Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

The wind blew from the Mu Us Desert, fluttering Jia Jing's robes, the crown on his forehead, and stirring the hearts of countless Han soldiers and civilians.

As Jia Jing stood on the altar, the sounds of drums and horns gradually subsided.

Then came the roar of the mountains and the sound of a tsunami echoing across the hillside:

"Greetings, General!"

From Zhuque and Niu Jizong downwards, countless Han soldiers had eyes that gleamed with reverence, bowed their heads, knelt on one knee, and shouted in unison.

The sound was as loud as thunder, deafening.

This was a heartfelt shout, and even the people surrounding the area were excited when they saw Jia Jing appear, some even with tears in their eyes!

This is the supreme hero who led his Northwest Border Army to nine victories in nine battles and pacified the grasslands!

This is the great benefactor who avenged the countless soldiers and civilians in the Northwest who had a blood feud with the steppe barbarians for generations!

This is the first time that the Duke and the General have built tombs and erected monuments for the fallen soldiers, and personally presided over the sacrificial ceremony for them!

This is the great Han military god who led the army of the four garrisons in the three border regions of the northwest from one victory to another!

How could they not admire and respect such a coach!

Jia Jing stood on the altar and first took a deep look at the names of more than 20,000 Han army martyrs on the stone tablet.

Then he turned around and shouted in a deep voice:

"Soldiers and people of the Han Dynasty! We have gathered here today to commemorate the heroic spirits of our Han army brothers who sacrificed their lives in this great battle in the Northwest!"

"Although the Northwest Campaign was a great victory, war inevitably took the lives of some of our brothers!"

"They cannot be with us to share in the joy of victory and the happiness of reunion."

"At this moment, we miss them more than ever before."

"Here, let us use our battle flag as a guide and the north wind as our boat to summon their heroic spirits home! Rise, all of you!"

Although there were many people present and they were far apart, Jia Jing's loud shouts still clearly reached the ears of each of them.

Everyone stood up.

At this moment, Tang Bin glanced at the sky, straightened his court robes, and stood beside Jia Jing.

He cleared his throat, his voice solemn and resonant:

"The auspicious hour has arrived! The ceremony begins! Welcoming... the spirit..."

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing raised his hand and waved it.

Upon seeing this, Zhuque immediately turned around and waved his command flag at the flag formation behind him.

A huge Han army flag slowly rose from the left side of the altar.

The flag was crimson, with a large "Han" character embroidered on it in gold thread, gleaming in the rising sun.

As the military flag was raised to the top of the pole, a northerly wind blew by, unfurling it with a whooshing sound, like a sigh.

Immediately afterwards, four war drums sounded simultaneously on the right side of the altar.

"Thump..."

"Thump..."

"Thump..."

One sound after another, like a heartbeat.

It rolled down the slope, over the heads of more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians, and over the Wuding River and the Mu Us Desert.

Then the bugle sounded.

"Waaah..."

"Waaah..."

"Waaah..."

Deep and resonant, its sound echoes throughout the heavens and earth.

Niu Jizong suddenly drew his sword from his waist, the tip pointing straight to the sky.

More than 100,000 soldiers drew their swords at the same time, the sound of the swords being drawn was like a gust of wind sweeping across a wheat field.

With a series of swift, precise strokes, a forest of knives rose up in perfect unison.

Tang Bin swallowed hard, then his voice rang out again:

"Offer incense..."

Zhuque brought out a copper basin containing three long incense sticks, each as thick as a thumb.

Jia Jing picked up the incense sticks and lit them on the sacrificial cauldron.

Wisps of smoke rose, unyielding to the wind, as if the spirits of heroes were swirling around them.

With a solemn expression, Jia Jing held the incense sticks in both hands, raised them above his head, and bowed three times to the stone tablet.

Nowadays, there are very few people in the world who can make Jia Jing bow down.

But when faced with the monument to the martyrs of the Han army, he bowed willingly!

"Libation..."

The scene was silent, with Tang Bin's voice echoing in the wind.

Zhuque presented the wine.

Jia Jing reached out and took the wine cup, raised it above his head, and turned to look at the many figures below the altar.

Amidst the sorrowful gazes of the crowd, he slowly poured the wine onto the ground in front of the monument to the martyrs.

"Offerings..." Tang Bin's voice rang out in the wind.

Four soldiers carried a whole roasted lamb up to the altar and placed it respectfully on it.

Next came roasted whole pig and roasted whole cow, arranged one by one.

Fruits, dried food, wine jars, and other items filled the entire altar.

"Read the blessing..."

Jia Jing took the yellow silk from Tang Bin beside him, unfolded it, and loudly recited:

"In the summer of the tenth year of the Jingsheng reign of the Great Han Dynasty, the year of Bing Shen, the first day of the fifth month was Geng Yin."

"Jia Jing, Duke of Jing, General of the Vanguard, Governor-General of the Three Borders and Four Garrisons, Military Governor of Ba Shang, Commander of the Imperial Sword, and Commander of the Nine Border Garrisons, respectfully presents this sacrificial offering, with pure wine and humble delicacies, to the spirits of the fallen soldiers of the Northwest:"

Our great Han Emperor Jingsheng ascended the throne, ruling over the four seas. Since his ascension, his civil virtues and military achievements have shone brightly throughout the land.

However, the northwestern border region is close to the barbarian tribes, which have caused trouble for generations. Yesterday, they invaded from afar, and foreigners raised an army; they used the tail of a scorpion to incite evil, and their wolfish hearts were filled with thievery to wreak havoc.

The emperor, inheriting the great legacy, dared not rest easy, and thus ordered the six armies to sweep away the grasslands.

You soldiers, fight bravely, charge into battle, break flags and slay generals, pursue the fleeing enemy and drive straight to the royal court.

At Langjuxu Mountain, we sealed the stone as an inscription; on the shore of the vast sea, we watered our horses and returned. All of this is due to your efforts.

Alas! No one can escape death! What matters is that one dies a worthy death!

But the soldiers and men are all heroes of the land; the officials and officers are all heroes of the world: whether they have learned martial arts and joined the army, or served the wise ruler, they have all issued the three orders and achieved nine victories together.

Qi Jian was loyal to the country and devoted to the emperor. But who would have thought that you would lose your chance to fight and fall into a treacherous trap? Some of you were struck by stray arrows and your souls perished in the netherworld; others were wounded by swords and your spirits returned to the long night. If you live, you will be brave; if you die, you will be famous.

Now, as we march in triumph and prepare to return, we will soon present our captives. Your heroic spirits still dwell within; your prayers will surely be heard.

Follow my banners, follow my troops, return together to the capital, each recognizing your homeland, receiving the offerings of your own flesh and blood, and receiving the sacrifices of your family; do not become ghosts in a foreign land, merely souls in a foreign realm.

I will report this to the Emperor, so that each of your families may receive His grace, with annual provisions and monthly stipends. This will be my way of repaying you and comforting your hearts.

The living awed the might of Heaven, and the dead returned to the rule of the King. This humble offering expresses our sincere devotion. Alas! May you accept this sacrifice!

As soon as Jia Jing stopped reciting, all the civil and military officials, soldiers, and common people present bowed to the ground once again, the sound of armor plates clashing echoing like thunder across the land.

Then Zhuque, Niu Jizong, and others shouted first:

"The Han dynasty will live on forever! Our Han soldiers will live on forever!"

All the generals stood up, their shouts and the cries of their spears shook the heavens and the earth, even the clouds in the sky seemed to be shattered!

More than 100,000 Han soldiers turned red in the face and roared in unison.

The sound came in layers, like the wind of the northern desert, rolling from the altar outwards towards the cemetery and towards the city of Yulin.

"The Han dynasty will live on forever! Our Han soldiers will live on forever!"

"The Han dynasty will live on forever, and so will our Han soldiers!"

……

The people also stood up, and an old woman, accompanied by several grandchildren, walked shakily to the entrance of the cemetery.

They started burning paper money, muttering:

"My son! Your mother has come to see you! His Majesty and the General have both praised you, so you can go in peace!"

"The general has given our family a pension and grain, so don't worry about me, Huahua, and Dandan."

As he spoke, he pointed in the direction of the monument to martyrs and said to the children:

"Your father is right there! We'll come to see him every year from now on!"