She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Zhao Zun vented his frustrations in front of Han Lei and Hua Tianyou.

Under Han Lei’s persuasion and reassurance, Zhao Zun finally decided to relinquish military power, return to the Capital City to receive rewards, and live a carefree life as a rightful Prince Xiaoyao. Han Lei also expressed that wherever Zhao Zun went, she would follow him and fully support him.

They would not return to Ling’an City. After completing the handover, Zhao Zun would take Han Lei directly back to the Capital City, accompanied only by Ping Chuan.

Meanwhile, from Ling’an City, apart from the two traitors and the trusted aides who died in the ambush with Zhao Zun, Xiao Zhengfei led the remaining eighty guards to depart directly from Ling’an City. They would meet at Qingshui County before returning to the Capital City together.

The Da Jing Dynasty had a total of seven provinces and sixty-two counties. The seven provinces were: Jizhou, Qingzhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, Xuzhou, Canzhou, and Liangzhou.

Canzhou occupied the entire northwest and northern regions. Apart from Yong’an City and Lin’an City serving as frontier passes along the northern line, Canzhou had five other counties. Qingshui County was the essential route to Jingzhou, and beyond Jingzhou was the area surrounding the Capital City.

On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

After two days of handover, Zhao Zun had completed all the work, prepared his luggage, and was ready to return to the Capital. Most of the luggage belonged to Zhao Zun and his group. Han Lei packed all her belongings into the space, traveling light.

The emergency vehicle was also stored into the space by Han Lei. Although Zhao Zun protected her in the military camp, she didn’t want to attract unnecessary trouble outside the camp.

Hua Tianyou was displeased with Emperor Jing’s edict; he didn’t want to stay there and wished to return to the Capital with them. But Zhao Zun disagreed, not wanting Hua Tianyou’s future to be affected by his personal matters.

After all, it was customary for the affluent youth of the Capital. As long as they obtained some military merits in the camp, with their strong family background, they could easily carve a path in the court upon returning.

Hua Tianyou didn’t heed the words of his close buddy, but after Han Lei gifted him a karaoke speaker loaded with many songs and taught him how to use it, he was overjoyed and finally agreed to continue remaining in the camp, passing time and gilding his experience. With the karaoke speaker, his days in the military camp would not be dull and boring.

They had only two carriages for their return journey to the Capital. Zhao Zun and Han Lei rode in one carriage, while the other was used to carry luggage. Ping Chuan and those rehabilitated soldiers rode horses alongside.

Previously, when Han Lei asked Zhao Zun how to arrange the injured soldiers, Zhao Zun mentioned temporarily placing them in the Supply Camp.

Yesterday, Zhao Zun handed all the injured soldiers over to Han Lei, saying they would serve as her guards and protect her in the future.

Han Lei was startled at first; she had arms and legs, along with modern weapons in hand — why would she need so many people for protection?

In the end, Zhao Zun told her: at that time, these people were already in a state of certain death, their military records reported to the court as war losses. In other words, in the court’s records, these people were already dead.

These were brothers who had fought alongside him through life and death. Now, with the new garrison Marshal at Beiguan being Cao Xiong, if they didn’t leave under the guise of Han Lei’s guards, they would only be treated as laborers under Cao Xiong, unable to receive military pay nor good care.

Listening to Zhao Zun’s words, Han Lei felt a subtle ache in her heart. They, just like Zhao Zun, were heroes defending the borders against foreign foes, yet their fate was so lamentable.

In the modern era, in Huaxia, soldiers were the most lovable people, held in high respect. But in this era that sees human lives as expendable, they were merely pawns in the hands of imperial power. Needed they would charge, when not, they would be discarded like worn shoes.

Whether it was Zhao Zun or these ordinary injured soldiers, they stirred sympathy!

Han Lei resolutely accepted them, totaling more than one hundred forty people. Since they couldn’t stay in the military camp anymore, they would follow her from then on! She had sufficient capability to ensure they lived better than in the military camp.

She divided them into two teams, each with over seventy people, led by her most familiar acquaintances, Tao Qing and Ah Mao.

Although she knew Zhao Zun would manage their salaries, she still exchanged silver from the system’s rewards, distributing a ten-tael silver ingot to each of them to take home. She told them not to lose heart; life was a battlefield everywhere, and as long as they followed her, their future would be brighter.

The two squads of injured soldiers were instantly stirred, all kneeling to express their willingness to give their lives for Han Lei. It wasn’t just because Han Lei generously gave out silver, but because she had saved their lives. From now on, how could they not be wholeheartedly devoted to following their new master?

In the wind and snow, at the military camp’s gate, over one hundred forty injured soldiers mounted on war horses, lined up in a long formation.

Zhao Zun tightened Han Lei’s cloak, held her hand, and was ready to board the carriage, when from afar, came a sound of uniform footsteps, deafening.

Zhao Zun and Han Lei paused, turned to look, and saw countless soldiers marching toward the camp gate.

They marched in neat rows, with strong and unyielding spirits, yet their parting sorrow was unmistakable.

Returning to the Capital City after stepping down today, Zhao Zun felt very melancholic. Last night, he invited several of his subordinates to drink and share their reluctance, their camaraderie in battle. Han Lei did not disturb them, going to bed early, for she knew this meal had a special meaning for Zhao Zun, symbolizing the gathering and parting of comrades.

Though it was agreed not to see him off last night, he left quietly. Yet, they all came in the end.

Han Lei had also bid farewell to comrades retiring from the service before and understood the preciousness of camaraderie in arms.

But the scene of thousands seeing him off was too grand and touching. Although she had not spent long with these soldiers, Han Lei couldn’t help but tear up.

Even someone like Hua Tianyou, a pampered young master, was deeply moved by this touching camaraderie, turning his back to secretly wipe his tears.

”Didn’t we agree last night not to see me off?” Zhao Zun shouted, releasing Han Lei’s hand and walking towards the soldiers, his voice choked with emotion.

”Marshal, take care on your journey!” Ma Cheng, the garrison commander of Yong’an City, approached with teary eyes and hugged Zhao Zun tightly, his voice breaking. Despite having so much to say, he could only express it in this simple farewell.

”Good journey, Marshal.”

”Take care, Marshal!”

The soldiers shouted in unison.

Looking at the soldiers who had come to see him off, tears welled up in Zhao Zun’s eyes. His gaze fell upon each familiar face, and the days of fighting side by side played back like a spinning lantern in his mind. These were the troops he had led, after years of companionship and life-and-death struggles, they shared deep bonds, and the sadness of parting tore at his heart.

At that moment, there was a commotion in the crowd, as several people squeezed out from among the soldiers. It was the new garrison Marshal Cao Xiong, making his way through with the help of several trusted aides as he walked out from the camp.

Cao Xiong, in his thirties, was strong and stocky with a face full of muscles. He squeezed out of the crowd and turned back to bellow at the soldiers seeing them off.

”Get back, get back. It’s training time now; all of you get back to training immediately.”