Chapter 589 "Homage to the heroic souls of the past, homage to the steadfastness of today, homage to the future... of peace!"
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The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, Lunar New Year's Eve.
The city of Jian'an was already covered in a blanket of snow, but the festive atmosphere had largely dispelled the cold.
Every household put up brand-new peach wood charms and hung up red lanterns. The aroma of stewed meat and the joyful laughter of children playing were wafting from the chimneys.
However, at this time of family reunion, the Zhenhai Army camp remained solemn and vigilant.
Outside the continuous camp, the sentries stood tall like pine trees in the cold wind, their sharp eyes scanning the distance.
Deep within the military camp, in stark contrast to the warm and festive atmosphere of the city, a unique ambiance permeates the air, a blend of coldness and fervor—a fusion of the winter chill and the surging passion in the soldiers' hearts.
In the open space in front of the central command tent, dozens of large pots had already been set up, with firewood crackling underneath. The mutton soup inside the pots was bubbling with thick white waves, and large chunks of mutton were floating in the soup, emitting a rich aroma that made one's mouth water.
The steaming mutton soup in the big pot dispelled the cold and desolation of the cold winter months.
Several other huge bonfires had whole fat sheep roasting over them, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the fat dripping into the fire and sizzling.
The golden-brown crust was crispy, and the aroma of meat mixed with the scent of unknown spices wafted through the camp, making mouths water.
The soldiers stood in neat rows, their military bearing impeccable despite the approaching New Year. Only the expectant gleam in their eyes betrayed their inner joy.
They are waiting for someone.
When that figure in a black cloak appeared at the entrance of the Zhenhai Army camp, the atmosphere of the entire camp seemed to be thrown into a block of ice in hot oil, exploding instantly, only to return to an even more solemn silence in the next moment.
Li Shiyue has arrived.
She wasn't dressed in anything particularly fancy; she was still in a neat black martial arts outfit, with a matching cloak over it, her dark hair tied up high, and her face clear and aloof.
She walked steadily forward, her gaze sweeping over the soldiers in formation.
Those eyes didn't hold much festive joy, but rather a heavy, reassuring strength.
All the soldiers, spontaneously and silently, straightened their backs, their eyes following her figure intently.
It was a heartfelt reverence and devotion that needed no words to resonate.
She walked to the high platform that had been set up on the training ground, her gaze slowly sweeping over every face below, whether young or weathered, yet all equally resolute.
The cold wind lifted the hem of her cloak, causing her hair, which was tied up high, to flutter in the wind.
"Brothers!"
Li Shiyue's voice was clear and bright, not particularly strained, yet strangely it overpowered the wind and clearly reached everyone's ears: "Today is New Year's Eve!"
The thousands of soldiers below the stage held their breath in concentration.
“At this time in previous years, you were either at home reuniting with your parents, wife and children, or somewhere making a living for yourselves.”
But this year, you are here!
Outside Jian'an City, inside the Zhenhai Army Camp!
Behind you lies Jian'an City, recovering from the ravages of Japanese pirates, and tens of thousands of people who trust and rely on us!
Li Shiyue's voice suddenly rose, carrying a metallic clang: "You gave up reuniting with your families, and here you hold your knives tightly, guarding against the bitter cold!"
for what? "
She paused for a moment, her sharp gaze sweeping over everyone below the platform.
"Because we are soldiers!"
It is the shield of Jian'an and the coastal people!
It was their knife!
The Japanese pirates have retreated, but will they be content with that?
Will they sheathe their fangs just because we won the Battle of Snake Coil Island?
"Won't!"
Someone in the audience shouted first;
Immediately, a thunderous response erupted from hundreds upon hundreds of throats: "No!"
"That's right! No way!"
Li Shiyue waved her hand sharply and said decisively, "They will only take advantage of our momentary lapse in vigilance to pounce on us again, tearing at our flesh and blood and plundering our homes!"
Can we agree to that?
"No! No! No!"
The roar shook the heavens and the earth, dispelling the chill in the air. The soldiers' faces flushed with excitement, their eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.
"So, as we enjoy this New Year's Eve dinner, I hope you will remember the responsibilities you bear!"
Remember why you are standing here!
At this moment, Li Shiyue's voice softened, but it still carried an undeniable weight: "Tonight, I will drink with you all!"
Salute to the heroes of the past, salute to those who persevere today, and salute to the day when...peace reigns!
Li Shiyue raised the large, rough porcelain bowl filled with a little wine and drank the whole bowl down.
"Respect, General!"
A tremendous roar erupted from below the platform.
The soldiers also raised their bowls of wine, which had been poured earlier, and offered them to Li Shiyue on the high platform.
Li Shiyue raised her hand to suppress the cheers.
"Remove your armor! Eat meat! Drink soup!"
The moment the order was given, the serious atmosphere instantly became lively.
Just like last year, Li Shiyue also distributed New Year's gifts to all the soldiers today!
Moreover, compared to the two taels of silver last year, although it is still two taels this year, everyone has been given an extra set of winter clothes.
These winter clothes were made in the military supply workshop where Lü Erniang worked.
As for silver?
The money came from many sources. The majority came from the silver obtained from the Japanese pirates in the battle of Snake Coil Island. The remainder came from the support of wealthy merchants in Jian'an City and from the sale of sea salt.
The soldiers who had received their silver in advance beamed with smiles, and now they lined up in an orderly fashion to collect their share of meat and mutton soup.
Li Shiyue did not stay on the high platform; she stepped down and blended into the group of soldiers.
She casually sat down by a campfire, took a bowl of steaming mutton soup from Sun Xiaoliu, and picked up a piece of roasted mutton, eating it heartily without any restraint.
Generals or soldiers would come up to toast her from time to time, and she would accept them all, sometimes with soup instead of wine, sometimes with a sip of light wine.
Actually, this weak wine is really weak; it won't make you drunk at all. It just has the taste of wine.
Otherwise, Li Shiyue wouldn't have been able to get all the soldiers in the camp to drink a bowl of wine.
Besides, even if it's strong liquor, Li Shiyue herself, with the circulation of her internal energy, would turn any strong liquor into water.
Li Shiyue ate and chatted with the soldiers beside her, asking about their hometowns and talking about training;
Let's talk about what these lowest-ranking soldiers want in their hearts and ask them how they are doing in this camp.
She sat there, seemingly no different from an ordinary soldier, but everyone who approached her had eyes filled with almost devout reverence.
She didn't need to deliberately display her authority; her very existence was the backbone and embodiment of the will of this military camp, and even the entire Jian'an.
She held a large, rough porcelain bowl filled with piping hot mutton soup, and like the soldiers around her, she drank it down in large gulps, listening to them boast about how powerful they were when they followed her to fight on Snake Coil Island.
Li Shiyue wore a hearty smile, occasionally talking to the deputy generals and captains beside him, and responding to the mutton soup (in lieu of wine) offered by the soldiers.
On this New Year's Eve that belonged to the Zhenhai Army, she was their general, their anchor, and their comrade-in-arms who shared joys and sorrows with them.
Her very existence is the best comfort to these soldiers who cannot return home to reunite with their families.
The noise didn't gradually subside until late at night.
That night, the military camp was filled with laughter and the aroma of meat.
In her own way, Li Shiyue spent New Year's Eve with the Zhenhai Navy, which she had built from scratch, imprinting rewards and warnings, warmth and responsibility into the hearts of every soldier.
After inspecting the camp's defenses and ensuring everything was in order, Li Shiyue returned to his own tent.
Outside the tent was a biting wind and the figures of soldiers on guard. Inside the tent, a single lamp flickered, and she was all alone, listening to the faint, intermittent sounds of firecrackers being torn apart by the wind from the distant Jian'an City.
At this point, the heroic spirit she had displayed in the military camp gradually subsided, and she began to miss home.
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