Wishing Tree
The new artillery had become the decisive force on the battlefield, and the fact that women monopolized its operation brought about an expected result: the casualty rate of the female army was far lower than that of the male soldiers who were still relying on their flesh and blood and traditional swords for combat. As their victories accumulated, the male soldiers cursed and complained, unable to bear how powerful these women were.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lu Yunchu once again advised Chu Cheng'an, arguing that "to rectify military discipline, boost morale, and make the best use of everyone's talents," and finally persuaded him to issue a formal edict to completely abolish the system of military prostitutes and allow the girls to participate in the war.
During a fierce siege, Xuanji, while covering his comrades, was shot through the shoulder by a powerful crossbow bolt, his blood instantly staining his battle robe. The wounded soldiers' camp was overflowing, and the army doctors were exhausted from running around, often treating wounds in a crude and simple manner. Scraping away bone and removing decay was like torture, and cries of agony filled the air.
When it was Xuanji's turn, she was pale but forced herself to chat and laugh with the soldiers, even inquiring about the battle situation at the front. Her bravery won everyone's admiration, and even when Axiao and Xuanxuan came to visit her, they couldn't help but praise her repeatedly.
Only Lu Yun Chu's eyes instantly reddened when she saw Xuan Ji's deep, bone-revealing wound. She felt sorry for this young woman, remembering how her menstrual cycle had always been irregular, yet she always forced herself to charge into battle.
As night fell, the crowd of visitors dispersed. Lu Yunchu, carrying a pot of chicken soup, arrived at Xuanji's tent where she was recuperating. Xuanji thanked him, took the bowl, and without even looking at it, gulped down the soup, which choked her and made her cough violently. A few strands of hair, damp with sweat, clung to her cheeks. Lu Yunchu reached out and gently tucked them behind her ears. His fingertips inadvertently touched the old and new scars on her collarbone, and Lu Yunchu finally couldn't hold back his tears.
Xuanji seemed somewhat annoyed by the somber atmosphere. He forced a smile and joked in a hoarse voice, "General... I... I'm fine. I'm tough and resilient. I'll be back on the battlefield in a few days!"
Lu Yunchu didn't reply. A long silence filled the tent before she let out a long sigh, her voice choked with emotion: "Xuanji... if you don't want to laugh, then don't. Seeing you like this... seeing you in pain but unable to cry out, I... my heart aches so much..."
She lowered her head, her body trembling slightly.
Lu Yunchu held her cold hand, her voice soft: "I really don't want to see more women sacrifice themselves for that so-called great cause. If... if I can't even protect everyone around me, and watch you suffer, how can I promise the world a better future..." She thought of Qingxue, and countless vanished figures, and only guilt remained in her heart.
Before leaving, Lu Yunchu bent down and gently hugged her: "If you feel unwell at all, you must tell me! I care about everything, all your sadness, I care about everything!"
Looking at Xuanji, she seemed to see all the girls struggling and running in the mud, covered in wounds but still striving forward.
Suddenly, she didn't want to have any more regrets, so she instructed Jiang Liu and Zai Yu to pass on the order: everyone, regardless of gender or rank, should write down their wishes and give them to her. Those who were illiterate could have someone else write them for them.
Ah Xiao wholeheartedly agreed with this approach and actively assisted in the collection. She sighed, "In war, everything is fleeting, and we always want to leave something behind..."
Lu Yunchu ordered his men to carve these wishes onto small wooden plaques, which were then hung on several ancient and lush trees at the edge of the camp. Thousands upon thousands of wooden plaques swayed gently in the wind, making soft, tinkling sounds as they swayed.
She saw the hidden meaning in Xuanji's wish: "I hope my mother won't be beaten, my father won't beat us, my younger sister and Sister Zheng will live well... and I hope they won't sell me... I miss the little earthen mound in front of my house, I still owe Auntie rice..."
Ah Xiao also hung her wish on the tree: "I hope my sister is doing well... and I also hope... I can truly let go..."
Mu Yu and Xuan Xuan held hands and hung up the same sign: "Mu Yu and Xuan Xuan will never be separated."
After hesitating for a long time, Azhi finally wrote: "I hope my older sister, younger sister, and older brother are happy in heaven. I've lost everything, I ask for nothing more..."
Meng Zhiyi wrote something unexpected: "I hope that all women in the world will eventually usher in the light that belongs to us."
Bai Wusheng wrote something quite interesting: "Eat, eat, eat! I need to eat lots and lots of delicious food every day!"
Bai Wushou still longed to see the world: "I want to go to Jiangnan and the northern frontier with my sister, to see the small bridges and flowing water, to see the surging waves, and to see all the world's splendor!"
Qian Yuan's dream remains unchanged: "May the world be free of tricks, and may our original aspirations endure forever."
Zai Yu still wanted to sleep in: "Sleep in. Sleep until the end of time, undisturbed."
Jiang Liu was thinking only about her gold ingots: "Lots and lots of gold ingots, to buy a big house and bring my mother here, and plant her favorite flowers all over the yard."
Qi An remained a logical person: "First, find my little treasure. Second, all people in the world will no longer suffer from illness."
Lu Yunchu held the pen, pondered for a long time, and finally wrote only three words: "I don't know."
Su Lang secretly left a message: "I just want her to be happy. I ask for nothing more."
Without a second thought, Gao Zhan wrote on it: "Once we find Yunniang, the three of us will never be separated!"
Chu Cheng'an also came over, but wrote a strange sentence: "Go to Jiangnan to watch fireworks with my mother, aunt, and sister."
The other female soldiers wrote all sorts of things, but with exceptional seriousness. Some wanted to open an embroidery shop, some wanted to learn to read and write, and some wanted to become officials. The male soldiers, on the other hand, mostly shared similar wishes: to have several wives, several children, to get promoted and make money, and to return to their hometowns to buy land…
She stood alone beneath the tree, murmuring softly, as if speaking of a future she didn't know whether she would receive: "Many, many years later, we will all have turned to dust... but perhaps, future generations will still see this tree, and will find similar wishes in these wooden plaques... At that time, we will surely meet again..."
Her murmurs were soft, drifting away with the leaves, like the gentle drizzle of the day, eventually leaving no trace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
