kingnovel Chapter 1196 Restraining the Soldiers from Disrespect
Chapter 1196 Restraining the Soldiers from Disrespect
The afterglow of the posthumous conferment ceremony and the investiture of the heir apparent had not yet faded, and the red lanterns in Chang'an City had not yet been taken down when new joyous news spread from the Liang Prince's residence—on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, he would be marrying Miss Dong Bai of the Dong family as his concubine. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau had already calculated that this day was auspicious, a rare and exceptionally lucky day, a day when both the heavens and the moon were in harmony.
The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of Chang'an overnight. The people, just recovering from their grief and solemnity, smiled again. Silk shop assistants busied themselves cutting and decorating, embroiderers worked through the night to make wedding handkerchiefs, and even street vendors called out loudly, "Fresh candied hawthorns! They're bursting with joy!"
In a tavern in the West Market, several soldiers who had just been discharged from their armor were drinking together. One of them slammed his fist on the table and said, "Miss Dong is the eldest daughter of our Xiliang. Standing next to the King of Liang, they are a match made in heaven!" The person next to him chimed in, "I saw Miss Dong go to the altar to pay respects to Princess Duanjing a few days ago. The respect she showed was genuine. She will definitely be a considerate mistress in the future!"
The old folks in the alley sat in the warm sun, mending new clothes with needles and thread, muttering, "Now this is what life should look like. The other day, seeing the King and the Crown Prince at the tomb of Princess Duanjing was quite heartbreaking. The King fought for my Western Liang, campaigning in the north and south, and now he's finally married. Good, good..."
The Dong family mansion was bustling with activity, yet filled with joy. Servants carried the dowry through the alleys: gilded bridal boxes, quilts embroidered with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, pairs of jade ruyi scepters… attracting passersby to stop and admire. Dong Min stood at the mansion gate, watching all this, his wrinkles crinkling with smiles, and bowed to the passing guests, saying, “Congratulations! Congratulations!”
The wind in Chang'an seemed to carry a sweet scent, blowing through the windows of every household and making the windmills in the hands of children on the street spin. From posthumous titles to official appointments, and now to the upcoming wedding ceremony, this city, which had suffered from the ravages of war, was gradually being filled with the warmth of life and joy, like a piece of iron being warmed and gradually gaining a cozy vitality.
As the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month drew closer, the red silk banners hanging throughout the city grew ever denser, even reflecting a festive red hue on the frozen surface of the moat. The people eagerly awaited that day, hoping that the Liang King's wedding ceremony would bring a renewed sense of prosperity to Xiliang during this cold winter.
Generals from various regions are gradually returning. The first to arrive are Zhang Yan and Gao Shun, both covered in dust from their journey. As soon as they entered the mansion, they inquired about the wedding banquet arrangements.
Next, Jiang Jiong and others from Hanzhong arrived, bringing local specialties as a way to bring joy to the newlyweds.
Several veteran generals from Xiliang, including Niu Fu, Xu Rong, and Hua Xiong, arrived together.
Everyone had come for the prince's wedding, their faces showing the weariness of their journey, yet all beaming with joy. The mansion grew increasingly crowded, bustling with activity, and even the air was filled with a festive atmosphere.
By the time the leaders of the Western Qiang tribes, such as Cheliji, and the Eastern Qiang tribes, including Shaoge, arrived, almost all the generals of Western Liang, except for those stationed in Wuwei, Ma Dai, Zhang Liao, and Zhang Ren, had returned. The atmosphere in the city was very lively.
The atmosphere in the city grew more lively each day, with taverns and teahouses filled with the boisterous gatherings of generals. But amidst the festivities, minor incidents always occurred—two drunken chieftains from the Eastern Qiang bumped into Hua Xiong's subordinates, nearly coming to blows; and a captain, leading his men through the night market, encountered some commoners due to the crowds. The people of Chang'an, accustomed to the king's benevolence, didn't take the captain seriously, and after a few words, a crowd gathered to watch.
Upon learning the news, Shao Ge was terrified and personally escorted the junior leader to apologize.
Ma Chao ordered his men to pin the two minor leaders brought by Shao Ge to the foot of the steps. His gaze swept over the assembled generals, and his voice suddenly turned cold: "Do you still have any respect for the rules of the Xiliang Army?"
He slammed his hand on the table, making the wine cups on it rattle: "The congratulatory troops from various lords will arrive soon. Our Xiliang army has always been known for its 'disciplined military appearance'!"
“Now look what’s happened! Street fights and brawls, harassing ordinary people in the night market—if this gets back to the ears of the other warlords, what will they say? They’ll say the Xiliang army is arrogant and unreasonable, and that we’re just a bunch of cowards who only know how to bully our own kind!” He pointed at the two men below the steps. “You’re not just throwing a tantrum, you’re ruining the reputation of the Xiliang army!”
“Remember this well,” Ma Chao stood up, the sword at his waist jingling softly with the movement. “The vassal lords’ troops have come to offer their congratulations, but more importantly, they have come to probe our strength. Every step our soldiers take on the street represents the face of the Xiliang Army; every word our men utter affects the reputation of the Xiliang Army.”
He looked at Shaoge, his tone softening slightly but still stern: "Shaoge, the soldiers you lead are the elite of the Eastern Qiang, not street thugs. Tell all units that from today onwards, any soldier who harasses the people or causes trouble through private fights will be punished along with the captain, and the general will be demoted three ranks!"
“Keep your men in check,” Ma Chao’s gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping across everyone’s face. “Let the other lords see that the Xiliang army can not only fight tough battles, but also defend a city and protect its people. This is the best way to save face for me, and the best way to give the Xiliang army confidence!”
The generals below clasped their fists in unison, their voices echoing across the rooftops: "Your subordinate obeys!"
After returning, Shao Ge pinned the two troublemaking tribal leaders to the benches in front of the tent, raised his military stick, and lashed them thirty times quickly and fiercely, leaving the two men with torn skin and blood, yet they didn't dare to utter a sound.
On the other side, Hua Xiong personally removed his armor, revealing his strong back, and lay face down on the bench. The executioner's hands were trembling. Hua Xiong glared at him and said, "Use your strength! You think you can get a living with this little bit of power?" The military rod fell, and the dull thud echoed in the camp. After twenty blows, his back was already a bloody mess, but he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a sound.
Afterwards, Hua Xiong, enduring the pain, led the captain who had argued with the people to the home of the people from that day. The captain, head bowed, held two bolts of fine silk in his hands, his face flushed, and said, "It was my recklessness that disturbed you; please forgive me." Hua Xiong also cupped his hands in apology and said in a deep voice, "It was my fault for not disciplining the army properly; I have come to apologize."
When the people saw that this renowned general had come to their door in person, and noticed the blood-stained clothes on his back, they felt bad and quickly waved their hands, saying, "It's just a misunderstanding, General, why take it so seriously?"
As the news spread, no one in the camp dared to make any rash moves. Although the Xiliang army was growing in number, they showed no trace of arrogance on the streets—soldiers would always give an extra coin when buying things, lend a helping hand to children who had fallen, and offer assistance to elderly people carrying loads. The people saw this and their initial fear gradually dissipated. When they saw someone wearing Xiliang military uniform, they would smile and offer them fruit or a cup of cool tea.
With the arrival of the generals, and with the twelfth lunar month approaching, Cao Cao's son Cao Ang and General Xiahou Dun were the first to arrive to offer their congratulations. Ma Yunlu and Wei Yan also returned to Chang'an. After all, with the celebration of her brother's wedding complete, it was time for her marriage to Cao Ang to be arranged.
The Cao and Ma families had already arranged for their children to become in-laws, so Cao Ang was not at all reserved upon his arrival; on the contrary, he enthusiastically participated in the celebrations. Ma Yunlu, who had been away from home for nearly two years, also joined in the chores after his return.
On the second day of the twelfth lunar month, the team from Jingzhou finally arrived.
Liu Bei originally intended to come in person to offer his congratulations, but he was stopped by Pang Tong, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others. After all, Jingzhou had indeed been disrespectful in the Xiangyang incident. If Liu Bei came in person, he might be detained by Xiliang under some pretext, which would surely throw Jingzhou into chaos. Unable to persuade them otherwise, Liu Bei had no choice but to send Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang instead, who brought generous gifts.
Sending Guan Yu was a deliberate act—during the standoff at Xiangyang, among the generals of Jingzhou, only Guan Yu never actually fought Ma Chao, thus preserving some dignity.
On the Xiliang side, Li Ru and Jia Xu already knew about the old story of Xiangyang. Upon seeing Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang arrive, they arranged for them to be received at the post station. Interestingly, when Jia Xu appeared, he was followed by a special "guest"—none other than Liu Biao, the former ruler of Jingzhou, who had been previously detained there.
The moment the two sides met, the atmosphere instantly froze, so awkward it was almost palpable. Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang looked at Liu Biao with complicated expressions. After all, they were somewhat involved in the change of ownership of Jingzhou back then. Now, facing their former master and recalling their previous rudeness, they had a thousand words to say but couldn't find any justification. They could only suppress their inner turmoil and greet him according to etiquette.
On the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the envoy delegation from Xuchang arrived, led by Grand Commandant Yang Biao, carrying the emperor's decree and congratulatory gifts. Behind this mission lay the helplessness of Lü Bu's forces—in the Battle of Hulao Pass, Lü Bu's entire army was annihilated. If it weren't for Zhang Liao's consideration of past friendship, who secretly released him and Chen Gong, he would have long been a prisoner. Furthermore, he was severely wounded that day and was still recovering. He was initially reluctant to accept the invitation from Xiliang, but his power was still weak, and he couldn't afford to provoke their sharp edge. Only after repeated persuasion from Chen Gong and Wang Yun was it finally decided that Yang Biao would represent them, both to convey the emperor's congratulations and to consider Lü Bu's position.
Back in Chang'an, Jia Xu and Li Ru, upon hearing that it was someone from Lü Bu's side, specifically appointed Gao Shun and Xu Shu to go to the post station to receive them. Xu Shu already had a very poor impression of Lü Bu's faction, and his face remained unfriendly throughout; Gao Shun was even colder, exuding a chilling aura, and didn't utter a single unnecessary word.
This display of force terrified the young general under Lü Bu who was escorting Yang Biao. He was originally a minor general in the army, but was temporarily entrusted with the important task of escorting Yang Biao after most of Lü Bu's generals were lost in the Battle of Hulao Pass. He had never seen such a scene before. Facing Gao Shun's cold face throughout, he didn't dare to breathe and stood frozen to the side, at a loss for what to do.
Yang Biao, however, was a seasoned veteran of many situations. During his pleasantries with Xu Shu, his words subtly hinted at a desire to curry favor. Xu Shu's previously indifferent gaze suddenly sharpened—this abrupt turn of events piqued his interest, and his tone softened slightly as he began to engage Yang Biao in conversation. Gao Shun remained silent, but his gaze lingered on Yang Biao for a moment longer, his coldness lessening somewhat.
The people from Liu Bei and Lü Bu's sides were deliberately treated with disdain throughout. Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang, sent by Liu Bei, were "welcomed" by Jia Xu and Liu Biao, with their conversation inevitably revolving around old grudges. The congratulatory gifts sent by Lü Bu through Yang Biao were only coldly accepted by Gao Shun and Xu Shu, without a single warm word.
Ma Chao saw all of this, but never showed himself. He knew the purpose of his subordinates' arrangement—the grudges in Xiangyang and the old grievances at Hulao Pass didn't need to be hidden.
Both Liu Bei and Lü Bu's sides understood the situation perfectly well, but dared not utter a single word of complaint. Guan Yu patiently dealt with Jia Xu, while Yang Biao, under the guise of chatting with Xu Shu, secretly probed the political climate in Xiliang. Both sides, each with their own thoughts, waited for the grand wedding on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.