sjar Chapter 859: Exceptional Title and Swordsmanship
Chapter 859: Exceptional Title and Swordsmanship
The cheers surged like a raging tide, taking a full quarter of an hour to subside. Ma Chao raised his hand, and the sleeve of his dark royal robe slipped down, revealing a bloodstained band wrapped around his wrist—a token torn from a personal guard killed during the Chang'an Rebellion. He turned and pointed across the platform. There, a massive figure, wrapped in layers of white cloth, towered ten feet tall, casting a sinister shadow in the sunlight.
"Look at that!" Ma Chao shouted, his voice like tearing silk. At his command, a hundred soldiers simultaneously pulled on ropes, and a huge white sheet of cloth poured down like a flowing cloud. A white marble stele suddenly appeared, its surface reflecting the skylight, a cold white. A dense mass of names was engraved from bottom to top, reaching into the sky.
"During the conquest of Jiangdong and the rebellion in Chang'an..." Ma Chao slowly walked to the front of the stele, pointing his finger at the two names at the top - "Pan Feng" and "Wu Anguo". The surface of the stele still bore the marks of the craftsmen's polishing. "These brothers are heroes who shed their last drop of blood for me, Ma Chao!" His voice suddenly choked as he looked at the stele. Next to "Zhang Dun" and "Jiang Jiong" were small words describing the achievements of these generals during their lifetime; the names of the personal guards were lined up in a row, and below each name was the place where they died in battle - Hulao Pass, the shores of Chaohu Lake, the foothills of Qilian Mountains... Those words filled with cinnabar looked like wet blood.
"I, Ma Chao, made a vow in my early years!" He suddenly drew out his sword, and a cold light flashed across the stele. "No matter where the soldiers die in battle, I will take the token and bury it in Xiliang!" As he spoke, he pulled out a cloth bag from his bosom and poured out dozens of broken arrows, wrist guards, and half a jade pendant, which jingled and scattered in front of the stele. "I have never forgotten this all these years!"
A thunderous roar erupted from the audience, the sound of armor clashing and spears pounding the ground shaking the stone tablet. Dian Wei's eyes welled with tears as he pounded his halberds against the ground. Li Tong gazed at Zhang Dun's name and reached out to touch it with a trembling hand. The newly enlisted young soldiers gripped their swords tightly, their eyes ablaze with enthusiasm.
"Die for the King of Liang!" Shouts soared to the heavens, startling the bronze bells atop the city walls. Ma Chao stood before the stele, its carved monument bearing the memory of a loyal soul behind him, and before him, the countless men willing to die for him. His dark royal robe rustled, as if surging with the world.
Ma Chao strode back onto the platform, his dark royal robe billowing like a dragon in the rustling wind. Four personal guards stepped forward, unfurling a gilded scroll over a meter long. The fine, vermilion-colored calligraphy shone like blood in the sunlight. As the nine-colored tassels dangling from the scroll's end swept across the white marble steps, a resounding shout pierced the air: "Prince Liang rewards meritorious service, and all generals await your appointment!"
Chang'an's Suzaku Street instantly fell silent, the only sound being the rustling of armor and the fluttering of banners. Drums and gongs roared, and thirty thousand armored soldiers fixed their gazes on the platform. Ma Chao stood with his sword drawn, his black dragon-patterned cloak rustling in the wind. Four personal guards held scrolls, and six stepped forward. The leader took a deep breath and said in a booming voice, "Please bring in Li Ru!"
"Please come in, Li Ru!" The remaining five guards repeated in unison, their voices spreading out in waves.
A figure in a green shirt with wide sleeves pushed aside the banners and came out, the jade beads on his waist clashing against each other and making clear sounds: "Li Ru is here!"
"Planning strategies and winning battles thousands of miles away! Li Ru is now appointed as the General of the Central Army, the Chief of Military Affairs, and is granted the title of Marquis of Duting!"
Li Ru bowed and said: "Thank you, my lord!"
"Please come in, Xu Shu!"
"Please invite Xu Shu!" The echo shook the palace.
Xu Shu, dressed as a Confucian general, stepped forward with his sword in hand, his black robe fluttering as he exuded a chilling murderous intent: "Xu Shu is here!"
"He has come up with countless brilliant plans and has made every possible effort!" The guards shouted in unison, "He is specially appointed as the Military Advisor General, in charge of military and national strategies, in charge of all military affairs, and is granted the title of Marquis of Duting!"
Xu Shu clasped his fists and bowed, the wind from his fists stirring up dead leaves all over the ground: "I will definitely help my lord to rule the world!"
"Please come in, Lu Su!"
"Please come in, Lu Su!" A strong wind suddenly blew from the southeast, sweeping across the palace eaves, causing the bronze bells to tinkle. The guards' shouts were wrapped in warmth.
Lu Su stepped out quickly, his brocade robe and jade belt fluttering in the wind like flowing clouds: "Your Majesty, Lu Su, is here!"
&34;Reconcile internal and external affairs, manage people's livelihood! Confer the title of General Zhizhong, in charge of financial allocation, rituals, music and sacrifices, and grant the title of Marquis of Duting!&34;
When Lu Su bowed, the jade pendant on his waist resonated with the sound of the wind: "I will ensure that the granaries in Xiliang are well-stocked and live up to the trust of my lord!"
&34;Please come in, Zhang Xiu!&34;
"Please come in, Zhang Xiu!" The cold wind suddenly picked up, rustling the banners and making them rustle wildly, muffling the shouts of the guards.
Zhang Xiu stepped out of the line, the hem of his cloak sweeping across the blue bricks, stirring up tiny pieces of ice: "General Zhang Xiu is here!"
"Breaking through the enemy lines with unparalleled bravery! He was awarded the title of General Yangwu, commanded elite cavalry, and granted the title of Marquis of Guannei!"
Zhang Xiu knelt on one knee, the sound of armor clashing mixed with the whistling wind: "I am willing to be the vanguard and conquer the world!"
"Please invite Zhang Liao!"
"Please call in Zhang Liao!" The north wind, carrying icy particles, hit the palace, but the guards' voices as they repeated the words in unison became increasingly passionate.
The silver-armored general took a step forward, his goose-feather scabbard clashing with the wind and making a clear sound, his cloak puffing out behind him like hawk wings: "Zhang Liao is here!"
"Guarding the eastern front, it's impregnable! Appointed General Suppressing Bandits, in charge of pass defense and military preparations, and granted the title of Marquis of Duting!"
When Zhang Liao clasped his fists, a strong wind blew up his hair: "I swear on my life that I will not give up an inch of land!"
"Gan Ning, please!"
"Please come in, Gan Ning!" The west wind brought the moisture from the Wei River, and the guards' shouts were damp and heavy.
Gan Ning clasped his fists and stepped out, saying, "General Gan Ning is here!"
"Prepare for the Southern Expedition and train the land and sea forces! Appoint him General of Suppressing Bandits, supervise the construction of warships, organize and train elite troops, and grant him the title of Marquis of Duting!"
As Gan Ning bowed, the leather belt around his waist crackled in the wind: "I will lead the navy straight to the south of the Yangtze River!"
随着一声声&34;请张任！&34;&34;请徐晃！&34;&34;请徐荣！&34;&34;请华雄！&34;……的呼喝，亲卫们如雷霆般的复诵声震得汉白玉阶微微发颤：&34;请张任！请徐晃！请徐荣！请华雄！&34;……整齐的声浪如重锤擂击宫阙。每道封赏诏令落下，台下便炸开山呼海啸般的欢呼，长枪顿地声、铁甲碰撞声与嘶吼交织，震得宫墙簌簌落尘，连檐角铜铃都在疯狂震颤。
The cheers grew louder and louder, nearly overturning the palace. As the final decree was delivered, Ma Chao raised his hand and pressed it lightly, his dark dragon-patterned cloak rustling in the wind. The tumultuous atmosphere suddenly quieted, and the generals' gazes fixed on the figure on the platform.
"Why don't I read it out myself?" Ma Chao's voice pierced the silence, "Because you are all standing here alive, allowing me to witness this glory and passion!" He looked around at the armor in the room, the hem of his black robe sweeping across the white marble steps, "But this is by no means the end - when the world is pacified, the position of marquis will be vacant!"
Amidst the thunderous sound of kneeling, thirty thousand soldiers knelt on one knee, their spears pointed slantingly at the sky: "Respect the order of the King of Liang!" Ma Chao, however, did not order them to rise, allowing the steely tide to solidify beneath the blood-red setting sun. He slowly walked to the desk and personally unrolled the gilded scroll stained with dark crimson. His deep voice was shrouded in the heat of molten lava.
"Pan Feng and Wu Anguo!" Ma Chao's fingertips stroked the first row of the scroll heavily, "During the Chang'an Rebellion, the two of you used your flesh and blood to block the arrows for me. If it weren't for their loyalty, I, Ma Chao, would have perished long ago! Today, Pan Feng is posthumously named Marquis Qingtian, and Wu Anguo is named Marquis Jiahai. Their sons Pan Hu and Wu Niu will inherit the titles and be enshrined in the Ma family ancestral temple!"
Before he finished speaking, the soldiers gasped. Ma Chao didn't pause, continuing, "Jiang Jiong! He's always at the vanguard in every battle, and his mind is as meticulous as a hair. That day, he fought Lü Bu alone outside the city, single-handedly defeating a thousand men, and he covered our retreat, staining the yellow sand with blood! Now he has been granted the title of Marquis of Zhenbei, and his son Jiang Wei will inherit the title, and he will be granted a fief of 3,000 households!"
"And Zhang Dun!" Ma Chao's voice suddenly choked, "He was not under my command, but he risked his life to open the Thousand Gold Gate in Chang'an City, sacrificing his life to buy me a way out! He will be posthumously named Marquis of Anxi, and his son will inherit the title when we find him!"
Finally, he unfolded the scroll, which had densely packed small characters at the end: "Of the forty personal guards who followed me into battle, I am the only one left when I return..." His Adam's apple rolled violently as Ma Chao held the scroll high, "Now all of you shall be posthumously conferred the title of Marquis, and be enshrined in the Xiliang Martyrs' Shrine, to enjoy eternal feasting!"
The entire place was as silent as a grave, the only sound being the clatter of armor clashing against armor. Ma Chao pressed the scroll to his chest, his gaze from beneath his bronze mask sweeping over the stunned generals: "Don't feel the reward is too high—without their lives protecting me, how could I be where I am today? How could Xiliang exist today?"
Ma Chao's eyes swept across the formation like a hawk, and suddenly he shouted in a voice as sharp as silk: "Dian Wei! Li Tong! Come forward and listen to the order!"
The sound of metal clashing suddenly arose, Dian Wei's tiger body shook, the double halberds on his waist collided with each other, making a clear sound, and he strode forward, shattering the setting sun on the ground; Li Tong's silver armor was stained with blood, and the old pattern that once belonged to the court was faintly visible under his black cloak, but at this moment he held his head high and stood shoulder to shoulder with Dian Wei.
"On the night of the Chang'an mutiny, arrows rained down and the rebels surged like tides!" Ma Chao strode to the stage, the hem of his black robe sweeping across the white marble steps inscribed with military exploits. "One of you wielded your halberds, cutting through the encirclement to protect me; the other one switched sides in the middle of the battle, risking his life to cover my retreat!" He suddenly drew his sword, pointing it toward the sky: "Dian Wei! Unstoppable in courage, roaring like a tiger over the mountains and rivers, you are now honored as Marquis of Tiger!"
"I will conquer the world for you, my lord!" Dian Wei knelt down and slammed his forehead against the ground with a sound like thunder.
"Li Tong!" Ma Chao stared at the brave general who had abandoned his former master and joined the army, "You ignored the threats of your former master and, just to repay my kindness, you switched sides in battle and bravely died. Your loyalty is witnessed by heaven and earth! I will now confer the title of Marquis of Yi, grant you a fief of 1,000 households, and command the elite vanguard camp!"
Li Tong's eyes were red, and he slammed his knee to the ground: "My lord, please don't abandon me. I am willing to use the rest of my life as a sharp blade to kill all the traitors in the world!"
The audience erupted in thunderous shouts: "Marquis Tiger! Marquis Righteous! Xiliang will win!" Spears were raised like a forest, and the iron armor shone a cold, bloody light in the setting sun. The bronze bells on the eaves of the Weiyang Palace vibrated wildly, as if to spread this passionate and heroic spirit to the entire world.
Xu Shu suddenly stepped out from the crowd, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, Prince of Liang! The sudden enfeoffment of so many marquises is contrary to the court's regulations. I'm afraid that in the future..."
"Hahaha!" Ma Chao laughed out loud, his black robe rising and falling violently with his laughter. The cold light of his sword swept across the astonished generals. "The late emperor was cruel. He passed away suddenly before he could avenge this blood feud! Those corrupt scholars' rules are nothing but waste paper in front of my Xiliang cavalry!" He took a sudden step forward, a chilling look emanating from him. "When the generals shed their blood for me, did they ever care about the laws of the court? Today I confer a title on you for your military achievements, and I want the world to know that the life of a Xiliang man is more important than the emperor's edict!"
Xu Shu was about to speak again when Ma Chao's hand slashed down like a knife: "So what if the new emperor hasn't ascended the throne yet? Once he sits on the throne, I will present today's reward list intact! If he admits it, he knows what's good for him; if he dares to reject it..." His voice stopped abruptly, and his sword was unsheathed half an inch. The cold light made the soldiers in the room hold their breath. "I will personally lead a hundred thousand cavalrymen and teach him that in this world, fists are the rule!"
In the dead silence, Xu Huang suddenly knelt down with a thud, sparks flying from the ground with his axe: "I am willing to follow my lord and conquer the world!" Immediately afterwards, 30,000 soldiers shouted at the same time: "Conquer the world! Conquer the world!" Ma Chao stood tall amid the roaring roar, his black robe rustling, as if he was a demon god about to tear the sky apart.