Chapter 23: We who are still living must settle this debt for them

In the autumn of the thirteenth year of Yuankang of the Great Qin, the half-year-long Qin-Yan War came to a brief end.

The Great Qin fought on two fronts; in the northwest, they captured five consecutive cities and reclaimed three hundred miles of lost territory.

Meanwhile, the Yan State's Western Pacification Army, led by their young commander Ouyang Xu, captured Fengtian County in the Qin State and stood in a river-divided standoff with the Red Scale Army.

Both sides suffered victories and defeats in turn, and each ceased hostilities.

In the Imperial City, Emperor Yuankang of Qin offered sacrifices to heaven using the territory of the five cities to appease the ancestors of Great Qin. Simultaneously, he issued a general amnesty across the land and bestowed heavy rewards upon meritorious military officers.

In the twelve northwest guards, three generals and fifteen captains were honored.

Zhou Chang, the Commandant of the Feathered Forest Guards, was promoted three ranks and entered the Ministry of War as a Fourth-Rank Vice Minister.

Among the rewards, there was nothing for the hundred thousand Red Scale soldiers who had fought bitterly on both the northwest and western fronts, nothing for the three thousand soldiers who fought to the death in Fengtian County, and no posthumous honors for those like Yu Lin who had fallen in the siege of Fengtian.

Although the Yan State lost five cities and tens of thousands of troops, their capture of one city on the western front was considered a way to salvage their dignity.

By imperial decree, the commander of the Yan State's Western Pacification Army, Ouyang Shu, was personally rewarded with a precious sword and ten thousand taels of gold, and was enfeoffed as a Second-Rank Grand General of Western Pacification and the Marquis of Western Pacification.

***

Luyang Prefecture, a roadside pavilion outside the city.

Zhang Yuan, dressed in the black uniform of a Martial Guard, cupped his hands toward the people before him.

It had been a month and a half since the battle for Fengtian County ended.

A young man in moon-white scholar's robes let out a low sigh as he looked at Zhang Yuan. "Everyone has their own ambitions. It is fine if you do not come to the Imperial City with me."

"If you wish to go in the future, come find me directly at the Imperial City Academy."

He paused, then said softly, "The Red Scale Army has collectively renounced their rewards in exchange for a general amnesty. This provides some closure for the soldiers and civilians who held Fengtian County to the death. The Teacher has done all he could."

The "Teacher" he referred to was Zhou Chang, the only Commandant to be promoted three ranks during this Qin-Yan War.

A civil official leading a military post, he had entered the Ministry of War after a single battle.

Outsiders did not know that had it not been for the loss of the three thousand soldiers in Fengtian County—a flaw in Zhou Chang's strategic layout that prevented total victory—Zhou Chang should have stepped directly into the position of Minister of War.

That was a high official of the Six Ministries, a Third-Rank dignitary.

Beside them, Bai Shaoting had a complex expression, his gaze resting on Zhang Yuan.

"Rest assured, the Red Scale Army will take care of the families of the brothers who died in Yu Lin's unit."

"For other soldiers who died due to the Red Scale Army's mobilization, we will provide full compensation."

The hundred thousand Red Scale soldiers gave up their rewards, and Zhou Chang accepted a one-rank demotion in his honors, all to secure a general amnesty.

With this amnesty, although the three thousand defenders of Fengtian County had technically violated military orders by holding out for three months, the surviving soldiers would not face military law.

With this amnesty, Yu Lin, the Commander of the Red Scale Army, would not bear the infamy of disobeying orders.

A nation has its laws, and an army has its regulations; he knew that both Zhou Chang and the Red Scale Army had done their utmost.

That Yu Lin and the three thousand defenders were not held accountable was already the greatest dignity they could receive.

The Emperor's use of the amnesty to preserve the dignity of the three thousand defenders was the ultimate act of leniency.

Even so, the pensions for the fallen soldiers could only be raised by the Red Scale Army itself.

As for the military merits promised when the soldiers were first mobilized, those could no longer be fulfilled.

In other words, the dense writing on Young Master Tao's piece of linen had become nothing more than empty words.

It was for this reason that Zhang Yuan had refused Han Xiao's invitation to go to the Imperial City, and had also refused Bai Yu's invitation to join the Red Scale Army.

He was going back to Luyang Prefecture.

Those names on that piece of linen required an accounting.

Zhang Yuan nodded and cupped his fists. "Take care, everyone."

As Zhang Yuan walked out of the pavilion, Duan Hong, standing nearby, handed him a bundle and a long saber wrapped in linen. "Zhang Yuan, I entrust the brothers of my Qingshan Village to your care."

This made Zhang Yuan grin.

He pointed to his black uniform and took the saber and bundle. "You're asking a mere black-clad Martial Guard to look after a bunch of bandits? Are you trying to gift me merit or what?"

Despite the words, he and Duan Hong shared a smile.

Zhang Yuan naturally would not ignore Duan Hong's request.

Duan Hong had decent cultivation and had caught Han Xiao's eye; he would first serve as a guard and accompany him to the Imperial City.

Han Xiao came from a great family in the Imperial City and was a disciple of Zhou Chang, a student of the Imperial City Academy. By following him, Duan Hong would surely have a future.

After the three months of bloody fighting in Fengtian County, Duan Hong had no desire to return to being a bandit.

Carrying the bundle and the long saber, Zhang Yuan strode toward the city of Luyang.

Behind him, at the pavilion, Han Xiao and the others watched his retreating figure with complex expressions.

"A half-step Xiantian at sixteen... even in the Imperial City, this fellow would be a prodigy," Han Xiao whispered softly, his clasped hands tightening.

"To strike down cavalry on foot, one man and one saber breaking twenty riders... if he could join my Red Scale Army, he would surely have a place..."

***

Luyang Prefecture, Ding Family Alley in the West City.

The setting sun was like gold, spilling over the mottled streets and alleys, where fallen leaves lay thick and moved with the wind.

Returning after three months, Zhang Yuan felt an immense sense of familiarity with every blade of grass and every tree.

The carvings on the walls, the broken stone slabs at the street corner, the rafters protruding from the eaves on the left, and the old tree by the window on the right...

"Zhang Erhezi? You... you're... you're back?" A woman carrying a winnowing basket stepped out and widened her eyes upon seeing Zhang Yuan.

"Erhezi? I thought you died in... It's good, it's good you're back! Come to my house for a drink tonight—" A bearded man started to speak, but was pulled back by a hand reaching out from behind.

In the alleys, many households poked their heads out to look.

"Erhe, it's good you're back."

"Brother Erhe, there are bad people in your house."

Several children, aged eleven or twelve, playing with wooden spears and clubs, gathered around. As they spoke, their eyes drifted to the war saber wrapped in linen in Zhang Yuan's hand and the black-sheathed saber at his waist.

One look told them these were the real deal.

Most families in Ding Family Alley were Martial Guard households; children were no strangers to weapons from a young age, and most would grow up to take over their fathers' or brothers' military posts.

In Great Qin, the Martial Guard profession was passed from father to son.

Hearing that there were bad people in his house, Zhang Yuan looked toward the small courtyard at the end of the alley.

Though the courtyard was small, it was the ancestral property of the Zhang family.

Had he been away so long that some rogue refugees had occupied his home?

No.

Most families in Ding Family Alley were Martial Guard families; ordinary people could not occupy houses here.

With a hint of coldness in his eyes, Zhang Yuan advanced with his saber.

The children followed curiously behind him.

Reaching the familiar entrance, Zhang Yuan pressed his long saber against the door and gave it a gentle push. The door swung open.

The scene within the courtyard caused him to freeze momentarily.

Drying clothes, scattered children, reclining figures, and laid-out medicinal herbs...

"Master... Master Zhang!"

By the door, a middle-aged man holding a wooden club looked at Zhang Yuan, his face filled with excitement.

Zhang Yuan remembered this man; he had carried his old mother out of the city during the breakout in Fengtian County.

"Master Zhang is still alive!"

"Master Zhang is back!"

Figures rushed toward him from within the courtyard.

Some danced with joy, while others kowtowed to him.

These people were all civilians who had escaped from Fengtian County.

By the side room, Young Master Tao, leaning against a wall, looked at Zhang Yuan, laughing and crying simultaneously before breaking into a fit of violent coughing.

Hu Chunniu, a man with one arm, walked out of a room carrying a basket of medicinal herbs. He was cursing under his breath, but as he saw Zhang Yuan, his eyes reddened.

"It's good to be alive... it's so good to be alive..."

Zhang Yuan walked over, reached out to squeeze Hu Chunniu's empty right arm, then turned and sat down before the side room.

"Young Master Tao, in our battalion, how many are still alive?"

Young Master Tao covered his mouth and nose, coughing several times. Once the redness in his face subsided, he nodded. "I don't know if Captain Duan is still around, but of the hundred men in this battalion, including you and me, fewer than ten are left alive."

He pulled a piece of linen stained with black blood from his robe and slowly unfurled it, his hands trembling slightly.

"I heard the Imperial Decree."

"The desperate fight in Fengtian County was deemed without merit; none of the military achievements will be counted."

"To die was to die for nothing."

His hand brushed over name after name until he reached the end of the roll, where Zhang Yuan's name was written.

A line of words had been scribbled in messy charcoal

"Zhang Yuan, of Ding Family Alley, Luyang Prefecture. Born of the Martial Guard. Accumulated twenty-three levels of merit. Wishes to exchange military merit for an opportunity for martial arts cultivation."

A smile appeared on Young Master Tao's face as he looked at the text on the linen. "A pity, it seems you won't be able to exchange for that opportunity for cultivation after all."

Zhang Yuan leaned against the doorframe, watching the remaining sunlight spill into the courtyard.

"If it can't be exchanged, then so be it."

"As long as we are alive."

He reached out and gently rolled up the linen, his gaze falling upon the names.

"Zheng Jinwu, of Guangyuan County, Luyang Prefecture. Three years in the army, three levels of merit. Wishes to exchange for an ox for his family."

"Wang Mao, of Daping Township, Fengtian County, Luyang Prefecture. Six years in the army, eight levels of merit. Wishes to exchange for silver to build a courtyard for his family."

"Xu Huanshan, Chen Youde, Chen Wuxiong..."

Zhang Yuan pressed his palm against these names, a solemn expression crossing his face.

"My brothers' military merits were earned with their lives."

"We who are still alive must help them settle this account."