Chapter 507: Chapter 507: Carrying the Coffin, Sending the Old General Home!

The word “rebellion” echoed in front of the gates of Ding’an City.

The common people learned from the Zhan Family Army that it was Emperor Qingwu who promised concessions to the Western Rong. He was the true culprit behind giving up Lianbian City and Shili City.

Had it not been for Emperor Qingwu, how could tens of thousands of people in Shili City have died at the hands of the Western Rong’s cavalry?

Moreover, Emperor Qingwu cut off the supply of food and provisions to the frontline soldiers, forcing the Zhan Family Army, who had been frequently winning battles, to retreat!

What a weak and cruel emperor this is!

If it weren’t for the valiant Zhan Family rushing to the battlefield, if it weren’t for the Regent King bravely turning the tide, the Western Rong would have invaded Ding’an City sooner or later!

The people’s cries shook the heavens, “Let the Old General’s heroic soul return home!”

…

In the other side of the palace, Emperor Qingwu heard about the happenings at the city gates.

He knew Mu Yan and Zhan Lan only brought a thousand troops from the Zhan Family, so he ordered his uncle Wang Man to obstruct them before they returned to the city.

Unexpectedly, Wang Man took it upon himself to open the city gates, which caused public outrage.

Of course, he could not admit to the promise he made to the Western Rong years ago.

So his uncle was also unaware, and now he’s stuck, not knowing how to handle the situation.

Si Yuzhang entered the palace under imperial edict, and Emperor Qingwu looked at him and asked anxiously, “How is the progress on Beiyue’s side?”

Si Yuzhang looked embarrassed, “The people we sent twice incited incidents at Beiyue’s border, but they didn’t respond.”

Emperor Qingwu furrowed his brows, “Impossible, the Emperor of Beiyue is not someone to be bullied.”

Si Yuzhang showed a difficult expression, stuttering, “Your Majesty, the Emperor of Beiyue has died!”

“What?” Emperor Qingwu was shocked.

Si Yuzhang gathered his courage and said, “There has been a palace coup in Beiyue these days, and the new emperor has ascended the throne. The fifteen-year-old young emperor Xiao Luobai asked the Great General Ye Xiuhan to convey a message saying: ‘Whoever dares to touch his sister Lan, will fight to the death!’

“What?” Emperor Qingwu sat on the dragon throne, his heart in turmoil, feeling as if his body was floating in the air, about to fall the next moment.

Si Yun’s scalp tingled, his whole body trembled; he didn’t understand why the new emperor of Beiyue knew Zhan Lan? Why call her ‘sister Lan’?

He had miscalculated; even if Zhan Lan wasn’t the Main General, the Zhan Family Army wouldn’t fight against Beiyue!

He looked at the chief eunuch, “Declare an edict for academician Lu Zhong and Wang Qingchen to enter the palace immediately!”

The chief eunuch feebly replied, “Your Majesty, after the morning court, the ministers all went to the city gates.”

He hadn’t had the chance to report when Si Yuzhang came in.

Si Yun’s palms sweated as he gripped the cold dragon throne, angered that the ministers had all gone to the city gates.

He glanced at Si Yuzhang and said, “Imperial Uncle, accompany me to leave the palace.”

“Yes, Majesty.” Si Yuzhang could only follow Emperor Qingwu out of the palace.

…

At the city gates, Wang Man had a sword pointed at his neck, he roared, “Mu Yan, Zhan Lan, Zhan Beicang, I see you are conspiring to rebel, traitors like you deserve a miserable death!”

Mu Yan gently lifted his eyes and ordered the gate guards, “Bind him!”

“Yes!”

Wang Man was bound by the guards at the gates. He wanted to shout but was gagged with a cloth shoe and dragged aside.

Wang Man’s mouth was filled with a foul taste, unable to utter another word.

“Open the city gates!” Mu Yan’s voice rang out, and the grand gates swung wide open.

The common people gathered at the gates quickly made way.

In an instant, the Zhan Family Army took out mourning clothes from the bags on their backs and wore them over their armor.

Zhan Lan looked at these Zhan Family soldiers with tears in her eyes. They were to mourn for her grandfather.

They were soldiers before, now they are family to the Old General Zhan!

Zhan Lan dismounted and put on mourning clothes, Mu Yan likewise took the mourning clothes and wore them.

Zhan Beicang, with eyes red and a throat clenching with emotion, stood at the front, lifting his father’s coffin. His voice was deep and powerful, shouting to the Zhan Family Army, “Lift the coffin, send the Old General home!”

Zhan Hui and the Zhan Family Army lifted Zhan Xinzhang’s coffin together, all calling out in unison, “Lift! Send the Old General home!”

Amidst a scene of pure white, the crowd carried the body of Old General Zhan Xinzhang step by step into Ding’an City.

Lu Zhong, standing at the sides of the city gates for a long time, had tears in his eyes, unable to control his emotions any longer.

Zhong Xuanliang was even more straightforward in his feelings, his fists clenched as hot tears uncontrollably fell in the cold wind.

Wang Qingchen stood behind the two, seeing Zhan Lan’s gaunt cheeks and reddened eyes.

The Zhan Family Army returned to the city, and the spirit of Old General Zhan should also return home.

The people on both sides of the path naturally stepped back, creating a broad road.

The elderly who had seen Zhan Xinzhang in his prime remembered how, when he returned triumphantly, the common folk would line the paths to welcome the Old General.

This time, they awaited the Old General’s corpse.

“Old General, this old man is here to send you off!” Elderly people cried to the point of being unable to speak.

The children, infected by the sight of solemn soldiers wearing mourning clothes and marching orderly, also started crying; they knew a great old general who cared for the people had died.

The men wiped their tears silently, and women sobbed intermittently. Some couldn’t bear to see Old General Zhan’s remains and turned away to weep against the wall.

More and more people learned of Zhan Xinzhang’s death and went to the long street to send off the Old General.

Suddenly, among the crowd, the sound of suona rose, an elder raised a large suona wrapped in white cloth, playing a low and sorrowful tune like a “soul-calling song,” resonating with the people’s cries and tears.

The old man leading the suona procession seemed to be calling Old General Zhan’s soul back home.

Zhan Lan walked beside her grandfather’s coffin, Mu Yan alongside her.

Zhan Beicang, amidst the mournful sound of the suona, finally couldn’t hold back his tears as he carried his father’s coffin.

Wang Man was escorted, seeing tens of thousands sending off Old General Zhan, he cursed inwardly: How could this pack of traitors move the people so!

Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he saw a bright yellow dragon chariot carried by sixteen men approaching from afar.