Chapter 170 – The Ceremony of Presenting Captives

Xu Chun hadn’t slept so soundly in a long time.

He was actually embarrassed to admit to Xie Yi that he had been shaken for days after seeing the gruesome sight of limbs flying on the battlefield for the first time. He would jump at every loud noise he heard, and it was difficult for him to swallow red meat, blood, and other similar foods. He couldn’t sleep well at night either, waking up frequently.

His servants—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—all noticed and worried. Winter Sea gave him calming pills, while Summer Tide and Autumn Lake quietly changed his diet to lighter fare.

He forbade them from spreading rumors, but he suspected that Sheng Changtian and Fang Zijing must have guessed what happened, since they all coincidentally sent him to the rear during later battles, responsible for support, logistics, and patrolling the seas to capture supply ships.

He wanted to say it wasn’t that serious, but he knew that someone had to handle logistics, and roles were different. As a newcomer with no personal valor, and not skilled in land warfare, he should have obeyed military orders. He didn’t want to argue with Marquis Wu Ying about these matters—moreover, maybe it was just a coincidence. After all, since Brother Nine didn’t want him to take risks, there might have been some private instructions given to Marquis Wu Ying. Since Brother Nine was already worried about him, he shouldn’t make things difficult for him in front of his subordinates.

It wasn’t until later when they suddenly encountered pirates at sea. At the time, he only acted on a surge of courage and returned to help, without thinking about the consequences. Although they eventually won in the narrow encounter, he often felt fear afterward. That day, bullets had pierced through the cabin walls and struck near him, and Japanese pirates had reached the command room he was in, before being killed by Pei Dongyan and Ding Hai working together.

It took the Everlasting vessel a long time to wash away the thick layer of blood and mud on the deck with seawater. Even after several days, he could still smell a faint trace of blood on his nose. He even thought that his hair and clothes were soaked in this rust-like bloody stench. However, they had to return to port, and fresh water was scarce on the ship; he couldn’t wash himself constantly.

He knew everyone was enduring it—the smell of blood, the rotting odor from somewhere unknown, the tasteless food, and the boring and empty life at sea. Surviving a brush with death was already blessed by the Empress of Heaven, who would complain about living uncomfortably?

His palpitations mysteriously disappeared, and his appetite was particularly good—he especially enjoyed eating meat.

But when he returned to the capital and to Xie Yi’s side, as soon as he entered that peaceful and beautiful courtyard and saw the lotus flowers in full bloom, he suddenly truly relaxed. Leaning against Xie Yi and smelling the familiar scent on him, he fell asleep in a daze. His dreams were no longer filled with those chaotic battlefields, people chasing him, sudden falls into the sea, and scarlet blood.

Instead, there was a quiet fragrance, a silk robe brushing against him. Brother Nine’s skin was still slightly cool, his waist and abdomen slim. He suddenly found his goal again and regained the courage to continue his journey. There were many things he hadn’t had the chance to do yet—his grand plans, his urgent desire to achieve something. But all that could wait until tomorrow. For now, he slept deeply and sweetly, feeling very satisfied.

When he was half-asleep in the early morning, he felt someone slowly wiping his face with a hot towel. Suddenly, he woke up, his hand first pressing down on the towel. Opening his eyes, he saw Xie Yi looking down at him. He was already wearing a crimson gauze robe and a Heavenly Crown, his attire splendid and his posture dignified.

For a moment, he was confused about where he was, only giving Xie Yi a silly smile. The corner of Xie Yi’s mouth curled slightly. “We need to attend the ceremony of presenting captives.”

They were going to be late! He suddenly sat up, but Xie Yi pressed his shoulders gently to calm him. “Don’t panic, we still have time. Change into your armor, and I’ll have Su Huai arrange a carriage to take you to the alley behind the Meridian Gate. You can find Fang Zijing and the others yourself once you get there and join your formation.”

The sky was clear, and it was neither cold nor hot in June, the most comfortable season.

All the imperial guards, the armies, and the officials wore their splendid official robes, their clothes and hats solemn, and the feathered guards stood sternly, waiting under the Meridian Gate for the emperor’s dragon sedan chair.

The imperial throne had already been set up on the Meridian Gate, and Fang Zixing led the palace guards, dressed in their lion-treading-clouds red uniforms and carrying swords, standing on the steps of the wing pavilion. Below were the princes, civil and military officials, and hundreds of other officials in separate rows according to their civil and military ranks, standing quietly and silently.

Several Japanese generals were tied up and held to one side.

Marquis Wu Ying, dressed in golden-scale chain mail and a military uniform with a sword at his side, stood at the back. Behind him were the leaders of the expeditionary army. Nong Siji looked around anxiously and poked Sheng Changtian, lowering his voice. “Where’s Xu Chun? Why hasn’t he arrived yet? Did he sneak into the capital last night and get reported? Can’t he come in? Did something happen at home?”

Sheng Changtian kept his expression unchanged, holding his sword and looking forward. “Nothing’s wrong, don’t worry about him.”

Nong Siji was quite concerned. “Will this affect his rewards later?” At least in their country of Yizhou, if a general failed to attend an imperial assembly or ceremony without cause, it was considered a serious offense, punishable by banishment.

Sheng Changtian said, “He knows what he’s doing. What are you afraid of? He’s not a child anymore.”

Nong Siji said, “I think he’s still a child.”

The two chattered, and Marquis Wu Ying turned to look at them with a threatening gaze.

The two instantly stopped talking.

The musicians serving in the Drum and Bell Department suddenly started playing, the music melodious. The dancers from the Imperial Music Department began to dance, the men holding spears and shields, the women holding colorful ribbons. It was the Dance of the Four Barbarians.

This meant the Emperor was about to arrive.

Everyone was silent.

As the dancers swirled their ribbons in dazzling patterns, Xu Chun quietly joined the ranks of the generals. The generals all turned to look, wondering how someone dared to be late on such a grand day. Fortunately, they had practiced the lineup for the ceremony of presenting captives, and Xu Chun quickly found his spot between Nong Siji and Sheng Changtian.

Sheng Changtian glared at him, but he chuckled. Nong Siji asked him under the cover of the music, “Is everything alright at home?”

Xu Chun whispered back, “Yes.”

Nong Siji complained softly, “It hasn’t even started yet. I wonder how much longer we have to wait… Just standing here is a bit boring.”

Xu Chun felt even more embarrassed. “It should be soon.”

Just as they were talking, the music ended, and the sound of drums echoed like thunder. As the cymbal song played, they saw the Emperor ascend to his seat on the Meridian Gate.

Two generals escorted several kneeling Japanese captives to the drums.

Minister of War Lei Ming stepped forward, knelt down, and reported to the Emperor, “Our dynasty, following the mandate of heaven, rules over the eight extremities. Wherever the sun and moon shine, it is Han territory. The kingdom of Silla has long submitted to us. Now, there is Japan, with wolfish hearts and the nature of owls, beyond the reach of virtue and culture…”

As Lei Ming began his report, long and slow, the sunlight was warm and bright, and Xu Chun gradually became drowsy again as he stood. Closing his eyes for a moment, his body began to sway slightly. But fortunately, he had honed a set of skills in the military, allowing him to sleep while standing.

However, he didn’t know that Xie Yi, on the Meridian Gate above, could see their group of generals clearly. He sighed inwardly, feeling both pity and a sense of duty. This ceremony of presenting captives was necessary to boost morale and demonstrate martial prowess.

The Ministry of War knew that the Emperor favored such ceremonies, and the report was written with great literary skill, exaggerating the strength of the empire’s military and the benevolence of the Son of Heaven to the extreme: “Now, with Marquis Wu Ying Fang Zijing as the Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force… In the thirtieth year of Yuanhui, our troops sailed overseas, from winter to spring, advancing deep into enemy territory, striking at the heart of the bandits. By the grace of heaven, our troops were divine and heroic, their momentum like the wind sweeping away the clouds, crushing the withered and pulling out the rotten…”

Xie Yi glanced at Su Huai beside him.

Su Huai stood at the back and naturally saw the gaze of the Dragon Eyes. He slowly retreated and walked down the side stairs, stopping within sight of Lei Ming. Then, he coughed softly but audibly, as if he had a tickle in his throat.

When Minister Lei saw Su Huai step down and stand, his heart had already been raised. Hearing this cough, he understood. He hurriedly quickened his pace, skipping over the lengthy praise, and quickly reached the end: “On the day of the captives’ submission, the people celebrate. In light of Your Majesty’s soothing and gentle rule, your virtues spread far and wide. Today, we humbly present the captured Japanese prisoners to His Majesty. Long live His Majesty, long live, long long live!”

Suddenly, the cries of “Long live!” resounded like waves crashing. Xu Chun jolted awake, straightening his posture.

He then heard Xie Yi say succinctly from above, “With the southeast now pacified and the four seas tranquil, the soldiers have shown great bravery in their distant expedition, deserving of commendation. From the Generalissimo down, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel shall confer honors and rewards, and also bestow posthumous honors to the martyrs. The captives shall be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for punishment.”

His voice was clear and steady, dignified and calm, not overly loud, yet commanding respect.

Xu Chun couldn’t help but imagine what Brother Nine was like in the court during daily deliberations. Surely, he was just as imposing and noble as he was today. In a few days, if he received the title of Linhai Marquis and an official position, he would also have the qualifications to stand among those civil and military ministers in the court and listen to Brother Nine speak. But then he would have to go to Jinhai Guard, and he couldn’t help feeling extremely reluctant to leave.

In the midst of his wild thoughts, he saw the officials of the Ministry of Justice approach and lead away the captives. The music in the imperial garden rang out again, melodious and soothing.

The princes and officials took their positions and performed the three kneelings and nine bows. The music stopped, the ceremony was completed, and the gongs and drums sounded as the cymbal song played. Xie Yi descended from the Meridian Gate and returned to the palace in his chariot.

Afterward, the generals were led to the imperial garden, where the Emperor hosted a banquet for all the generals of the expeditionary force who were above the seventh rank and had distinguished themselves.

In the imperial garden, flowers were in full bloom. Palace ladies carried flower trays at the entrance, filled with fresh flowers such as pomegranate blossoms, agapanthus, daylilies, jasmine, roses, and hibiscus, for the generals to wear in their hair.

Fang Zijing led the way, picking up a branch of pomegranate blossom and pinning it by his hat, smiling as he took his seat. The generals followed suit, selecting flower branches from the trays and adorning themselves.

Xu Chun was about to pick a flower branch when a eunuch approached him with a branch of orange-red flower, smiling. Seeing that it was Liu Fu, and recognizing the flower as trumpet vine, he understood that this must have been personally picked by Brother Nine. It was a compliment for his lofty aspirations. Delighted, he accepted it and pinned it by his hat.

As the generals took their seats according to their ranks, Nong Siji noticed the bright orange trumpet vine on Xu Chun’s military hat and exclaimed in surprise, “Is that trumpet vine? How did I not notice it earlier? This flower really suits Yuanlin, making him lively.”

Sheng Changtian laughed. “It’s trumpet vine. He must have secretly picked it from the imperial garden.”

Xu Chun chuckled. Seeing that the generals mostly wore pomegranate blossoms, likely for their auspicious symbolism, he heard the eunuchs enter in succession, and the ceremonial officer called out, “The Emperor approaches!”

Everyone quickly rose from their seats, knelt down to greet him, and after another round of formal greetings, the Emperor ordered them to rise. Everyone returned to their seats.

Xu Chun stole a glance at Xie Yi, noticing that he had changed into a white jade cloud-patterned dragon robe and was wearing a black gauze Winged Benevolent Crown, also adorned with a branch of trumpet vine. With his lowered gaze, he looked at Xu Chun casually but accurately.

Their eyes met, and Xu Chun felt a sweet sensation seeping into his heart. He couldn’t wait for the banquet to end so he could accompany Brother Nine again and enjoy the flowers in the imperial garden.

The garden was full of flowers, perfect for admiring them.