Those who have never been in a prisoner camp can never truly imagine what Han Feng and the others went through these past days.
Han Feng had actually prepared himself mentally and went voluntarily.
Even so, he still felt some resistance when thinking back on those experiences.
He looked around at the familiar faces and could not help feeling as though he had escaped with his life.
“Sir, please get up quickly!”
Han Feng had wanted to help Ninth Princess to her feet first, but thought better of it. Instead, he walked over to Jin Feng, reached out and helped him stand.
Then he said, “Your Highness, Miss Mu Lan, Captain, everyone please stand up too. All of you doing this makes me feel really uneasy!”
Only then did Ninth Princess and the others straighten up.
“Any injuries? Are all the brothers back?”
Jin Feng looked at the brand on Han Feng’s face and felt a pang of guilt.
Sending Han Feng to disguise himself as an ordinary civilian and infiltrate the Tubo main camp had only been a sudden idea that occurred to Jin Feng, recalling the prisoner raid at Clearwater Valley.
He had called Han Feng over and discussed whether it was feasible.
Without a second word, Han Feng took a group of key members from the Bell-Ring Team the very next day, disguised them as a merchant caravan, and deliberately allowed cavalry to capture them.
“I only have some superficial wounds. As for the brothers…”
At this point Han Feng’s tone grew sorrowful. “I took nine brothers in with me. Four died… One got too close to the cooking area while scouting and was beaten to death… Three fell in battle when we seized the horse camp…”
Every man Han Feng had brought was an elite from the Bell-Ring Team, all quick-witted, yet four had still perished.
Hearing this, Jin Feng felt terrible.
He knew that anything he said now would sound empty, so he simply patted Han Feng on the shoulder and said, “My condolences.”
“For Great Kang! For Sichuan and Shu! For West River City! The brothers are not afraid of death. They only fear failing to complete the mission and holding back Your Highness and Sir’s greater plan!”
Han Feng spoke honestly and straightforwardly. “Fortunately, we did not fail in our duty! The brothers did not die in vain!”
Hearing this, Jin Feng silently gave Han Feng a thumbs-up in his heart.
The culture of Great Kang was much like that of his previous world; everyone liked to be modest.
For example, when scholars were praised, they would only keep being humble.
But Han Feng was not deliberately modest, and his words carried weight.
Jin Feng thought this was very good.
Han Feng and his men had risked their lives to go undercover and had successfully completed the mission. Why should they be modest?
To put it harshly, false modesty would be erasing the merit of the comrades who had sacrificed themselves.
“The brothers are all outstanding. They are heroes! Give me the name list later. The escort agency will provide the highest level of compensation to their families!”
Jin Feng patted Han Feng’s shoulder again, then turned to Ninth Princess. “Your Highness, do you think this is acceptable?”
The dead could not return, so the most he could do was look after their families and children as best he could, while fighting for the treatment they deserved.
He could pay compensation to the families of fallen escorts out of his own pocket, but many things could not be bought with money.
Royal honours, for instance.
Even if the emperor only offered verbal commendation without any substantial reward, it would still be an immense honour for the descendants of the fallen.
In future imperial examinations, it would count as extra marks.
Sometimes it could even save their lives.
“Sir speaks wisely!”
Ninth Princess understood that Jin Feng was reminding her. She said, “This palace will submit a memorial to Imperial Father, inform him of everything that has happened here, and ensure the heroes receive the courtesy they are due!”
“Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Sir!”
Han Feng stood and said, “If the brothers know in the underworld, they can rest in peace!”
“This is what the brothers deserve!”
Jin Feng patted Han Feng’s shoulder once more, turned and called, “Jin’er, go and fetch two army doctors. Treat Old Han’s wounds, and… the wounds of these two heroes as well!”
This was Jin Feng’s first time meeting Zhou Youda and he was unsure how to address him. However, since Han Feng had brought them here together and they were dressed like this, they must have been fellow prisoners.
Calling them heroes could not be wrong.
“Understood!” Zhou Jin agreed and hurried down the mountain.
Only then did Han Feng remember he had not introduced Zhou Youda yet.
He quickly turned and pointed at the couple. “This is Mr Zhou and Mrs Zhou. Mr Zhou is a renowned scholar and philanthropist in these parts. Without his help, I could never have completed the mission!”
“Hero Han flatters me. I did not do much. It was Hero Han and the others who did all the work!”
As Jin Feng had expected, Zhou Youda immediately became modest when praised.
“This is…”
Han Feng instinctively wanted to introduce Jin Feng, but noticing Ninth Princess was present, he glanced towards her and said, “This is Her Highness Princess Wuyang!”
Zhou Youda brought his wife before Ninth Princess, solemnly straightened his tattered clothes, then knelt properly according to Great Kang etiquette and paid respects to Ninth Princess.
“Please rise, sir and madam!”
Ninth Princess, who usually had a slight obsession with cleanliness, seemed completely unconcerned about the dirt on Zhou Youda’s body and did not mind matters of propriety between men and women. She bent down and personally helped the couple to their feet.
Seeing that Mrs Zhou’s clothing could no longer cover her properly, she even removed her own cloak and placed it over the woman’s shoulders.
At this sight, Zhou Youda was so moved that he wept and could not speak.
These past days had felt like living in a nightmare.
A large and happy family had been destroyed in an instant.
Life in the prisoner camp had been hell on earth.
Even with his parents’ dying instructions and the support of his family’s traditional values, he had still thought more than once of ending it all.
That way everything would be over and he could be free.
That was why he had agreed without hesitation to help Han Feng organise the civilians.
When they seized the horse camp, he had led the civilians and charged at the very front.
Yet against all odds, he had survived and come out alive.
Before climbing the mountain, the only thing keeping Zhou Youda going was his parents’ final request.
In truth, he had still planned to pass on the family line as quickly as possible, then end his own life.
But now his thinking had changed.
The princess had personally helped him to his feet and given her own cloak to his wife!
This was an honour neither of his county-magistrate ancestors had ever received.
He wanted to live!
He wanted to repay Ninth Princess for this kindness!
Jin Feng stood to one side, filled with emotion.
He knew Ninth Princess probably had no intention of buying loyalty, yet having grown up in the palace, many of her instincts were ingrained in her bones.
The actions she took unconsciously and the words she spoke naturally achieved the effect of winning hearts.
“Mr Zhou, have you not always wanted to meet my family’s sir?”
Han Feng pulled Jin Feng’s arm and said with a smile, “This is my sir!”
“Greetings, Mr Zhou!”
Jin Feng sincerely performed a scholar’s salute to Zhou Youda. “Many thanks to sir for acting righteously and assisting Big Brother Han!”
“Mr Jin is too kind. It is I, Youda, who should be thanking sir and Hero Han!”
Zhou Youda returned the salute and said, “If not for sir and Hero Han, my wife and I would probably still be suffering in the prisoner camp. We would never have had the chance to take revenge with our own hands!”
