Chapter 44: Departure
Nie Wenjin gave a few words of encouragement and left, leaving a team of sixteen to rendezvous at the drill ground.
Xiao Yi’s gaze swept over them, seeing that the twelve selected soldiers were all strong and robust. They wore the standard armor of the Imperial Guard, though the quality of the lamellar armor and the craftsmanship of its assembly were visibly inferior, with no metal embellishments.
At first glance, they exuded a fierce aura.
But upon closer inspection, apart from Cao Dang, none of them wore their armor as neatly as Xiao Yi.
Either their arm guards were askew, their leg wraps were loose, their military jackets were unbuttoned at the collar, or the cloth loops on their waists were untied.
The Control Crane Guard was responsible for guarding the Imperial Palace within the Imperial Guard. These individuals, theoretically selected from the elite of the elite, were likely either young officials seeking to enhance their resumes or smooth-talking soldiers adept at flattery and bribery.
Suddenly, Xiao Yi’s gaze fixed on the face of one of the captains.
This man had a high brow, narrow eyes, and a somewhat defiant gaze. His sparse beard was yellow and distinct, and he was precisely the captain who had led the team to search the inn that day.
Xiao Yi then looked at an archer beside him. He was tall and thin, slightly hunched with armor on his back, his face narrow like a cone, his eyes set wide apart, with much white showing and small pupils. This was the soldier who had taken his silver and pearls.
The two must have recognized Xiao Yi as well and were also taken aback.
“This is the new Deputy Commander…”
As Cao Dang’s voice spoke, the expressions of these two men turned grim. After a moment of stunned silence, they followed the others in bowing.
“Greetings, Deputy Commander!”
Xiao Yi walked up to the captain and asked, “What is your name?”
Last time he had barked at them to give their names, and they had mocked him and refused. This time, however, they could only reluctantly perform the ritual and respond.
“Bu Hai, Captain of the Fourth Squad, Left Command, pays his respects to Deputy Commander Xiao.”
“And you?”
“Your subordinate, Luo Erhu, pays his respects to Deputy Commander Xiao. Deputy Commander, how did you come from the drill…”
Xiao Yi interrupted him and rebuked, “I’ll ask you again, do you dare to take the money of an imperial official? How will you exploit the common people?”
“This subordinate would not dare.”
Although Bu Hai’s eyes showed extreme surprise, his demeanor was steady and defiant, as if he wanted to spit and curse, “Damn it, such bad luck, running into this monkey again.”
Luo Erhu glanced sideways at Bu Hai. Seeing that his captain was unafraid, he also remained silent, his eyes darting around.
Xiao Yi’s face was stern, and he said nothing, spreading his hands in front of the two men.
Luo Erhu reluctantly reached into his chest and, after a while, pulled out a pearl from beneath his armor.
“Deputy Commander, the silver has already… has already been distributed, only…”
Xiao Yi took the pearl, glanced at all the soldiers, and said sternly, “Wear your armor properly.”
Although this statement seemed directed at Luo Erhu alone, it was actually a test to see who would obey and who would be defiant.
As his gaze swept over them, apart from Luo Erhu, who had no choice but to adjust his armor, only Lu You and two soldiers who were already wearing their armor relatively neatly lowered their heads and tidied it.
“Prepare to depart. Do not delay.”
Cao Dang suddenly gave the order, interrupting Xiao Yi’s disciplining of the soldiers.
However, the horses had not yet been brought.
Bu Hai quickly understood the commander’s attempt to suppress the deputy commander. The surprise and worry on his face vanished, replaced by his previous arrogance. As he turned, he let out a scoff.
“So stingy, we brothers didn’t even get much each.”
After speaking, he spat on the ground by his feet.
This remark, accompanied by a mouthful of phlegm, clearly showed his intention to deliberately undermine Xiao Yi’s authority.
If Xiao Yi tolerated this, who would respect him as their deputy commander? Although he planned to extricate himself, the more authority he had, the easier it would be to act.
He immediately rebuked, “Stop!”
Bu Hai did not stop walking, saying with feigned earnestness, “The commander has ordered us to go and fetch the horses.”
“I told you to stop. Anyone who disobeys a military order will be beaten twenty lashes.”
“Quick, quick, quick,” Bu Hai said in a flippant tone, “Get ready to depart.”
Xiao Yi wanted him to make a mistake. He stepped forward and placed his hand on Bu Hai’s shoulder.
“Whoosh—”
Before his hand could touch him, Bu Hai’s elbow swung towards Xiao Yi’s face, clearly intending to fight.
Xiao Yi sidestepped to avoid it and directly threw a punch at Bu Hai’s face.
“Bang!”
A crisp crack sounded from Bu Hai’s left cheek as he was hit, spitting out a broken tooth.
He roared in fury and lunged at Xiao Yi.
“Damn!”
“Waoo!”
The surrounding soldiers not only did not intervene but cheered and egged them on, watching the spectacle with excitement. Cao Dang did not stop them either, observing coldly with a sneer at the corner of his mouth.
Bu Hai came at him with great force, returning a punch to Xiao Yi’s face.
Xiao Yi blocked with his left arm, his arm guards colliding with a heavy thud.
“Luo Erhu! What are you waiting for? Attack!”
Hearing the whistling fist, Xiao Yi sidestepped to avoid Luo Erhu’s punch, swept his right leg horizontally, and kicked Bu Hai’s knee from the outside.
Bu Hai lost his balance and staggered to the side. Xiao Yi grabbed him by the collar and slammed him violently to the ground.
The impact of armor against the frozen earth was a clear, muffled sound.
Simultaneously, Luo Erhu tried to grab Xiao Yi’s neck with both hands. Xiao Yi smoothly grasped his wrists, forcefully elbowed him in the chest with his right arm, and Luo Erhu grunted, his face turning instantly pale as he collapsed to the ground, unable to catch his breath for a long time.
In an instant, both men were directly knocked to the ground.
Bu Hai reached out as if to draw his sword.
“Still dare?”
“Ah!”
Xiao Yi stomped heavily on his hand and scanned the surrounding soldiers. They had all stopped cheering and wore expressions of surprise.
“You two, step forward!”
Xiao Yi pointed at the soldiers who had obediently adjusted their armor and gave a stern order.
The two soldiers were startled and quickly stepped forward.
“We are here, sir.”
“What are your names?”
“Fan Si, an archer from the Eighth Squad, Left Command. Deputy Commander may call me Fan Xiao Si.”
“Wei Liang, your subordinate is a swordsman from the Second Squad, Left Command.”
Xiao Yi nodded, committing their names to memory, and said in a cold tone, “Bu Hai and Luo Erhu, for assaulting an superior and disobeying military orders, each shall receive twenty lashes!”
“Enough!”
Cao Dang interrupted Xiao Yi before he could finish speaking.
Then, his tone softened unusually, saying, “It’s just a minor verbal dispute, why resort to punishment?”
“Commander, they not only disobeyed military orders but also attacked a superior officer. If they are not severely punished, who in the military will abide by the regulations in the future?”
Cao Dang frowned and said, “We are about to leave the city for duty. This is not the time for punishment. I am the commander, and I have the final say.”
“Very well, since the commander has spoken, we will be lenient today and administer five lashes each as a warning.”
“You dare!”
“If I cannot command respect, I will likely not be able to handle this task well. I ask that the Imperial Uncle and General Nie find someone else!”
Cao Dang slowed his speech but emphasized his tone, saying, “Do not let down the expectations of the Imperial Uncle and General Nie.”
Xiao Yi had already given him some leeway. Now, he would not back down. “If the task cannot be completed, it is better not to undertake it. Either the commander can dismiss me, or we report this matter.”
The two stood in confrontation, remaining silent for a long while.
Meanwhile, the horses had been brought. Everyone dared not mount, watching them silently.
In the end, Cao Dang turned towards the horses and shouted, “Prepare to depart!”
Xiao Yi, however, once again ordered Fan Si and Wei Liang, “Proceed.”
The two soldiers glanced at Cao Dang’s back. Seeing that the commander did not intervene, they picked up the wooden staffs from the drill ground and walked up to Bu Hai and Luo Erhu respectively.
“Captain Bu, please forgive me.”
“Slap!”
“Slap…”
Xiao Yi did not care if the strikes were real or just for show. He was not trying to inflict pain but to break the arrogant spirit of his soldiers.
Unfortunately, he was still only a deputy commander and could not discipline these soldiers as he pleased.
The five lashes were quickly administered. Bu Hai and Luo Erhu stood up, not speaking to Xiao Yi. They glared fiercely at Fan Si and Wei Liang, stretched languidly, and quickly hurried towards Cao Dang.
“You two, wait.”
They were somewhat in pain but endured it, mounted their horses, and shouted provocatively.
“Soldiers! After the itching is done, follow the commander out of the city for business! Hahaha!”
Xiao Yi gave a barely perceptible cold smile, patted Fan Si and Wei Liang on the shoulder, mounted his horse, and looked up at the distant city walls.
It was time to leave the city.
…
In the afternoon, North City.
The huge lock mechanism of Fengqiu Gate was pulled open, and the heavy city gate slowly creaked open by more than three meters, revealing the sloping city tunnel behind it.
Xiao Yi looked up. The brickwork in the city tunnel was still embedded with sword marks and arrow holes from sieges during dynastic changes, a testament to the short duration of the current dynasty.
Ahead, the drawbridge slowly lowered, thundering onto the thirty-meter-wide moat.
Hooves struck the bridge, the iron chains on either side clanging. Ice shards shattered. On the other side of the bridge, abatis were planted diagonally in the frozen ground, moved just enough to allow one horse to pass.
Xiao Yi rode out imposingly.
Glancing back, as the cavalry behind him successively exited the city, the drawbridge was raised, the city gate slowly closed, and finally, a heavy thud echoed.
Before him stretched a vast, desolate landscape…
