General Fang died on the battlefield, and Fang Heng buried the key under a willow tree, thinking that he would have a chance to snatch back the box one day.
But unexpectedly, the things had long been forcibly taken apart, and the most crucial battle plans were also lost to the Northern Nomads.
Father, father, the things you left behind did not shine light on your wife and children. Now they are going to harm the lives of innocent soldiers at the border.
If your spirit is aware in heaven, do not be angry or hateful. Your child will engrave everything in his mind. He will get the battle plans back while standing, he will cut off the heads of the traitors, to comfort your spirit in heaven.
Fang Heng wiped his face with his sleeve. He did not even have time to hug the box and cry sorrowfully. He returned to the imperial city with an extremely fast speed.
"Fifth Jiang, the battle plans are lost, the border is in danger. I really have to go back." He suppressed his emotions, "I won't let the Fang family's battle plans harm the people of the Dayu Dynasty. The Fang family's generals who perished on the battlefield don't allow this. The Fang family's ancestors don't allow this. I, Fang Heng, don't allow this the most!"
"Give me some time to snatch back the battle plans."
"Snatch back the battle plans!" Jiang Yi, Jiang Er, Fifth Jiang, Jiang Liu, Jiang Qi, and Jiang Ba knelt down on one knee at the same time.
Jiang Chengyuan saluted with folded hands, "Please rest assured, Crown Prince."
But obviously, they had just hurried back not long ago. They had been lurking outside the city for three full days, eating poorly and sleeping poorly, and were extremely exhausted.
However, in order to save General Jiang's life and the lives of hundreds of thousands of border soldiers, they still had to hurry back riding fast horses.
They didn't even dare to delay a minute.
Chang Yan's eyes were red. For the first time, he felt the responsibility of hundreds of thousands of lives on his shoulders. Even though he felt heartbroken about his third brother, he still nodded with choke, "Alright."
"Ministers have worked hard. Have a smooth journey all the way."
No more words were needed. Time could not be delayed either.
The same over a thousand people came, and over a thousand people left.
Fang Heng rode a red-maned horse, Jiang Chengyuan rode a white-maned horse. The two young generals put on cloaks that led the way. They took a final deep look at this city and the people in the city, then whipped the reins and went far away.
They left.
Fang Heng didn't have time to deal with the Fang family members to avenge his mother.
Jiang Chengyuan also didn't have time to go back to the Jiang family to visit his aging grandmother and his deranged mother.
The front of the imperial city gate suddenly became empty, and so did their hearts.
Jiang Sheng couldn't help but run after them. While running, she shouted with all her strength, "Third brother... brother, you all have to come back, come back safe and sound."
The sound of horses' hooves rose one after another, and dust swirled up.
Although Jiang Chengyuan might not be able to hear it, Jiang Chengfeng heard it on his behalf.
The relationship between the two siblings had always been so rigid. Every time they only condescended to call the elder brother. Now they were finally willing to change their mouths and call out "brother".
Jiang Chengfeng's eyes turned red. He murmured softly, "Big brother, you have to come back. You have to come back to hear it with your own ears."
From Fengjing to the northern border, it would take one month by carriage and twenty days by horse.
These were based on travelling during the day and resting at night, eating three meals a day normally.
Riding fast horses meant shortening rest times, shortening meal times, and even eating dry rations on horseback, but it still took about ten days.
Travelling was arduous. It was not only staying up late that made the eyes weary, but also the fresh blood streaming down both sides of the thighs, and the numb buttocks that lost feeling.
In history, there were even people who fell asleep on horseback due to exhaustion, and were eventually thrown off and killed on the spot by horses.
There were also urgent military situations. The horse courier would die on the spot after handing over the letter without taking any breaks along the way.
To avoid such tragedies, Fang Heng and Jiang Chengyuan unanimously forced everyone to rest. No matter how anxious they were in their hearts, they still kept it hidden without revealing it.
"General, water." Fifth Jiang handed over the water bag, "Actually everyone could go a little faster. We were all battlefield soldiers. Our bodies can endure it."
"Humans can endure, horses can't." Fang Heng took over and drank thirstily, "Fifth Jiang has just started assisting in national affairs. The national treasury is so depleted. I, as the elder brother, certainly should not increase the burden on him."
As he spoke, he still cared about his younger brother.
Fifth Jiang chose to shut up.
Jiang Chengyuan, who was on the side, heard the movement. He came over with two pieces of cake, "From Jiuzhen Pavilion."
"What do you mean, Jiuzhen Pavilion cake?" Fang Heng was taken aback. Even his tone turned sour, "The one Jiang Sheng gave you?"
Jiang Chengyuan's expression stiffened. He thought to himself, why did this guy mention the sore spot.
"No." He said unpleasantly, "I bought it myself."
The prestigious eldest young master of the Jiang family had also made it to become a mighty general of the fifth rank in the borderlands. To eat the cake made by his own younger sister, he still had to sneak out and buy it himself.
Fang Heng was instantly no longer sour. He opened a piece to taste it, "In the past, my sister would always specially prepare some for me. Too much to finish eating. I gave them to the soldiers every day."
"Yes, yes, yes, we often ate them." Jiang Ba blurted out tactlessly, unable to read the situation.
Jiang Chengyuan's expression was as black as the bottom of a pot, full of resentment.
But thinking back of the things at that time, who else could he blame? He could only sadly droop his eyebrows.
Now Fang Heng felt bad for him. He handed the remaining cakes back and patted Jiang Chengyuan on the shoulder, "My sister never held grudges. She only remembered other people's kindness."
If you want her kindness, you have to be kind to her first.
Feelings had always been reciprocal, both giving and receiving.
After he finished speaking, he turned around to call the resting men to get back on their horses to continue the journey.
Jiang Chengyuan gripped the remaining cake tightly and treasured it as he tucked it into his chest. Then he rode his fast horse and whipped hard.
The closer they got to the border, the more nervous they became.
The most valuable thing for soldiers was speed and seizing the first opportunity. Everyone understood this principle.
The Northern Nomads must also be able to guess that they would notify General Jiang and make preparations in advance. They would modify the Fang family's troop deployment and formations.
In order to make sure to win in one strike and achieve total victory, they must start the war as soon as possible.
This battle was crucial.
After stepping into the border territory, they didn't even dare to rest. They desperately rode their horses and travelled. They just hoped to return to the military headquarters as soon as possible and pass the news of the loss of the Fang family's battle plans into General Jiang's ears.
No one knew how long it had been. These thousand odd people could no longer feel the existence of their legs and buttocks. There were even blood drops falling along the routes their horses were galloping wildly, attracting crawling insects and ants.
"Almost there. Faster, faster." Fang Heng's eyes were filled with determination.
He lowered his body not only to reduce wind resistance, but also to use the horse to support his body and use his faith to make the final sprint.
Close, it was close. The headquarters camp was within sight. He could even see the sentry soldiers on duty.
Before Fang Heng could show a smile, the war horse that had followed him for a long time suddenly wailed. Its legs went soft and it collapsed to the ground unexpectedly.
Man and horse fell to the ground at the same time.
The horse's big eyes were filled with fatigue and unspeakable pain.
Fang Heng was also exhausted to his limit. He barely struggled to roll over on the grass twice and fell in front of the fence, "Come...come quickly..."
"Who is that?" The sentry was shocked and almost sounded the enemy alarm.
Only after seeing Fang Heng did he hurriedly run over in panic, "It's Young General Fang. And there's Young General Jiang too. Why are you all so disheveled?"
"Don't talk nonsense." Jiang Chengyuan interrupted him hastily, "Call the general. I want to see General Jiang."
He dragged his body that barely had any sensation left and walked forward, "Father, where's father?"
"The general is not here." Another sentry came up, "The general went to fight the Northern Nomads."
