Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 300 Inscribed on Yanran Mountain

June 15th, the fifth year of the Qiming era.

Northern desert, Yanran Mountain.

This mountain range, stretching deep into the grasslands, has been a strategic location fought over by military strategists since ancient times. The Han general Dou Xian once decisively defeated the Northern Xiongnu here, erecting a stone tablet to commemorate his victory, leaving behind the famous tale of "Yanran Inscription." More than six hundred years later, another army from the Central Plains arrived here.

Chen Xing stood on his horse at the foot of the mountain, gazing up at the majestic peak.

Sunlight streamed through gaps in the clouds, bathing the mountains in a golden-red hue. At the summit, snow-capped peaks, perpetually white, resembled a silver crown.

"Your Majesty," Chen Wei rode forward, pointing to a flat area halfway up the mountain, "I have chosen a location. The terrain there is open and suitable for erecting a monument, and it will also be convenient for future generations to pay their respects."

Chen Xing nodded without saying a word.

He dismounted and walked towards the mountainside.

Behind them, Chen Wei, Jia Wen, Zhou Hu, and hundreds of soldiers followed silently.

No one spoke. Only the sound of footsteps rustling on the grass.

The place where the stone was carved is a natural boulder, about three zhang high and five zhang wide, with a surface as smooth as a mirror. Behind the rock is a steep mountain wall; in front of the rock is an open grassland that stretches all the way to the horizon.

Chen Xing stood in front of the rock, quietly looking at it.

Jia Wen walked to his side and whispered:

"Your Majesty, the craftsmen have made preparations. The inscription was drafted by me and Consort Shu; please take a look."

He presented a roll of plain silk.

Chen Xing took it and unfolded it.

Above is the inscription personally transcribed by Lin Wan'er; the handwriting is neat and elegant, yet the content is magnificent:

"In the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Qiming, in the sixth month of summer, the Emperor personally led six armies on a northern expedition to the northern desert. He executed the disloyal and punished the traitors. The Snow Wolf Khan was beheaded, and all the tribes were terrified. He then ascended Mount Yanran and inscribed a stone to commemorate the victory, to inform Heaven, Earth, and his ancestors."

In the past, the Han general Dou Xian defeated the Northern Xiongnu here, and inscribed his achievements on a stone, leaving his name for posterity. Now, I, the rising star, have received the mandate of Heaven to pacify the four seas, and the vast northern deserts are all incorporated into my territory. From this day forward, all that is illuminated by the sun and moon is the king's land; all that is touched by frost and dew is the king's subject.

The Emperor said: "Weapons are instruments of violence, used only as a last resort. Now that the northern deserts are at peace and the borders are secure, I wish that from this day forward there will be no more wars and that we may share in peace."

Inscribed on stone to commemorate this, to illuminate it for all generations.

Chen Xing read it once, and then read it again.

"Okay," he said, "we'll use this one."

The craftsmen began to chisel the stone.

The sounds of hammers and chisels echoed through the valley. Stone fragments flew, and dust filled the air. An hour later, the outline of the inscription gradually appeared.

Chen Xing stood there, watching as the words were carved into the stone one by one.

Zhou Hu couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, aren't you tired? You've been standing for two hours."

Chen Xing shook his head.

"I am waiting."

Zhou Hu was taken aback: "Waiting for what?"

Chen Xing did not answer.

He gazed northward, at the vast grassland, at the faintly visible tents, and at the sun gradually setting in the west.

He was waiting for news.

At three quarters past Shen time, a fast horse galloped in from the north.

The rider, covered in dust and exhausted, brightened up the moment he saw Chen Xing. He dismounted, staggered to Chen Xing, and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, Ashina Mo Khan has sent a messenger to report: the two tribes that were secretly colluding were wiped out last night. Their leaders were beheaded, their followers were reorganized, and all the tribes in the northern deserts no longer dare to disobey!"

Chen Xing remained silent for a moment.

Then he smiled.

In that smile, there was relief, relief, and a hint of something else that others couldn't understand.

"Very well," he said. "Order the entire army to set off south tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, reward the troops outside Yunzhong City!"

"Yes, sir!"

Just as the inscription was finished, the setting sun sank below the horizon.

The last ray of sunlight fell on the monument, turning the newly carved characters a golden-red. Each character, stroke by stroke, was deeply etched into the stone, and will also be deeply etched into history.

Chen Wei walked to Chen Xing's side and whispered:

"Your Majesty, the inscription is finished. Shall we... say something?"

Chen Xing remained silent for a moment, then slowly walked forward and stood in front of the monument.

He looked at those words, at those words that recorded this war, at those words that would be passed down for thousands of years.

"Soldiers."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Do you know why this monument was erected?"

No one answered.

Chen Xing continued:

"It's not to record my achievements, nor to remember your names. It's to let people a thousand years from now know that there was once a group of people who came to this grassland for the peace of the border and the well-being of the people, shed blood, died, and won the battle."

He paused, his voice turning deep:

"It's also to tell future generations—as long as we're here, those wolves will never be able to set foot on the border."

Some people in the crowd began to sob.

Chen Xing turned around to face the soldiers.

"This monument will stand here. From this day forward, all citizens of Xingqi who pass by this place must stop and take a look. After looking at it, then continue on your way."

He took a deep breath, suddenly drew his long sword from his waist, and pointed it at the sky:

"A Star Awakens for Ten Thousand Years!"

"Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years!"

The roars of hundreds of people echoed through the valley for a long time.

into the night.

At the foot of Yanran Mountain, bonfires flickered.

The soldiers sat around the campfire, drinking mare's milk wine, eating roasted mutton, and singing unknown songs. The songs were desolate and far-reaching, drifting through the night sky and carrying far.

Chen Xing stood alone in front of the newly erected stone tablet, remaining motionless for a long time.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the monument and onto him. The words, under the moonlight, appeared exceptionally clear and profound.

I heard soft footsteps behind me.

He didn't turn around.

"Phoenix, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Blue Phoenix walked to his side, wrapped in a thick cloak.

"I can't sleep. Those little bugs aren't bothering me today."

Chen Xing was slightly taken aback: "Not messing around anymore?"

Blue Phoenix nodded: "They seem to be sleeping. Quietly, without moving at all."

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"They are telling us that we can go home now."

Blue Phoenix blinked and looked at him.

Under the moonlight, his profile was sharply defined, with a hint of weariness in his eyes, yet also an indescribable sense of peace.

She suddenly remembered the first time she saw him. He stood in the command tent at Flying Tiger Pass, covered in blood, yet still as upright as a pine tree. At that time, she thought, this man is destined for great things.

Now, he has truly achieved great things.

The northern deserts are pacified, the borders are secure, and the world is at peace.

But he's still the same person.

It was still Ah Xing, the same Ah Xing who had competed with her in martial arts and tested poisons in the Miao village.

"Brother Xing," she asked softly, "are you tired?"

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then said softly:

"tired."

Lan Fenghuang was stunned. She hadn't expected him to admit it.

Chen Xing gazed at the stone tablet and slowly said:

"But it's worth it."

The night breeze blew by, stirring his clothes.

Lan Fenghuang didn't speak, but simply stood quietly beside him.

After a long while, she suddenly reached out and gently took his hand.

That hand, with its distinct knuckles, was slightly cold.

She gripped it even tighter.

The next day, at dawn.

The army broke camp and set off south.

Chen Xing took one last look at the stone tablet. The rising sun shone on its surface, making the characters gleam.

He mounted his horse and rode south.

Behind us, Yanran Mountain gradually receded into the distance.

But that monument will stand there forever.

A thousand years, ten thousand years.

Until the world changes.