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墨書 Inktalez
The soldiers behind him were all injured and looked exhausted, but they stood tall with straight backs, each tightly gripping their weapons as they silently followed Huo Guang, escorting their general on the journey home.
This road was filled with sorrow and unknown challenges.
The procession moved slowly, and after several days of trekking, they finally arrived outside Chang'an City.
The city gates were tightly closed, and the walls were lined with fully armed soldiers, creating an atmosphere that felt particularly heavy.
Huo Guang dismounted and walked to the city gate, looking up at the flags on the city walls, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
"Who goes there?" came a stern shout from the wall.
"I am Huo Guang, a lieutenant under the General of the Cavalry, tasked with escorting the general's remains back to the capital. Please open the gates quickly!" Huo Guang said loudly.
"The General of the Cavalry? Hmph! Where is he now? Why do we not see him?" The tone of the person on the wall was dismissive.
A surge of anger ignited within Huo Guang. He suppressed his fury and replied in a deep voice, "The general fought for the country and unfortunately sustained grave injuries. Now... now he has..."
Huo Guang choked up and could not continue.
"What? The General of the Cavalry... has fallen in battle?" A commotion arose from the wall.
"Impossible! This cannot be true!"
"The General of the Cavalry is invincible; how could he..."
"Silence!" A commanding voice halted the unrest. "Huo Guang, do you have any evidence to prove what you say is true?"
Taking a deep breath, Huo Guang gently placed Huo Qubing's body on the ground, then unwrapped the shroud to reveal Huo Qubing's handsome face that still bore an air of dignity even in death, along with his body covered in wounds.
The soldiers were filled with sorrow at the sight, many unable to hold back their quiet sobs.
The people on the city wall fell silent for a moment, their tone finally softening somewhat, but still laced with a hint of vigilance and suspicion. "This matter is of great importance; we need to report it to the court. Please, General Li, be patient."
Huo Guang clenched his fists, knowing that these people were deliberately stalling for time. They feared Huo Qubing's reputation even more than they feared how his triumphant return would affect their positions in the court.
"Wait? How long do you intend to wait? Do you want my general's body to be exposed to the sun outside the city gates?!" Huo Guang shouted, his voice filled with grief and indignation.
"General Li, mind your words! We are also acting under orders; please do not make things difficult for us," the person on the city wall remained unmoved.
At that moment, a commotion erupted in the crowd as a soldier rode in on a swift horse.
"Report—" The soldier dismounted and knelt on one knee, shouting loudly, "Emergency from eight hundred miles at the border! The Xiongnu... the Xiongnu are coming back; the border is in crisis!"
At this declaration, everyone was stunned.
The news struck like thunder, shattering the heavy atmosphere outside Chang'an City. Huo Guang widened his eyes in disbelief, suddenly looking up at the Messenger, shock and anger filling his gaze. His fingers gripped the sword hilt so tightly that they turned white, veins bulging.
"What did you say?! Say it again!" Huo Guang roared, his voice brimming with uncontrollable sorrow and rage.
The Messenger was taken aback by Huo Guang's intensity but took a deep breath and repeated, "Emergency from eight hundred miles at the border; the Xiongnu... the Xiongnu army is coming back; the border is in crisis! We request... we request the court to send troops for support immediately!"
"Xiongnu?!!" The guards on the city wall erupted into chaos, discussing among themselves, their faces filled with panic.
"How is that possible?! Wasn't General of the Cavalry victorious over the Xiongnu? How could they still..."
"Is this news true? Could it be a trick by the Xiongnu?"
"Shut up!" The previously authoritative voice rang out again, interrupting the discussions among the crowd. A general clad in silver armor, with a long sword hanging at his waist, stepped out from the throng. His expression was stern as he walked to the edge of the city wall, his sharp gaze sweeping over Huo Guang and the weary soldiers below, then glancing at the distant horizon as if he could see through the hazy dust to the approaching Xiongnu army.
"Huo Guang! As a lieutenant under the General of the Cavalry, why are you not properly guarding the border and instead have brought your troops back to the capital? Speak! Did the Xiongnu attack, and in your cowardice, did you abandon the city and flee?!" The general questioned sharply, his tone filled with suspicion and accusation.
Huo Guang was seething with anger. He suddenly drew his long sword from his waist, pointing its tip directly at the general on the wall, shouting, "Shut your mouth! If I were a coward fearing for my life, I wouldn't be standing here! My general fought for our country and is gravely wounded; now... now that his body is still warm, you speak such cold words here..."
Huo Guang was filled with grief and rage. At this point, his voice choked up, unable to continue. He forcefully plunged his sword into the ground, pointing at Huo Qubing's corpse and shouted in anguish, "Look! This is a hero who fought for the Han Dynasty with his life! Now that he has died on the battlefield, you dare to speak such heartless words while his body is still warm! How can you face the people of Han or the heroes of this world?!"
Huo Guang's words struck like thunder, instantly igniting the soldiers' blood. They responded in unison, shouting loudly for revenge for their general and to kill enemies for their country.
The guards on the city wall were stunned by this sudden turn of events and Huo Guang's imposing presence; for a moment, no one dared to refute him. Some soldiers even showed expressions of shame. They were all soldiers of Han and understood the principle of defending their homeland; however, having spent too long in a comfortable environment, they had gradually forgotten the cruelty of war and the sacrifices of heroes.
Seeing this, the general in silver armor furrowed his brow. He knew it was not the time to assign blame. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he spoke more gently: "Huo Guang, I understand your grief, but this matter is serious. We also need time to report to the court; please..."
"Report to the court?!!" Huo Guang laughed in anger. "By the time you report to the court, it will be too late! The Xiongnu are already at our doorstep; do you still want to shirk responsibility and waste time here?! If Chang'an falls, you... you will be eternal sinners!"
Seizing upon their silence, Huo Guang abruptly pulled out his sword from where it was embedded in the ground and pointed it at Chang'an's city gate, declaring fiercely: "I have made up my mind; open the city gates immediately and let me lead my troops into the city! I want to ensure my general's spirit rests in peace! I will personally slay the Xiongnu to avenge my general!"
His voice was resolute and powerful, filled with an irresistible force. The soldiers who had been hesitant were inspired by his words and echoed him: "Open the gates! Open the gates!"
The guards on the city wall exchanged glances before quickly descending towards the city gate.
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