Heads had been impaled upside down on sharpened wooden stakes, their blood dried into black scabs.
Flies buzzed their wings, landed on cheeks, crawled over gray-white eyeballs, and rubbed their jointed limbs together.
A fierce storm had battered the people on both banks into wretched disarray, then ended like a dream.
Water dripped from leaf tips. Martial Masters hugged their long spears and leaned against rocks, watching the great river flow east as travelers hurried back and forth, an unreal feeling rising in their hearts.
The Southern Border delegation met the Da Shun delegation. Faint, clamorous arguments could be heard. Perhaps the nightmare had truly come to an end. The vast camp was bustling into a frenzy as soldiers gathered before the announcement board, watching a young officer tuck a stack of papers beneath his arm, pinch two iron nails between his fingers, and press them barehanded into the board. They held their breath.
The young officer turned around and raised two fingers.
"Two matters! First, if there are no errors in the military merit records and no one reports an objection within three days, they will be entered into your personal files for the exchange of treasures. Second, those on this list, pack up. You may return home early for leave. Register with your superior before departing."
"It's over?"
The young officer shook his head. "It's reached a temporary stopping point. We can't withdraw the army before Xingyi Marquis returns, in case of an ambush."
Cheers surged like mountains calling and seas roaring.
"Home! We're going home!"
"Old Li, you lucky bastard. You can go home and hold your big fat boy now."
"Hahaha, the New Year Festival letter just arrived. Who knew it would end so quickly? We have to thank Xingyi Marquis for this."
"Thank Xingyi Marquis