Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 415 - 413. The Cost of War

413. The Cost of War

The war had finally ended. Despite the recent brutal battle, Feihong Pass still faintly reeked of blood, yet it was starting to regain some of its usual tranquility. The streets and the city gates were devoid of the everyday hustle and bustle. The soldiers of the Mo Family Army quietly cleaned the battlefield and washed away bloodstains from the streets. These bloodstains belonged to both their comrades and their enemies. Mixed together, it was impossible to distinguish whose blood was whose, but both sides of the conflict had paid a severe price.

At dawn, Ye Li, accompanied by Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, and Wei Lin, left Feihong Pass and went to a slope not far from it. By the time they arrived, many people were already waiting there. Most present had injuries, and some were severely wounded. Each face was adorned with a solemn and gloomy expression. This was where over a thousand Qilins lay in eternal rest. Upon Ye Li’s arrival, the more than one hundred Qilins immediately straightened their bodies and saluted in unison, "We pay our respects to the Princess Consort."

Ye Li solemnly nodded and stood up, saying, "There is no need for such formality."

"We appreciate Your Highness personally attending the funeral of our brothers." A middle-aged man with a weather-beaten face stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Ye Li. This was the only Qilin squad commander who had survived the defense of Feihong Pass this time. Ye Li might not remember all the names of the Qilin squad members, but she did recognize most of the commanders. This was because these individuals were the standout performers among those trained in the first batch, many of whom Ye Li had personally taught. She still remembered that this middle-aged man’s name was Li Yu. His name was the same as that of the renowned and accomplished last king of the Southern Tang, but he was a completely different person. Even when facing his comrades, he rarely spoke. His initiative in approaching Ye Li to speak this time was indeed unusual.

A wry smile tugged at the corner of Ye Li’s mouth. She said, "They were all trained by me; how could I not come? I... I’m truly sorry."

The normally reticent man’s eyes turned red, and he said in a choking voice, "No, it has nothing to do with Your Highness. To die in battle and be wrapped in horsehide is an honor for a soldier. But we..." Ye Li looked around. Compared to the Qilins of the past, who were disciplined and exceptional, the over one hundred scar-riddled soldiers present looked somewhat dispirited and sorrowful. More than a hundred men who had never retreated in the face of countless opponents were now staring at the graves before them with reddened eyes. Their comrades-in-arms, who had shared life and death with them, lay in those graves. Perhaps just two days ago, they were still laughing and chatting, talking about their families, wives, children, and the future. But now, they were separated by the barrier of life and death.

Ye Li sighed softly and walked to a small open space at the very front of the graveyard. She respectfully bowed three times to the graves and called out in a deep voice, "Bring the wine for sacrifice!"

Qin Feng and Wei Lin, one behind the other, promptly took the wine jars and walked towards the graves. They sprinkled a little wine before every grave. Seeing this, the Qilin soldiers followed suit, offering wine before each grave.

A mournful zither melody resonated from the front. Everyone turned around and saw Ye Li sitting on the ground with a simple ebony zither across her lap. Her fingers worked the strings, and the music flowed out gently. The melody was ancient, exuding a sense of desolation and sadness. This was the Anthem for the Souls.

Ye Li’s zither playing was not extraordinary, and there wasn’t even a hint of sadness on her face. But the music that came from her fingers made everyone clearly feel a profound sense of melancholy and regret. Yes, it was regret, not suffering. Regret for not being able to do better, and regret for the death of so many excellent soldiers in such a manner.

Suddenly, the music from the zither intensified, each note seeming to strike everyone’s hearts, involuntarily making them recollect the past: the pride and joy of initially joining the Qilin, countless relentless training sessions, shared experiences of life and death, and the valor of fighting together on the battlefield.

"We, as men, should remember the weight of our nation’s grace! To die on the battlefield is a blessed end!" someone shouted. "Brothers... may your journey be kind!"

"A toast!" All lifted their wine jars high, paying tribute to the graves before downing the contents in one gulp. Amidst the music, countless tears mixed with wine flowed freely, soaking the ground where countless brave souls rested. Brothers... may your journey be kind... Take care on your way!

Finally, the music ended. Ye Li stood up, casually leaving the ebony zither on the ground beside her. Looking at the tear-streaked faces of the soldiers, she said solemnly, "Li Yu."

The middle-aged man named Li Yu stepped forward and replied respectfully, "Present!"

Ye Li looked at him and said in a deep voice, "From now on, you are the Deputy Commander of the Qilin. I order you to take the Qilin back to regroup and recover. Once everyone’s injuries have healed, you will return to Licheng immediately. Within a year, I want to see a complete Qilin again. Can... you do it?"

Li Yu couldn’t help but freeze for a second. Meeting Ye Li’s steadfast gaze, he quickly declared, "I hear and obey your orders! I promise that within a year... I will definitely present the Princess Consort with a fully restored Qilin!" Ye Li’s command had indeed shocked Li Yu. The position and rank of Deputy Commander of the Qilin were extraordinarily significant. Even Third Young Master Xu, who had been part of the Qilin for several years, whose abilities and ruthlessness on the battlefield were absolutely top-notch, and who was also Princess Consort Ding’s close cousin, Xu Qingfeng, was merely one of the twelve Qilin squad commanders. And now, at this moment, the Princess Consort was promoting him to Deputy Commander...

Seemingly discerning Li Yu’s inner thoughts, Ye Li calmly said, "The departed were your brothers. I hope you will personally fill the positions they once held."

"I hear and obey your orders!" Li Yu said aloud, his tone filled with more emotion this time. Ye Li nodded. "Everyone’s wounds have not yet healed, so go back and rest early."

"Yes, we shall take our leave!" Li Yu nodded, then left for Feihong Pass with more than a hundred Qilin soldiers.

"Princess Consort, we should return now," Zhuo Jing said softly. Ye Li shook her head and said, "I wish to stay here for a moment longer." She sat down on the ground again, placed the ebony zither on her lap, and started playing it absentmindedly. She didn’t play any particular piece, occasionally stopping, her sporadic playing in the desolate, white graveyard adding to the feeling of heartache. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

On an elevated spot not far from the Qilin graveyard, Mo Xiuyao and Han Mingyue stood side by side. Looking over, they could see the woman in white clothes sitting in the white graveyard, her face serene. Han Mingyue glanced at Mo Xiuyao, with his snow-white hair, and said, "If you are worried, why don’t you go over and see her?"

Mo Xiuyao gave him a sidelong glance and replied indifferently, "This prince has his own judgment."

Han Mingyue smiled silently. At this point, he couldn’t help but admire Mo Xiuyao’s good judgment. From a rational point of view, it was true that Mo Xiuyao could not be blamed for what happened this time. But emotionally speaking, anyone would probably feel like slapping him. Yet, Ye Li hadn’t spoken a single word blaming Mo Xiuyao from beginning to end. Whether she truly understood or simply accepted all of Mo Xiuyao’s actions, this was Mo Xiuyao’s great fortune. And it was probably also because of Ye Li that Mo Xiuyao hadn’t become even more extreme.

Over the years, Han Mingyue and Mo Xiuyao hadn’t had much interaction, but Han Mingyue had always been aware of Mo Xiuyao. After all, aside from his only biological younger brother, Mo Xiuyao was the person Han Mingyue valued most. Over the years, Han Mingyue had vaguely sensed Mo Xiuyao on the verge of losing control a few times, but each time, Mo Xiuyao had managed to pull himself back. Obviously, all of this was inextricably linked to Ye Li.

Just like last night, the moment Leng Huai brought up the issue of the prisoners of war from Xiling, Han Mingyue clearly felt Mo Xiuyao’s killing intent ignite. But it was perfectly controlled in just an instant. He then instructed Leng Huai on how to deal with the prisoners in an orderly manner. It seemed as if Prince Ding were truly merciful and magnanimous. Heaven knew, Mo Xiuyao was never the type to treat enemies kindly. And at that time, the only one among those present who could have influenced Mo Xiuyao’s emotions was Ye Li. So at that moment, Han Mingyue somewhat understood why Feng Zhiyao was so concerned about the relationship between Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. If Mo Xiuyao was viewed as a peerless, sharp sword with its edge exposed, then Ye Li was the sheath. If Mo Xiuyao was an excellent thoroughbred, then Ye Li was the reins that could restrain the horse. The two were indispensable to each other.

Han Mingyue lowered his head and chuckled, "Xiuyao, you’re past the age of capriciousness. The tolerance of others isn’t meant for you to squander recklessly. At the very least... you should offer a cup of wine at the graves of the Qilin soldiers. These men were all personally trained by the Princess Consort... a type of soldier completely different from our understanding. I always feel that the Princess Consort’s feelings for these Qilin soldiers are different. This time, for your plan, half of the Qilin were sacrificed at once. If someone destroyed half of Prince Ding’s Mansion in one go, would you be happy?"

Mo Xiuyao was silent for a long time, then suddenly said in a deep voice, "I hate the Qilin!"

Startled, Han Mingyue pondered for a moment before he couldn’t help but laugh. "Do you hate the Qilin, or do you hate the Princess Consort caring so much about others or other things? The Princess Consort is different from other women, and you should have understood this a long time ago. Go... don’t say you hate the Qilin. They are the most outstanding and admirable soldiers. Don’t tell me you don’t feel it’s a pity."

As Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao was a unique swordsman of his time. He was inherently fond of all elite soldiers; how could he not like the cream of the crop like the Qilin? To be honest, even before this, he had underestimated the combat power of the Qilin; he had not even expected Ye Li to station the Qilin at Feihong Pass. After all, compared to an army of hundreds of thousands, a unit of a thousand men, no matter how elite, seemed too insignificant. Originally, Mo Xiuyao had been prepared for the complete annihilation of Feihong Pass, but it turned out that this very unit, which he hadn’t initially factored into his plans, had saved all of Feihong Pass.

After another long silence, Mo Xiuyao finally walked towards Ye Li.

"Xiuyao," Han Mingyue suddenly called out from behind him.

Mo Xiuyao turned around, gave him a questioning glance, raising an eyebrow. Han Mingyue said, "We are still brothers, right?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded subtly, then with a tap of his feet, he sped towards Ye Li.

Looking at the hastily departing figure, Han Mingyue chuckled. Who could’ve imagined that the carefree Mo Xiuyao, the dream man of countless maidens in their youthful chambers, would have such an anxious moment? Thinking of himself, Young Master Mingyue lifted his eyes to the horizon, a faint, serene smile of relaxation and relief gracing his elegant lips.

Mo Xiuyao landed behind Ye Li without making the slightest sound. Qin Feng and the others glanced at Mo Xiuyao before withdrawing silently. Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li sitting on the ground, then quietly walked over and, like Ye Li, sat on the ground beside her.

"Xiuyao?" Ye Li paused her zither-playing, looking puzzled, "Didn’t Third Feng and the others say they have something to discuss with you? Why are you here?" Mo Xiuyao answered with a soft smile, "The battle is over. Even the most pressing matters can take a breather, can’t they?"

Ye Li nodded with a smile. Apart from Murong Shen and Marquis South, who were still leading the Great Chu troops in confronting Xiling in the south, the Mo Family Army was already a picture of tranquility. Ye Li thought for a moment before saying, "The arrangements for the families of the fallen and seriously injured soldiers..."

Mo Xiuyao clasped her slightly cool hand within his own. "Leave those matters to Young Master Qingchen. Ah-Li, you don’t have to worry. I assure you that the arrangements for the deceased soldiers will be perfectly executed. The same goes for the Qilin."

Ye Li nodded with a light smile. She wasn’t worried about the Qilin. The Qilin had a very comprehensive system, including provisions for casualties and injuries, and since the Qilin unit wasn’t large, simply following the regulations would be sufficient. However, it wasn’t an easy task to do the same for the other Mo Family Army troops, considering the sheer number of casualties, which often ran into the tens of thousands.

Perceiving Ye Li’s concerns, Mo Xiuyao made a firm pledge, "I will instruct all generals to ensure the posthumous arrangements for their subordinates are handled thoroughly." Reassured by Mo Xiuyao’s earnest promise, Ye Li couldn’t help but smile, "I trust you, of course. You needn’t be so solemn. I was just mentioning it in passing."

Mo Xiuyao chuckled lightly. Ah-Li’s heart was too soft, and she overthought things. However, Mo Xiuyao knew that she wasn’t doing this out of so-called kindness or high morality, but because she believed it was the right thing to do. Many of Ah-Li’s ideas conflicted with the people of this era. For example, she believed that men should respect women, that soldiers should protect citizens, and that the nation should look after the affairs of soldiers who died for the country. Not that she was wrong, but these ideas were too absurd and difficult for people of this era to accept. Nonetheless, he loved her, precisely for such exceptional traits. Mo Xiuyao was aware of her remarkable experiences and felt that she might have lived a happier life in her previous world. Therefore, he aspired to give her the world and make her even happier than she might have been.

Mo Xiuyao took the ebony zither from Ye Li and strummed it lightly on his lap. His playing skills were superior to Ye Li’s; his rendition of "Anthem for the Souls" carried a greater sense of fervor and a poignant depth of experience. Listening to his music, tears finally streamed down Ye Li’s face.

As the piece ended, Mo Xiuyao set down the zither, pulled Ye Li into his embrace, and said, "Go ahead and cry, Ah-Li... I’m sorry, it’s all my fault..." Ye Li, leaning on Mo Xiuyao’s chest, burst into tears.

Mo Xiuyao softly stroked her back, his partially lowered eyes filled with affection and tenderness.

Upon their return to the general’s residence, the nearly hysterical Third Young Master Feng was there to meet them. Seeing them return hand in hand, Feng Zhiyao lost his restraint and charged towards them. Feng Zhiyao grabbed hold of Mo Xiuyao’s collar, exclaiming, "Prince Ding! Where on earth did you disappear to? Do you even care about Prince Ding’s Mansion anymore? Do you plan on dealing with the official documents in the study? Most importantly, you summoned us here for urgent matters, but you disappeared! What on earth do you want?!" Third Young Master Feng was so furious he lost all regard for propriety and roared at Mo Xiuyao.

Feng Zhiyao’s sudden outburst gave Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao quite a start. Mo Xiuyao, however, quickly regained his composure. He calmly brushed off the hand clutching his robe, saying, "Third Feng, take it slowly."

Feng Zhiyao gave a cold chuckle, "Slowly? I would be glad to, but I need to find you first! The war has just ended, and many matters are still pending. We’ve all dropped our work to hear your instructions, Prince Ding, only to find you absent!"

Hearing this, Ye Li felt a pang of guilt. Mo Xiuyao had impulsively run off primarily to find her. She stepped forward and quietly addressed the raging Feng Zhiyao, "Third Feng, about today’s matter..."

Feng Zhiyao raised his hand to cut her off. "Princess Consort, you don’t need to speak for him. Besides... we dare not blame His Highness Prince Ding, right? I merely vented some frustration. Your Highness, please punish me as you see fit." It was not surprising for Feng Zhiyao to feel angry. The war had just ended, and matters were incredibly messy. Everyone was busier than they had been during the war, especially since the one who should have been busiest was missing. Not only was Mo Xiuyao nowhere to be found, but even Han Mingyue, who was usually helpful, had also disappeared. Frustrated by the empty study and the mountain of scrolls, Feng Zhiyao could no longer hold his temper in check.

Everyone present, except Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, looked at Feng Zhiyao with admiration. To dare to roar at Prince Ding in public, he truly had colossal nerve.

Mo Xiuyao, however, displayed unexpectedly good humor and laughed, saying, "Alright, I understand. I assure you, everything will be dealt with properly first thing tomorrow."

Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow. "Tomorrow morning?"

"Do you have a problem with that?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

"No." Feng Zhiyao quickly shook his head. As long as Prince Ding was willing to work, his efficiency was considerable; why would Feng Zhiyao object?

Once they were all seated in the study, Feng Zhiyao took a breath before asking, "Why did Your Highness ask us to come here this morning?" His earlier anger had subsided after a cup of tea. Feeling more level-headed, Feng Zhiyao now thought his outburst had been a bit impulsive. His question to Mo Xiuyao was more respectful. Mo Xiuyao, while gesturing for Ye Li to sit, laughed and said, "Nothing much. We just need to discuss the arrangements for the soldiers who were killed or wounded."

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhiyao’s expression turned serious. From the pile of scrolls by his side, he pulled one out and said solemnly, "We’ve been fighting for almost a year, and the precise numbers have yet to be tallied. However, the casualties at Feihong Pass have been determined. Initially, there were 237,600 soldiers, the Qilin included, stationed at Feihong Pass. Only 13,127 survived. Of those, nineteen colonels or higher-ranking officers and seven Vice Generals were killed in action."

Such heavy losses rendered even Mo Xiuyao speechless. Over the years, the only time there had been such a terrible casualty rate was during the tragic battle at Wind Return Valley led by the Mo Family Army over a decade ago. The soldiers stationed at Feihong Pass were the Mo Family Army’s elite, not the Great Chu soldiers Mo Xiuyao had recently acquired. Just one battle had resulted in so many casualties, not to mention those that occurred during the past several months. Probably, starting from the relief of the siege of the Capital of Great Chu, the casualties among the Mo Family Army’s elite were over 600,000 to 700,000. The original elite Mo Family Army troops, not even a million strong, were now barely 20-30% intact. The remainder consisted of remnants of Great Chu forces, new recruits from the Northwest, and the several hundred thousand soldiers from the Army of Great Chu that Mo Xiuyao had recently integrated.

This battle couldn’t be called a Pyrrhic victory, but all parties involved had paid a heavy price. No wonder Mo Xiuyao didn’t plan to pursue Great Chu and Xiling any further.

Looking at the shocking numbers laid out before them, all three fell silent. The atmosphere grew heavy. Mo Xiuyao pondered and then said, "Third Feng, pass down my order. All compensation for the fallen soldiers must be distributed without omission. The wounded must also be properly cared for. If there are any problems, let them come directly to me."

Feng Zhiyao hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. Providing for so many deceased soldiers and the wounded was undoubtedly a monumental task for Prince Ding’s Mansion. However, it was what they had to do—the only thing they could do to let the dead rest in peace.

Ye Li said, "All the silver taels received from the prisoner exchange with Xiling can be used for this. If that’s not enough, we can ask Han Mingxi; just let me know then."

Feng Zhiyao quickly thanked Ye Li, while Mo Xiuyao thought for a bit and raised an eyebrow, "Ah-Li, don’t worry. We will soon have additional income."

"Additional income?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow.

Mo Xiuyao laughed coldly and said, "Of course. There are compensation payments from Beirong, Xiling, and Great Chu."

Wars were not easily fought. Winning does not necessarily mean peace of mind, but losing meant dire consequences. Since ancient times, it has been customary for the defeated to either pay tribute and acknowledge allegiance, or cede territory and pay indemnities. Mo Xiuyao had no interest in the pretense of vassalage and tribute; since it wouldn’t be sincere, there was no need for the charade. However, indemnities were essential.

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhiyao couldn’t help but clap his hands and laugh. "The Prince is right. I had completely forgotten about that."