Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 193 The Big Wedding
"That's about it. Let's proceed along this path for now. Miniaturization isn't something that can be accomplished in a day or two."

"Old He, you're in charge of the steam engine now."

Under the bright moonlight, Zhang Xian, looking slightly tired, stretched his back while leaning on a newly crafted steam engine component.

He was surrounded by several key members of the steam engine project.

Old He respectfully cupped his hands: "My lord, you have worked hard day and night and you should rest more."

Old Sun and Old Lu also advised, "Yes, my lord, leave this matter to us. We will do our best even if it means our own destruction. You have been working too hard these days."

Zhang Xian smiled upon hearing this: "With you all here, I naturally feel at ease. I've taught you everything I needed to, and you've mastered some knowledge of mechanics and machinery. As you know, I'll be coming here less often in the coming period."

"Haha, congratulations on your marriage, my lord! It would be even better if you could give birth to a son soon."

Old Lu laughed heartily.

He was originally a clerk under Han Ji, and could be considered one of Zhang Xian's direct subordinates, so he was naturally overjoyed when he heard that his lord's marriage had been arranged.

Not only him, but also Lao He and Lao Sun were all beaming with joy.

That's right.

Zhang Xian's marriage has been arranged.

Tong Yuan handled everything. Seeing that Madam Ma was really stunned, he simply found a good man outside.

The woman was from the Zou family in Wuwei.

His family background was not particularly distinguished.

Of course, Zhang Xian agreed only because the woman's family did not have a particularly prominent political reputation.

He was so pressured that he simply agreed, which had nothing to do with being amazed by the woman's beauty after seeing her portrait.

The agreement was made half a month ago after the first steam-powered unit landed, and the woman is scheduled to arrive in Taiyuan in seven or eight days.

Upon hearing that it was Zhang Xian, the Xiongnu general from Bingzhou, who was proposing marriage, the Zou family of Wuwei packed up their daughter and dowry and sent them to Bingzhou almost immediately.

They even politely declined the offer from a general who had originally intended to recruit them.

Although that man was a valiant general under Dong Zhuo, the governor of Hedong, and a good match, he was still somewhat inferior compared to the General of the Central Army who was sent to the Xiongnu.

Oh right, what was that valiant general's name again? Zhang Ji? Never mind what his name is.

Although this was a case of lust at first sight, Zhang Xian gave her everything he was entitled to.

The Three Letters and Six Rites conform to etiquette.

The process of naming the child and asking for auspicious omens is exactly the same.

The only issue was the distance, which led to a slightly stricter adherence to etiquette, but this was normal among Han Dynasty scholars.

For scholars, etiquette was something for those below them to follow; they had a different set of methods.

Take the most common example of observing three years of mourning.

Ordinary families observed mourning for their children in a genuine way, but for scholars in the Han Dynasty, each day of mourning was counted as a year.

Yuan Shao was famous for two reasons: firstly, he was born into the Yuan family; secondly, he actually observed three years of mourning for his adopted father and three years for his adoptive mother. This earned him widespread praise from scholars as soon as he entered public service.

However, after this guy became a local warlord, his true colors were revealed. When his biological parents passed away, he didn't even bother to pretend to observe three years of mourning.

In summary, Zhang Xian has settled his marriage plans this year, and his wedding day is in seven or eight days.

As a high-ranking official, his wedding was naturally not a small affair. When the Zou family sent their daughter's dowry to Bingzhou, Xun Yu was personally handling his lord's important matters.

The wedding invitations were sent out far and wide, all the way to Luoyang.

Even the Ten Attendants sent people to deliver congratulatory gifts.

Even Emperor Liu Hong gave auspicious words.

All the highest officials and ministers paid their respects, and naturally, officials of all ranks also sent their congratulatory gifts.

Besides continuing the lineage, marriage also served another purpose: to demonstrate political status.

Can Zhang Xianneng demonstrate his abilities?

That's incredible.

Although he held the title of General of the Central Army, he possessed the real power of a warlord, controlling the entire Bingzhou region.

Last year, the tax revenue from various regions was inaccurate, except for Bingzhou, which paid the full amount of taxes. This alone was enough for Liu Hong to remember Zhang Xian's name.

Not to mention that Zhang Xian got his official position by following his own path.

Who doesn't know the name Zhang Xian of Bingzhou these days?

The matter of the passageway could not be concealed. How many refugees did Bingzhou absorb after the Yellow Turban Rebellion at the beginning of the year?
Moreover, he was a military officer, a general who had recaptured the northern grasslands. No one knew how many soldiers he had under his command, but the records sent back by the governor's office were enough to give a glimpse.

Even if such a person is not in the imperial court, his political status cannot be small.

The current situation is that the court needs to appease Zhang Zhonglang, rather than Zhang Zhonglang needing to pledge his loyalty to the court.

This is the deterrent power of having military authority.

At this critical juncture of internal and external troubles, even He Jin, who initially disliked Zhang Xian for not sending troops, now had to obediently offer his congratulatory gifts.

The Yellow Turban Rebellion had not yet been quelled, and the Han Dynasty could not afford the rebellion of a powerful regional official.

The good news spread widely.

Once news of Zhang Xian's marriage spread, it subtly altered some of the current political landscape of the Han Dynasty.

Upon hearing the news, Lu Zhi of Jizhou sighed slightly. Although he wanted to send a congratulatory gift, he was powerless to do so.

Of all the armies that came to conquer, his situation was the most difficult.

The other armies that were leading the expedition had already begun their return journey, but he still hadn't captured any of the Yellow Turban rebels' cities.

Is it because he doesn't want to fight?

There's no food!

Buying grain from Bingzhou costs money, and boosting the morale of the soldiers also costs money. Therefore, the purchased grain can only keep the army stationary, making it impossible to launch a strong attack.

This year, we have requested grain from the imperial court over a hundred times, but only three or four times have the grain been allocated, and each time it was not the full amount.

Anyway, Lu Zhi is exhausted, so whatever. I heard that the court is going to remove him from his post and replace him with someone else. Hurry up, he doesn't want to fight this damn war for another day!

If I had left earlier, I might have been able to go to Bingzhou to meet Zhang Zhonglang. In the battle of Jizhou, I didn't receive much help from the court, but I received the most help from Bingzhou.

He genuinely wanted to thank Zhang Xian in person. He had heard that the administration of Bingzhou was quite good, and that the county and prefectural schools were recruiting many students. As a great Confucian scholar, he was really eager to try lecturing there.

Time flies, and it's already late June.

The entire city of Jinyang seemed to be immersed in a sea of ​​celebration.

The main streets were swept clean and spotless, and every household had a banner hanging at their doorway, symbolizing celebration.

With their lord's wedding, all the people of Taiyuan, who have benefited from the past two years, offer their heartfelt blessings. They even prepared these festive banners themselves, without needing the prefectural government to issue them.

The official road leading from the prefectural government to the south gate was packed with people who came to watch the spectacle.

They also wanted to see which woman was worthy of their virtuous lord.

The Zou family's procession arrived a day earlier, but the final formalities still had to be observed, so Zhang Xian was taken away by Xun Yu for a day to meticulously prepare for today's wedding.

Among the crowd watching the spectacle, there were naturally many with dim eyes.

As the auspicious hour approached, the south gate of the city opened wide.

A grand and solemn wedding procession slowly walked out of the city gate under the watchful eyes of countless people.

At the very front of the procession were eight men dressed in brand-new crimson military uniforms, carrying a large banner emblazoned with a black tiger with a single horn and the character "Zhang".

Leading the group were Zhao Yun and Xiahou Lan.

Upon learning that their brother Xian was getting married, the two of them rushed back, entrusting important military matters to their deputy.

Not only the two of them, but also more than twenty young men who came from the small mountain village are now mixed in with the wedding procession, all of them beaming with joy.

Huang Zhong, Xi Zhong, Han Ji and others also rushed back despite their busy schedules. Zhang Xian's marriage was not just his own affair, but a major event that concerned all the officials, big and small, in Bingzhou!

The flags fluttered in the summer breeze. Following closely behind were the ceremonial guards symbolizing the majesty of the General of the Central Army.

Axes, maces, and stirrups gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Those carrying these ceremonial weapons were carefully selected armored soldiers.

Next, there was a drum and music troupe.

Unlike the usual suona and sheng at weddings, Zhang Xian's band was naturally much larger, with ancient instruments such as chime bells, jian drums, panpipes, and xun playing together.

The music played included elegant and solemn Zhou ritual pieces such as "Deer Cry" and "Guanju".

These were all discussed and arranged by Xun Yu and Wang Lie. There hadn't been any major events in Taiyuan Prefecture for over a decade, except for the downfall of the Wang clan. This time, with such a joyous occasion, it was natural to hold a grand celebration to appease the displaced people.

The melodious and ancient music echoed in the sky above Jinyang City.

Following the drum and music troupe was Zhang Xian.

Instead of riding in a typical wedding car, he rode his beloved horse, Mo Ying.

Today, Mo Ying was also adorned with a specially made crimson saddle and a large silk flower on its forehead, making it look exceptionally majestic.

Zhang Xian himself was dressed in a black ceremonial robe with vermilion trim, wearing a Jinxian crown and a jade-hilted sword at his waist, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

His face was calm and his eyes were deep. Surrounded by ceremonial guards, he appeared even more heroic and extraordinary.

Behind him was a beautifully decorated two-horse carriage.

The carriage was painted entirely in vermilion, its roof covered with a canopy of emerald feathers, and golden bells hung from its four corners, making a clear and melodious tinkling sound as the carriage moved.

Thick red silk curtains hung down the car windows, blocking out the view from the outside world.

This car was the wedding car used to pick up the bride, Zou Wan.

Following the motorcade was a long procession of betrothal guests.

At the rear of the column were the elite cavalry of the Youyi Army, responsible for escorting them.

The grand procession stopped at the ten-mile-long pavilion outside the city.

Outside the pavilion, a similarly large group had been waiting for quite some time.

Dozens of oxcarts carrying the dowry were surrounded by servants and maids, with a beautifully decorated carriage in the center.

The person from the Zou family who came to escort the bride was Zou Jing, the bride's brother and the next head of the Zou family.

When Zhang Xian's wedding procession came into view.

The imposing military might, the solemn ancient music, and especially the young figure riding a magnificent black horse at the center of the procession with an air of profound composure, all instilled a sense of awe in the hearts of the Zou family members.

The carriage was pulled open with a barely perceptible gap, revealing a pair of anxious eyes. She cautiously observed the wedding procession, and when she saw the person riding the black horse at the head of the procession...

The entanglement between their two fingers loosened involuntarily, and a hint of shyness rose in their eyes.

Zhang Xian dismounted cleanly and swiftly.

Xun Yu, as the master of ceremonies, stepped forward to meet Zou Jing according to etiquette, exchanged documents, and exchanged eulogies.

After a series of tedious formalities, Xun Yu called out loudly, "Please, bride, board the carriage!"

Supported by her maids, a bride dressed in an elaborate black gown, wearing a hair ornament crown, and with her face covered by a pure black veil, slowly stepped out of the Zou family's carriage, surrounded by several elegantly dressed female relatives.

She was slender and graceful, with a steady gait. Although her face was not visible, her overall demeanor exuded the elegance of a well-bred lady.

This is Zou Wan, a woman from the Zou family of Wuwei.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Zou Wan was carefully helped onto the luxurious two-horse carriage that Zhang Xian had brought.

Initially, four horses were prepared, but Xun Yu changed it to two horses because his lord did not have the rank of marquis.

The car door closed, and the red silk curtain fell, separating the inside from the outside.

"The ceremony is complete! Let's return to the city!" Xun Yu announced loudly.

The drums and music started up again, their sound shaking the surrounding area.

The wedding procession and the wedding party were combined into one, making it even more grand. The onlookers cheered and the carriages turned around, slowly heading towards Jinyang City.

The banner of the Black Tiger with a Single Horn leads the way.

Their venerable magistrate has finally settled down and started a family, which means that Bingzhou has a legacy to pass on!

The Zhang residence in Jinyang had already been meticulously prepared.

Zhang Liao's mother, Lady Zhang, along with her maids, worked tirelessly day and night for many days and nights.

A spacious green hut was erected in the courtyard, with a green cloth curtain as a canopy, symbolizing auspicious time and vitality.

Inside the house, thick, brand-new felt carpets were laid out, and brand-new lacquered furniture was placed.

By the time the large wedding procession returned to the prefectural governor's residence, it was already dusk.

Guests had already gathered in front of the mansion, including Zhang Xian's core team members such as Xun Yu, Chen Ji, Wang Lie, Han Ji, Huang Zhong, Zhang Liao, and Zhao Yun.

As the elder and matchmaker, Tong Yuan stood beaming before the gate of the mansion.

Supported by her maids, the bride Zou Wan stepped onto the red carpet and slowly entered the mansion. She crossed the brazier, which symbolized warding off evil spirits, and was led to the front of the green pavilion amidst the congratulations of the crowd.

Zhang Xian was already waiting there.

Outside the green pavilion, the two performed the ancient ritual of washing hands and feet.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds walked hand in hand into the bridal chamber.

Inside the house, red candles burned brightly, illuminating the brand-new furnishings and creating a solemn yet warm atmosphere.

On the lacquered table in the center of the room, utensils for sharing a meal were already laid out.

The term "sharing a meal" refers to newlyweds sharing the meat of a single animal, symbolizing their commitment to sharing joys and sorrows and living together from this day forward.

On the table were roasted meat, millet rice, sauces, and other dishes.

Under the guidance of the master of ceremonies Chen Ji, Zhang Xian and Zou Wan knelt facing each other before the table.

The two men each used a dagger to take meat from the same cauldron and rice from the same food container, then dipped it in the same sauce to eat.

The entire process was quiet and solemn, with only occasional sounds of congratulations from the onlookers.

The sacrificial ceremony is now complete.

The waiter then presented two gourds connected by a red silk cord.

The gourd, also known as the cup gourd, is a representative item in the nuptial ceremony.

By this time, the gourd had already been cut in half, the seeds removed, and the gourd washed clean.

The bitter taste of gourd symbolizes that although the initial stages of a couple's union may be difficult, once they become one and share the burden, they can go through both joy and sorrow together.

At the same time, the many seeds of the gourd also symbolize many children and many blessings.

The waiter poured the sweet sake into two gourd ladles.

Zhang Xian and Zou Wan each held their own half of the gourd ladle in their hands.

The master of ceremonies, Chen Ji, proclaimed loudly: "May you share the same nuptial cup and the same food, joy and sorrow! May you be forever united in heart and mind, and never be apart until your hair turns white!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhang Xian and Zou Wan crossed their arms and each drank the wine from their own ladle.

The wine has a slightly sweet taste, which dilutes the slight bitterness that remains in the gourd itself.

After drinking, the two put the two halves of the gourd back together and tied them tightly with a red rope.

The waiter respectfully put away the complete gourd, symbolizing the two becoming one, signifying that their lives would be intertwined from then on, never to be separated.

　That's how the marriage is going to be. The bride should be able to guess that her dowry includes Cao Ang and Dian Wei.

　　One word: Beautiful! Two words: Gorgeous!
　　At the age of 184, I looked at a lot of women and she was the only one I found. There isn't much literature about her online, so I took the Zou family of Wuwei as my maternal family.

　　As for Ma Yan and Guo Tang, we'll find a reason to take them in later; that's it for now regarding their spouses.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)