The sky was clear and the spring sun was shining brightly.
From south to north, Xiao's army, winding its way across mountains and seas, arrived with faces full of exhaustion and confusion.
With the marshal seriously injured and the young master taking over, what will their future hold?
"General Xiao Dong, listen, it sounds like...it's the Xiao family's war drums!!"
Suddenly, a sharp-eared soldier at the vanguard of the army cried out in alarm.
Xiao Dong waved, and the group stopped.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud thud! Thud thud thud thud—
"General, it's the war drums! The war drums to welcome the army!!"
Xiao Dong was filled with excitement, and his heart began to beat in time with the drumbeats.
"Come on, brothers, it's the young master! He's here to greet us!"
Immediately, a messenger on horseback galloped back, announcing, "The young master has personally come to welcome us, beating the drums!"
"The young master is personally welcoming us with drums!"
The sound traveled very, very far.
The long queue suddenly lifted the somber atmosphere.
Their steps seemed to lighten.
The cavalry, leading the infantry, immediately sped up and headed towards Guixiong New City.
"Look, look! It really is the young master!"
On the towering new city gate, a huge military flag bearing the character "Xiao" flutters in the wind, like a guiding light.
Under the banner, war drums resounded, and a tall, slender figure swung his arms as he played the drums.
That was a young girl!
Only now did everyone truly realize that their future commander was this little girl in front of them.
A sense of uncertainty welled up in everyone's hearts again: Could she do it?
Xiao Dong waved his hand, and the lieutenant generals of each unit directed everyone to quickly form teams.
The ranks continued to be arrayed, and the war drums never ceased.
Everyone looked up at the figure on the city wall.
Finally, Xiao Zhixing turned around, raised his eyebrows and smiled, threw away his drumsticks, and leaped down from the city wall.
"Ah!" the soldiers exclaimed, their hearts leaping into their throats.
Unexpectedly, she landed steadily on the back of the BMW below the city. "Giddy up!"
Tap tap, tap tap, blood-soaked night, hooves raised.
"Good!!" At this moment, the soldiers couldn't help but cheer in unison, excited and thrilled by her move.
It seems that this young master is a martial arts master?
Xiao Zhixing rode Blood Night slowly past them, his gaze meeting those bloodshot eyes.
I also noticed the white mourning plaques they wore on their arms for their fallen comrades.
The scene fell completely silent, with only the sound of flags waving.
"Fellow comrades, I am Xiao Qingluan, Xiao Zhixing, the young prince of the Zhenguo Palace."
The clear and powerful shout, transmitted through internal energy, reached everyone's ears.
"From this day forward, I am the commander of the Xiao family army!"
"My comrades, you have worked hard. You fought for the country, and though you were defeated, you are still honorable!"
"I will be proud of you!"
Xiao Jiajun, whose life was lost in the wildfire, gritted his teeth and his eyes reddened.
This was the first time they had suffered such a crushing defeat! And they left in a humiliating way.
Feeling resentful, angry, and distressed, some of the young soldiers couldn't help but sob.
"In my hands, there are no defeated soldiers, only heroic souls who died in battle. The spirit of my Xiao family army will live on forever, and we will never admit defeat!"
"Never give up!" The soldiers roared in unison, their blood boiling.
"Speak louder, so that our fallen brothers can hear us!"
"Never give up! Never give up!!"
Xiao Zhixing wrapped the mourning cloth around his arm, waved his hand, and said, "Play the funeral music to commemorate the fallen heroes!"
Two groups of soldiers from the Southern Jiangsu Army stood on either side, holding white banners, and a table was carried to the front of the formation.
Xiao Zhixing dismounted, took the incense, and raised it high above his head before the altar, saying, "Brothers, may you have a safe journey!"
boom!
A thunderclap in the clear sky, dark clouds gathered, and instantly a fierce wind howled, with sand and stones flying everywhere.
It was as if the spirits of the fallen heroes were trembling.
Xiao Dong, with tears streaming down his face, took the lead and knelt down with a thud.
The soldiers, who had been on edge all the way, could no longer hold back and collapsed to the ground, wailing and calling out the names of their close comrades.
After bowing nine times, Xiao Zhixing lit incense, poured strong liquor on the table, and looked up at the dark sky.
Have a safe journey.
It's good for the living to cry; if they keep holding back, it will damage their spirit and ruin their health.
[Xiao Family Army, the strongest infantry regiment! Salute!]
[The backbone of Dasheng's military! Respect to the fallen heroes!]
Farewell, seniors! Respectfully presented by the entire Xiao Family Army!
[Sobbing, I'm suddenly so moved. Our country has always had heroes!]
[Looking back at the Great Prosperity period, every legion was formidable; even the weakest **army** was still overwhelming! Especially during the **** era, it truly was the strongest period on Earth in ancient times!]
Ahhh, how I wish I could live to be a hundred years old and witness such a magnificent and prosperous era!
So, older ladies, take good care of yourselves!
[It's alright, if I die, my descendants must burn the most exciting parts of the story for me!]
That night, in the military camp outside the city, exhausted from the long journey and overwhelmed with grief, everyone in Xiao's army fell into a deep sleep, including the generals such as Xiao Dong.
Xiao Zhixing personally kept watch for them on the city wall, accompanied by three young men: Huo Baijun, Xiong Chumo, and Ji Bai.
"Our soldiers have died in countless battles," Huo Baijun sighed. "Admirable, yet lamentable."
Xiao Zhixing smiled faintly, "General Huo sent a letter urging you to return and asking you to take up a post in Huo Family Army. What do you plan to do?"
Huo Baijun took a swig of his drink. "My five older brothers are all in the army. What could I possibly do there?"
Moreover, with Huo's army stationed around Shengjing, protecting the central government, and there being no war, he feared he wouldn't be able to stay there.
"What? You want to become a general in one fell swoop?"
Huo Baijun pursed his lips, "No, it's just that I feel a real man should be fighting on all sides. Staying in the central government doesn't feel right."
Xiao Zhixing took a sip of sake. "If someone isn't trusted by His Majesty, how can they guard the central government?"
The Huo family has always adhered to the family motto of being loyal only to the person on the throne, and not engaging in factional struggles or seeking credit for their service to the emperor.
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