One month later, two days before Fang Er and his men were due to return to the Tang dynasty.
Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen personally led the main army, escorting Huang Taiji and other high-ranking Qing officials back.
Originally, this honor should have belonged to Zhu Youjian, but it was Li Shimin who sat high on the city gate at this moment, while the dignified Chongzhen Emperor Zhu Youjian could only stand behind him with his hands clasped.
Fan Fucui and the other thirteen Grand Secretaries represented Zhu Youjian, coming out ten li outside the city to welcome them.
Just past the Shi hour in the morning, around ten o'clock, a large troop of cavalry appeared in the distance.
Fang Er handed the telescope to Zhu Youjian: "Take a look, see how the Liaodong Army is now, and what has changed from before."
Zhu Youjian took it upon hearing this, and imitating him, looked at the distant army through the telescope.
The neat formations, the uniform marching pace, and the momentum like tigers descending from a mountain – these cavalry soldiers before him were completely transformed from those he had seen before!
Many years ago, when the army marched out of the capital, he had also stood on the city wall to see them off.
But the army back then absolutely did not possess such a steely military bearing!
"Good! Good! Good!" Zhu Youjian praised repeatedly, his lips curling into a wide, happy smile.
In the past month, victory reports from Liaodong had been frequent. The areas outside the passes had been basically pacified, and the remaining small pockets of Qing remnants were no longer a threat.
As Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen slowly advanced with the army, a scout suddenly returned from the front.
"Report!"
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, the thirteen Grand Secretaries of the imperial court are here at Shili Ting to welcome you with a hundred officials!"
The officers such as Qianhu, Youji, and Canjiang surrounding the two revealed expressions of disbelief.
Since when have Ming generals gained such prestige?
They had always been the targets of suppression, suspicion, and exploitation by civil officials. Now, someone was coming out ten li from the city to welcome them?
"Brothers, let's advance a step with this general!"
Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen tidied their armor, and leading the military heads of all ranks, they spurred their horses forward, rushing ahead of the main army towards Shili Ting.
Fan Fucui and the others had been waiting here since early morning. Such a scene of the army returning victoriously from an expedition was something the Ming dynasty had not experienced for many years.
To be able to witness such an event in their tenure was a source of pride.
*Gudong~~*
*Gudong~~*
~~~
The rumbling of hooves grew louder. Over a hundred riders galloped from afar. The two at the forefront, clad in the uniforms of Commander-in-Chief, possessed a commanding presence, their brows radiating heroism.
While others couldn't recognize them clearly, Sun Chuanting, in the crowd, did.
It's Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen!
"Everyone, come out to welcome them with me!"
Fan Fucui waved his sleeve upon hearing this and led the officials towards Cao Bianjiao and the others.
When the two sides were separated by a few dozen paces, led by Fan Fucui, the officials bowed deeply to Cao Bianjiao and his men.
"On behalf of the Son of Heaven, we welcome the generals and their triumphant return!"
"On behalf of the Son of Heaven, we welcome the generals and their triumphant return!"
"On behalf of the Son of Heaven, we welcome the generals and their triumphant return!"
Hearing the three loud shouts from the other side, Cao Bianjiao, Wang Tingchen, and the soldiers were all deeply moved.
"Long live the Great Ming!"
"Long live!"
"Long live!"
In the distance, countless civilians appeared from somewhere, surging towards them and chanting "Long live the Great Ming!" in unison.
"Gentlemen, this is everything you have protected!"
"Was the desperate struggle on the battlefield worth this present moment?"
Wang Xuance, also in the returning procession, pointed at the civilians and officials and said to Cao Bianjiao and the others with a smile.
"It's worth it! Damn, it's worth it!"
The two main generals had not yet spoken, but the subordinate generals and lieutenants had tears welling up in their eyes.
"Brothers, dismount!"
Cao Bianjiao shouted loudly and was about to leap off his horse.
"Hold on!"
Fan Fucui quickly stepped forward upon hearing this and cupped his fists towards the generals.
"His Majesty has decreed that the generals need not dismount. I, along with a hundred officials, will hold your reins!"
He then looked at the other officials, "What are you still waiting for!"
The soldiers were stunned. Welcoming them outside the city and the cheers of the populace were perhaps to be expected, but having these court dignitaries hold their horses and stirrups was an unprecedented precedent!
"How can this be!"
Cao Bianjiao instinctively declined.
"Hahahaha, the generals have shed their blood and sweat for the Great Ming. All of this honor is rightfully yours!"
"Don't refuse, accept it with peace of mind!"
Fan Fucui snatched the reins from his hand and let out a hearty laugh.
Sun Chuanting held the horse for Wang Tingchen. The two walked side-by-side at the very front of the procession.
Shili Ting, as the name suggests, was built ten li outside the city.
The officials eligible to represent the emperor in welcoming them were all of the third rank or above. None of these officials were under fifty years old!
Even though it was August, and the remnants of the Little Ice Age were beginning to bring a chill, the officials holding the reins were still sweating profusely by the time they reached the Desheng Gate.
After completing this stretch, the main army behind them had also caught up.
Zhu Youjian had already descended from the city wall and personally come to the Desheng Gate to welcome them. The Jin Yi Wei cavalry guarded on either side.
As Cao Bianjiao and the others drew near, Zhu Youjian clasped his hands and bowed deeply to the army.
"I, on behalf of the Great Ming, thank all the soldiers!"
"The Great Ming is fortunate to have these generals who guard the four directions, allowing the people to live in peace and the realm to be prosperous!"
"Generals, accept my three bows!"
With that, he performed three formal bows.
Commanders Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen, who had never received such treatment, dismounted, took a few steps forward, and knelt on one knee, placing their left hand on their knee and their right fist on the ground, exclaiming forcefully.
"Your Majesty's grace is immeasurable. Your humble servant is willing to go through fire and water, to battle the Great Ming in all directions!"
The soldiers behind them were also deeply moved by Zhu Youjian's display. These rough men, their eyes moist, all dismounted and followed the two commanders, kneeling and pledging their allegiance.
"We are willing to go through fire and water, to battle the Great Ming in all directions!"
Zhu Youjian, spurred by the soldiers' declarations, surveyed the surroundings and said, word by word.
"Ancestral Precept of the Ancestor of the Founders!"
"The prestige of our dynasty surpasses all former ages. We rule the northern barbarians, the western barbarians, the southern islanders, and the western barbarians without the appeasement of the Han, without the alliances of the Tang, without the annual tribute of the Song, nor the rites of brotherly rival states!"
"No ceding of land, no tribute, no appeasement!"
"The Son of Heaven guards the nation's gates, and the ruler dies for the state!"
"From today onwards, let us, ruler and subjects, join forces with one heart to revive the Great Ming!"
"Join forces with one heart, revive the Great Ming!" Cao Bianjiao clenched his right fist, raised it high above his head, and shouted with all his might.
Wang Tingchen and the other soldiers echoed his sentiment.
"Join forces with one heart, revive the Great Ming!"
The citizens of Beijing had witnessed countless such oaths during expeditions.
These were almost the same grandiose promises, but this time, their feelings were entirely different. Witnessing the ruler and subjects declare their intentions together, the people's minds simultaneously conjured a premonition.
The revival of the Great Ming is just around the corner!
Zhu Youjian stepped forward, extended his hands, and grasped the arms of Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen simultaneously.
"Generals, enter the city with me!"
Wang Chengen, standing nearby, shouted hoarsely.
"The army enters the city!"
The civilians gathered near Desheng Gate quickly cleared the way. Zhu Youjian, pulling Cao and Wang, walked at the very front of the procession. Fan Fucui and the officials, surrounding the Liaodong generals, followed closely behind.
As for the main army and the prisoner carts, they were led by Li Guozhen to the Beijing garrisons for accommodation and rest.
On the Desheng Gate, Li Shimin stood up, stretched, and then asked Fang Er beside him.
"Boy, that street sweeper just said that our dynasty has no alliances with others. What does that mean?"
"When did I ever form alliances with anyone?"