With Dai Miao as an inside agent, plus the three thousand troops he led for protection, they smoothly fought their way out of Shu County, carrying Yuan Li as they fled frantically.

Wang Siniang personally led people outside the city to provide support. Seeing Yuan Li without a single patch of intact flesh on his body, her eyes showed compassion as she quickly brought him back to see the army physician.

Yuan Li was half-conscious, half-awake. Only upon entering the army camp and seeing the physician’s familiar uniform did he finally relax, his head lolling to the side as he completely lost consciousness.

Wang Siniang instructed the physician, “You must save this person. Whatever medicinal materials you need, just request them from the quartermaster.”

The physician agreed and went to work with his apprentices. This rescue operation had injured many people, and Yuan Li’s wounds looked far from something that could be quickly resolved.

Wang Siniang went to console and reassure Dai Miao. She decided to contact Dai Yuan through Dai Miao. Oh right, Dai Yuan had already led his army to Yuzhang and was currently facing off against Wang Xuan. If they could persuade Dai Yuan to surrender as well…

Yuan Li’s body was covered in wounds—not only external injuries but internal ones too. The physician used considerable medicine before finally preserving his life.

The physician estimated, “He’ll probably sleep for three days before waking. Someone needs to constantly monitor his pulse.”

The apprentice’s body was covered in blood, his hands holding medicinal cloth trembling slightly. He had followed the physician for over half a year of study, during which time he’d seen many battlefield injuries, watched his master suture abdomens, and saw his master saw off legs. But seeing Yuan Li’s wounds, he still couldn’t help feeling chilled.

Seeing the apprentice’s pale face, the physician couldn’t help but admire Yuan Li, “This general’s ability to survive is truly miraculous.” Ordinary people, if not tortured to death, would have died from pain and fear. Yet he had managed to endure such great terror.

The physician took the opportunity to teach his apprentice, “Look at his wounds and blood loss—clearly he controlled his fear during torture. Fear makes flesh and meridians tremble, blood flow accelerates, and bleeding increases. It also causes the heart’s rhythm to become abnormal. Blood originates from the heart—when the heart is abnormal, blood is too. Blood is a person’s essence. Excessive blood loss means life cannot be preserved.”

“A person who can control fear naturally has three more chances of survival than an ordinary person,” the physician couldn’t help praising, “This is a great hero.”

Whether he was a great hero, the apprentice didn’t know, but he was certainly ruthless.

Yuan Li, whom the physician had determined would sleep for at least three days, opened his eyes early the next morning.

The apprentice who came with reed straws to administer medicine saw him open his eyes and was startled, thinking something had gone wrong. He quickly set down the medicine and ran to find the physician, “Master, Master, General Yuan has awakened!”

The physician hurried over, grasping Yuan Li’s hand and feeling his pulse for a long while before looking at Yuan Li with disapproval, “General shouldn’t have awakened so early. Sleep is what allows the body to recover better…”

Yuan Li’s face was also wrapped in gauze, his body and limbs all immobilized, but his neck and head were fine. He turned his head, surveying the entire room, and asked, “Where is Inspector Wang?”

The physician sent someone to summon Wang Siniang, then brought over the medicine, “Since the General has awakened, drink your medicine first.”

Yuan Li didn’t drink it but first smelled it, then asked about the specific medicines. After confirming the medicine was safe, he drank it.

By the time he slowly finished the medicine, Wang Siniang had arrived.

Upon meeting, both spoke simultaneously: “What is Wang Dun doing?”

“The Prince of Langya submitted a memorial of allegiance…”

Both paused at the same time. Wang Siniang saw Yuan Li’s eyes widen slightly and couldn’t suppress her excitement, “We received the telegram this morning. The Prince of Langya pledged allegiance yesterday. The General sent us a telegram ordering us to deliver a letter to Wang Dun, urging him to surrender. If he doesn’t surrender, we’re to raise troops immediately.”

So what had happened in the outside world during the few days he was captured?

Wang Siniang continued, “After the General was captured, the General was extremely enraged and immediately deployed troops southward. The征南大军 is currently at the river’s edge. Liu Yueshi was ordered south to persuade the Prince of Langya to surrender. Wang Dun submitted a memorial to the Prince of Langya demanding Liu Wei’s execution. Without waiting for a response, he deployed troops and captured Hefei.”

Due process was due process, but military opportunities couldn’t be delayed either.

So after receiving the telegram, Zu Di immediately issued a proclamation that same day urging Wang Dun to surrender. But without waiting for Wang Dun’s response—or rather, without waiting for Wang Dun to receive the message—he ordered the army to cross the river.

Upon receiving the news, Liu Kun went to the Prince of Langya to request authorization for passage.

When the Prince of Langya heard this, he was shocked and looked at Liu Kun suspiciously, “My letter to General Zhao has reached Luoyang?”

The letter was only given yesterday—even if eagles delivered it, it couldn’t be this fast, right? He suspected Liu Kun was acting on false authority under Zhao Hanzhang’s name. Could he be trying to seize Jiangnan for himself?

Liu Kun said, “Though the letter hasn’t arrived, the General already knows of it. This is the General’s oral message.”

He handed a paper to the Prince of Langya.

The Prince of Langya looked down at it. On the paper were three simple lines: “The Prince of Langya understands righteous principles greatly—escort his family back to the capital; Wang Dun acts perversely—first courtesy then force; pacify Jiangnan’s aristocratic families and common people, do not disturb the people, grant the Grand Marshal Zhengnan expedient authority.”

The Prince of Langya’s suspicions slightly diminished as he asked with difficulty, “…Is this thousand-mile communication?”

Liu Kun merely smiled without speaking. The Prince of Langya understood, looked at the paper’s contents once more, sighed inwardly, then ordered the riverside garrison to stand aside and allow the Jiangbei army to cross the river.

The garrison troops at the Jiankang riverside were forces under the Prince of Langya’s control. The commanding general was named Zhou Chong. The matter of the Prince of Langya’s allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t yet been made public—after all, he’d always felt that correspondence required time, and this was a critical moment, so it should remain confidential.

The legendary “known throughout the realm” required time to spread.

But once this military order was issued, the secret was no longer secret. Suddenly, everyone in Jiankang City knew the Prince of Langya had pledged allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang, and the Zhao family army from Jiangbei would enter Jiankang.

Wang Dao personally came forward to calm people’s emotions and brought Liu Wei along to the riverside to welcome the Jiangbei army.

Seeing the two men going hand-in-hand toward the river, the aristocratic families within Jiankang City all breathed great sighs of relief. It seemed His Highness had truly pledged allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang.

They felt indescribable joy in their hearts. This meant Jiangnan wouldn’t see war.

Though war also represented opportunity—they might seize the chance to achieve merit and stand in the court—the battlefield was still in their homeland. Who would want their hometown embroiled in war?

Many aristocrats and commoners followed to the riverside to watch the excitement. Of course, most didn’t dare approach closely, only watching from afar.

On the opposite bank, over a hundred ships were simultaneously placed on the river’s surface. The great army boarded the ships, rowing vigorously toward this shore. The scene was magnificent, and the watching crowd couldn’t help widening their eyes.

The Jiangbei army moved quickly. As soon as the ships barely touched shore, several soldiers from each vessel jumped down quickly, then ran swiftly ashore to secure the mooring ropes at the riverside. The soldiers on the ships quickly disembarked, dispersing in an orderly manner to guard each passage.

Then the ships released again toward the opposite shore to continue ferrying people.

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