sjar Chapter 1085 The King of Liang Kneels to Repay the People
Chapter 1085 The King of Liang Kneels to Repay the People
On the winding journey home, the army's advance gradually drew near to Wuwei. Ma Chao, riding his tall horse, felt as if weighed down by an invisible weight, his mood growing increasingly somber. This oppression was ever-present, spreading and accumulating within him. With each step forward, the faces and voices of his fallen soldiers, vanished in the flames of war on the grasslands, appeared vividly before his eyes. Their flowing blood seemed to transform into an invisible river, surging along this road home, constantly tugging at Ma Chao's heart, making it impossible for him to forget the hardships and sacrifices of that journey.
At this moment, Wuwei City was ablaze with the joyous news of Ma Chao's triumphant army's return. The entire city seemed to be infused with boundless vitality, presenting a magnificent and awe-inspiring scene. The generals who remained to guard Xiliang, dressed in crisp and solemn military uniforms, gathered here in orderly ranks. Their expressions were solemn, but their eyes were filled with reverence for Ma Chao and a surge of pride in this victory.
Furthermore, King Cheliji of the Western Qiang personally led the forces of various Western Qiang tribes, while Pang Rou, the Protector-General of the Eastern Qiang, also brought the leaders of various Eastern Qiang tribes. Their tribal banners fluttered in the wind, each unique in its own way, and they lined both sides of the road, carrying gifts brimming with sincerity. These leaders from different tribes held in their eyes both admiration for Ma Chao's illustrious military achievements and anticipation for close cooperation with Xiliang in the future.
Inside Wuwei City, the streets were adorned with a brand-new look. Colorful lanterns hung high, and vibrant flags fluttered in the wind. Citizens poured out, crowds thronging the streets and alleys. Everyone waved beautiful flowers, and cheers rose and fell like waves, mingling with the resounding beat of drums and gongs, reaching the heavens. Children chased and laughed among the throng, their innocent laughter adding to the joyous atmosphere. Adults wore genuine smiles, their eyes sparkling with joy and anticipation, as if welcoming a savior of the people. The entire city of Wuwei was immersed in an atmosphere both joyful and solemn, like a grand and sacred celebration, specially prepared to welcome this triumphant hero and his valiant soldiers.
As everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the legendary, peerless war god, the beloved King Liang, and his valiant cavalry that had struck fear into the hearts of their enemies, the scene before them shocked everyone.
What they saw was not the triumphant army they had imagined, but a somewhat dilapidated and desolate force. The soldiers' armor was tattered and worn, bearing the marks of time and war, with some sections revealing the blood-stained lining beneath. The cracks and holes seemed to silently tell the story of the brutal fighting on the battlefield.
Looking at their faces, their eyes were filled with a numbness born from years of killing, marks left by witnessing countless deaths and experiencing endless bloodshed. Their faces were etched with the marks of time, their skin roughened and cracked by the winds and sun of the frontier, each wrinkle like a ravine carved into the Loess Plateau, recording the hardships and tribulations of their journey.
Nevertheless, these soldiers remained upright, their steps weary yet resolute. The unwavering spirit they exuded, forged in the crucible of war, contrasted sharply with their slightly disheveled appearance, stirring a complex mix of heartache and admiration in everyone present.
As Ma Dai, Cheliji, Pang Rou, and others saw Ma Chao's party approaching, they immediately led their troops forward to meet them. Before they even reached Ma Chao, Ma Dai hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down heavily with a thud, and shouted in a passionate and respectful voice, "Welcome back in triumph, King of Liang!"
Beside him stood Cheliji, the King of the Western Qiang, Ma Chao's sworn brother, his eyes filled with admiration and praise for Ma Chao. At this moment, he unhesitatingly bowed in a deep kneeling ceremony, displaying his profound respect for Ma Chao with such solemnity. The King of the Western Qiang was usually aloof and superior in his own territory, but Ma Chao's illustrious military achievements and heroic spirit compelled him to willingly perform this grand gesture.
As the two leaders made their move, the people behind them knelt down in a tidal wave. In an instant, the streets were filled with people prostrate on the ground, and shouts of "Welcome back the King of Liang in triumph!" rose and fell, echoing for a long time in the sky above Wuwei City. These shouts were filled with the people's admiration for Ma Chao's military achievements, their earnest expectations for the future of Xiliang, and, more importantly, their heartfelt love for this hero.
Seeing this scene, Ma Chao was filled with mixed emotions. Without hesitation, he dismounted. In an instant, the Xiliang cavalry behind him followed suit, sliding and dismounting in unison. Ma Chao's gaze slowly swept over the cheering generals and civilians before him. Their cheers were deafening, but Ma Chao felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
The people cheered and peered eagerly at the column of soldiers, their eyes filled with a searching longing, trying to spot their fathers, brothers, or sons among the weary troops. Seeing this, Ma Chao felt a surge of pent-up grief, guilt, and other complex emotions erupt like a flood bursting its banks. He knelt heavily on the ground with a thud, kicking up a few specks of dust.
Seeing this, the generals behind him, though bewildered, did not hesitate when they saw their king kneeling. They too immediately knelt down with a series of thuds. For a moment, the scene was deeply moving: those who had come to welcome Ma Chao's return knelt respectfully to pay their respects to the King of Liang; and these valiant generals, who had survived countless battles and near-death experiences, also knelt before those who had come to greet them.
Upon seeing this scene, Ma Dai, Cheliji, and Pang Rou were all instantly stunned, their eyes filled with shock and bewilderment, as if time had frozen at that moment. The three of them seemed to have had their souls ripped out, and only after a moment did they snap out of their daze, rushing forward anxiously, their arms outstretched, wanting only to help Ma Chao up as quickly as possible.
The people who had come to greet them were equally astonished. Their previously surging cheers were abruptly silenced, as if gripped by an invisible hand. The entire scene fell silent in an instant, with only the rapid, heavy breathing of the crowd, as if silently expressing their shock and bewilderment.
Ma Chao, his face filled with grief, gently yet resolutely helped Ma Dai, Cheliji, and the others to the side. He slowly turned to face the familiar yet unfamiliar faces before him, his eyes already brimming with tears, reddened with guilt and self-reproach. His lips trembled slightly, his voice trembling with barely suppressed sorrow as he spoke, each word distinct: "My fellow countrymen, it is I, Ma Chao, who have wronged you all! I led your dearest loved ones, those who embarked on this journey with me: my father, the pillar of our families; my elder brothers, who protected our siblings; my comrades-in-arms; and my sons, on whom our families placed their hopes! Yet now, I, Ma Chao, can only return with so few men. Countless other brothers lie forever asleep on that distant, cold grassland..."
At this point, Ma Chao could no longer suppress the overwhelming grief and guilt in his heart. Without hesitation, he kowtowed three times to the crowd. Each thud of his head hitting the ground sounded like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of everyone present, dull yet powerful. The moment his forehead touched the ground, dust rose slightly, as if mourning this scene in its grief.
This scene, like a sharp knife, pierced straight into the hearts of the people who had come to greet him. In an instant, the people could no longer suppress the emotions that welled up within them, and tears streamed down their faces. They rushed forward without hesitation, crowding around him like a tide, countless hands, filled with tears and deep affection, reaching out urgently to Ma Chao, wanting to help him up. Amidst the crowd, shouts mingled together, like a mournful song filled with understanding, gratitude, and respect, echoing long over Wuwei City: "Your Majesty, we don't blame you!" "Your Majesty, if it weren't for your courageous act, Xiliang would probably have been ravaged and ruined by those ferocious barbarians from the grasslands!" "Only you, Your Majesty, only you could lead us and give us this hard-won peaceful life! Although they have left us forever, they sacrificed themselves to protect us, and we are proud of them!" The voices of the people, some hoarse, some choked with sobs, some resolute, were all filled with deep understanding and gratitude for Ma Chao. The sincere emotions contained in their voices flowed like a warm current through everyone's hearts.
Amidst the cheers and shouts of the crowd, Ma Chao slowly rose. His expression was solemn, his gaze filled with deep emotion as he looked at his fellow villagers. His voice was slightly hoarse, yet carried a power that pierced the hearts of all. He said, “My fellow villagers, you are right! It is because of those brave and fearless brothers that we enjoy this peace.” Ma Chao coughed lightly twice to compose himself, then continued with impassioned fervor, “In this battle, we not only avenged the blood feud of the Xianbei invasion of our Western Liang, but we also swept through the land, directly attacking the Xianbei royal court, Ordos! On that battlefield, we fought valiantly, slaughtering nearly a million Xianbei. From this day forward, the name Xianbei will forever remain history, utterly exterminated!”
Upon hearing this, the crowd was initially stunned, then erupted in cheers tinged with tears. The cheers contained the exhilaration of the enemy's annihilation, the remembrance of the fallen soldiers, and the relief of the hard-won peace.
Ma Chao paused slightly, his eyes flashing with determination and tenderness. He raised his hand and pointed to the ranks behind him, saying, "These are your families! Some were lucky enough to come back alive, while others perished on the grasslands forever... But no matter what, I have brought them back."
Having said this, the crowd could no longer contain their excitement and surged towards the ranks like a tidal wave. Those whose families had returned alive rushed forward to embrace their brothers and sisters who had survived the ordeal, tears of joy streaming down their faces, as if pouring out all the worries and longing of the past two years. Those facing the ashes of their loved ones, clutching the urns containing the ashes, burst into tears, their sobs filled with grief and sorrow. At this moment, both joy and grief were an outpouring of emotions that had been suppressed for so long. The entire scene was a mingling of laughter and tears, permeated with deep familial love and mourning for the deceased, echoing for a long time in the skies above Wuwei City, telling the story of the cruelty of the war and the hard-won victory.