Chapter 435 Sending Signals
"Your Majesty! A letter from the King of Western Qiang!" A subordinate presented a letter.
After reading the letter, the King of Western Liao angrily cursed the King of Western Qiang as a fool.
"Wanting to eat meat but lacking the guts? How could Tibet possibly join forces with Daqian! Go tell him to send troops immediately. I am not dead, I am alive and well! Don't fall for Daqian's treacherous scheme!"
"Which bastard spread the rumor that I am dead? This is outrageous!"
"Father...don't lock me in a cage."
The word "Father" sent a shiver down the spine of the King of Western Liao.
Of all his sons, not one could evoke such a surge of paternal love in him.
He looked over.
Compared to the fierce warriors of the Western Liao, the boy looked so weak, trembling all over, with fear in his eyes, as if he had seen something terrible.
"I'm scared... they'll lock me in a cage and make me crawl around like a dog, drinking rotten swill..."
The King of Western Liao was furious!
He pushed aside the men holding him, reached out and embraced him, crying out in anguish, "My son! How dare they treat you like this!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my throat.
A thin needle was inserted into his neck.
Hehe, you're dead now, aren't you?
...
A vast sea of snow stretches as far as the eye can see.
A group of people are so insignificant, like ants on a blank sheet of paper.
"Brother, why are my eyes a little blurry?" Zhang Lin blinked hard and rubbed his eyes a few times.
A pair of sore hands turned his head back.
"I told you not to keep staring at the snow, don't keep staring, look at me! Look at other colors."
"But if I'm not watching over you, there might be ravines or narrow gaps, which could be very dangerous."
Zhang Lin stared at the person's face in front of him for a long time. "Brother, why does your face look as white as snow to me?"
Ji Ruyan remained silent, continuing to stare at the blueprints in her hands.
The 2,000-strong team was reduced by several hundred people, and their clothes were in disarray, as some of them were cotton-padded clothes and leather boots that had been taken from the Western Liao people.
Wearing several layers makes one look very bulky.
Even so, every morning when the sun rises, there are always people who never wake up again.
With tens of thousands of pursuers behind them, they had no choice but to keep moving forward.
Moreover, we must get out of the snow forest as soon as possible.
Otherwise, this place will be their graveyard.
“Here, right here.” Ji Ruyan pressed her hand heavily on one spot.
"This is a river, and it must be frozen over now. If we cross carefully, we can get out a few days earlier than if we keep going straight."
Just as Liu Hao was about to give the order, he suddenly stumbled and fell into the snow.
"Your Highness, Commandant Liu's feet are frostbitten!"
"Carry him on your back!"
"Your Highness..." Liu Hao's voice was weak.
He knew he was going to die. His frostbite was secondary; the most important thing was the wound on his waist, which, for some reason, kept bleeding and seemed unable to heal.
Because of the cold weather, the ice froze before it could seep out, so no one knew.
He can't leave; he can't be a burden to everyone.
Green hills everywhere bury loyal bones; why must they be wrapped in horsehide to return home?
"Your Highness, put me down! You and your men should leave quickly!"
"Stop talking nonsense! Brother Lin, carry him on your back!" Ji Ruyan's gaze was cold and hard as he swept over the group.
These were all his personal guards, each and every one of them a rare and outstanding man.
We must not give up as long as there is a glimmer of hope.
"Hold on for one more day, and you'll be able to get out."
"Your parents, brothers, and sisters are all waiting for you to come home!"
He felt a tightness in his chest and didn't continue speaking.
Holding the last pill in his hand, he turned around and swallowed it.
It will go out.
He wants to live.
Qingqing is still waiting for him, and the whole world is still waiting for him.
Before Liu Hao could say anything more, Zhang Lin had already carried him on his back.
"Brother Zhang, listen to me, I'm really beyond saving. Please have His Highness put me here, you can even do it quietly..." Liu Hao said anxiously in Zhang Lin's ear.
Zhang Lin wouldn't let it go, "Stop talking. To tell you the truth, I can't feel my legs anymore. Even if I go out, I might be crippled. But we still have to go out. We have family waiting for us outside."
The voice behind Zhang Lin was so low it was almost inaudible.
Xiaomeng was still waiting for him at home. He had promised her that he would crawl back if he had to.
He hasn't even seen his daughter yet!
How should I put it about Liu Hao? He's different; he's beyond saving.
But Zhang Lin is too obedient to His Highness; not even nine oxen could pull him back.
He was a little angry.
Yet he felt that his death was worthwhile.
For having such brothers, for having such a prince, I would die nine times without regret.
The large group continued to move forward, trudging through the thick snow.
There were scouts ahead, and those behind covering up the traces.
Zhang Lin took something out and stuffed it into Liu Hao's mouth.
It smells delicious and tastes great.
What is it?
"Roasted chestnuts, I dug out a squirrel's nest and took them out." Zhang Lin went to find food as soon as he stopped to rest.
He's really something; he can find things that others can't, as if he can smell them.
Throughout the journey, he was responsible for His Highness's meals.
Liu Hao was very satisfied to be able to eat such delicious food before he died.
“Brother Zhang, listen to me, His Highness must get out. Our mission is to protect him. If things come to this… you must persuade him not to worry about us. He has special abilities; he can easily get out on his own…”
I won't listen!
What the prince says and does.
Zhang Lin remained silent.
Liu Hao seemed to be giving his last words.
And so on:
"If Your Highness were to become emperor, you would surely be a good emperor."
Tell His Highness that my hometown has been plagued by floods for years, and the dikes can never be properly repaired. Could you find some skilled hydraulic engineers to fix them properly?
Zhang Lin understands this problem.
This isn't a problem with the waterworks; it's because someone embezzled public funds and cut corners, just like in Ming'an County before.
"Tell His Highness that the doctors trained by Miss Lu could open a clinic in my hometown. In my area, it's impossible to find a doctor even if you walk dozens of miles, and many people can only wait to die at home when they are sick..."
...
“Brother Zhang, only now do I understand that Your Highness and Miss Lu may be looking in different directions... but the paths they're taking are the same…”
As Zhang Lin listened, his dry eyes gradually became moist.
It seems Liu Hao is really not up to the task.
His voice grew weaker and weaker.
"Say it again, I'm not smart enough to remember."
Suddenly, a sharp signal flare exploded in the air.
"Young Master?" Zhang Lin looked ahead.
This was the last signal flare they had.
The Western Liao dogs relentlessly pursued them. If they were released in the mountains, outsiders might not see them, but it could attract enemies.
Now, Ji Ruyan has been released.
Zhang Lin was carrying no one and didn't notice the situation until now, when he realized that his brothers who had been scouting behind him had caught up.
They said the Xiliao dogs were still impossible to shake off; they were accompanied by hunting dogs and were very good at tracking.
"Speed up, we'll be at the riverbank soon!" Ji Ruyan ordered.
"We're close to Gucheng here, the garrison there will come running when they see the signal!"
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