Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 236 The whole city is in an uproar! The entire city watches the battle!
Just as Jiang Xingzhou uttered the last line, "A thousand horsemen sweep across the plains!"—

"boom!!!"

A thunderous roar shook the heavens and the earth!

A powerful and vast literary aura suddenly erupted from his body, like a dragon emerging from the abyss, soaring straight into the sky.

Above Mizhou City, the thick clouds that were originally shrouded in twilight and smoke seemed to be violently torn apart by an invisible force, rolling and scattering in all directions to reveal a dazzling starry river behind them.

Even more breathtaking was the Big Dipper—those seven stars that should only be clearly visible in the dead of night—which, before dusk had even ended, hung distinctly in the sky, casting its cool starlight, echoing the pillar of literary energy that Jiang Xingzhou had soared into the sky, illuminating the entire landscape!

"The literary spirit soars to the heavens! This... this is the sign of a masterpiece of poetry being born!"

On the city wall, an elderly scholar with white hair trembled all over, tears streaming down his face, and he almost prostrated himself in worship.

"The Poem of the Nation! The Poem of the Nation has appeared!"

"With just half a poem, he possesses the aura to govern a nation!"

More scholars and generals exclaimed in surprise, their voices filled with barely suppressed elation and shock.

The entire city of Mizhou was momentarily silent, then erupted into a thunderous roar of cheers!
"May God bless our northern frontier!"

"It's Minister Jiang! It's Minister Jiang's poem!"

Those veterans who had guarded the northern frontier for many years, their hearts hardened by the bitter cold and the threat of death, looked up at the pillar of literary energy that stretched from heaven to earth, feeling their bodies enveloped in warmth and talent. Their blood surged and their courage soared, and many of them couldn't help but shed tears.

They may not understand the subtleties of language, but they can truly feel that power melting their frozen bones, dispelling their deep-seated fear of the wolf demon, and rekindling the passion that had been dormant in their chests for many years!

This is what it feels like to be protected by a national-level spiritual power. It's a baptism and glory they've never dared to dream of during their border service!
"How many years... how many years has it been since a new national treasure has emerged in our northern frontier region..."

A veteran general from the northern frontier, his rough hands gripping the cold battlements tightly, his eyes filled with tears, his voice choked with emotion, said, "The last time... was eighty years ago, when General Li had a sudden enlightenment in battle and used a battle poem to annihilate 30,000 demon soldiers... Since then, we, the sons of the northern frontier, have relied entirely on our flesh and blood to endure this hardship!"

Tang Xiujin, the Minister of War, an old minister who had seen many ups and downs in the court, could not suppress the turmoil in his heart at this moment, and his white beard trembled slightly.

He gazed at the figure outside the city, who seemed like a literary sage descended to earth, and murmured, "A poem that protects the nation... and such a battle poem that is so fitting for the battlefield and inspires the morale of the troops! This act of sailing... is just like a wise minister of ancient times composing a poem on the spot, using a single word to stabilize the morale of the army! As soon as this poem was uttered, the morale of our army rose like boiling water, soaring straight to the sky!"

He could almost see it—this phrase would surely spread throughout the land along with this bloody battle against the 100,000 iron cavalry of the Snow Wolf Kingdom.

At that time, the morale of the army and the people of the Great Zhou will be greatly boosted! Its significance has long surpassed the victory or defeat of a single city or place.

The soldiers of the Thousand Cavalry Iron Mountain Camp, standing beneath the city walls, felt the impact most directly and intensely.

The aura of literature enveloped their bodies, transforming into armor. Everyone felt an inexhaustible surge of power within them, their weapons feeling as light as nothing, yet sharp and menacing. Even their warhorses seemed to breathe hot air, eager to leap and gallop.

Xue Chonghu felt the surging power within him and experienced a profound connection with the imagery of the poem, "Old man Sun Lang, feeling young again, leading a yellow dog on the left and holding a falcon on the right, wearing a brocade hat and sable fur, with a thousand horsemen sweeping across the plains."

He suddenly looked up and howled to the sky, the sound so powerful it drowned out the distant howls of wolves:
"Hahahaha! Heaven blesses the Great Zhou, bestowing upon me a worthy son-in-law! My lads, can you feel it? This is the power of the nation's literary arts! Follow me—slay all the wolf riders to repay the nation's favor!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

A thousand riders roared in unison, their voices like thunder, converging into a mighty torrent that shook the heavens and earth, reflecting the literary spirit of the stars in the sky.

At this moment, what surrounds them is not only talent, but also the magnificent momentum formed by the literary fortune and will of a nation!

This poem, "Jiang Cheng Zi: Hunting Trip in Mizhou," is more than just a lyric.

It is a battle flag, a bugle call, and a shield of talent covering the entire army!

Its arrival instantly reversed the momentum of the battlefield, pushing the morale of the defending soldiers to an unprecedented peak!
The Snow Wolf Kingdom's vanguard, facing this astonishing phenomenon and overwhelming pressure, involuntarily faltered, fear creeping into their hearts. Though wolves are fierce, they too fear the will of Heaven.

The human race's literary arts, which were of national significance, made them tremble instinctively.

Jiang Xingzhou's poem, once composed, became a national treasure, its spirit soaring to the North Star, seizing the initiative—before the battle even began, it had already completely overwhelmed the 100,000 wolf riders in terms of sheer momentum!

The extraordinary phenomena of talent and genius that Jiang Xingzhou's poem "Jiang Cheng Zi: Hunting in Mizhou" evoked not only shocked the soldiers on the city wall, but also caused a great uproar in Mizhou city, like boiling oil being poured on water!
"Om-"

When that azure pillar of literary energy shot into the sky from outside the city, causing the Big Dipper to appear in broad daylight, everyone in Mizhou City who possessed literary energy was instantly moved.

A powerful and overwhelming force swept across the entire city, causing all the scholars to tremble in their souls and their literary palaces to sway!

Inside the largest inn in the city, Yuelai Inn, in the top-tier room.

In the afternoon, the scholar Wang Ling drank with several friends who had just arrived in Mizhou. He drank a few extra cups of "Green Bamboo Wine," which contained a touch of literary elegance. At this moment, he was soundly asleep, dreaming that he was on the battlefield, wielding his sword with poetry and culture to slay demons and monsters.

"Brother Wang! Brother Wang! Wake up! Something terrible has happened!"

Wang Ling’s classmate Li Mu practically stumbled into the room, disregarding all etiquette, and pulled him up from the bed, his voice hoarse and distorted with extreme excitement.

Wang Ling was groggily shaken awake. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he asked blankly, "Brother Li... what's the matter? Is it the wolf clan launching a night attack on the city?"

His first thought was that war had broken out on the border.

"It's not a siege! It's about literary energy—look at that pillar of literary energy outside the city!"

Li Mu pointed tremblingly out the window, his voice choked with emotion yet filled with ecstasy, "That's... a masterpiece of literature! Another national treasure has been born!"

"What?! Zhenguo?!"

Wang Ling shuddered, the lingering effects of his drunkenness vanished instantly, and he sprang from the bed to the window.

A majestic, dragon-like azure pillar of light pierced the sky not far from the city. The surrounding energy surged, faintly conjuring up the phantom of a battlefield with golden spears and iron horses, and eagles soaring and hounds chasing each other!

Above the sky, the Big Dipper is clearly visible, its starlight shining down, echoing the literary atmosphere on the ground.

The natural energy of the entire city of Mizhou seemed to be ignited, surging and surging!

Wang Ling was speechless, his mind went blank, and he stood there completely stunned.

A poem to protect the nation?

At this very moment? Outside the city?
"Who...who is it?"

His voice trembled, and he could barely speak coherently, but the only possible name had already surfaced in his mind.

In this city of Mizhou, who else could possess such literary and moral attainments and trigger such a nationally significant phenomenon besides that person?

"Who else could it be but Minister Jiang!"

Li Mu's hands trembled with excitement as he gripped Wang Ling's shoulders tightly. "It must be Lord Jiang! Only his poems could stir up such a glorious national destiny!"

"But... but why did he choose this moment to write this poem that would protect the nation?"

Wang Ling's mind was still in a daze, and he blurted out subconsciously, "Could it be...could it be that the great battle has already begun?! We...we are still fast asleep?!"

A tremendous sense of panic and intense feeling of loss overwhelmed him instantly, like ice water being poured over his head.

He traveled thousands of miles to the border to personally experience this battle that determined the fate of the nation, to witness history, and even to fight for fame and fortune on the battlefield.

Could it be that the long-awaited decisive battle had already broken out just as he arrived in Mizhou and fell into a drunken slumber? And right from the start, it was an earth-shattering scene worthy of being recorded in history, such as "the poem that brought peace to the country".

"Quick! Get dressed! Go to the city wall! It might still be in time!"

Li Mu suddenly woke up as if struck by lightning, and hurriedly grabbed the scattered clothes and draped them over Wang Ling.

Wang Ling also fully regained consciousness, and the two of them panicked and rushed out of the guest room in disheveled clothes, their hair ornaments askew and they didn't even have time to straighten them before they ran wildly toward the city tower.

As they rushed out of the inn, they were shocked to find that the entire street was already bustling with activity!
Countless people flooded the streets. Although most of them were illiterate, they could clearly see the pillar of light that pierced the heavens and the strange phenomenon in the sky. Everyone's face was filled with shock, but also with a hint of excitement stirred by the magnificent righteous energy.

"Were they heavenly soldiers and generals descending to earth?"

"It's Minister Jiang! It's Lord Jiang displaying his literary prowess!"

"May Heaven protect Mizhou and help my army drive back the wolf demons!"

More scholars poured out from inns, studies, and residences in all directions, all with a strikingly similar goal—the northern city wall! Their faces were a mixture of fervor, awe, and barely contained excitement as they ran, their voices trembling as they shouted:

"Protecting the Nation! A new chapter of protecting the nation has begun!"

"Quick! Get to the city wall! Lord Jiang must be at the front lines!"

"To have witnessed the birth of a national treasure on the battlefield in this lifetime, I have no regrets even in death!"

Wang Ling and Li Mu were swept along by the surging crowd, struggling to push their way towards the city wall. Their hearts were filled with an indescribable shock and anxiety.

They had thought it would be a long and brutal battle to defend the city, but who would have thought that as soon as they arrived in Mizhou, the battle had just begun, and Jiang Xingzhou had already presented such a shocking prelude!

This extraordinary poem, which emerged out of nowhere, was like a dose of boiling blood, not only infusing the soldiers on the frontier with strength, but also igniting the hearts of all the people in the city and the scholars gathered here!

The atmosphere of the decisive battle reached an unprecedented climax at this moment.

When Wang Ling, Li Mu, and other scholars scrambled and stumbled, their clothes disheveled, onto the walls of Mizhou, anxiously searching for Jiang Xingzhou, the scene before them left them breathless and their minds blank.

The wilderness below the city was shrouded in twilight.

On one side, Jiang Xingzhou, dressed in a simple blue robe, and Xue Chonghu, clad in imposing armor, led a thousand cavalrymen, standing solemnly before the enemy lines.

Although there were only a thousand men and a thousand horses, under the soaring pillar of literary energy, they had the momentum of a thousand troops and ten thousand horses, and the power to swallow mountains and rivers!
On the other side, less than a mile away, a massive, dark mass of Snow Wolf Kingdom vanguard wolf riders swept across the mountains and plains. Their ferocious wolf heads, bloodthirsty red eyes, gleaming claws and teeth, and the almost tangible, violent demonic aura pressed down like dark clouds, sending chills down one's spine.

The eldest prince, who was leading the group, had already partially revealed his demonic form. He was enormous, with fangs protruding, and was letting out a low, furious roar.

The two armies faced off, the air thick with murderous intent, swords drawn and bows ready to strike!

The air was so heavy it seemed you could wring water out of it; a major battle was about to erupt.

"The war has really started!" Wang Ling leaned on the cold battlements, his fingertips turning white from the force, his voice dry and trembling.

He was still deducing the battle situation in the coming months in the afternoon, but who would have thought that the opening of the decisive battle would be so sudden and so intense - the very first scene was the earth-shattering confrontation between the national poem and ten thousand wolves!
"Talent transforms into a beast!"

A scholar excitedly pointed to the pillar of literary energy that pierced through heaven and earth, within which magnificent images such as "leading a yellow dog on the left and holding a falcon on the right" and "a thousand horsemen sweeping across the plains" flowed endlessly. Every word in the poem seemed to contain the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, causing the stars in the sky to flicker.

Even just standing on the city wall and feeling the lingering literary atmosphere, many low-level scholars felt their literary palaces shake and their talent surge. Many things that were difficult to understand in their past cultivation suddenly became clear!
This is the power of the national treasure poem—its very existence is a blessing and a gift to the surrounding scholars and practitioners of literature and morality.

At that moment, two figures arrived swiftly like fleeting shadows, landing lightly on the eaves of the city tower, their robes fluttering in the wind, exuding an extraordinary air.

It was Du Zining, a family of poets, and Zhang Xu, a family of calligraphers!

At this moment, the two descendants of the saints had long lost their usual composure. Their faces were filled with unprecedented shock and excitement, their eyes burning as they locked onto the celestial energy piercing through the city and the figure in a blue robe at the source of the pillar of light.

"The words have become a national treasure, and have even inspired the brilliance of the Big Dipper... This is already close to the prototype of 'spreading throughout the world'!" Du Zining's voice trembled slightly.

He had been immersed in poetry since childhood and was extremely perceptive—the heroic spirit and righteousness contained in the line "An old man, in a moment of youthful exuberance," intertwined with the chilling killing intent in "A thousand horsemen sweep across the plains," forming a unique "realm of artistic conception" that enveloped the entire battlefield.

He felt his poetic heart tremble and resonate with it!
Zhang Xu's fingertips trembled slightly with excitement. What he observed was even more profound: "It's not just about the artistic conception! Look at the literary spirit manifesting itself—'Left leading a yellow dog, right holding a falcon'—the imagery is solid and unwavering, the momentum of 'a thousand riders' and the murderous aura of the iron cavalry are perfectly integrated, and the entire poem actually brings the killing intent of heaven and earth into reality... This is not a simple amplification, but a perfect fusion of the 'spirit' of poetry and the 'form' of the battlefield, transforming it into a rule-level literary combat tactic!"

He took a deep breath and sighed, "Jiang Xingzhou's mastery of literature and literary spirit has truly reached a state of perfection!"

For these exceptional talents, born into a family of semi-saints and possessing lofty vision, witnessing the birth of a national treasure poem, especially a piece of poetry so perfectly suited to the battlefield and so vividly expressing the spirit of literature and warfare, brought them far greater inspiration and enlightenment than ten years of arduous study!
This is not only a shock to the level of power, but also a subversion of the concepts and methods of applying the Way of Literature!
"If I can calmly and thoroughly understand the true meaning of this poem, my 'poetic heart' will surely reach a higher level!"

Du Zining spoke softly, a glimmer of understanding appearing in his eyes.

"Perhaps I can glean a more powerful and incisive meaning from my cursive script!"

Zhang Xu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if he could already see the ink and brushstrokes as sharp knives.

The battle raged on beneath the city walls.

But in the eyes of all the scholars, especially geniuses like Du Zining and Zhang Xu, the balance of power had already shifted the moment Jiang Xingzhou's poem became a national treasure.

A single poem that can govern the nation is worth a thousand troops!
A single poem that can govern the nation is enough to stabilize the world!
At this moment, tens of thousands of people held their breath, all waiting for the earth-shattering "second half" to come!
(End of this chapter)