At Road Pavilion Wharf, fine rain blurred the view.
"My lord..."
Holding an oil-paper umbrella, Fang Ke walked slowly over to Yang Ge, who was already waiting at the wharf, and called to him softly.
Yang Ge came back to himself and glanced sideways at him. "You're here."
Fang Ke said, "Yes. How long have you been here?"
Yang Ge said, "I only just arrived."
Fang Ke glanced at his rain-soaked shoes. He wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but did not know where to begin.
Instead, Yang Ge smiled and asked him, "As the old saying goes, 'A clay pot is bound to break at the well; a general is bound to die before the battle lines.' I suppose Old Wei got the end he wished for?"
Fang Ke gave a rueful chuckle. "My lord, Eunuch Wei never had such lofty ambitions."
Yang Ge thought for a moment, then nodded. "True. If he were still here, he'd definitely say, 'A miserable life beats a glorious death'... He spent his whole life being so careful."
Fang Ke stood silently behind him, sorrow stirring in his own heart.
Before long, three large ships flying the Dragon Banner of the emperor's personal troops were slowly towed into the swift waters of Road Pavilion Wharf. They would stop here briefly to take on supplies, then continue along the Bian River to Divine Capital Luoyang.
Yang Ge stood at the edge of the wharf beneath his umbrella, his head raised as he silently watched the three ships dock.
Once the ships were secured, the first to disembark was Shen Fa, dressed in a vermilion Python Robe beneath a black Cloak. "You're here..."
There was not a trace of surprise in his eyes when he saw Yang Ge on the shore. Instead, they