bayedsolid Chapter 666: Hanbei’s “Spoils of War”: The Elegy of Wangbei City
Chapter 666: Hanbei’s “Spoils of War”: The Elegy of Wangbei City
The wind from Hanbei, sharp as a knife, blew across the shattered walls of Wangbei City, emitting a whimpering roar. Beneath the walls, a battlefield fresh from a brutal battle, was thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder. Zhao Tianlei, clad in black armor, stood atop the north gate tower, overlooking his soldiers as they scoured the corpse-strewn battlefield like ants. The setting sun's rays stretched his figure, casting a shadow on the cold bricks, imbued him with a solemn majesty.
"Pass the order down," Zhao Tianlei's voice was calm and powerful, as if what had just ended was not a life-and-death battle, but just an ordinary drill. "First, clean up the battlefield, count the casualties, and properly arrange for the wounded. Second, strengthen vigilance to prevent the remnants of the Great Zhou army from counterattacking. Third, send a small team to bring back Lin Wei's body."
He hesitated a bit on the last sentence, a pause tinged with complex emotions, but in the end, the command was clearly conveyed. His gaze unconsciously drifted to the area deep within the battlefield where the fiercest action had once taken place—that was where the Great Zhou army's spirit fell.
"Bring back Lin Wei's body?" Deputy General Agula, standing beside him, looked at Zhao Tianlei suspiciously. His face still stained with the excitement and blood from the fierce battle, giving it a sinister look. He couldn't help but ask, "General, what's the point of keeping her body? This woman was incredibly ferocious and caused heavy casualties among our Hanbei warriors. It would be better to simply behead her and display her to vent our hatred!" Agula then made a decapitation gesture, his eyes filled with hatred and his usual approach to dealing with his enemies.
However, Zhao Tianlei simply glanced at Agula coldly, his gaze as sharp as a cold star, as if it could penetrate a person's soul. Agula felt a chill in his heart at this glance, and subconsciously restrained his emotions, lowering his head, not daring to look Zhao Tianlei in the eye again.
Although Zhao Tianlei's voice was low, it carried an unquestionable authority: "I will find a useful use for her." He paused, then continued, "This woman is the 'Protector General' of the Great Zhou, the 'Guardian God' in the hearts of hundreds of millions of her people. Her 'value' is far greater than that, and has yet to be fully realized."
He slowly walked to the edge of the battlement, gazing at the southern sky, stained a dark crimson by the setting sun, his eyes gleaming with ambition and calculation. He would bring Lin Wei's body back to the Hanbei Royal Court. No, not just the Royal Court; he would have her "charm" publicly displayed in every conquered city on Hanbei's march southward! He wanted all Hanbei people to know that their cavalry had crushed the myths of the Great Zhou, their scimitars had slain its "gods"! He wanted this "trophy" to become the most effective boost to Hanbei's morale, the sharpest weapon to undermine the confidence of the Great Zhou's military and civilians!
He could even imagine the chaos and panic that would erupt when news of Lin Wei's death and the public display of her corpse reached the capital of the Great Zhou. The almighty Great Zhou emperor, those self-proclaimed civilized officials and generals, and the common people who looked up to Lin Wei as their spiritual support—their faith would crumble, their will to resist would disintegrate! This would shake the foundations of this vast empire even more than winning ten battles and slaughtering a hundred thousand Great Zhou soldiers!
"Agula," Zhao Tianlei turned around, his tone calm, yet with a chilling coldness. "You must personally lead a team of personal soldiers to recover Lin Wei's body intact and keep it safe. No damage or desecration is allowed, especially not to her face. Use the finest embalming agents. I want her to be honored and venerated on the land of Hanbei."
"...Yes! I will obey your command!" Although Agula still had doubts in his heart, he knew that the general's wisdom far surpassed his own. He immediately bowed and accepted the order, turned around and strode away to carry out this seemingly strange order.
Zhao Tianlei gazed at his back, a cold smile curling his lips. "Lin Wei, oh Lin Wei, you probably wouldn't have imagined in your grave that the Great Zhou you dedicated your life to protecting might ultimately plunge into deeper despair because of your death and your soulless body. This is the price you paid for resisting Hanbei! This is what happened to the Great Zhou for obstructing the Hanbei cavalry's southward advance!"
Zhao Tianlei stood on the high platform, overlooking the scene below. His eyes were cold and emotionless, as if he was examining an insignificant object.
Lin Wei's body was placed in an ornate coffin, surrounded by circles of ice to keep it fresh. Her face was still beautiful, but lifeless, like a fairy in deep sleep.
Agula led a team of personal soldiers and carefully carried the coffin onto a richly decorated carriage. The carriage's wheels slowly turned, making a dull sound, as if bidding farewell to Lin Wei.
The carriage traveled across the land of Hanbei, attracting countless people along the way. People stopped to watch, their hearts filled with awe and curiosity. They didn't know who this beautiful woman was, nor why she appeared in such a way.
When the carriage arrived at its destination, Zhao Tianlei personally directed the people to place the coffin on a specially made altar. The altar was surrounded by flowers and offerings, as if a grand funeral was being held for Lin Wei.
However, this was no ordinary funeral. Zhao Tianlei's purpose wasn't to honor Lin Wei, but to make her a disgrace to the Great Zhou. He wanted everyone to see how powerless the Great Zhou's resistance was, and how powerful the Hanbei cavalry was.
Under Zhao Tianlei's orders, Lin Wei's body was put on public display. People were free to view and touch her corpse, and even insult her in various ways. Lin Wei's beauty became her greatest sorrow at this moment, and her body became the target of people's anger and hatred.
As time went by, people's shame about Lin Wei's fate continued to ferment, but Zhao Tianlei did not stop his actions. He wanted to make Lin Wei's body completely become the shame of Da Zhou on the land of Hanbei, and become a stain on Da Zhou that could never be erased.
Lin Wei's end was tragic. She dedicated her life to the Great Zhou, but ultimately became a sinner of the Great Zhou. Her beauty and courage became so pale and powerless at this moment, and her death became a shame in the history of the Great Zhou.