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As the sun rises, its golden rays spread far and wide.

The imposing outline of Xiangyang City gradually came into view in the morning light, resembling a majestic lion awakening and crouching on the banks of the Han River. The towering, dark blue city walls, reaching a height of four zhang (approximately 10 meters), stood majestically, their surfaces mottled and weathered by war and wind, yet appearing all the more solid and imposing.

The walls were jagged and the banners fluttered. Squads of soldiers in gleaming armor patrolled along the walls, their steps steady and their eyes sharp. They were completely different from the anxious county soldiers that the Wagang Army had seen along the way, exuding a seasoned and disciplined air.

The wide moat shimmered, reflecting the majestic city towers. The massive iron drawbridge had already been lowered, spanning the river. The city gate stood wide open, bearing the three ancient and powerful characters "Zhen Han Gate."

Inside and outside the city gate, carriages and pedestrians came and went in an endless stream. Peddlers, merchants, travelers, and farmers pushing carts and carrying loads were all orderly undergoing inspection by the city gate guards. Although it was a little slow, no one made a fuss or agitation, which showed good control.

Standing beside Yi Huawei, Wang Bodang gazed at the magnificent city, his heart filled with complex emotions. In just one day, his severe injuries had been almost completely healed thanks to the elixirs given to him by Shan Wanjing, and his inner strength had recovered by nearly half. Now, dressed in clean blue martial arts attire, though his face was still somewhat pale, his eyes had regained their sharpness. Recalling the despair he felt on the blood-soaked wasteland yesterday, it felt like a lifetime ago.

"Sir, is this Xiangyang?"

Wang Bodang's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robe fluttering slightly. Hearing this, he nodded gently: "Yes. Xiangyang is a strategic location by land and water, and it has now become a key forward town for our Heavenly Dao Alliance in its strategy to manage the Central Plains."

Dan Wanjing, dressed in a pale yellow dress, stood gracefully and said, "Prefect Dong Jingzhen was originally a general under Xiao Xian. He was quite capable in governing, so Master ordered him to continue guarding this place."

At this moment, a troop of knights galloped out from the city gate, their hooves striking a clear and unified sound. Leading them was a middle-aged man, around forty years old, dressed in the black robes of a prefect, with a sharp and capable appearance. Upon seeing Yi Huawei and his companions from afar, he immediately dismounted, strode forward, and bowed respectfully from a distance, his attitude utterly deferential.

"Your subordinate, Dong Jingzhen, respectfully welcomes the Alliance Leader! I was unaware of your presence and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive my inadequacy!"

"Welcome to the Alliance Leader!"

His entourage dismounted and bowed in unison.

Yi Huawei slightly raised his hand: "General Dong, there's no need for such formalities. I was busy with military affairs and didn't inform you in advance."

He stepped aside to indicate: "This is General Bodang, the King of Wagang."

Dong Jingzhen immediately bowed to Wang Bodang and said, "I have long admired General Wang's name. He is brave and skilled in battle, and his loyalty is unparalleled. It is an honor to meet you today!"

Wang Bodang dared not presume and quickly returned the courtesy: "A defeated general like myself does not dare to accept such praise from Prefect Dong. I will need your continued assistance in the future."

He was secretly shocked. Dong Jingzhen, a high-ranking official in charge of a region, was so respectful and even a little fearful in front of Mr. Wuming. This showed that Mr. Wuming's prestige within the Heavenly Alliance far exceeded what outsiders imagined.

"General Wang, you flatter me. Now that we've joined the Heavenly Dao Alliance, we're all brothers."

Dong Jingzhen's smile became more sincere, and then she said to Yi Huawei, "Alliance Leader, resting places have been prepared in the city. Shall we enter the city first?"

"Not urgent."

Yi Huawei turned his gaze to the distant official road and said calmly, "Lord Li Mi is leading the main force of Wagang and will arrive today."

Dong Jingzhen had obviously already received the news and was not surprised. He nodded and said, "Yes, I have received the message from Mr. Xu. It is expected to arrive before noon. The accommodation, food and medicine needed have all been prepared. It is located in the former military camp in the west of the city and can accommodate 10,000 people."

Yi Huawei nodded in satisfaction: "You've done a good job. When Lord Li arrives, greet him with courtesy and make proper arrangements. There are many wounded soldiers in the army, so send more medical officers to ensure there are no shortages."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Dong Jingzhen solemnly replied.

…………

As noon approached, the sun began to get quite hot.

Outside the west gate of Xiangyang, a dark mass of people slowly approached. Unlike the disheveled retreat that Wang Bodang had witnessed before, the main force of Wagang before him, though still showing signs of exhaustion and with many wounded soldiers and wagons carrying supplies, had largely regained its military bearing. The old flags were still held high, and although the soldiers looked pale, their eyes no longer held a deathly stillness, but rather a complex mix of anticipation and caution, as they maintained a basic marching formation.

Li Mi rode a slightly thin black warhorse at the very front of the column. He had changed into a faded blue scholar's robe, trying to conceal the dejection of a defeated leader, but his sunken eyes and the unresolved worry between his brows revealed the turmoil in his heart.

Xu Shiji, with his left arm in a sling, rode alongside him, followed closely by core generals such as Cheng Yaojin, Pei Renji, and Bing Yuanzhen, all with solemn expressions as they gazed at the ever-approaching fortress of Xiangyang.

When Li Mi saw the crowd of people lined up to welcome him outside the city gate, especially the upright figure in a blue robe standing at the very front with his hands behind his back, he was slightly shaken and suddenly pulled on the reins.

The troops behind him also slowly came to a stop as the command flag was raised.

Li Mi's gaze instantly locked onto Yi Huawei, and Wang Bodang, who looked remarkably well beside him. A complex mix of emotions flashed in his eyes—disbelief, surprise, and relief—and his lips moved slightly, but he was momentarily at a loss for words.

He never expected that the nameless man would personally come out of the city to greet him! Given the man's current status and position, this was an incredibly high honor!
Xu Shiji, Cheng Yaojin, and the others were both surprised and delighted, and they all dismounted.

Li Mi took a deep breath, quickly dismounted, straightened his robes, and strode forward. He stopped ten paces away from Yi Huawei, solemnly bowed deeply to the ground, his voice trembling slightly.

"Li Mi, the defeated general, what merit or ability do I possess to deserve such a personal welcome from an unknown gentleman! Li Mi... is terrified!"

The Wagang generals behind him also bowed in unison: "Greetings, Mr. Nameless!"

Yi Huawei stepped forward and offered his hand in a gesture of support: "Lord Li, there's no need for such formality. Generals, please rise. You must be tired from your journey."

His movements were natural, his tone was calm, and he had no condescending attitude whatsoever, yet he possessed a captivating charm.

Li Mi straightened up with the gentle force, looking into Yi Huawei's calm and deep eyes. Overwhelmed with emotions, he choked up for a moment: "Sir... Bodang...?"

"Don't worry, Lord Li, General Wang's injuries are no longer serious. He will recover in a few days." Yi Huawei stepped aside slightly to let Wang Bodang pass.

Wang Bodang immediately stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said excitedly, "Lord Wei! This humble general has fortunately fulfilled his mission and survived! It is all thanks to your divine might that you frightened away Lang Feng's army and saved us from the brink of death!"

Li Mi quickly helped Wang Bodang up, patted his shoulder forcefully, and said with slightly reddened eyes, "Good! Good! It's good that Bodang is alright! It's good that you're back!"

As he spoke, he turned to Yi Huawei again and bowed deeply: "Sir, your kindness to Wagang is like giving me a second life! On behalf of tens of thousands of soldiers of Wagang, Li Mi thanks you for saving our lives!"

"It's my duty."

Yi Huawei smiled calmly, his gaze sweeping over the weary, expectant, and anxious Wagang soldiers behind Li Mi. His voice rose slightly, clearly reaching everyone's ears: "The Heavenly Alliance and Wagang, though each had its own ambitions in the past, are both sons of the Han people, unable to bear the devastation of the Central Plains and the suffering of its people. Today, all of you heroes are willing to join us in this great undertaking, a blessing for all the people. The past is but a fleeting memory. From this day forward, all of us in our alliance are brothers, united in heart and mind, to stop the fighting, promote benevolence, and create peace!" Yi Huawei's voice wasn't loud, yet it possessed a strange penetrating power and infectiousness, like a spring breeze brushing across a frozen lake. The previously uneasy Wagang soldiers, hearing these words, seeing their alliance leader's personal welcome, and recalling the miracles described by Wang Bodang, gradually had their unease replaced by hope and excitement.

"I am willing to follow the Alliance Leader! ...I am willing to follow the Alliance Leader!"

It's unclear who shouted first, but soon a crowd gathered in response, and the sound gradually converged. Although the voices were uneven, they were filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster and the anticipation for the future.

Looking at the renewed fighting spirit in the eyes of his soldiers behind him, Li Mi felt a mix of emotions—gratification, disappointment, and感慨 (a complex feeling of mixed emotions, often including regret or nostalgia). These emotions ultimately coalesced into a long sigh as he bowed to Yi Huawei once more: "Li Mi, on behalf of all the soldiers of Wagang, thanks the Alliance Leader for taking us in! From this day forward, we are willing to follow the Alliance Leader's lead, serving his commands without any disloyalty!"

Yi Huawei reached out and supported his arm: "Lord Li, you flatter me. In the future, we will still need your and the generals' strong support in the affairs of the alliance."

He turned to Dong Jingzhen beside him: "General Dong."

"My subordinate is here!"

"Immediately arrange for the soldiers to enter the camp for rest and recuperation, and ensure that they have sufficient hot water, food, medicine and clothing."

"As ordered!"

Dong Jingzhen immediately stepped forward to hand over the arrangements to Xu Shiji, Pei Renji, and others. The large contingent began to pass through the city gates in an orderly fashion, entering Xiangyang City. The city's residents had already been notified and stood on both sides of the street, watching curiously, pointing and discussing, but their eyes were mostly filled with curiosity, with little fear or rejection. Xiangyang City was orderly and bustling, a testament to the effectiveness of its governance.

Seeing that his subordinates were properly guided and settled, Li Mi and the others put aside their last remaining concerns.

"Lord Li, generals, please follow me into the city. Let us settle in for now, and I will host a welcome dinner for you all this evening."

Yi Huawei made an inviting gesture.

"Alliance Leader, please go first!"

…………

Over the next few days, the remnants of Wagang received ample rest and supplies. Sufficient food, proper medical care, and clean barracks allowed these soldiers, who had endured fierce battles, to quickly recover their strength and morale.

After taking the pills given to him by Shan Wanjing, Wang Bodang recovered at an astonishing speed. In just seven days, not only were his external injuries healed, but his internal injuries were also 80-90% healed, and most of his depleted true energy had been restored. He even faintly felt that his internal energy was several times purer than before he was injured. This made him feel even more awe and gratitude towards the Heavenly Dao Alliance and its mysterious leader.

It was early morning, and the light was just right.

Wang Bodang practiced his spear technique in his assigned private courtyard, his back soaked with sweat but feeling refreshed. After washing up, he changed into the blue warrior's uniform issued by the Heavenly Alliance and was about to go to the camp to visit his old subordinates when a servant from the alliance came to deliver a message, saying that the alliance leader invited him, along with Duke Wei (although Li Mi had relinquished the title of Duke Wei, his old subordinates still habitually addressed him respectfully in private) and several generals to the prefect's residence for a meeting.

Wang Bodang's spirits lifted, realizing this might mean they were about to receive formal arrangements within the Heavenly Dao Alliance. He tidied his appearance and immediately followed his attendants to the Prefect's Mansion located in the center of the city.

Although the prefect's residence was not extremely luxurious, it had a solemn atmosphere. The guards at the gate were all elite soldiers with a calm demeanor, who respectfully allowed passage after verifying the tokens. After passing through several courtyards, we arrived at a spacious council hall.

Inside the hall, Yi Huawei was already seated in the main seat, still dressed in a blue robe, his expression calm. Shan Wanjing stood quietly behind him, wearing a light purple dress, her beauty exquisite and her temperament aloof.

Li Mi, Xu Shiji, Cheng Yaojin, Pei Renji, Bing Yuanzhen, and others had already arrived and were seated on either side. Upon seeing Wang Bodang enter, they all nodded in greeting.

After bowing to Yi Huawei and Li Mi, Wang Bodang sat down below Xu Shiji.

Yi Huawei's gaze swept over everyone, and seeing that everyone had arrived, he asked, "How are your injuries recovering? Is the situation in the army stable?"

Li Mi was the first to bow and reply, "Thank you for your concern, Alliance Leader. Our injuries are all healed. The soldiers have been properly settled within the Alliance, with ample provisions and timely medical treatment. The morale is high, and everyone is grateful for the Alliance Leader's kindness."

Xu Shiji and others echoed his sentiments.

"That's good."

Yi Huawei nodded slightly: "I invited you all here today for two reasons: first, to check on your situation, and second, to discuss future arrangements. Our Heavenly Dao Alliance is still in its early stages and its regulations are relatively simple. Currently, it is mainly organized into three branches: military administration, civil administration, and supervision. General Song Que is in charge of military administration, Mr. Xu Xingzhi is temporarily in charge of civil administration, and Sect Leader Zhu Yuyan is in charge of supervision."

Hearing that Song Que and Zhu Yuyan, these renowned names, had actually become colleagues, Li Mi and the others, though they had heard of them before, were still deeply moved upon hearing it in person.

Yi Huawei continued, “The soldiers of Wagang are all battle-hardened veterans and should not be idled or wasted. I propose that the original Wagang troops be temporarily reorganized into an army called the ‘Zhenwu Army,’ still under the command of General Li, assisted by Generals Bodang, Shiji, Zhijie, and Renji, and stationed around Xiangyang to rest, train, and quickly restore their combat strength in preparation for any eventuality. What do you all think?”

Upon hearing this, Li Mi and his men were both surprised and delighted. They had expected to be disbanded and gradually absorbed, but unexpectedly, they were able to form an independent army, still under Li Mi's command, retaining a great deal of autonomy! This was truly an unexpected joy!

Li Mi immediately stood up and said excitedly, "I am deeply grateful for the Alliance Leader's trust! I will do my utmost to train the soldiers and serve the Alliance Leader as soon as possible!"

Xu Shiji, Wang Bodang, and others also stood up to accept the order, feeling a great weight lifted from their hearts, and a surge of patriotic fervor welled up within them.

"Very good."

Yi Huawei gestured for them to sit down: "General Song will send someone to discuss the specific reorganization details with you all later. The weapons and armor from the Xiangyang treasury can be used to replenish the Zhenwu Army first."

"Thank you, Alliance Leader!"

Yi Huawei then turned his gaze to Bing Yuanzhen: "Mr. Bing is skilled in political affairs. Would you be willing to temporarily enter the Prefect's Office to assist Dong Jingzhen in handling the civil affairs of Xiangyang?"

Bing Yuanzhen was skilled in domestic affairs, and this arrangement suited his talents perfectly. Naturally, he had no objections and rose to accept the order.

With the arrangements finalized, the atmosphere in the hall immediately became much more relaxed.

Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but grin and say, "Alliance Leader, I'm just a rough man, but let me just say this: your arrangement is too generous! From now on, my life belongs to you, Alliance Leader!"

Everyone laughed, and even Li Mi showed a genuine smile that hadn't been seen for many days.

Yi Huawei smiled slightly, then his expression turned serious: "The world is not yet settled, and the chaos has not ended. Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, Li Yuan and others are all eyeing us covetously, and the ambitions of the Turks have not diminished at all. Our road ahead is still fraught with difficulties. I hope that you can work together with your fellow members to overcome these difficult times."

Li Mi, Wang Bodang, and the others all solemnly bowed and said in deep voices, "We are willing to follow our leader and usher in an era of peace!"

The voices echoed in the council chamber, and sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing everyone in warmth. (End of Chapter)