Chapter 59: Heartbroken to the Point of Death
"Your Highness, the King hasn't attended to state affairs in several days! The Weizhen Army in the capital is now scattered like sand, making it impossible to coordinate." Prime Minister Lei sat in Peng Hong's residence, his face etched with worry. "The war with Deng Kingdom is suffering defeat after defeat. In just these few days, the Yongzhao Army's strength has grown continuously. I believe we should recall the forces supporting Dudong and Deng Kingdom to preserve our remaining strength."
Lu Tong countered, "Prime Minister Lei, surely you understand the principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold'? Dudong and Deng Kingdom are pressed right against Yuanliao."
After much deliberation, Peng Hong said, "The Yongzhao Army isn't good at naval warfare. The Cunjiao River between Dudong and Yuanliao has fierce currents, and General Qi has garrisoned the Gangshou Strait. I doubt they'd dare advance toward Yuanliao along that route. However, Deng Kingdom has already lost most of its territory—there's barely anything left. Without Deng Kingdom, the Yongzhao Army will march directly toward Anqing City."
Prime Minister Lei agreed. "Your Highness speaks wisely."
"I believe we shouldn't delay. Immediately order Cheng Zhongshan to reinforce Deng Kingdom."
Shen Kang said, "Your Highness, if Zhongshan leaves Dudong, only Jinlu's forces will remain. If they can't withstand the Yongzhao Army, won't both Dudong and the army be destroyed?"
Lu Tong said, "Marquis, can't you hear what His Highness is planning? He's preparing to abandon Dudong! Once the Weizhen Army leaves Dudong, it signals the end of Dudong! General Chang must immediately withdraw the Wutao Army to the Cunjiao River to join General Qi in defending Gangshou Strait—where would they find the energy to concern themselves with Dudong?"
Peng Hong forced a bitter smile: So this was how much Yuanliao depended on Mancheng's Weizhen Army.
Prime Minister Lei also said, "Exactly. Deng Kingdom is what's most urgent! If the Yongzhao Army intends to march on Yuanliao, they likely won't attack Gangshou Strait—they'll focus their efforts on breaking through Anqing City."
Peng Hong nodded. "Shen Kang, there are still over two hundred thousand Weizhen soldiers remaining in the city. Transfer them to your command. Be ready to march to Anqing at any moment."
"This..." Shen Kang's face showed hesitation.
Peng Hong's expression hardened. "Cheng Zhongshan will rendezvous with you at Deng Kingdom. With him there, what are you afraid of?"
Only then did Shen Kang breathe a sigh of relief. "It's not that I'm trying to be difficult, but this Weizhen Army is truly a major headache. Now that Mancheng lies unconscious, only Zhongshan can command them! By the way, Your Highness, how is Mancheng?"
Peng Hong sighed heavily. "I'm afraid... he's not going to make it..."
Everyone present fell into solemn silence.
The two men who had held the fate of all Yuanliao in their hands were now together in a single room at Zhongbi Prefecture, neither eating nor drinking, spending more time together than they had in many years.
Each second felt like it passed too quickly for Zhang Zhou. How many days had it been? He hadn't counted. The hand he held had never opened its eyes, and the breathing had grown fainter and fainter.
"Mancheng..." Zhang Zhou lay beside him, gently stroking his cheek.
"Mancheng..." He'd never felt time so impossible to grasp. Every time he startled awake beside him, he hated himself for wasting precious moments that could have been spent watching over his life.
Originally... there had been so much time to spend at his side.
"Mancheng..." Zhang Zhou's eyes remained fixed on Mancheng, not daring to look away for even a moment, afraid that if he did, that faint breath might stop.
"Mancheng... I just keep thinking—why was my heart so uneasy when you left this time... Are you angry with me? You didn't want to go, you begged me to keep you here, but I..."
The barely audible voice continued, day and night without pause, in fragments, in the ears of the sleeping man.
How many times had it been before—you crying, making scenes, begging—merely hoping I would spend more moments with you? Now, I am always at your side, talking with you.
Can you... hear me?
Mancheng, I've talked with you for so many days about our time in Anqing. Why don't you smile a little?
When we were in Dudong, you said to me: "Zhang Zhou, this palace is so terrifying. You must come back early, you must, you must."
I laughed it off at the time, treated it as wind passing by my ears. If you had told me everything then, what would have happened?
Would I have flown into a rage and taken you away from that palace, eloped with you to the ends of the earth?
Would I have abandoned all ambitions and desires, hidden away with you for a lifetime?
Would my Mancheng have remained so frail, so timid and tearful?
I shamelessly devoured your blood and tears, clawed my way to this position, gained this vast territory. And you exhausted every means to help me, only wanting to stay by my side.
What... right do I have to face you?
If your breathing stops like this, what am I supposed to do?
Mancheng, let me die together with you.
Without you, what use is possessing the whole world?
*Flashback*
The Yaoji Hall blazed with golden splendor, yet couldn't conceal the emptiness and fleeting desires within. Mancheng had shed his armor, standing before Zhang Zhou in a plain bluish-gray cotton robe. The haughtiness was gone, replaced by devoted tenderness.
"Zhang Zhou," the empty Yaoji Hall held only their two breaths, only his voice: "Zhang Zhou, I didn't bring back Zhang Shun's head."
"He died at your hands—what could I possibly not trust about that?"
Mancheng climbed the steps, drawing closer to Zhang Zhou. Zhang Zhou took his hand, gazing at him.
Cold moonlight cast a gentle chill, misty light spilling from the side pavilion's balcony, landing on Mancheng's eyelashes, casting hazy, dancing shadows. Like wisps of smoke, that ethereal glow swept across his delicate, gentle face—beautiful, not seeming of this world.
"Zhang Zhou, you should reward me well."
Zhang Zhou was entranced, dazed. "How should I reward you?"
Mancheng smiled, his features filled with anticipation. "Zhang Zhou, you promised you'd spend more time with me..."
"Of course I'll accompany you—who else would I accompany?"
Mancheng's eyes sparkled with joy. "Zhang Zhou, when will you break off the engagement?"
Zhang Zhou froze, his smile crystallizing on his face.
The warm atmosphere suddenly stiffened.
"You... you promised me." Mancheng tugged at Zhang Zhou's hand.
Zhang Zhou pulled his hand away, turning his head, not daring to look at him.
Mancheng wrapped his arms around Zhang Zhou's neck, pouting. "You promised me! Would that Yu Kingdom princess be more beautiful than me? My King, I'll serve you well..."
Zhang Zhou remained motionless.
Mancheng still held a sliver of hope, clinging to Zhang Zhou's ear, gently blowing warm breath. "Why marry her? Could her skills possibly be better than mine? Whenever you have free time, come find me. I'll be waiting to serve you, let you enjoy yourself as much as you want..."
"Mancheng..." Zhang Zhou remained unmoved, his tone flat. "Yu Kingdom is too powerful. If Yuanliao opposes them, there's nothing but harm."
"Yuanliao is already so strong! What are we afraid of?" Mancheng said urgently. "I've helped you seize so much territory—Yuanliao is more powerful than it's ever been! What are we afraid of? Is the daughter of the Yu King so unmarriageable that she has to be foisted on Yuanliao? Just break the engagement! What can they do if they want to fight? Has the Weizhen Army ever feared anything?"
"Mancheng!" Zhang Zhou cut him off. "This kind of war doesn't need to happen. Stop being childish..."
When seduction and coaxing both failed, Mancheng resorted to throwing a tantrum. "I'm being childish like this because I won't let you marry! Zhang Zhou, I'm already over twenty years old—my life is only numbered. Can you just endure a few more years?"
Zhang Zhou's face showed impatience. "Here you go again! Mancheng, stop bringing up such absurd things, will you? I don't even like that princess—what are you so worried about? I'm the ruler of a nation—I need to put on a show and fulfill my obligations by getting married."
Mancheng flew into a rage, shouting, "You fulfill your obligations, but you'll also spend time with her! You already barely have time for me! Once she arrives, you'll divide whatever free time you have with her. Then she gives you a child, taking even more time—how much is left for me?"
"Mancheng, lower your voice!"
Mancheng's voice didn't diminish. "Zhang Zhou! We've been pretending to be perfectly proper ruler and subject for so many years—don't you feel suffocated? You want to be ascetic, but how long is it between your visits to me? I can't do this anymore! Every day I stand in this hall watching you, I wish everyone would just disappear so I could talk with you alone, be intimate with you, I—"
"Mancheng!" Zhang Zhou rebuked. "Why are you shouting so loudly? Do you want the whole city to know about us?"
Mancheng had never been good with words, and now in his fury, he let them run unchecked. "So what if they know? Yang Daochun and Cheng Zhongshan don't mind! You—"
Zhang Zhou's anger ignited. He shoved Mancheng away, coldly saying, "They don't care about their reputations—but I do."
Mancheng staggered back a step, staring at him in disbelief. After a moment, his eyes blazed with resentment. "Being with me—so shameful to you?"
Zhang Zhou said nothing, unable to think of what to say.
Mancheng took his silence as confirmation. Tears immediately burst forth.
Zhang Zhou panicked, about to explain, but Mancheng retreated several steps, his jaw tight.
"Mancheng!" Zhang Zhou hurried after, grabbing him, trying to persuade him.
Mancheng violently shook him off. The pain and despair in his eyes was like an endless blizzard sweeping across the sky. He drew a sharp breath and uttered four words: "Fine... I was born low!" Then, without looking back, he stormed out of Yaoji Hall.
The Yaoji Hall was filled with anxious ministers. The moment Peng Hong stepped into the main hall, the ministers clustered around him.
"Your Highness, the Danhu area has seen fierce flooding—the floods have ravaged several townships..."
"Your Highness, another rebellion has risen in Xiongzhou. The city guard emptied the militia to suppress it, and now desperately needs grain funds—how shall we raise them..."
"Your Highness, Weizhen Army Deputy Commander Wei Sihu and his twenty-thousand-plus troops refuse to obey Marquis Shen's orders and remain in the city..."
"Your Highness, Dudong has suddenly lost large swaths of territory—Dongzhou is in imminent danger..."
"Your Highness, the Yongzhao Army is about to breach the capital of Deng Kingdom. General Cheng is still on the road and may not make it in time—what should we do..."
"Your Highness, the Weizhen Army led by Marquis Shen has come to blows with the Wutao Army—how should we handle this..."
"Your Highness... what exactly is General Xia's condition?"
"Your Highness, how long does the King intend to stay at Zhongbi Prefecture?"
"Your Highness..."
Peng Hong clasped his hands behind his back and sighed heavily: Who would have thought that one person—Mancheng—could make an entire nation teeter on the brink of collapse.