On the tenth day of October, Liuqiuzhou, Luding County, Dingjun Mountain.
The bleak mid-autumn moon is blowing, and the storm is high.
The autumn wind blows through the mountains and woods, and the crowns of the trees gradually rise and fall like waves, as if they are bowing in salute, and the rustling of the branches and leaves is also like the cry of farewell.
On the slope facing the Central Plains, a newly opened martyrs cemetery was opened. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians gathered here to hold a grand military funeral ceremony.
Zhao Mengqi, dressed in plain clothes, personally carried Chen Yongren's coffin and slowly brought it into the tomb.
Subsequently, the other 392 coffins were carefully placed in their respective tombs with the soldiers' care.
Since the pioneering group arrived on the island, sergeants and civilians have died one after another, some from diseases and accidents, and some from attacks by tribal coalition forces. Including the battle of Lucheng, the total number is 476.
The Chinese people value fallen leaves returning to their roots, and the pioneering team originally planned to send these victims back to their hometowns for burial.
However, Zhao Mengqi had a different idea and quoted a line from Dongpo layman, "This place where I feel at ease is my hometown." He said that wherever the red flag is flying, it is the hometown of China.
The Song Dynasty and the Later Zhou Dynasty were positioned as fire virtues, and the military uniforms were mainly red, so some self-righteous people despised the soldiers as "red men". However, the color of the flags was slightly different from other dynasties. Although red was the majority, there were also many other colors.
There were many types of flags in the Song Dynasty, with different functions and representative meanings. The colors were generally free from the influence of the Five Virtues theory, and were further influenced by the Five Elements and Five Directions theory. For example, the colors corresponding to east, west, south, and north were blue, white, and white. Red, black.
Although there is no unified color, the flags with important meanings such as "Peace in the World", "Long Live the King", and "Da Chang" with the sun, moon and stars representing the monarch are red. In addition, Zhao Mengqi's concept of "China Red" , so there is nothing wrong with him using the red flag to represent the Song Dynasty.
In addition to this metaphysical reason, Zhao Mengqi also took out measures that had been implemented in Wujiang County such as the establishment of martyrs' cemeteries, shrines, monuments, and four-season worship.
For the Chinese people who pay attention to their posthumous affairs, it is difficult to refuse these honors, and Zhao Mengqi also planned to move the families of the heroes to Liuqiu Island, and give them houses and fields to take root.
Therefore, most of the relatives of the heroes are willing to bury them in Liuqiu. After all, including many soldiers, they do not have any property in their hometown.
After all the coffins were properly placed in the tomb, Qian Long handed the inscription in his hand to Zhao Mengqi.
The inscription banner is the flag that is hung when praying after the funeral. It is held in front of the coffin during the funeral and covered on the coffin during the burial. It is made of red cloth. The length of the banner depends on the status. It is nine feet long for the third grade and above, and nine feet for the fifth grade. Eight feet above the first grade and seven feet above the sixth grade, the name and identity of the deceased are written on it.
Zhao Mengqi laid a seven-foot-long inscription on the coffin with his own hands, which read, "Chen Gongyongren, the officer of the Military Intelligence Department of the Great Song Dynasty Fengzhi." '
Doctor Fengzhi is a sixth-grade official, a posthumous title due to meritorious service, while Chen Yongren was originally from the Imperial City Division and came to Fujian with Uncle Xie Fang to take up a post in Fujian. He is responsible for external investigation and internal supervision.
This arrangement is normal in the army under Zhao Mengqi, but in the East Guard, it is more formal and detailed. The chief officer is responsible for military command, the record office is responsible for ideological construction, the military police is responsible for supervision and military discipline, and the Military Intelligence Department no longer participates in and interferes with the internal affairs of the military organization. Under normal circumstances, it is no longer responsible for battlefield reconnaissance.
Chen Yongren's affiliation was changed from the Imperial City Division to the Military Intelligence Division, but the mission remained the same as before. After all, the Left Army was not a new army yet.
He also knew that his task was quite distasteful, and he usually kept a low profile and was very low-key. If he hadn't noticed that there might be rebellion within, Zeng Ba wouldn't have been able to remember him.
The plan to break into the tribal alliance was completely proposed by him, and he knew from the beginning that it would be difficult for him to survive.
In the end, Chen Yongren completed the task perfectly, but at the cost of his life. Zhao Mengqi deeply admired his spirit of dying to serve the country, so he made the shocking move of personally carrying the coffin as the crown prince.
Zhao Mengqi also personally stamped the inscriptions on the other 392 martyrs one by one. Whether they are sergeants, civilians, or even natives, as long as they sacrificed their lives for the country, they should enjoy the treatment of heroes.
Later, under the farewell of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, all the tombs were sealed, and Zhao Mengqi led everyone to pay tribute to the deceased.
"On October 10th, the fourth year of Wei Baoyou, Zhao Hu, King of Yan in the Song Dynasty, dared to declare to the God of the Hou Tu clan that he is now posthumous to the heroes and martyrs, and he is here in this secluded house. God will bless him and benefit him from future difficulties. I sincerely Use it to drink the preserved meat and minced meat, and recommend it only to God."
After worshiping the Earth God, the burial ceremony is over.
However, after the body is buried, the soul of the deceased must be welcomed home and sacrificed on time. As the saying goes, "Send the body away and welcome the spirit back."
Only this time there is a change. Instead of welcoming me home, I welcome you into the Hall of Heroes.
After going through the ceremony of "Inscribing Lord Yu", family members or colleagues walked to the Temple of Heroes on the top of the mountain holding 393 spiritual tablets.
Due to the rush of time, this Hall of Heroes was built in a hurry. For now, there is only the main hall, which is a little simple, but also solemn and majestic. It will continue to be expanded and renovated in the future.
A bit in front of the Heroes Hall, probably where the Great Buddha of later generations will be, a magnificent monument will be erected.
The memorial tablets are placed one by one on the prepared memorial seats. The layers are stacked on top of each other, as thick as a mountain. The memorial tablets of other martyrs who have been taken back by their families for burial by themselves will also be invited in one after another.
The gate of the Hall of Heroes is open, and nearly six thousand soldiers are dressed solemnly, standing in formation in the most solemn manner, looking at the spiritual mountain in the hall.
After the return ceremony of the God Lord was completed, Zhao Mengqi and the generals walked to the array, stood in awe facing the main hall, and ordered, "Fire the cannon!"
Immediately, the nine cannons that had been prepared roared one after another to welcome the heroic souls to settle in.
The thunderous sound of cannons echoed in the mountains, endlessly.
When the gunfire stopped for a while, Zhao Mengqi shouted in a loud voice, "Everyone salutes."
With a flick of the brush, six thousand people were like one person, all holding their hands in front of their chests, "The majesty will last forever, and the mountains and rivers will be forever ruled!"
Everyone maintained a saluting posture, pursed their lips, and stared at the 393 spiritual tablets written in gold characters in the hall with resolute expressions, and the blood in their bodies was surging.
Most of the soldiers present, whether from the former Left Army or the Eastern Guard, were participating in such a military funeral ceremony for the first time. Perhaps they had never thought that just an ordinary soldier could receive such an honor.
A true warrior is not afraid of death, but is afraid of being forgotten.
At this time, many soldiers had a clear understanding in their hearts that being a soldier was no longer just for food and pay, nor was it just for gaining wealth, but they had a deeper yearning.
Once a general succeeds, thousands of bones will be withered, but a few successful generals will remember those withered bones! ?
But His Highness King Yan not only remembers it in his heart, but also engraves it on a stele and enshrines it on the altar so that people of thousands of generations can remember it.
Eternal fame is no longer the exclusive preserve of emperors, generals and ministers.
This grand funeral not only excited the soldiers, but also deeply shocked civil servants such as Lin Yingjia and Fu Yixin, as well as local leaders such as Mu Hua, Wan Xing, and Ma Huo.
Although the scholars of this era have all said, "Establish a heart for the world, establish a destiny for the people, carry on the unique knowledge for the saints, and create peace for all generations." '
But even if they sincerely take this sentence as a belief, I am afraid that not many people have truly valued the lives of ordinary people, let alone the martial arts and reckless men who have always been despised by others.
Regardless of what King Yan really thought in his heart, he truly respected the sacrifice of every life and gave him the most noble honor.
Under such circumstances, which soldier would not return to King Yan?
Not to mention that King Yan is the heir to the throne, I am afraid that even if he is just a bandit leader, he will definitely create great achievements in the future.
For Mu Hua and other local leaders, they saw the Song army's well-trained and united efforts. It seemed that as long as King Yan pointed his finger, they would move forward regardless of whether it was a mountain of swords or a sea of fire.
This kind of cohesion and execution ability made them unattainable. They only had trembling and admiration in their hearts, and they did not dare to have the slightest thought of rebellion.
Even the leaders of the southern tribes who were captured and actually became 'hostages' and 'signatures' all abandoned their illusions about making other plans for the future and really began to think about how to encourage their family members to submit.
As for the families of the heroes and the common people who spontaneously came to watch the ceremony, although there was still a lot of sadness, there was also a strong sense of warmth in their hearts, realizing that the lives of the heroes had not been in vain.
In addition to survival, what simple people pursue is nothing more than to have a good name in life and a proper death. If righteousness is more important than life, then it is okay to give up life.
The setting sun hangs in the west, shining in the Hall of Heroes. The stacked spiritual tablets emit golden light, shining like the happy smiles of the heroes.
In fact, Zhao Mengqi's heart was not pure, and everything he did was utilitarian, but at this moment, he felt inexplicably sad and his eyes gradually blurred.
Because of him, these people died, and many more will die in the future because of him.
Huh...why are you so pretentious all of a sudden?
Zhao Mengqi took a long breath, laughed at himself, blinked his eyes to hide his tears, "The ceremony is over!"
All the soldiers lowered their saluting arms and remained motionless.
Zhao Mengqi shook his head slightly and looked at the couplet on the doorpost of the Hall of Heroes, "Born as a hero of a hundred men, and died as a warrior." '
Then he slowly stepped forward, carefully and solemnly staring at each spiritual position in turn, as if he had secretly made some promise, then he turned around and slowly scanned all the soldiers in the room.
"My soldiers!"
"Today, with a heavy heart and with the most solemn etiquette, we buried our former colleagues and enshrined their heroes in the temple. Do you think it is worth sacrificing your life for this!?"
This question made all the soldiers stunned. They were silent for a while, and then they erupted into a tsunami, "It's worth it! It's worth it! It's worth it!..."
After a while, Zhao Mengqi raised his hands high and pressed a few times in the air, and all the shouts immediately stopped.
Then he shook his head and said with a smile, "If that's all, then I don't think it's worth it."
As soon as these words came out, the soldiers did not make an uproar, but their eyes became dull and blurred. Lin Yingjia and other civil servants were also puzzled, and others who heard it were even more confused.
Are you too tired, Your Highness? Are you all starting to lose your mind and talk nonsense?
Zhao Mengqi stood where he was, his voice still clear and loud, "Tai Shigong said that death is inevitable for everyone, and it may be heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather."
"Then what is more important than Mount Tai? Is it a grand burial? Is it a name that will go down in history?"
"I think it is, but not just because human life is short. If you can live well, it is better than any form of death."
"But if someone doesn't let us live well, and doesn't let our descendants live well, then we can only fight and fight, so death will always be with us."
"What this death brings is that our relatives will continue to live well, that our bloodline will be continued, that our descendants will not be humiliated and enslaved, that our spine will not be interrupted, and that the civilization from our ancestors can be passed on. …”
"We are living in this era, and these are our responsibilities. If we don't do anything, we will die sooner or later, but we will die in vain, with no meaning and value. It will be a wasted life in this world."
"A hero's career is built by himself, and it is better to sit back and watch his vocation."
"Heroes are worthy of commemoration and must be commemorated, but we do not become heroes for the sake of being commemorated, but because we are heroes ourselves!"
"Tell me, aren't you!? Are we heroes!?"
All the soldiers were excited and let out earth-shaking roars, "Yes! Yes! Yes! We are heroes!"
Zhao Mengqi's blood surged, he raised his arms and shouted wildly, "Then what is the hero going to do!?"
"Drive out the Tartars, clear away the evil smell, revive China, and expand the territory!"
"Drive out the Tartars, clear away the evil smell, revive China, and expand the territory!"
"Drive out the Tartars, clear away the evil smell, revive China, and expand the territory!"
Over and over again, the soldiers were passionate and tireless, bursting out with all their strength, solemnly swearing to the heaven and earth, all things, and the long river of history!
It seems that there is an invisible and intangible military soul that is quietly condensing.
All the civil servants were infected and shouted together.
The common people, the martyrs' relatives, and even the natives who didn't understand the meaning, all shouted wildly.
