Chapter 39: The General's Triumphant Return

The envoys from the Eastern Barbarians who had accompanied the Grand General of the Cavalry had been settled a day in advance by officials of the Ministry of Rites in Rongqing Ward, a place reserved for foreign guests. Yet the Yu family’s army still camped ten miles outside the capital, which was customary—no emperor would dare welcome a force of a hundred thousand soldiers into the inner city without suspicion, especially when they were personally led by a general bearing the family name.

Men of letters may plot rebellion for ten years and fail; men of arms, however, can overturn a dynasty in a single moment. The loss of military power has always been an emperor’s greatest fear. This has nothing to do with whether or not the emperor trusts the character of his generals—it is a matter of statecraft. If wine is the go-between for lust, then military power is the mastermind of rebellion. Whether one rebels often comes down to a single thought.

Early that morning, Ji Ye returned to the Mingzheng Palace in his dragon carriage. He immediately issued an edict summoning the Grand General of the Cavalry and his chief officers and commanded the Ministers of Rites and War to receive them at the pavilion five miles outside the city. Within the city, officials of the Ministry of Rites had already arranged the ceremonial military honors as per tradition. In the palace, all the court officials were assembled, awaiting the arrival of the Grand General to begin the grand ceremony of the royal army, after which merit would be discussed and rewards bestowed, proclaiming their deeds to the world.

Outside the pavilion, Yu Hai saw that every one of his sons and nephews had returned safely. Though deeply moved, his joy did not show on his composed face—he was a steady elder, and whatever excitement leapt in his heart was not apparent outwardly. After a few customary greetings, he and the Minister of Rites led the hundreds of officers toward the capital.

Those younger family members who could not accompany Yu Jiang to the main house were excited beyond measure. In front of their elders, they dared not make noise, but once mingled amongst their brothers, their restraint vanished. The elders led the way with decorum, while laughter and banter rang out behind.

“Fifth Uncle, I’ve missed you so much!”

“Ninth Uncle, how vast is the sea? I heard the pirates’ ships are sturdier than ours?”

“Fourth Uncle, where’s your arm?”

At this exclamation, a hoarse male voice immediately suppressed the commotion.

“We’ll talk about it at home.”

“Exactly—have some sense.”

“Little Aunt will be heartbroken.”

“Right, tell us, has Little Aunt suffered any grievances in the palace?”

“Ninth, hush. We’ll talk at home.”

The leading young officer shouted them into silence, and the row of young men behind him fell quiet at once.

The journey to the capital was far from peaceful; crowds lined the roads, seemingly organized, loudly praising the Yu family army’s feats. Along the way, maidens and young wives tossed flowers and handkerchiefs, and some even threw melons. The most dramatic was an old woman who fainted from weeping, causing a minor stir, which the city patrol quickly and efficiently handled.

The leading young officer’s brow furrowed tightly, and the laughter of the youths behind him dwindled to nothing. They exchanged grave looks; the younger, more hot-blooded among them bristled with silent fury.

“Big Brother…” One began, but fell silent under a sharp glare.

“This is too much, General of Chariots,” a deputy muttered.

“We’ll speak of it before His Majesty.”

Once they entered through the Vermilion Bird Gate, the crowds on either side of the main avenue were much more orderly—while there were still shouts of gratitude, the excesses of the outer city had not followed them in.

When the Grand General of the Cavalry saw Ji Ye seated high upon the Dragon Throne beneath the Chengtian Gate, his heart leapt into his throat. The General of Chariots, Yu Huifeng, finally relaxed his tightly furrowed brow. His sun-darkened, sharply defined face composed itself into calm dignity, neither humble nor arrogant.

Beyond the Chengtian Gate lay the Mingzheng Palace—the front for state affairs, the rear for the inner palace. Here, all officials must dismount and proceed on foot; imperial authority brooks no infringement.

The Grand General and his officers had already dismounted at the sight of the imperial procession. They strode forward briskly, heads held high, their faces alight with the joy of triumph, their bearing respectful.

Ji Ye rose with a sincere smile.

"At last, General, you have returned in triumph!”

Yu Jiang knelt with a thud, emotion reddening his eyes. With deep feeling, he bowed and declared, “Your Majesty, this old servant has not failed in his mission!”

“We are fortunate not to have failed!” the leading young officer declared, and the officers behind him bellowed as well. Hardened men of war, their voices thundered through the palace.

Looking upon these sun-browned, broad-shouldered generals, Ji Ye felt a surge of heroic pride. Especially when he saw how many Yu family sons filled the ranks of general officers—half the command, by his count—he could not help but envy. If only he had such valiant, iron-boned sons, his throne would be unshakeable.

"Well done, well done! Bring wine!"

Li Fuquan stepped forward with a tray bearing two jade cups, each filled with clear wine.

“I haven’t tasted our capital’s wine in over two years. Your Majesty’s gift comes at the perfect time.” The Grand General laughed heartily, raised a cup, and drained it in one go.

Ji Ye, seeing his unhesitating action, felt a surge of satisfaction and drank in turn, smiling all the while.

“Let the music play.”

Ancient strains rose from the city walls—the “Song of Triumph,” a vast, magnificent melody reserved for the military. Yu Huifeng had even composed a battle hymn to it, with stirring lyrics that roused every soldier’s resolve to defend their homeland. In just a few days, the song had spread throughout the army; every soldier could now sing it by heart.

“Generals, you have labored greatly. More wine!”

As the triumphant music played, Ji Ye and Yu Jiang drank together, then commanded the palace maids to serve wine to each officer.

With a wave of Ji Ye’s hand, the music stopped, and he called out, “Proclaim the public announcement!”

Atop the Chengtian Gate, Yu Hai, the Minister of War, began to read aloud the report of their victory. As he did, Ji Ye and all the civil and military officials stood in solemn formation, heads held high, listening with reverence.

When the proclamation ended, the triumphant music rose again. Somewhere among the hundreds of officers, someone began to sing the army’s battle hymn, and soon the hall resounded with its stirring chorus.

The song rang out, grand and resonant, bringing tears to the eyes of all who heard it. Young men watching felt their chests swell with the longing to die a hero’s death on the battlefield. The elders’ hearts surged with pride; the women wept openly, moved beyond words.

Ji Ye himself knew the song and, perhaps swept up by his generals’ spirit, joined in as the chorus reached its climax.

The leading young officer, standing not far from Ji Ye, was astonished to see the emperor so readily join in.

By the song’s end, even the watching crowds were singing along, tearful and loud in their cries:

Yu Family Army!
Yu Family Army!
Yu Family Army!

Some of the civil officials smiled faintly; others frowned with unnamable worry. The military officers who had remained behind to guard the capital, unable to join the campaign, watched with expressions of schadenfreude.

The public proclamation ceremony was the formal announcement of the army’s victory, read aloud by the Minister of War, after which a report would be written on a great brocade banner and hung from a flagpole for all to see. Thus concluded the grand presentation of the royal army.

With the ceremony over, the emperor returned to the palace, the meritorious officers and all the civil and military officials following. Once everyone was assembled in the Mingzheng Hall, the awards would be bestowed.

Yu Hai, the Duke, was due for a princely title—this was the sentiment on everyone’s mind.

The Lu clan, as the empress’s maternal relatives, fretted more than others. With the empress having a princely father and so many brothers as generals, her position was more secure than ever. Yet, when a house is at its peak, decline often follows. With the court’s balance of power so skewed after this victory, would those blinded by envy tolerate the Yu family’s dominance? That remained to be seen.

Prime Minister Liu Chengyan was especially anxious. Rumors from the palace suggested his eldest daughter was falling out of favor. The Liu family’s foundation was shallow; if his daughter, the Imperial Concubine, lost the emperor’s favor, he, the emperor’s chosen target, would be in mortal danger. How to preserve his fortune and his position as prime minister? He pondered carefully and resolved, after court, to urge Yuying to put Yuyan before the emperor—not to win favor, but at least to bear a child before Yuying.

Such wishes are always pleasant. Yu Jiang, observing the expressions of those present, sneered inwardly.

In the sweltering heat, the generals, clad in heavy armor, were soon drenched in sweat. Ji Ye briefly and decisively reaffirmed their achievements, then ordered Li Fuquan to read out the rewards.

The Grand General of the Cavalry was granted the title Prince of Loyalty and Righteousness—not just a commandery prince, but with the rank and stipend of a royal prince. The other generals were promoted by one or even two ranks according to their merits. Smiles broke out everywhere as they knelt to thank the emperor.

A long list of rewards followed, and the soldiers still stationed outside the city were not forgotten, though their rewards were not so generous as those of the officers.

At last, Ji Ye summarized their achievements once more, praised the generals anew, then stepped down from the throne, Li Fuquan following with a tray covered in red cloth.

“Grand General, your achievements would be worthy even of a royal prince’s title.”

At these words, sweat poured from Yu Jiang’s brow; his broad lips trembled slightly. “Your Majesty…”

The leading young officer’s fists clenched, his face cold as frost. In his heart, a thought flashed: “When the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the cunning hare is dead, the hound is stewed…”

Ji Ye noted the expressions of the Yu family and smiled calmly. “Grand General, uncover the red cloth and see what special reward I have for you.”

On the court, the emperor could not simply execute a meritorious general before all. Realizing this, Yu Hai calmed himself, lowered his gaze, and waited.

Yu Jiang took a deep breath, respectfully bowed, and lifted the red cloth. Beneath it lay a piece of arched black iron, inscribed with hundreds of tiny characters. Instantly, the whole court erupted in astonishment.

Author’s note: For the 21st.