Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

In the golden autumn of September, the sky was high and the air was crisp. After nearly two months of meticulous preparation, Xinghuo Fortress was already bathed in a dazzling, festive red. Red ribbons were tied and lanterns hung on the fortress walls, flagpoles, main street entrances, and even the lintels of the newly built outer courtyard houses. The ground of the main street facing the fortress gate was even covered with a layer of fine red sand transported from the distant riverbank. The air was filled with the aroma of cooking food, a faint smell of wine, and a heartfelt joy that radiated from everyone's face.

This wedding had long transcended the personal matters of Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue. It was the first major event in Xinghuo Fortress's history since its decisive victory over the Black Mountain Army, the annexation of surrounding areas, and the consolidation of its foundation. It was an excellent opportunity to unite the people internally and showcase its grandeur externally. Wu Xuejiu oversaw the entire operation, Zhao Tiezhu was responsible for material allocation and venue setup, Li Shu coordinated personnel and procedures, Chen Wei was in charge of security and ceremonial guards, Zhou Dashan led the craftsmen to work day and night to produce various ceremonial items, and even several elders from the Murong tribe actively participated, providing suggestions on Hu customs and etiquette.

The auspicious day was chosen to be the fifteenth of September. Before dawn, the fortress was already bustling with activity. Young men selected from various garrisons, dressed in uniform, clean cloth, served as ceremonial guards and laborers; women and children helped in the kitchen and in setting up the venue; and children, wearing their rare new clothes, excitedly weaved in and out of the crowd, chasing and playing.

Inside the Murong tribe's camp, the atmosphere was equally lively. The largest golden-domed felt tent was decorated with exceptional splendor, its curtains replaced with brand-new embroidered red felt. Murong Mingyue was surrounded by the tribe's women at dawn, who helped her with her grooming and dressing. She shed her usual military attire and sharp Hu clothing, donning a specially made wedding gown. This gown, based on Han Chinese style, featured auspicious clouds and stars embroidered in gold thread on crimson brocade. The cuffs and hem were decorated with traditional Murong wolf heads and vine patterns, and a wide, jade-inlaid leather belt cinched her waist, exuding both solemnity and nobility, yet retaining the spiritedness of a steppe daughter. Her long, black hair was styled into an intricate bun, adorned with a gilded and jeweled crown, and a fine beaded curtain hung down, partially obscuring her stunningly beautiful yet slightly shy face. Several elderly women busied themselves while softly chanting prayers in the Hu language.

Inside the main fortress of Xinghuo Fortress, Chen Xing was also dressed in formal attire. A black ceremonial robe, a crimson lower garment, and a Wei Mao crown—this was the most formal Han Chinese groom's attire Wu Xuejiu could prepare by poring over surviving ancient texts and considering the current circumstances. Chen Wei personally adjusted his clothing, while Zhao Tiezhu rubbed his hands together, excitedly and nervously reciting the procedures. Looking at the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure in the bronze mirror, Chen Xing was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Having transmigrated to this day, struggling to survive, enduring hardship and adversity, he had actually reached this point. Marriage, starting a family, establishing a career… In this unfamiliar era, he would forge the most profound bond with an equally extraordinary woman.

At the third quarter of Chen hour, the auspicious time was approaching. The fortress gates swung open, and drums and music resounded. A guard of honor, composed of a hundred elite infantrymen from the Xinghuo Battalion, their armor gleaming, their banners bright, and carrying long halberds, lined both sides of the main street. Following them was a procession carrying various symbolic ceremonial objects—earthenware urns filled with five kinds of grain, pure water symbolizing purity, bows and arrows representing military preparedness, and a pair of geese (represented by wooden carvings) symbolizing reunion, and so on.

Chen Xing, riding a magnificent horse draped in red silk, slowly emerged from the fortress lord's mansion, surrounded by Chen Wei and twenty personal guards. He sat upright, his gaze calm, sweeping over the densely packed, eagerly awaiting crowds of fortress inhabitants lining both sides of the street. Cheers and blessings surged forth like a tide. The procession proceeded along the red-painted main street towards the Murong tribe's camp outside the fortress, signifying a "personal welcome."

Outside the camp, the knights of the Murong tribe were already lined up to welcome them. They too were dressed in festive attire, their warhorses adorned with colorful ribbons. Upon seeing the wedding procession arrive, they shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the plains. As per the pre-arranged procedure, there was a symbolic "gate-blocking" ceremony. The young men of the Murong tribe sang challenging songs in their native language, while Zhao Tiezhu from Xinghuo Fortress sang in response in Chinese, distributing prepared wine and meat as prizes. The atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

Chen Xing dismounted and, led by the guide and the master of ceremonies, entered the golden-roofed tent, where he paid his respects to the three elders of the Murong tribe seated inside. The eldest elder spoke words of blessing and admonition in a foreign language, which the guide then translated. Following him, Murong Mingyue, dressed in magnificent robes and her face veiled by a beaded curtain, slowly emerged, supported by two elderly women of good fortune and longevity from her tribe. Chen Xing stepped forward and, according to Han etiquette, bowed deeply to her. Murong Mingyue's expression was obscured by the beaded curtain, but she returned the bow with a slight bow in accordance with custom.

The newlyweds walked out of the main tent side by side. Outside, a white horse, also decorated with red silk, was ready. According to the merged ceremony, the bride would not ride in a sedan chair, but on horseback, with the groom personally holding the reins to lead her to the groom's house, as a sign of respect and to ride side by side. Chen Xing took the reins, and Murong Mingyue, with the help of the women, nimbly mounted the horse, her movements still displaying the agility of a rider.

The wedding procession transformed into a send-off procession, with knights from the Murong tribe joining the ranks, mingling with the Xinghuo Fortress's ceremonial guard. Han and non-Han attire mingled, flags fluttered, and the sounds of drums and music mingled with the tunes of the Huqin and throat singing, creating a strange yet harmonious scene. The procession passed through the gates of Xinghuo Fortress once more, proceeding slowly along the main street paved with red sand, amidst deafening cheers and scattered grain and bean petals, until it reached the central square inside the fortress.

A tall platform, covered with red felt, had been erected on the north side of the square. Wu Xuejiu, dressed in a Confucian robe, stood solemnly on the platform as the master of ceremonies. Below the platform, all the core members of Xinghuo Fortress, the managers of various garrisons, officers of the rank of centurion and above, the heads of the artisan workshops, representatives of newly annexed forces, and the main figures of the Murong tribe stood in orderly rows, completely silent.

As the newlyweds descended the steps, Chen Xing helped Murong Mingyue dismount. Hand in hand, they ascended the platform. The sunlight shone brightly, illuminating their magnificent attire and solemn faces.

"The auspicious time has arrived!" Wu Xuejiu sang loudly, drawing out the last syllable.

The following ceremony incorporated and simplified the core elements of the Han Dynasty's "Six Rites." The first bow was to Heaven and Earth, expressing gratitude for creation and praying for favorable weather and the protection of all living beings. The second bow was to the ancestral tablets, symbolizing both Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue. The third bow was a mutual bow between husband and wife. As Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue stood facing each other and bowed to one another, the entire square erupted in thunderous cheers and blessings.

"The ceremony is complete!" Wu Xuejiu's voice was filled with excitement. "Lead them to the bridal chamber!"

Following the simplified procedure, the newlyweds did not leave immediately. Chen Xing stepped forward, faced the sea of ​​people below the stage, and raised his hands. The cheers gradually subsided.

"Fellow villagers! Fellow brothers!" Chen Xing's voice, amplified clearly through a simple wooden megaphone, resounded throughout the square. "Today, Chen Xing is fortunate to marry Mingyue. This is not only a joyous occasion for the two of us, but also a celebration for the entire Xinghuo Fortress!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over every face below the stage—Han Chinese, non-Han Chinese, old, young, familiar, and newcomers. "Since the founding of Xinghuo Fortress, we have stood shoulder to shoulder, shedding blood and sweat, building from nothing to something, from weak to strong! Why do we fight? It is to no longer be treated like pigs and sheep, it is to ensure that our parents, wives, and children have houses to live in, fields to cultivate, food to eat, and a peaceful life to look forward to!"

"The bright moon comes from the grasslands, and its warriors, along with us Han sons, drink from the same river and fight together against the same enemy. We are already brothers who have shared life and death! Today's alliance is to tell the world that in Xinghuo Fortress, regardless of whether we are Han or non-Han, we only care about being of one mind! We share rewards for our merits and hardships for each other!"

He took Murong Mingyue's hand and raised it high: "From this day forward, Murong Mingyue is my wife, Chen Xing's wife, and the mistress of my Starfire Fortress! Her glory is the glory of the Murong tribe, and the glory of all of my Starfire Fortress! May the flames of my Starfire Fortress, and the long winds of the grasslands, forever intertwine, protecting our land and benefiting all people!"

"Long live the Lord! May the Lady live a long life! May the flame of revolution shine forever! Han and Hu are of one heart!" Zhao Tiezhu was the first to shout at the top of his lungs, and then a thunderous roar of response soared into the sky. Whether Han civilians or Hu cavalry, everyone was flushed with excitement, waving their arms vigorously. The unity and hope embodied in this wedding deeply touched every heart that had long wandered in the chaos of war.

On the platform, Murong Mingyue, though still wearing the beaded curtain, held Chen Xing's hand with warmth and determination. She could feel the strength and sincerity in his words, and the surging, unwavering enthusiasm of the crowd below. The last trace of subtle melancholy caused by the arranged marriage transformed into a stronger sense of belonging and a determination to walk side by side.

A grand wedding banquet then began, with a continuous feast spread from inside the fortress to the outer walls, a veritable mountain of meat and a sea of ​​wine, with no shortage of food and drink. The sounds of revelry, toasts, and singing and dancing (including Han-style music and dance as well as Hu Xuan songs) continued until late into the night. Xinghuo Fortress was brightly lit all night long, like a city that never sleeps.

In the backyard of the lord's mansion, inside the meticulously decorated bridal chamber, red candles burned brightly. The clamor gradually faded away. Chen Xing gently lifted the beaded curtain in front of Murong Mingyue, revealing her picturesque face. With her heavy headdress removed, her black hair was loose, losing some of the solemnity and nobility of the ceremony, but gaining more of the delicate beauty and gentleness of a new bride. Her eyes were clear and bright as she quietly looked at him.

"Mingyue," Chen Xing called softly, taking her hand in his. "You've had a hard day."

Murong Mingyue shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips: "It wasn't hard work. Today... I'm very happy." Her Mandarin was already quite fluent.

The two sat down on the edge of the couch, and there was a moment of silence, but no awkwardness, only the crackling of the red candles.

"Every word I say today comes from the bottom of my heart," Chen Xing said earnestly. "Marrying you is not just for the sake of our alliance, but for the sake of you as a person."

Murong Mingyue looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "I know. My marriage to you is not just for the sake of the tribe." She paused, her voice softer yet more resolute. "A daughter of the grasslands, once she has chosen an eagle, will follow it to fly over mountains and rivers. Chen Xing, for the rest of my life, through fire and water, Mingyue will be with you."

A warm feeling welled up in Chen Xing's heart, and he gently embraced her. The red curtains were warm, and the spring night was precious. That night, the lord of Xinghuo Fortress and his bride found warmth and a vow to each other amidst the chaos of the world. Beneath the guise of a political marriage, true love had taken root.