Chapter 704: A Kneel That Shakes Heaven Erases Grudges; Iron Bones Need Not Question Right and Wrong

The setting sun was like blood, staining the bleak white walls of Tongwan City a deep crimson, as if they had just been lifted from a pool of blood.

As the Left Wuwei Army drew near, its uniform footsteps sounded like muffled thunder, making the ground tremble slightly.

Outside the city gate, Xiazhou officials watched the "Wei" banner flutter in the wind and the Great Zhou Iron Cavalry surge like a black tide; their eyes reddened, a mix of post‑disaster exhilaration and the release of seeing their backbone.

They were still a hundred paces from the gate.

By protocol, as the reigning Duke of Wei and Senior Pillar of the State, Chen Yan could have ridden his horse to the city's foot and received the officials' kneeling tribute.

Yet, while his Wuzhui Horse had not yet slowed, Chen Yan made a move no one expected.

He deftly dismounted, tossed the reins to the bodyguards behind him, refused to let any Bodyguard clear the way, and strode forward across the yellow sand, dust from his campaign clinging to him, marching like a comet toward the awaiting crowd.

The scene warmed the hearts of the previously restrained Xiazhou officials.

"I, Chief Clerk of Xia Prefecture Zhang Wenqian…"

"I, Governor Gu Yuci of Xiazhou…"

"Salutations, Salutations, Pillar of the State!"

Seeing this, Zhang Wenqian and Gu Yuci hurried forward, ignoring the sand and stones that bruised their knees, ready to perform the grand kneeling tribute.

"Hey! What are you doing!"

Chen Yan, swift‑eyed and quick‑handed, covered two steps in one, and his large hands firmly supported their arms, refusing to let them kneel.

He gazed at these two old subordinates who had once followed him through the Mirror Office and the army, seeing the blood vessels clouding their eyes and the new white hairs at their temples, and a wave of bitterness and emotion rose in his heart.

"Old Zhang, Old Gu!"

Chen Yan did not use titles; instead, as he had once done while drinking in Chang'an, he lightly punched Gu Yuci's sturdy Guardian Heart Mirror, producing a crisp "clang".

A genuine, bright smile spread across his face: "Long time no see! It seems the wind‑blown sand of Xiazhou may be fierce, but it's made your bones even tougher! This battle was hard, yet it was fought beautifully!"

That call of "Old Zhang, Old Gu" instantly shattered the hierarchical barrier in Zhang Wenqian's and Gu Yuci's hearts.

Gu Yuci's face, rough as bark from the northern wind, twitched as his muscles spasmed; this hard man who never shed blood or tears now sounded choked: "Pillar of the State… your arrival is enough! With you here, even if the heavens over Xiazhou collapse, someone will hold them up!"

Zhang Wenqian's eyes were also reddened; he clutched Chen Yan's hand as if it were a lifeline, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

"Hey! I tell you, General Gu, this is downright unfair!"

Peng Chong stepped forward as well, his simple, hearty smile suddenly very warm.

He scratched his head and exaggeratedly sized up Gu Yuci: "How long have we been apart? How did you get so skinny? Did you hide all the good food from your brothers? Now the brothers are here, bring out the hidden fine wine!"

Peng Chong's banter eased the previously heavy, mournful atmosphere a bit.

The surrounding commanders also came forward to exchange greetings; the joy of reuniting with Pao Ze temporarily dispelled the war's gloom.

However, just as the atmosphere grew warm…

Zhang Wenqian's gaze passed over Chen Yan's broad shoulders, over the still‑grinning Peng Chong, and finally settled on a figure standing at the rear of the formation, being carefully supported by two bodyguards.

The figure was wrapped from head to toe in bandages stained with dark red blood, his left leg encased in a thick splint; he resembled a freshly unearthed mummy, and without support he could barely keep his balance.

It was Wang Xiong, who had crawled out of the pile of dead in Gancao City.

The moment he saw Wang Xiong, Zhang Wenqian's smile froze as if chilled by the cold wind.

The joy that had risen with Chen Yan's arrival swiftly faded, replaced by a pallor as white as paper.

His body began to convulse uncontrollably, his eyes fixed on Wang Xiong, filled with an indescribable guilt, pain, and remorse.

In that instant, the air seemed to fall silent.

Chen Yan still wore a smile, yet he said nothing and made no move to stop them, simply stepping back half a step, his gaze as deep as a still ancient well.

Under the watchful eyes of all, Zhang Wenqian, the Chief Clerk of Xia Prefecture and the senior civil official of Xiazhou, suddenly pushed away the attendant who tried to support him.

He inhaled deeply, his trembling hand adjusting his slightly crooked official hat, then brushed dust from his sleeves.

Then, he walked straight to a spot five paces in front of Wang Xiong.

"Splash!"

A profoundly dull, unhesitant thud.

Zhang Wenqian's knees slammed heavily onto the hard frozen earth, the sound of his knees striking stone making everyone's teeth tingle.

He did not lift his head; instead, he bent his upper body deep, his forehead striking the sand‑filled ground with a "bang".

"Brother Wang!!"

Zhang Wenqian's voice was no longer the usual refined elegance but a heart‑rending howl, as if to unleash all the blood and tears long bottled up in his chest.

"I am guilty! I am a sinner!"

That kneel, that shout, plunged the entire scene into death‑like silence.

Whether officials from Tongwan City or Left Wuwei commanders, everyone stared in astonishment, at a loss for words.

Zhang Wenqian lifted his head; blood from his forehead mixed with mud and ran down his cheek.

Tears streaming down his face, he looked at the almost unrecognizable Wang Xiong and cried, "Gancao City has been besieged for so long! As Chief Clerk of Xiazhou, holding the power to mobilize troops, I stood by! I sent not a single soldier to rescue you! I watched the Qi army drown you like a tide!"

"Those thousands of brothers… the citizens of that city… all perished because of my single command! I killed them! I treated you as expendables!"

"Brother Wang! If you must kill… even now…"

"I acted to hold Tongwan City, but I have wronged…"

The wind howled, whipping up the yellow sand, stinging faces with a sharp pain.

Only then did those around understand.

It turned out that behind the defense of Xiazhou lay such a cruel, bloody past.

To preserve the seat of governance and safeguard the larger picture, Zhang Wenqian chose to sacrifice Gancao City, to sacrifice Wang Xiong.

In military doctrine this is called 'Abandon the Carriage to Save the Commander', an absolutely correct strategic choice.

But in terms of humanity, for both the one issuing the order and the sacrificed, it is a torturous, slow‑death punishment.

Chen Yan remained silent.

He neither pulled Zhang Wenqian nor spoke.

Because they know, this knot must be untied by the person involved themselves.

This is Zhang Wenqian's inner demon; if we don't make him kneel this time, if we don't let him spit out this mouthful of blood, this old subordinate will be ruined for the rest of his life.

They are waiting.

Waiting for the true victim, the one most qualified to speak, to open their mouth.