Chapter 299: Wheat Tips Yellow

The clansmen's reaction surprised Chen Wuji quite a bit.

At this moment, he saw something called cohesive force.

People from all different branches, at this moment, were all Chen clan members.

The estrangement and prejudice caused by various historical reasons seemed to dissolve silently.

Chen Wuji had actually prepared a speech, planning to tell these clansmen what a family was, why they fought, and what result and future he would forge with the knife in his hand.

But now these things seemed unnecessary to waste time on.

However, Chen Wuji would still have to say these words sooner or later.

They needed a future that was visible yet intangible, one worth fighting for with their lives.

People always need a goal, right?

Otherwise, what right do we have to ask them to risk their lives?

"Chen Baojia!" Chen Wuji shouted in a low voice.

"Present!"

Chen Baojia rose to his feet with a fierce aura, clasping his fists tightly.

Strangely, Chen Wuji suddenly noticed that this unit of clan troops, which had been exhausted to the extreme, now bore an aura even stronger than when they first set out.

"Leave twenty men to watch the prisoners; if anyone harbors treacherous thoughts, those beside them shall be cut down!" Chen Wuji ordered in a low voice. "Moreover, Chen Yuan's entire squad shall be merged into your unit, under your command."

"Yes!"

"Maintain the weapons; we'll set out in fifteen minutes."

"Yes!"

The troops all responded in unison.

The soldiers immediately set to work, sharpening blades and organizing arrows.

Chen Wuji took the opportunity to carefully bandage his fingers, which the bowstring had nearly sliced to shreds.

He hasn't had a chance to draw his bow these past few days, or else those three fingers would be ruined.

Fifteen minutes later, the clan troops, torches in hand, plunged once more into the vast wilderness.

Chen Wuji walked at the front, deliberately slowing his pace; this place was sixty li from South Mountain, and even if an elite force rushed over, this weary army, even with usable morale, would lack the strength to fight again.

After all, this is their home turf; even if the Qiang people had a scout who knew the way, it's deep night, and locals find it hard to navigate these mountains after dark. Chen Wuji was certain they couldn't run very fast, nor could they easily reach South Mountain.

Although he was anxious, he now had to proceed steadily.

"Family Head, we now have an elite unit!" Chen Li beamed, his facial folds rippling as he smiled, showing teeth but not eyes.

Chen Wuji tilted his head, "Maybe not yet."

"We already have the spirit; after a few more real battles, this will be a true elite force." Chen Li said, "For a unit, real combat is easy to come by, but this divine resonance is rare."

"Wuji, you're a born commander; just one big battle can rally the troops to this point—no easy feat, even some idiots who've commanded soldiers their whole lives can't reach this threshold."

Chen Wuji laughed and shook his head. "Not my doing; it's only because they're all Chen family."

"Each of these people has a wife and children; each bears the weight of reality that has bent their backs and waists. I know what kind of life they live. If I must give a reason, it's probably that I happened to prescribe the right medicine—this remedy… has actually been administered for less than half."

"All we can say is that the Chen clan's prolonged struggle has lowered everyone's expectations; a concrete benefit, a vague hope—already enough."

Having said that, he suddenly turned and shouted behind him, "Anyone know a song? Let's belt out a couple lines, damn it—walking this lousy road at night, I keep feeling like someone wants to kiss my neck!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Despite being many soldiers fresh from battle, still wrapped in killing intent, they naturally feared no mountain wilds or evil spirits, and took Chen Wuji's words as a joke.

"Family Head, my grandfather once taught me an old Chen clan melody; I'll belt out a couple verses for everyone, to steady our souls and let these mountain ruffians open their eyes!" someone bellowed.

"Sing!" Chen Wuji shouted loudly.

The soldiers cleared their throats.

"Ay yoi—"

"The wheat tips are yellow, the wife grinds fresh grain."

"The little brat chases the millstone round, Dad squats by the well platform."

"Official documents reach the village pavilion, the village chief bangs the gong, shouting hoarse—"

"Beacon fires from Hexi blaze past Longshan, sturdy men fill the city walls!"

"A blue‑clad bundle holds earth, before the Kitchen God we grab a pinch of salt."

"New straw shoes tied with three loops, old copper coins sewn onto the cuff."

"The little sister pulls at the bow tip, crying, 'Brother, brother, when will you return?'"

"The riverbank's smartweed blooms red as blood, the northwest wind stings tears into our eyes—"

"Geese fly over Black Water Ditch, in the white‑bone piles we hear our hometown accents."

"Frost‑rotted feet stamp three times, the waist‑knife slices a chunk of Qiang horse meat."

"The Huotou Army squads chew ice chips: dreaming of warm kangs at home, waking to a sky full of arrowheads like stars!"

"Tattered flags wrap the frozen dead, night after night they sing our hometown tune—"

……

"Wheat tips yellow, ghost‑fire green, the living carry a message, the dead stay silent…"

One person's voice gradually turned into a chorus.

Many people know this folk ditty.

Even Chen Wuji found himself humming along, as if something deep in his bones had quietly awakened, boiling his blood and moistening his eyes.

"Grandfather at the well platform counts millet: one dou to the xianya, one dou exchanged for swords and spears, half a dou left for—"

"The grave mound makes no sound—mute seedlings…"

Chen Wuji pinched his nose hard and said, "Damn it, you make me sing a song and you give the laborers tears instead. Your fathers never had the chance to count millet at the well platform like this; the Chen clan never abandons its own people—otherwise, why do you think we've survived as tenaciously as wild grass to this day?"

「You all must live well for me, but if someone careless dies by accident, I can say this today: I will support your families; this oath is witnessed by Heaven, Earth, and our clan. 」

The soldiers looked with complex expressions at the figure ahead that was clearly somewhat thin.

No one cheered, no one mourned; everyone just pressed their lips tightly, eyes wet.

The morale of this weary army was different at this moment.

「Brigade Commander… but I don't have the surname Chen, I have no family either… what should I do? 」 A voice suddenly rang out, he feeling somewhat wronged, 「Right, I have masters, many masters, Brigade Commander, will you support them? They don't eat much, often they drink dew and eat grass. 」

Chen Wuji laughed, giving Xu Guanshan's head a light slap, 「Don't dwell on death; think of ways to live, but if that day ever comes, I will support your masters. 」

Xu Guanshan grinned and hehe‑laughed, 「Then I'll have to figure out how to die; my masters keep nagging me to support them in their old age and see them off, how could I do that? I can't even support myself—I must die, I must die, I'll die soon, hehe…。」

Chen Wuji's face darkened, 「You bastard, what are you saying? 」