160 Yutang, Foe of the World! (1/2)
”One thousand men is not enough!” The janissary leader’s expression was one of deep concern. ”Send another two thousand people over! From today onwards, this wine is our life! Even if all three thousand brothers have to die in battle, the wine will not get any lesser, not even by a single drop!”
”Besides our brothers here, millions of our fallen brothers are also waiting in anticipation!”
The leader’s eyes were rimmed red. ”Let us anticipate the day to toast with all our brothers, both alive and dead!”
”Just thinking of that moment, that day, as long as I get to experience it, I shall have no other regrets in this life.”
On the eleventh of the tenth month, Tiantang City began implementing curfew and washing its streets with water as well as filling them with soil; the number of patrol teams increased threefold.
All the shops and stores in Tiantang City, regardless of their origin and background, received the same notice – no one was to cause trouble within this important month. Offenders would be stopped from doing business without question for a month and follow-up procedures would only resume after that period of closure.
On the twelfth of the tenth month, some larger shops and significant buildings began cleaning their properties and hanging celebratory decorations. The atmosphere was merry and jubilant.
On the thirteenth of the tenth month, there were already three foreign troops that had arrived at the camp outside the city. Other representatives who had promised to come were all on their way, slowly approaching.
ON the fifteenth of the tenth month, Marshal Han Sanhe , who wore the title of ‘God of the Military’ in the Empire of Dongxuan, had arrived with his troops.
Tiantang City was abuzz with his arrival – it was not of a sense of joy, but of loathing. The commonfolk could not help but wish that they could eviscerate Han Sanhe into oblivion.
Dongxuan and Yutang had just ended their war; the Empire of Yutang that had emerged victorious still paid the price of hundreds of thousands of casualties in that war! The blood of the warriors who had sacrificed themselves in that battle had not even dried, their perished bodies still warm, their souls not yet at peace, yet Han Sanhe had come to Tiantang City so easily! How could it not cause a commotion?
Waves of sinister undercurrents gushed unabatedly in streets; theimpact of his arrival was unprecedentedly huge.
”Letter of credence of peace states that those who come are all guests; the festive event of militants is to be ended with a merry drink. This event has never taken place before and shall remain unparalleled for years after; it is to be praised through the ages, its renown to remain immortal. Do not bring shame to our heroes and do not let guilt taint them.”
The shortly-worded flyers were sent to each family and household by tens of thousands of soldiers.
Three soldiers formed a team – one to knock on the door, one to step forth with a bow and present the flyer with both hands while the last was to carry the humongous stack of flyers.
”Please understand. This is the wish of countless brothers, thank you for abiding by it.”
Each family, each inn, each shop had been sent one of these flyers.
As long as there was someone inhabiting the place, the soldiers of Yutang would send a flyer over.
Other than being an enemy, those who had come bore the identity as a militant; they were as loyal as any Yutang warrior. They had come to celebrate Tie Zheng’s wedding as a soldier, they had come representing countless Dongxuan warriors. Even if both sides held different standpoints, there should be adequate respect given during this occasion; resentment and grudge should only be resolved in the battlefield after this, and no one was to act rashly.
The vicious undercurrents were pacified instantly.
The elderlies who had not been sent flyers had opened their doors early in the day, making food and preparing tea to serve at their doors. When they saw the soldiers who were distributing the flyers coming over, all of them tried their best to make them welcome.
”Child, work hard, fight hard!”
”Take care! We understand you!”
”Child, kill a few more men when you return to the battlefield. My second son has died at the Fortress of Resilience. When I see you, I see my child coming back home… You must have something to eat and drink, and rest a little before you leave!”
”You have worked so hard!”
An elderly woman gripped the soldier’s hand tightly as she gently stroked the saber scar on his face; love and sympathy filled her expression…
”Oh, child, how you’ve suffered…”
…
All the soldiers who had gone to distribute the flyers came back with full stomachs and red-rimmed eyes.
…
Silence filled the city as well as the top of the city wall.
Silence filled the outside of the city as well.
Half of the generals in this continent had gathered here, their flags fluttering merrily in the wind.
Han Sanhe emerged from his tent and made his way to a small hill that was slightly higher than it's surroundings to gaze upon Tiantang City.
The autumn wind blew strong, so violently that one had to stagger against it.