Chapter 61: The Expedition Departs! |
Cattle, sheep, and pigs—the three sacrificial animals were all present.
On the sacrificial altar, three massive beast skulls still emanated a thick, pungent stench.
The Grand Sacrifice, the highest ceremonial standard in ancient times.
Usually reserved for important military operations.
The last time Zhao Xiang went on campaign, it was a Grand Sacrifice, and the Emperor personally reviewed the troops.
Though this occasion was smaller in scale, it still involved a prince leading the expedition personally, and it was a doomed rescue mission at that. Now that the legitimate eldest son, the Prince of Jin, was personally conducting the sacrifice, it demonstrated the court's emphasis on the matter.
"First bow to the successive ancestors of Great Yu!"
Standing to the side, holding a several-chi-long gold-inlaid copper staff topped with scattered pearl ritual ornaments, Sima Yu raised it from bottom to top in a sweeping motion.
Slowly, the Prince of Jin knelt before the sacrificial altar and prostrated himself in a bow.
"Second bow to the three thousand deities of Great Yu!"
Sima Yu waved the ritual implement.
Once again, they knelt and prostrated themselves.
"Third bow to the rivers and mountains of Great Yu, may the nation prosper and the people be at peace!"
After the final kowtow, the Prince of Jin rose to his feet.
Gripping the wine vessel in his hand, he slowly turned around to face all the soldiers. In a resonant voice, he proclaimed loudly: "The Qi bandit Ji Yuan—his ancestors were nothing more than stable hands who stole a tiny kingdom. Through southern raids and northern plunder, through duplicity and treachery, he has coerced the northern territories, attempting to throw the world into chaos. And now he dares invade our mighty Great Yu, burn our cities, and slaughter our people. This time, we shall raise a righteous army and resist the enemy thousands of li away!"
Having said this, he raised the wine vessel, toasted toward everyone, then slowly poured it out. Then he declared: "If we do not crush these bandits, we swear never to return home!"
"Victory! Victory! Victory!"
Everyone simultaneously struck the ground with the butts of their spears, producing a unified thunderous sound.
At this moment, burly men on both sides of the sacrificial altar beat the drums heavily.
For a time, dust flew across the training grounds as shouts shook the heavens.
Then, to the drumbeat, the army marched out of camp in orderly fashion.
The Prince of Jin descended from the sacrificial altar and approached Wei Wusheng.
"I pay my respects to His Highness the Prince of Jin!"
Dressed in armor with a sword at his waist, Wei Wusheng knelt on one knee, clasping his fist in salute.
"Wusheng, please rise."
The Prince of Jin smiled as he helped him up, then actively bent down to brush the dust from the red robe beneath his armor, speaking with particular warmth: "Between us brothers, there's no need for such formality."
"Yes, Your Highness." Wei Wusheng responded earnestly.
"This journey to Shuofeng will be fraught with hardships and dangers. I specifically sought this protective talisman, hoping it will keep Wusheng safe."
The Prince of Jin produced a brocade pouch containing a protective charm and placed it in Wei Wusheng's palm.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I will treasure it well."
Wei Wusheng solemnly attached it to his waist and declared passionately: "On this expedition, Wusheng will spare no effort for Great Yu, forgetting self to slay the enemy."
"Mm, my good brother." The Prince of Jin patted his shoulder, saying with a smile, "When you return victorious to court, I will personally host a banquet in your honor."
"Wusheng thanks Your Highness again!"
"Go now, and may you return victorious soon."
With that, Wei Wusheng turned and departed.
He merged into the ranks of the army.
At the entrance to the training grounds, by the camp stables, Xinyue had already been standing beside a blood-red steed, waiting in advance.
Walking over, Wei Wusheng casually tossed out the protective charm.
Xinyue raised her hand to catch it, then opened her palm: "What is this?"
"It's yours."
Wei Wusheng stepped on the stirrup, smoothly swung himself onto the horse, and cracked the whip with an expressionless face.
"..." Xinyue frowned as she looked at this ornate sachet, her expression somewhat subtle.
But she still accepted it.
Then the two of them spurred their horses forward, catching up to the front of the column.
The Prince of Jin and the Prince of Zhongping watched as the army gradually departed completely.
"Second brother, what did you just say to Wusheng?" the Prince of Zhongping asked.
"Just some pleasantries," the Prince of Jin said. "I told him that when he returns victorious, I'll host a banquet for him."
"If he truly does return victorious, that would give him an opportunity to align himself with us." The Prince of Zhongping smiled teasingly. "But trying to match fourth brother's complete devotion of his family wealth with just one sentence seems a bit too difficult."
"Perhaps."
"Tomorrow, I plan to invite Minister Sun's eldest son to the estate to sound out his intentions," the Prince of Zhongping said.
"Fine. If the Sun clan of Yangzhou shows willingness, bring Sun Heng into the fold."
Though Sun Heng's talents were mediocre, Sun Qian had not yet matured, so for now they'd let the elder brother join first.
The Prince of Wu was making moves, and the Prince of Jin would not sit idly by.
But he wasn't staying still—he was moving slowly, steadily, strategically, and in proper order.
"Second brother, though this is unrealistic."
Wei Yiyuan looked at him and said: "If Wusheng does return, we must make every effort to win him over. When that time comes, we'll definitely have to persuade the Sun clan to reconcile with him."
"Which has a better chance—the Sun clan reconciling with Song Shi'an, or Wusheng returning alive?"
"...True."
Wei Yiyuan only then realized that both were impossible events.
"But I truly do hope Wusheng returns victorious."
When the training grounds no longer held a single departing soldier, facing the yellowish dust haze left behind, the Prince of Jin suddenly sighed.
To sit upon the throne, there must first be a throne to sit upon.
………
"Laoye, please mount."
As he prepared to mount his horse, San Gou immediately crouched down like a stone to serve as a footstool and stirrup for Song Shi'an.
Song Shi'an, who had been about to step on him, hesitated briefly, then withdrew his foot: "Get up."
San Gou didn't understand. After standing up, he asked: "Why, laoye?"
"Hold out your hands." Song Shi'an said.
Then San Gou complied.
Song Shi'an placed his foot on the man's palms. The other lifted forcefully, and he smoothly mounted the horse and sat down.
He had no intention of spreading democracy in this feudal world, but engaging in such practices was still somewhat physiologically difficult for him to accept.
Perhaps he would change in the future.
Perhaps he would always be this way.
Song Shi'an rode his horse with San Gou as his escort at his side.
Actually, Song Shi'an had no idea how to ride a horse. But some of the original body's instinctive reactions remained.
Once mounted, he completely adapted.
After leaving the military camp's training grounds, the great army proceeded onto the central Imperial Avenue.
The central axis road of an ancient capital was truly magnificent.
Song Shi'an roughly estimated it to be at least a hundred meters wide.
Sufficient for tens of thousands of troops to march smoothly and fluidly.
And this mere thousand men, even after forming their ranks, appeared somewhat "meager" in their column length.
Though the wealthy sons of the Palace City were more reserved than the common folk of the outer city and wouldn't be overly enthusiastic or excited, today there were still quite a few people seeing the army off.
While the roadsides weren't congested, they weren't sparse either, with people standing every few steps.
From time to time, some showed admiring smiles and spoke words of encouragement to the departing army.
Until, as they marched to a certain point, a burly, half-naked man by the roadside suddenly began beating a heavy drum.
The soldiers and Palace City residents all looked over.
"Isn't that General Xia?"
"It is General Xia!"
"The General is drumming to bolster our morale!"
Upon seeing Xia Chun, the soldiers all felt warmth, and the drumming moved them deeply.
As a descendant of meritorious nobility who could mingle with soldiers, show compassion for troops, willingly endure hardship and exposure, and live and die alongside them, earning universal love within the army—even if he lost battles somewhat frequently, who would blame him?
If you insist on saying the fallen have no voice, well, there's nothing to be done about that.
Seeing this bare-chested general, Wei Wusheng took the initiative to clasp his fist in salute, smiling in acknowledgment.
Marching through the Palace City, he had thought there would only be this one interruption.
But midway through, dozens of people from the Song Estate clustered together, and upon seeing Song Shi'an, they immediately swarmed over.
Jiang-shi ran directly to his horse, grasping Song Shi'an's hand with tear-filled eyes: "Son, be extremely careful, extremely careful!"
"Don't worry, Mother, I will." Song Shi'an deliberately hid his left hand on the other side of the horse, preventing her from discovering the wound.
"Please be careful."
Song Ce bowed deeply to Song Shi'an.
Song Shi'an smiled faintly at him, then as he passed by, from his "commanding height" on horseback, Song Shi'an gently tousled the heads of both him and Song Qin standing nearby.
"The matter of you deceiving me isn't finished yet..." Biting her lip, Song Qin muttered softly, "Just you wait."
Now you're getting all tsundere on me.
"Step back, Mother, Jingming, little sister. Don't obstruct the army's advance."
At Song Shi'an's urging, they reluctantly retreated to the roadside.
Song Jing stood in the very center, gazing sternly at Song Shi'an.
When their eyes met, they both nodded to each other.
Xinyue watched this scene from afar.
Then she discovered with some surprise.
Both Zhu Qing and Qin Kuo had risen through military merit—one was a commoner, the other from a minor bureaucratic family.
On this expedition, only Song Shi'an was a Palace City resident.
That indeed made him worthy of respect.
And when the army quietly exited the Palace City gates, it seemed as if all the common people of Sheng'an had come out of the city.
At a glance, the hundred-step-wide central Imperial Avenue, except for the marching path, was packed so tightly that not even water could leak through.
A sea of humanity, shoulder to shoulder.
Fortunately, the common folk who had squeezed to the front were bringing food in baskets and drink in jugs, forcefully pressing provisions into the soldiers' hands.
"Child, eat while it's hot. Come, stuff a few more in your pockets."
"Good son, kill a few more Qi bandits!"
"Sixth Prince, please protect the people of Great Yu!"
"Why should a man not carry a Yu saber and reconquer fifty provinces in the mountains!"
Someone even loudly sang Song Shi'an's representative work at him.
It must be said, the emotions of the common people are simple and sincere.
But Song Shi'an truly couldn't eat anymore.
Holding a hot steamed bun in his hand, he smiled while waving his hand in polite refusal.
Then, gazing at these enthusiastic people.
He clearly understood that while the great clans, meritorious nobility, and national dukes were indeed powerful aids on the path of following the dragon, right now, what could keep him and Wei Wusheng alive would certainly be these countless masses of common people.
As long as Wei Wusheng and I return alive, walking through this great avenue of Sheng'an while riding the wave of popular support—
Who could kill me?
Who would dare kill me?
He smiled.
And at this moment, Song Shi'an suddenly noticed that behind the crowd by the roadside stood two women.
Both wore plain clothing, but one of them could be seen at a glance to be no commoner.
More importantly, both wore white gauze veils covering their faces.
What the hell are you playing at?
Song Shi'an showed disdain.
The next moment, the more noble-looking one slowly lifted the veil from the middle, revealing her face.
Oh, it's Miss Sun.
Seeing that Song Shi'an had noticed her, Sun Jinhu showed a sincere smile. Then, crossing her hands and placing them before her abdomen, she bowed slightly, performing a proactive gesture of goodwill.
Song Shi'an also looked at her and returned the courtesy.