Chapter 21: The Ceremony (Part 2)

As soon as Zhang Biao heard Liu Yu’s words, his heart sank significantly.
Liu Yu’s Camp? The most outstanding individual?
It was likely that thecandidate had already been chosen, and even for those fifty-six breech-loading rifles, thecandidate was already set—most of them would surely go to the elders of Liu Yu’s Camp.
Fortunately, he had been quick enough to snatch one breech-loading rifle; otherwise, he might have gotten nothing despite all his efforts.
Hmph, if they won’t keep me here, I’ll go elsewhere.
In the space of a moment, Zhang Biao had countless thoughts. Meanwhile, Liu Yu continued under the morning light, “I promised everyone who followed me that they would each receive a breech-loading rifle and a revolver. Today, I fulfill that promise.”
His tone was serious and solemn. Even though he spoke in a youthful voice, everyone could sense the gravity behind his words.
“A promise?” Zhang Biao sneered from below. “It’s likely that only your Liu Yu’s Camp will benefit in the end.”
Liu Yu turned around, stood at attention, with his back to the sunlight, and saluted militarily: “The most outstanding individual of Liu Yu’s Camp—”
“They are!”
Zhang Biao wanted to mutter something rude, but then he saw the people in the front row suddenly stand at attention, holding their rifles upright in perfect unison. Unconsciously, he joined in as well.
Upon closer inspection, he was also standing at attention, holding his rifle, saluting.
Everyone stood at attention, holding their rifles, saluting.
“They will always be the most outstanding!”
What Zhang Biao and the others saw were not any individual from Liu Yu’s Camp, but six coffins carried in by Vietnamese prisoners.
The best six coffins found in Haiyang City held the bodies of those who had sacrificed in the siege of Haiyang.
They were the most outstanding group of people.
The dead deserve respect.
Liu Yu picked up the Winchester. He stepped forward a few steps and stopped in front of the middle coffin. There, he saw Ji Xinghui’s face.
He had been killed instantly by Vietnamese army gunfire, yet during this siege, he had shone like a bright star.
Zhang Biao hadn’t spent much time with him, but recalling how Ji Xinghui had persuaded Liu Haohao to risk everything, as well as his bravery in the siege of Haiyang, he couldn’t help but offer him his highest respect once again.
“Salute!” Lian Jincheng’s voice rang out. “Salute to the loyal and brave.”
Ji Xinghui had been bathed, dressed in new clothes, and lightly made up. He lay in the coffin, watching Liu Yu’s Camp.
Liu Yu stood straight, speaking sincerely, “Brother Ji, I promised you that once Haiyang City fell, everyone would get two breech-loading rifles—one with strengths and one with weaknesses. Now is the time to fulfill that promise.”
He picked up the Winchester repeating rifle, casting one last longing glance at it. Gasps of surprise arose around him.
It was a Winchester repeating rifle with fifteen rounds—something even wealthy people couldn’t afford. The best rifle in all of Liu Yu’s Camp was being used as Ji Xinghui’s burial gift.
Yet no one stopped Liu Yu. They watched as he slowly placed the Winchester rifle beside Ji Xinghui, then carefully placed the revolver on the other side.
After that, he opened the chest in the coffin—filled with brass bullets that glowed faintly gold. Tears streamed down his face.

He shed tears. He struggled to lift the ammunition box, and countless brass bullets spilled out, filling the coffins with gold. In Zhang Biao’s eyes, his own shadow merged slowly with that of the loyal heroes, along with light and hope. He wanted to shout—it was better to die in such glory. Though these people had lived in splendor, they could die like stray dogs at any moment. There would be no trace of their existence left, not even their names or any sign of their lives. Tears streamed down his face, and everyone around him was crying—whether for the fallen heroes or for themselves. Once again, they raised their guns in salute! This time, everyone moved in unison; nearly two hundred people acted as if they were one person. Another bullet slipped through Liu Yu’s fingers as he said through tears, “Ji Ge, go in peace!” Suddenly, he roared, “Any objections?” No one replied. Liu Yu’s stature had never been so great: “I promised that everyone could get a breech-loading rifle, but this is all I can do now!” Carrying the half-empty ammunition box, he walked past the coffins, scattering golden brass bullets among the fallen heroes. “When our Liu Camp grows strong, we’ll truly give each of them good guns—no need to squeeze six people into one rifle, long and short. I’ll also bring plenty of ammunition so they can shoot as much as they want…” “Ji Xinghui, Chen Ji, Liu Gongming…” He named them one by one: “Your names will live forever…” In Zhang Biao’s eyes, only Liu Yu’s name would live forever. He resolved to stay in the Liu Camp—to live in glory, even if just once. Lian Jincheng’s voice remained calm: “Bury them!” This simple cemetery was built yesterday by Vietnamese prisoners. It held not only the dead from the Liu Camp but also those from the government forces. That’s why the usually lazy Vietnamese prisoners worked hard without supervision—this was the only way to keep the cemetery intact after they left! But during the burial process, the Vietnamese discovered a shameful fact: the fiercest battles had taken place in front of that barricade, yet when counting casualties, more Vietnamese soldiers died from shots in the back than from frontal attacks—thanks to Zheng Song’s indiscriminate machine gun fire. Ji Xinghui and the others’ graves were at the center of the cemetery. Now, it was their comrades from life who carried them in for burial. Coffin after coffin was carried in amidst tears, as the sunrise rose. Liu Yu scooped up a shovelful of yellow soil, which began to cover the grave path in the breeze, followed by more soil. The rising sun drove away the darkness. Looking at the sun, Liu Yu silently prayed, “I believe the era when foreigners could conquer a country with just a few cannons along the eastern coast will end because of your sacrifices…” No one thought it wasn’t a waste, but no one was untouched by it.

Over there, Lian Jincheng continued to serve as the host: “Next, gun presentations will take place before the ceremony of loyalty and bravery…”