klisemfg Chapter 518 The blood on Zhuque Street is still hot, Jinxuan issues an imperial edict to seize milit
Chapter 518 The blood on Zhuque Street is still hot, Jinxuan issues an imperial edict to seize milit
Two days later, at dusk.
Outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, south of Tianqi City.
More than 50,000 remnants of the army, trailing a trail of dust, slowly approached from the horizon.
The procession stretched out in a long line, like a dying python winding its way along the desolate official road under the setting sun.
The tattered banners fluttered helplessly in the wind, many still stained with indelible bloodstains, with the characters "Xiao," "Ye," and "Da Li" barely legible.
Most of the soldiers were incomplete with their armor, many wrapped their wounds with strips of cloth, and used broken guns as crutches, staggering with every step.
At the very front of the procession, Xiao Ruofeng rode on his horse.
The dragon scale golden armor had lost its luster, and the black cloak was torn in many places, fluttering in the wind.
The Haoque sword at his waist remained suspended, his back was very straight, his chin was slightly raised, and some stubble had already begun to sprout on it.
Xiao Ruofeng stared straight ahead at the open gate of the Vermilion Bird Gate, but his usually bright and clear eyes were now filled with sorrow.
The news had already spread when they were still thirty miles from the city gate.
The people of Tianqi City poured out of the city gates like a tide, stretching along both sides of the official road from the Zhuque Gate all the way to the pavilion three miles away.
They stood on tiptoe, craning their necks, searching for familiar faces in the marching procession.
At first, there was a silent gaze. But as the column drew closer, as people saw the soldiers' weary, numb faces, the empty saddles, and the lifeless bodies carried on their comrades' backs—
The first cry rang out.
"My son! My son—!"
An elderly woman with white hair rushed out of the crowd and pounced on a young soldier.
Her trembling hands cupped the blood-stained face, scrutinizing it closely, then abruptly released it, and lunged at the next face.
"No...no...where is my son? Can anyone tell me where my son is?!"
Her cries were like water droplets thrown into a pot of boiling oil, instantly igniting the entire official road.
"Honey! You promised you'd come back!"
"Father—Father—!"
"Erlang! Have you seen our Erlang?!"
Cries, shouts, and heart-wrenching wails mingled together, surging from both sides of the official road like an invisible tide that engulfed the remnant army.
Xiao Ruofeng tightened his grip on the reins, his knuckles turning white.
He dared not lower his head, dared not look at those tear-reddened eyes, dared not listen to those desperate cries. Yet the sounds still seeped into his ears, into his heart—
"They promised 200,000 troops when they set out, but less than half have returned! Where are they? Where did they go?!"
"My son is only seventeen years old, seventeen years old! His first time on the battlefield... General Xun, please tell me, is my son still alive?"
"Husband...you said you'd come back after the war, but our child hasn't seen his father yet..."
Xiao Ruofeng clenched his teeth tightly, and the taste of blood filled his mouth.
He could feel the soldiers behind him trembling. Many of the soldiers who were still standing turned their faces away, not daring to look their loved ones in the eye.
A little girl, about seven or eight years old, broke free from her mother's hand, rushed to the side of the ranks, and grabbed a young soldier's trouser leg: "Uncle, have you seen my dad? His name is Chen Dalin, he has a mole on his left cheek, and he said he'd bring me candy when he came back..."
The young soldier lowered his head, looking into the child's clear eyes, his lips trembling, wanting to say something, but unable to utter a single word.
He remembered Chen Dalin, a valiant platoon leader in the Double-Blade Battalion, who was pierced through the body by a spear from the Broken Wind Army during the bloody battle of Juzhou City, and who murmured before dying:
"Hey bro, remember to bring the kid some candy... bring the kid some candy..."
"Where is my father?" the child asked again, his eyes already brimming with tears.
The young soldier abruptly closed his eyes, pulled out half a piece of hard, gritty brown sugar from his pocket, stuffed it into the child's hand, then broke free from the little hand and staggered to catch up with the group.
The child stood there, clutching the blood-stained brown sugar, watching the departing figure, and finally burst into tears.
Xiao Ruofeng felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart tightly, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
He recalled that when he set off for the expedition, it was also on this Zhuque Avenue that the people lined the street to see him off, cheering loudly.
At that time, the 200,000-strong army was gleaming with armor and banners waving, displaying their high spirits.
As he rode on his horse, he swore an oath to his elder brother, the emperor: "Your subject will surely quell the rebellion in the southwest and return to peace in the north!"
Now they have returned, bringing with them over 50,000 remnants of the army and over 100,000 souls forever lost in the southwest.
How can he face these people? What right does he have to bear their expectant gazes?
"Your Highness..." Xiao Ping, the commander of the personal guards beside him, said in a low voice, his voice choked with emotion, "The people..."
"Go! Go quickly..." Xiao Ruofeng squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth, "Don't stop, don't stop for even a moment. We should enter the city at midnight, but the Beida Camp can only pass through the city..."
He spurred his horse forward, the whip lightly striking the horse's rump.
The warhorse seemed to sense its master's emotions, quickening its pace as it passed through the wailing crowd and the outstretched hands that seemed to be grasping at something.
The cries from both sides grew louder, and some people knelt down and kowtowed to the troops: "General! Please tell me, is my son still alive? Even if he's missing an arm or a leg, as long as he can come back, I'll take care of him for the rest of my life!"
Some people rushed forward to stop the horse, but were firmly held back by the Imperial Guards maintaining order. They could only stretch out their hands and cry out hoarsely, "Let me see! Let me see if there are any of my family members here!"
Xiao Ruofeng closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a deathly stillness.
He simply looked ahead, at the approaching Vermilion Bird Gate, and at the majestic imperial city behind the gate.
Step by step.
The horse's hooves pounded on the bluestone slabs with a dull thud, mingling with the cries behind me, striking my heart like heavy hammer blows.
The remnants of the army finally broke through the city gates, but there were even more people inside, and the cries of weeping were even louder...
Many women and children crowded the street, holding up wooden signs with their names on them, eagerly searching through the queue.
Xiao Ruofeng suddenly spurred his horse, and the warhorse began to trot.
He dared not turn back, dared not turn back to see those desperate faces, dared not turn back to see the cries that were gradually being left behind.
The soldiers behind them quickened their pace, many with their heads down, gritting their teeth, tears streaming down their faces, mingling with the blood on their faces, dripping onto the bluestone slabs of Zhuque Street.
This road, which should have been a road of glory to welcome triumphs, has now become a road to the underworld, burying hope and life.
Xiao Ruofeng rushed all the way to the northern camp of the city.
More than 50,000 remaining soldiers were successively settled in the camp. The camp had already received the news, and medical officers, food supplies, and tents were all prepared.
Even so, manpower was still stretched thin in the face of so many wounded.
Xiao Ruofeng dismounted and stood in front of the camp gate, gazing at the bustling scene inside.
Soldiers with missing limbs were carried to the wounded soldiers' camp, lying unconscious on stretchers. Some even groaned as their armor was removed, pulling at their wounds.
"Your Highness," Xiao Ping stepped forward, "you should go and rest as well, I'll look after things here..."
Before the words were finished, the sound of carriages and horses came from outside the camp.
A squad of Imperial Guards escorted a palanquin, which slowly made its way to the gate.
The palanquin stopped, the curtain was lifted, and Jin Xuan, the head of the imperial eunuchs, stepped out, bowing.
He was dressed in a purple robe, with a fair complexion and no beard, and a perfectly measured smile on his face, but his narrow eyes held an unsettling coldness.
“Your Highness, the Prince of Langya,” Jinxuan’s voice was high-pitched and clear, “His Majesty has decreed that the Prince of Langya and all his generals—dismount and receive the decree!”
Behind Xiao Ruofeng, Lei Mengsha, Xun Yichuan, Ye Xiaoying and the others who had just arrived exchanged glances, all seeing an ominous premonition in each other's eyes.
Lei Mengsha whispered, "Seventh Brother, this imperial edict..."
Xiao Ruofeng raised his hand to stop him from speaking, and slowly knelt down: "Your subject Xiao Ruofeng, receive the imperial decree!"
Upon seeing this, the generals behind him dismounted and knelt down. Ye Xiaoying, who was half-lying on the carriage, also bowed his head respectfully to receive the imperial decree.
Jinxuan unfurled the bright yellow scroll, cleared her throat, and her voice echoed across the empty gate:
"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:
Prince Xiao Ruofeng of Langya was ordered to lead a southern expedition to quell the rebellion of Baili.
However, his rash advance and poor command led to the loss of more than half of the 200,000-strong army, and the situation in the southwest was reversed.
This crime should be severely punished, but considering that the Prince of Langya is devoted to the country, has made outstanding contributions in the past, and was wounded in battle, I am truly reluctant to punish him—”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling generals, and continued reading:
"Therefore, he is pardoned and ordered to return to the Prince's Palace immediately to recuperate and reflect on his mistakes. His return will be subject to further decree from me."
His military power will be temporarily placed under the command of the Ministry of War. He will also be fined one year's salary as a punishment.
"Regardless of the merits or demerits of the generals who accompanied the army, in consideration of their hardships on the expedition, officers of the rank of Thousand-Lieutenant and above are hereby granted six months of leave to return to their hometowns for recuperation and to provide for their families."
Fallen soldiers will receive preferential treatment in accordance with their military rank, with funds allocated by the Ministry of Revenue without delay.
So be it!
……