Anti-War Game: Starting from Normandy Campaign-Chapter 693 - 334: [Blue Star’s Shocking Headlines, Yan Zhenqing’s Tragedy]
Very soon.
The scene shifted to when Yan Zhenqing was 25 years old.
This year.
Yan Zhenqing passed the civil service examination and was appointed as Proofreader at the Secretariat, beginning his official career.
However, just a few years later.
His mother, Lady Yin, passed away, and Yan Zhenqing went to Luoyang for a three-year mourning period.
Hiss—
The sound of people sucking in a cold breath echoed in the live stream.
This plot.
Feels too familiar.
But compared to Li He.
Yan Zhenqing passed the civil service exam, had been in his official career for a few years before his close relative passed away.
Although he mourned for three years.
It probably wouldn’t affect him too much.
The Blue Star viewers in the live stream thought, continuing to watch.
Very soon.
Once Yan Zhenqing’s three-year mourning period ended, he returned to Chang’an.
Due to his talent and knowledge.
He was successively appointed as County Captain, Recorder, and eventually Censor, with the duty to inspect Hedong and Longzhou.
Later, during an inspection, he overturned a wrongful conviction in Wuyuan, earning the people’s praise.
The Blue Star viewers in the live stream breathed a sigh of relief.
You can see Yan Zhenqing’s capability here; if he continues like this, he is sure to rise swiftly in his career.
But....
Looking at the current time.
There’s less than ten years until the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion.
What will happen then?
Mysteriously.
The Blue Star viewers in the live stream felt that Yan Zhenqing’s story might take place during the Anshi Rebellion.
After all, the Anshi Rebellion is a major storyline in the [Tang Dynasty] version.
But even with more Blue Star Players, they can’t possibly know as much about history as real Earthlings, because to Blue Star viewers, these are just game plots.
So many people don’t know about Yan Zhenqing’s situation in the Anshi Rebellion.
Because what Blue Star Players remember and understand are often emperors and generals, or heroes amidst chaos, and they don’t pay much attention to others, which is why many Blue Star Players know about the [Tang Dynasty].
Yet they haven’t heard of [Li He] or only know a little about [Yan Zhenqing].
Because compared to the well-remembered emperors and generals at the top, Blue Star Players often overlook the people below.
And that’s why when the 960-episode [Viewing Edition] was released, so many explosive entries appeared.
Because many were characters Blue Star Players had never known before.
Upon first learning about them, they were shocked.
It is for this reason that people are curious about what experiences these individuals underwent to dominate the experiences of emperors and generals, reaching the top of the Federation’s trending list.
In the scene.
Yan Zhenqing worked diligently, overturned wrongful convictions, enjoyed a successful career, and rose swiftly.
However.
Very soon, Yan Zhenqing caught Yang Guozhong’s attention.
But Yan Zhenqing’s character was destined to clash with Yang Guozhong, and this was apparent just from Yan Zhenqing’s life experiences, and with Yang Guozhong’s attention... the hearts of Blue Star viewers sank.
Very soon.
Just as anticipated.
Due to the conflict with Yang Guozhong, in just four years, Yan Zhenqing was twice transferred from the central government, and at the age of 45, he was sent away alone from Chang’an, to serve as Prefect of Pingyuan.
And at this time, there was less than two years until the Anshi Rebellion broke out, and An Lushan rebelled from Fanyang.
And it was only then that many Blue Star viewers noticed.
Pingyuan, where Yan Zhenqing took office, was one of the territories occupied when An Lushan rebelled two years later.
Seeing in the scene, Yan Zhenqing holding a map and finding the road to Pingyuan.
All the Blue Star viewers in the live stream felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
For no other reason than.
The Anshi Rebellion was about to erupt.
The scene shifted.
Yan Zhenqing had already arrived in Pingyuan, but contrary to the expectations of the Blue Star viewers, upon arriving in Pingyuan county, because An Lushan already showed signs of rebellion at that time.
Yan Zhenqing discovered something amiss upon his arrival.
He reported to Chang’an multiple times, but his memorials were like stones thrown into the sea, without any response.
Helpless.
Yan Zhenqing could only use the excuse of continuous rainy weather to repeatedly fortify the city walls, dredge the moat, recruit strong laborers, and every day went boating and drinking with friends to deceive An Lushan.
And then the scene shifted to An Lushan’s side.
When An Lushan looked at the report below, which said Yan Zhenqing drank with others every day and returned home intoxicated, he sneered:
"Indeed, just a mere scholar, not worth worrying about."
He then didn’t pay any more attention to it, and plotted his rebellion.
Very soon.
In the fourteenth year of the Tianbao era, An Lushan, using the excuse of "worrying about the nation’s danger" and having received a secret edict to campaign against Yang Guozhong, launched a rebellion in Fanyang.
However.
The speed of the rebel army’s advance was unexpected.
An Lushan raised his army from Fanyang, and in just over twenty days, attacked north of the Yellow River, then divided his forces into two, heading straight for Luoyang.
The time taken was only a little over a month.
Yet, the Tang Dynasty’s territory had already half fallen.
And at this moment.
The Prefect of Changshan, Yan Gaoqing, and the Prefect of Pingyuan, Yan Zhenqing, jointly raised troops to fight An Lushan. Subsequently, seventeen surrounding counties responded in turn, and for a moment, An Lushan’s power was like a serpent cut in half.
This change.
Forced An Lushan to abandon the attack on Chang’an and quickly return to Luoyang.
Then, impatiently declared himself emperor, established Great Yan, and subsequently divided his forces into five routes to attack, with one route joining Shi Siming to attack Changshan from north and south for eight days.
Changshan City fell.
The Prefect of Changshan, Yan Gaoqing, was captured. Rather die than surrender, he berated An Lushan, who ordered his tongue cut off; his mouth was filled with blood, yet he continued to curse, until An Lushan ordered him dismembered to death.
His son, Yan Jiming, and over thirty members of the Yan family were beheaded and displayed.
However.
Was this all?
No.
The scene shifts.
Yan Zhenqing, who held steadfast in Pingyuan County, stood atop the city wall, gripping the cold bricks tightly, veins bulging on the backs of his hands.
His gaze fell on the bloodstained wooden box.
It was a ’gift’ just delivered by An Lushan’s messenger. The box had yet to be opened, but the layer of coagulated blood unmistakably told what it was.
Those around him had already begun to suspect, the deputy general’s voice trembling:
"My lord, this...."
Wanting to ask if Yan Zhenqing wished to see it.
Yan Zhenqing raised his hand to stop him, his face as hard as iron, and then slowly opened the wooden box himself.
The head of his nephew, Yan Jiming.
Just lay there quietly.
The young face was as pale as paper, the severed neck uneven, blood had turned black and purple, sticking to a few strands of hair.
Yan Zhenqing’s pupils shrank, his hands clenched, his stomach contracted, a metallic taste surged into his mouth, the pain nearly making him spit blood, but Yan Zhenqing quickly closed the wooden box, his voice cold as he shouted:
"The traitors attempt to disrupt our morale!"
"Toss this thing!"
"Back to them!!!"
The soldiers, as if struck by cold, hurriedly took the box away.
The deputy general wanted to say more, but Yan Zhenqing slowly closed his eyes, waved his hand, and the deputy general wisely led the men to withdraw until everyone had left the city wall.
Only then did Yan Zhenqing stagger back, clutching the wall, retching and vomiting blood, his voice mournful and shrill:
"Brother!!!"
"Jiming!!!"
That was his dearest elder brother, that was his most cherished nephew.
How could it not hurt.
Yan Zhenqing retched until nearly fainting, slumping against the city wall, his body seemingly drained of essence, spirit, and energy, a heart turned to ashes was likely just this.
In the deep night.
The moon was bright, the stars sparse.
Yan Zhenqing held a torch, walking alone in the mass graves outside the city, searching among the corpses casually thrown there, for that wooden box from the day.
Upon finding it.
The box was already broken, his nephew Yan Jiming’s head had fallen into the muddy filth, covered in grime.
Yan Zhenqing staggered over, stumbling, trembling as he picked up the head.
Yan Zhenqing pressed the cold head tightly against his heart, crying bitterly:
"Jiming.... Jiming ah!!!"
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
This scene, which would seem horrific to ordinary people, appeared insignificant under Yan Zhenqing’s mournful voice at this moment.
Images flashed through Yan Zhenqing’s mind.
He remembered the child pulling his sleeve to practice calligraphy when young, ink smeared all over his face, remembered the child often asking questions, looking up to him as a model, remembered the last report from spies when Changshan fell:
"Yan Jiming cursed the traitors endlessly, was cut open and crushed".
Yan Zhenqing cried silently, hoarse sobs full of sorrow:
"It was Uncle.... who harmed you....."
As if the heavens knew the magnitude of this tragedy and sorrow, the sky thundered and lightning flashed, torrential rain poured in an instant.
Yan Zhenqing held his nephew’s head, collapsed in the rain, the rain washing over the severed head, blood mixing with rainwater spreading over Yan Zhenqing’s chest, Yan Zhenqing held the head and came to his senses.
Listening to the thunder rumbling in his ears, Yan Zhenqing came to, taking off his robe to wrap the head:
"It’s cold here.... Jiming.... we are going home."
"Going home...."
Yan Zhenqing, holding his nephew’s head, staggered back toward the city.
This scene.
Made the Blue Star Players in the live room hold their breath.
The feeling of despair had overflowed the screen.
Making people unable to help but hold their breath, not daring to look again.
