Chapter 304: Only One Ending
Hearing the footsteps approaching, the prisoners locked behind the bars raised their heads and looked toward the sound.
Soon, they saw Fan Wanming walking past some cells.
Seeing him, one of the Jin Empire’s war prisoners suddenly rushed to the bars.
Gripping the cold metal tightly, he desperately shouted in a hoarse voice, "General Fan, I will tell you—I will tell you everything. Please, just give me something to eat. I’m starving."
As his desperate voice echoed in the dim corridor, Fan Wanming paused on his track. Turning around, he looked at the man and recognized him.
"General Sun, how have you been these days?" Fan Wanming asked calmly.
Sun Heng burned with anger at the question, which Fan Wanming clearly knew the answer to, but he swallowed his anger and forced a flattering smile.
"General Fan, I’m no longer a general. Please... call me Xiao Sun."
At his words, the other prisoners secretly cursed him for his shamelessness.
Unable to hold back, a captain of the Jin Army scoffed. "Xiao Sun? Shameless! General Fan could be your son, yet you treat him as if he were your grandfather. Is this the conduct of a Jin Empire general? You are a disgrace!"
Panicking from the captain’s taunting words, Sun Heng snapped, "Shut up! How dare you speak to me like that? You are just a lowly captain. I could have you killed whenever I wish! Know your place!"
Instead of being angered, the captain laughed and shook his head in despair. "Ridiculous! How could someone as cowardly as you ever have been the Jin Empire’s great general? No wonder our empire is finished. Heaven has no eyes!"
Sun Heng’s face turned red with fury at his words. Lacking wit to retort to the captain’s words, he could only point at the captain in frustration. "You—!"
Calmly watching this scene, Fan Wanming took note of the captain’s face. Then, without sparing Sun Heng another glance, he turned and continued walking down the corridor.
Seeing this, Sun Heng shouted desperately while stretching his hand toward him, "General Fan! Please, give me something to eat! General Fan!"
No matter how loud his shouting was, Fan Wanming ignored Sun Heng and didn’t even slow his pace.
Failing to get more food, Sun Heng turned to look at the captain with a glare. "Bastard! This is all your fault!"
Ignoring him, the captain closed his eyes and conserved his strength. With how the Feng Army treated them, the captain believes that there will be more to come. Right now, it’s just a calm before the storm.
After hearing Sun Heng’s pleas and witnessing Fan Wanming’s indifference, none of the other war prisoners dared to ask for food.
While the Jin Empire’s war prisoners fell into silence, Fan Wanming reached the end of the corridor and stopped in front of one of the last cells in the corner.
Inside, a man sat weakly against the cold stone wall.
"General Ji, long time no see," Fan Wanming said calmly.
After a long silence, Ji Hui slowly opened his eyes. Looking at Fan Wanming, he asked weakly, "Why are you here? I already told Feng Xiyan everything I know."
Looking at the once-burly general, now reduced to skin and bones, Fan Wanming sighed with regret.
Observing Ji Hui’s expression, Fan Wanming calmly said, "General Ji, you know what we want. You are also aware of the Wen Clan’s influence in the imperial court."
"For a clan as powerful as theirs, saving you would be as easy as lifting a finger. The fact that no one has come until now... means Prime Minister Wen and the Empress Dowager have already abandoned you."
He paused for a second, then asked, "So tell me, General Ji. Why remain so loyal to those who have discarded you like useless trash?"
Ji Hui listened calmly, then shook his head. "You don’t understand."
He studied Fan Wanming for a moment before asking, "General Fan, are you married?"
Fan Wanming shook his head in response to his question.
"Do you have any family members left?" Ji Hui asked again.
"This general’s family died long ago," Fan Wanming replied, his calm voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
Ji Hui sighed at his answer and continued, "That is the difference between you and me. You have no one left to protect. But I do. Hundreds of people rely on me. I cannot retreat, nor can I betray the Wen Clan."
Hearing this, realization flickered in Fan Wanming’s eyes.
After a brief silence, he said, "Since the Great General has already promised to protect your family, he will not break his word. With us safeguarding them, you can rest easy. Do as we ask, and we will bring your family to Xicheng City, give them land, and build them a house."
Ji Hui’s heart stirred at those promises.
After decades of working like a cow and horse under Wen Kang, he knew the man’s nature well. Having failed to capture Xiqiang City and defeat the Feng Army, there was no way Wen Kang would forgive him.
Lowering his head, Ji Hui thought, ’Since I have only one ending, then I must secure the greatest benefit for my Ji Clan.’
Raising his head, determination burned in his eyes. "General Fan, please inform Feng Xiyan that I accept his offer."
Fan Wanming studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Understood. General Ji, don’t worry. Do as we agreed, and we will care for your family. As long as they follow our rules and do nothing to harm the Feng Army or the common people, we will protect them for generations."
Getting his promise, Ji Hui closed his eyes and whispered tiredly, "Thank you..."
Fan Wanming gave him one last look, then walked away.
As his footsteps faded into the darkness, Ji Hui let out a long sigh.
Opening his eyes, he whispered softly, "Madam... this is the last thing I can do to protect you and our children. Forgive me for breaking my promise. Please, live on... and safeguard our family."