Shuangyue City, its streets and alleys were filled with people, everyone discussing the return of the imperial army.
"Did you hear? The imperial army is returning today!"
"I heard long ago. The court was busy recruiting young boys and girls as an welcoming party some time ago. You're already behind if you're just hearing about it now~"
"Ah? What a shame. My son is already an adult, otherwise I would have let him join the welcoming party. It would have been good to earn some income."
"Hahaha, you're dreaming. Just standing there for half a day earns five hundred wen. Such a good thing, alas, why didn't it fall to me."
Outside the Ten Mile Pavilion of Shuangyue City, five hundred young boys and girls, holding summer flower bouquets, lined up on both sides, waiting quietly. Not far away, a dozen carriages were parked, carrying the dignitaries responsible for the welcoming ceremony.
"It's almost time, hasn't the imperial army returned yet?"
Du Ke, the Minister of Rites, looked at the bamboo pole stuck in the ground and asked.
"They are almost here."
As soon as the words fell, a cavalryman in the distance galloped back shouting, "The imperial army is back! The imperial army is back!"
"Quick, quick! Play the music!"
Du Ke poked his head out and shouted, then nimbly got off the carriage.
The officials responsible for the welcoming ceremony alighted from their carriages, holding red cloths in their hands, and stood at the front. The five hundred young boys and girls and the imperial guards were arranged on both sides.
The young boys and girls in front held flower bouquets, the imperial guards with long halberds stood behind them, and further back were the musicians, busy playing their instruments.
"Marshal Chu! It's the court's welcoming party!"
"Yes, this marshal sees it. It seems the court attaches great importance to this campaign!"
Wei Lixuan, half a horse's length behind Chu Chen, shouted excitedly. Chu Chen nodded and replied with a smile.
"This grand display, I wonder whose idea it was. Another expense. If the Ministry of Revenue didn't have money, Qian Jieren, that old fellow, wouldn't have agreed no matter what."
"Such a showy and wasteful act, it's truly... impressive!"
Chu Chen thought to himself with delight.
The welcoming party looked at the formidable and resolute army ahead, and was deeply shocked.
"Is this still our court's army? How is it that after one campaign to quell the rebellion, their spirit and demeanor have changed so much?"
The welcoming officials were startled. As the first to face this army, beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads, intimidated by the military aura.
As they approached, Chu Chen raised his hand towards the sky, and the army behind him immediately obeyed orders, stopping in unison.
The synchronized movement of thousands of men once again shocked these officials. They stared at the scene in a daze, but their hearts were filled with excitement.
With such a mighty army, they, as officials, felt more secure.
"My lords, what is this?"
Chu Chen, sitting on his horse, asked in confusion.
"Prime Minister Chu, you and the imperial army you led have worked hard. His Majesty has specially ordered this subordinate to welcome you and offer condolences to the soldiers!"
Minister of Rites Du Ke hurried forward, a smile on his aged face.
"So that's how it is. Thank you for your trouble."
Chu Chen nodded cheerfully.
"Prime Minister Chu, this way please!"
Du Ke turned sideways and gestured.
Chu Chen nodded, waved his hand, and without dismounting, followed Du Ke directly, leading the army slowly forward.
The welcoming road was not long, only about a hundred meters, but the court's emphasis on the soldiers displayed here moved them to tears.
"We, mere soldiers, are actually valued by the higher-ups, even having young boys and girls to welcome us!"
"Parents, I've made it!"
"I never thought I would be so popular one day, enough to brag about for the rest of my life!"
The thousands of soldiers at the forefront thought excitedly.
Regardless of how excited, thrilled, or even tearful they appeared, they did not stop or whisper to each other, but continued to walk with a relatively solemn atmosphere.
This demeanor once again amazed the officials observing from the sides.
But they did not know that the thousands of men at the forefront were meticulously trained by Chu Chen during the campaign to suppress the rebellion of King Wang. They had undergone military training for over a month before exhibiting such behavior.
Orderly and obedient, though their combat effectiveness was not exceptionally strong, in terms of coordinated operations, no one in the entire Yunyue Kingdom could compare.
Given sufficient resources and strong cultivation, such a force would surely become the most elite warriors of the Yunyue Kingdom in time!
After walking the hundred-meter welcoming road, Minister of Rites Du Ke finally stopped.
"I'm old, I'm old. I didn't expect to be out of breath after walking just thirty zhang."
Du Ke stopped, panting.
"Minister Du, you have worked hard," Chu Chen comforted him, then asked, "Has His Majesty made any arrangements for the rest of the journey? If not, then I will lead everyone to the military camp."
"Wait!" Du Ke quickly said, "His Majesty has ordered that at least a portion of the soldiers enter the city as representatives of the army that quelled the rebellion, and parade through the city."
"As for the rest, the city cannot accommodate tens of thousands of soldiers marching, so Prime Minister Chu is requested to arrange for them to be taken back to the military camp."
"I understand." Chu Chen nodded.
The Empress is going to hold a military review. I wonder if she wants to win the hearts of the army or to intimidate the foreigners in the city.
Then Chu Chen summoned An Yong and ordered him to take the army back to the camp. He, along with Wei Lixuan and An Xian, Princess Xin Yue, and the five thousand elite soldiers he had trained, would proceed to Shuangyue City for the military review.
Soon, the army was divided into two.
Outside Shuangyue City, civil and military officials, along with a large number of commoners, were waiting.
The civil and military officials were there by the Empress's order, while the commoners had come spontaneously to witness the spectacle.
"Look, the imperial army is here!"
"I see it! My heavens, the soldiers of the imperial army are so burly and imposing!"
"One look and you can tell they eat well. I'm envious. I wonder if I'll have a chance to join the army and enter such a unit."
"Haha, I think you're dreaming. With your physique and mediocre skills, forget it."
The sharp-eyed commoners spotted the soldiers at the very front and exclaimed in awe.
Chu Chen, An Xian, and Wei Lixuan, walking at the forefront, smiled and nodded continuously towards the officials and commoners ahead.
"Marshal, His Majesty has truly given us great face this time! Do you think we will be recorded in history for this?"
Wei Lixuan said excitedly in a low voice.
"Absolutely," Chu Chen affirmed without hesitation.
Soon, Chu Chen led the army to the city gate, and the officials immediately stepped forward.
It was then that Chu Chen noticed that in front of the officials, the eldest princess of Yunyue, Princess Baihua, was also present.