Chapter 64 Volume 1 Epilogue (1/2)
Chapter 64 – Volume 1 Epilogue
December 31st, 181 A.D.
Snow covered wooden shacks, houses, trees and roads everywhere. It was in the middle of winter season.
Tong sat in his courtyard within the Zhang Resident in Ningjin County, thinking back what had happened in this year.
Everything turned into chaos once the system announced the existence of the otherworlders.
Tong gazed at the door in the courtyard, the image of Hua Shi when they had the first conversation appeared in his mind. The moment when Tong threatened her with a grenade could still be remembered.
Tong laughed in his heart. The grenade he planned to use that day was still with him. Somehow he kept it with him as a good luck charm.
Then he turned his head toward the whitened trees at the back of the resident, where Sima Xin used to hide there. The pain of regret came back to Tong. If he had finished off Sima Xin that day, then the stupid war would not have happened.
”Should have … Would have … Could have … Didn't happen.”
Tong shook his head to shake off the thought.
Tong walked to the graveyard of the family to pray to his mother. Then he found that his father was already there.
”Hey dad.”
”Oh, son. You are here too?”
Both father and son knelt down and lit the incense sticks as they prayed to Tong's mother.
”I've heard it from everyone. You did well.”
Tong smiled in bitterness and shook his head.
”You sure have high standard.” Zhang Jiao bemused.
”I could have done it better.”
”We all have survived because of you, but you are not satisfied.”
”I could have prevented the war.”
Zhang Jiao sighed. His son was too ambitious. If he continued to behave this way, he could destroy himself.
”No man is perfect. Just learn from you mistakes. You can do it better next time.”
Zhang Jiao smiled at Tong and patted his shoulder as he stood up. Then Tong stood up and looked at his father.
”Thanks, dad.”
Tong stepped forward and hug his father. Zhang Jiao was surprised. In China in this era, people did not hug each other to express love, but they bowed or kowtowed to their seniors to show respect. If someone were to hug a senior, it could be mistaken as a disrespectful behavior and would be punished. However, Tong had forgotten about the culture and hugged his father by instinct.
Zhang Jiao came to his sense. He patted the back of his son. The feeling of hugging a family member was not so bad.
Tong also realized what he had done. He stepped back in a hurry and bowed to his father.
”I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.”
”Haha. No big deal. Actually I haven't hugged you since you were a baby. It's fine.”
Zhang Jiao laughed as he left the graveyard in great mood. Then a servant came for him.
”Report the great teacher. Lord Zhang Bao has come back with a group of officials from the capital. They are waiting for you inside the main hall.”
”Oh?”
Zhang Jiao looked at the servant in confusion. Afterwards, he glanced at Tong.
”You did something weird again?”
Tong laughed awkwardly and nodded.
”It was an insurance to get you back from the Yuan family.”
…
…
Tong, Zhang Jiao, Zhang Liang and Hua Shi arrived at the main hall together. The eunuch was already there as he sat on the main seat while his entourages stood behind him. Zhang Bao were also there, attending the guests.
The eunuch stood up. His entourage knelt and handed him a golden pedestal tray with golden scroll on top. He asked.
”Are you Zhang Jiao?”
”Yes, I am Zhang Jiao.”
”Good! Kneel and receive the edict from the emperor!”
Everyone knelt down and cupped their hands. All of them kept their head down as if they were kneeling to the emperor himself.
The eunuch picked up the golden scroll, opened it, and read it out loud.
”Zhang Jiao of Ningjin! You have contributed to the people and the emperor well! The amount of tributes were rival that of several cities combined. The emperor has judged that your talents and your abilities should not be wasted as a commoner in this rural area! You shall be bestowed with the title of governor of Julu County to replace the incompetent Guo Dian! The emperor hopes that you can continue your contribution to the imperial court. Here is the imperial edict with the emperor seal, take it!”