The commendation was three days later.
On the Xinyang Pass campus, the snow swept to both sides, revealing the frozen hard loess. Thirty thousand Northern Army lined up, their black armor reflecting the pale winter sky. On the general stage, General Li Xun was dressed in military uniform, with his white hair trembling slightly in the wind. He held a roll of yellow silk in his hand, and his voice was loud, passing through the chilling air.
"... beheaded seven thousand six hundred people, captured twelve thousand enemies, and captured King Northern Di alive Yelü Hongshan. The merits of this battle will shine through the annals of history."
The audience was so quiet that one could hear the "hunting" sound of the flagpole in the wind.
The awards began. The names were read out one by one, from captain to captain, from corps commander to captain. Some were promoted, some received silver rewards, and some received acres of land. People on the stage thanked them, but those in the audience were silent.
When it was Qin Tiexin's turn, Li Xun paused for a moment.
"Formation-Breaking Second Battalion, Squad A, Qin Tiexin."
Qin Tiexin came out of the queue. He was wearing a clean military uniform - he borrowed it from someone else. His own suit was too torn to wear. He was tall and stood like a wall in front of the queue.
"Captured Yelü Hongshan alive, defeated the enemy chief in front of the battle, and made outstanding contributions." Li Xun unfolded the yellow silk and read word for word, "Special promotion to Cavalry Commandant, Subordinate Fifth Rank, Xinyang Pass deputy commander of the garrison battalion. A reward of one thousand taels, and fifty acres of land."
There was a slight commotion in the audience. Subordinate Fifth Rank, real job, a thousand taels of gold - this is a position that many people cannot climb in their lifetime, and cannot earn wealth.
Qin Tiexin stood still.
"Qin Tiexin, come forward and be sealed." Li Xun said it again.
Qin Tiexin then took a step forward. He walked to the stage, knelt down on one knee, cupped his fists and saluted. His movements were standard, but his spine was straight.
Li Xun looked at him with a complicated expression in his eyes. He walked down the steps and handed the yellow silk over.
Qin Tiexin didn't answer.
He raised his head, looked at Li Xun, and said in a low but clear voice, "General, please resign from your humble position."
There was a "buzz" on the school field.
Li Xun's hand stopped in mid-air. "What did you say?"
"Please resign from your humble position." Qin Tiexin repeated.
Li Xun stared at him for a long time. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and the breathing of 30,000 people merged into a low tide.
"Why?" Li Xun asked.
"The battle is over." Qin Tiexin took a deep breath. "It's time to send the brothers home."
Eight words. Very simple.
Li Xun held Huang Guan's hand tightly. The generals behind him looked at each other, some frowned, some shook their heads, and some sighed. In the audience, Zhao Ling clenched his fists, Zhao Ziliang bit his lip, and Li Shun lowered his head.
"Do you know," Li Xun said slowly, "Cavalry Commandant, Subordinate Fifth Rank, how many people want it?"
"Know."
"Do you know that if you quit this time, you may never have such an opportunity again in your life?"
"Know."
"Did you know that gold will run out, but officialdom is a lifelong future?"
Qin Tiexin was silent for a moment and said, "I know about this. But brothers can't wait."
He paused and lowered his voice. "General Li, Instructor Shi, Wang Meng, Zhou Laowu, Zhang Shan... and Chen San. Their ashes are still in the camp, waiting to go home. I promised to send them back."
Li Xun stopped talking. He stared at Qin Tiexin, staring at the young man's rough face, firm eyes, and straight spine. The wind blew and rolled up the snow foam on and off the stage.
After a long time, Li Xun took back the yellow silk.
"Exactly," he said.
There was a muffled intake of breath from the audience.
Li Xun turned around and said something to the soldiers behind him. The soldiers left quickly and soon brought a horse. It was all black, with four hooves like snow, a thick neck, and sharp eyes. It was "Black Cloud".
Li Xun took the reins and handed it to Qin Tiexin, "Since you don't want an official position, this horse will be given to you for transportation."
Qin Tiexin looked at the horse, then at Li Xun, then knelt on one knee again. "Thank you, General."
"There is also this." Li Xun took out a document from his arms and stamped it with the seal of the general, "Customs clearance document. If you see this document in the prefectures and counties along the way, it will be convenient for you."
Qin Tiexin took it and put it in his arms.
Li Xun finally patted him on the shoulder, very hard. "If the blacksmith shop can't be opened, come back to me."
Qin Tiexin nodded heavily.
He stood up and took Black Cloud. The horse touched his hand with its nose. Qin Tiexin got on the horse, turned the horse's head, and faced the 30,000 comrades in the audience.
He cupped his fists and saluted.
Then he rode away.
Black Cloud's four hooves kicked up snow dust, passed through the school grounds, passed through the camp gate, and disappeared at the end of the northern official road. On the general stand, Li Xun looked at the back and whispered to the deputy general beside him:
"This young man has an unlimited future."
The deputy general was puzzled. "But he resigned..."
"It's precisely because he resigned from office." Li Xun said, "In this world, there are many people who can give up their future and wealth, and there are also many people who can give up their wealth. But there are not many people who can give up their future and wealth for the sake of the dead."
He paused and added, "Such a person will either die in an unknown corner soon, or... will reach a height that none of us can reach."
***
The bounty is collected at the Military Supplies Department.
One thousand taels of gold were exchanged for silver notes and cash. The silver notes were from "Tongbao Bank" and were redeemable nationwide. The cash was filled with half a box, which was heavy. Qin Tiexin tied the box to the horse's back, and Black Cloud snorted. He didn't like the hard feeling.
When he returned to the camp, Zhao Ling, Zhao Ziliang, and Li Shun were already waiting.
The three of them also received awards. Zhao Ling was promoted to captain and led the first team of the crossbow battalion; Zhao Ziliang was transferred to the deputy commander of the scout battalion after recovering from his injury; Li Shun retired due to injury, received a hundred taels of silver reward and pension, and opened a tavern in the pass.
"Do you really want to leave?" Zhao Ling asked. He had put on new armor, and the goggles on his chest were shiny.
Qin Tiexin nodded.
"How about..." Zhao Ziliang hesitated, "Wait until spring before leaving? The road will be easier."
"I can't wait any longer." Qin Tiexin said, "If we wait any longer, the snow will melt and the road will be harder to walk."
Li Shun didn't say anything, but just handed over a cloth bag. When he opened it, there were a dozen dough pancakes and a piece of bacon. "Eat on the road," he said.
Qin Tiexin took it and put it in his arms.
The four of them stood at the gate of the camp, speechless for a moment. The wind blew the broken flag on the flagpole, making a popping sound. There were soldiers training in the distance, and slogans came intermittently.
"Take care." Finally, Qin Tiexin said.
"You too." Zhao Ling patted his shoulder hard, "After sending it off, remember to come back and take a look."
"Definitely."
Qin Tiexin got on his horse. Black Cloud stepped forward and walked out of the camp. After more than ten steps, he turned back and saw three people still standing there, waving to him.
He raised his hand in return, then turned his head and never looked back.
***
Tu Dazhu is waiting outside the door.
He changed into clean cloth, with an empty sleeve on his left hand. He carried a baggage in his right hand, which contained a few changes of clothes and all his belongings - the two hundred taels of silver reward from Dugu Xiao, a set of old armor, and the big ax was not allowed to be taken out.
"You really want to follow me?" Qin Tiexin reined in his horse.
Tu Dazhu grinned, and the smile was a little forced, "One hand is useless in the army. I can't farm when I go back, so why not follow you and start fighting. Don't worry, I can still grab the hammer with my right hand."
Qin Tiexin looked at him for a while and nodded. "Get in the car."
The car was bought yesterday. It is a semi-old cart pulled by two horses. There are three urns installed on the car - Li Zhenwei, Shi Meng, and Chen San. The ashes of other brothers were brought back by their fellow villagers. There is also Lin Feng's sword, wrapped in cloth and placed inside.
Tu Dazhu climbed into the driving position, and Qin Tiexin rode in front.
After walking less than three miles, the sound of horse hooves was heard from behind.
Looking back, it was Zhou Cang. He was still riding his old horse, and sitting on the horse was a child - about ten years old, thin and small, wrapped in a cotton-padded jacket that was obviously too big, with only one pair of eyes exposed, it was Zhou Nan.
Zhou Cang caught up, reined in the horse, and gasped. "Wait!"
Qin Tiexin Stop. "Teacher?"
"I'll go back with you, too." Zhou Cang said, patting his right leg - that leg was straight and straight, with empty trouser legs. "I'm old, my legs are gone, and I can't hit the iron anymore. Craftsmen's Camp in the army... don't need useless people anymore."
He pointed at the child on the horse. "Zhou Nan is also with me. He can't make weapons by himself yet. He can't survive in Craftsmen's Camp. Let him go to your blacksmith shop to help you."
Qin Tiexin looked at Zhou Cang, then at Zhou Nan.
"Teacher, Qin Household Blacksmith Shop, I don't know what's going on right now." Qin Tiexin told the truth.
"You have hands and feet, and you will never die of hunger." Zhou Cang said.
Qin Tiexin was silent for a moment and nodded. "I feel wronged, teacher."
So, the team became four people and one horse: Qin Tiexin was riding in front, Tu Dazhu was driving, Zhou Cang was sitting in the car, and Zhou Nan was next to him. Zhou Cang's old horse was tied behind the car, carrying some sundries.
The urn is on the car, padded with straw and covered with felt.
"The first stop, Longxi." Qin Tiexin said, "Chen San's hometown."
The carriages and horses started, heading north, then west.