The war was over, and the Zhao army immediately returned to the court.
The soldiers temporarily transferred from various counties were rewarded one after another, and then they were diverted back to their bases, while the standing army still returned to Handan.
The more than ten thousand Qin soldiers and civilians who were captured were dispersed on the spot, and then sent to the border of Dai in batches to be used for garrisoning.
...The sky is clear with white clouds, and the Zhao army, which stretches for more than ten miles, is marching along a wide straight road toward Handan, which is thousands of miles away.
Different from the solemn and depressing atmosphere before the expedition, the fear and confusion in the hearts of the soldiers had long since dissipated, leaving behind not only happiness but also infinite longing for the future.
Those who have passed away will eventually pass away, but those who survive should live better.
Although a few people were punished for incompetence in combat and neglect of duty along the way, more soldiers received awards. The soldiers were promoted one by one, and they were knighted. This was the rich reward they deserved for walking thousands of miles and fighting hard with their heads in their hands.
And they will be able to go home soon. The soldiers will go home with their official positions and rewards. The joy in their hearts should probably outweigh the sadness of the loss of their comrades... although their brothers, relatives and friends may be among them.
...Zhao Yong, who was sitting in the chariot, couldn't help but feel a complex emotion in his heart. When he was about to go home, the first thing Zhao Yong thought of was his few women. Although they were pretty useless, somehow they suddenly made Zhao Yong feel like a family member, so kind and warm.
Zhao Yong suddenly remembered a saying he had seen in his previous life, 'When people move to a place and their relatives are buried there, it becomes their hometown...' In Handan during the Warring States Period, Zhao Yong's relatives had not been buried yet, but there were already some here. For the people he cares about, he feels that he will become more and more integrated into this era and this place, and will slowly become one of them.
He looked at the yellow leaves and bare branches on both sides of the straight road. The withered leaves couldn't help but reflect a sad color on the ground. The breeze blew, and countless withered leaves rolled down dust in the wind, and a desolate chill suddenly filled the air.
...In early November, the Zhao army slowly marched to the area under the jurisdiction of Handan. When the army was only thirty miles away from the city of Handan, Chen Zhong was suddenly surprised by the eunuch's voice heard outside the carriage.
"Your Majesty, it's snowing from the sky!"
"Your Majesty, it's snowing from the sky..."
Chen Zhong's voice was like the parrot in Longtai Palace, repeating the same sentence over and over again.
Zhao Yong was woken up by the cheers one after another outside. He opened his eyes in confusion and reached out to lift the velvet side curtain. Just when he was about to yell, a cold wind suddenly blew out of the window. , it made him shiver. The originally hazy consciousness began to become energetic.
Zhao Yong came back to his senses, looked out at the snowflakes in the sky outside the car, and then turned to look at Chen Zhong's old face 'covered' by the wind and snow, and his boring mood began to become active.
Looking at the snowflakes dancing in the air, his heart couldn't help but rise and fall.
'Hoo, ho, ho' the north wind howled, mixed with snowflakes, hitting Zhao Yong's face, and the snowflakes instantly turned into water droplets.
We set off for the expedition in September and returned on November 1. Unknowingly, the army had passed from early autumn to early winter. From the first green leaves falling to the bare branches now, a year has passed without realizing it.
At this time, Fei Yi and other important ministers had already rode their horses to the large chariot without knowing it. Everyone followed the chariot forward slowly and looked at Zhao Yong with excitement.
The cold wind mixed with white snow covered their buns, which looked so funny. But the cold still cannot stop people's enthusiasm.
"Your Majesty, God bless the Kingdom of Zhao!" Fei Yi suddenly shouted loudly.
The sound was blown away by the wind and spread to everyone's ears.
"God bless the State of Zhao, may the State of Zhao live forever!"
"God bless the State of Zhao, may the State of Zhao live forever..." Then the soldiers also shouted loudly, and the sound spread to the sky again, lasting forever.
As the saying goes, auspicious snow heralds a good year.
Snow is not just for viewing. In the long-term agricultural cultivation process, people have discovered that the thicker the snow falls in winter, the better the harvest of the next year's crops. This year's auspicious snow came much earlier than in previous years. And it happened to be when Zhao Guo won a great victory and the class teacher returned to the court.
In this era where divine power and royal power coexist, it is naturally self-evident what this coincidence means.
Zhao Yong couldn't help but sigh at this time. It was such an auspicious sign. What auspicious snow. The snowflakes in the sky were not only a stimulant for people at this moment, but also meant that Zhao's crops would be a bumper harvest next year.
After a major disaster, there must be great blessings. This year, Zhao Guo just suffered from floods, and the sky began to fall with auspicious snow.
Zhao Yong immediately ordered Chengyu to stop...
After just a cup of tea, a thin layer of snow accumulated on the ground, and the earth was decorated and moistened by this auspicious snow dress.
Zhao Yong walked slowly down the carriage, stepping on the thin snow with cloud shoes, and stretched. The snowflakes are like an overwhelming force, getting heavier and heavier as they fall. From a distance, the thick soil looks like a majestic white-faced calligraphy and painting.
Zhao Yong waved away the velvet robe in Chen Zhong's hand. He bent down and picked up a handful of white snow from the ground. He smiled at everyone and said: "The auspicious snow brings good years. God bless the Zhao country. I am very happy. The soldiers should also enjoy it with me." , I think I can give each person five coins! (Fifteen catties of corn)"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Everyone bowed.
"On behalf of the soldiers of the third battalion, I would like to thank the king!" Fei Yi bowed.
After Zhao Yong said that, he crumpled the white snow into a snow ball and threw it into the distance. Then he turned around and walked back to Chengyu: "Let's continue marching..."
... After thirty miles, the army walked for a whole day. When it was getting dark, the army finally faintly saw the towering Handan City Wall.
The snow gradually slowed down, but fine snowflakes were still floating in the air. On the wide straight road, Handan's subjects had already cleared the road spontaneously. Although it was already evening, the streets of Handan were still very lively. In addition to the subjects who had been waiting for a long time, there were also family members who were eagerly looking forward to their relatives. The scene was as lively as when they set off for the expedition.
But after all, this night was a night where some people were happy and others were sad. People would die in battle. When the news is confirmed, the families of the fallen soldiers may not have an easy time... There is no trace of their family members.
The corpses wrapped in horse leather on the battlefield are naturally not just talk. For example, in this battle thousands of miles away, it was better to dig a hole and bury the corpses of the soldiers who died in the battle. If they were defeated, they might not have time to collect the corpses. It was normal for the corpses to be exposed in the wilderness for many days.
"Your Majesty, the prime minister has led the Handan subjects to greet us outside the city!" Chen Zhong reported.
... From noon to dusk, Luo Hualan, Si Yue, and Meng Rou were waiting in front of Desheng Gate. They heard yesterday that the army had arrived at Wu'anyi. As expected, the army returned to Handan today.
It has been snowing heavily since morning, and the streets of Handan are already covered in silver. Luo Huanhuan, wearing a warm ocher fur, stands beside the two girls. Several of them stand in the most conspicuous position in front of the city gate, forming a natural beauty. Landscape.
But no one dared to take a second look.
The weather was cold, and although the ladies held small heaters in their arms, the beauties' faces were still red from the cold. However, they did not dare to leave even half a step, and they did not even eat lunch. When they were thirsty, they drank a bowl of hot tea handed to them by the palace servants. The girls could hardly feel the cold in their bodies at this time, because they had other stronger feelings and worries in their hearts.
Although the palace people had already told them that Zhao Guo had won a great victory this time and the king was safe and sound. But their hearts were still full of worry, worried about whether the king was injured. These women all have their own little thoughts in their hearts...
Suddenly there was a whispering sound next to her. The sound was very nice, like a lark. She couldn't help but attracted Luo Coral to look around... She was really beautiful. Coral praised sincerely in her heart. The woman's skin color seemed to be better than The snowflakes falling slowly in the sky are still whiter, and the face is even more elegant with light makeup. Coral has recognized the woman, the daughter of Handan Ling Wu Guang, she seems to be called Lan.
It is said that he and the king had become friends as early as the generation of the earth, and there was also a story about King Zhao meeting the goddess in his dream...
Coral couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief when he thought of this. She had long known that the king could not belong to her alone, nor could he belong to her alone, but every time she thought of this, she still couldn't help but feel a little angry. Qi, Zhao Yong's fraternity, Qi, his own indisputableness. But who asked her to choose the woman to be the king...
Coral didn't know when she had feelings for him. She clearly regarded him as a playboy at first, and he was just a young man who was not as good as a weakling. But...she had lived in this world for more than twenty years, and she met She has met many people, but she understands very well that Zhao Yong is a magical man, a real man, a man who is really good to her... Even if he is so silent and usually so indifferent, he is often suppressed. Live to stay moral.
She had never felt such a strong feeling before, but every time after separation, when she felt that she might lose him, this feeling of fear brewed and fermented in her heart, becoming more and more exaggerated. Maybe... he doesn't take himself so seriously, maybe he just wants to take advantage of his status, or covets beauty, just like the few women around him... But Coral can't control his emotions at all.
Yao Lan in the distance seemed to feel Coral's gaze and turned around to stare back. Yao Lan seemed to know Coral's identity and smiled politely back at her.
Coral smiled back, but suddenly she seemed to remember something, and her face suddenly turned red.
Si Yue, who was beside him, had already noticed Coral's little movements. Seeing the change in her expression, he couldn't help but glance at Yao Lan, who was not far away, and then asked Coral softly: "Sister, are you feeling unwell?"
When Meng Rou saw it, she immediately cast a concerned look.
Coral was stunned, quickly put away his thoughts, smiled awkwardly at the two girls, and shook his head...
At this time, there was a rumble of footsteps in everyone's ears, and then rows of neat troops appeared in front of them.
The girls immediately stretched their necks and looked forward. When they saw the car that they had been thinking about day and night, they finally let out a sigh of relief...
...In the evening, a large number of troops finally entered the city, and the people who had been waiting silently by the road suddenly became uproar.
Some people had already found their men in the queue, and they jumped up and down, waving and shouting.
The soldiers completely ignored military discipline, and many civilians filled bowls with tea and porridge for the soldiers to drink. The military generals did not stop this 'chaos' at this time. After all, they had already arrived in Handan, and the country's security was still good. An old woman was told by a soldier that her son had died in Jinyang. She knelt on the roadside and screamed at the sky and the earth, crying: "My son..."
Tonight is destined to bring joy to some people and sadness to others...
…
Returning to the palace of King Zhao, Zhao Yong did not care about being gentle with the girls or accepting the congratulations from his subjects. Instead, he held a large sacrifice first!
Since the initial construction of the Zhao Palace in Handan, all the Zhao Ancestral Temple and Zhao State Sheji Altar were moved to Handan.
As the saying goes, ancestors are on the left and she is on the right. Zu is the ancestral temple; she is the country.
For a country, these two are the most important.
'When it comes to fighting, patrolling, and rewards and punishments for things'!
A high platform has been set up in front of King Zhao's palace. There is a raging fire burning on the high platform, and the masked priests are mumbling obscure hymns.
After Zhao Yong took a bath, he came to the high platform surrounded by the ministers, and climbed onto the high platform with the blessings of the priests.
'If the master has merit, the emperor will hold the law on the left, hold the ax on the right, and guide him personally'!
After the Zhao Kingdom returned with a great victory in this battle, Zhao Yong solemnly picked up the law and ax that had been prepared on the altar, and then raised it high, and the joy of triumph suddenly arose!
Zhao Yong then held the law in his left hand and the ax in his right hand, got down from the high platform, walked at the front of the team, and led the priests and ministers towards the Sheyou Temple to the west of the Zhao palace.
The Sheji Temple in Zhao State was built after the Zhou royal family, but its scale was obviously larger than that of the Zhou royal family.
Amidst the sound of drum music, a long line of people slowly walked to the entrance of Sheji Temple. Zhao Yong placed the lü and yue in his hands on the stone platform, knelt down on the ground, and slowly recited the prayers he had prepared.
The palace servant behind him brought two small pots of things that had been prepared, one pot was made of thick loess, and the other was a bloody prisoner (the left ear of the prisoner).
The loess is the soil of Loufan's hometown, symbolizing the land captured by Zhao in this battle, and the captives are the prisoners captured by Zhao.
After Zhao Yong finished reciting, he picked up the loess and prison food in his left and right hands respectively, and walked into the Sheji Temple alone.
This is the second time Zhao Yong has stepped into Sheji Temple. The first time was when he succeeded to the throne. The Sheji Hall looked extremely empty, with candles glowing on the surrounding green platforms. There was a sacred tablet standing in front of the hall, and there was a low oval jade platform in the middle of the hall. There was nothing else.
The old high priest was already kneeling in front of the jade platform, obviously waiting for a long time.
The Sheji Jade Terrace is filled with loess, which symbolizes the territory of the State of Zhao.
The high priest turned around and bowed respectfully to Zhao Yong. Then Zhao Yong followed his instructions and placed the captives in front of the sacred tablet, and poured all the loess into the jade platform.
The music outside the temple suddenly increased in volume!
After leaving the Sheji Temple, Zhao Yong led his ministers to the Zongzu Temple to the east of the Zhao palace, and then there was another sacrificial ceremony as usual.
By the time Zhao Yong finished the ceremony, the snow in Handan had stopped for some time...
