kingnovel Chapter 1084 Erecting Monuments Along the Way to Intimidate the Grasslands
Chapter 1084 Erecting Monuments Along the Way to Intimidate the Grasslands
As the army slowly passed the ruins of Waldo City, the once prosperous city was now nothing but ruins, appearing particularly desolate in the wind and snow. Ma Chao stopped his horse and stood gazing at the ruins, his heart filled with emotion. He turned to Xu Shu and said solemnly, "Yuanzhi, I trouble you to write a document. We need to carve a stone tablet on the ruins of Waldo City to record in detail the events of this campaign against the Xianbei."
Xu Shu accepted the order and, after a moment of contemplation, began to compose the inscription. Soon, he picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a magnificent inscription on the paper. The inscription detailed how Ma Chao led an army of 170,000 to attack the Xianbei, overcoming countless hardships and ultimately annihilating nearly a million Xianbei soldiers. However, this war also came at a heavy price, with over 138,000 of his own men killed.
Ma Chao took the document written by Xu Shu, carefully reviewed it, and nodded slightly in approval. He then ordered his men to immediately find craftsmen to carve a stone tablet in a prominent place at the ruins of Ordos City, and to inscribe the inscription on the tablet word for word.
Ma Chao left Xu Shu to oversee the construction, and the army continued its slow advance. Lu Su, filled with doubt about Ma Chao's erection of a stone tablet at the ruins of Ordos, couldn't help but approach Ma Chao, cupping his hands in greeting, and ask, "My lord, what is the purpose of erecting this stone tablet here?"
Ma Chao's expression was solemn as he gazed into the distance and slowly said, "Mr. Lu, this is not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Ever since the great victory over the Xianbei, I have been pondering how to govern this grassland." Upon hearing this, Jia Xu, who was standing nearby, immediately became interested and unconsciously pricked up his ears to listen carefully.
Lu Su bowed again and said respectfully, "Your Majesty is so meticulous; do you already have a plan in mind?"
Ma Chao nodded slightly and continued, "Actually, I haven't figured out how to truly warn the grasslands. After all, the grasslands are so vast. If we don't have effective means, even if the Xianbei tribe is destroyed and other tribes grow stronger, the grasslands will still not be at peace. It was only when Mr. Jia Xu brought that map that I had some ideas."
Jia Xu's curiosity was piqued, and he quickly moved closer to Ma Chao, eagerly asking, "Your Majesty, how exactly should this be carried out?"
Ma Chao pointed to the map Jia Xu had drawn earlier and said, "With the help of your map, everything from Xiliang all the way to Langjuxu Mountain is marked on it. You also marked all the tribes we destroyed along the way. Now I have a preliminary plan in mind. I want to erect stone tablets at the ruins of Ordos City and at the locations of the tribes we destroyed along the way. Firstly, so that the soldiers who fought and bled here will have a place for future generations to pay their respects. I plan to send troops from Xiliang to patrol the grasslands every two years. If any nomadic tribes dare to set up camp here, we will strike them down directly. This will deter those with ill intentions. Secondly, it will make it convenient for generals to come and pay their respects to these brothers who are buried here, so that future generations will remember the sacrifices of their ancestors."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xu and Lu Su both suddenly understood and were full of admiration for Ma Chao's foresight. Jia Xu nodded and praised, "Your Majesty's plan is brilliant. Erecting a monument will allow future generations to remember this history, and sending troops to patrol will not only maintain order on the grasslands but also demonstrate the might of our army. It is truly a win-win situation."
Lu Su echoed, "Our lord has a brilliant vision. With such a plan, the grasslands will surely gradually become stable under our control."
Ma Chao looked at his two advisors, his eyes revealing determination and confidence: "The situation on the grasslands is complex, and we must plan ahead. Only by making all the tribes on the grasslands fully aware of our army's resolve and strength can we truly achieve long-term peace and stability." With that, he spurred his horse and led the army on its way back.
On their return journey, Ma Chao ordered men to erect a monument at each site of a defeated tribe that they passed by. These monuments, though not as grand and imposing as those at the ruins of Ordos, each bore the weight of history. They clearly indicated which tribe had originally inhabited the area and how many troops had been sacrificed to conquer it.
Each time, Ma Chao would stand before the monument for a long time, his gaze solemn and deep, as if trying to imprint these past battle scenes and the heroic souls of the fallen soldiers into his mind. He knew that these were witnesses to their conquest of the grasslands, and historical memories bought with the blood and lives of countless soldiers.
And so the army marched on, erecting monuments along the way, until they reached Yinshan. When the army finally arrived at the foot of Yinshan, Ma Chao summoned Hu Che'er and solemnly instructed him: "Hu Che'er, you must set off immediately, ride at full speed to Xiliang, and inform Ma Dai that we are about to return, so that he can make preparations in advance."
Ma Chao paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers beside him, and continued, "Firstly, we must prepare warm accommodations for these surviving brothers, so they can feel the glory of defeating the powerful enemy on the grasslands; secondly, we must inform the families of those in Xiliang in advance how many brave men have perished on the distant grasslands for this campaign. Let everyone know that this victory was hard-won."
After receiving the order, Hu Che'er immediately mounted his horse and rode away, kicking up dust. Watching Hu Che'er's departing figure, Ma Chao was filled with complex emotions. He knew that the journey home was near, but what awaited them was both the joy of reuniting with their families and the heavy responsibility of caring for the families of their fallen soldiers. And upon returning to Xiliang, how to stabilize morale, expand their power, and continue implementing his plans for governing the grasslands would all be pressing issues he needed to address.
At this moment, the wind and snow in Yinshan were still biting, but the eyes of Ma Chao and his soldiers revealed a firmness and expectation. They knew that no matter how many challenges lay ahead, Xiliang would always be their warm harbor and the source of their strength.
November arrived quietly, and the entire Western Liang land was covered in snow, as if draped in a silvery white gown. When Hu Che'er arrived at Wuwei City at full speed, covered in dust, and informed the defending general Ma Dai of the good news that the army was about to return, Ma Dai was overjoyed.
Over the past two years, under Ma Dai's governance, Wuwei City has recovered and shed the desolation and ruin it suffered during the Xianbei invasion. After all, this is the foundation upon which Ma Chao rose to power. Although Ma Chao has moved his family to Chang'an for strategic reasons, Xiliang remains his most important base. Under Ma Chao's meticulous management, Wuwei City has now regained its former prosperity, with bustling streets, numerous shops, and people living in peace and contentment.
Upon hearing that Ma Chao would arrive soon, Ma Dai dared not delay for a moment and quickly ordered his men to spread the news throughout the streets and alleys of Wuwei City. In an instant, the entire city of Wuwei was abuzz with excitement, even surpassing the festive atmosphere of the New Year. The streets and alleys were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the people ran and chatted, their faces beaming with joy and anticipation. The elderly supported each other, their eyes filled with longing for Ma Chao's return; children ran and laughed in the streets, excitedly discussing the army they would soon see; young women dressed up carefully, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ma Chao in the welcoming procession.
The people of the city spontaneously organized themselves to prepare for the return of Ma Chao and his soldiers. They swept the streets and lined the roadsides with flowers and wine, expressing their respect and welcome to Ma Chao and his troops in the most solemn way. Everyone eagerly awaited the moment of Ma Chao's return, anticipating the grand spectacle of the heroes' glorious return.
Since Ma Chao and his men entered Xiliang territory, Ma Chao slowed his march at each city they reached. His expression was solemn as he slowly scanned the remaining soldiers, asking with concern, "Which brothers are from here? And which of the brothers who unfortunately perished on the grasslands came from here?"
Once the local soldiers were identified, Ma Chao would arrange for them to rest on the spot so they could reunite with their families as soon as possible. Meanwhile, for those brothers who had sacrificed their lives on the grasslands, Ma Chao would solemnly hand over their ashes to their families who came to greet them.
This scene naturally evoked tears of joy and grief in some. When the surviving soldiers embraced their families and wept, tears of joy streamed down their faces; while the families who received the ashes of their loved ones were instantly overwhelmed by sorrow, their cries echoing in the cold air.
As Ma Chao watched these scenes unfold, his heart grew heavier. He knew that these fallen soldiers had given their lives for the glory of Xiliang and for his ambition to dominate the land. Therefore, Ma Chao ordered that the gold and silver captured in this campaign be distributed to the families and soldiers of these fallen warriors.
He approached each bereaved family member, his eyes filled with grief and concern, and comforted them in a gentle yet firm voice: "Please accept our condolences. Your loved ones bravely sacrificed themselves to protect Xiliang and our shared home. They are heroes, and Xiliang will never forget their deeds, nor will I, Ma Chao. These rewards are well-deserved. In the future, if you encounter any difficulties, please do not hesitate to ask. Xiliang is your home." Hearing Ma Chao's words, the families knelt down to express their gratitude, their cries mingled with their thanks.
When the surviving generals and soldiers were allowed to leave the army and return home to rest, Ma Chao would always greet them with a kind smile and concerned look, saying, "Be careful on the road. You are eager to get home, but safety comes first."
Everyone was overjoyed, but also a little worried about when they would return to the ranks. They asked Ma Chao, "My lord, when will we return to the ranks?" Ma Chao laughed heartily and said gently, "Go back first, reunite with your families, and enjoy the happiness of family life. After New Year's Eve, report to Ma Dai in Wuwei City."
The soldiers, having received permission, couldn't help but beam with joy at the thought of reuniting with their long-separated families. They seemed to forget their fatigue from the journey, their steps light as they hurried home.
In stark contrast were the families of those who had perished on the grasslands. Their eyes, brimming with tears, pierced Ma Chao's heart like sharp knives. Looking at their heartbroken expressions, Ma Chao was filled with guilt and unbearable sorrow. He knew that no amount of comfort or reward could soothe the pain of these families who had lost their loved ones. But he secretly vowed to make Xiliang more stable and prosperous, to ensure that the blood of these fallen soldiers was not shed in vain, and to comfort their souls in heaven.