Xu Anbang unscrewed the bottle cap.
A sharp, potent smell of liquor immediately filled the air.
There was none of the mellow richness of an aged vintage, only a fiery burn that went straight down the throat.
He used no cup. Raising the green glass bottle, he looked around at the young, resolute faces throughout the Cemetery.
"Today is my hundredth birthday."
"This first bottle is a toast to myself, and to all of you!"
"To the Dragon Kingdom, and to its hundreds of thousands of fine young soldiers who answer the call, stand ready to fight, and fight to win!"
With that, he tipped back his head and took a long swig of the fiery liquor!
"May Elder Xu's blessings be as vast as the East Sea, and his years as enduring as the mountains!"
"May Elder Xu enjoy long life and lasting health!"
"Long live Elder Xu! Long live the Dragon Kingdom!"
Blessings erupted from the chests of hundreds of thousands of soldiers like a tidal wave. Their voices surged into the sky, making the entire Cemetery seem to hum!
They were not congratulating a general or a Commander.
They were honoring a centenarian hero who had witnessed a century of the Dragon Kingdom's trials and devoted his life to his country!
They opened their canteens. The contents might have been nothing but plain water, but in their hearts, it was the finest wine in the world!
Following Elder Xu's example, they tipped back their heads and drank, their blood running hot!
Xu Anbang lowered the bottle, a flush of pride rising to his face.
He took the second bottle, unscrewed its cap, and turned toward the thousands of silent gravestones deep within the Cemetery. He poured every drop onto the ground.
The liquor soaked into the earth,