Chapter 1575: The World Is Not Only for Heroes to Sing Loudly

Upon the activation of the Xia Dynasty’s Protective Array,the war entered a new phase of stalemate.What follows will be clashes between Qi and Xiacentered around the various support points of the Protective Array,a full-scale conflict inevitably spreading across the vast territories of Great Xia.And this, throughout the entire Qi-Xia battlefield,few could foresee beforehand.Chongxuan Sheng was one such person.The “opportunity” he spoke of lies precisely here!No sooner had the flag officer carrying the main commander’s orders departed,than he chose a direction, leading the Victorious Battalion straight to Linwu Prefecture.Taking a position within one of the two ten-thousand-man detachments of the Autumn Killing Army,each assaulting a prefecture, was truly not difficult for Chongxuan Sheng.If Chongxuan Chu Liang were unwilling to even grant this,it would not be allowing Chongxuan Sheng and Chongxuan Zun to compete fairly,but rather helping Chongxuan Zun suppress him.That general commanding the ten-thousand-man Autumn Killing Army detachmentattacking Linwu Prefecture, receiving only seven thousand men, felt no dissatisfaction.Had Chongxuan Chu Liang not forbidden it, his seven thousand men would alsohave been assigned to that certain胖 Chongxuan!In short, hoisting the gaudy “Victory in Sight” banner high,Chongxuan Sheng advanced without a moment’s pause.From the western suburbs of Linzi to Tongyang City, there was not a single placethat wasn’t his stage. He had suppressed himself for too long, waited for too long.In this kind of full-blown invasive war,the Vanguard Battalion led by Chongxuan Zun naturally also possessed sufficient freedom,it was precisely the time for his army to gallop.In terms of martial power, Chongxuan Zun was the bravest in all three armies.In terms of military strategy, Chongxuan Zun was absolutely no slouch either.But Chongxuan Sheng had already decided—He would recover his disadvantage in this phase!He would teach Chongxuan Zun a good lesson,to make him understand that fighting a waris not merely about brute strength!When Si Jiao returned to the ramparts of Tongyang City,ministers and officials gathered, none spoke.Within the radiant light of the Protective Array,only the nine resurrected Azure Fire Dragons still roared.As if truly possessing sentience, venting the painof being defeated earlier.He casually pressed down, and they ceased.The Purple Extreme’s Campaign Dragon!In his heart, Si Jiao couldn’t help but sigh thus.One could not say that the civil and military officials of Great Xia did not exert themselves to the utmost.Under the circumstances of Jianfeng Mountain falling in a single day,and Fengjie Prefecture changing hands in three days,they still managed to establish the Nine Dragons Azure Fire Array in time,and centering around it, constructed this northeastern defense linewith the intention of repelling the enemy beyond Xiangyou Prefecture.The cost was how many people from the Ministry of Works died from sheer exhaustion!Several array masters from noble families, having clearly exhausted all their strength,did not hesitate to use blood sacrifice to complete their allocated progress…Long Jiao, moreover, led the Zhenguo Armyand engaged in a head-on cavalry charge against the Qi Dynasty’s Swift Wind Army!Over half perished in battle, yet his army did not collapse.The remnants were successfully led back to Tongyang City by him.Although the Swift Wind Army still held the advantage,and the Zhenguo Army suffered heavy casualties.But this battle at least demonstrated—the Xia Army can fight against the Qi Army,and even engage in open battle!The Qi people are not invincible, they are not immune to death in battle.But this defense line was still shattered…Not long after the Zhenguo Army entered the city.Si Jiao found it hard to imagine the feelings of those soldiers.Connecting the “Campaign Road,” national power surged thousands of miles,striking from the eastern regions to the southern regions,such an inconceivable method could only be employed by a nationthat possesses the status of a hegemon.He, in fact, was secretly startled!Over fifty thousand Xia Army soldiers perished in a magnificent and tragic manner,can this sustain the psychological defense line in the hearts of the Xia people?Si Jiao himself, could not be certain!Even though he had made ample preparations, put in ample effort,one can only ever be certain of oneself. The most unpredictable thing in the world is the human heart…But this emotion, before it could resonate with heaven and earth,was shattered by him.He stood on the city walls, gazing into the distance as the million-strong Qi armysystematically dispersed, sensing Cao Jie’s art of command.Still majestic and calm.He turned around, looking inside Tongyang City,below the tall city gate tower, at the remnants of the Zhenguo Armywho still remained on their horses, unarmored, blades not sheathed,their battle flags stained with blood.These warriors were still awaiting military orders,willing to welcome the next charge.“All you soldiers have fought this battle well,you have fought with the blood and courage of my Great Xia soldiers!”Si Jiao declared in a booming voice:“Let those Qi bandits know the resolve of my Xia peopleto defend their nation, their heart to protect their land!”With the dignity of the Martial King, he bowed deeply to these soldiers.For the vast majority of Xia people, Martial King Si Jiaowas almost a god-like existence.Regarding the Martial King’s great禮, few of the soldiers presentwere not filled with apprehension,but without Long Jiao’s order, no one moved a single inch.At this moment, clad in military attire, only the battle flag could determine their will.They remained on their horses, gripping their swords, only waiting for the military order to descend.To charge, or to die.Si Jiao answered himself in his heart.He answered that earlier uncertain question.With such soldiers, with such countrymen,how could the Xia Dynasty not hold firm, how could it not salvage the nation again?Si Jiao straightened up and continued:“No empty words. For this battle, all participants will have their merits doubled.Those who died in battle will be generously compensated,families with orphans and widows will be cared for by the state.The Ministry of Finance must keep good records, omitting no one.If after the war there are still deficiencies, this King will sell his entire fortune to fill them!If even selling my fortune is insufficient, this King will go out to battle,to fight beyond the Ten Thousand Demon Gate,willing to spend ten, a hundred years as a True Monarch,until full repayment is made!General Long, please relay this order, so that my Great Xia soldiershave no worries about the future!”Long Jiao sat astride his warhorse, merely removed his helmet,held it against his chest, and lowered his head in acceptance of the order.In the vast Tongyang City, the city ramparts were silent,and below the city ramparts, there was also silence.Only the wind rustled the battle flags!“In this battle, the Qi Dynasty’s most elite Swift Wind Armysuffered tens of thousands of casualties, this is your merit.History will remember you, the Xia Dynasty will remember you…And this is just the beginning!”Si Jiao raised his voice:“Both enemy and we are flesh and blood,both can be injured, both can die!Every soldier of the Qi Dynasty, every Dao Yuan Stone,must cross ten thousand miles to arrive.But for us, the land beneath our feet is our nation,stepping out is the battlefield, behind us is our homeland.Billions of citizens, filling their million-strong army, what is the suspense!Even if carrying on shoulders and lifting by hand,even if biting with teeth and tearing with claws, soldiers,we will surely drive away the Qi bandits,and recover Fengjie!”“Drive away the Qi bandits, recover Fengjie!!”The soldiers roared with emotion!This roar spread throughout the entire city,rousing waves of sound.Bang! Bang! Bang!In the city, the camps of the Shenwu Armyalso beat their war drums, shaking the sky for a time.“Soldiers!” Si Jiao pressed down with a hand,calming the surging tide, and said:“Rest now, the Protective Array is open,Tongyang City is as solid as a fortress,everyone can sleep soundly!”Only then did Long Jiao turn his horse around,leading his army away to the camp.Si Jiao watched the Zhenguo Army distance themselvesbefore turning back to the civil and military officials on the city gate tower, saying:“Since the Protective Array is open, do not close it.My Great Xia has strived for good governance for thirty-two years,the national treasury is full, there are plenty of Yuan Stones.But who knows how long the Qi bandits,having traveled so far for this expedition,with this million-strong army, can endure the prolonged battle!”Xi Mengfu stood in a corner away from the crowd,gazing into the distance at the Qi army, uncharacteristically silent.During a great war, once the Protective Array is activated at full efficiency,there is no reason to randomly close it again.Especially now that the Qi army is invading on all fronts, with multiple routes of attack,the Xia Dynasty is even less qualified to close the Protective Array.Of course, “do not close” and “cannot close”are indeed phrases that will practically affect morale.Although those here are the high-level officials of the Xia Dynasty,people with clear minds, the Martial King is still very careful with his words…Why bother with such details?King Min on the city wall had remained silent all along.The Martial King was still saying something,likely about the upcoming defense arrangements,which prefectures needed to be重点 defended,which characters in the Qi army needed to be specifically watched…Listening on, Xi Mengfu’s gaze drifted further and further…Outside Tongyang City, the Qi army’s camps had been formally established.Low walls and deer antlers, arrow towers and great crossbows…array discs for military use, supporting temporary grand defensive arrays.Military tents stretched out, like another cityon the Jiangyin Plain.Of course, these temporarily constructed military camps,no matter how grand they appeared,their defenses could not compare to Tongyang City.But the Qi army has no fear of open battle,in fact, they would be delighted if the Xia army were to sortie from the city to attack the camps.Night had already fallen,the giant luminous lamps illuminated the area as if it were daytime.Camps were also set up on the frozen eastern bank of the Lian River.The Autumn Killing Army, which had breached Jianfeng Mountain,and the Swift Wind Army, which had just concluded a brutal battle,were both on the eastern bank of the Lian River,keeping watch across the frozen river with the Spring Death Army.The battlefield had long since been cleared.Cart after cart of Qi army corpses were transported back to the eastern bank.Their identities were confirmed one by one by the military scribes,and their merits recorded.For those too bloodied and mangled to be recognized,each command and each company could compare the missing soldiers to gain understanding.At this moment, a large open space had been cleared on the eastern bank of the Lian River.All the bodies of the Qi army soldiers gathered from the battlefieldwere piled here.When attacking Jianfeng Mountain, it was not without death.Three days to change the flag across the entire Fengjie Prefecture also cost many comrades’ lives.But none were as numerous as today.What is the scene when over thirty thousand bodies are piled together?It is a silent mountain!They are flesh and blood, but also earth and stone.They are the great sabers and long spears of the Great Qi Empire,and also the high walls and thick shields of the Great Qi Empire.The reason this empire can achieve greatness and maintain gloryis because of them, they dedicated themselves.They laid their flesh and blood as a solid foundation,only then could a ten-thousand-zhang high building rise from the ground.Li Zhengyan was fully armored, behind him werethe commanding generals, deputy generals, and commanders of the Swift Wind Army…Including Li Fengyao, including Li Longchuan, all wore solemn expressions.The surviving soldiers of the Swift Wind Armystood in silent circles outside this pile of corpses.The crowd parted, creating a path.Accompanied by Yan Ping, Cao Jie arrived in armor.That path slowly closed again.This commander-in-chief of the three armies leading the war against Xia,his steps were powerful, yet very slow.He walked to Li Zhengyan’s side, stopped,and bowed deeply to this mountain composed of piled Qi army soldiers.Representing the will of the entire expeditionary army command,they would not forget the sacrifice of these soldiers.The time has come…Li Zhengyan raised his hand and gently pushed forward,as if saying goodbye.Flames ignited on the mountain of corpses,but he turned his head away, looking at the distant sky.This man, who had remained expressionless during the cavalry charge,and had charged at the front on the battlefield,at this moment, could not bear to look.Tens of thousands of people, burning.What is burning is their bodies.What is lit is the night sky of a foreign land.All who fought for the nation,all who strived for the families behind them.Their ashes will be brought back to their hometowns,to give those who lost them a bit of remembrance.The blazing fire roared.Li Fengyao, usually as cold as an iceberg,at this moment, opened her mouth and sang a battle song.The numerous bloodstains did not affect her beauty,the firelight illuminated her exquisite face,blooming like frost flowers in this place where comrades were buried.Her frosty voice drifted in the night sky.The sorrow within, which even frost could not freeze,was so profoundly moving.Including Cao Jie, including Yan Ping,including Li Zhengyan, who was straining to look at the night sky,including all the Swift Wind Army soldiers present,all couldn't help but open their mouths…Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of soldiers sang together—“Yi Xu Xi!A brave man who goes east need not return!If the vast sea wishes to bury me, then bury me.Today it is I who goes to war,Tomorrow it is I who will be buried,What matters, what matters, what matters?How can only heroes in this world sing a long song?I was born unable to see my aged father’s grief!After I die, I hope my homeland weeps empty tears!Being wrapped in horse hide after death is not a good end.Knowing each other until old age has become a thing of the past.What matters, what matters, what matters?How can only heroes in this world sing a long song?”Their voice was majestic, their voice was sorrowful.The singing drifted on the eastern bank of the Lian River,and soon, in the camps of the Autumn Killing Army,the sound of the battle song also rose.“Today it is I who goes to war,Tomorrow it is I who will be buried,What matters, what matters, what matters?How can only heroes in this world sing a long song?”The singing drifted across the Lian River,and then echoed throughout the vast Jiangyin Plain.On such a night.The Great Qi battle song surrounded Tongyang City.On the city ramparts of Tongyang City, the others had dispersed.After the Protective Array was activated, there were too many matters to handle.The transportation of Yuan Stones, the garrisoning of various areas…Youping, Yuci, Linwu, Fengli, people were needed everywhere…Even within Tongyang City itself, strong armies and fierce generalswere indispensable for garrisoning, the soldiers’ fighting spirithad to be appeased, and the city defenses also needed continuous repair and construction…Only Liu Xiyi and Xi Mengfu remained here guarding,one holding the Prime Minister’s seal, the other the State Preceptor’s order,they were the crucial points of the Protective Array… and could not easily leave.It was just that on this vast city rampart, it was already extremely empty.One stood by the north, one by the south,creating a chasm between them.The two had harbored resentment for a long time,having argued fiercely more than once or twice.The last time they debated in court, it was just more intense…Last year, when Xi Mengfu led the team to the Yellow River Gathering,upon his return, Liu Xiyi had pointed at his nose and cursed him,saying he didn’t know how to guide and had damaged national prestige.This angered Xi Mengfu so much that he stated on the spotthat next time he would let Liu Xiyi attend the meeting,to see what kind of guidance this old man could provide!With a faint clear light swirling in his hand, Liu Xiyi suddenly snorted from his nostrils:“It’s your turn.”The soundproofing formation covering the entire city was also a considerable drain.Xi Mengfu did not speak, but also extended his hand,taking over the soundproofing formation.Who knows how long the Qi army will sing this battle song?Liu Xiyi sat down without any regard for appearance,leaning against the northern corner of the wall and dozing for a while.But this old man, who could even sleep soundlyduring the defense of Guiyi City back then,could not sleep today.He glanced at Xi Mengfu and suddenly said:“Hey!”Xi Mengfu turned his head expressionlessly, meeting his gaze.This fiery-tempered Prime Minister, who frequently rolled up his sleeves and fought with people in court,said with a straight face:“You apologize to this old man, and the matter between us will be resolved.”Xi Mengfu quietly looked at him for a while,and spat out a single word—“Scram!”Liu Xiyi immediately jumped up, cursing and swearing:“You little bastard, how dare you talk to this old man like that?!No manners! When this old man was wearing green and purple,you were still playing in the mud!”Xi Mengfu completely ignored him,just looked outside Tongyang City, his expression gradually becoming solemn.Liu Xiyi, mid-curse, also looked outside,muttering: “What are they doing?”Xi Mengfu let out a very long sigh, which lingered in the air,unable to dissipate for a long time:“They are… burying bodies.”The Qi army outside Tongyang City is burying the bodies of the Xia army soldiers.Allowing them to rest in peace…If the dead can find eternal peace, how can the living claim courage?