At the moment when Mu Yunfeng and his companions successfully escorted the captives and rescued Wei people back to Lincheng, the people of Lincheng had already gathered at the city gate, waiting for the triumphant return of the Wei soldiers with great anticipation.
When the people saw the Xiongnu being brought back in chains, their eyes were filled with rage. Many of them grabbed the snow from the ground and threw it at the Xiongnu soldiers. Of course, the Wei soldiers did not stop them.
After all, the hatred and anger in their hearts needed to be vented, otherwise this suppressed emotion might lead to bigger problems. There might even be cases where the people secretly killed the captives.
The soldiers of Wei understood the people's feelings. They themselves had fought bloody battles against the Xiongnu on the battlefield and were well aware of the enemy's cruelty. Therefore, they acquiesced to the spontaneous behavior of the people as a punishment for the Xiongnu and a consolation for their own sacrifice.
In this atmosphere, the team led by Mu Yunfeng slowly entered Lincheng. The atmosphere in the city was tense and exciting. The people cheered for the returning heroes, but also cast contempt and anger at the captured Xiongnu people.
Seeing the people bravely rescued by the Wei soldiers, the atmosphere at the scene became extremely tense and excited. All the people rushed forward, anxiously searching for familiar faces in the crowd.
Their eyes were filled with anticipation and anxiety, and they silently prayed for the chance to find their lost loved ones or friends. When they finally spotted a familiar figure in the crowd, or confirmed their loved one was still alive, a surge of joy and relief erupted. Long-lost smiles appeared on their faces, tears glistening in their eyes as they embraced one another, leaping for joy, as if, in that moment, all pain and fear were washed away by the joy of reunion.
When Mu Yunfeng returned to his temporary residence, he was greeted by an unexpected visitor. This guest was none other than the distinguished prince of the Royal Government Affairs Office.
Chu Yuanju looked at Mu Yunfeng, who had returned exhausted and dusty, with a hint of respect in his eyes. He smiled and said, "Congratulations, General, you have achieved a brilliant victory in this battle."
Mu Yunfeng found a comfortable seat and sat down. With a hint of fatigue and worry on his face, he slowly replied, "Although we won this war, countless brave soldiers sacrificed their lives on this battlefield. What is there to celebrate about such a victory?"
Chu Yuanju realized that what he had just said might be a little inappropriate. To avoid embarrassment, he quickly changed the subject and said, "His Majesty specifically ordered our Royal Government Affairs Office to deliver coal to you brave soldiers stationed at the border."
Although Mu Yunfeng had heard about His Majesty mining coal before, coal had long been regarded as a harmful substance. People generally believed that it was a poison and not suitable for burning to obtain warmth.
Chu Yuanju seemed to have read Mu Yunfeng's inner worries. He spoke slowly with a hint of pride, "Your Majesty has already taken appropriate measures to remove the toxicity from coal. Burning coal for heating has become a common practice in Kaifeng City. As long as we ensure proper ventilation, there won't be any safety hazards. Your Majesty sent us here to teach you the correct way to use coal."
Mu Yunfeng nodded, indicating his understanding, and then said, "Please explain in detail."
Chu Yuanju began to explain in detail how to properly burn coal for heating. He emphasized the importance of ventilation, explained how to control the temperature by adjusting the fire, and how to avoid potential dangers such as poisoning during use.
Mu Yunfeng listened carefully and nodded from time to time to show that he understood what Chu Yuanju said.
After Chu Yuanju finished explaining, Mu Yunfeng made his own request: "I need you to demonstrate it yourself so that we can better understand and master this knowledge."
Chu Yuanju agreed without hesitation. Although he was a prince, he did not get angry at Mu Yunfeng's words. Instead, he asked the guards outside the door to bring in a simple iron bucket-like stove and round honeycomb coal.
Chu Yuanju patiently explained each step to Mu Yunfeng in detail, emphasizing the various precautions that needed to be taken during the operation. He explained in detail how to properly light the stove, how to control the fire, and how to ensure that the coals burned fully to achieve the best heating effect.
When the coals in the stove finally burned completely, Mu Yunfeng felt a distinct warmth, and the temperature of the entire room gradually rose. He noticed that although the stove was burning, it did not produce much odor, which made him very satisfied.
Mu Yunfeng asked Chu Yuanju, "Your Majesty, can you tell me how long one of these coal balls can burn?"
Chu Yuanju replied, "One of these carefully crafted honeycomb briquettes can generally burn for six hours, or three full hours. Therefore, only four honeycomb briquettes are needed per day to ensure the soldiers get through the cold winter."
Mu Yunfeng felt an indescribable joy when he heard this answer. He looked at the blazing honeycomb briquettes, his heart filled with gratitude. With these briquettes, the soldiers no longer had to endure the biting wind or worry about the cold nights.
This cold winter, they can finally have a warm and comfortable winter, which will not only boost their morale, but also ensure that they stay warm in the severe cold, so that they can better defend the country.
The two sat by the warm fire and continued their in-depth discussion on various topics.
Chu Yuanju asked seriously, "You should have heard about the state funeral held by His Majesty, right?"
Mu Yunfeng nodded gently. How could he not know about such a significant event? It was precisely because the soldiers learned of His Majesty's state funeral that they unleashed their immense fighting power. Otherwise, Mu Yunfeng would still be diligently defending the city, doing his utmost to hold back the fierce attacks of the Xiongnu and Gan State coalition forces.
After seeing Mu Yunfeng's reaction, Chu Yuanju continued to explain in detail, "Currently, the management of the Martyrs' Cemetery has been completely handed over to the Prince of the Royal Government Affairs Office. In view of your outstanding contributions in this battle, I believe that there should be twenty soldiers or generals in your army who have made particularly outstanding contributions. We can bring them back to Kaifeng City and bury them in the Martyrs' Cemetery as a token of our highest respect for them."
At the same time, Lincheng, where you are currently located, can also consider building a hero monument of your own to commemorate those heroes who bravely resisted the invaders and defended their homeland."
Mu Yunfeng pondered for a moment, then replied solemnly, "I will seriously consider this proposal. On behalf of those brothers who have already sacrificed their lives, I express my deepest gratitude to Your Majesty."
Chu Yuanju humbly responded, "No, it is our royal family that should express our gratitude to you. It is thanks to you, the brave and fearless soldiers who bravely resisted the invaders without fear of life and death, that peace and tranquility have been restored to the State of Wei."
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