Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 140 [Let's drink and sing, how short is life!]! The morale of the Mingzhou soldiers is boosted by the [Commander's Flag]!

"[Let us drink and sing, for life is short!]"
"Like morning dew, the days gone by are many!"

Jiang Xingzhou's recitation suddenly rose in pitch, each word like the clash of metal and stone.

Above the Longwan Water Village, on the command flag of the general's platform, thousands of golden seal characters suddenly appeared out of thin air, shining brightly in the morning sun.

The words were not static, but flowed like dragons in the morning light, each stroke reflecting the golden rays of the rising sun, making the entire body of water look like a gilded furnace.

"What a wonderful line, 'Let us drink and sing, for life is but a fleeting moment!'"

Upon hearing this, Wei Guanlan's eyes widened, and his hand gripping his sword trembled slightly. This commander of 100,000 naval troops in Jiangnan Province felt a lump in his throat.

Thirty years of fierce fighting, countless comrades turned to dust, and he had long since locked that youthful spirit deep within his armor.

But at this moment, the golden light flowing with the seal script and the stirring words were clearly knocking on the door of his heart that had been sealed for many years.

He was extremely anxious to defeat the Taihu Demon Court as soon as possible, sparing no effort.

At this moment, it's as if I'm seeing myself from back then again—that childlike heart, that ambition to seize every minute!
"[—Like morning dew, the days gone by are many!]!"

Like a thunderclap, it shook the banners of Longwan Water Village, causing them to flutter wildly.

The ten prefects' expressions changed drastically. They looked at each other, and each saw a hint of horror in the other's eyes.

Like morning dew, it vanishes in an instant!
Such profound understanding and heroic spirit should only be the heartfelt words uttered by an old general drawing his sword in battle, lamenting the fleeting nature of time and the unfulfilled ambitions.

But now, it is being recited by a boy who has not yet come of age!

"My life has been filled with many bitter days!"

The Suzhou prefect murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade seal at his waist.

He suddenly remembered that twenty years ago, when he first entered officialdom, he was also full of vigor and vowed to sweep away all injustices in the world.

But now his temples are frosted with gray, for he has long since had his edges smoothed out by the ups and downs of official life.

At this moment, Jiang Xingzhou's chanting, as clear as the clash of metal and stone, still echoed, like an invisible sword cleaving open the long-dormant heroic spirit in the hearts of everyone present.

Nearly ten thousand students from Jiangnan University responded in unison, their voices surging like a raging torrent, causing the battle flags of Longwan Water Village to flutter loudly.

In an instant, countless streams of literary energy rose from the students' heads, intertwining and swirling in the void, eventually condensing into a hundred-foot-long azure dragon of talent, its scales and claws flying, hovering above the naval battle formation!
The shadow of last night's demon raid has not yet dissipated, and the morale of the navy is low, as if plunged into an icy abyss.

But at this moment, this heroic battle song, like the blazing sun breaking through the dawn, forcefully tore a crack in the oppressive atmosphere of the sky!
Amidst the dragon's roar, the wreckage of several Mengchong warships moved without wind, as if responding to the soaring spiritual energy.

"Boom--!"

Xue Chonghu's eyes were bloodshot, his bulging arms were covered in veins, and he slammed a hundred-pound hammer with the force of wind and thunder into the drumhead of the expedition.

This hammer blow seemed to have the force of a thousand pounds; before the drumbeat had even stopped, the ten-mile-long lake surface had already been churned with raging waves over ten feet high!

The veterans of the Jiangzhou naval forces saw that the Jiangzhou prefect, who was known for his iron-fisted rule, was now shedding tears.

"[With deep sorrow and lingering thoughts, I cannot forget my worries.]"

"What can dispel sorrow? Only wine!"

Jiang Xingzhou raised his arms and sang, the commander's flag in his hand fluttering in the wind.

In an instant, heaven and earth resonated.

On the surface of Longwan Water Village, the winds and clouds are changing!
The vast expanse of blue waves was suddenly upside down!

The swords of 100,000 naval soldiers simultaneously emitted clear, melodious dragon roars, and specks of light burst forth from their sheaths, weaving into a dazzling galaxy in the void.

Suddenly, a golden glow, radiant with the light of talent, appeared in the sky.
Ten thousand crystal wine cups appeared out of thin air before the soldiers—the cups were as clear as ice crystals, containing the essence of Dukang wine and the essence of the sun and moon.

Fine wine flowed within, each drop reflecting tales of the battlefield:

The smiles of fallen comrades, the tearful eyes of wives and children back home, the clear moonlight on the battlefield, and the aroma of wine condensed into a tangible golden mist!
"Cheers!"

Jiang Xingzhou raised his head and let out a long roar. The moment the wine entered his throat, it was as if he had drunk up all the talent of Nanjing!

"boom--"

The young man's body shone with golden light, his robes fluttering like battle flags, and every fold exuded brilliant talent.

He stood on the command platform, and behind him, the faint image of the God of Literature appeared, with starlight falling from the sky, making him look like an immortal descending to earth.

"What a fine Jiangzhou man! 'When two armies meet on a narrow road, they should draw their swords!'"

Governor Wei Guanlan's tiger-like eyes were filled with tears, and his calloused knuckles almost crushed the glass cup.

The moment the naval commander tilted his head back and drank it all—

"Qiang!"

The nectar in the cup transformed into a crimson rainbow that shot straight into the brain.
Suddenly, images of his thirty years of fighting on the battlefield flashed through his mind:

The lone boat crossing the cold river at night, the battle flags bathed in blood on the city walls, and the camaraderie buried far from home, all intertwined with the smell of wine and the killing intent, condensed in his heart into a giant sword that spanned the heavens and the earth!

today!

As the governor of Jiangnan Circuit, he will surely draw his sword!

"Cheers!"

The hands of nearly ten thousand students in Jiangnan trembled as they raised their cups.

The official robes of the ten prefects fluttered in the breeze, stirred by the brilliance of their literary talent.

As the amber-colored liquor slid down their throats, a blazing fire ignited in everyone's eyes—a fire of awakened ambition and a fire of refined literary spirit!
"Cheers to victory!!!"

One hundred thousand naval soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and causing the clouds and mist to dissipate for miles around.

Ten thousand glass cups were raised high at the same time, and the amber nectar refracted into countless golden rainbows under the morning sun.

The moment the wine touches your lips and teeth—

The water surface of Longwan Water Village exploded with towering waves, as if the entire water village had been ignited by this strong liquor!

"boom--"

At the same time, golden and red flames exploded from the dantian of 100,000 naval soldiers!

The wine, Du Kang's liquor, seemed to surge like molten lava as it entered the stomach.

First, a sweet taste rose in his throat, followed by a tremor throughout his body—his whole body felt burning hot, his eyes were bloodshot, and a sense of heroic spirit soared to the heavens!
His talent exploded instantly!

Instant stamina recovery!

The injury healed rapidly!
One hundred thousand naval soldiers, slightly drunk, with burning eyes, were filled with fierce fighting spirit!
The morale collapse caused by last night's sneak attack by the demon army was instantly swept away!

"Ho!"

The old soldier's calloused knuckles suddenly cracked, and his hunched back straightened like a pine tree.
On the wounded soldier's festering wounds, rotten flesh peeled off in rustling motions, and the newly grown skin and flesh gleamed with a pale golden luster;

Even the warhorses, after drinking the wine, raised their heads and neighed, their iron hooves scattering sparks from the stone slabs!
"Good wine!"
Jiang Lang's literary talent in "Short Song Ballad" transformed into the finest wine of Dukang! It is the most enjoyable wine I have ever drunk in my life!
Though there be a million demons, I will go!

Wei Guanlan's laughter was like a thunderclap, shaking the waves to their core.

This strong liquor is too potent, too domineering!

His graying temples now had a few more strands of black hair that were clearly visible to the naked eye.

The sword at his waist automatically drew three inches from its sheath with a clang, exuding a fierce and murderous aura!
Thirty years ago, the valiant general who dared to single-handedly break through the demon army has returned!
Jiang Xingzhou, his blue robe fluttering in the wind, stood atop the command platform.

The jade pendant at her waist fluttered in the wind, each collision like a star falling into a lake, stirring up thousands of golden ripples on the surface of the water village.

With a flick of his wide sleeves, his voice boomed like a dragon's roar:

"[Green are your robes, deep is my longing—]"

But for your sake, I have hesitated until now.

Upon hearing the first line of the poem, the world suddenly fell silent.

The clear sound of the jade pendant transformed into tangible seal characters that floated in mid-air, each stroke flowing with a thousand-year-old cultural lineage.

The pendants worn by 100,000 students in Jiangnan resonated simultaneously, forming a "Qingjin Star Bridge" spanning hundreds of miles in the sky!
"[The deer cry out, "Yo-yo, as they eat the wild apples!"]

After the second line was recited, the surface of the water in the water village suddenly brightened.

Suddenly, a jade deer, its antlers radiating light, appeared amidst the reeds, its form a condensation of countless literary spirits, illuminating the surroundings.

"[I have guests, playing the zither and the sheng.]"

Jiang Xingzhou's wide sleeves billowed, and the last line of poetry transformed into the sound of a zither.

Suddenly, the sound of chime bells filled the heavens and earth, as if ancient sages had reshaped their forms with starlight and were playing the zither in harmony with each other in the clouds!

Its sound, like the grand and resonant tolling of a great bell, lingered for a long time along the banks of Longwan Water Village.

When the ten prefectures of Jiangnan heard of this, tens of thousands of students were all deeply moved.

Some students covered their faces with their sleeves, some scholars beat their chests and stamped their feet, and some even prostrated themselves on the ground and wept bitterly.

The two characters "青衿" seem to be a lament for their ten years of hard study;

The metaphor of "deer calling" clearly expresses the expectation that students will achieve academic success.

Now, the demon court of Taihu Lake is entrenched, and war is imminent.

Han Yugui gripped the jade pendant at his waist tightly, his knuckles turning white;

Lu Ming looked up at the clouds in the sky, tears streaming down his face and soaking his lapel.

They gazed at Jiang Xingzhou, who stood proudly alone on the command platform, and tears streamed down their faces.

They dare to turn the tide!
Daring to defy the collapse of morale among 100,000 naval troops, they sang a battle song of morale and marched forward!
Only Jiang Xingzhou, the foremost scholar in Jiangnan!

Suddenly, a scholar raised his arm and shouted: "We've been nurturing scholars for a thousand days!"

"Use it in one fell swoop!"

The students from Jiangnan responded in unison, their books clattering in their hands. The sound shook the reeds on the bank and startled egrets into flight.

"[The moon shines brightly, but when can it be grasped?]"
Sorrow arises from within and cannot be stopped.

Crossing unfamiliar paths and fields, we vainly sought each other's company.

We talked and feasted, remembering the kindness we had shown each other.

The moon star is thin, and the black dragonfly flies south.

I circled the tree three times, but which branch could I lean on?
The mountains never tire of being high, and the sea never tires of being deep.

"The Duke of Zhou spat out his food to welcome guests, and the world turned to him." The moment Jiang Xingzhou raised his arm to lower the flag, the golden patterns of the poem "Short Song" on the black banner suddenly came to life!
in an instant,
"Zheng——!"

On the black banner of the commander-in-chief, the poem "Short Song Ballad" was written, its golden patterns flowing, each word bursting with a chilling military spirit.

A streak of rainbow light pierced the sun, rising from the flagpole and splitting the clouds like a celestial sword.

A waterfall of stars cascades down from the split clouds, and every drop of "star water" splashes onto the battle flag, making the flag's literary aura increase by three points!

The entire commander's banner was forged into a top-tier treasure of the [Mingzhou] level—wherever the banner pointed, the navy's fighting spirit soared like a rainbow, and its morale reached the heavens.

"Wow—!"

Suddenly, the cry of a magpie pierced the air!
Suddenly, a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky—the sky, which had been reddened by the fire of the ships, suddenly became clear with a bright moon and few stars.

Countless crows and magpies took flight from the reeds on the riverbank, their black feathers billowing like a tide, sweeping over the naval formation!

Those magpies, under the bright daylight, transformed into streams of dark light, intertwining and swirling with the literary aura of the commander's banner, ultimately condensing into eight enormous characters that blotted out the sky above the naval formation—

"[The Duke of Zhou spat out his food to welcome guests, and the world turned to him!]"

"Puff puff!"

The magpies that blotted out the sky and whose starlight fell to the ground transformed into a thousand magpie soldiers clad in black armor!

When the four characters "天下归心" (meaning "all under heaven return to the heart") were fully formed, the underwater world of Longwan Water Village began to rumble.

The broken swords and halberds of the Confucian generals buried at the bottom of the lake burst forth with a "splash!" and became sharp blades in the hands of the Wuque soldiers!
"See General!"

All the crows and soldiers knelt down and paid their respects to Jiang Xingzhou.

A hundred-foot-tall phantom suddenly appeared in the sky—

It seems that the Duke of Zhou held a bronze ritual vessel, with stars and rivers flowing between the tassels of his crown.

The phantom figure reached out and pressed down on the churning water, uttering in a low voice: "Rites, music, and conquest all originate from the sacred path!"

The entire Longwan Water Village was instantly gilded with golden patterns!
The poem "Dan Ge Xing" is completed!
Strange phenomenon in [Mingzhou]!

"One hundred thousand naval troops from Jiangnan—set off!!"

Governor Wei Guanlan was filled with heroic spirit; his eyes turned bloodshot, and his voice was like thunder, echoing across the riverbank.

Duke Zhou Dan – a founding father of the Former Zhou Dynasty and a sage of Confucianism!

His strategies were unparalleled; he pacified the four seas, assisted King Cheng of Zhou, and laid the foundation for the Zhou Dynasty eight hundred years ago.

Now, Jiang Xingzhou expresses his aspirations through poetry, comparing himself to the sage Duke Zhou, whom countless literati of the Great Zhou Dynasty greatly admire, vowing to sweep away the demon court of Taihu Lake and establish his rule over Jiangnan!
"Crack-!"

Jiang Xingzhou raised his arm and waved his arm, causing the three-zhang-long banner to flutter wildly. His literary mind was stirred, and his sword energy soared to the sky!

The battle poem "Short Song Ballad" shone with golden light, each word like a knife and each line like a sword, causing the waters of the great river to flow backward and surge to the sky!
Tens of thousands of Confucian scholars in Jiangnan chanted the morale-boosting war song in unison, while the armor of one hundred thousand naval troops clanged and thundered as they boarded warships and flagships, their fighting spirit boiling!

"Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump—!"

The bell at the Confucian Temple rang out suddenly, its sound reverberating throughout Nanjing!
Upon hearing that a 100,000-strong naval force was about to set sail, the people of the entire city rushed to the scene, lining the streets to see them off with a cacophony of shouts!

"—Victory is assured in this battle!"

"kill--!!"

The 100,000 naval troops roared in unison, their fighting spirit solidifying into a tangible form. Crimson soldiers soared into the sky, tearing a crack in the clouds!
"Ugh——!"

A mournful bugle call tore through the sky, and the sluice gates of Longwan Water Village burst open with a deafening roar!

Eight hundred giant warships surged forth, while nine thousand warships shot forth like arrows, their sails blotting out the sky and their masts forming a forest that pierced the heavens.

The steel bow cleaved through the lake's waves, reflecting a chilling light in the rising sun.

On the deck—

A hundred thousand naval troops stood in imposing armor, their spears and halberds forming a forest!
Ten thousand students from Jiangnan, their blue robes fluttering in the wind, their scholarly spirit soaring to the heavens!
Crowds surged on both sides of the strait.

An elderly woman with white hair holds a freshly steamed rice cake, young children wave willow branches, scholars bow deeply to the ground, and merchants offer food and drink.

It's unclear who started singing "Qin Feng: No Clothes," but it gradually grew into a deafening roar:
"How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same robes. The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and shields, and fight together against this common enemy!"

One hundred thousand soldiers simultaneously pounded their breastplates, the clang of metal reverberating across the lake for miles!
The young crossbowman clutched the amulet his mother had given him, while the veteran stroked the red silk wrapped around the hilt of his knife.

They gazed at the vast, misty lake, at the mountains and rivers faintly visible on the opposite shore, and at the endless lights of countless homes behind them—

This journey will surely annihilate the demon court of Taihu Lake!

In the naval center, a flagship, escorted by hundreds of ships, headed downstream on the great river.

"Boom!"

The carved hatches of the bronze commander's warship slammed shut, shutting out the sound of the surging waves.

One hundred oil lamps lit up one after another in the council hall, illuminating the crisscrossing waterways of Jiangnan Road on the bronze sand table.

Wei Guanlan, dressed in a purple robe and gold belt, stepped into the council hall. Behind him, the prefects of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan, with jade seals hanging from their waists, the officials of the governor's office carrying documents, and hundreds of naval officers and generals, still in their armor and with the smell of gunpowder on their battle robes, entered in single file.

The iron boots trod across the dark wooden floor, producing a dull rumble.

Inside the council chamber, all the members held the rank of Juren or higher.

"Jiang Lang, you take the flag and enter the tent to command the commander's flag!"

Wei Guanlan suddenly stopped, glanced at Jiang Xingzhou, and tapped his fingers heavily on the edge of the sand table.

The wooden warship carvings in the sand table model trembled, stirring up a wisp of fine sand.

He was clearly already very clear about it.

Although Jiang Xingzhou was only a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination), his writings were truly astonishing. His abilities surpassed those of Juren (a scholar who passed the provincial-level imperial examination), and his reputation was far beyond that of ordinary Juren and Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).

A short song, "Short Song Ballad," a morale-boosting battle song from Mingzhou, completely ignited the previously low morale of the entire army.

How many people in this world can compose a morale-boosting battle song of this caliber?
Unbeknownst to many, Jiang Xingzhou had become the morale and fighting spirit of the 100,000-strong naval force in Jiangnan!
As soon as Jiang Lang stood on the high ground, the eyes of the 100,000 naval troops immediately became sharp as arrows, attracting everyone's attention, their morale soaring, and they showed no fear whatsoever.

There is such a young man in Jiangnan!
This is a great fortune for him, the governor of Jiangnan Circuit!

"Yes!"

Jiang Xingzhou clasped his hands in a salute and entered the council hall to attend the military deployment meeting.

The [Mingzhou] Wenbao battle flag was inserted into the flagship's pedestal with a clang, and the golden characters of "Short Song" on the flag suddenly lit up, turning half of the hall into a radiant gold.

"grown ups!
The Demon King Ao Li, though this fiend presumptuously calls himself a 'Demon King,' is actually a demon general, two levels below a true Demon King.

It is revered as the 'Demon King' simply because it is the fourteenth son of the Dragon Palace of the East Sea.

"The Demon General is equivalent to a human scholar who has passed the imperial examination!"

Suddenly, Du Shangjun drew his Hanlin sword from his waist, its cold light drawing a snow line on the sand table, precisely the route the navy would take to enter Taihu Lake.

According to the civil and military ranks of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Demon race: Demon people, demon soldiers (demon soldier captains), demon generals, demon commanders, demon marquises, demon kings, demon positions.

Their combat power is equivalent to that of humans: students who have passed the imperial examinations, scholars who have passed the county-level examinations, those who have passed the provincial-level examinations, those who have passed the metropolitan-level examinations, those who have passed the imperial-level examinations, those who have passed the Hanlin Academy examinations, and those who have passed the imperial examinations.

"However, the dragon clan is much stronger in combat than other demon clans."

A demon general of the Jiao clan, whose combat power is roughly equivalent to a demon marquis, which is the same as a Hanlin scholar of the human race.

It's not unreasonable to consider Ao Li a demon lord. If he possesses a treasure from the Dragon Palace, his combat power might even surpass that of a Hanlin scholar.

Just like the scholars of the human race, some possess true combat strength comparable to those who passed the imperial examinations!

Du Shangjun glanced at Jiang Xingzhou.

"However, this is not what I am truly worried about."

Last night, a powerful force of unknown origin suddenly appeared from the Taihu Demon Court. Dozens of traitorous warriors led demon soldiers in a night attack on our army, burning two hundred giant warships and a thousand warships, causing heavy losses to our army.

The brilliance of his scheme and the ruthlessness of his methods far surpassed the capabilities of the brute demon king Ao Li!

Du Shangjun's expression was grave, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Three thousand assassins launched a sneak attack. I suspect such a crazy act is very likely!"

"who?"

Governor Wei Guanlan's gaze was sharp as lightning, and his fingertips lightly tapped the table.

Du Shangjun's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally gritted his teeth and said, "I'm afraid it's that treacherous and rebellious scholar—the Palace Master of Wuxin Palace, the Hanlin Academician Fei Wuxin!"

"Fei Wuxin?"

The expressions of everyone in the room changed drastically. They looked at each other, and each saw a hint of solemnity in the other's eyes.

This man was a prodigy, ranking third in the imperial examinations, and becoming a scholar in the Hanlin Academy. He possessed profound wisdom and unparalleled resourcefulness.

However, due to personal grudges, he later defected, becoming a disgrace that the Hanlin Academy of the Great Zhou Dynasty could not wash away for a century.

No one in the imperial court was willing to mention his name.

Yet, he thrived in the barbarian and demon kingdoms, constantly opposing the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In almost every border conflict, large or small, his shadow is present—whether strategizing or secretly plotting, he sows discord and colludes with others, making him a major threat to the Great Zhou!
The fact that the demon race was able to launch a successful sneak attack last night, causing heavy losses to the Jiangnan navy, was clearly the work of Fei Wuxin himself.

"With this rebellious scholar Fei Wuxin stirring up trouble behind the scenes, he will surely travel around, connecting with various forces... and may even attract more reinforcements to aid the Taihu Demon Court."

Moreover, the Demon King Ao Li is the fourteenth son of the East Sea Dragon Emperor, and his strength is formidable; he is by no means an easy opponent.

This matter... is somewhat tricky.

This battle must be won quickly and decisively; it cannot be dragged out!
The longer we drag this out, the more the demon army might grow!

Governor Wei Guanlan frowned deeply, tapped his knuckles lightly on the table, and said in a deep voice.

As dusk deepened, the setting sun shone like blood.

The mighty fleet of the Jiangnan Navy sailed down the river from Zhenjiang, traversing the long canal, and finally arrived at Xukou in Taihu Lake.

Warships stood like a forest, banners obscured the sky, and the army set up camp outside Xukou Town, poised to strike and wipe out the demon court entrenched in Taihu Lake in one fell swoop.

This time, we cannot afford to fail.

Since the attack last night, the navy has been on high alert.

The riverbank was lined with watchtowers, and patrol soldiers came and went in an endless stream. In addition, thousands of warships were arrayed around the perimeter, with iron chains spanning the river, like an iron wall and copper wall, blocking all the shadowy shadows of the demon soldiers from entering.

Sima Du Shangjun was seething with anger. If the demon soldiers dared to launch another night attack, he would make sure they never returned!

(End of this chapter)