“The Lord has arrived!” A guard announced outside of Lady Cai’s room.
Liu Biao waved his hand as he ordered his guard to be quiet. Lady Cai was resting so there was no need to announce his arrival.
The guard nodded and stayed quiet. Liu Biao then led Huang She and his group towards Lady Cai’s room. Chen Quan was nervous while Huang Kai and Huang She were smiling.
Liu Biao personally knocked on the door and called out to his wife.
“Who is it?” Lady Cai’s weak voice could be heard from inside the room.
“It is me, Milady.” Liu Biao replied.
“Master?” Lady Cai sounded doubtful. “Didn’t you just leave? Is there something else?”
“Aunt. Your nephew Huang Kai and Huang She is here to see you.” Huang She spoke. “The two of us found out that you are sick and were worried. We brought a miraculous doctor from Cirentang, Chen Quan, to check up on you.” Huang She sounded so modest and sincere.
“Oh? Are my two nephews so filial?” Lady Cai sneered. She knew that these two were up to no good so she emphasized the word filial.
“Of course. Dear aunt, you are the lady of Jingzhou. If you fall sick, the whole of Jingzhou would be concerned.”
“Milady. These two have good intentions. Chen Quan have also treated me. His skills are quite good. Let him take your pulse.” Liu Biao persuaded.
“No need. Master, this concubine have already said that she only has a cold. There is nothing serious. The doctor have already prescribed his medicine. All I need now is rest. There is no need for so much trouble.” Lady Cai refused. He would not allow Huang She and the others to enter. She would delay this for as long as she could until Xiao Cui returned with the abortion medicine.
“This…” Liu Biao started to hesitate again. He did not know if he should listen to Huang She or Lady Cai.
“Master. This concubine is tired and wants to rest. I hope you will not blame me!” Lady Cai tried to chase them off.
“Alright.” Liu Biao was ultimately closer to Lady Cai than Huang She so it was natural for him to listen to her words. “Milady, rest well. This husband won’t disturb you anymore.” Liu Biao replied.
Liu Biao wanted to leave but how could Huang She agree to this? He anxiously asked. “Uncle. Are we really not going to have aunt see a doctor?”
“Go. We have troubled the two of you. Both me and your aunt already know of your filial piety.” Liu Biao said to Huang Kai and Huang She. Liu Biao was already happy with Chen Quan’s presence and Huang She’s unexpected thoughtfulness. Liu Biao felt relieved in place of his friend and subject, Huang Zu. As long as Huang She continues to act this way, it would not be a big problem for him to inherit the Huang Family.
“But…” Huang She wanted to argue but then Lady Cai’s voice interrupted him. “Master. Can you all be quiet?”
“Brother. Let us leave.” Huang Kai said while also feeling helpless. Lady Cai clearly did not want to see them. At the moment, Liu Biao still had a welcoming attitude towards them but if they push too much, Liu Biao will definitely chase them out. Huang Kai also wondered if they should just barge into the room anyway.
The more Lady Cai did not want to see them, the more suspicious her actions became. Huang She was determined to press this issue. If he did not, the Huang Family would forever be below the Cai Family. As Jingzhou would one day be given to Liu Biao’s and Lady Cai’s son, Liu Zong, the Cai Family would only grow more powerful. If they could trip up the Cai Family here, the Huang Family will grow instead regardless of whether Liu Biao agreed to it or not.
“Brother?” Before Huang Kai could stop Huang She, Huang She had forcefully broke into Lady Cai’s room.
“Huang She! How dare you!” Liu Biao immediately became angry at Huang She’s actions.
“Uncle! Please quell your anger! Brother is just too worried about aunt!” Huang Kai quickly said while hinting for Chen Quan to follow up.
“That’s right, Lord Governor. Colds can be minor or serious cases. It can also bring about other serious diseases!” Chen Quan threatened. He could do this because he was a doctor while Liu Biao knew nothing about medicine. Besides that, a cold was just like Chen Quan had described in that era. It could sometimes be minor. Other times, it could kill. Illnesses did not discriminate amongst the classes. On top of that, Lady Cai had been weak for many days. She did not meet any visitors for over half a month. That was why Liu Biao was also flustered.
“Uncle! Can you live with yourself if something happens to aunt? Let Doctor Chen Quan take a look at her.” Huang Kai persuaded. After all, Huang She had already barged into the room.
“This…”
“Master. You all have not left yet?” Lady Cai said weakly. Liu Biao became even more worried.
“Milady. The doctor Chen Quan is already here. The Huang Family siblings want to show their filial piety and your husband is worried. How about you let him take a look?” Liu Biao persuaded Lady Cai.
Lady Cai furrowed her brows at Liu Biao’s words. It would seem that the Huang Family siblings still have not given up. Lady Cai was starting to feel annoyed and regret. When Liu Mang suggested for Lady Cai to get rid of the Huang Family, she rejected saying that the Huang Family was essential for the power balance of Jingzhou. If the whole of Jingzhou became Liu Mang’s ally, her child in the future would become a puppet king. Thanks to that, she now had to face with the Huang Family’s aggressiveness.
However, nothing else could be done about the current situation. The Huang Family have already barged into the room and even have Liu Biao’s support.
“In that case, come in.” Lady Cai’s straightforward reply surprised the Huang brothers. The two of them were filled with doubts but since they have already reached this point, it was better to give a diagnosis.
“Master. Since this concubine is weak, she won’t get up to open the curtains.” Lady Cai said.
“Hm?” Chen Quan who was a doctor normally needed to talk to the patient. That was the only way to get a proper diagnosis. How was he supposed to work when Lady Cai would not even see him.
“Just take her pulse.” Huang She and Huang Kai suggested with delight. Helping Lady Cai was just a pretense. All they really need was to take her pulse. They would be able to tell if she is pregnant.
Chen Quan was uncomfortable with the decision Huang She and Huang Kai had made for him but he did not dare to say anything. He will just do as ordered.
“N!” Lady Cai also grunted to show that she agreed.
“Someone get Doctor Chen Quan a stool!” Liu Biao ordered the servants. It was not possible for Chen Quan to take a pulse while standing. A small stool was quickly brought over for Chen Quan.
“Milady. Please stretch out your hand.” Chen Quan said respectfully towards Lady Cai. No matter what happens, he did not dare to be rude.
A soft feminine hand was soon stretched out. Even the old Chen Quan took a second look at the beautiful hand. Although Chen Quan had never seen Lady Cai before, he had heard that she was a beauty equal to Luoyang’s Diao Chan and the two Qiaos. There were many who wanted to take Lady Cai’s hand in marriage. Unfortunately, she ended up being married to Liu Biao. Chen Quan felt envious of Liu Biao. Lady Cai’s hand looked like it belonged to a sixteen year old girl. There were light scars on it but Chen Quan overlooked it.
Chen Quan was never a respectful man. He was also a frequent visitor to the brothel. When he held on to the hand, he caressed it absentmindedly for a moment. Liu Biao who saw this questioned him as to whether holding the hand was required when taking a pulse. Chen Quan panicked but managed to lie his way out saying that it can be done but not many doctors knew about this technique.
Chen Quan then continued his lie to cover up his mistakes by saying that Lady Cai’s spleen, stomach, and other organs were healthy. After he finally did his job, he found a problem.
“This…” Chen Quan started to have cold sweat.
“What’s wrong? Did you find something?” Lady Cai asked as she coughed. Her indifference left Huang She and Huang Kai confused.
Chen Quan continued to stammer causing Liu Biao to worry.
“What’s wrong? Did my wife contract a serious illness?” Liu Biao panicked. The medical capabilities of people in ancient times weren’t as good as modern times. As a result, their average lifespan was low.
Huang She and Huang Kai’s eyes lit up thinking that Chen Quan had discovered that Lady Cai was pregnant. The Cai Family would be finished. Huang She also did not care where the baby came from. He will frame Liu Mang for this and destroy Liu Mang as well.
“Chen Quan. If there is something, just tell my uncle! Do not worry, we are here! What medicine do we need? With uncle here, any illness will not be a problem!” Huang She said happily as he tried to give Chen Quan a push.
Chen Quan became even more afraid from this. “Impossible.” Chen Quan muttered as he checked Lady Cai’s pulse again and again. If he had indeed found that Lady Cai was pregnant, then it would not be a problem. At worst, he would offend the Cai Family and take shelter under the Huang Family. However, Lady Cai was not pregnant. She was as healthy as a normal sick person.
Chen Quan panicked. If he was alone, he would have slapped himself for his stupidity. What is the point of chasing riches? It was better to stay at home quietly and safely. But no, he had to show off his talents by talking about abortion medicine. It was too late for regrets.
“Chen Quan! Do you have anything to say? Stop muttering!” Huang She was starting to become anxious and impatient. A menacing and threatening tone appeared in his voice. Fortunately for Huang She, Liu Biao had been too afraid of Chen Quan’s actions to notice this.
Chen Quan himself started to become afraid when he saw Huang She’s killing intent. He then thought to himself that the Huang Family did this to climb over the Cai Family. They are confident they could do it due to the information Chen Quan himself gave out. If they were to go back empty-handed here, Chen Quan would definitely end up dead. He won’t even have anybody to protect him. On the other hand, if he were to offend the Cai Family, he could at least obtain the Huang Family’s protection.
“Shit. I don’t have any other choice.” Chen Quan chose to grasp at his chance to live.
“Doctor. Is there something wrong with my body?” Lady Cai asked with a sneer when Chen Quan stood up abruptly.
Chen Quan then knelt down in front of Liu Biao. “Congratulations, Lord Governor and Milady. The Lady will be expecting a child.”
“Congratulations?” Liu Biao was confused for a moment and then his brain processed Chen Quan’s last words. “What did you say?”
“Hahaha!” Huang She and Huang Kai became happy and took this chance to congratulate Liu Biao as well. “Congratulations uncle! May uncle obtain another son!”
“The Lady is pregnant? Impossible!” Liu Biao shook his head in disbelief. It was simply not possible. Liu Biao knew the condition of his own body.
“The Lady is three months pregnant.” Chen Quan was determined to frame Lady Cai. He would be dead anyway but if he were to frame Lady Cai, he may at least have the backing of the Huang Family. He also planned to pack up his stuff at Cirentang and leave Jingzhou after this.
“Bullshit!” Liu Biao cursed. Three months? He haven’t slept with Lady Cai for over three months. How could she become pregnant?
“Lord Governor. This is absolutely true. I do not dare lie to you!” Chen Quan continued to lie.
“Uncle. Doctor Chen Quan have been practicing medicine for over ten years. It shouldn’t be a misdiagnosis as he checked her pulse so many times. Also, his treatment for you earlier was effective.” Huang Kai added.
“Uncle and aunt are like newlyweds. You even went on a honeymoon at Jingshan!” Huang She reminded.
“Lord Governor. This is absolutely true. I do not dare lie to you!” Chen Quan repeated himself.
Liu Biao was about to get angry. If this was true, it would be a huge slap on his face. It was a matter of a man’s dignity.
“Good! Well done!” Lady Cai laughed angrily. The Huang Family had found out about her circumstances. She did not know where and did not have the time to investigate. She knew the Huang Family had come to get rid of her. Worse, they reminded her about the incident at Jingshan. It is possible that the one that provided that drug was the Huang Family. It is possible that the Huang Family and that Pang Tong were in cahoots. The Huang Family and the Cai Family were truly like oil and water.
“Milady, do not be angry. It does not matter whose child it is. Milady have to properly take care of your own body.” Huang She mocked.
“Master. It seems like everything I heard is true!” Lady Cai said indifferently.
“What is true?”
“Qiu Yu. Come out!” Lady Cai said as she looked elsewhere.
“Qiu Yu? Who is that?” Huang She asked. Could it be a servant? Where was the part where Lady Cai beg for Liu Biao’s forgiveness?
“Milady. This is such a huge news. You must let everyone know about it!” Huang She laughed as though he already won.
Lady Cai sneered without paying much attention to the clown.
“Yes, Milady!” A sweet voice came by Lady Cai’s side.1
“What?” The others were in shock as a servant girl appeared from behind the curtains.
“Master!” The servant Qiu Yu greeted Liu Biao.
“Milady. What is going on?” Liu Biao looked at Qiu Yu feeling very confused.
“Master. There was a rumor a few days ago. It said that the Huang Family’s Young Master is without any learning skills. A tiger for a father, a dog for a son. The Huang Family’s future is bleak.” Lady Cai disparaged the Huang She with no trace of politeness. There was no need for that at this point in time.
“You!” Huang She could not do anything until Liu Biao did something.
“It is truly heartbreaking that Huang Zu who followed Master his entire life have him for a son. When this concubine listened to the discussions between the guards and the servants, I listened attentively. What is wrong with this ignorant child? As an aunt, I have to show concern. In any case, I will need to give General Huang Zu an explanation.” Lady Cai was younger than Huang She yet she called him an ignorant child. Her words quickly drove Huang She up the wall.
“What I heard was worse. This nephew is not only ignorant and incompetent. He is also arrogant and conceited.” Lady Cai continued to speak. For some reason, Liu Biao nodded at her words.
“If it was just that, then forget it. He is just Huang Zu’s unfilial son. However, this nephew mixes himself with swindlers and learn evil things. What can a worried aunt do? I am not learned but even I know that Zhang Jiao was bewitched by a swindler before causing a disaster.” Lady Cai looked like she was lamenting but she was actually reminding Liu Biao that Huang She was plotting a conspiracy.
“So I sent someone to check if the servants misunderstood something! Huang She did not seem like a bad person. After investigating, I found out that this was true. This Chen Quan is one of those swindlers!”
“I am a swindler?” Chen Quan was shocked. How could he become a swindler? He was a doctor at Cirentang!
Lady Cai actually knew who Chen Quan was. After all, this old man kept bragging about his close relationship with the Huang Chen and even about what medicine he provided for Huang Chen.
“No! Lord Governor! I am a doctor from Cirentang!”
“I can testify that he is a doctor from Cirentang! Uncle, if you do not believe me, you can send someone to Cirentang to verify my words!”
“Hm?” Liu Biao frowned. If this wasn’t true, the Huang brothers won’t be so unyielding. Liu Biao nodded and had someone go check. That person soon returned to confirm that Chen Quan was really a doctor from Cirentang.
“Aunt. What rumors did you listen to?” Huang She mocked.
“Rumors?” Lady Cai sneered. “I heard that this Chen Quan is a doctor but is greedy. He never treats the common people. He only greets and treats officials!”
“This… This lowly person’s medicinal skills are not suitable for the common people. The medicinal ingredients are too expensive.” Chen Quan explained.
“Whoever he treats is his choice. The nobles all go to Chen Quan because he is a good doctor!” Huang Kai said.
“His medicinal skills is good. However, his heart is malicious. That is why he is a swindler. Master. How about you ask this doctor what he sells to the Huang Family’s Huang Chen?” Lady Cai continued.
“The medicine he sells to Huang Chen?” Liu Biao asked.
“My brother?” Huang Kai immediately knew that they were in trouble.
“I…” Chen Quan did not know what to say. Aphrodisiacs is a despised drug. That was why nobody sells it. Only Chen Quan was willing to sell it to gain Huang Chen’s favor.
“Speak!” Liu Biao ordered sternly.
“It… It is aphrodisiac.” Chen Quan replied in fear.
“So you really are a swindler!” Liu Biao said angrily. Aphrodisiacs are basically poison. Anyone who sells it can’t possibly be a good person.
“This swindler may just be playing around. But our good nephew here was bewitched by one. He brought a doctor here to frame me and implicate the Cai Family! That way, the Huang Family can become the most influential family in Jingzhou!” Lady Cai had to be skilled in politics or she would have been taken down a long time ago. What she said was Huang She’s true feelings.
“I did no such thing!” Huang She denied Lady Cai’s words but he was no longer confident. After all, he had already been exposed.
“Preposterous!” Liu Biao shouted angrily. Huang Zu’s treasured son Huang She was truly useless. When Huang She lost Jiangxia, Liu Biao said nothing as Huang Zu was his father. He had to keep Huang Zu loyal. As Huang She was restless, Huang Zu placed his son by Liu Biao’s side. Liu Biao also took care of Huang She and even allowed Huang She to speak despite his position when discussing official matters. Huang She had offended Liu Mang several times and Liu Biao simply threw Huang She into prison. Other than a lack of freedom, Huang She was still provided with proper food and drinks. Liu Biao treated Huang She like his son. Yet, Huang She tried to frame his wife.
“Become the most influential family in Jingzhou? You tell your father to come here and say this to my face!” Liu Biao was angry. Huang She’s actions was like attempting to get rid of Liu Biao. Liu Biao kept both the Cai Family and the Huang Family around so that they could keep each other’s power in check. Huang She could not see this fact and even messed around with it. He was just courting death.
“No! No! Uncle! Listen to me!”
“Who is your uncle?”
“Milord! Regardless, Lady Cai is pregnant!” Huang She was still unable to drop the matter.
“You…!” Liu Biao did not what to say about this moron.
“Qiu Yu. Come and tell Master if you are pregnant.” Lady Cai said to Qiu Yu.
“Master. I am still a virgin.” Qiu Yu stated while blushing. “If you don’t believe me, I still have my Shougong Sha2 under on my arm.” Qiu Yu added as she stretched out her hands. In ancient times, it was a mark used to tell if a woman was a virgin. It was hard to remove it as it was a pigment that sinked into the skin and is something like a birthmark.
“What does your pregnancy have to do with Lady Cai’s pregnancy?” Huang She was so panicked that he became confused. Huang Kai felt his head ache. Why is his brother such an idiot?
“Haha! The person that Chen Quan took the pulse of was Qiu Yu!” Lady Cai explained.
“What?” Huang She finally understood. If this was the case, that proves that Chen Quan was lying.
“Chen Quan! You! I will kill you!” Huang She shouted. In his eyes, this was a trap Chen Quan made for him. What Chen Quan said about the abortion medicine the last time must also be a lie. Who was Chen Quan and why did Chen Quan want to set this trap for him? Could he belong to the Cai Family?
“I…” Chen Quan himself wanted to cry. All he wanted was to get the patronage of the Huang Family. That was why he sold aphrodisiac and made himself look knowledgeable by talking about medicine to Huang Chen. He even lied for Huang She. Now, everything was finished.
“Lord Governor. The Lady is pregnant. The person I checked the pulse of just now is not the Lady. I must check the Lady’s pulse.” Chen Quan struggled. If only he could check her pulse, he could expose everything. However, Lady Cai would not give him that chance.
“Courting death! Master. This Chen Quan is greedy and even sells aphrodisiac. What is the use of keeping him alive?” Lady Cai said as she looked at Chen Quan with killing intent. It was fortunate that Lady Cai was smart enough or she would be killed by Huang She and his accomplice Chen Quan. “Qiu Yu! Just now when he took your pulse, didn’t he do something unprincipled?”
“Yes!” Qiu Yu nodded. This is because Chen Quan caressed her hand when taking her pulse.
“How daring! Men! Drag this Chen Quan out and execute him!” Liu Biao shouted angrily. The victim earlier was Qiu Yu. However, if that person was Lady Cai, that would mean that his wife was taken advantage of.
“Lord Governor! I have been accused wrongly! This is all Huang She! Huang She told me to do this!” Chen Quan cried. He wanted his career to rise to the skies. He did not ask for his life to rise to the sky instead.
“What do you mean I told you to do this?” Huang She said angrily. Chen Quan was like a mad dog biting at everything.
“It is him!”
“Men! Bring Huang She to prison! He is not to leave without my orders! Then send a letter to Huang Zu and tell him to return to Xiangyang immediately! I want to see him teach his son!” Liu Biao would not let Huang She go free.
“No! I am not in the wrong!” Chen Quan continued to struggle. There was no one there to save him. He grabbed onto the table as he was dragged away.
“Come here!” The guards continued to pull to no avail.
“Did you even eat today? Drag him away!” Liu Biao said angrily.
“Yes!” After being reprimanded, the guards also became angry and started to beat up Chen Quan. In the struggle, a teacups started to fall from the table. One of them hit Chen Quan on the head causing his head to bleed.
At this moment, Chen Quan suddenly laughed. “I found it! I was right!” Chen Quan found his path to survival from the liquid in the teacup.
________
“What?” Spendthrift Qi could not believe his ears.
“Yes.” Zhang Liao nodded. “The two of you are promoted. Spendthrift Qi, you will become a commander of 1000-men. Yan Xiao Liu, you will become a commander of 100-men. Yan Xiao Liu, you are to support Spendthrift Qi to ensure he does not make mistakes. Otherwise, the two of you will be held responsible!”
Xiao Liu was also shocked. Even though a 100-men commander was a small post, he would still be called a general. Besides that, the Xiliang Cavalry were one of Yangzhou’s elite so it was also quite a high post.
“Quickly thank General Zhang Liao!” Zhang Hu quickly reminded the two as he kicked them.
“Yes! Yes!” Spendthrift Qi and Yan Xiao Liu replied and were about to kneel. Yan Xiao Liu was able to do it as he have not yet worn his armor. However, Spendthrift Qi who had already worn his bulky armor could not do it properly.
“Alright, get up.” Zhang Liao said with a smile. “Once you are done changing your equipment, go to the camp and register your names.” One of the perks of being a general instead of a common soldier was that they could register their names as an official.
“Yes! Yes!” The two nodded. They still felt like they were dreaming even after Zhang Liao had left.
“Haha! I am going to become a general!” Spendthrift Qi bragged to his companions excitedly. His companions were vexed but they still congratulated him. They had to be respectful as Spendthrift Qi was now higher ranked than them although deep down, they also cursed his good luck.
Spendthrift Qi naturally knew that people were speaking ill of him but he did not mind. As a prideful person, he believed he should not be offended by people of low moral stature.
Xiao Liu simply followed Spendthrift Qi around as he needed to support Spendthrift Qi as requested by Zhang Liao. Although he was not a 1000-men commander like Spendthrift Qi, he was still a 100-men commander. On top of that, he was the 100-men commander that directly assisted the 1000-men commander, as though he was Spendthrift Qi’s deputy general. As 1000-men commanders do not have deputy generals, this placed Xiao Liu at a higher position compared to the others.
Xiao Liu was also very happy that he was promoted. His increased salary would allow him to take his wife.
Meanwhile, there were several people in despair. When Zhang Liao ordered them to take off their equipment, they disobeyed thinking that Zhang Liao wanted to abandon them. They were dumbstruck when they found out they were simply changing equipment but it was too late.
“General! We…!” About twenty soldiers, each with different ranks, stammered.
Zhang Liao saw them and stopped. Before he could open his mouth, Zhang Hu ordered for these men to be arrested.
“General! Spare us! We did not do it intentionally!” The disobedient soldiers panicked and knelt. They could be punished by death for disobeying orders.
The other Xiliang Cavalry soldiers that watched this also hoped that these soldiers were spared as they all fought together in battle.
“What are you all waiting for? Arrest them!” Ge Jun also spoke. With this, the Xiliang Cavalry soldiers moved to arrest the others apologetically.
“Forget it.” Zhang Liao said. It was surprising as he was usually strict with martial laws. As the soldiers could not process this fact, they ended up detaining the disobedient soldiers anyway.
“Let them go.” Zhang Liao repeated as he waved his hand. This time, the Xiliang Cavalry listened.
“General! Next time, we will definitely listen to the General’s orders!” The disobedient soldiers knelt as they begged for forgiveness.
“Take off your armor and put down your weapon.” Zhang Liao said to the soldiers.
“Yes!” The soldiers said happily. Now that they were forgiven, they quickly took off their equipment and waited to exchange their equipment. However, no one brought them their new equipment even after they had waited for a while.
“General?” One soldier asked in his underwear as he shivered from the cold.
“Where are our weapons and armor?” The 1000-men commander asked an industrial zone officer At this point, his attitude had already turned timid.
“It must be in that box over there!” The officer pointed at an unopened chest.
“Thank you! We won’t disturb you and take it by ourselves.” The 1000-men commander replied and then approached the chest. However, he was suddenly stopped by another person.
“You all do not deserve those weapon and armor.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Our General already spared us! That means those weapon and armor are ours!” The 1000-men commander said angrily.
“Haha! The General did not give us the order to let you take the equipment!”
“Then we will go by ourselves!”
“You can try!” Both sides stared each other down. One side had twenty half naked men while the other had four fully equipped soldiers.
In the end, the 1000-men commander stepped down unwillingly.
At this moment, one messenger appeared carrying a command plate.
“General Zhang Liao has an order. The soldiers who have taken off their equipment are to go to the new 1000-men commander Qi Zhu and hand over their things. They will then receive their pay in provisions!” The messenger said to the twenty disobedient soldiers. Qi Zhu was Spendthrift Qi’s real name. However, the man himself wanted to forget about it as it was a terrible name.
“Payment!” The soldiers bit their lips. This meant that they would take their severance pay. There were only two types of people that would take this pay. The first were the disabled people discharged from service while the others were those who died in service.
“We must see the General!” The disobedient soldiers protested noisily. They had been working as soldiers for so long that they did not have any other skill. They also did not have any land. If they were discharged, they would simply die.
“Why is it so noisy?” Zhang Hu shouted as he came out from the camp. As he was the good cop to Ge Jun’s bad cop in the army, the soldiers immediately went to him.
“General! Is it possible to plead to General Zhang Liao for leniency? We…!” The 1000-men commander asked bitterly.
“Plead for leniency? What nonsense are you talking about? You yourself know the standards of the army. Last time we can act without care or worries as we did not know when we would die. However, it is different in Yangzhou! Here, we have to abide by military law! We have to fight for the common people of Yangzhou! If we are injured, the people will support us! If we die, they will burn incense stick for us! As soldiers, we must listen to orders even if it leads to our deaths!” Zhang Hu said, though the words actually came from Zhang Liao.
The Xiliang Cavalry killed Zhang Liao’s brother but he was now indifferent to them. Soldiers will eventually die in battle. Zhang Liao realized that his enemies were not the XIliang Cavalry but Liu Bei. Now, it was possible for Zhang Liao to even smile at his Xiliang Cavalry. It was a huge change from when he first started.
However, the things that remains fixed was Zhang Liao’s adherence to military law. Soldiers must listen to orders. Those who don’t listen to orders are not soldiers. What the 1000-men commander did was not wrong in principle as it was right to take precautions against those that might betray you once you stop being useful. However, as a soldier, as part of the Xiliang Cavalry, it was wrong.
Obeying their superior no matter what. That was why the Wolf Cavalry was the best in the world. They would charge to their deaths if that was their command.
Zhang Liao did not want to kill these soldiers despite them disobeying orders because his heart had softened after fighting alongside them.
When the disobedient soldiers heard this, they could no longer defend themselves. They realized that if this were to happen in war, they would be deserters.
“Sigh. Quickly leave before the General changes his mind.” Zhang Hu advised.
“General! All of this is my fault alone! Please plead General Zhang Liao for leniency to expel only me while sparing the rest!” The 1000-men commander, Kong Guo Wen knelt down, wanting to take responsibility for everyone.
“General! What are you saying? We are also responsible for the mistake!”
“That’s right! We cannot blame you!” The others objected.
“Leave!” Zhang Hu waved his hand as he repeated himself.
“General! Please! I, Kong Guo Wen, can leave but the others can’t! They only know how to fight! If they leave the army, they will die!” Guo Wen knelt down and slammed his head against the ground. As they only knew how to fight, leaving the army would turn them to brigands. Huang Zhong would be the only one happy with this outcome as he would have training fodder for his own men. In the end, these soldiers would end up dying.
“You should have known this would happen.” Zhang Hu replied.
“General! Didn’t General Zhang Liao say that soldiers cannot disobey orders? I have disobeyed orders but my men were only following my orders! If they had taken off their equipment, they would have disobeyed my orders so they are innocent!”
“This…!” Zhang Hu’s eyes grew wide as Guo Wen’s words made sense. He no longer knew what to do. He would have to consult Zhang Liao.
At this moment, Ge Jun appeared and said, “General Zhang Liao have heard what you said. He said that if you, Guo Wen, is willing to pay with your life, the others will be spared! Are you willing?”
“General! No!”
“I am willing!” Guo Wen nodded with a smile. It was as though the one that would get executed was not him.
“No! If you die, we will accompany you!” The others objected. Zhang Liao nodded with admiration from the loyalty this Guo Wen had obtained from his subordinates. Guo Wen was definitely a talented individual worth sparing. However, he had to stick to military law.
“If you want to kill him, you will have to kill us as well!” One soldier shouted.
“Da Hong!” Guo Wen tried to stop his subordinate.
“Men! Arrest all of them!” Ge Jun gave the order and the disobedient soldiers were all quickly detained.
“General Ge! Da Hong is a coarse person, please forgive them!” Guo Wen panicked as the situation had become worse. Initially it was only him that would die but now the others would get implicated as well.
“General! Allow your brothers to accompany you!” Da Hong said recklessly.
“Sigh.” Guo Wen knew that words were now useless. He can only accept fate together with his comrades. “Brothers. I will repay you in the next life!”
“You can discuss all that in your next life!” Ge Jun interrupted the moment. “Men! Throw these people out of camp! Kill them if they try to come back!”
“Understood!” The other soldiers replied and threw out the twenty ex-soldiers.
“They are not going to kill us?” Guo Wen was shocked.
“Guo Wen! Your luck is good as General Zhang Liao said that killing someone like you is a waste! However, you no longer need to come back to the Xiliang Cavalry! Also, take this!” Ge Jun said and threw a wooden plate towards Guo Wen.
“What is this?” Guo Wen looked at the wooden plate with a character written on it with confusion.
“Since you only know how to fight, you can continue serving in the army! Whether you can climb back up to your previous position or survive is your own business! From now on, you no longer have any relations with the Xiliang Cavalry!” Zhang Liao saw that Guo Wen was too talented to simply be killed off but at the same time, he could not allow them to remain with the Xiliang Cavalry. Zhang Liao also understood that these soldiers all grew up fighting. They can’t do anything else but fight so that was the only way these people could survive.
As Zhang Liao did not want them to work for the enemy, he could only have them transferred to the others in Yangzhou’s army. Since Zhang Liao could not touch other elites like the Urban Army and the Black Flag Army, he could only send them off to Huang Zhong.
“Thank you General Zhang Liao!” Guo Wen once again kowtowed.
“General! What are you doing?” Da Hong did not understand. Why would Guo Wen kowtow even after getting expelled from the XIliang Cavalry? They should be spitting towards the Xiliang Cavalry.
“Da Hong. From now on, do not address me as General!”
“What do we call you then?”
“Call be Brother Kong!” Guo Wen replied.
“Brother Kong?” Da Hong repeated.
Guo Wen smiled and said to the rest. “The rest of you as well!”
This small episode at the Xiliang Cavalry did not affect Yangzhou’s war capabilities negatively. With the progress in the industrial zone and the provisions obtained from both Liu Bei and Liu Biao, Yangzhou flourished. With adequate amount of resources, all they needed was an order from Liu Mang that was still in Jingzhou to expand their territory.
