince, but they also knew that they would not be able to return to the Great Zhou for a while, so they found two people of similar figures and hung them in front of the formation. It was difficult to tell the real ones from the fake ones, which made Meng Kun a hindrance.
Although they failed to trick the city gates open, they also made Meng Kun dare not attack at will. The fact that Yunzhou can hold on to this day in such a passive state is also the credit of Meng Kun and the Zhenbei Army.
Su Fengzhang said, "The Fourth Prince has been on the march for a few days. I believe Meng Jiangjun must have realized by now that the two tied up in front of the battle are just a cover."
Prince Cheng was worried and said, "Yunzhou has been through several wars. The city is running low on food and grass. The Xianbei are coming with such force. I don't know how long they can hold out."
He Jun also frowned and said, "Even if we go back now, we can't help much. We have neither food nor soldiers."
Su Fengzhang's eyes moved slightly, and he suddenly said, "That's not necessarily true."
Two pairs of eyes turned to him, and He Jun pressed on, "Do you have a way to conjure up food and an army?"
Prince Cheng also asked, "Master Su, please speak."
Su Fengzhang shook his head and said, "There's nothing I can do about the food and fodder issue. You two are both aware of the solution I proposed earlier."
Prince Cheng sighed and said, "Yunshan is not far from Youzhou, so it's not a bad idea to go there and borrow some grain."
He Jun's focus was on something else: "If there's no way to deal with food and fodder, can we say that soldiers can? Could it be that Lord Su T can turn beans into soldiers?"
"I am a mere mortal, I don't have these supernatural abilities." Su Fengzhang continued, "But I do have an ancient recipe that is even more effective than the bean-casting soldiers. If used well, it may not only help lift the siege of Yunzhou, but also prevent the Xianbei from returning!"
When these words were spoken, the eyes of Prince Cheng and He Jun lit up.
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