25 Parting of Comrades-in-Arms

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

Following Han Lei’s persuasion and comfort, Zhao Zun ultimately decided to relinquish his military command and return to the capital to receive his rewards. He resolved to become a true prince of leisure, living a carefree and untroubled life. Han Lei also pledged that she would accompany him wherever he went, vowing to support him fully.

They would not be returning to Ling’an City. Once the handover was complete, Zhao Zun set off directly for the capital with Han Lei, accompanied only by Ping Chuan.

As for the situation in Ling’an, with the exception of the two spies and the personal guards who had fallen in the ambush against Zhao Zun, Xiao Zhengfei led the remaining eighty-plus guards directly from Ling’an. The two parties planned to meet in Qingshui County before traveling to the capital together.

The Great Jing Dynasty comprised seven provinces and sixty-two counties: Jizhou, Qingzhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, Xuzhou, Cangzhou, and Liangzhou.

Cangzhou occupied the entire northwest and northern regions. Aside from Yongan City and Lin’an City, which served as northern frontier passes, Cangzhou contained five counties. Qingshui County was the essential gateway to Jizhou; once one crossed through Jizhou, they entered the capital’s metropolitan area.

On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, after two days of handover procedures, Zhao Zun had finished his tasks and packed his belongings, ready to depart for the capital. Most of these belongings belonged to them; Han Lei had tucked away all of her own possessions into her spatial storage, allowing them to travel light.

She had also stowed the ambulance in her space. While Zhao Zun could protect her within the military camp, she did not wish to draw unnecessary attention or trouble once they were outside.

The Emperor’s imperial decree had greatly displeased Hua Tianyou. He did not want to remain here and wished to return to the capital with them. However, Zhao Zun refused, not wanting to affect Hua Tianyou’s future on his account. After all, it was customary for the sons of wealthy families in the capital to spend time in the military camp to earn a bit of prestige; once they returned, their powerful family backgrounds would ensure them a path in the imperial court.

Hua Tianyou would not listen to his best friend, but when Han Lei gifted him a karaoke sound system loaded with many songs and taught him how to use it, he was overjoyed and finally agreed to remain in the camp to "gild" his resume. With the karaoke system, his days in the camp would certainly not be dull.

Their party returning to the capital consisted of only two carriages. Zhao Zun and Han Lei shared one, while the other carried their luggage. Ping Chuan and the recovered wounded soldiers followed on horseback.

When Han Lei had previously asked how he would settle the wounded soldiers, Zhao Zun had said they would be temporarily arranged in the supply camp. Yesterday, however, Zhao Zun had gifted all those wounded soldiers to Han Lei, stating they would serve as her guards and follow her to protect her.

Han Lei had been startled at the time. She had her own hands and feet, plus modern weaponry at her disposal—did she really need so many people to protect her?

Zhao Zun explained that these men had already been considered beyond saving, and their military registrations had already been reported to the imperial court as battle casualties. In other words, in the eyes of the court, these men were already dead.

These were brothers who had risked their lives alongside him. Now that Cao Xiong had become the marshal of the Northern Frontier, if they did not leave under the guise of being Han Lei’s guards, they would be treated as mere laborers under Cao Xiong. Not only would they receive no pay, but they would also be denied proper care.

Hearing this, Han Lei’s heart ached. Like Zhao Zun, they were heroes who had guarded the frontier against foreign enemies, yet their current fate was so miserable. In her modern world, soldiers were the most beloved and respected, but in this era where human life was as cheap as grass, they were merely pawns in the hands of imperial power—used when needed and discarded like worn-out shoes when not.

Whether it was Zhao Zun or these ordinary wounded soldiers, it was all deeply lamentable.

Han Lei resolutely accepted them—all one hundred and forty-plus men. Since they could no longer stay in the camp, they would follow her from now on. She had enough ability to ensure they lived better than they had in the military.

She divided them into two squads of over seventy men each, with Tao Qing and A-Mao, whom she knew best, serving as squad leaders. Although she knew Zhao Zun would be responsible for their pay, she still exchanged silver from her system rewards. She gave each of them a ten-tael gold ingot to send home, telling them not to be discouraged: life was a battlefield everywhere, and as long as they followed her, their futures would be even more glorious.

The two squads of wounded soldiers were instantly stirred, kneeling one after another to swear their lives to Han Lei. Never mind the generous silver she had handed out; even their very lives had been saved by her. From now on, how could they not serve this new master with absolute devotion?

Amidst the wind and snow at the camp gates, more than one hundred and forty wounded soldiers sat on their horses, forming a long, orderly line.

Zhao Zun tightened Han Lei’s cloak and was holding her hand, preparing to board the carriage, when a rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed from behind—deafeningly loud.

Zhao Zun and Han Lei paused and turned back to look. An endless stream of soldiers was marching toward the camp gate. They stood in perfect formation, their iron bones and steely resolve unable to hide the sorrow of parting.

Zhao Zun felt deeply sentimental about leaving his post today. Yesterday, he had invited several of his officers to drink, sharing their reluctance to part and their camaraderie. Han Lei had not disturbed them, choosing to sleep early, for she knew this final drink was significant—a gathering of comrades and a farewell.

They had agreed last night that there would be no send-off, and Zhao Zun had intended to leave quietly. Yet, they had all come.

Han Lei had once bid farewell to retiring comrades and understood the preciousness of such bonds. But the sight of ten thousand men coming to see them off was too spectacular and too moving. Even though she hadn't spent much time with these soldiers, she couldn't help but tear up. Even Hua Tianyou, that pampered son of a wealthy family, was deeply touched by the camaraderie and turned away to wipe his eyes.

"We agreed last night there would be no send-off, didn't we?" Zhao Zun shouted, letting go of Han Lei’s hand and walking toward the soldiers, his voice choked with emotion.

"Marshal, take care on your journey!" Ma Cheng, the garrison commander of Yongan City, cried out with a raspy voice. With reddened eyes, he stepped forward and embraced Zhao Zun tightly, as if he had a thousand words to say, yet they could only be condensed into this simple farewell.

"Safe journey, Marshal."

"Take care, Marshal!"

The soldiers shouted in unison.

Zhao Zun looked at the men who had come to see him off, his eyes instantly welling with tears. His gaze swept over every familiar face, and the days they had fought side-by-side played in his mind like a revolving lantern. These were the men he had led; after years of living and dying together, their bond was profound, and the sorrow of parting tore at his heart.

At that moment, the crowd stirred. Several people pushed through the ranks—it was the newly appointed garrison marshal, Cao Xiong, walking out of the camp with a few personal guards clearing the path.

Cao Xiong was in his thirties, robust and thick-set, with a face full of coarse flesh. He shoved his way out of the crowd, turned to the soldiers bidding farewell, and let out a thunderous roar:

"Go back! Go back! This is training time—everyone get back to your drills!"