On March 3, Li Li led 500 guards to Loudiyuan to pay respects to the cemetery of the soldiers of the Eastern Expedition.

At this time, it had been a month since the end of the Battle of Loudiyuan.

At the beginning, the Loudi Plain, which had just sprouted green buds, is now a verdant green, with more than a foot of high thatch and artemisia annua, surrounded by mountains and forests, and full of green trees, a scene full of vitality.

At the end of the war, Li Li ordered Jia Xu to be responsible for the construction of the Loudi Yuan Memorial Cemetery, which was planned to be completed within a month.

Therefore, Jia Xu immediately began to build a cemetery after the war, successively dispatched 60,000 soldiers, mobilized more than 100,000 young people to build a cemetery, built the entire northern hillside into a terraced cemetery, and then buried more than 200,000 soldiers who died in the battle on the Loudi Plain here.

The difference between the cemeteries of the fallen soldiers of the two armies is that the Allied fallen soldiers are buried in the east of the cemetery, which is relatively simple, and the cemetery is relatively simple.

In contrast, the fallen soldiers of the Western Liang Army were buried in the west, that is, near Hangu Pass. All the corpses are buried in white linen, buried in coffins, the cemetery is relatively elaborately repaired, and six or eight pine and cypress trees are transplanted at the edge of each cemetery. Every fifty burial mounds there is a bluestone tablet, engraved on the front and back of their names and brief biographies, each of them is just a cross, but people can know where they came from, so that future generations can come to worship.

Even so, it's a huge undertaking. In order to complete the mission delivered by Li Li, Jia Xu, together with Hongnong Taishou, Zuo Fengling Taishou, Tongguan Shou and Shangshu Ling Li Xuan, temporarily recruited tens of thousands of masonry carvers from Chang'an, Zuo Fengling and Tongguan around them, and worked day and night for most of the month. It was carved out. During this period, thousands of county officials were also dispatched to help identify and compare the fallen soldiers with the list of dead provided by the army. so as not to make mistakes. In addition, some of the masons were not fully literate, and they did not know many obscure Chinese characters, so they had to write them down so that they could carve them in the same way.

In addition to these relatively complex processes, the rest is hard work. A bluestone altar was built at the foot of the north mountain, and eighteen pavilions were built on the east and west sides below the altar. There is also the transplantation of more than 200 pines and cypresses that are hugged by two people, and the entire cemetery is decorated, which is solemn and quiet.

And these tedious matters were all done according to Li Li's instructions. Otherwise. Even if he is as smart as Jia Xu, he doesn't know how to build such a simple but not simple cemetery. If it is to supervise the construction of the royal mausoleum, Jia Xu can be completely competent, because since ancient times, a complete set of methods for the construction of the royal mausoleum has been formed. There are rules to follow. Many officials can be created according to the ancient system. However, the construction of a cemetery for the fallen soldiers is the first of its kind, and it can be said to be a historical precedent with far-reaching impact. Prior to this, all the soldiers who died on the battlefield, if they were generals in high positions, they were buried in a grand manner, while ordinary soldiers were hastily buried; A large pit can bury hundreds or thousands of fallen soldiers. Even after many soldiers died in battle, no one collected their bodies, so that their bodies were abandoned in the wilderness. Reduced to a feast of wild dogs and jackals.

In just one month, under the busy day and night of more than 100,000 people, Jia Xu lived up to Li Li's trust, and finally completed the project three days ago, and the Loudi Yuan Cemetery was completed.

On this day, the sky is beautiful, the sky is clear, and the sun is warm.

The breeze blows, and the air carries the fragrance of flowers and bones, which makes people feel comfortable and relaxed.

A group of more than 500 horsemen rushed out of Hangu Pass and went straight to Loudiyuan, and Jia Xu, who had arrived here a day in advance, had already lined up with a group of subordinates to greet him. In addition, there are hundreds of temporarily selected court musicians on both sides of the altar, drums, sheng flutes, and carillon music, and the sacrifices of the three animals have already been prepared.

When Li Li and his entourage came to the stone steps of the cemetery, the court musicians began to play, and the low and solemn music drifted into the distance with the wind, lingering and stirring on the empty and wide Loudi Plain, with a long echo and endless sound.

"Ministers, see the lord!"

As Li Li flew off the throne of the Golden Lion Beast, Jia Xu led his subordinates to bow down to worship, but the musicians were undisturbed and continued to beat the unknown mourning music. And this unknown mourning music is just something Li Li doesn't know, in fact, he has heard it many times, and he has heard this kind of mourning music at the funerals of Dong Zhuo and Wang Yun. It's just that he lacks interest in this kind of mourning, and he doesn't pay attention to it, he only feels that this kind of mourning music that is beaten out one by one is really not very good, the tone is long, and he can't hear the rhythm at all.

In view of the fact that there could be no shortage of musicians in such a solemn ceremony, Li Li allowed Jia Xu to transfer the court musicians and play them well, otherwise there would be a lack of solemn atmosphere. Although Li Li himself does not like mourning, the surrounding people and the relatives of the fallen soldiers who are standing in the distance to watch the ceremony can understand it, which can be said to be timely and indispensable.

"Well, you guys, get up." Li Li, who flew off the horse, casually threw the horsewhip to Li Zhi behind him, and then waved his hand to signal everyone to be exempted.

"It's been hard work in the past month, and the cemetery is very well repaired, exactly as I thought before."

"Thank you for the compliment. This is all the credit of the generals and soldiers in the army and many stone craftsmen, and Weichen just moved his mouth to command, and he can't afford to be praised by the lord. Jia Xu bowed and retreated behind Li Li, saying as he walked.

"Well, let's not mention this matter for the time being, I have my own account of whose credit it is." Li Li bowed slightly, his expression was solemn, and there was no trace of a smile on his face, which was completely different from the sunny and handsome image of the past. It is true that he has come to pay homage to the mausoleum today, and there are tens of thousands of people around him who are watching the ceremony and coming to pay respects to their relatives, so it is impossible to be rude on such a solemn and solemn occasion. Therefore, there was no smile on the faces of everyone behind Li Li, including Jia Xu, who had always been smiling and welcoming, also had a stern expression at this time, and he was no longer easy-going.

When Li Li stepped on the stone steps to climb the altar step by step, he looked back at dusk, and when he stood on the altar dozens of meters high and looked down on Lou Diyuan, a trace of brilliance flashed in his eyes in an instant. Because the scene that catches your eye is quite peculiar, but you can see that there is no more than ten steps below the cemetery altar to show a blue and secluded, sparkling lake.

It is a small lake about four miles long at the east and west ends and about 500 paces wide at the north and south ends, and there is a horizontal embankment about four feet wide in the middle of the lake, which divides the lake into two. However, the embankment continued to collapse under the impact of the left and right sides of the lake. Today, it is completely submerged by the lake, making the whole small lake merge into one and form a lake nestled between the mountains. Towering trees in the surrounding mountains and forests are reflected in the lake, adding a green color to this calm lake, like a pearl embedded in the mountains.

Looking down from a high position, you can see that the lake is not deep, about more than one meter and less than two meters, there is a small stream in the north that communicates with the stream in the west of Feiyundu, and there is a gap in the south. The lake water flows along the ditch next to the official road to the east in the direction of Feiyundu. These two streams make this small lake no longer a pool of stagnant water, but a small flowing lake.

If you hadn't personally experienced the decisive battle of Loudiyuan not long ago. Li Li, including Li Zhi and others who came with him, must have thought that there was such a clear and secluded small lake here, which was given by God to protect the mausoleum. However, only those who experienced the bloody battle of Loudi know that this small lake is not a masterpiece of nature. It's a huge pit that has been artificially dug up. It's in the middle of this big pit. In the all-night fierce battle a month ago, he devoured the lives of more than 100,000 princes, allies and soldiers of the Xiliang Army in one fell swoop.

Perhaps it is the mercy of God on the heroic souls buried in the pit. Not long ago, the upper reaches of the Yellow River were flooded due to the melting of ice and snow, and the flood mixed with ice re-poured into the long-dried Feiyundu, and then hit the Loudi Plain, so that this large pit that killed more than 100,000 soldiers of the two armies was transformed into a lake, and it was a flowing living water lake.

Since then, the people living in the vicinity of Hangu Pass have a natural lake, perhaps not long after. The fish and shrimp produced in this lake are enough to feed the livelihood of tens of thousands of people. It seems that only in this way can we make up for the great damage caused to the people of this land by the fierce fighting between the two armies for half a year.

This is the work of nature. Destroy in Si and grow in Si, transform killing into vitality and feed a living being.

The moment he saw this lake, Li Li was stunned, as if he had a sudden epiphany, his heart was cleansed, his soul was sublimated, and his understanding of war and killing became more and more thorough.

Subsequently, under the reminder of Jia Xu and several old ministers of the court, Li Li ascended the altar to pay tribute to the heroic souls of the fallen soldiers.

The whole memorial ceremony was carried out in an orderly manner, without the slightest mistake in the middle, and every qiē was very smooth.

However, when Li Li stood on the high platform and read aloud the memorial written by Jia Xu, a sudden change occurred, just now the sun was still hanging in the sky and there were no clouds, but at this moment, the sky suddenly changed, and the whole sky suddenly became gloomy, and the wind was blowing.

"Huhuhuhu??????"

The strong wind blew in his ears, Li Li's expression changed suddenly, his heart was inexplicably surprised, and he said secretly: "What kind of demon wind is this, why doesn't it come early or late, but when I read the sacrificial text, the sky and the earth change color, and the wind is strong?" Could it be 、、、 this is a curse? The sky knows that I have other plans for this sacrifice to the mausoleum, and the intention is far-reaching, is it possible to come to a thunderbolt on a sunny day and directly kill me? ”

As soon as he thought of this, Li Li subconsciously paused, and involuntarily looked down at the altar platform under his feet.

"Damn, it's really high! It is nine feet away from the altar, and the altar is already dozens of meters above the ground, standing on such a high platform, if there is a sudden lightning and thunder, it is really possible to be struck by lightning! ”

For a moment, Li Li was really a little scared, and he was very worried in his heart, and he couldn't wait to go down immediately, and he didn't want to read the sacrificial text. However, just as he hesitated, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of Jia Xu's stunned expression and a little joy, and at this moment he was looking at himself with excitement on his face, and his eyes seemed to have some admiration.

Suddenly, Li Li remembered that he was paying tribute to the heroic spirit, which was not a happy thing, but at this moment he happened to read the touching place, but he didn't expect the sky to change abruptly, just now it was still white clouds, and now it is cloudy. What does this mean, it shows that the sacrifice has an effect!

So, after a slight pause, Li Li continued to read the memorial aloud, and the voice was much louder than before, so that the crowd of spectators from a hundred paces away could hear it.

“?????? If there is a spirit in heaven, grieve with me; If there is a spirit on the earth, weep with me; Heaven and earth have spirits, and I am the heroic soul of the soldiers of the Eastern Crusade. The sky is dark, the earth is scorching, and the fallen soldiers of my Eastern Crusade are immortal! ”

As the last sentence of the sacrifice was read, Li Li did not hesitate for a moment, and strode towards the high platform.

"Click——— boom!"

Just as Li Li had just stepped off the high platform and had not yet gained a firm foothold, he saw a lightning bolt that captured the sky and the earth and the sky slammed down, and then the rumbling thunder followed him, hitting the high platform nine feet above the altar with a "boom". Immediately, the two stone steps at the top of the high platform fell down violently, and the direction of the fall was where Li Li, who had not yet steadied his footing, stood. If he hits this blow, he will definitely smash Li Li to the point of flesh and blood, and he will die on the spot.

"Loneliness is the destiny of heaven, where does the demon dare to be presumptuous!"

With a loud "click" behind him, Li Li's heart immediately tightened, and he didn't want to think about it, so he casually pulled out the sword of the Son of Heaven hanging on his waist, and slashed at the black shadow above his head with all his might. At the same time as the long sword was swung, he did not forget to shout, for the first time he called himself the prime minister, and called himself a lonely widow in public.

Suddenly, the moment Li Li's backhand slashed out collided with the stone steps, he threw it out of his hand, and he himself quickly took a few steps forward, away from the high platform for the first time.

With a loud "bang", the two stone steps that had been struck down by lightning exploded and exploded into powder in the air. The sword of the Son of Heaven thrown by Li Li was inserted on the remaining stone steps, and there was still a white halo on the blade, and the sound of "Zizi" gradually subsided, and wisps of heat lingered on the blade, as if it had just been fished out of the furnace.

This scene was very conspicuous, and everyone, including Li Li, witnessed the whole process with their own eyes, the strange white light and pale yellow mist, as well as the bluestone steps that were blown into powder by a single sword, all fell into the eyes of tens of thousands of onlookers.

When the Sword of the Son of Heaven finally stood still, the Xiliang soldiers and tens of thousands of people around the altar looked at Li Li who was standing proudly on the altar in horror and inexplicably, even Jia Xu, who had followed him for many years.

At this time, the sky was drizzling, but there was no lightning or thunder, and the situation that had been strong just now disappeared in an instant, followed by a gentle drizzle. This is the second rain this spring, which fell at the time of Li Li's mausoleum, which can be said to be timely and indispensable.

Subsequently, accompanied by Jia Xu and several civilian officials, Li Li inspected the cemetery along the pavilion corridor, starting from the Xiliang Memorial Cemetery in the west, and then to the Allied Soldiers Cemetery in the east. Along the way, he looked calm, as if nothing had happened, and he seemed very calm, and his expression and demeanor were calm.

Towards evening, Li Li and his party slowly descended the mountain, and when they walked to the bottom of the altar, Li Li waved his hand and motioned for Li Zhi to retrieve the Son of Heaven Sword that had been inserted on the stone steps of the high platform for an afternoon.

At this point, Li Li's trip to the mausoleum ended successfully, and he returned to Tongguan with his personal guards that night, and Jia Xu walked with him.

—————————————————— (To be continued......)