Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 1383: Chapter 1384: Awaiting Your Triumphant Return

”You are soldiers of the Xiyun Kingdom. You must be of one heart with me—flatten Chilin, avenge the Retired Emperor, and cleanse our nation’s disgrace.”

The soldiers immediately shouted, ”Flatten Chilin! Flatten Chilin! Flatten Chilin! Avenge the Retired Emperor! Cleanse our nation’s disgrace!”

Only then did Su Chengyu take the wine handed to him by the eunuch and raise it high. ”Today, I host this farewell feast for our soldiers. I hope you will flatten Chilin and return victorious.”

Once the soldiers also had wine in their hands, Su Chengyu drank his, then heavily smashed his wine bowl.

The soldiers did the same—drinking their wine and smashing their bowls with vigor, each wearing an expression that said, ”If not us, then who?”

Seeing everyone smash their bowls, Su Chengyu turned to Xiao Changyi and said, ”I will remain here in the Imperial City, waiting for your triumphant return.”

Xiao Changyi immediately clasped his fists and declared, ”I will surely flatten Chilin and return victorious.”

Below the city tower, the soldiers shouted once more, ”Flatten Chilin! Flatten Chilin! Flatten Chilin!”

The shouts surged wave after wave, resounding through the heavens, mighty and unending.

When the shouting subsided, Su Chengyu called out solemnly, ”Flatten Chilin and return victorious!”

As Su Chengyu’s voice fell, the drums began to beat—loud and imposing. Each strike of the drum seemed to pound upon everyone’s hearts, filling them with solemnity and valor, blending sadness with soaring morale.

The crowd followed, shouting, ”Flatten Chilin, return victorious! Flatten Chilin, return victorious!”

Their voices merged with the thunderous sound of the drums, as if about to shatter the very mountains and rivers.

Xiao Changyi shouted along only briefly before heavily clasping his fists toward Su Chengyu, the Emperor, then turned and strode down the city tower. Mounting his horse, Zhuri, he rode through the city gates.

An Jing followed close behind, astride Moon Stepping.

As Xiao Changyi reached the city gate and raised his hand, the soldiers immediately fell silent, all eyes fixed on him.

Xiao Changyi’s voice rang out righteously, ”I am Su Changyi, Great General of the campaign against Chilin. By royal command, I lead the soldiers to flatten Chilin! Soldiers, heed my command!”

As he called for their attention, Xiao Changyi raised the Tiger Talisman high with one hand.

”Present!” The soldiers responded with thunderous voices, their resonance like the rushing collapse of celestial waterfalls.

Xiao Changyi continued, ”From this moment forth, march with me to flatten Chilin. Until Chilin falls, we shall not return!”

”Until Chilin falls, we shall not return! Until Chilin falls, we shall not return! Until Chilin falls, we shall not return...” The soldiers roared and bellowed in unison.

Amid the soldiers’ deafening cries, Xiao Changyi rode on his horse, majestic and grave, to the forefront of the 150,000-strong army. Leading them step by step, they began their march toward Chilin.

On this departure, no matter how many years it might take to return, everyone held a singular belief—flatten Chilin! Flatten Chilin!

Standing atop the city tower, Su Chengyu and the civil and military officials at the base of the tower watched Xiao Changyi lead the 150,000-strong army until they disappeared from view. Their hearts, likewise, surged with enormous emotion.

Indeed, only Xiao Changyi, Prince Yi, could elevate the soldiers’ morale to such heights.

The citizens of the Imperial Capital had red-rimmed eyes, silently praying that Xiao Changyi and his troops would truly flatten Chilin, erase Xiyun Kingdom’s shame, and restore its prestige.

Even Su Chengyu’s eyes showed a hint of redness. This march wasn’t just about 400,000 soldiers—it included his own kin: Xiao Changyi, An Jing, Su Chengyuan, Gong Juechen, and Gong Juese.

He did not wish to lose even a single soldier, nor bear the loss of another loved one.

Hope.

That you will truly return victorious.