Chapter 45

Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched this scene and sighed:

"This Yue Fei is an honest man. Even after being made a Duke, there isn't a smile on his face."

Empress Ma said softly: "What he holds in his heart is the recovery of the Central Plains, is loyalty to the country. He doesn't care about rewards."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "I know. I am the same kind of person. When I became emperor, I wasn't that happy either."

Empress Ma laughed: "Chongba, you were so happy back then that you couldn't sleep for days."

Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to be angry: "That was me putting on an act! I had to be steady!"

【Many people don't know that Yue Fei wasn't just a fighter; he was also a man of culture!】

【His accomplishments in calligraphy were extremely high. The extant ink manuscript of the "Chu Shi Biao" (though controversial, it is generally accepted to reflect his style) shows vigorous brushwork, flowing and unrestrained, filled with a noble spirit; he was absolutely at the level of a master calligrapher.】

【The poems and lyrics he left behind, such as "Man Jiang Hong: Wrath Bristles the Hair," are even more earth-shattering, becoming eternal masterpieces.】

On the sky screen, Yue Fei's calligraphy works slowly unfurled.

That "Chu Shi Biao" ink manuscript was vigorous in brushwork and majestic in momentum.

Every stroke was like a blade or sword, every line filled with power.

【Immediately after, the lyrics of "Man Jiang Hong" appeared:

"Wrath bristles the hair, leaning against the railing, the drizzling rain ceases.

Looking up, I let out a long roar to the sky, my heroic spirit surging.

Thirty years of fame are but dust and dirt, eight thousand li of road are but clouds and moon.

Do not idle away, lest the hair of youth turns white, leaving only empty sorrow.

The shame of Jingkang, is yet to be avenged. The hatred of a subject, when will it be extinguished!

Driving the long chariot, to trample through the gaps of the Helan Mountains.

With heroic ambition, I hunger to eat the flesh of the Hu captives, in laughter and talk, I thirst to drink the blood of the Xiongnu.

Waiting to start anew, to recover the old mountains and rivers, and report to the Heavenly Palace."】

This lyric was earth-shattering, its heroic spirit surging.

Every word seemed like blood flowing from the heart.

Tang Dynasty.

Li Bai was watching the sky screen.

Seeing "Man Jiang Hong," his eyes lit up.

"Good lyrics! Good lyrics!"

He said excitedly: "This momentum, this heroic passion, does not lose to mine back then!"

Du Fu beside him laughed,

"Brother Taibai, have you met your match?"

Li Bai shook his head: "Not a match, but a kindred spirit. These lyrics write of the heroic passion of a military general; I could not write this. But I can feel it—that surging heroic spirit, that readiness to face death."

He raised his cup to the sky,

"Marshal Yue, I toast you a cup!"

Song Dynasty.

Su Shi was also watching the sky screen.

Seeing "Man Jiang Hong," he nodded repeatedly.

"These lyrics shall be passed down for a thousand years," he said in a low voice.

A friend beside him asked: "Master Dongpo, what do you think of these lyrics?"

Su Shi said earnestly: "Every word is a pearl, every sentence is blood and tears. Especially 'Thirty years of fame are but dust and dirt, eight thousand li of road are but clouds and moon,' which writes of the hardships and magnanimity of a general. And 'With heroic ambition, I hunger to eat the flesh of the Hu captives, in laughter and talk, I thirst to drink the blood of the Xiongnu,' which writes of the hatred for the enemy and the love for the country. Good lyrics, good lyrics."

Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang saw "Man Jiang Hong," and his eyes turned red again.

"The shame of Jingkang, is yet to be avenged. The hatred of a subject, when will it be extinguished..."

He recited in a low voice, then turned to look at Liu Bowen,

"Bowen, tell me, will our Great Ming also suffer such humiliation?"

Liu Bowen said quickly: "Your Majesty, as long as we strive for governance, we will never repeat the same mistakes."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "I will not let such a thing happen. My descendants will not either."

【More importantly, Yue Fei was also a top-tier military strategist.】

【His thoughts and practices on training troops, employing troops, and governing the army reached the peak of the cold weapon era.】

【He was well-versed in strategy, flexibly applying various tactics; he was a true talent for command.】

【Precisely because of his indelible contributions to defending the country and the survival of the nation, as well as the steadfast national integrity he displayed in adversity, he is revered by later generations as a great national hero.】

On the sky screen, scenes of Yue Fei training, employing, and governing his troops were displayed one by one.

He personally trained the soldiers, eating and living with them.

He studied military strategy, formulated tactics, and applied them flexibly.

He said to his soldiers: "Do not dismantle houses even if frozen to death, do not loot even if starved to death."

The soldiers shouted in unison: "Understood!"

The Yue Family Army was forged in this way.

Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin watched this scene and sighed:

"To be able to share joys and sorrows with soldiers, to be able to make soldiers willingly face death—such a commander is rare in a thousand years."

He looked at Li Jing: "How do you think you compare to Yue Fei?"

Li Jing said earnestly: "Your Majesty, your subject is not his equal. I can fight battles, but I cannot make soldiers love me so. Yue Fei's soldiers were truly willing to die for him."

Li Shimin nodded: "That is why he is number one."

Li Jing laughed: "Your Majesty is right."

【However, the most heartbreaking ending has arrived.】

【Just as the Yue Family Army was singing songs of victory, preparing to strike directly at the enemy's heart, Song Gaozong Zhao Gou and Prime Minister Qin Hui insisted on peace negotiations, issuing twelve gold medals in a row to forcibly order Yue Fei to return to the capital.】

【"Ten years of effort, wasted in a single day!" Yue Fei sighed to the sky, withdrawing his troops in grief and indignation.】

【After returning to the capital, Yue Fei was promoted in name but demoted in reality, and his military power was stripped. Immediately after, Qin Hui and others fabricated charges, using the absurd excuse of "Mo Xu You" (it may exist) to throw Yue Fei, his son Yue Yun, and the great general Zhang Xian into the Dali Temple prison.】

【On January 27, 1142 (New Year's Eve), in the Dali Temple prison in Lin'an (modern-day Hangzhou), the 39-year-old Yue Fei was killed by the cruel method of "La Xie" (violent beating of the chest and ribs). His son Yue Yun and subordinate Zhang Xian were beheaded on the same day.】

【This is the eternal injustice—the "Fengbo Pavilion Miscarriage of Justice."】

On the sky screen, the scene was heartbreaking.

The Yue Family Army was pursuing the victory, preparing to strike at the enemy's heart.

Suddenly, a fast horse galloped over.

It was a gold medal.

Yue Fei's face changed.

Immediately after, a second, a third... the twelfth gold medal.

Yue Fei sighed to the sky: "Ten years of effort, wasted in a single day!"

He helplessly ordered the withdrawal of troops, and the common people knelt on the ground, crying and begging him to stay.

"Marshal Yue, you cannot leave!"

Yue Fei closed his eyes, unable to bear looking.

The scene shifted to the Dali Temple prison.

Yue Fei was tied to a torture rack, suffering every cruelty.

Qin Hui's henchmen forced him to confess.

Yue Fei glared: "The sun and moon are bright! The sun and moon are bright!"

On New Year's Eve, he was cruelly murdered.

He was only thirty-nine years old.

His son Yue Yun and subordinate Zhang Xian were beheaded on the same day.

Song Dynasty.

Zhao Kuangyin saw this, his anger surging, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

"Qin Hui! Zhao Gou! You two beasts!"

He shouted, his voice trembling.

Zhao Pu beside him quickly supported him: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, calm your anger!"

Zhao Kuangyin broke free, pointing at Qin Hui and Zhao Gou on the sky screen, furious beyond measure.

"The backbone of my Great Song, the hero of my Great Song, was murdered by them just like that!"

"Ten years of effort, wasted in a single day! What they wasted was the national destiny of my Great Song!"

Tears streamed down his face, and he could not stop sobbing.

The entire imperial palace was silent.

Qin Dynasty.

Ying Zheng saw this, his face gloomy.

"Using the charge of 'Mo Xu You' to murder a meritorious official?"

He said coldly: "Such an emperor is not fit to be an emperor."

Li Si beside him said cautiously: "Your Majesty, this Zhao Gou..."

Ying Zheng waved his hand,

"No need to say more. I know, there are foolish emperors in later generations. But I didn't expect there to be one this foolish."

He looked at Meng Tian: "Meng Tian, what do you think, if I treated you this way, what would you do?"

Meng Tian was stunned for a moment, then quickly said: "Your Majesty, your subject dares not imagine."

Ying Zheng said in a deep voice: "I will never treat you that way. When I use people, I do not doubt them; when I doubt them, I do not use them. Since I have used you, I give you full authority."

"A person like Yue Fei, if he were under my command, I would have let him strike at the Xiongnu royal court."