Chapter 128: Memorial

Overnight, the north wind rose, and an autumn rain began to fall over Yancheng.

The rain was not heavy; only a fine, continuous drizzle drifted through the sky.

Yet even so, in such weather, the commoners of Yancheng would usually be unwilling to step outside.

But today seemed different.

The people of Yancheng, who should have been huddled in their homes, had all come out.

They had received word that today, Yan Wang was to hold a memorial for the soldiers who had died in battle.

This was news that left them feeling stunned.

The dignified Yan Wang was going to hold a memorial for soldiers.

Such a thing was unheard of to them; that was Yan Wang, an Imperial Prince of the Great Song.

In their hearts, these soldiers and they themselves were nothing more than common rabble; what merit did they have to be worth a memorial from Yan Wang?

It was precisely because of this that they abandoned their comfortable homes and braved the rain to wait on the streets for the memorial for the soldiers.

Before long, a shrill, mournful sound of double-reed wind instruments drifted over.

They saw a long procession walking toward them.

In the front were the musicians playing, and behind them followed a contingent.

"That is Yan Wang, and behind him is General Chang, Tutor Liu, and further back are the military commanders and officials from the Government Office; how truly grand," a commoner on the side of the street shouted.

The commoners all looked on, their hearts shaken.

He had originally thought this was just a rumor, never expecting it to be true.

Yan Wang was truly leading the officials and commanders to see the fallen soldiers off on their final journey.

A wave of warmth suddenly filled their hearts.

Although this was a memorial for fallen soldiers, it was enough to show that Yan Wang loved his people as his own children.

As the procession passed, they lowered their heads to show their respect for the dead soldiers.

The procession came out from the North Camp and traveled south along the main street.

The road was filled with commoners.

Zhao Xu was not riding a horse; he and the commanders and officials were simply walking.

Behind them, soldiers carried the coffins.

The soldiers in the coffins had no families and no friends.

After they died, there would not even be anyone to remember them.

But he could not let these brave warriors be forgotten just like that.

Therefore, he had Chang Wei select a plot of land south of the city to establish something similar to a modern martyrs' cemetery.

They would be buried there, enjoying the reverence of future generations.

And this was the origin of today's memorial.

Walking silently along the road, Zhao Xu's gaze swept over the commoners on both sides of the street.

The people of Yan Commandery had a conscience.

From their eyes, he saw their admiration for the fallen soldiers.

Burning in those same eyes was hatred for the enemy.

Yes, had the Beidi not invaded, these young soldiers should have been standing in the fields at this moment, leisurely looking at the wheat about to ripen at home.

But now, they lay in cold coffins.

Some young men choked back sobs amidst the mournful wailing of the double-reed wind instruments.

They secretly decided that once the memorial ended, they would join the army to fill their places.

They would train where these dead soldiers had stood, continuing their ambition to drive out the Beidi.

The rain fell harder and harder, but the commoners had no intention of leaving.

They saw that Yan Wang's black robe was soaked through, and the Armor on the commanders was drenched, yet they remained expressionless, continuing to lead the procession forward.

Exiting Nanmen, the procession stopped at a pine forest two miles west of the city.

Many commoners followed the procession to this place.

"Lower the coffins."

The procession stood still, and Chang Wei shouted loudly.

The soldiers carrying the coffins stepped forward to bury the soldiers.

Then, they erected stone tablets one by one, with the names of the soldiers written upon them.

"In this battle, one thousand two hundred and thirty-one soldiers sacrificed their lives; before us are three hundred of those soldiers who had no families. Today, they will sleep here forever," Zhao Xu stepped forward and took a bowl of Wine handed to him by Chang Wei.

Pausing, he continued: "Their names should not be forgotten, their sacrifices should not be forgotten. This Prince decrees that every year on this day and at this hour, the Government Office and the military shall hold a ceremony here, offering Alcohol and fresh flowers to comfort the spirits of these warriors in heaven."

Having said this, he poured the Wine onto the ground.

Then, he placed his right hand on his left chest, bowed, and performed a military salute.

Chang Wei and the soldiers immediately saluted the stone tablets.

At this moment, their hearts were comforted.

They did not fear death; what they feared was dying and still being treated with injustice.

Yet Yan Wang, in his provisions for the bereaved and his respect for the fallen soldiers, had won their complete devotion.

The next time the Beidi came, they would still be willing to use their lives to defend Yan Wang and defend Yan Commandery.

After Zhao Xu, the commanders offered wine one by one.

Finally, three hundred soldiers each held a wild chrysanthemum.

They came before the soldiers' tombstones, gently placed the wild chrysanthemums down, performed a military salute, and slowly returned to their ranks.

The commoners witnessed the entire memorial ceremony.

At this moment, they were actually somewhat envious, even wishing it were themselves lying inside, for what immense glory this was.

The light rain fell for a while, then turned into a fine drizzle.

A ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, carving out a rainbow.

A commoner said, "An auspicious sign."

"Indeed, even the heavens have been moved by the sincerity of Yan Wang."

"Perhaps the spirits of the fallen soldiers in heaven are gratified."

"..."

The words passed between the commoners reached the ears of the generals and officials.

They looked up at the eastern sky, and sure enough, there was a clear rainbow.

Chang Wei was moved by what the commoners said, "They are truly gratified."

Zhao Xu shook his head; the ancients were extremely superstitious.

However, he had no intention of debunking it; if it could bring comfort to the hearts of the soldiers, that was a good thing.

The memorial ceremony concluded.

Zhao Xu returned to Yancheng, and the commoners returned to their respective homes.

But this memorial had left an imprint in the hearts of the generals, officials, and commoners alike.

When foreign enemies come rolling back again, they will remember these sacrificed soldiers, and they will give them courage.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter..."

They had not walked many steps after entering the city.

A burst of urgent hoofbeats suddenly rang out.

Everyone saw a Cavalryman coming from the north; he stopped before Zhao Xu, dismounted, knelt on one knee, and said, "Your Highness, five hundred Imperial Guard knights from Jingshi are waiting at the North Gate, saying they carry an Imperial Edict from the Emperor; shall they be permitted to enter the city?"

"Imperial Guards from Jingshi?" Zhao Xu frowned.

Liu Fu said, "Presumably, news of Your Highness's great victory over the Northern Di has already reached Jingshi."

Chang Wei nodded, "Most likely; urgent military intelligence is often sent via eight-hundred-li express, so Jingshi must certainly know."

Zhao Xu nodded, "Let them enter."

It was just that this time Zhao Heng did not send a eunuch, but instead sent Imperial Guard soldiers directly; he likely knew about the capture of Kutu.

With such a formation, it seemed they intended to escort Kutu to Jingshi.

Thinking of this, he took Liu Fu and Chang Wei to the Prince's Mansion.

After waiting in the front courtyard for a while, a rumble of hoofbeats rang out.

Numerous Cavalry stopped in front of the Prince's Mansion.

A general dismounted and walked straight into the Prince's Mansion.

Seeing the appearance of the general, Chang Wei's expression suddenly turned cold.

"Xie Kuan!"

This person was none other than his direct superior when he was in the Imperial Guards.

If not for him, he would not have been sent to Yan Commandery.