Chapter 705: Raise a Cup to Soothe the Heroic Spirits, Laugh into the City to Console One's Life

Veteran Wang Zheng stood beside his son Wang Xiong, his large hand, thick with old calluses, gripping the hilt of the Horizontal Blade at his waist, blue veins bulging on the back of his hand like a coiling dragon.

He looked at Zhang Wenqian kneeling on the ground, his gaze extremely conflicted.

As a veteran who had followed Chen Hu Lao Zhuguo into battle for half his life, he understood the principle "Mercy does not command troops" better than anyone.

He also knew that if Zhang Wenqian had split his forces to rescue Gancao City, Tongwan City would be left defenseless; should the Qi army seize the opportunity, the entire Xiazhou defensive line would collapse like dominoes, and the death toll would rise from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands.

He understood the reasoning.

But that was his son!

That was his legitimate eldest son, who had almost become a wandering ghost, a charred husk with no bones to be found.

As a father, seeing the "principal culprit" who pushed his son into the fire pit right before his eyes, the heartache and anger nearly drove him to draw his sword.

Yet in the end he slowly released his grip on the hilt, let out a long sigh, turned his head away, unable to watch any longer.

"Help me… across."

At that moment, the usually silent Wang Xiong, who could only stand with someone's support, suddenly spoke.

His voice was hoarse and cracked, as if a handful of coarse sand lodged in his throat.

Two bodyguards dared not delay, hoisting Wang Xiong step by step, laboriously moving him to stand before the kneeling Zhang Wenqian.

Wang Xiong looked down from his height at this comrade and friend who had once been full of vigor, now crying like a child.

The scarred face, almost unrecognizable, showed none of the resentment and anger everyone expected.

Instead, his eyes, reddened by smoke and flame, slowly revealed a tragic yet relieved smile.

He strained to lift his slightly less damaged right hand, trembling as he reached out and grasped Zhang Wenqian's arm.

"Brother Zhang… get up! Quickly, get up!"

Wang Xiong tried to pull Zhang Wenqian up with force, but his weakness caused the effort to tug at his wounds, making him gasp a cold breath as a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Yet he did not release his grip; instead, he held even tighter.

"Are you trying to break me, Wang Xiong?" he panted, his voice weak yet bearing a stone‑hard resolve, "I don't blame you! Really, I don't blame you!"

Zhang Wenqian jerked his head up, tears streaming down his face as he stared at Wang Xiong, disbelief filling his eyes.

"I am a soldier, I am the Sima of Xiazhou, defending the land; that is my destiny!" Wang Xiong said earnestly to Zhang Wenqian, "In that situation, if you had split forces to rescue me, Tongwan City would be empty, Xiazhou would fall!"

"You sat in that position and made the most correct choice. If it were me… if I were the Chief Clerk of Xiazhou, I would certainly do the same!"

"Even… I would act more decisively than you!"

Wang Xiong let out a wry laugh, patting his own chest with his bandaged hand, a dull thud sounding, "See, I'm not dead yet. Since I'm alive, Heaven thinks my fate is strong! As long as we keep this breath, we remain brothers for life!"

"Building a defense to block the Qi army, protecting the Xiazhou people behind Tongwan City—that is our duty as officials!"

"If I were to lose Xiazhou to save just me, even alive I would have no face to meet my ancestors in the Nine Springs below!"

These words rang out with authority, lofty and righteous.

Hearing Wang Xiong's heartfelt confession, Zhang Wenqian not only failed to find relief, but wept even more sorrowfully.

The moral shackles of bearing comrades' lives grew heavier under the other's forgiveness.

He knew Wang Xiong's magnanimity only highlighted the war's cruelty and helplessness.

"Enough!"

The previously silent Wang Zheng could no longer hold back.

He strode forward, his palm, as broad as a folding fan, slapping heavily on Zhang Wenqian's thin shoulder, booming, "Chief Zhang, stand up!"

Wang Zheng watched his son's resolute gaze, his eyes slightly moist, yet he forced back tears and instead showed a hint of satisfied smile.

"Ah Xiong is right. This child suffered, was wronged, almost lost his life. Yet he rolled among the dead and truly became a man who stands tall! That's his destiny!"

Wang Zheng's voice boomed across the venue: "You act for the greater good; our Wang family also knows the big picture. If we now wail and whine, it would make the Wang family seem petty! This matter is turned over!"

The veteran set the tone with a decisive strike.

Wang Zheng's words represented the complete forgiveness of the victims' families.

This let the massive stone in Zhang Wenqian's heart finally settle halfway.

Chen Yan, seeing the moment was ripe, stopped watching from the side. He strode forward, yanking the kneeling Zhang Wenqian up as if lifting a chick, then extended his left arm to clasp the bandaged shoulder of Wang Xiong.

"Enough, enough! Old gentlemen, what tragic drama are you putting on here?"

Chen Yan laughed loudly, his voice brimming with a 'who else but me' boldness, instantly shattering the stifling atmosphere: "We won the battle! We're still alive! The Qi people are gone! This is the greatest joy under heaven!"

He stared at the still sobbing Zhang Wenqian, deliberately pulling a stern face and feigning seriousness: "But you see, death penalty can be avoided, but a living crime is hard to escape! Since you, Old Zhang, feel uneasy, at the welcome banquet after entering the city you must punish yourself with three cups! And they must be the largest sea bowls in our army—no drop may be missing!"

Zhang Wenqian was stunned, then broke into laughter, nodding repeatedly: "Punishment! Absolutely! Not just three cups—three vats, I'll drink them too!"

"This isn't over yet!"

Chen Yan turned to Wang Xiong, a mischievous grin curling his mouth, teasing: "Also, when Ah Xiong recovers, Old Zhang you must pay out of your own pocket to treat Ah Xiong at Tongwan City's finest tavern, let him drink for three days and three nights! Moreover…"

Chen Yan leaned closer, lowering his voice yet audible to all: "You must also select a few courtesans with the best figures and most flamboyant dances for Ah Xiong, to properly soothe our great hero! If you fail, causing our hero grievance, I will have to punish you!"

"Hahaha!"

Hearing the word 'courtesan', the previously restrained Left Martial Guard officers burst into good‑natured laughter.

Lu Ming, eager to stir trouble, shouted: "Brother‑in‑law shows favoritism! Why does only Brother Wang get courtesans? I want some too! I've been beating drums and gongs all the way, my throat is hoarse, I need two courtesans to rub my shoulders!"

"Go, go, go! You kid, go home find your wife! Aren't you afraid Pei family's girl will twist your ears off!" Peng Chong kicked Lu Ming in the butt, making everyone laugh even louder.

The originally solemn, sorrowful, awkward atmosphere vanished amid Chen Yan's brief banter, turning into the post‑war camaraderie and warmth.

The sunset's afterglow bathed everyone, stretching long shadows.

"Let's go! Into the city! Drink! Eat meat!"

Chen Yan, left hand pulling Zhang Wenqian, right hand supporting the grievously wounded Wang Xiong, with Wang Zheng, Gu Yuci, Lu Ming and other civil and military figures behind, walked side by side beneath the towering Tongwan City.

Their backs loomed like a mountain, unbreakable.