Chapter 112, Chapter 5: Ancestral Martial Arts and Literature

At this moment, Liu Jun was not as busy with military affairs as everyone imagined; on the contrary, he was quite leisurely and carefree.

For example, a month after capturing Xuzhou, once the situation had stabilized somewhat, he led his nephews and nieces, along with Liu Dan and other members of the Liu clan in the army, to Feng County in Pei State.

After a brief inspection of the defenses, we leisurely strolled around the mountains and historical sites. Before we knew it, we arrived at a scenic spot. However, the temples were dilapidated and overgrown with weeds. There was a stone tablet with blurred inscriptions that had been pushed to the ground and even smashed into several pieces. Perhaps someone had intended to use this tablet to build a city wall, but gave up because it was too heavy.

Liu Jun rode forward, took a closer look, and couldn't help but exclaim, "This place is actually the original temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han in Sishui Pavilion!"

Liu Dan was startled and immediately dismounted to check. "Indeed, it has fallen into the hands of the Jie Hu. The governor of this place is not taking good care of it."

"As the saying goes, people leave and tea grows cold. Let alone the barbarians, even our dynasty, though only a hundred years after the Han Dynasty, has gone through two dynasties. Who still takes the former Han Dynasty seriously?" Liu Jun smiled calmly. "However, since we unworthy descendants are passing by this place, we cannot turn a blind eye."

“Exactly,” Liu Dan agreed with a smile.

Liu Jun dismounted, and everyone else quickly followed suit, crowding the small imperial road of the Gaozu Temple.

“Jingdao, there used to be gossipy people who mocked us behind our backs, saying we were completely unrelated and that our clan alliance was just a way to curry favor.” Liu Jun gently stroked the stone tablet. “I just counted, and today there are more than twenty members of the Liu family from Zhongshan who have come. You only brought two sons. How about we do a headcount and donate a share today? I’ll give you eight and you two?”

Liu Dan naturally responded without hesitation.

"With the war still raging, we cannot afford to be extravagant," Liu Jun instructed. "First, use the existing bricks and tiles to rebuild the temple, leave some old, weak, and disabled soldiers to guard it, and then repair it properly when the world is at peace."

He looked down at the vines entwined on the stone tablet. "In ten days it will be the Ghost Festival. I intend to hold a sacrificial ceremony here. Issue an order that all members of the Han imperial family in the entire army must come here to offer sacrifices."

The sacrificial ceremony was not extravagant, but its scale was undeniably grand. Over the course of four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, the imperial family had expanded and produced numerous descendants. There were powerful and wealthy families like Liu Jun, as well as ordinary people like peddlers and laborers. Nearly a thousand people stood silently in the most respectable clothes they could find in the chaotic world. No matter what music or lyrics were played, the nearly one thousand people did not make a sound.

The lyrics for this ancestral temple ceremony were written by Liu Jun himself, and he also ordered people to sing it in harmony with the zither and lute. Compared with the ancestral temple ceremony of the Wei Dynasty in the past, although it lacked the extravagance of the royal family, it had its own grandeur and solemnity of wartime.

After the ceremony, Liu Jun did not order everyone to disperse. Instead, he turned around and walked to a dilapidated platform, where he stood with his hand on his sword.

At this moment, another 120 young men played the zither and sang a long song: "The wind rises and the clouds fly, my might extends throughout the land and I return to my hometown, where can I find brave warriors to guard the four directions!" They repeated this ten times before stopping.

The crowd listened with fervor and rapt attention. Liu Jun raised his cup to the sky and said in a deep voice, "The country is in dire straits now, with war raging everywhere. I am powerless and can only offer this simple sacrifice of wine and roasted chicken. When I have pacified the world and restored order to the land, I will return to my hometown, repair the Pei Palace, and follow the laws and rites to worship my ancestors."

His words were like metal and stone, resounding and powerful. Upon hearing them, the crowd was filled with pride, and their cheers rose to the heavens.

Liu Jun drew his sword and pointed it straight at the sky, "Now, if you still consider yourselves Han men and Liu family members, then follow me to the north to conquer the Jie barbarians and bring glory to the land!"

Xi Jian, who was not a member of the Liu clan, watched from afar, his heart filled with intense emotions and deep feelings. He said to his eldest son, Xi Yin, who was standing beside him, "Fan Zeng of the Former Han Dynasty once said that the aura of Emperor Gaozu of Han was 'all dragons and tigers, forming five colors.' Now, looking at Liu Jun's aura, it is red inside and yellow outside. I don't know if it is the aura of a hero or something else... Father is old. How to make a choice in the future is up to you."

After the sacrificial ceremony, Liu Jun personally led a large army and rushed towards Qingzhou without stopping. At this time, Shi Le had already received the news and was ready for battle.

"Oh? Shi Sheng? Shi Le himself is still not here?" Liu Jun raised an eyebrow and looked at the scout.

The scout said with certainty, "Absolutely true."

Liu Jun sighed, "Judging from this, Shi Shilong probably doesn't have much time left. Even in his old age, he will still be an unparalleled hero. Since Heaven wants to take him away, I might as well serve him."

He traced a line on the map with his finger, “One route was by ship and supplies, heading north from Xiapi to Ju County, and another route was by land to Langya…”

In the twelfth month of the nineteenth year of Jianxing, Liu Jun personally led 100,000 cavalry and infantry into Qingzhou. His vanguard, Ji Dan, attacked Linqu, engaging in fierce combat with Shi Sheng's main force. Meanwhile, Liu Yin led a lynx army to outflank the Zhao army, crossing the frozen Jumei River and seizing Guanggu. Simultaneously, Liu Jun combined chariots, cavalry, infantry, and archers into a single force, using the Moon Formation to decisively defeat Shi Sheng's main force. Shi Sheng escaped with only a dozen or so men. Liu Yin ordered his third son, Liu Qin, to pursue them north. Liu Qin, after a two-hundred-mile raid, killed Shi Sheng on horseback.

After Liu Jun occupied Guanggu, he ordered Liu Dan to lead troops to garrison the area, recruit defectors, and stabilize the people's hearts.

"If they surrender, I will grant them titles and stipends and ensure their safety. If they do not surrender, I will exterminate their families, seize their grain, and garrison their land," Liu Jun instructed Liu Dan. "I will have the court issue an edict to appoint you as the governor of Qingzhou. Jingdao is capable in his work and adept at protecting the borders and ensuring the safety of the people. I entrust Qingzhou to you."

Although Liu Dan was somewhat disappointed that he could not make further military achievements with the central army, he thought that being appointed governor of another prefecture was an unparalleled honor and a testament to Liu Jun's unparalleled trust in him, so he gladly accepted the position.

“Not only that,” Liu Jun said slowly, “I am worried that Shi Le will use a strategy of attacking Wei to relieve Zhao. Yuzhou is very close to Xuzhou, Qingzhou, and Yanzhou. Now the Central Plains can be said to be a contiguous area. Your family has managed Yuzhou for three generations. No matter which province Shi Le attacks, you can promptly mobilize the troops from Yuzhou…”

Liu Dan's expression turned serious, clearly having grasped the key point. "This subordinate will keep it in mind!"

“In addition, there is one more thing,” Liu Jun frowned, “What do you think of the Langya Wang clan?”

“Many talented people have emerged. Although our reputation was damaged by the Wang Dun affair, Wang Dao has been in charge of the government in Jiangdong for years, so our vitality has not been harmed.” Liu Dan hesitated and asked, “Have you heard about this, my lord?”

Liu Jun smiled bitterly, "These Jiangdong rats are so vicious; they're trying to flatter me to death."

Sima Yan, the Prince of Langya, openly submitted a memorial stating that Liu Jun's achievements were renowned throughout the world, his virtue and merit were outstanding, and his honor and favor were unparalleled in the world. He requested the court to grant him a higher rank.

“I am already a duke, and if I were to be promoted to a higher rank, I would become a marquis. He is trying to flatter me to my death,” Liu Jun said with slight anger. “Moreover, the war is at a critical time. Instead of sending troops to relieve the worries of the emperor and father, he is stirring up trouble and undermining the morale of the army. His intentions deserve to be punished!”

Liu Dan said in a flustered manner, "If Your Majesty believes me..."

“Then I will return to Chang’an under the cover of night to plead my case before the Emperor,” Liu Jun said in a deep voice.

Liu Dan followed his gaze and saw the original temple of Emperor Gaozu. "I swear to follow my lord to the death!"