On the 1st of February, it was snowing heavily, and the weather was extremely cold.
Outside Red Rock City, supplies were continuously transported over. At the same time, officials from the various prefectures in the province sent letters of surrender, expressing their willingness to become citizens of the Qin Empire. At noon, the winged cavalry from Blazing Prairie Province sent the letter of surrender. Because the Governor of Blazing Prairie Province had no military strength, he was willing to offer the governor's seal.
However, all official business was halted because of Lin Muyu's coma.
…
In the residence in Red Rock City, Wei Chou, Situ Sen, Situ Xue, Si Kongyao, and the rest were anxiously pacing back and forth in the living room of Lin Muyu's room. Si Kongyao held a cup of green tea in her hand and said, "Wei Chou, stop pacing back and forth. My eyes are getting dizzy from all the walking!"
Wei Chou gritted his teeth and said, "Sir has been unconscious for a long time. What should we do?"
Si Kongyao's gaze was gloomy as she said, "Brother has been fighting for three days and three nights. He took the lead and almost exhausted all his battle energy. Then, he was overly sad because of Cangnan Master's death in battle. Sigh, let's see what Sister Chu Yao has to say after diagnosing him."
At this moment, the door opened with a creak. Chu Yao, who was dressed in the white robes of the Spiritual Medicine Department, walked out. She frowned and said, "He has been having a high fever since this morning and is very weak. He needs to recuperate for a period of time. Let's not disturb him for the time being. I will stay here and focus on taking care of him."
Si Kongyao opened her small mouth.
Chu Yao said, "Go in and take a look if you want to. He is not awake yet. In a while … give him a bowl of porridge. Otherwise, the nutrients in his body will not be able to keep up."
"Okay."
Si Kongyao strode into the room and saw that Lin Muyu was unconscious.
Chu Yao looked at the generals in the hall and said, "Don't you know what to do when Yu isn't here? Don't forget, all of you are Yu's trusted generals. Yu needs to rest now, so don't bother him with your military and political affairs. Otherwise, I won't agree. "
Wei Chou smiled awkwardly. "Yes, Great Deacon. We understand, but …"
"Just what?"
"The Prairie Prairie Province has decided to surrender. We don't know if it's true or not, and we haven't responded yet."
"Isn't it very simple?" Chu Yao raised her eyebrows and said, "The Prairie Prairie Province did not have many soldiers in the first place, and they were almost annihilated by the Longdan Army Camp this time. Moreover, the Prairie Prairie Province is located in the south. To the east is an insurmountable mountain range, to the west is the Lieshan Province, and to the north is the Red Rock Province. They have been trapped in the south and have no choice but to surrender. Wei Chou, you can send a chiliarch and ten civil officials to recruit the troops of the Prairie Prairie Province and regulate the internal affairs of the province. In that case, even if they are deceiving us, we won't suffer too much loss."
"Yes, I … I'll do it soon. If Lin General can do it, I'll tell him that it's Great Deacon Chu Yao's order."
"Hmph, you're still the commander of the Longdan Army Camp. You're really afraid of taking responsibility."
"Ha …" Wei Chou laughed bitterly. "Great Deacon, you may not know this, but Wei Chou is a general, and the recruitment of provinces is done by the civil officials. It's not my turn. I think … the Great Deacon of the Spiritual Medicine Department should be considered a civil official. With your words, I can handle it without worry."
"Yes."
"Oh yes, there's one more thing." Wei Chou, who was at the door, suddenly stopped and turned around. "Her Highness Yin and Princess Xi are in Xiping City presiding over the memorial ceremony for the soldiers who died in the battle of Longyuan. Should we inform Her Highness about the news of Lin General's coma?"
Chu Yao bit her red lips and said, "No, this will only make Xiao Yin and Xiao Xi worry in vain. Just tell them that Hongyan Province has been conquered. Also, tell them about the news of Commander Xu Jiantao's death. Send a Dragon Knight to Xishan Province with Commander Xu Jiantao's body. They should arrive within half a day. Give him a proper burial. He's a meritorious hero of the empire."
"Yes, I understand."
…
In the room, Lin Muyu's eyes were closed and she was unconscious. Her body was trembling slightly as if she was having a nightmare. Her forehead was drenched in sweat.
"Brother …"
Si Kongyao wiped her brother's sweat. Her pretty face was filled with worry.
Chu Yao walked in again and said, "Miss Sikong, don't worry too much. Yu's body is strong. This time, he's just suffering from some serious injuries, excessive grief, and anxiety. He'll wake up soon. He needs to recuperate now, so let's not disturb him. Let's go. There are many things waiting to be done in Hongyan Province. As the commander of the Bai Ze Mercenaries, you have many things to do.
"Yes, thank you, Sister Chu Yao, for the reminder."
Si Kongyao pursed her red lips and said, "I'll be in the military field. Once brother wakes up, please send someone to inform me."
"Okay, go."
Si Kongyao left reluctantly.
Chu Yao sat on the side of the bed and looked at Lin Muyu's pale face. She said, "Why don't you take care of your body? Look, so many people are worried about you. Hurry up and wake up. If you don't wake up, I'm afraid you'll miss Xu Jiantao's funeral."
…
West Mountain Province, beside the green mountains outside Longyuan.
Hongyan Province was less than a thousand miles away from here. Situ Sen and Situ Xue's dragonriders arrived in half a day. On the snowy ground, the civil and military officials of the empire were solemnly standing, paying their respects to the fallen soldiers.
"Situ Sen is here!"
Feng Jixing raised his head and said.
Qian Feng frowned and said, "There's been no news from the Red Rock Province for three days in a row. Situ Sen must have brought some news."
"Yes …"
A total of four giant dragons landed on the empty ground in front of the crowd. Situ Sen slid down from the dragon's back and knelt. "Subject Situ Sen pays his respects to Your Highness and Princess Xi!"
"Get up," Qin Yin, who was wearing a white empress robe, said, "General Sen, how is Brother Yu?"
"Everything is going well."
Situ Sen's eyes were red as he mumbled, "We, the Longdan Army Camp, defended Fenghuang Pass for almost ten days, exhausting the morale and provisions of He Song's army of 250,000. When He Song retreated, Lin General ordered us to chase after him non-stop. For three days and three nights, we killed our way from Fenghuang Pass to Hongyan City and almost annihilated He Song's army … But, that goddamn Chen Yu actually sent his general Song Liangcheng to lead 100,000 elites to ambush us … The vanguard of the Longdan Army Camp was almost wiped out, and Lin General was seriously injured …"
"Ah?!"
Qin Yin's body trembled slightly, and she asked anxiously, "Is Brother Yu alright?"
"Lin General is fine, he's just seriously injured." Situ Sen's eyes were filled with tears, "But … but in order to cover for Lin General, Xu Jiantao led 5,000 soldiers to stop the 50,000 bandits. They were besieged on Bugu Mountain, and after a night of bloody battle, he died for his country!"
Situ Sen knelt on the ground, tears flowing down his face.
No one would have thought that the valiant general would cry so unscrupulously. He knelt there, stabbed his sword into the ground, and curled up like a pitiful shrimp. The camaraderie between soldiers was something that outsiders could never understand, not to mention Situ Sen and Xu Jiantao, who belonged to the Longdan Army Camp, were close friends who had gone through thick and thin together for many years.
Behind them, two dragon knights carried Xu Jiantao's coffin down the dragon's back. Xu Jiantao's body was wrapped by a purple flower flag, and he looked very serene before his death, even smiling.
Feng Jixing, Zhang Wei, Qin Yan, and others' eyes turned red, and they all knelt on the ground with one knee. Even Qin Yin, the Female Monarch, also knelt down slowly, and murmured, "Bury … bury Xu Jiantao in the first place of the Longyuan Country Tomb, and confer him the title of Duke Cangnan. His son will inherit his father's title, and the title will be passed down from generation to generation."
After the establishment of the nation, the titles of Duke, Marquis, Earl, and Viscount were deposed one after another, and almost all the titles were conferred to some heroes who died for the country, which was understandable.
Situ Sen stepped forward, and said, "Your Highness, please don't be too sad. In this battle, the Longdan Army Camp killed nearly 200,000 enemies, and lost more than 50,000 soldiers."
"What about Lin General?"
Qin Yin moved her red lips, and asked, "How is Lin General?"
"Oh, Lin General suffered a minor injury, and is now in Hongyan City to take charge of the overall situation."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
Qin Yin didn't seem to believe Xu Jiantao's words. She knew Lin Muyu's character very well. Xu Jiantao was Lin Muyu's beloved general, and they had been close friends for so many years. Now that Xu Jiantao died in battle, how heavy the blow to Lin Muyu must be!
Feng Jixing stepped forward, and said, "Your Highness … after Duke Cangnan's body is sent into the tomb, you must read the eulogy yourself."
"Yes, I know."
Feng Jixing glanced at Situ Sen again, and asked, "Is Yu all right?"
"Please rest assured, Deputy Commander, Lin General is fine."
"Fine … oh, that's good …" Feng Jixing frowned, and didn't say anything more.
…
Someone took the lead to sing the Empire's war song, the Song of the Autumn Goose. Soon, the soldiers were also singing. Many of them were wounded, and came to send their brothers on their last journey. At this time, what better way to express the sorrow in their hearts than the Song of the Autumn Goose — —
The world is vast, the mountains and rivers are magnificent.
The cold moonlight shone into the battlefield.
The rice is green, and the breeze is blowing.
The empire's warriors go to war together.
Kill all the jackals and wolves, and live a frivolous life.
Who will comfort my wounds.
The road home can no longer be seen.
Anxiously waiting, only to sigh at the high mountains and long rivers.
Unhindered in all directions, forever defending the country.
What harm is there for the soul to return to the ends of the earth.
The warrior's robe is broken, where will he be buried?
The Autumn Goose, please take my soul back to my hometown.
…
"The road home can no longer be seen … The road home can no longer be seen …" Feng Jixing mourned, and his heart couldn't help but twitch. Who would be the next to die?
Situ Sen looked up at the snowy sky, and faintly heard the sorrowful cries of birds. It was already spring, but it was still snowing heavily. Situ Sen's voice trembled, and he shouted to the sky, "Autumn Goose, Autumn Goose, if you are really here, please take Xu Jiantao's soul back to his hometown, so that when we, the living, go back to drink, we can accompany him. Xu Jiantao loves to discuss the world with warm wine. Quickly take him home, don't leave him here alone …"
Feng Jixing, Zhang Wei, and the others couldn't help but twitch, and tears rolled down.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
