Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 270 First-Class Hero
Night falls.

The Yanwu entered Wushan Port.

The river wind carried the stench of the river, blood, and burnt food.

The campfires lit by the Han soldiers flickered.

Liu Shan stepped onto the wharf of Wushan Port using the planks lowered by the Yanwu.

The wooden planks underfoot were covered in thick, not-yet-completely-coagulated blood, making a soft "plop" sound with each step.

After walking a few steps, the emperor turned towards the river.

This port, slightly smaller than Baidi City's harbor, was littered with countless pieces of wood, oars, flags, and corpses floating on its surface.

Han army ships moved among the battlefield, cleaning up the debris.

Prefect Yan Yu of Badong was directing the naval forces from the shore, preparing them for a voyage down the river the next morning, heading straight for Zigui.

As for that isolated city of Wuxian not far away?
Liu Shan turned around and looked into the distance.

The dense torches burning on the city walls illuminated the lonely city brightly. The Wu people were on high alert, and tonight would undoubtedly be a long, agonizing night for them, one in which they longed to sleep but could not.

Fortunately, this is probably the last sleepless night. Tomorrow night, they will likely be able to get a good night's sleep in the prisoner-of-war camp.

The slope leading from the dock to the Iron Chain Pass in the mountains has not yet been completely cleared. Corpses are piled up on both sides of the road, the crimson of the Han army mixed with the earthy yellow of the Wu people, filling the ditches and trenches and covering the caltrops and deer antlers.

Many corpses remained in the postures of their final struggle, with swords and spears embedded in their armor, arrows standing upright like hedgehog bristles, some strangling each other's throats, others clutching severed earlobes.

Broken spear shafts, chipped iron swords, shattered shields, arrows stuck in the ground, stones and logs thrown by the Wu people... all these things made it difficult to find a place to stand.

Two soldiers worked together, carrying makeshift stretchers to lift the wounded soldiers off the battlefield one by one.

More laborers and slaves, under the command of officers, gathered up the scattered armor and weapons, picked up the still usable arrows, and piled up the completely damaged weapons to wait for them to be melted down and recast.

The Wu prisoners, bound together with thick hemp ropes, were forced by Han soldiers to do tasks such as collecting Wu corpses from the ground or digging pits to prepare for burning and burying them. They couldn't just eat the Han's food for nothing.

A burly man known as Ji Bachi led his men to protect the emperor, walking silently along the mountain path paved with blood and flesh.

The emperor, still clad in silver armor and helmet, showed no emotion, only his deep eyes sweeping over everything along the way.

Climb to the top of the slope.

The closer you get to the wall.

The battle became increasingly fierce.

A trench hidden behind the deer antlers, with corpses piled up into a small hill, the bodies of soldiers from both the Han and Wu armies intertwined, clearly indicating that this place had experienced repeated and fierce battles.

A dozen or so Han soldiers numbly dug out the corpses from the trench one by one. When they encountered someone wearing crimson armor, they would slowly lay them down to identify them before continuing to dig.

Several medics, with white armbands adorned with crimson crosses, and having undergone minimal training, treated the wounds of their seriously injured comrades who had collapsed on the ground.

A medic presses hard on the wounds on the chest and abdomen of a wounded soldier.

Beneath the dragon banner, Liu Shan stood silently, gazing intently.

After an unknown amount of time, the wounded soldier's eyes became completely unfocused, his head lolled to the side, and he fell silent.

The medic dejectedly let go, silently wiped his face with his sleeve, unaware that the dragon banner and the emperor were beside him, and went straight to another groaning wounded soldier.

Just as Liu Shan was about to take a step, the dozen or so Han soldiers who had been digging up corpses in the trenches carried out a body, wiped the mud and blood off its face, and after examining it, suddenly burst into a wail, their throats breaking into the words "Du Bo".

Just then, the former commander Fu Qian led a group of officers and soldiers, still in their armor and covered in blood, out of the cramped gate.

Fu Qian took off his helmet first and hurried to the emperor's dragon banner, then knelt on one knee and bowed with his helmet in hand.

The officers and soldiers behind him knelt down in a flurry.

"Your subject, former Commander-in-Chief Fu Qian, pays his respects to Your Majesty! I have not failed in my mission!" After a day of commanding a fierce battle, the young former commander-in-chief's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Liu Shan stepped forward and reached out to help him up:
"You've all worked hard, Gongquan! You've all worked hard! Rise now!"

After all the generals had risen, Liu Shan's gaze fell on Fu Qian's armor, which was covered in dust and blood. He spoke earnestly:
"My former commander, in a single day, breached the docks, captured the strategic pass, beheaded generals, seized flags, and utterly crushed the elite troops of the Wu traitor Pan Jun. He truly deserves to be called a tiger cub from the loyal and brave Marquis's family!"

As he spoke, the emperor raised his hands to support Fu Qian's arm guards, lowering his voice:
"Since the campaign against Wu, you have won every battle without any mishaps. I can now entrust you with important matters in this region, and you are now a trusted and capable minister."

Upon hearing this, Fu Qian's expression and demeanor both trembled.

Last year, when the emperor personally led the northern expedition, he was just a captain.

After recovering Guanzhong and returning to Chang'an, although he was awarded the title of General Who Subdues the Barbarians for his past merits, he was still relatively inexperienced in the army.

During this campaign to conquer Wu, he was suddenly promoted by the emperor to the position of commander of the vanguard, leading the vanguard in the north. He was not without trepidation, fearing that he would fail the emperor's grace and damage his late father's reputation.

Fortunately, they won every battle without any mishaps.

Hearing the emperor's words and actions, praising him so lavishly, the man, though not boastful of his achievements, was still deeply moved.

How could it not be exciting?!

Leaving aside Zhao Guang, who was a close attendant of the emperor, Guan Xing was clearly closer to the emperor and had made outstanding contributions during the Northern Expedition. Yet the emperor did not appoint either of them as commander of the vanguard, but instead appointed Guan Xing.

At this moment, what His Majesty meant was that "there are many who can be entrusted with important matters, but those who can be trusted and relied upon are rare."

At this thought, Fu Gongquan bowed again, his voice almost choked with emotion:

"Your Majesty, we are all grateful for your trust and the favor you have shown in promoting us!"
"If Your Majesty entrusts me with anything, I will gladly die for you!"

Liu Shan nodded solemnly and carefully helped Fu Qian up, then looked over to where Fu Qian was standing.

There stood a group of burly men whose clothing was very different from that of the Han people, and who wore exaggerated silver snake pendants in their ears.

Liu Shan recognized the three men at the front; they were Gong Shun, E He, and Luo Ping, the leaders of the Sanba Banshun barbarians who had pledged allegiance to him.

They were also covered in blood, but it was clear that they hadn't experienced the most brutal frontal assault like Fu Qian and his generals.

Seeing the Emperor of Han looking on them, the leaders of the Ba people and their dozen or so guards looked at each other with a mixture of curiosity and slight restraint.

The burly man named Ehe, however, still harbored some lingering resentment.

Liu Shan stepped forward, serious and earnest:
"The three barbarian chieftains have led their warriors to help our Han Dynasty conquer Wu. Their merits and hardships are evident to me and my soldiers. I, the country, and the people of Han will never fail them in the future."

The man called E He seemed to have finally found an opportunity. He suddenly stepped forward, startling Ji Ba Chi, who was standing in front of Liu Shan, into rushing forward.

The man, however, did not notice anything amiss, and spoke in a thick Sanba accent, his voice loud and resentful:
"Your Majesty! Do you and Fu Taolu look down on us, the barbarians of Sanba? Why won't you let our Sanba men go to the front lines?!"

"This is the Daba Mountains. We, the men of Banshun, are known as the Divine Soldiers of the Bashan Mountains. We've never known the meaning of fear! When it comes to not being afraid of death, you Han men may not be able to compare to us!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gong Shun and Luo Ping, though silent, showed similar expressions, as if they felt that they had not been able to fully display their talents and had been looked down upon by the big man.

As Fu Qian was about to explain something, the emperor, who had grown a short, stiff mustache that added to his heroic appearance, waved his hand and laughed decisively:

"Excellent! Since the barbarian chieftain possesses such heroic spirit, how can I mistreat a warrior?!"

He turned to Fu Qian:
"Gongquan, convey my decree: all spoils of war captured by the three barbarian chieftains and their brave warriors, including armor, weapons, provisions, and wagons, shall belong to their respective tribes!"

After a pause, Liu Shan, feeling it wasn't enough, continued:
"Furthermore, you shall allocate all of my spoils here as rewards to the three barbarian chieftains!"

Upon hearing this, Gong Shun, E He, and Luo Ping were first stunned, then their faces lit up with undisguised joy.

What the Ba people tribe lacked was not brave warriors, but these fine iron armors, sharp swords and spears, not to mention provisions, carts and horses.

The Emperor of Han's move was like sending charcoal in snowy weather; the generosity far exceeded their expectations.

After all, they didn't come for these reasons; they only wanted to leave a good impression on this Han emperor and repay his kindness.

Last autumn, the emperor not only issued an edict to all the prefectures, allowing the Cong people to come out of the mountains to farm, but also exempted them from the "Cong tax" that their ancestors had been paying to the Han court for hundreds of years. How could the Cong people not repay such kindness?
The three exchanged glances, and finally, following the etiquette of the Han people, awkwardly but very solemnly clasped their hands in gratitude.

The three voices were loud and chaotic, revealing the straightforwardness unique to barbarians.

Liu Shan was able to sense that the three Ba ​​people's gratitude was genuine, and he felt a sense of emotion.

It was already a great relief that these Ba people didn't cause trouble within the territory of the Han Dynasty. Now, they were even more willing and eager to serve the Han Dynasty and themselves. This was not just adding flowers to brocade, but providing charcoal in the snow.

They were indeed somewhat "ignorant," but this ignorance stemmed from the fact that the Zong culture lagged behind the Han culture and their insufficient level of education.

Or rather, they shouldn't be called foolish, but rather "ignorant."

In some ways, these Ba people and barbarians were quite lovable.

If you respect him, give him benefits, and treat him sincerely, he will reciprocate with sincerity and be willing to work hard and risk his life for you, instead of being an "ungrateful wretch" and repeatedly changing his mind for greater benefits.

In this respect alone, he is far better than many intelligent people who have broken free from ignorance.

Surrounded by Fu Qian and a group of generals and officers, Liu Shan walked slowly through the camp below the pass. The dragon banner had been taken down to avoid disturbing the soldiers.

However, since this emperor often mingled in the military camp, many soldiers already recognized his handsome young face with a short, stiff mustache and a well-defined jaw.

Besides, who else could lead this eastern expedition besides the emperor and the Grand Commander?

So the soldiers along the way struggled to their feet, paid their respects, and Liu Shan repeatedly waved his hand, signaling them to continue resting.

On a gentle slope sheltered from the wind by the mountain wall, about two hundred soldiers gathered. This was the place where the most casualties were suffered during the daytime assault on the Iron Chain Pass.

They had just received their food from the vanguard, but many of them just stared blankly at the earthenware bowls, with very few actually eating.

In the flickering firelight, a Xuan Yi Lang named Du Qian stood on a slightly elevated earthen mound. He was still wearing a slightly oversized blue robe, and his face was covered with dust and weariness from his travels.

Unlike when he first arrived, having experienced the baptism of blood and fire, he now gets along very naturally with the soldiers under his command.

Seeing that his soldiers had no appetite, Du Qian mentally prepared his words, took a deep breath, and spoke in a loud, clear voice with a strong Changsha accent from Jingnan:

"Bros!"

"The battle is over! We won!"

Having just arrived here from Chang'an, before the war began, although he could call them "brothers," he ultimately felt that it was somewhat unworthy for a scholar (a poor scholar) to be fraternized with these peasants.

Now, although he still uses the word "brothers," he vaguely feels that he is not worthy of being called brothers with these peasants.

Although his words hadn't yet gotten the soldiers to eat, they did manage to lift many of their bowed heads slightly, and their blank stares began to focus a little.

The Xuan Yi Lang, dressed in a wide blue robe, looked around at everyone and continued speaking:
"I, Du Qian, know that everyone is feeling down and can't eat."

"When I looked at all those comrades being carried out of the trenches and under the walls... I felt the same way you all did, with a huge weight pressing on my heart!"

At this point, the man paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.

He paused for a moment on the dozen or so soldiers who had just returned from the trenches, their eyes red and their bodies covered in mud and blood. "But we need to know why we're standing here! Why we're bleeding, why people are dying!" His voice suddenly rose.

"We are veterans of the Han Dynasty, unlike those new recruits and auxiliary soldiers!"
"We have come here to punish the traitor Pan Jun! To defeat the scoundrel Sun Quan! To avenge the blood feud between our uncles and brothers who died in Jingzhou and Yiling!"
But that's not all!

"Your Majesty is right!"

"The Prime Minister is right!"

"The Han Dynasty has been in chaos for thirty years, and the world has been at war for thirty years. We will continue to fight, but we cannot fight for another thirty years!"
"I used to be just like you, not knowing how long this war would last!"
"But last May, His Majesty personally led the Northern Expedition, and in just six months, Guanzhong and Chang'an had already returned to the hands of our Great Han!"
"A few months ago, Xicheng and Shangyong were also recaptured by His Majesty's army!"

"Now, His Majesty is leading us on an eastern expedition to conquer Wu, and we have also captured Wuxian, the gateway to Sun Wu, in one fell swoop!"
“I think I’m not the only one who believes that the world will soon be at peace! As long as His Majesty leads us to continue fighting, the world will surely return to the hands of the Han Dynasty in less than five years!”
"So, what are we bleeding and dying for now?! It's so that our children and grandchildren will never have to fight or shed blood again, so that they can be reunited with their parents, wives, and children year after year, day after day, night after night!"

Upon hearing this, the Han army officers and soldiers, who were filled with a complex mix of emotions including exhaustion, numbness, and grief, were finally moved.

The peasants live by instinct, mostly for a bite to eat, a few acres of land, and women and offspring.

But it cannot be said that the peasants couldn't understand what Du Qian was saying.

There are always some people who can understand it.

Since the emperor joined them on their eastern expedition, no one has ever heard of the emperor favoring his concubines in the army, nor has anyone ever heard of the emperor eating more luxurious food than his soldiers.

On the contrary, almost everyone knows that the emperor often eats from the same pot as his soldiers.

Moreover... The emperor, such a precious person, is also on the battlefield today. Although he is not fighting alongside them, he is sailing on the Yangtze River and even directly engaging enemy ships. Who can say that he is not at risk of being defeated or even captured by the Wu people?
Soldiers are always more willing to believe what the emperor says.

Seeing that his words had actually had an effect, Xuan Yilang straightened his back and continued in a Changsha accent:

"In today's battle, we have destroyed the iron chains across the river that Wu dogs relied on as a Great Wall, and defeated the traitor Pan Jun, as well as the elite Wu bandits under the command of Sun Quan's relatives Sun Shao and Sun Jun!"

Wuxian County is now an isolated city!
"Within three days, the Wu people in the city, as well as the Jingzhou brothers who were coerced by the traitor Sun and had no choice but to fight against my Han, will capture the traitor Pan Jun and surrender to me!"
"His Majesty has ordered the navy to advance directly to Zigui and Yiling!"
"Revenge and the recapture of Jingzhou are just around the corner!"
"Every drop of blood shed and every life lost by our brothers was not in vain! It was all worth it!"

As he spoke of this, he suddenly stretched out his hand and pointed to the outermost circle of campfires, where a dozen soldiers with red-rimmed eyes sat.

"Just like Zhao Dubo!"

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn over.

The dozen or so soldiers suddenly looked up and leaned forward slightly.

Du Qian's voice was both sorrowful and impassioned:
"I heard what his last words were before he collapsed? 'Put me...put me in the trench!!!'"

"Why did he say that?!" The young man in the green robe scanned the entire room.

"It's not to make myself die a quick death!"

"It's so that the brothers behind can step more steadily! It's so that the brothers behind can rush over the wall a moment sooner!"
"What's this?!

"This is loyalty and courage!"

"This is the spirit of our great Han soldiers!"
"Zhao Meng deserved the 'Third-Class Meritorious Official' plaque bestowed by His Majesty! He was a man of integrity! His death was heavy! He was heavier than the Bashan Mountains beneath our feet!"

Around the outermost campfire, some of the dozen or so soldiers who had dug Zhao Meng, the Earl of Du, out of the trench were already sobbing uncontrollably.

Xuan Yilang took a deep breath, his tone becoming firm:

"Brothers! This battle is over, but there are many more to come! The surviving brothers must live up to the lives of the fallen brothers!"

Two military officers followed behind him.

One person holds a bamboo slip, while the other holds a brush and ink.

He pointed to the military officer holding the bamboo slips:

"I will not omit a single name of my fallen brothers! I will report their merits and hardships to Fu Taolu and to the Prime Minister's son, the Imperial Son-in-Law Zhuge Bosong, without missing a single word. In this way, His Majesty will surely know!"

"Your Majesty is benevolent, and the court is even more lawful! The court will certainly not mistreat the parents, wives, and children of our fallen brothers, as well as our meritorious brothers!"
"I, Du Qian, hereby declare: if the court fails to honor its meritorious officials, I, Du Qian, will be the first to seek justice from His Majesty on behalf of my brothers!"

These words were both bold and resounding, and many soldiers' eyes lit up, their frustration and sorrow being somewhat dispelled.

Some people began to silently put the porridge in their bowls into their mouths. Although their movements were a little slow, they still showed some signs of life.

Liu Shan, along with his generals Fu Qian and Zhang Gu, stood silently in the shadows, watching and listening to the entire event.

The new official position of "Xuanyi Lang" was established by him, and was temporarily led by Zhuge Qiao, the heir of the Prime Minister, who taught the students according to some methods he provided.

Xuan Yilang also met many people.

But this scholar in the green robe was the first person he had ever met who could do his work in a way that was both practical and effective.

He turned his head slightly and whispered to his secretary, Lang Xizheng, who was standing close beside him:
“Record the name of that scholar in the blue robe, and immediately promote him to the rank of Xuanyi Zhonglang.”

"He is in charge of commanding Xuanyi Lang, instructing Xuanyi Lang in matters of military conduct, comforting soldiers, and upholding loyalty and righteousness."

Secretary Lang Xi Zheng bowed and replied, "Your subject will remember."

Liu Shan did not linger and turned to leave.

Ji Bazhi and the other Longxianglang immediately followed silently, protecting the emperor in the center, with Fu Qian, Zhang Gu and other generals following closely behind.

The group passed through the camp and returned to the central command tent, which was temporarily set up inside the gate.

The torches crackled inside the tent, and Liu Shan's face remained expressionless.

"Bring two planks, they should be flat, about the size of... a plaque."

Long Xianglang immediately responded and left. Before long, two relatively smooth pine planks were brought into the tent.

Liu Shan took the wooden board, stroked its surface, and tried to see if it was flat.

He then took a brush that had not yet been dipped in ink from the brush holder on the table, and used the end of the brush handle as a ruler to lightly draw lines on the wooden board.

Generals Fu Qian, Zhang Gu, and Zhao Guang stood solemnly to one side, their eyes following the emperor's every move.

Seeing that the Emperor had a fine grid, he changed to a small calligraphy brush, dipped it in thick ink, held his breath, and held his wrist above the wooden board.

After a moment's hesitation, he began to write.

The first wooden board prominently displays the six characters "First-Class Hero Zhao Meng".

The second wooden board has three other characters on it.

Roaring Tiger.

After writing, Liu Shan gently blew on the still-wet ink and handed it to Xi Zheng, who was standing beside him:
“Immediately summon skilled craftsmen in the army to carve these characters deep on the surface.”

"Yes!" Xi Zheng took the wooden board with both hands and quickly left the tent.

About a quarter of an hour later.

Xi Zheng led two old craftsmen in.

The two men each held a piece of wood in their hands.

The original ink writing has been carved into shape.

Fresh wood chips remain deep within the strokes.

Liu Shan opened his eyes, got up and took the wooden board.

He carefully examined the engravings and nodded in satisfaction.

Then I picked up my pen again.

This time, I used a larger brush, dipped it in the darkest black ink, and with a steady wrist, filled in the engravings one by one.

He put down his brush, took out a brocade pouch from his bosom, and took out a small but imposing gold seal.

Xi Zheng had already prepared the vermilion ink paste on the side.

Liu Shan pressed the seal heavily onto the inkpad, dipped it in cinnabar, and then solemnly placed it on the lower right corner of the two plaques.

"Uphold my imperial banner." Liu Shan set down the imperial seal, his voice calm. "Come with me."

Return to where the green-robed Xuan Yi Lang was.

The appearance of the dragon banner and the generals under Fu Qian immediately attracted everyone's attention.

The soldiers struggled to their feet, their eyes fixed on the emperor.

Fu Qian immediately signaled his personal guards to gather the torches and illuminate the plaques held by the emperor and the several imperial guards behind him.

Secretary Lang Xi stepped forward, unfurled a newly written edict, and loudly proclaimed its decree, his voice carrying clearly throughout the silent camp:

His Majesty has decreed:
"Under the command of General Fu Qian, Commandant of Yangwu, and under the leadership of Colonel Chen Gan, Zhao Meng, the Earl of Bingqu, fought bravely and died for his country after overcoming numerous difficulties! He was loyal, brave, and heroic, and is a model for the entire army!"

"Zhao Meng, the Earl of Du, is posthumously granted the title of Valiant Commandant and the honorary title of First-Class Meritorious Official. His family will be rewarded according to the highest standards, and his wife and children will be granted special privileges!"

"Furthermore, Zhao Meng's Bingqu unit fought bravely and fiercely today. Despite suffering heavy casualties, their morale remained high. I am moved by their loyalty and courage and hereby bestow upon them the name 'Roaring Tiger of the Mountain'!"
"May the surviving soldiers of this song carry on the legacy of their comrades!"
"Like a tiger roaring over the mountains, its might strikes fear into the enemy's heart!"

The imperial decree was proclaimed.

A deathly silence fell over the crowd.

All the soldiers were stunned, especially the dozen or so soldiers who had dug Zhao Meng out of the trench, who could hardly believe their ears.

A posthumous bestowal?

Posthumously granted the title of Earl of Du?

A Valiant Commandant?!
A first-class meritorious serviceman?!

The name of the song is "Howling Mountain Tiger"? !

A moment later, a surge of immense excitement and indescribable grief welled up in their hearts, and the dozen or so soldiers suddenly fell to the ground, bowing deeply to the emperor who was receiving the plaque from Long Xianglang.

Some people burst into tears.

Someone shrugged their shoulders.

Liu Shan stepped forward and solemnly handed the plaque of first-class meritorious official in his hand to the soldier kneeling at the front. The soldier's hands trembled so violently that he could barely hold it steady.

Former Commander Fu Qian then took the "Roaring Tiger" plaque from Long Xianglang and handed it to the highest-ranking officer in the unit at that moment.

(End of this chapter)