The battlefield was vast, yet clearly not meant for a stray lamb.
Before Fu Yu could find his brother, a great saber descended upon him. He dodged nimbly, the blade narrowly slicing off a corner of his robe. Just then, a soldier covered in blood yanked him hard. "What are you doing here, not a soldier? Hurry and leave."
But how could he escape now?
The soldier, from goodness knows where, picked up a saber and handed it to him. "Save yourself."
With that, he plunged his own saber into the chest of a sneaking attacker.
Warm blood splattered across Fu Yu's face.
On the battlefield, lives were extinguished with every passing breath. Everyone was struggling to survive, naturally unable to spare a thought for him.
Fu Yu dared not dally any longer. Fortunately, his martial skills were decent, and he managed to avoid death by the hands of the Japanese pirates for the time being.
The slaughter continued, the shouts rising wave after wave. Fu Chuan had finally lured the enemy into a trap, intending to close the gates and sweep them up. He had calculated that if they could hold out until midnight, help would arrive from nearby reinforcements, and their situation would be eased.
However, it was not yet time for relief.
Mu Wu dragged him, "Go get bandaged first, you're bleeding out."
"It's just a small cut," Fu Chuan protested, but Mu Wu quickly summoned several men and forcibly dragged him away. Yet, as soon as the wound on his arm was bandaged, he ran back.
Fu Yu, with an empty stomach, had fought for half the night, his hands and legs weary, his body caked in blood. Just as he was about to collapse, he finally heard the cheers of his own side: "Reinforcements have arrived."
Fu Yu's spirit relaxed, and exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave.
This battle had raged for a full two days and nights, blood staining half of Yangzhou city. When Fu Yu stumbled to find his brother, Fu Chuan had already developed a fever and fallen into a coma.
There were saber wounds everywhere—his chest, back, arms, and thighs. The military doctor said none of the cuts were fatal, but he had lost too much blood, and the wounds had become infected. Mu Wu was also injured, but he had to step forward to take charge. Upon seeing Fu Yu, he showed no pleasant expression. "Didn't I send you away? Why did you come back?"
"My brother..."
"Your brother went to great lengths to protect you. Those foolish things you've done, it's best you keep your mouth shut forever."
Fu Yu blinked. "What do you mean?"
Mu Wu glanced at him with disdain, his meaning clear: how could the commander have such a traitorous younger brother.
In this battle, the garrison suffered heavy casualties, but they succeeded in crushing the core strength of the Japanese pirates. The remaining scattered troops could no longer pose a threat to Jiangnan. Despite his injuries, Mu Wu pursued them repeatedly, ensuring the pirates would never have a chance to return.
The war report was soon sent to the capital via an urgent express rider, causing an uproar in the imperial court. Along with it came the news of Fu Chuan's grave injuries and coma.
Situ Yan personally wrote a memorial to the Jiangnan generals requesting rewards, with Commander Fu Chuan naturally receiving the highest merit. At the same time, he dispatched three imperial physicians to the south, along with countless rare medicinal herbs, vowing to save Fu Chuan at any cost.
Suddenly, officials throughout the court clasped their hands in greeting towards Fu Lingyun, congratulating him ceaselessly.
The young heir was truly a heroic young man; the Duke's lineage was continued, a cause for great celebration. As for his injuries, alas, the young heir would surely overcome them.
Fu Lingyun's face was stiff. In private, he could only clutch his chest in pain. He had instructed Fu Chuan to create a disturbance in Jiangnan to lure Situ Yan there. To his surprise, Fu Chuan had directly annihilated the Japanese pirates, leaving Situ Yan no reason to leave the capital.
And crucially, he had risked half his life.
Fu Lingyun felt like killing that unfilial son. He was desperately defying his own father.