RPAGF Chapter 16 Gentlemen, nothing more than today's victory over the enemy!
Chapter 16 Gentlemen, nothing more than today's victory over the enemy!
Dong Zhong was shocked.
Li Yuan also showed a surprised expression.
Guo Jia's words made them all realize that he was indeed exceptionally talented.
And they possess extraordinary abilities!
Such a talented person is now willing to pledge allegiance to Li Qing!
At this moment, their hearts were filled with pure joy, without a trace of jealousy or doubt.
His loyalty to Li Qing was unwavering and unconditional.
Therefore, they will wholeheartedly welcome anyone or anything that is beneficial to Li Qing's development!
Li Qing laughed heartily and stepped forward without hesitation to help Guo Jia up.
"I am overjoyed that Fengxiao is willing to lend me a hand!"
"However, I am currently only a minor county magistrate, and there are no official titles or ranks to bestow upon me. Fengxiao must be patient for now!"
Guo Jia smiled, his eyes gleaming with confidence.
"Within three years, I will surely help my lord become a regional hegemon, and if the opportunity arises, I may even help him ascend the throne and become emperor!"
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves approached.
Lu Bu rushed over, first glancing at Guo Jia with a questioning look, then dismounting and bowing to report.
"My lord, the mass grave has been dug!"
"A mass grave?"
Guo Jia was immediately stunned.
His eyes darted around, clearly deep in thought.
Li Qing, however, felt no worry whatsoever.
He knew that top strategists like Guo Jia had extremely high self-esteem.
Therefore, they were extremely selective in choosing their lords, believing that only an exceptionally wise ruler was worthy of their loyalty.
Once they pledge allegiance, they will wholeheartedly assist their lord, offering advice and strategies, and there is absolutely no possibility of betrayal.
In Li Qing's system, Guo Jia's loyalty has reached 100, making him completely loyal.
Li Qing smiled and asked directly, "Fengxiao, you've seen a lot during your trip to Bingzhou."
"Tell me, what do you think of the living conditions of the Han people in the border regions?"
Guo Jia sighed deeply.
"They were destitute and lived a difficult life, far worse off than those in the mainland."
"So, Fengxiao, what are your views on the Xianbei and Wuhuan, these foreign tribes?"
Li Qing pressed him for an answer directly.
A flash of resentment immediately appeared in Guo Jia's eyes.
"Those who invade our Han territory and slaughter our Han people must be completely eradicated!"
"I have been physically weak since childhood and am unable to wield a spear or halberd; otherwise, I would have personally gone to the battlefield to kill the enemy!"
"Only by witnessing the demise of those Xianbei invaders can I quell the anger in my heart!"
Li Qing burst into laughter.
"Haha, great!"
"Today's events will surely allow you, Guo Jia, to vent your pent-up frustrations."
A glint appeared in Guo Jia's eyes.
The group immediately set off, heading straight for the outskirts of the city.
Nearly 100,000 people poured out of the city gates, both inside and outside Linrong City.
They all knew the news.
Everyone was thrilled.
There is a huge pit outside Linrong City.
Sixty thousand surrendered Xianbei soldiers stood helplessly at the edge of the pit, their hands empty.
They were trembling, completely at a loss for what to do.
When the Wenhou Iron Cavalry and the Zhulong Divine Cavalry in the distance saw Li Qing arrive, they all showed expressions of awe.
"Greetings, my lord!"
The sound was as loud as thunder, and Li Qing smiled with satisfaction.
Guo Jia's eyes lit up as he realized that Li Qing's power was greater than he had imagined.
The surrendered Xianbei soldiers trembled with fear.
Li Qing glanced at them and said with a sneer, "You dug a good pit."
Then he drew his sword and said sternly, "Ready? Just one last step."
"Fengxian, light the fire!"
"yes!"
Lu Bu's voice was loud and clear, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He then lit the fire.
Thick smoke billowed straight into the sky.
In an instant, a fierce wind raged.
The howling wind shook the entire city of Linrong.
"A strong wind rises, and the clouds fly high!"
Someone in the crowd shouted first, and everyone, soldiers and civilians alike, echoed in unison.
One hundred thousand people sang the Song of the Great Wind in unison: "The great wind rises, the clouds fly high; its might extends across the land, I return to my homeland; where can I find brave warriors to guard the four corners of the earth!"
The mournful song seemed to make the border region appear even more desolate.
Guo Jia was deeply shocked.
He felt an unprecedented sense of unity among the people and soldiers of Linrong City.
This power is unparalleled elsewhere; it is like the spirit of the Han Dynasty!
The singing stopped.
"Let's do it!"
Li Qing's gaze was cold and stern as he swung his longsword.
The Wenhou Iron Cavalry and the Zhulong Iron Cavalry launched an attack simultaneously, charging directly towards the 60,000 surrendered Xianbei soldiers.
The surrendered Xianbei soldiers immediately collapsed under the army's charge and attempted to escape.
However, their escape route was blocked by the mass grave they had dug themselves!
So, one by one, they were pushed down into the pit, their faces filled with terror.
Only then did they realize Li Qing's true intention in digging the pit.
They dug their own grave!
The Han people's methods were extremely cruel!
In an instant, the scene turned into a scene of utter carnage!
The timid and psychologically fragile were terrified and cried uncontrollably.
Those who dared to retaliate began to hurl vicious curses: "Han dogs, bury us alive!"
"You deserve to die!"
"Han Chinese are all shameless!"
"You Han scoundrels, even as a ghost after I die, I will not let you go!"
The words were full of malice.
However, for Li Qing, this was merely the desperate cry of a dying man.
Watching the Xianbei people cry, break down, and despair.
A cold smile even appeared on Li Qing's lips.
He found the screams of agony to be pleasant.
This is the price of invading territory and humiliating the people!
"Fill in the soil!"
"Bury them alive!"
"Wenhou's Iron Cavalry and Zhulong's Divine Cavalry, disperse! Eliminate any who attempt to escape on the spot!"
This is a cruel order.
Apart from the Wenhou Iron Cavalry and Zhulong Divine Cavalry who were on duty to supervise, all the soldiers began to dig and fill the pit with soil.
Dust billowed up, pouring into the mass grave like a torrential downpour.
The surrendered Xianbei soldiers let out mournful cries.
But the surrounding people cheered in waves.
Their eyes were filled with hatred, and they were all eager to try, even vying to be the first to shove dirt on the heads of these damned Xianbei people!
He deserved it!
This deep-seated hatred is etched into our bones and can never be erased!
Guo Jia's gaze grew increasingly sharp.
He was not a traditional scholar; he was open-minded and not bound by old notions of benevolence and righteousness.
He believed that Li Qing's behavior was exactly what he thought.
These days, he has been in Linrong County and has personally witnessed Li Qing's care for the people.
He understood that Li Qing was not a ruthless killer.
Li Qing was extremely kind and tolerant towards the people under his jurisdiction.
He only resorts to harsh measures and displays his ferocity when facing a vicious enemy.
Li Qing embodies a remarkable blend of seemingly contradictory qualities: tolerance and benevolent governance, and decisive ruthlessness.
"Fengxiao, you didn't choose the wrong lord!"
Guo Jia was delighted and said directly, "My lord, Fengxiao has something to say, but he is not sure if it is appropriate."
Li Qing raised an eyebrow, glanced at him, and asked in a low voice, "Are you questioning whether I'm being too cruel?"
Guo Jia shook his head and pointed to the civilians on the periphery.
"My lord! I must speak out for the common people of Linrong!"
"Now that public sentiment is running high, it is the best time to win over the hearts and minds of the people."
"My lord, send the civilians of Linrong to carry out the task of burying the surrendered Xianbei soldiers alive!"
Upon hearing this, Li Qing burst into laughter.
Then a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
"Alright, issue the order to the entire army!"
"All soldiers, make way for civilians!"
"Any civilian in Linrong who is willing may bury the surrendered Xianbei soldiers with their own hands!"
The order was quickly relayed throughout the army.
The soldiers immediately dispersed.
The civilians were overjoyed upon receiving the order and flocked to the scene.
The anger and resentment pent up from long-term oppression by foreign races erupted at this moment.
Yellow dust flew everywhere, falling with a crackling sound.
The soil in the mass grave piled up rapidly, at a shocking speed.
The surrendered Xianbei soldiers were buried in the pit one after another.
Some tried to escape, but the surrounding Zhulong Divine Riders ruthlessly beheaded them.
In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, 60,000 surrendered Xianbei soldiers were massacred, with none surviving.
Despite the thick layer of loess obstructing their view, their desperate screams could still be clearly heard.
Li Qing waved his hand, instructing the people to leave.
Five thousand Zhulong Divine Riders charged out instantly, their hooves trampling the mass grave, compacting the soft loess soil to a hardness exceeding that of iron.
No matter how strong the Xianbei soldiers were, they could not escape.
At this point, three major scenes appeared in front of Linrong City.
A mound of heads of 30,000 Xianbei cavalry, a battlefield of 80,000 Xianbei cavalry, and a mass grave of 60,000 surrendered Xianbei soldiers.
This place will become an eternal nightmare for the alien races.
Guo Jia bowed deeply to Li Qing and said, "On behalf of the people of the Han Dynasty, I thank my lord."
Li Qing responded with a smile and said confidently, "As long as I am at the border, the people of Han are safe and will not be disturbed by foreign tribes."
Li Yuan burst into laughter, praising, "Our lord has shown great kindness to the people on the borders of the Han Dynasty!"
"Jing Si should have arrived by now, but I wonder how he is doing."
Li Qing, however, remained remarkably calm. He said unhurriedly, "Don't worry, everything will go smoothly."
"To this day, no one has been able to stop the Candle Dragon Divine Rider."
No sooner had he finished speaking than cries of alarm came from the crowd nearby: "They're here!"
"I'm back!"
Li Qing immediately turned around and looked into the distance.
Amidst the dust, a group of ragged Han Chinese civilians walked along, flanked by five hundred black-armored cavalrymen—this was the Candle Dragon Divine Cavalry.
Five hundred Zhulong Divine Riders rushed to Li Qing's side, dismounted immediately, and respectfully reported.
"My lord, we have successfully captured Yanmen Pass!"
"The 80,000-strong Xianbei garrison has been completely annihilated inside Yanmen Pass!"
"The Candle Dragon Divine Cavalry is completely unharmed!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia's face immediately turned pale.
He was utterly shocked!
Yanmen Pass, that's a crucial passage!
It was originally thought that it was already quite an achievement for Li Qing to be able to withstand the Xianbei attack with the strength of only one county.
But Li Qing took the initiative and successfully captured Yanmen Pass!
The implications of this action couldn't be clearer!
This means that the gateways to the frontier of the Han Dynasty have been closed again!
Bingzhou is safe!
The Han are safe!
This feat of victory shocked the entire nation!
Guo Jia swallowed hard, then turned his gaze to Li Qing, his face filled with awe.
At that moment, he suddenly realized that Guo Jia's following Li Qing was not Li Qing's good fortune, but his own!
Loyal subjects must serve wise rulers, and excellent birds will only build their nests in good trees.
Many monarchs are troubled by the lack of capable advisors, and many advisors are also looking for a trustworthy lord.
Cooperation between rulers and their subjects is never simple!
At that moment, Guo Jia's resolve became even stronger.
He will follow Li Qing unconditionally for the rest of his life!
The divine rider of the Candle Dragon bowed his head and continued respectfully.
"The general personally led 4,500 Zhulong Divine Cavalry to garrison Yanmen Pass!"
"Our 500 men are responsible for ensuring the safe arrival of the civilians in Linrong!"
"These people, whether survivors of Yanmen Pass or those captured by the Xianbei from other places."
"They all came to Linrong County on their own initiative, seeking the protection of their lord!"
Li Qing nodded, his expression grave.
These people have fallen to such a state because of the invasion of the Xianbei!
The crimes committed by the Xianbei were indeed deserving of death!
He stepped forward, facing everyone.
Everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on him.
"I am Li Qing, the magistrate of Linrong County, and I have been granted a title by the Han Dynasty."
Upon hearing this, the seven thousand people of Yanmen Pass all bowed their heads respectfully.
Everyone knelt down in unison.
"Greetings, Your Honor!"
His tone was sincere and full of gratitude.
Even the toughest man couldn't help but tear up at this moment.
These Han Chinese people are living such a hard life!
"You are subjects of the Han Dynasty, and you should be living peacefully in your homeland under the protection of the Han Dynasty."
"But now we are in such a predicament; this is a dereliction of duty by the Han Dynasty!"
"I, Li Qing, as the magistrate of Da Han County, represent the Da Han Dynasty."
"The court's mistakes are my mistakes, and I hereby apologize to you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qing bowed deeply to the people, his iron-like back bending low.
The crowd was deafeningly noisy, and more than 7,000 people knelt down in unison, taking a step forward in an attempt to help Li Qing up.
The Han Dynasty officials they remembered were all arrogant and rude!
No official has ever apologized to the people!
Li Qing's actions completely shocked them!
Guo Jia shook his head slightly and sighed.
"My lord, this is extraordinary composure!"
In Guo Jia's view, Li Qing's bow was as rare as an emperor issuing an edict of self-reproach!
Li Qing stood up straight, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.
"But all of that belongs to the past!"
"Look at these towering mounds of skulls, these sturdy mass graves!"
"The hatred of the Han people has been largely avenged!"
"I, Li Qing, hereby swear that as long as I live, I will protect the borders of the Han Dynasty and make them indestructible!"
"We will never allow any foreign race to set foot on Han soil again and slaughter Han people!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he pointed his sword to the north.
"Soon I will completely defeat the Xianbei and sweep across the entire grassland!"
"I will ensure that not a single adult member of the non-human race survives on the grasslands!"
These words revealed boundless killing intent, which was shocking!
The people stood silently, tears streaming down their faces.
But the army has already taken action!
The Zhulong Divine Cavalry brandished their Overlord Spears, the Wenhou Iron Cavalry raised their long swords, and the other soldiers also gripped their weapons tightly.
"Kill the Xianbei!"
"Kill the alien race!"
"Defend the Han!"
The shouts surged like a tidal wave, shaking the sky!
On the walls of Linrong, the crimson banner of the Han Dynasty fluttered in the wind.
Dong Zhong stepped forward, approached Li Qing, and whispered, "My lord, today is the day you come of age."
"According to the etiquette of the Han Dynasty, you should take a courtesy name today."
"What does my lord intend to do?"
Li Qing thought about it for a moment after hearing this.
Han Chinese people usually choose a courtesy name that corresponds to their given name. For example, Guan Yu's courtesy name was Yunchang, and Yue Fei's courtesy name was Pengju.
Use your courtesy name to directly express your aspirations!
A glint of light flashed in Li Qing's eyes as he announced in a low voice, "I, Li Qing, will take my courtesy name today: Po Hu!"
"A true man should fight a hundred battles on the battlefield, clad in golden armor, vowing not to rest until the barbarians are defeated!"