Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 145 Zhongyuan
July 14
Deep in the Lüliang Mountains, the branches of towering ancient trees droop, and droplets of water condense and drip from time to time, hitting the thick layer of decaying leaves with a soft "tap...tap..." sound that is particularly clear in this deathly silence, like the urging of a night watchman.

Zhao Yun sat cross-legged on a giant rock covered in moss, as if he had become one with the cold mountain stone.

The air around him seemed a few degrees colder than elsewhere.

On his lap, the three specially made eagle-feathered arrows were placed side by side. The dark blue arrowheads no longer shimmered in the dim light of the day. Instead, they seemed to have absorbed all the light around them, presenting a dark blue color that was unsettling and deep like a pool.

With utmost focus and steadiness, he used a piece of soft deerskin soaked in oil to wipe the arrow shaft one last time.

The movements were slow and precise; each wipe removed a tiny speck of dust, leaving the arrow shaft smooth as a mirror and ensuring it would not deviate in the slightest during flight.

The deerskin rubbed against the arrow shaft, producing a very faint hissing sound.

Beside him, nine men stood like nine petrified statues, frozen in their respective poses.

"Iron Hand" knelt on the ground, his calloused fingers polishing the edge of the trigger of a fine steel crossbow with the finest whetstone with astonishing precision.

Each time the whetstone scrapes across the steel, it only produces a tiny, almost invisible spark, emitting a faint "shush" sound like a mosquito buzzing.

His eyes were vacant, as if all his consciousness was focused on that small piece of metal.

"Hawk" leaned against an ancient pine tree, closed his eyes, and made rapid and silent gestures with his hands in front of him in an empty space—that was the whole process of cocking the crossbow, aiming, and firing.

His breathing was long and weak, his chest barely rising and falling, like a hibernating venomous snake.

Others either repeatedly pressed the bowstring to test its resilience, silently counted the arrows in the leather bag, or felt the sharpness of the short blade with their fingertips.

There was no conversation, no eye contact, only a suppressed killing intent, like lava surging deep within the earth's crust before a volcanic eruption, silently permeating the air.

The smells of sweat, leather, cold metallic tang, and a faint, heavy fat blend together to create a unique scent that belongs to assassins.

Even the usual chirping of insects and birds in the forest had completely disappeared, as if everything was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable moment of bloodshed.

"The grand ceremony is tomorrow; it's time to send them on their way!"

As soon as the deerskin left his hand, Zhao Yun stood up, followed by nine men.

"promise!"

July 15th.

Ten miles west of Jinyang City is the Earth God Temple.

As dawn broke and a thin mist hung in the air, the solemn temple was shrouded in a mystical, ethereal atmosphere.

The spacious altar in front of the shrine had been swept clean and spotless, and a brand new green mat had been laid out.

Inside the enormous bronze cauldron, fine sandalwood was already burning, and wisps of smoke rose straight up like pillars, slowly spreading in the windless morning air, emitting a solemn, peaceful, and even slightly melancholic fragrance.

This is "incense," a medium that connects directly to heaven.

The ancestral priests and ritual officials, dressed in black ceremonial robes, stood solemnly, their steps steady and light, as if following a specific rhythm, silently arranging the final offerings. Whole pigs, whole sheep, and fat cow heads were placed on a lacquered table covered with red silk, symbolizing the highest level of "Tai Lao" (a sacrificial offering).

Various seasonal fruits, newly harvested grains, and jars of unopened Jinyang wine were neatly arranged around the perimeter.

Banners embroidered with cloud patterns and auspicious beasts hung quietly in the rising sun.

The air was thick with the aroma of incense, the faint scent of blood from sacrificial offerings, and the fresh scent of earth and grass, all blending together to create a sacred and solemn atmosphere. Occasionally, the crisp sound of ritual objects clinking together or the indistinct syllables of the priest chanting the prelude to the sacrificial text further accentuated the silence around the altar.

The armored guards were already standing at their designated positions, like pine trees clad in iron armor, their long halberds forming a forest, reflecting a cold, hard luster in the morning light. Their eyes were alert, but in this solemn atmosphere, they appeared even more serious.

Everything is ready, and all that remains is for the auspicious hour to arrive so that the prefect can come and begin this grand Ghost Festival ceremony, which is meant to communicate with heaven and earth, comfort the souls of the dead, and pray for forgiveness.

9:00 AM (巳时正刻).

The sunlight had dispelled the thin mist, bathing the altar in a golden glow, and the rising smoke made it appear even more sacred. The high-pitched, drawn-out chanting of the officiant broke the silence.

"It's exactly 9:00 AM! We respectfully welcome the Prefect and will perform the sacrificial ceremony!"

Surrounded by Wang Ze's three hundred elite troops, the black-canopied chariot slowly drove into the open ground, its wheels rolling over the yellow earth with a dull thud.

The guards, clad in their armor, marched in perfect unison, resembling a mobile steel fortress, displaying the majesty of the prefect.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Wang Ze, dressed in a magnificent purple sacrificial robe and wearing a dazzling gilded crown, stepped gracefully onto the carriage steps with the help of his attendants. He raised his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the standing officials of rites, the swirling incense smoke, and the abundant sacrificial offerings, his face bearing a hint of the composure of someone in control and the solemnity of someone in a high position presiding over a grand ceremony.

The purple robe and golden crown gleamed in the sunlight.

Captain Chen rode his tall horse close to the carriage, his sharp gaze sweeping over the quiet grove one last time, the unease in his heart slightly suppressed by the solemn sense of ceremony.

Just as Wang Ze's foot was about to touch the ground, and the attendant bowed to step back, Chen Xiaowei's gaze shifted slightly at the last possible moment due to Wang Ze's movement—

"call out--!"

A piercing shriek, like tearing silk, burst forth from the dense foliage of the ancient locust trees on the east side! It precisely captured the moment when the coachman relaxed slightly while waiting, his neck exposed!

"Thud!" The dull thud of the arrow piercing flesh was clearly audible! The coachman's head snapped back as if struck by a heavy hammer, and blood mixed with brain matter gushed out from the holes in his forehead and back of his head, staining the ornate black carriage shaft red! He didn't even have time to groan before he collapsed limply, the reins slipping limply from his hands.

The horse pulling the cart was startled, let out a long neigh, and paved its hooves restlessly!
"Assassins! Protect the Emperor!!!"

Captain Chen's roar, like that of a wounded beast, instantly shattered the solemnity of the altar!

All peace and tranquility were shattered! The guards' formation suddenly froze, then erupted into chaos! The warhorses of the front cavalry reared up in fright, the shields of the armored soldiers in the middle clanged together with a loud clang, and the soldiers in the rear instinctively pushed forward!
"Whoosh whoosh-!"

From the bushes, several deadly bolts shot out almost simultaneously! At such close range, the power of the crossbow bolts was amplified to the extreme!
The target was the four bodyguards beside Wang Ze's carriage, who had been momentarily stunned by the coachman's sudden death and instinctively moved their shields away! Two of the bodyguards were hit in the face with arrows, their screams abruptly stopped, and they collapsed to the ground with a thud!

The other two crossbow bolts slammed into the heavy shields with a sickening "thud," and the tremendous impact made the armored soldiers holding the shields go numb!
"Over there! Kill them all!" Captain Chen's eyes were bloodshot, his blade pointing directly at the bushes from which the crossbow bolts were coming!
He saw figures move with his own eyes! Dozens of heavily armored infantrymen, like enraged rhinoceroses, roared and charged recklessly towards the bushes, raising their halberds! The heavy footsteps shattered the green mats and overturned the offerings! The incense-filled altar instantly transformed into a battlefield!
Just as all the guards' attention and anger were drawn to the bushes, and a fatal gap appeared in the core of Wang Ze's protective circle due to the fall of the Iron Guards and the compression of the formation—

"Wang Ze! You owe me the lives of 211 people!!!" A roar filled with deep-seated hatred, like a voice from the deepest hell, resounded from behind Captain Chen, deep in the dense forest that was considered the least likely place to launch a surprise attack!

Four figures, like vengeful spirits freed from their restraints, suddenly pounced out with a piercing shriek that tore through the air! The leader was none other than Zhao Yun!

He carried a powerful bow on his back, and in his hand, a stiff bow was already drawn back like a full moon! On the bowstring, a ghostly blue poisoned arrow that absorbed all light was locked onto the face behind the lifted carriage curtain, a face contorted with extreme horror, strikingly visible against the backdrop of purple robes and a golden crown!
The three men drew their bows and shot arrows, creating chaos as they rapidly emptied their quivers of arrows.

Zhao Yun's eyes were as cold as ice that had been frozen for millennia.

He poured all his emotions, all his anger, and all the snow and wind of the White River Valley into the arrow in his hand!
The momentum of the sprint, the strength of the arm drawing the bow, and the focus of the aim were perfectly combined! It was as if he was not shooting an arrow, but firing this shot together with the heroic spirits of all the brothers who died in the battle of White River Valley!
“Boom——!!!”

The snapping of the bowstring was like a thunderclap, drowning out all the noise!

That streak of blue light was faster than the human eye could perceive! It seemed to ignore the distance in space and the gaps in the shields that appeared futile due to the chaos.

With Zhao Yun's lifelong martial arts skills and deep-seated hatred, it was precisely and fiercely inserted into Wang Ze's mouth, which was instinctively wide open in fear!

"Uh... Guh..." Wang Ze's body felt as if it had been struck in the chest by an invisible giant hammer, and he leaned back violently!
His eyes widened instantly, filled with disbelief, horror, and a sudden surge of pain and numbness! A ghostly blue arrow emerged from the back of his neck, trailing a cloud of blood, gleaming with an eerie light!
He made an incomprehensible hoarse sound from his throat, and his hands futilely clawed at the air. His body, adorned in purple robes and a golden crown symbolizing the prefect's honor, seemed to have all its bones removed, and he collapsed limply inside the carriage that symbolized the pinnacle of his power, exuding a heavy stench of blood and despair!

Blood quickly soaked through the magnificent purple sacrificial robes, dripping down the gaps in the cart and onto the yellow earth in front of the altar, forming the most ironic sacrifice with the wisps of smoke rising from the ground.

"My lord—!!!" The moment Captain Chen turned around, he saw the poisoned arrow piercing through his neck! He let out a heart-wrenching howl, like a lone wolf grieving its loss! His voice was filled with despair, anger, and endless fear!
"The murderer! It is the bandit from Lüliang!"

"Retreat!" Zhao Yun shouted sharply, throwing the powerful bow behind him and drawing his ring-pommel sword from his waist with a backhand motion! His movements were fluid and decisive!

After creating chaos and successfully attracting a large number of guards, the three members of the "Iron Hands" group had already abandoned their crossbows and drawn their swords as planned. They formed a small three-person formation and withstood the wave of armored soldiers rushing towards them. Although everyone was injured, they successfully delayed the enemy for a moment. Upon hearing the order, they immediately dispersed and ran wildly into the depths of the dense forest without looking back!

The three crossbowmen from the "Hawk" group had already slid down from the tree and disappeared into the forest on the west side.

Without the slightest hesitation, the three men brought by Zhao Yun turned around and retreated at full speed along the armor line the moment Zhao Yun fired the fatal arrow!
Zhao Yun covered the rear! He brandished his ring-pommel sword, unleashing a dazzling flash of light that swept towards the closest armored soldiers like a whirlwind!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks flying! The sharp ring-pommel sword precisely parried the thrusting halberd, the blade slicing across the throats of two armored soldiers! Blood gushed out! Using the force of the recoil, he moved like lightning, shooting backward into the forest! The arrows fired by the guards only managed to embed themselves in the ground where he had just stood!

The entire process, from the driver's death to his escape, took no more than twenty breaths!
On the open ground, only the blood gushing from in front of Wang Ze's carriage remained. Captain Chen, clutching his shoulder, staggered and stared blankly at his lord's corpse and the chaotic scene.
At the same time, at 9:00 AM (巳时正刻).

Lüqi County.

Beside the massive foundation trenches of the new city wall, which is under intense construction, a simple altar made of rammed earth and paved with bluestone stands solemnly.

The altar is backed by a low, gray-white concrete wall (the first experimental section) that is beginning to take shape, and faces the rising sun in the east.

In the center of the altar, there is a "Tai Lao" (a type of sacrificial animal), symbolizing the highest level of worship.

The offerings were plentiful, including whole pigs, whole sheep, fat cow heads, as well as various grains, seasonal fruits, and newly brewed Taoyuan sake.

The air was thick with the smoke of incense, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Zhang Xian, dressed in a solemn dark robe and wearing a Jinxian hat, stood in the position of chief officiant.

Behind him, on his left were Chief Clerk Han Ji, Registrar Gu Yu, and the newly recruited Guo Jia; on his right were Xun Yu (a distinguished guest observing the ceremony) and the main officials of various departments of the Lüchi County government.

Further out, a dense crowd of Luqi people had spontaneously gathered, all with solemn expressions and silent.

The prisoners and captives who built the city were also allowed to stand at a distance to watch the ceremony.

The newly appointed Master of Ceremonies announced in a loud voice: "The auspicious hour has arrived! The Ghost Festival ceremony begins!"

The drumbeats resounded three times, deep and powerful, echoing through the sky, as if calling upon the spirit of heaven and earth.

Zhang Xian, with a solemn expression, slowly stepped forward, took three sticks of incense from the attendant, bowed deeply three times towards the east, and then solemnly inserted the incense into the huge bronze cauldron.

The wisps of smoke rose straight up, merging into the azure sky.

"In the sixth year of Guanghe of the Great Han Dynasty, the year of Guihai, the first day of the seventh month was Dingwei, and the fifteenth day of the month was Xinyou..." Zhang Xian's clear and steady voice rang out as he recited the sacrificial text drafted by Guyu and revised by Han Ji.

The eulogy first praised the virtues of Heaven and Earth, then reflected on the hardships of the people, expressed gratitude for the blessings of the ancestors, and finally, his voice suddenly rose, carrying a power that penetrated the heart.

"...Now we are in Luqi, a remote and desolate border region, which has suffered repeated turmoil. Fortunately, thanks to the protection of Heaven, the bravery of our soldiers, and the unity of the people, we have been able to catch our breath. However, maintaining our position is not easy! On the banks of the Baihe Valley, the loyal souls are still alive! Under the swords of the barbarian cavalry, the wronged spirits still weep!"

"I, Zhang Xian, the General of the Xiongnu, on this day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the day when the Earth God pardons sins, respectfully offer this simple feast and solemnly announce to Heaven and Earth, and to all the gods of the four directions, that I may comfort the spirits of the fallen soldiers and the suffering people!"

Zhang Xian's voice was filled with sincere grief and remembrance.

"You sacrificed your lives for the cause, your blood staining the battlefield, some dying at the hands of the barbarians, others perishing at the hands of villains! This hatred and resentment are etched into our hearts! This kindness and righteousness will never be forgotten!"

He paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and his voice became firm and committed.

"Today, I lead the soldiers and civilians of Lüsi to erect this altar and lay the foundation for this new city! This city is not for the honor or disgrace of one person, but for the livelihood of all people!"

For the blood feud of the dead to be avenged! For the peace and prosperity of the living!

I hereby swear: I will care for the parents, wives, and children of all my fallen soldiers in Luqi until their deaths! All the people of Luqi will be provided for—the elderly will have a place to end their days, the able-bodied will be employed, the young will be nurtured, and the widowed, orphaned, lonely, and disabled will be cared for! This oath will not be broken until this city falls!

"O soul, return! Protect my soul! O soul, return! I bear witness to this oath!"

Zhang Xian's voice, like a resounding bell, echoed across the empty construction site and the nascent city walls, carrying a powerful and awe-inspiring force.

He bowed deeply three times.

"O soul, return! Protect my soul! O soul, return! I bear witness to this oath!"

Han Ji, Gu Yu, Guo Jia, and all the officials and common people shouted in unison, their voices rising like a tidal wave and soaring to the heavens! Many people were already in tears.

(End of this chapter)