Chapter 68: Norms And Exceptions
Night fell, and Huazhou City was brightly lit.
The flags of the Nian Battalion were planted in front of a tavern in the city.
After this battle, their numbers not only didn’t decrease but increased, incorporating a batch of surrendered soldiers, bringing their total to over a hundred and twenty. Even Wu Gouzi, who had the least seniority, was made a captain, leading five soldiers.
Hua Nong was so busy that he was making the roster all night.
Guo Xin was sent away by Guo Wei to deliver military orders, and Xiao Yi had Zhang Mantun accompany him, while he himself went to the stable to feed the horses.
The Wuzhui horse had earned merit today, so it deserved a meal of fine fodder.
While he was removing fragments of bone and flesh from the horse’s mane, cheers erupted outside, with someone shouting, “The battle merits are being calculated!”
But soon, sounds of argument could be heard, mixed with Hua Nong’s persistent reasoning.
Xiao Yi didn’t rush over, but paused in the back courtyard to listen for a while, first understanding the whole story.
“When capturing the bridge at Huzhi River, Commander Xiao killed at least five people. Two were shot on the north bank, one beheaded on the bridge, and I saw two on the south bank…”
“Injured doesn’t count. The enemy soldiers weren’t dead at the time and were still resisting; we charged in and killed them.”
Returning to the main hall, he saw Hua Nong confronting Xu Sheng and his men, their faces flushed with argument. A military law officer, holding the book recording merits, stood in the middle with a troubled expression.
“What’s the matter?”
Hua Nong immediately turned, anxious, “Commander! Captain Xu is going too far. For the battle at Huzhi River, any enemy heads we didn’t manage to sever were taken by them to claim rewards.”
Xu Sheng crossed his arms and sneered, “This is the common practice in the military. Only actual kills count; hiding behind and shooting arrows isn’t enough. Don’t act like I’m greedy for a few coins. Look at the merit book, have I recorded even one promotion? I’m just seeking justice for my subordinates.”
The military law officer looked at Xiao Yi, his expression difficult, “Commander Xiao, what do you think of this… Captain Xu’s words are also in line with common practice.”
Xiao Yi understood Xu Sheng’s intentions and petty tricks, but since there was a common practice in the military, using such ambiguous matters to deal with him would only make others say he had fallen out with his subordinates over a few coins of reward money, putting him at a disadvantage.
He waved his hand, his tone calm and unruffled, “It’s nothing. Why argue over a little military merit? It’s a great fortune that the brothers suffered no casualties.”
Hua Nong, indignant, was about to speak again but was stopped by Xiao Yi’s unyielding gaze.
Xu Sheng grinned, beckoned his subordinates, and with the military law officer, strode away.
“Commander,” Hua Nong said, still indignant, “He’s using the custom of military merit to act shamelessly, aiming to undermine your authority.”
Xi Hou said, “I think Old Pan becoming the Right Commander makes him extremely uncomfortable. His backside is itching for a spanking. Old Pan, why don’t you show him some might?”
Fan Si whispered to Xiao Yi, “Commander, I heard that fellow telling his subordinates… that you are of humble origins, and that you’re using your connections with the Guo family’s female relatives to bully them. There were also some unpleasant things said.”
Xiao Yi smiled broadly, “This is the military. Can’t you even tolerate a little verbal friction? In the end, it’s about skill and battle merit that speak. Why are you all so anxious?”
The others had nothing more to say.
That night, Xiao Yi went to bed early.
It was his habit to seize any opportunity to rest.
As expected, there was no peaceful sleep at this time. After sleeping for an unknown duration, he was woken up by Old Pan.
“Commander, something has happened?”
“Hmm?”
“The patrol soldiers said someone from the Nian Battalion is causing trouble and asked two commanders to come.”
“Who?”
“Xu Sheng.”
Xiao Yi got up, looked around the tavern, and asked, “Has Commander Chen not returned yet?”
“He should still be dealing with his injuries.”
“Let’s go.”
Outside the tavern stood a patrol soldier who, upon seeing Xiao Yi, cupped his fist and said, “Commander, please come with me to bring the man back. Let’s not let him escalate the situation.”
From his tone, it sounded as if Xu Sheng had suffered some grievance.
Passing through the streets and alleys of Huazhou City, they saw soldiers holding torches in front of a civilian residence.
On the ground, a man was prostrate in a pool of blood, both arms severed. His expression was ferocious, and he cried out curses, his eyes spitting fire, staring intently at Xu Sheng.
“What’s going on?!”
Xu Sheng, not wearing armor and with his lower garments undone, turned around and cupped his fist, “Commander, this running dog of the Imperial Court was trying to assassinate me.”
Xiao Yi glanced sideways; a severed arm on the ground indeed held a worn-out cleaver.
However, he didn’t believe Xu Sheng’s one-sided account and walked directly into the courtyard.
In the corner of the courtyard, two small children huddled together, weeping silently, trembling. Inside, a female corpse lay diagonally, her clothes disheveled, a pool of blood beneath her forehead.
Xiao Yi stepped forward, squatted down to check for breath; she was already stone dead.
“Xu Sheng!”
Hua Nong, enraged, rushed out of the civilian residence and roared, “You forcibly abducted a civilian woman and slaughtered the people, violating military law. What else do you have to say?!”
“Why are you wailing? This is a brothel prostitute, and I was doing business with her. This cur saw I was from the Tianxiong Army and came to assassinate me.”
“Do you believe that yourself?!”
Xu Sheng said, “This entire alley is full of brothels. Don’t you believe me? Ask the patrol soldiers yourself if it’s true.”
“Captain Xu is right, this alley is full of brothels.”
“It’s not a brothel! It’s not!”
“…”
Xiao Yi walked out of the residence and saw that the patrol soldiers were all supporting Xu Sheng. Not far away, soldiers were emerging from different residences.
The man on the ground, struggling, let out a heart-wrenching roar and died.
In the alley, faint cries gathered, numbering far more than just one household.
He suddenly understood why the patrol soldiers had said not to let the matter escalate; they were birds of a feather with Xu Sheng, the only difference being that a life had been taken.
No, they didn’t care about human lives at all, they just didn’t want the matter to escalate.
“Arrest him and deal with him according to military law!”
“Commander Xiao, what do you mean by this?!”
Hua Nong, Old Pan, Fan Si, and others immediately drew their swords. However, Xu Sheng refused to surrender meekly, shouting and drawing his sword with a few of his subordinates to resist.
As the two sides faced off, the patrol soldiers’ expressions changed.
Seeing this, Xiao Yi drew his sword and walked towards Xu Sheng, saying, “Do you want me to do it myself?”
“Who’s afraid of whom?!”
“Everyone, stop!”
Suddenly, a loud shout was heard. Chen Guang Sui, with cloth wraps around him, strode forward, his face cold, and said, “Everyone go back and say that you’re disgracing yourselves here.”
He stepped forward, put an arm around Xiao Yi, and whispered, “The people my brother brought have made you unhappy. I apologize to you first. Don’t clash on the street. If it reaches the ears of the surrendered general Song Yanwo, it will damage the Marshal’s reputation.”
“The problem isn’t whether I’m ‘unhappy,’ but two lives…”
“I know. General He and General Li are summoning us. We’ll talk when we get there.”
The group turned onto the main street and after about a quarter of an hour, they saw bright lights ahead, a scene of bustling activity.
This place was the Huazhou government granary.
In front of the granary, Wei Renpu held a ledger, having just finished checking the provisions and preparing to leave. He turned and saw Xiao Yi, smiling slightly, “Commander Xiao is here. Generals He and Li are in the armory and asked you to pick out some rewards.”
“Secretary Wei.”
Xiao Yi paid his respects, about to speak about military discipline.
Wei Renpu, in a hurry, had already taken several steps, offering a slight apology, “It’s too busy tonight. We’ll talk at length another day. Farewell.”
Following Chen Guang Sui further inside, He Fujin and Li Rong were pointing and laughing at the armory.
“Haha, Ah Yi is here. Pick out some handy armor and weapons.”
Xiao Yi stepped forward and quietly explained the situation, “This matter is egregious. If he’s not severely punished, it won’t be enough to maintain military morale.”
Li Rong was dismissive, sneering, “A trivial matter.”
After speaking, he picked at his ear and went to choose weapons.
He Fujin sighed slightly and said earnestly, “It’s best to let it go as a minor incident.”
“General, military law is as firm as a mountain, how can it be treated as a game?”
“I’m not protecting him, but I’m doing this for your own good. Not to mention this person defected to the Marshal from Chan Prefecture and earned merit today. Do you know how many people in the army tonight have committed the same offense as him? If you punish only him, you won’t rectify military discipline, but instead make others uncomfortable. How will you establish yourself in the future?”
Xiao Yi said, “At least I cannot have such a corrupting influence among my subordinates.”
“Now is the time when officers and soldiers are putting their lives on the line. For one or two common people, punishing your fierce warriors will chill the hearts of the troops and dampen their morale. Who will be willing to serve? This precedent absolutely cannot be set.”
“My Lord wishes to achieve great things, shouldn’t he show more compassion for the people…”
“Still don’t understand? Xu Sheng is the norm; you are the exception!”
He Fujin finally lost patience and reprimanded him.
It was like a bucket of cold water poured over Xiao Yi’s head, finally quieting him down.
Afterward, He Fujin continued to patiently explain the reasoning in detail.
“Since the chaos of the Tang Dynasty, all soldiers across the land have been like this. The fault isn’t solely his. If you intend to change this trend, establish yourself first. Don’t become an enemy to all the soldiers. Remember, a benevolent person cannot command troops, and a small impatience can ruin great plans.”
Xiao Yi remained silent.
“Let’s go,” He Fujin patted his back, “Take your men and pick out your rewards. This is an order! Military orders are like mountains; do not entangle yourself further. Go.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi’s expression was blank. He cupped his hands, accepted the order, and turned to Hua Nong, Old Pan, and the others, saying, “Give the money from my luggage to that orphaned pair.”
Hua Nong was stunned and asked, “Then Xu Sheng…”
Old Pan quickly pulled him aside.
Hua Nong then understood.
The eyes that were narrowed into slits stared blankly at Xiao Yi. After a long while, he muttered.
“Young Master, you said you would be different.”
“Stop talking, let’s go.”
Old Pan forcibly pulled Hua Nong away, saying, “Commander, don’t worry, I will definitely deliver the money to those two children.”
Xiao Yi turned and walked into the armory with He Fujin.
Li Rong was playing with a short bow. He turned back, smiled, and tossed the bow to him, “Try it. This bow is good, forty catties. It’s just right for you.”
Xiao Yi took it and drew it, hearing the creak of the bowstring.
Li Rong said proudly, “I picked a good one, didn’t I? This is a Zhe wood bow, the limbs are as tough as iron. And look at the sinew. You have to look at it like this, against the light. See, not a single bubble… A good bow.”
He also patted Xiao Yi’s arm, as if to say that the matter was over.
Finally, Xiao Yi nodded and said, “It is a good bow.”
He was also thinking, small impatience ruins great plans.
The next moment, faintly, he heard Xu Sheng muttering softly outside the door.
“I need to pick out a belt. I pulled too hard just now, haha…”
The laughter reached his ears. Xiao Yi closed his eyes, the innocent eyes of the two children he saw in the courtyard lingering in his mind.
Tears dripped from their eyes.
“Drip.”
Xiao Yi suddenly felt something.
He turned to look at the dark night outside the door, his gaze gradually firming. He clenched the bow arm, turned, and walked out of the armory.
Xu Sheng was still standing outside the armory, chatting with two subordinates. He turned back and smiled, “Thank you for your mercy tonight, Commander…”
“Thank my military law!”
Xiao Yi’s voice was cold. He took two steps forward and delivered a powerful punch to Xu Sheng’s face.
“Bang!”
The cheekbone made a crisp cracking sound. Before Xu Sheng could even scream, he staggered backward from the blow.
“Xiao Yi!”
“Commander!”
Everyone exclaimed.
Xiao Yi ignored them, followed up with his steps, raised his foot, and stomped heavily, knocking Xu Sheng down.
He then stepped forward, stomped firmly on Xu Sheng, put the bowstring around the thick neck, clasped his hands, and tightened it with force!
“Captain!”
“Let go of Captain Xu!”
Xu Sheng’s two confidants reacted, their faces a mixture of shock and anger, and drew their swords to pounce.
“Get lost!”
Xiao Yi roared, gripping the bow arm with his right hand, pulling it up, and with Xu Sheng, whose eyes were rolling back from strangulation, he spun him half a circle, kicking the two attackers flying.
“Commander!”
“Protect Commander!”
Outside, Hua Nong, Old Pan, and others shouted and rushed forward, stabbing down the two attackers.
“Uh… uh…”
Horrifying suffocating sounds emanated from Xu Sheng’s throat as his legs frantically kicked the ground. His hands reached out in vain to grasp the deadly string around his neck, but were held firmly by Xiao Yi’s iron-like arms.
“Xiao Yi, stop!”
He Fujin’s stern reprimand rang out.
Xiao Yi’s eyes were icy, unshaken. His arm muscles bulged, veins crisscrossing.
For a time, an deathly silence fell before the armory, with only the sound of the bowstring continuously tightening.
“Creak—creak—”
Like the faint sound of a colossal entity named “the world” being twisted.
