Chapter 708: Erecting the National Mourning Monument to Calm the Souls

"I, your subordinate, accept the order!" Zhang Wenqian bowed heavily, but immediately furrowed his brows and said with some difficulty, "Chen Zhuguo, opening the granaries and enforcing strict military discipline are not hard. But repairing houses and restoring livelihoods… the money, grain, and manpower required are astronomical. The Xiazhou treasury has been drained by this battle. Moreover… there are tens of thousands of Liuren outside the city; merely giving porridge can only help temporarily, and if those tens of thousands of mouths stay idle, they will eventually cause trouble."

Zhang Wenqian's concerns were not unfounded.

Throughout history, after a great disaster there is inevitably great chaos, often because the displaced people gather with nothing to do and eventually turn to the mountains and forests.

Chen Yan heard this and did not answer immediately.

He turned his body, his gaze again fixed on the distant west, toward the direction of Gancao City where thousands of heroic souls were buried.

After a long while, he suddenly struck the city wall embrasure, his voice low and powerful.

The matter of money and grain, this Duke will find a way. As for manpower… Old Zhang, you need not worry about the Liuren having nothing to do. Here, I happen to have a matter of colossal importance that requires those tens of thousands to handle!

"A matter of colossal importance?"

Zhang Wenqian was startled, followed Chen Yan's gaze westward, his eyes full of doubt, "Chen Zhuguo, the war has just settled, everything lies in ruins awaiting reconstruction, what could be larger than restoring livelihoods?"

Chen Yan did not turn back, but pointed at the distant horizon buried in yellow sand, his voice becoming unusually solemn, even carrying a faint metallic tremor.

"Gancao City!"

Those three words made Zhang Wenqian's heart leap.

"Although Gancao City has been retaken, it contains thousands of skeletal remains. Some were burned to ash, some gnawed by wild dogs, and not a single intact bone can be found."

Chen Yan suddenly turned, his eyes blazing as he stared at Zhang Wenqian: "I once promised before the three armies that I would carry their coffins and let them receive eternal incense. This is not mere talk!"

"I will, outside Gancao City, on that blood‑stained land, build a martyrs' cemetery!"

"Not only build it, but build it grand! Build it magnificent! So that future generations, upon arriving there, will straighten their backs and bow their heads!"

Chen Yan waved his hand as if sketching the grand blueprint in empty air: "At the main gate of the cemetery, a ten‑zhang high white marble archway shall be erected! I will personally submit a memorial, requesting the current Son of Heaven to inscribe the two characters 'National Mourning' with his imperial brush!"

"Within the cemetery, a thousand‑person stele shall be erected! Anyone whose name can be found among the war dead, regardless of rank, even a cook, shall have their name carved on a stone tablet! If a name cannot be found, an nameless stele shall be set! In front of each grave, a Chang Qing Bai shall be planted!"

"I will make this Gancao City a sacred ground for Great Zhou soldiers! Let the world see that Great Zhou will never forget those who shed its blood!"

These words made Zhang Wenqian's blood boil and his whole body tremble. Since ancient times, although there has been a tradition of commemorating fallen soldiers, most were buried hastily with a collective monument.

"Such specifications and such penmanship are unheard of."

"This is the vision of Chen Zhuguo!"

But immediately, Zhang Wenqian fell into worry again: "Chen Zhuguo, this act is indeed a thousand‑year merit. Yet… the project is massive, and Xiazhou now lacks labor…"

"That is precisely the 'using labor to replace relief' I intend to tell you!"

Chen Yan's mouth curved into a confident smile, his eyes flashing with wisdom beyond the age, "Old Zhang, weren't you just worried that those tens of thousands of idle Liuren would cause trouble? Then let them build the cemetery! Let them repair Gancao City's walls!"

"Rather than feeding them porridge for free, let them work! All Liuren who take part in building the cemetery and city defenses will not only be fed, but also receive wages! Even if the pay is small, as long as they have a few copper coins to buy a piece of clothing for their families, they will feel that life has hope!"

"In this way, the cemetery will be built, the defenses will be as solid as gold soup, the Liuren will have work and will not cause trouble. Isn't that a three‑fold benefit?"

After hearing this, Zhang Wenqian was like a sudden enlightenment, standing dumbfounded on the spot.

In the past, when disaster struck, the government either forced labor, stirring public resentment, or opened granaries, eating away the mountains.

But Chen Zhuguo's method turned a dead chess move into a living one!

It solved the construction problem, solved the security problem, and also gave the people dignity!

"Chen Zhuguo… truly a divine man!"

Zhang Wenqian inhaled deeply, bowed deeply to Chen Yan, this time with complete heartfelt sincerity, five‑limb prostration, "With this plan, the people of Xiazhou are fortunate! Great Zhou is fortunate! I will go handle it at once! Even if I have to smash pots and sell iron, I will certainly make this cemetery splendid!"

…

The news spread, and Tongwan City boiled over.

When Zhang Wenqian posted the notices of "building the National Mourning cemetery" and "using labor to replace relief" on every city gate, the once lifeless Liuren camp instantly erupted.

"Chen Qingtian will build a cemetery for our dead children!"

"And will give us wages! Feed us!"

Countless civilians knelt toward the magistrate's office, weeping and crying, shouting "Long live Chen Qingtian!"

For these bottom‑level people, having someone remember their deceased relatives and give them a way to live is like a reborn parent.

And the soldiers of the Left Martial Guard, upon hearing this news, had their morale greatly boosted.

"Chen Zhuguo didn't lie to us! He really will build a cemetery for the brothers!"

"I'm not tired! I'll go carry bricks! I'll personally help Er Gou Zi raise the stele!"

Countless soldiers spontaneously surged to the registration point, even if they received no wages, they wanted to contribute for their comrades.

This scene of unified desire from top to bottom, army and civilians as one heart, made the whole Xiazhou seem to revive in a single night.

Night deepened and quiet.

After a day of clamor, Tongwan City finally quieted down.

Chen Yan returned to the temporary Shufang behind the magistrate's office. A solitary lamp flickered like a bean, casting his shadow upon the mottled Qiangbi.

He did not rest, but stood before a massive sheepskin map, his brows tightly knit.

On the map, the position of Xiazhou was heavily circled with vermilion ink.

Although this battle was won, it also exposed many gaps in the Northern Border defenses.

More importantly, with the war's end, a new problem stood before him.

The vacancy of the Xiazhou Inspector.

Earlier, when the war was urgent, Zhang Wenqian temporarily assumed the duties as Chief Clerk, while Gu Yu stepped down from commanding the troops, still manageable.

But now the overall situation is settled, the Court will inevitably send a formal Inspector to sit in this strategic stronghold.

Xiazhou, bordering the Rouran and the Turkic peoples to the north, and Lingzhou to the west, is the northern gateway of Guanzhong, its position is too important.

Chen Yan's fingers lightly tapped the table, producing a rhythmic "du du" sound.

"The position of Xiazhou Inspector…" he murmured to himself, his gaze deepening, "Which one will Grand Preceptor father send?"