Chapter 73
In March of that year, the Duosang tribe led more than 10,000 people to submit to the Great Zhou.
In early April, the Tulun tribe also requested to submit to the government.
These two pieces of news caused a sensation in Xizhou.
The officials of Xizhou then understood what Wei Mingsu's purpose was in coming to Xizhou.
General Ma immediately sent someone back to Luoyang Shendu Garden to report the good news of the tribe's submission.
The governor of Xizhou and his chief secretary, Fan Hui, were overjoyed and invited the tribes to Nicheng, where a grand welcoming ceremony was held for the two tribes.
Amidst the resounding and majestic "Shengshou Le" (a type of traditional Chinese music), two chieftains dressed in brocade robes and their sons stepped forward to present the Queen with gold, silver, pearls, felt carpets, cattle, horses, and sheep as tribute.
Fan Hui stood on the high platform and read the imperial edict to the two tribes. The queen bestowed titles upon the two chieftains and their sons, and rewarded them with brocade, gold and silver utensils, treasures and other items, and allocated them land.
The chieftain knelt down facing the direction of Luoyang and shouted "Long live the emperor!"
His sons behind him also knelt down and shouted in unison.
The other members of the tribe below the platform also knelt down and kowtowed. The shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" from 20,000 people echoed like undulating waves, spreading outwards from the high platform in concentric circles. The sound was so powerful and earth-shaking that it seemed to travel through layers of clouds and could be carried by the breeze all the way to Luoyang, thousands of miles away.
The banquet celebrations lasted from day to night, with people singing and dancing around the bonfire, the sound of pipa music filling the air, and the crowd in high spirits, creating a joyful atmosphere.
Tong Jin and A Yu sat in front of the campfire.
One of them sought Fan Hui's help in Xizhou, while the other was left behind by Lu Huaying in the Tulun tribe. A few days ago, under the cover of Wei Mingsu and his group, the two tribes successfully submitted one after the other and came to Nicheng to participate in the ceremony. After being separated for several months, they also came to Nicheng and reunited at the ceremony.
The two looked around and saw Han and Hu people singing and dancing together, drinking heartily, creating a lively and joyous scene everywhere.
Several Hu people passed by them, smiling as they poured them a bowl of strong liquor.
They took the wine but didn't drink it. They all looked up at the west, their expressions somewhat worried.
Fan Hui walked over and asked with a smile, "Why aren't you drinking? Afraid of getting drunk?"
Tong Jin shook his head, glanced at General Ma who was chatting and laughing with the officials of Xizhou in the distance, and sneered: "Chief Secretary, the young master went to great lengths to receive the tribes who had submitted, risking his life countless times. General Ma was afraid of the Xiliang people and hid in Wuni City. No matter how much I pleaded, he was unwilling to take the risk or lend troops. Only after confirming that the Xiliang people had not caught up with Wuni City did he dare to go to receive the Duosang tribe! But now General Ma shamelessly claims the credit for himself."
Fan Hui put away his smile, sighed, and said, "General Ma is from the Ministry of War. He did indeed fulfill his duty and provided support to the Duosang tribe."
Tong Jin looked at the Xizhou officials, his face full of anger: "They were all praising General Ma just now, why didn't they mention the young master? Is the young master's achievement this time not as good as General Ma's, who just reaped the benefits without lifting a finger?"
Fan Hui took a sip of wine, a hint of mockery flashing across his face: "Because Governor Wei is not their friend."
If political interests are not aligned, even if the other party has made great achievements, they are still enemies.
Tong Jin and A Yu exchanged a glance. Both of them felt resentful for Wei Mingsu, but they were just his attendants, of low status, and could do nothing for him.
Fan Hui said self-deprecatingly, "I'm just like them."
He could not speak up for Wei Mingsu. Although Wei Mingsu had recommended him to serve as the Prefect of Xizhou, he always maintained a clear distance from Wei Mingsu and would not offend his colleagues for Wei Mingsu's sake.
The three men were all somewhat downcast when they heard footsteps nearby. A servant quickly approached and said, "Chief Secretary, the men who went to fetch Governor Wei and his men have returned!"
The two chieftains also received the news and, together with their subordinates and Fan Hui, rode out of the city.
The sound of hooves echoed in the pitch-black night. Disheveled and almost all of the warriors from the Dosang and Tulun tribes appeared before the city gate, dismounted, and helped each other along.
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The tribespeople excitedly rushed forward, searching for their relatives and friends in the crowd.
Some people laughed loudly because their loved ones had survived, while others covered their faces and wept bitterly after confirming the death of their loved ones.
Chief Xin of the Dosan tribe
He patted his son Yixi's shoulder comfortingly.
The chieftain of the Tulun tribe smiled and said that Mangbao was a true warrior.
Tong Jin and A Yu squeezed into the crowd filled with the joys and sorrows of parting, but after searching for a long time, they still couldn't find Wei Mingsu and Lu Huaying. They were so anxious that they were sweating profusely. Fan Hui's attendant pointed into the distance and said, "Prefect Wei is over there!"
At the very back of the procession, a black horse slowly emerged from the darkness.
The two men on horseback were dressed in a Hu robe with a saber at his waist. His chin was covered in blood, obscuring his face, and his hair was disheveled. The other man had a pale face and a calm expression.
Both of them were in a sorry state.
The people from the Tulun and Duosang tribes suddenly stopped talking and looked at the two people on horseback.
The two chiefs stepped forward, each clenching one fist, and the other warriors followed suit, offering a tribal salute to the two chiefs.
Someone tossed over a wine jar and a wine bowl. Mangbao smiled and took them, poured two bowls of wine, and handed them to the two chieftains.
The two chieftains raised their wine bowls, looked at Wei Mingsu and Lu Huaying, and said with a smile, "Governor Wei, Afei, you have shared life and death with the bravest warriors of our tribe. From now on, you are friends of our tribe!"
Wei Mingsu and Lu Huaying dismounted, took the wine bowls, and both drank them down in one gulp.
After finishing his drink, Lu Huaying glanced at Wei Mingsu, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the crowd, and said with a smile, "To have met so many brave friends, what more could I ask for!"
Everyone laughed and cheered as they entered the city.
Having narrowly escaped death, everyone still felt lingering fear when talking about the despair they faced in the final moments against the Xiliang army. They gathered around with their wine bowls, wanting to toast Wei Mingsu.
Lu Huaying tugged at Wei Mingsu's sleeve, walked up to him, poured him a bowl of wine, and after he finished drinking it, he held up the bottom of the bowl and smiled at everyone, saying, "I appreciate everyone's hospitality, Governor Wei, but tonight your families are waiting to reunite with you, so please don't get drunk! We'll have a proper get-together another day, and we won't leave until we're all drunk."
"Alright, let's drink until we're drunk!"
After exchanging a few jokes, everyone went to find their friends and family.
Lu Huaying turned around, looked at Wei Mingsu, and whispered, "Your injury hasn't healed yet, so drink less alcohol."
She remembered that he didn't like to drink, and he was injured and couldn't drink much. The men in the tribe drank alcohol like water and didn't think about his injury; if she didn't politely refuse, they would get him drunk.
She drank the wine for him, her lips moistening.
Wei Mingsu looked away from her lips and nodded: "Mm."
Fan Hui, along with Tong Jin and A Yu, walked towards them.
Lu Huaying turned to look at Fan Hui and said, "His wound hasn't been treated for several days; we need to apply medicine quickly."
Fan Hui looked at the injury on her chin and said, "The doctor is waiting."
They did not attend the celebratory banquet, but went inside to change their dressings.
Ayu is preparing to go with Lu Huaying.
Wei Mingsu glanced at him.
He scratched his head, escorted Lu Huaying into the house, stepped out, and turned to see Wei Mingsu.
Wei Mingsu sat by the window, shirtless, as a doctor applied medicine to his wound.
Ayu asked, "Does the young master have any instructions?"
Wei Mingsu looked out the window, his voice hoarse, and asked, "Why did Shabona agree to help?"
Ayu was taken aback when she realized that Wei Mingsu's first question after returning safely was about this.
Wei Mingsu raised his eyes and said, "Tell the truth."
Ayu felt a chill run down her spine.
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