The atmosphere by the South City Gate was somewhat chaotic.
News about the situation outside the city had already spread through the comings and goings of the Imperial Guard.
The Duke of Chengguo had unexpectedly been stopped and insulted repeatedly, and his army had even drawn weapons against the commoners.
This was completely unlike the Duke of Chengguo they had imagined.
As these thoughts crossed their minds, the citizens grew increasingly bewildered.
What was the Duke of Chengguo they imagined like? To be honest, they couldn't say. Nearly twenty years had passed since the Jurchen people marched south and took the city, and it had been ten years since the Duke of Chengguo stationed himself in the northern lands. Those brutal battlefields and ferocious clashes had long faded into the realm of folktales and idle chatter — too distant to feel real.
The third prince standing on the city gate tower was only sixteen or seventeen, born and raised in Shandong. He had never witnessed such an electrifying scene before. Unlike the emperor, he found the noisy citizens distinctly irritating, with not a shred of joy.
Summer in the capital was already stiflingly hot, and the emperor, intending to express his appreciation, had ordered the prince to arrive early. He had been waiting here by the city gates for nearly an hour.
"Are they coming or not? If not, I won't wait any longer." The third prince grabbed a fan from a palace maid and fanned himself vigorously to dispel his rising irritation.
The accompanying officials wore complex expressions, some even showing hints of delight.
The third prince wasn't as patient as the emperor. He had sought glory this time, yet found himself dragged into embarrassment alongside the Duke of Chengguo. It was inevitable that the prince would be resentful, and while he might not storm off in anger, there would certainly be lingering bitterness in the future.
"Your Highness, please wait just a bit longer. Something occurred earlier," an official stepped forward to placate him. "I fear the Duke of Chengguo may be delayed…"
Before his words faded, a commotion erupted beneath the city gates, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of approaching hoofbeats.
"They're here!"
Shouts rang out one after another, countless pairs of eyes turning toward the approaching main road.
Could it truly be them? So soon?
The officials atop the city gate tower displayed expressions of astonishment.
Even the third prince rose to his feet.
"Let's see what kind of grand presence this famous Northern Army has to offer." He chuckled, walking out as he spoke.
The officials hurried to follow him, standing on the gate tower where the panoramic view allowed a clear sight of the masses below.
The surging crowd startled all the officials, including the third prince.
"Are those civilians or soldiers?" he blurted out.
Not only they, but the waiting citizens of the capital were equally puzzled. The first figures that emerged in their view were a group of shabby commoners, dressed so poorly that they looked worse off than beggars compared to the well-dressed spectators surrounding them.
How did this group slip through? Were the guards on duty not paying attention?
As confusion spread, the group drew closer, bypassing the citizens in front until a military formation behind them entered view. This so-called formation stood out simply because they rode horses while the others walked.
What kind of formation was this? Without armor or weapons, wearing plain clothes, they appeared far less imposing than the well-dressed Imperial Guards stationed along the road.
At least the guards had donned new armor for today's duty, presenting themselves with stately composure.
The cheers faded, replaced by buzzing murmurs of inquiry.
The commotion, however, did not disturb the advance of the procession. After the civilians came column after column of the Duke's army, now fully visible to all.
Though they lacked shining armor and weapons, the soldiers on horseback maintained solemn expressions and rigid postures, their movements synchronized, their horses stepping in perfect rhythm — a cadence that seemed to echo in everyone's hearts, drawing their captivation and silencing the crowd.
Without the concealment of armor, they appeared approachable, allowing the crowd to observe them closely.
They varied in age, their faces weather-beaten, their hands gripping reins roughened with calluses. As their simple garments swayed with their strides, the scars on their necks and chests became faintly visible.
These men were neither gods nor beasts, but the ones who had defended the northern lands for ten years, forcing the Jin thief to sue for peace.
Unarmed and unarmored, they marched solemnly, fearlessly, and with unstoppable resolve.
The roadside fell silent, broken only by the sound of hoofbeats — rhythmic and steady.
"Halt, halt!"
At last, the officials at the city gates surged forth, angrily stopping the advancing civilians.
"What do you intend to do?"
"We want to enter the city! We want to escort the Duke of Chengguo into the city!" shouted the obstructed citizens.
The formerly quiet area around the city gates descended into a flurry of activity.
The officials now understood what occurred earlier. Their faces turned grim. Forget about stopping these civilians; even the scholars among the crowd couldn't be held back. With so many, if chaos broke out, they wouldn't be able to contain it.
"Duke of Chengguo, what is the meaning of this?" The leading official stepped forward, furious, shouting toward the military formation.
The formation had already come to a halt. Flags fluttered and the soldiers shifted into a new formation, creating a path. A figure on horseback slowly emerged from its center.
Tall in stature and graceful in demeanor, dressed in a simple robe, he appeared more akin to a middle-aged scholar wandering the streets in leisure than a hardened military man.
This was...
"The Duke of Chengguo!" shouted an elderly onlooker suddenly, his voice cracking with excitement, his emotions nearly spilling over. He tried to rush forward.
The crowd finally snapped out of their daze, erupting in excitement.
This was the Duke of Chengguo!
No savage military brute, but rather someone refined and striking.
The true Duke of Chengguo — a man whose name as the God of War matched his extraordinary elegance.
Countless voices rose in chorus, the earlier silence over the peculiar military procession swept away in an instant. Crowds surged forward, nearly overwhelming the officials on duty, who could only struggle to hold them back, preventing them from spilling onto the street — though by now, the street was already filled with onlookers.
"Handsome men truly have their advantages," one official atop the gate couldn't help muttering.
No one paid his comment any attention. The Duke of Chengguo had arrived with such a crowd, and with one appearance, the spectators from the capital seemed to lose all composure — an overwhelming sight to behold.
And this was without armor or weapons. If these soldiers had been fully armed, one could only imagine how terrifying it would have been.
The expressions of the officials standing at the city gates grew even darker. As the Duke approached, the crowd around him voluntarily parted to clear his way. Soon, he stood before them.
Dismounting from his horse, he walked confidently, stopping before the head official.
"Zhu Shan has fulfilled his duty." He clasped his fists and bowed deeply. "I bring the citizens of three regions back to Zhou as thanks to His Majesty."
The official froze momentarily.
Fulfilled duty? Brought citizens back? In gratitude?
No boastful claims, no anger, no arrogance — only humility and thanks.
As the Duke's words carried through the air, the crowd behind him collapsed as though swept by a wave, dropping to their knees with raised arms to pay their respects.
"Thank you, Duke, for not abandoning us! Thank you, Your Majesty, for not forsaking us! We have returned!"
"We are still citizens of the great Zhou! We have returned!"
"Thank heaven and earth above!"
"Thank you for not forsaking us!"
Tens of thousands of voices rose. Hoarse and weary, tinged with sobs, yet brimming with solemnity and pride.
The onlooking citizens froze in amazement, silent and awestruck. Those atop the gate tower felt their hearts tremble even more deeply.
"Now this is interesting!" The third prince exclaimed, his hand smacking against the wall. Gone was his impatience; he was now brimming with vitality. "Now this is how glory should be claimed!"
It wasn't about the Duke of Chengguo's own might, nor the soldiers' impressiveness, but the benevolence of Zhou's heaven and earth. The gratitude wasn't directed toward Zhu Shan and his soldiers, but toward the heavenly blessings and the emperor's mercy.
"Duke of Chengguo, please proceed." He raised his hand and called out loudly, turning away and descending the tower with large strides.
At his command, the eunuchs, palace secretaries, and Ministry of Rites officials all sprang into action.
"Welcome!"
"Welcome!"
The calls echoed outward as drums and music erupted, banners waving in unison.
"Right on time." A Ministry of Rites official muttered under his breath while gazing at an hourglass, "Auspicious timing, auspicious people, auspicious signs."
.........….
Watching as the prince received them and the procession passed unimpeded through the city gates, marching toward the Imperial Street and the Imperial City, Ning Yan stood in a tavern overlooking the street. Long silence had weighed on his face, but now, faint traces of a smile emerged.
"The three barriers have been crossed."
He picked up the teacup in front of him — left untouched for who knows how long — and drained it in one sip.
***********************************
Please cast your guaranteed monthly votes!