Martial Arts Crossover: It All Started with Hijacking Li Canghai

Huang Rong wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Knowing Guo Jing's personality, she took some things out of the cabinet in the room.

These are items that Qin Han's men found when they inventoried Lü Wende's residence.

At that time, several servants tried to take advantage of the chaos to destroy the secret compartment in the study.

However, Qin Han's men immediately severed their hands, and this item was specially given to Huang Rong.

It would be more effective for Huang Rong, Guo Jing's wife, to speak up than for Qin Han to personally persuade him.

"Brother Jing..."

Huang Rong handed one of the secret letters to Guo Jing.

"Look at this... This was personally copied from Lü Wende's residence."

Guo Jing took the slightly wrinkled envelope.

When the letter was unfolded, apart from some writing, the most striking thing was the seal of the Privy Council.

Guo Jing froze on the spot.

"This...this is..."

His voice was a little dry, perhaps because he hadn't eaten for several days.

The handwriting on the secret edict was clearly visible.

"In the autumn of the fourth year of Jingding... a secret order from the Privy Council."

Huang Rong read the words on the document aloud for Guo Jing.

"Order Lu Wende, the garrison commander of Xiangyang, to withhold half a year's worth of food and pay from the garrison troops stationed in the city, in order to replenish the national treasury."

"It is hereby decreed that Lü Wende...all Jianghu forces affiliated with Guo Jing shall not be included in the official register of the Xiangyang garrison!"

"If the city is besieged by the Mongols... we can act according to circumstances, abandon the outer city and move to the inner city, with the preservation of the elite troops as the priority."

Huang Rong finished reading the last sentence.

Guo Jing's hand holding the letter was trembling.

Withholding rations and pay.

They must not be included in the official register.

Abandon the outer city.

Protect the elite troops.

"The outer city...that outer city is inhabited entirely by ordinary people!!!"

Guo Jing's voice cracked and became hoarse.

"They actually made Lü Wende abandon the outer city?!"

"The people of the city! The brothers who risked their lives to defend the city with me! And the fellow martial artists who traveled from all over the country to come here!"

"Their lives... in the eyes of the imperial court... are they only worth this piece of paper?! Huh?!"

Huang Rong looked at Guo Jing's almost collapsing expression.

Her eyes were red, but she forced back the tears.

Now is not the time to cry.

"Brother Jing... this is just the first one, there's also a more recent letter here."

Guo Jing forced himself to take it and read on.

"If Xiangyang falls... we can offer Guo Jing's head to the Mongol army to save the people of Xiangyang!"

The location of the signature.

It was gleamingly stamped with the seal of the Privy Councilor.

Guo Jing felt a sweet taste in his throat.

A mouthful of blood was sprayed directly onto the letter.

"Brother Jing!!!"

Huang Rong stepped forward and quickly supported his arm.

Guo Jing slumped down on the edge of the bed.

His eyes stared blankly ahead, devoid of any life force.

"Rong'er..."

Guo Jing suddenly called her name in an unusually calm tone.

This calm, without any fluctuations, was even more chilling than the out-of-control roar just now.

"I've spent half my life guarding Xiangyang."

"Back in Mongolia... the Han people treated me like their own son, and Princess Huazheng was even willing to marry me."

"But... I didn't stay in Mongolia, nor did I choose the princess."

"I returned to the Great Song Dynasty without hesitation."

"Just because my mother said...we are Han Chinese...Han Chinese must have the backbone of Han Chinese."

He suddenly burst into a bitter laugh.

"But my backbone, Guo Jing's backbone..."

"In the eyes of the Song Dynasty emperor and court... it turns out that in the end, all he was worth was a single head!"

Huang Rong cupped his cheeks in her hands.

Large tears fell onto the back of Guo Jing's hand.

"Brother Jing...you're right, the Han people do need to have backbone."

"But this backbone... shouldn't have been sold off cheaply by that tyrant!"

She gritted her teeth and emphasized her words.

"Have you forgotten how General Yue died?!"

"Twelve imperial edicts! Fengbo Pavilion! A fabricated charge!"

"General Yue fought so hard for the Southern Song Dynasty that the Jurchens didn't dare to raise their heads, but what was his final fate?"

"His wife and children were exiled! His subordinates scattered and perished! He himself died in that dark prison, and in the end, not even anyone came forward to collect his body!"

Guo Jing's lips trembled uncontrollably.

Huang Rong's eyes had long lost their former cleverness and liveliness.

It was all a deep-seated resentment.

"Brother Jing... I'm scared..."

"I'm really afraid... afraid you'll become the second General Yue."

"I'm afraid that before our Fu'er is even married... before Xiang'er has even grown up... their father will..."

The matter has already been discussed to this extent.

She was so choked up that she couldn't even finish a sentence.

At this moment, Guo Fu was hiding in a corner outside the door.

She covered her mouth tightly to stop herself from crying out loud, but tears kept falling down her face.

She had never seen her father and mother so devastated before.

This was the first time I had ever heard my mother speak in such a desperate tone.

Her mind was buzzing.

Looking back, I realize that I used to act recklessly because of my spoiled princess attitude.

Suddenly I realized how childish and ridiculous my past behavior had been.

Da Wu and Xiao Wu stood side by side behind her.

The two exchanged a glance, neither daring to utter a sound.

They had never seen Uncle Guo like this before, and didn't dare to say anything.

Guo Jing looked at the blood-stained secret letter on the ground.

A long time passed.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"Rong'er".

His hoarse voice revealed an unprecedented composure.

"Tell me... what should I do now?"

Huang Rong grasped Guo Jing's hand.

"Brother Jing, you know better than I do who's in charge in Xiangyang right now."

"The soldiers under Lü Wende's command... are now all under the command of the King of Qin."

"The food and provisions used in the city... were all transferred from Shu by the King of Qin."

"During the few days you were unconscious... the Mongols outside the city retreated three times! All because the Prince of Qin negotiated terms with that princess."

"The people of Xiangyang now recognize... no longer the same official as those in Lin'an!"

Guo Jing shut his mouth and stopped talking.

He turned his head to look out the window.

At this time, Xiangyang City was more stable than ever before.

People were coming and going on the street.

Vendors were hawking their wares on the roadside.

You can also hear the sounds of children chasing and playing.

These ordinary sounds of daily life were something that could never have been heard during the constant warfare.

Huang Rong bent down and pressed her cheek against Guo Jing's shoulder.

Her voice was extremely soft.

"Brother Jing... I really don't want you to keep wasting your life for those corrupt officials in the court."

"I only ask that you live a good life."

"We watched Fu'er get married... and watched Xiang'er grow up healthy and strong."

Even if...

She paused for a moment.

Even if the world changes, there will always be a way out!