Chapter 258

First Volume, Chapter 258: Winning the People's Hearts

Everyone immediately recognized it as the Qin Residence's carriage.

Qin Feng took advantage of Old Qin's absence after court, temporarily "borrowing" the carriage, since according to Ministry of Rites regulations, not everyone in Jingdu had the right to own one.

Even the highest-ranking Noble Youth in Jingdu had to walk; anyone who dared privately equip a carriage, sedan, or ride a horse recklessly could be punished.

Qin Feng rode the carriage slowly to the City Gate before ordering his servant to gallop ahead on horseback.

Arriving at the Tianji Camp's Door, under the escort of Xiao Xiangxiang, Shu Feng, and Qin Xiaofu, Qin Feng stepped down from the carriage and hurriedly told the driver to park farther away so as not to block the road.

Seeing a crowd of Noble Youth gathered, Qin Feng frowned irritably: "What are you all doing here? Don't crowd around—get lost."

Qin Feng had always been blunt with Jingzhong Noble Youth; everyone was used to it and offered no retort.

Ning Hu hurried forward, looking embarrassed: "Brother Qin, these people came with me."

Ning Hu recounted everything that had happened to Qin Feng in full detail.

Learning these men had come to tour the Tianji Camp, Qin Feng's expression softened slightly, but he still waved his hand: "I'm not heartless—touring the Tianji Camp isn't forbidden, but wait until I've finished my duties. Step back, don't block the road."

Though scolded harshly by Qin Feng, the Noble Youth were overjoyed to learn they could enter the Tianji Camp and quickly moved aside.

Meanwhile, the bronze bell's sound had grown very close.

A Taoist Priest in a Yellow Robe carried a Spirit Banner on his shoulder, held a Soul-Summoning Bell in his left hand, and scattered Paper Money to his right with each few steps.

As he walked toward the Tianji Camp, he chanted loudly: "The dead advance, the living step aside. Strangers who died afar—alas, mournful! May all paths be open, leaves return to their roots."

Behind the Taoist Priest came a convoy of three large horse-drawn carriages.

Each carriage bore a Black Lacquer Coffin.

Each was covered with a Tianji Camp Banner.

Qin Feng had originally planned to drape the national flag, but then remembered: Shedynasty had no such thing; this era didn't do that—only the imperial banner existed.

And the imperial banner was too sacred; draping it over coffins would mean Qin Feng would be in a coffin himself by tomorrow, sent by the Ministry of Rites.

As for other camps' military banners—since these were Tianji Camp soldiers, why cover them with another camp's flag?

Qin Feng had no choice but to hastily make a Tianji Camp Banner: red with two large ink characters stitched on: "Heavenly Mechanism."

Seeing this, the Noble Youth present were stunned.

"What's going on? Why are three large coffins being brought here?"

"Wait—I heard my father say three Tianji Camp Guards sacrificed in this battle, and there are exactly three coffins here—could it be… Qin Feng brought the fallen Guards' bodies back from Beixi County?! This honor rivals that of a general!"

"Even ordinary soldiers are usually buried on-site. Only officers above the rank of Colonel, and only when not in active war or after its end, are their bodies transported back to the Ancestral Land at great cost—this is unheard of. Are these Tianji Camp Guards really that precious?"

Unbeknownst to them, ever since Qin Feng first clashed with Zhong Ling, he had dispatched the Yizhan to transport the fallen Guards' bodies back to Jingdu.

After galloping nearly a thousand li, the corpses had rotted beyond repair, so they were hastily entombed and a local Taoist Priest hired to summon their souls and guide them back to Jingdu.

Though Qin Feng didn't believe in ghosts or spirits and stood firm on his "materialist banner," he couldn't ignore how deeply people of this era revered spirits and sought reincarnation.

Qin Feng had thus prescribed the right remedy.

Under the stunned gaze of the crowd, the three Black Lacquer Coffins entered the Tianji Camp directly and were carried to the Ling Hall.

With Qin Feng's permission, the Noble Youth followed inside and gathered at a distance from the Ling Hall to observe.

All personnel of the Tianji Camp attended the funeral.

The families of the three fallen Guards, dressed in mourning garments, stood guard inside the Ling Hall.

Two hundred and seventy-seven Guards stood in two neat, solemn rows on either side of the Ling Hall.

Soldiers from the two New Army units, craftsmen, and accountants also stood silently at a distance in mourning.

Qin Feng arrived at the Ling Hall entrance and shouted: "Welcome home, fallen Comrades!"

As his words ended, a deafening roar erupted.

"Comrades, you're home!"

This scene left the onlookers speechless.

Even if these Guards possessed extraordinary Tactical Advantage, how could they deserve such honors? This had never happened in Shedynasty's history.

Some said Qin Feng was overdoing it.

But more were stunned by Qin Feng's deep regard for his subordinates.

Qin Feng's voice carried deep gravity: "All who serve in the Tianji Camp give their blood and brains for Shedynasty—until death! Whether you fall in Beixi County or far across foreign lands, I will never let my Comrades be buried in a foreign soil! These three Comrades died for the nation— their wives, children, and elders will be cared for by the Tianji Camp for life. Comrades, walk the Huangquan Road in peace—do not worry about what lies behind!"

The Guards' faces were sorrowful, but their eyes burned with fervor as they looked at Qin Feng.

Dying for the nation was nothing; what they feared was dying nameless and buried far from home.

Now, the three fallen Guards had all been brought back to their homeland, and their families would be supported by the Tianji Camp.

The Guards silently vowed to dedicate their entire lives to the Tianji Camp.

At that moment, a report rang out.

"Minister of War Qin arrives to pay respects to the fallen Guards."

At these words, gasps erupted across the crowd.

"What?! Even Minister Qin came? These three Guards died worthily indeed!"

"What kind of talk is that! These men died for the nation—what does 'worth it' mean?"

"I'm bad with words, but for the Minister of War himself to personally come and mourn three soldiers? It's unbelievable."

Since this was a funeral, unmarried women were not permitted to appear, so Liu Hongyan and the other three ladies did not attend.

Qin Tianhu had changed out of his official robes into casual attire and stepped forward to the Ling Hall, gazing at Qin Feng with deep meaning: "Feng'er, your compassion for your subordinates brings me great comfort."

Qin Feng smiled bitterly: "Father, you didn't need to come."

Qin Tianhu waved his hand dismissively: "These Guards didn't just die for you—they died for the Qin Family. As Patriarch of the Qin Family, how could I ignore them?"

With that, Qin Tianhu bowed to the fallen Guards' bodies.

The families of the Guards looked on with gratitude and emotion, but could not speak further during the funeral—only murmured their thanks.

Qin Tianhu left the Ling Hall and was preparing to return home when he saw Xie Bi, the Duke of Ning, riding a Horse toward him.

He dismounted at the Camp Gate and entered the Ling Hall to pay his respects.

Even Qin Feng was a little bewildered this time.

Qin Feng had planned for only the Tianji Camp to attend this funeral.

Now it seems somewhat unexpected...