As soon as they arrived in Yucheng, they headed straight to Zhou Di's shop. They happened to see Zhou Di busy attending to a few guests. When Zhou Di also was surprised to see them standing there, he intended to stop his job. But Yang Chen gave him a discreet signal to continue serving the guests first. Zhou Di nodded, continuing doing his job. Yang Chen turned to Yang Zaihua and said:
"You go to the villa now. You know that Xie Tianhui and his team have stationed there. Pack up all of the valuable items and then send Xie Tianhui and his team to the assembly point. Wait for me at the villa and I will go there later. Oh, drive the car away when you leave."
"I understand what you mean. But how will you get to the villa later?"
"I will just find a car here or call you. Don't worry about it."
"Yes, Young Marshal."
When Yang Zaihua left, Zhou Di had just seen off the customers. He eagerly grabbed Yang Chen and led him to the backyard, shouting toward the workshop:
"Hu Zhenghan, go to the front and greet the customers."
A voice came from the workshop:
"Yes, sir."
Zhou Di then pulled Yang Chen into the room without a word and shut the door behind them. Without hesitation, he threw himself into Yang Chen's arms, embracing him tightly and kissing him passionately. Yang Chen responded eagerly, relieving the longing, exhaustion and frustration of the past few days into this deep kiss. After a long moment, Zhou Di pulled back, panting, and asked:
"How long can you stay here?"
"Just half a day. Listen, my baby, the situation is very dangerous now. You need to pack up and leave Yucheng as soon as possible."
Zhou Di was taken aback and asked:
"What's going on? Are Wasoku forces coming soon?"
"Yes, I have already informed the mayor of Yucheng. It's likely to be chaotic here very soon."
"No, I can't leave just yet. I want to return to Zhouzhuang Village and bring my family with me."
"That's fine. I'll arrange a car for you. Take all your valuable things with you. If there is anything valuable you can't bring, just give it to me. I'll handle it."
Suddenly Zhou Di seemed to remember something and couldn't help shouting:
"The Cultural Relics Bureau. Zhou Chuyu and Nie Huanzhang. I have to take them away. No, I can't leave them to be destroyed by the Wasoku people."
"Alright, let's go together." Yang Chen replied, "But first, dismiss your staffs. I am waiting for you here."
Zhou Di nodded and immediately rushed out of the room, running into the shop. He called out to Hu Zhenghan:
"Close the door, quickly!"
After shutting the shop, Zhou Di returned to the workshop and said to the staffs:
"Listen up! From this moment, the shop is closed. You two need to go home immediately, pack up all of your things, especially anything valuable, and evacuate to the west or the south. The Wasoku people will come here soon."
Hu Zhenghan and Fei Qiang were stunned. Just then, they heard chaos erupting on the street outside, which heightened their anxiety. They exchanged nervous glances. Hu Zhenghan seemed less worried because he was alone here. Fei Qiang's entire family had moved to Yucheng since he began working here. Zhou Di said:
"Both of you share all the cash from the shop and take two carved pieces each. I don't have any extra cash here."
They both replied:
"Thank you, sir."
After grabbing the items and cash, they left the shop hurriedly. Zhou Di and Yang Chen then ran toward the Cultural Relics Bureau, where they saw Zhang Zhen and Zhang Tianming also rushing out in a panic. Zhou Di shouted:
"Leader Zhang, what is your plan?"
Zhang Zhen replied, flustered:
"I just received word that the Wasoku people are arriving soon but I have no idea how to do yet."
Yang Chen, maintaining his composure, said:
"Act quickly! Gather people and boxes to pack up all the relics in the bureau. I will figure out a way to secure them. Zhou Di, if you still have any valuable items in you shop, pack them up immediately."
Hearing this, Zhang Zhen seemed to regain his determination and said:
"I feel more confident now with Young Marshal here."
"Let me borrow your phone."
Zhang Tianming led Yang Chen to make a phone call, while Zhou Di assisted Zhang Zhen in finding people and boxes to pack up the relics. Almost all the employees at the bureau were aware that the Wasoku people were heading towards Yucheng, yet no one rushed home to evacuate. Instead, they focused intently on carefully packing up these relics. After finishing his call, Yang Chen pulled Zhang Zhen aside and spoke in a low voice:
"Leader Zhang, do you trust me?"
"I trust no one but you."
"Good. Here's what we have to do. You'll hand over all the relics to me but you still need to transport them openly. You pack other items inside to keep their absence a secret. Do you understand what I mean?" Zhang Zhen nodded and Yang Chen continued, " This must remain between you and me. Please don't tell anyone, even including your son. But forgive me, I won't tell you where I will hide them."
Zhang Zhen kept nodding and said:
"Young Marshal, I understand what you mean. I will send everyone home now to pack their things. I will stay here to guard the relics but I think it is best for us to leave at night. Young Marshal, is it too late for us to escape Yucheng tonight?"
"No, not too late." Yang Chen reassured him, "The Wasoku forces won't arrive at here so quickly. Zhou Di and I will head back to pack up the valuables in his shop."
When night fell, Yang Zaihua arrived at the bureau, driving a military vehicle. By then, there were only Yang Chen, Zhou Di and Zhang Zhen there. It was at this point that Yang Chen revealed to Zhou Di that he would be taking all the relics with him. Zhou Di didn't say a word in response, instead, he silently helped load the relics onto the truck. Yang Chen then turned to Zhang Zhen and asked:
"Are the other boxes ready?"
"Don't worry, I prepared them myself."
Yang Chen patted himn on the shoulder and said:
"Head to Qudu and stay safe."
Zhang Zhen asked, his voice trembling:
"What is Young Marshal going to do?"
"Fighting Wasoku forces to the death."
Zhang Zhen was excited with tears and said:
"Take care, my Young Marshal."
After parting ways, Yang Zaihua drove to Zhou Di's shop, where they loaded all the stones and the finished items onto the military truck. Despite Yang Chen's objection, Zhou Di insisted on climbing into the truck as well. As Yang Zaihua drove the truck toward the villa, Yang Chen turned to Zhou Di and asked:
"Do you remember the spot where I found the porcelain pieces?"
"Yes, why?"
"In fact, when I was building this villa, I discovered a similar place. It's even larger inside but nothing inside. I cleaned it up and built a thick wall down the middle. The outer area is a wine cellar but behind the wall is a secret room where I've hidden all my valuable items." Then he leaned closer to Zhou Di's ear and whispered with a grin, "Our pornographic sculpture is also there."
Blushing, Zhou Di glanced at Yang Chen and then quickly stole a look at Yang Zaihua, who was driving the truck. Smiling, he asked:
"So are you planning to hid these relics in your secret room?"
"Yes, I think it is safer to keep them hidden than to try moving them. That's why I thought of this safer place to hide them. Honestly I'm more worried about Zhang zhen and his team. It's risky for them to escape with these relics. If they're unfortunate enough to encounter the Wasoku forces, they will definitedly be killed and the relics will be taken or destroyed. My secret room is much harder to discover. Besides, the villa where I have lived will never be left for the Wasoku people."
Zhou Di hesitated before asking cautiously:
"Are you planning to destroy your villa?"
Yang Chen didn't say anything but Zhou Di understood.
When the military truck arrived at the villa, Zhou Di noticed that although the lights were on, there was no one inside when they entered. The team of soldiers who had previously stayed there were gone, and all the valuable items had vanished. Only numerous boxes were stacked around, making it clear that the place had been thoroughly cleared out.
The three of them began to unload the truck carefully. Fortunately, Zhou Nie's mummy was the heaviest of all the relics and it took all three of them considerable effort to move it into the secret room. They also transferred the remaining items from the villa into the spacious secret room, filling it completely. When Zhou Di surveyed the room, he couldn't help but comment:
"It looks like it used to be porcelain kilns."
Yang Chen held him in the arms but didn't say anything. Suddenly Zhou Di took off the necklace that Yang Chen had given him, and said:
"Chen Ge, I will leave this here too because it is also valuable."
"Why? Just wear it."
Zhou Di looked up at him and replied quietly:
"I will stay here."
Yang Chen was shocked and shouted:
"Are you crazy? If the Wasoku forces come, do you know what they have done to our people? I've received reports of massacres in the northern villages. You know, since the surrender agreement was signed by Jin Quan so, relatively speaking, the northern region has already been controlled by Wasoku people yet they're still committing these inhumane acts there. Dizi, my baby, it is too dangerous. Please, go to Qudu and wait for me there. Please!"
Zhou Di looked at him and asked:
"Chen Ge, are you planning to go back to Qudu and enjoy your happy life?"
"Nonsense. I have promised that I won't rest until I drive the Wasoku people out."
"You will resist them, but why should I retreat to the safety? And they are here." Zhou Di said, his eyes falling on the box containing Zhou Nie's mummy, "I know I'm useless, but they are my ancestors. It is my duty to protect them. Everyone else has left and no one has ensured whether it is safe here or not. No, Chen Ge, I can't bear to leave them behind. Even if I am safe in Qudu, I'd still be anxious and unable to sleep. I know it's too dangerous to stay here but I am just an ordinary person. As long as I'm careful, I'll be fine. No matter how cruel the Wasoku people are, can they really wipe out everyone in our Midlands? If they try, I don't think they will last a day in our country. Chen Ge, I'll stay here and wait for you coming back. I'm here to protect your secret room and I hope you'll give me this necklace again when you return."
Yang Chen held Zhou Di in his arms, tears welling up in his eyes. He said:
"Dizi, it is really dangerous for you to stay here. No one knows how long this war will go on, maybe a year, two years, five years or even ten years. Or maybe I won't be lucky enough to come back by then, ...."
"No, don't say that." Zhou Di interrupted, "You have to come back alive. No matter how long this war lasts, I'll be waiting for you here and I don't want to hear any talk of misfortune. You have to come back."
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Yang Chen replied, wiping his tears, "I promise you that I must come back alive, open the secret room and put this necklace around your neck again." Then he kissed Zhou Di softly before adding, "Now let's do what we have to do."
With that, Yang Chen picked up a bottle of red wine from the wine cellar, smashed the bottle and sprinkled the wine over the wine rack. Turning to Yang Zaihua, he said:
"Zaihua, seal off the secret room for me. Make sure it is impossible to recognize it from the outside and destroy all the alcohol here. I won't leave anything ---- nothing that belongs to me, Yang Chen ---- for the Wasoku people."
The three of them set to work on their tasks. Yang Zaihua sealed the heavy brick door of the secret room with lime. Of course they didn't have time to wait for it to dry so they didn't worry about it. Zhou Di sprinkled wine everywhere, not just in the wine cellar but throughout the villa. Yang Chen poured more gasoline from the truck all around. When Yang Zaihua approached, he asked:
"Will there be any problem with the secret room when the fire starts?"
"No problem though we didn't have more time to let it dry."
"It's fine as long as it's not visible from the outside."
"Don't worry, Young Marshal, and I guarantee that not even a spark will get through."
"Great! Dizi, get out!"
Zhou Di and Yang Zaihua left the villa. Yang Chen, his eyes filled with tears, looked back at the empty house before turning and walking out of the door. He casually tossed a lit lighter into the house. In an instant, flames shot up into the sky. They stood there, watching the villa burn from a distance. Once magnificent and grand, the Yang family's summer villa, where they had loved to escape the heat, was now being burned to ashes by Yang Chen's own hand. Watching the raging fire, Yang Chen shouted bitterly:
"Fuck you, Wasoku! All my losses will be repaid by the Wasoku people. All the suffering our people have endured in the Midlands must be paid for in blood by the Wasoku people."
He pulled Zhou Di close and kissed him passionately. Zhou Di felt the tears on their lips, so he hugged Yang Chen tightly to comfort him and both of them were crying. Seeing this, Yang Zaihua also shed a tear before turning around and walking toward the truck, sitting in the driver's seat. After a while, Yang Chen wiped away his tears, then gently wiped away Zhou Di's tears and spoke to him:
"You don't need to stay here anymore. The fire won't burn out quickly. I will take you back first."
"Well, I'll come back tomorrow morning. If everything is fine, I'll go back to Zhouzhuang village to take care of my family. My wife is about to give birth within two days."
"Congratulations! You're going to be a father."
"Please, Chen Ge, give a name to my child. I want you to be my child's godfather. Is that okay?"
"My pleasure! My child is your child and yours is also mine. As for the name, if it's a girl, I'd like it to be Zhou Aihua, and if it's a boy, Zhou Aichen (Zhou loves Chen.). I admit that I am a bit selfish about the boy's name. I hope his first name is mine."
Zhou Di kissed Yang Chen and said:
"I like it."
On the way to Yucheng, Yang Chen and Zhou Di held each other tightly, neither of them speaking, their tears streaming down their faces. Even Yang Zaihua, who was driving, had tears in his eyes. When they finally reached Zhou Di's home, the two of them kissed again, their tears mingling on their lips. Finally, Zhou Di, with tears in his eyes, said:
"Take care. Please! Promise me you'll come back alive. I'll be here waiting for you. And Adjutant Yang, be careful and come back with your Young Marshal."
Adjutant Yang nodded at him and Yang Chen spoke to Zhou Di:
"You also take care of yourself. Please remember what I've said. Don't be impulsive especially when I'm not by your side. Swallow all the grievances and humiliation. The most important thing is to stay alive. Waiting for me to come back and I will seek justice little by little for you."
Zhou Di nodded, tears steaming down his face, and said:
"Yes, I'll listen to you. Take care of yourself, Chen Ge. Adjutant Yang, please, take care of your Young Marshal and yourself. All of you must come back alive. Please promise me!"
Yang Zaihua replied:
"Don't worry, Mr. Zhou. I will risk my life to protect Young Marshal."
Zhou Di tightly grasped Yang Zaihua's shoulder, then put his arms around Yang Chen, kissing him passionately. Suddenly, he opened the truck door, jumped out and didn't look back. He opened the door to his house, walked inside, closed the door, then collapsed to the ground and began sobbing loudly. After a while, he heard the sound of the vehicle starting up but he couldn't care about anything else, his sobs the only thing that mattered.
Sitting in the truck, Yang Chen covered his face, letting his tears flow through his fingers. Yang Zaihua had never seen Yang Chen cry like this before. In this moment, aside from sharing his Young Marshal's sorrow, he couldn't bring himself to say anything else.
The Wasoku army launched a large-scale invasion of the Midlands from the sea, breaking into territory long controlled by the Yang family. The invaders unleashed brutal acts of burning, killing and looting wherever they went.