Even when the Southern sky lost its sunlight for a thousand years, there were still those who kindled a fire in the darkness. The fire did not blaze with blood, but with the belief that as long as the Việt people remained, the Việt nation would endure.
Through countless dynasties of foreign domination, the Việt land was submerged in smoke and fire. The people were forced to assimilate, their language was forbidden, and their names were erased. But amidst the desolate fields and the cries of the populace, the echoes of Mount Nghĩa Linh and the Red River still resonated, whispering like a solemn reminder:
"The Dragon and Fairy blood never cools."
In that era, in the Thái Bình region, there was a young man named Lý Bí, a descendant of a Southern official, with vast knowledge, great talent, and ambition as grand as the clouds passing over the mountains. Hearing the people's laments, his heart felt a sharp pain like a knife cut. He swore beneath the starry night:
"One day, I shall rebuild the land and river, return its name to the earth, and return its soul to the people."
One late year night, the North wind was chilling. Lý Bí gathered his righteous warriors by the Tô Lịch River. Torches blazed brightly like the sun in the dark. He raised his sword, looked around, and his voice echoed:
"Our people have endured enough of slavery, the Việt people have knelt for too long. If Heaven does not help, then man helps if man does not help, then we shall rise up ourselves!"
The warriors knelt down, shouting in unison:
"We vow to follow Your Excellency, using our own blood to write the nation's name!"
Lý Bí drew his sword and carved the two words VẠN XUÂN (Ten Thousand Springs/Eternity) onto a stone. His blood fell, mixing with the earth.
"Ten thousand generations of spring, ten thousand generations of freedom. Even in death, the Việt name must live on."
In the year 544, Lý Bí and heroes from all regions rose up, drove out the Liang invaders, reclaimed the land, proclaimed himself Lý Nam Đế (The Southern Emperor Lý), and established the national title VẠN XUÂN, meaning perpetually like springtime, a nation that shall never wither.
On the day of his enthronement, a light rain fell, and the wind carried the scent of rice. Before the Altar of Heaven, he spoke to all the people:
"The Northern people have Han and Tang we have Vạn Xuân! Heaven has four directions, but the Việt people have only one heart. Remember, no one grants independence. Only those who dare to live will achieve freedom."
The entire populace shouted:
"Long live Vạn Xuân! Long live the Southern Emperor!"
One day, standing on the peak of Tam Đảo, Lý Nam Đế heard the wind rustling through the mountains. It seemed the divine Kim Quy of old reappeared, its deep voice resounding from within the earth:
"You have accomplished what the ancestors desired, but remember that establishing a nation is easy defending it is hard. When you weaken, the invaders will surge back, but if the people still hold faith, then for a thousand generations, Vạn Xuân will still have its name."
Lý Nam Đế bowed his head, clasping his hands:
"If my blood can nourish this land to bloom, then I offer everything, so that future generations no longer have to call themselves slaves."
After many years of fighting, Lý Nam Đế fell gravely ill and retreated to Khuất Lão Cave. Before his death, he summoned Lý Phật Tử and Triệu Quang Phục and instructed them:
"The nation is still young, and the people's resolve is still fragile. Teach the populace that independence is not a gift from Heaven, but the oath of blood. Vạn Xuân is not just a nation's name, but the eternal aspiration of the Việt people."
Then he closed his eyes, a faint smile on his lips. The sky grew still, birds circled the mountain, and the river surged as if to carve his name into the water's heart. Lý Nam Đế died, but the nation's soul lived on. Vạn Xuân dissolved, but the will of Vạn Xuân remained forever. Because his blood had mingled with the earth, and his voice still echoes in the heart of every Việt person.