After a moment of silence, the Emperor shook his head. "I do not wish for you to perish here. Too many people have already died for me."
As he spoke, his eyes reddened. "Master... and Li Zhen, Fan Zhong—they all died for me."
Yun Yan's eyes reddened as well. Li Zhen had been hacked to death by the chaotic troops while protecting the Emperor during their retreat. Fortunately, Yun Yan had stayed behind to cover them, giving him and Fan Zhong time to take His Majesty away.
Later, there were fewer and fewer people left at their side, while the pursuers hounded them without respite. So Yun Yan had voluntarily stayed behind with some men to cover the rear. An arrow struck him, and he fell from his horse unconscious. When he awoke, corpses surrounded him.
He had found his way back toward Datong alone, only to learn upon arriving that the Emperor had been captured, while even Fan Zhong's body was nowhere to be found.
Fan Zhong was a Guard General, while he was a thousand-household commander of the Imperial Guards. The two had always attended the Emperor and were close to one another. Unable to hold back, he asked, "Your Majesty, where did General Fan die?"
The Emperor's eyes were full of confusion. "It was too chaotic, and it kept raining. I truly do not know where we were. But Fan Zhong died from exhaustion, and his body was still mostly intact. At the time, we were on the sheltered side of a small hill. Search in the direction of Huailai, and you will surely find him."
With a great enemy looming before them, they were still weeping and grieving. Pan Yun said irritably, "Don't you know corpses can be exchanged for military merit? Fan Zhong was a