Chapter 75: Offering prisoners outside the city
Yes, after two full months, Jia Cong and others led a large army and escorted two thousand prisoners of war and finally returned to Shenjing City!
The Jia family was in a rush when they heard the news, and soon everyone gathered in Grandmother Jia's courtyard!
But before anyone could say anything, a servant came to report that an imperial decree had arrived from outside! Grandmother Jia hurriedly ordered everyone to change into formal attire and go to receive the decree.
When we arrived at the front yard, it was indeed Xia Shouzhong who arrived.
"No need to be polite, old Lord. This is His Majesty's order!"
"…The sons of eight dukes and twelve marquises went to Lanzhou to guard the border. Now they have returned with merit. Each prefecture is allowed to set up a colorful tent ten miles outside Desheng Gate to watch the ceremony of presenting captives…"
After saying this, Xia Shouzhong did not stay any longer and left.
The old lady greeted everyone happily, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "Brother Lian has not returned yet. Zhen'er, the eldest and second sons, take the servants with you and go there immediately. Although we won't arrive until the afternoon, we can't delay!"
"Our brother Cong is here with us this time. It is an honor for our entire family. We must not lose our manners!"
"Feng'er, immediately arrange for all the necessary things to be sent over!"
"Old lady, can we go together?" Xiangyun's eyes were bright, and she was obviously very eager.
The old lady thought for a moment and said, "His Majesty just said orally that everyone in the family can go. In that case, let's arrange a carriage and go together."
The girls were delighted when they heard this. On weekdays, they stayed at home all day and rarely went out. But now, not only could they go out, but they could also see such a scene. They were overjoyed.
In an instant, the whole house became busy!
Jia Zhen and his companions went ahead to set up the colorful tent and prepare various things with the servants, while Jia Mu and her companions had to wait until around noon to complete the preparations before going forward.
All the girls and wives hurried back to their rooms and took out all their expensive clothes and ornaments! After Baochai reported to the old lady, she also sent a letter to Aunt Xue and then left together.
After everyone was ready, news came from the front saying that all the colorful tents had been set up.
Then, led by Lady Jia, all the women from the two mansions went out.
Outside the gate, more than a dozen horse-drawn carriages were already waiting, surrounded by a layer of old women and maids, and at the outermost edge there were also housekeepers, servants and the like guarding.
After the old lady, Xing and Wang got on the carriage first, all the girls and wives also got on the carriage. Then, a huge group of about one or two hundred people headed towards Deshengmen.
After exiting Desheng Gate, we saw soldiers guarding both sides! The Five Cities Army with swords and spears, the Jinyiwei on tall horses, and the Longjinwei in gorgeous armor almost blocked the main road. The crowd of people watching the excitement were no more than fifty steps away.
Naturally, no one stopped the Jia family's carriage, so it went straight out of the door and drove forward. After a few miles, they saw a series of colorful tents on both sides of the road that stretched as far as the eye could see.
As the carriage was about to reach the end of the colorful tent, Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen came towards them!
Under the guidance of the two people, the frame went directly behind the tents on both sides!
The colorful tent of the Jia Mansion was over a hundred steps long and was separated like the houses. Some had curtains and some were directly open. There were even places for maids, old women, servants, and for storing carriages.
All the men got off their horses or carriages and went directly into the corresponding colorful tents. As for the women, they first asked the maids to use tents to enclose a closed passage before getting off the carriages!
Jia Mu, Xing, Wang, and You from the East Mansion each entered their own colorful tents. However, the girls gathered together and directly pulled Wang Xifeng, Li Wan, and Qin Keqing into a larger colorful tent.
Girls all like to be lively, and they would find it boring if they were separated!
After everyone entered, the tea, snacks, fruits and other items that had been prepared in advance were brought up like water.
Apart from the Jia family, the four kings, eight dukes and twelve marquises had obviously all received the imperial decree. For a moment, there was an endless stream of carriages and sedan chairs on the official road!
On both sides of the front are the colorful tents of the four royal palaces. Next, the colorful tent of the Jia palace is the first one among the royal palaces on the east side, and the rest are arranged in order.
"It is said that Third Brother and his men escorted back several thousand Rakshasa ghosts. I wonder if those Rakshasa ghosts have green faces and fangs!" Xiangyun looked around with great enthusiasm and curiosity.
Although there was a curtain in front, one could still see clearly through the gap. Unfortunately, there was nothing outside except the carriages and sedan chairs passing by.
As for the colorful tents of the Xiuguo Mansion across the street, they were only a few dozen steps away from each other! There was nothing to be seen either.
"Even if he has a green face and fangs, what can he do? He was still killed by my third brother without leaving a single piece of armor!" said Daiyu.
"I didn't know how powerful Third Brother Cong is now, commanding thousands of soldiers and horses, and making blood flow like a river with a wave of his hand. This is a real man!" Tanchun envied and admired him.
Baochai held her cheeks and looked out of the curtain with a dazed look. It wouldn't be long before he arrived...
This wait lasted for more than two hours. Suddenly, a large group of Dragon Guards came over in an orderly manner and guarded the surroundings tightly! After a moment, a sharp voice floated out.
"Your Majesty has arrived!"
Although no one saw the emperor, everyone inside and outside the room prostrated themselves on the ground and kowtowed. It was not until they heard the voice saying "stand up" that they all stood up.
The emperor's position was at the end of the colorful tent. During the entire ceremony, General Niu Jizong would escort the captives through the colorful tent to the emperor. At that time, people from the Ministry of Rites would naturally present congratulatory messages, and some captives would be taken directly to the Taimiao for beheading and sacrifice.
Afterwards, the generals in the army came forward one by one to accept the emperor's reward! After the reward was given, they had to go to the palace to thank the emperor, and then they could go home.
As for the troops that followed them back, except for the personal guards that each person could lead, they had already arrived at the Beijing camp for the handover. Even those troops escorting the prisoners were sent out in advance by the Dragon Guards.
About a quarter of an hour after the emperor arrived, the sound of horse hooves could be heard. The girls in the colorful tent could not stretch their heads out to look, so they could only stamp their feet in anxiety.
However, as the footsteps got closer, a loud roar was heard, "Your servant Niu Jizong, I pay my respects to Your Majesty! I was ordered to go to Lanzhou to guard the border, and fortunately, thanks to the grace of Your Majesty, the Grand Emperor, I have returned with a great victory! I now present the captives to Your Majesty to demonstrate the martial arts of Daqian!"
"allow!"
As the words fell, Niu Jizong dismounted and walked away, and behind him was a long line of prisoners!
"Here they come, here they come!" Xiangyun opened her eyes wide and looked out through the curtain. She saw a group of soldiers passing by first, and then the prisoners escorted by Long Jinwei. These prisoners were all dishevelled and tied with iron chains, and their faces were lifeless! But this was normal. In these thousands of miles, countless prisoners died. They were lucky to be here alive. As for whether they would have any good treatment along the way, that was just too much to think about.
