Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 333 "Emperor Taizu's Martial Virtue Dance"!
"It is said that Heaven's justice is clear, and loyalty and righteousness are fundamental. The traitor Liu Chong has received the Emperor's favor for generations. His great-grandfather was granted the title of Prince of Chen by Emperor Xiaoming, and his descendants have received countless rewards and honors. However, Chong is a wolf by nature. He imprisons refugees, seizes the funds from the court's relief efforts, and enslaves them like livestock. He secretly gathers assassins, expands the army without authorization, imprisons and humiliates the prime minister, and usurps the position of governor. He has refused to attend court despite nine imperial summons. He is disloyal, unfilial, inhumane, and unjust, and his evil deeds are known throughout the world!"
Now, by imperial decree, his royal title is revoked, his lineage removed from the register, and the state of Chen is reduced to a prefecture or county. Upon receipt of this edict, it is hoped that officials and people will resolutely unite to punish him and refrain from rebellion. Wherever the royal army points, thunder and lightning will lash forth; let us unite our strength to annihilate the enemy and restore order to the world!

Before the platform, Zheng Xuan, dressed in a crimson ceremonial robe, held the proclamation in his hands and recited it aloud. His powerful and deep voice echoed across the training ground like metal striking the ground.

Today is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month in the second year of the Han Dynasty. It is both the Qiqiao Festival, when young girls learn needlework, and the beginning of autumn, when a somber atmosphere pervades.

The "Records of the Grand Historian: Calendar Chapter" states: "When the Big Dipper points southwest, it marks the beginning of autumn, when the yin energy emerges from the earth and begins to kill all things."

Autumn is not only a season of harvest, but also a time of slaughter!
This is related to grains from the past.

From the Spring and Autumn Period to the early Former Han Dynasty, the main crop was millet, which was harvested in autumn. After the autumn harvest, there was an abundance of food and fodder, which coincided with the agricultural off-season and the time for military operations!

And this murderous Autumnal Equinox is also an auspicious day for the emperor to personally lead his troops into battle!

On the drill ground in the eastern suburbs of Luoyang, the dark army stood silently. The lingering heat of summer had not yet dissipated by the time autumn began, and scorching winds occasionally swept by, stirring up fine dust. Yet the dense army formation remained perfectly orderly, as immovable as terracotta warriors.

On the platform, Liu Bian, clad in gleaming golden armor, stood tall and straight as a pine tree, surveying the thousands of soldiers standing solemnly below.

If this golden armor were placed on the battlefield, it would be too conspicuous and would inevitably attract the enemy's special attention.

But as the emperor, not a warrior charging into battle on the front lines, wearing conspicuous clothing would only remind the soldiers engaged in combat that the emperor was right behind them, wanting to witness their bravery.

Holding the "Yuanzhi Sword" at his waist, and listening to Zheng Xuan recite the proclamation against the traitor written in the four-six parallel prose style, he felt his blood boiling, but he couldn't help but secretly criticize Zheng Xuan's writing skills.

In terms of studying the classics, Zheng Xuan was unparalleled in the world, but when it came to the literary talent of writing poetry and prose, Zheng Xuan's works were far less brilliant and grand than Chen Lin's. Even the younger generation of the Imperial Secretariat could probably write more passionate and spirited works.

After the proclamation was read aloud, music suddenly began.

The musicians played their instruments, the flutes clear and melodious, the chimes deep and resonant, and dancers dressed in armor of five colors—blue, red, yellow, white, and black—came out in response.

The dancers wield different weapons, such as shields and axes, halberds and spears, in their left and right hands respectively. They dance by stepping on the ground, and the weapons clash, producing a sharp and resounding sound. They change their steps and shift positions according to the music, and a sense of solemnity and killing intent is subtly conveyed.

Although these people were dancers, and their faces were covered with five colors of paint—blue, red, yellow, white, and black—to conceal their appearances, one could still vaguely see many familiar faces, including even important court officials such as the Three Dukes and Liu Tao, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat!

The dancers were all important officials with some martial prowess. Their dance was not graceful and elegant, but rather powerful and forceful.

Therefore, it is not a civil dance that showcases civil administration and education, but a martial dance that praises martial prowess!
Martial dance, also known as war dance, is a type of elegant dance invented by the Duke of Zhou during the Zhou Dynasty. It was mostly used in grand ceremonies such as suburban temple sacrifices, court celebrations, and banquets.

Although it is called elegant dance, it is characterized by holding weapons and singing about martial arts. It combines combat training and ritual functions, and even incorporates practical combat techniques such as slashing and thrusting.

The martial dance before us is the "Martial Virtue Dance," created by Emperor Taizu Gao to showcase his achievements in unifying the world by force. It is meant to "symbolize the joy of the world in using martial arts to eliminate chaos."

Or to put it more clearly, the "Taizu Wude Dance" is the "Qin King's Battle Music" of the Han Dynasty, thus revealing the significance of this dance to the Han Dynasty.

If a group of high-ranking officials of the court performed the "Martial Virtue Dance" before the Han Dynasty's departure ceremony, then this battle, if not a battle of life and death, is a battle that must be won.

The soldiers present were all from respectable families and naturally knew the origin of the "Martial Virtue Dance." They unconsciously stomped their feet to the rhythm of the music, and low shouts gradually rose up.

As the dance ended, and the soldiers were still sacrificing their energy, several strongmen brought in three sacrificial animals—pigs, cattle, and sheep—and bound them to a wooden frame. With a flash of a knife, a gash was slit in the neck of each animal, and blood gushed out, splattering onto the crimson dragon banner with its dark black border, which stood in the altar. Crimson drops of blood meandered down the dragon pattern on the banner, seeping into the warp and weft of the brocade, leaving dark marks.

Liu Bian's expression was solemn. He took a deep breath, slowly stepped forward, took the bronze jue from Gao Wang, filled three cups with the blood of the three sacrificial animals (pig, ox, and sheep) from their necks, and went straight to the war drum. He dipped his finger in the blood and smeared three bloodstains on the drum surface.

Then, the blood of the second sacrificial animal was used to smear the red dragon banner pole with its black border.

The third cup of sacrificial blood was poured into a jar of imperial wine, where the blood and wine blended together, turning a dark red color.

Liu Bian personally poured out three jugs of wine, spilling the first two jugs of blood wine onto the ground, the dark liquid quickly seeping into the yellow soil.

The first offering was made to Heaven and Earth!

The second offering is to our ancestors!

The third cup was filled to the brim by the Emperor!
"Cheers!"

Liu Bian held up the third cup of blood wine with both hands, looked around at the three armies, then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp!

After drinking, Liu Bian threw the wine cup to the ground and wiped the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth with his hand. The soldiers of the three armies below the stage also held a bowl of wine in their hands. After drinking it to the brim, they were filled with heroic spirit and also threw their wine cups to the ground.

After drinking the wine, Liu Bian mounted his horse, took the yellow battle-axe presented by Dong Zhao, the Chamberlain, and gripped the bronze axe with dragon patterns. The warhorse seemed to sense the overwhelming killing intent on the training ground, and it paced its hooves restlessly, raising its head and neighing.

Liu Bian tightened the reins, turned his horse to face the vast army formation, and slowly rode in front of the formation. His golden armor reflected the dazzling light under the blazing sun, making him look like the sun walking on earth!
"The Han army is mighty!" The voice was clear and resonant, piercing through the strong wind.

"General, you are mighty!" Ten thousand men responded in unison, their voices like thunder.

A barely perceptible smile flickered across Liu Bian's lips as he suddenly remembered that he also held the military rank of "General of Heavenly Strategy".

Thus, the title "General" is quite fitting.

With veins bulging on his arms, Liu Bian, holding the yellow battle-axe, shouted once more, "The Han army is mighty!"

"Long live the nation!" The roar shook the flag's corners, as if tearing the clouds apart.

On the third shout, Liu Bian reined in his horse, raised the yellow battle-axe high to the sky, and cried out, "The Han army is mighty!"

A roar like a landslide and a tsunami swept across the plains, startling birds in the distant forests into a frantic flight, converging into four words—"May the Great Han be victorious!"

"Let's go!"

As soon as the order was given, drums and horns sounded from all directions, and the army, clad in black armor, surged eastward like a flood bursting its banks.

(End of this chapter)