He changed Tiwat

"You little rascal, you still recognize your old uncle?"

"Uh, yes, of course I recognize it," Yanbo quickly replied with a smile.

He was born in Mingyun Town and lived there as a child, where his great-uncle took good care of him. After joining the army and rising to the rank of company commander, he settled in Liyue Harbor. He was usually busy with missions and rarely had the opportunity to return to his hometown, so he hadn't seen his great-uncle for a long time.

When he went to persuade his great-uncle to take this opportunity to move to his house in Liyue Harbor, his great-uncle was quite happy. What's wrong with him now?

"So you're still planning to have your men arrest me?" the old man asked, rolling his eyes.

Zhenhai cursed his bad luck in secret. He hadn't even made any contribution yet, and he had been beaten for nothing. The other person was also a relative. Who could he complain to?

Yanbo seemed to have guessed what Zhenhai was thinking. He turned back and glared at him again before turning back to ask, "Uncle, did you really cross the cordon just now?"

The old man was quite straightforward; he stiffened his neck and replied, "I did break in. Not only did I break in, I also hit someone."

"W-Why is this happening?" Yanbo was so embarrassed that he broke out in a sweat. On one side was his wronged subordinate, and on the other side was his elder who had gone crazy for no reason. What should he do?

The old man didn't answer, but instead swung his cane again, "Not only will I hit him, I'll hit you too! I'll hit you bunch of wicked, heartless dogs who specialize in breaching the dike!"

With a "smack," the cane struck Yanbo's leg.

Chapter 378 Taking Responsibility for Important Things [4k]

Compared to the cane that struck him, the old man's two sentences hurt Yanbo more.

"Heinous and immoral"—Yanbo never imagined that one day he would hear people use these four words to curse him.

Moreover, the person who insulted him was his own maternal uncle.

A wave of bitterness surged from Yanbo's nose to his throat—why? Why do we have to be insulted like this?

"I am a soldier, I only know how to obey orders," Yanbo replied curtly, his voice slightly hoarse, as if he were choking up.

"Bullshit! The Thousand Rock Army has no soldiers like that!" The old man raised his hand to poke Yanbo's nose, just like when he was a child disciplining someone. Yanbo stared at him expressionlessly, his face ashen.

The old man raised his hand halfway and then lowered it, eventually slapping his own thigh instead.

"You little rascal, do you still remember when you left Mingyun Town, who did you tell you that you wanted to join the Thousand Rock Army to protect your country?"

Yanbo spat out two words through gritted teeth: "...It's you."

"Do you remember whose Thousand Rock Feather you played with when you were a child?"

Yanbo replied with the same two words: "It's you."

The old man's hands were trembling.

"The cliffs are firm and the peaks are unyielding!"

—The sound of slogans could be heard from the opposite bank of the river. It was the soldiers of the Qianyan Army on the other side of Guili Plain repairing the flood control dike of Guili Plain overnight.

The old man looked at Yanbo, who pursed his lips and remained silent.

"Qianyan is steadfast. Joining the Qianyan Army means becoming the people's city wall, sheltering them from the wind and rain, not undermining them!"

The old man stomped his cane hard on the ground, creating a small pit in the mud, and mud splattered everywhere.

Yanbo neither dodged nor avoided the mud, letting it splatter all over him.

The old man pointed at the embankment and said angrily, "Yes, you've made something of yourself, kid. You've become a company commander, in charge of hundreds of men. You're so powerful now! I was a soldier my whole life, and when I retired, I was just a squad leader. I never made any merits, but this embankment was built by my comrades and me back then! You want to tear down the embankment I built? Bah!"

Mingyun Town has a short history, rising and falling in just a few decades. As a newly emerging mining area, Mingyun Town put a lot of effort into flood prevention. This dike was built by the Qianyan Army back then, and the old man was one of them.

Prospering because of mining, dying because of mining—Mingyun Town is not the only town like this in Liyue. In the context of Liyue's 3,700-year history, these decades are but a fleeting moment, and Mingyun Town is just a small corner of the vast landscape. But for ordinary people like the old man, that was his entire life.

“I saw the Biyue River rise this year. I heard the flood control efforts in Guiliyuan. I thought the floodwaters were too high this year and Guiliyuan couldn't hold on anymore. But listen to this? They're still fighting desperately! Other Qianyan soldiers are risking their lives to protect the dike, and what are you doing? You're going to blow up the dike! Cough…”

The old man became more and more anxious as he spoke, and before he could catch his breath, he coughed several times and almost fell over.

Yanbo rushed forward to help his uncle, but the old man waved him away.

"Do you know where our family used to live? At the foot of the mountain west of Qingce Village. Do you know why we moved to Mingyun Town? Because our house was flooded! Fifty-four years ago, I saw the earthen embankment collapse with my own eyes..."

“My parents perished in the flood. My sister and I clung to the big tree in front of our house, watching the water slowly rise to our ankles… It was the Emperor who sent the Thousand Rock Army to rescue us, and I joined the army to repay that kindness. The Emperor’s Thousand Rock Army would absolutely, positively not do something like breaching the dike!”

The old man raised his cane again, pointing to the circle of Thousand Rock Army soldiers around him.

“If any of you still consider yourselves part of the Thousand Rock Army, then come with me to Guili Plain to guard the dike!”

Zhenhai, standing behind Yanbo, instinctively took a step back, not out of fear of being hit by the cane, but because he didn't want to face the furious old man.

He could probably understand that an old man who survived the floods fifty-four years ago would obviously have unforgettable traumas from these events, and it was only natural that he would be angry.

But that has nothing to do with their mission.

Fifty-four years ago? Fifty-four years ago, the Thousand Rock Army soldiers in this company hadn't even been born yet. What does it have to do with them?

Zhenhai wanted to say that, but he didn't dare to.

For some reason, he felt as if he had done something wrong—because they really had come to breach the dam.

They didn't come to help the residents of Mingyun Town defend their homes; they came to destroy Mingyun Town themselves.

Not only in Zhenhai, but also the other soldiers maintaining order and confronting the residents took a slight step back. The old man's cane seemed like a sharp spear, invincible.

With a "snap," Yanbo gripped the head of the cane.

Yanbo understood that Mingyun Town's value was no longer what it once was, and abandoning it was a very wise choice. The Emperor was no longer alive, but even if he were, Yanbo believed he would agree to share the floodwaters with Mingyun Town.

For the future development of Liyue, the people of Mingyun Town should "sacrifice their small families for the greater good." This is the principle, and this is the reality—but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

As someone who hails from Mingyun Town, he absolutely could not bring himself to say these words to his hometown and fellow villagers.

The old man stared at Yanbo in surprise, trying hard to pull his cane back, but Yanbo's hand was like an iron clamp, and he couldn't break free at all.

"Where are the soldiers of the Thousand Rock Army?" Yanbo shouted.

"Yes!" the surrounding soldiers responded immediately.

"Continue to maintain order and guide residents across the river!"

Yanbo gave the order and forcefully pulled the cane from his uncle's hand.

"This old man has difficulty walking. Two people, please carry him across the river!"

His subordinates immediately understood. One soldier hoisted the old man onto his back, while another lifted the old man's feet, ignoring the old man's cursing and swearing, and carried him away like a sandbag.

With the troublemaker gone, the remaining onlookers fell silent and, guided by the Qianyan soldiers, rejoined the group crossing the river.

Perhaps they harbored resentment, perhaps none of them wanted to abandon their hometown of Mingyun Town, but they knew that saying anything more was pointless. They were indeed following orders from their superiors; soldiers are duty-bound to obey orders, and no amount of commotion could change reality.

The minor incidents during the relocation process disappeared silently, like ripples in a river.

The relocation team is still crossing the river in an orderly manner, and the plan is proceeding smoothly.

Watching the moving crowd, Zhenhai couldn't help but whisper to Yanbo, "Squad leader, is everything alright? Did we... really do the right thing?"

Yanbo looked back at Zhenhai and suddenly smiled.

"You haven't been in the army for long, have you?"

Zhenhai nodded obediently.

"You'll understand in time that these things are not something we can decide." Yanbo shook his head and patted Zhenhai on the shoulder.

“My brothers were transferred to the mountains by Lord Ningguang two months ago to train them on how to dismantle and assemble explosives and lay fuses. I knew then that we would be needed someday. I only found out today that our training was to blow up the river embankment. I’m from Mingyun Town, and I’m fine with it. What are you upset about? Soldiers don’t need to ask for reasons when they carry out their missions.”

After hesitating for a long time, Zhenhai finally asked, "Do you really want to blow up the dam?"

Yanbo took off his helmet and scratched his hair, which was now matted together with sweat.

"To be honest, I want to blow it up... but I also don't want to blow it up."

"The reason we said we wanted to blow it up is because it's for the greater good. With the flood diversion in Mingyun Town, our comrades fighting on Guili Plain will have a greater chance of holding it. Although we may suffer injustice and some people may not understand, it's all for Liyue... We are responsible for the future of Liyue."

"I felt honored when I was planting the explosives. Lord Ningguang entrusted me with such an important task, which shows his high regard and trust in me. A soldier must be willing to take responsibility, even if it means being infamous and having my uncle poke my back with his cane for the rest of my life, I will accept it."

Yanbo looked up, recalling that six months ago, he had left a letter at the supply station in the Layered Rock Abyss for his friend Sergeant Anton, with whom he had once shared a drink of "fire water".

In that letter, he wrote this sentence:

Just as you fight for the Queen of Winterfell, we, the Thousand Rocks, must also defend our homeland. We all need to take responsibility for what is important.

Is it morally reprehensible? Is it like breaching a dam? No, it's to protect the "Guili New District," to protect the future of Liyue, and to take responsibility for something important.

Zhenhai blinked, somewhat bewildered. For a new recruit who had only recently joined the army, the idea of ​​taking on responsibilities seemed far removed from his reality.

Yanbo looked at the young soldier in front of him, at the blank look on that young face. In fact, he had also felt blank and bitter inside.

Most of the time, soldiers just need to follow orders, but as a commander, he always has to think more.

He scratched his head again and said softly, "But after planting the explosives, I felt terrible. I even hated myself a little."

“I am a soldier. Whether to bomb or not, I can only follow orders from above. But if I had a choice, I really wouldn’t want to bomb. Flood diversion is too devastating for ordinary people. Even though we made preparations for relocation and resettlement in advance, once a family is destroyed, how can they recover in less than five or ten years?”

“My hometown, where I’ve lived for over a decade and which holds so many memories, is now submerged in water and will never be seen again… I’m not reconciled to this. But what can I do? Some things just have to be done.”

Zhenhai stared blankly at Yanbo, and from this officer, he seemed to understand what a soldier was.

Without realizing it, Zhenhai's eyes became a little moist.

Looking at Zhenhai's expression, Yanbo smiled again, as if to offer some comfort: "By the way, after talking for so long, I still haven't asked your name."

"My name is Zhenhai!"

"Heh, Zhenhai, right? Good name, good omen. I'll remember it." Yanbo nodded, then said, "I have a task for you now."

"Yes, Zhenhai, obey!" Zhenhai stood up straight.

"I need you to go to Guili Plain now and report to Lord Ningguang that we have already planted the explosives. If Lord Ningguang orders me to blow up the dike, I will carry it out 100%! But... but even if there is only a 1% chance, can we leave Mingyun Town a way out?"

Yanbo stared at Zhenhai, "You are Lord Ningguang's personal guard... Please help me convey these words."

Zhenhai brought his feet together, his spear slamming to the ground in a crisp military salute. "Understood! Mission accomplished!"

Keqing had a dream.

A very strange dream.

Unlike typical dreams where there is no self-awareness, Keqing vaguely knows that she is dreaming. To be precise, this state should be called "half-awake".

In short, Keqing was somewhat conscious, but not very clear-headed, probably because she had a fever.

It felt like someone was touching her forehead, and it was the cool touch on her forehead that brought her back to consciousness from her drowsiness.

But once she regained consciousness, she felt sticky all over, because her clothes were soaked with sweat. This was, of course, very uncomfortable. The soreness and weakness in her limbs also made her very uncomfortable.

She forced her eyes open a crack and saw Han Fulai sitting beside her bed. Their faces were very close, so close that if Ke Qing sat up even slightly, she might kiss him.

Apart from the time they were at the bottom of the giant abyss, where they had to be in close contact due to a life-or-death situation, Han Fulai usually maintained a fairly cautious social distance from her.

Is this... taking someone's temperature? Do you have to be this close to take someone's temperature?

She heard Han Fulai muttering something like, "It's so troublesome not having a thermometer. Taking a temperature by the forehead doesn't seem reliable." Ke Qing really wanted to give him some pointers. Doctor Bai always took temperatures by feeling the pulse at the wrist. He could tell whether someone had a fever or a chill just by feeling the pulse at the cun position on their wrist. She could recite what Doctor Bai said by heart: "If the cun position is hot, it means a fever; if the cun position is not hot and the pulse is slippery, it means a wind-related illness."

What kind of temperature can you get by sticking your forehead together with mine?

Keqing actually felt that her fever had subsided, after all, she had sweated a lot.

Hmm, after sweating so much, I wonder if I'll smell... especially since we're so close together.

Ke Qing was a little shy. She usually didn't care about these things when she was working.

I should take a shower and change my clothes.

That's what Keqing thought.

She was just thinking it in her head, really.

But she heard her own voice saying, "Help me take a bath," and the voice sounded... like she was being coquettish.

How could I, Ke Qing, the mighty Ke Qing of Yuheng Star, possibly act like a little girl? So this must be a dream. Ke Qing was certain.

In the dream, Han Fulai was clearly taken aback for a moment, then replied somewhat awkwardly, "If Lady Keqing wants to change her clothes, I'll go find Miss Qiqi..."

Wow, even though it's a dream, her personality is pretty much the same as the real person's—that fake, serious act. Hmph, don't think I don't know you secretly touched my hair before.

That makes sense, since dreams are generated based on her own impressions.

Hmm, what would his reaction be if we teased him?

Keqing was very curious.

So Keqing said, "Don't leave," and then added, "I need you to help me wash."

Well, knowing his personality, he'll probably think I'm delirious with fever and go to call a doctor.

"Uh, Lady Keqing, please wait a moment, I'll go and fetch a doctor right away."