Chapter 128: “dragon Slaying Decree” And “restore Order”
When Su Dong woke up again, he saw Wu Fei in the prison cell.
A pot of wine and a table of alcoholic dishes were placed in front of him. But the shackles on his body were not removed, and the soldiers beside him fed the alcoholic dishes to his mouth. After he had eaten and drunk his fill.
Wu Fei wanted to speak to find a flaw, but the smile on his face was too hypocritical. This Dragon Descendant also understood his own destiny quite clearly, far more calmly than Tang Du’ao back then. He stared at Wu Fei and instead asked in an interrogating tone: “May I ask who it was that defeated me?”
Wu Fei: “Surname Wu, courtesy name Yuan Chang.” After finishing the wine, Wu Fei took out his own latest plan to show him. This was a “Dragon Slaying Decree”.
Of course, this “Dragon Slaying Decree” had not been issued. Wu Fei was now applying maximum pressure, hoping this Dragon Descendant would make an appropriate choice.
However, when Su Dong saw the “Dragon Slaying Decree” that Wu Fei gave him, he laughed wildly toward the sky, flipped over the table, Wu Fei quickly dodged the splashing bowls and chopsticks, and seeing this old general’s death-seeking appearance, sighed and shook his head.
Several days later, he was escorted to the desk, in front of many Bo Prefecture elders. The executioner walked up with a black iron broadsword. Seeing this blade, Su Dong burst into laughter: Good blade, good blade, and thus offered his neck to the blade. The blade flashed, and his fine head fell.
Wu Fei sighed, ordering men to hang this man’s head high. Then his gaze became resolute.
At the end of April, Wu Fei announced the “Dragon Slaying Decree” to all directions in Bo Prefecture.
…Originally wanted conciliation, but had no choice but to go extreme…
From Dong Lei City, to Wang Jia Du, then to Lu Jiao City, after the regional campaign ended, Wu Fei completed the systematic annihilation of Haotian’s army corps side, announcing to the local people here that the Eastern Market Army had the power to reshape the local situation once again.
As the victory inscribed texts were posted everywhere, the Eastern Market Army’s matching political actions militarily unfolded in Bo Prefecture.
Before determining the political strategy direction, Wu Fei confirmed that he was a “minority” locally, although Haotian’s Dragon Descendant was also a “minority”.
But Bo Prefecture had been occupied by Haotian’s Dragon Descendant for seven years, and the victory dividends from Zhao Cheng’s successive victories back then were still there. Many noble families had defected to them, so they actually held the advantage relative to the Eastern Market Army.
Under the observation of all sides in Bo Prefecture, there were too many neutral forces. Wu Fei: This won’t do.
Xuan Chong’s historical view: The resistance alliance failed because of massive traitors’ betrayal, precisely because the local strongman forces were too neutral. They had the qualification to waver between the False Hao and resistance alliance camps. And they quite enjoyed the feeling of being bribed by both sides.
Xuan Chong, who in his previous life couldn’t enter the “party’s” “masses,” thought very viciously: If a Japanese head were placed at the door of each of these neutral strongmen, there wouldn’t be so many traitors inside.
In national war, any organization that does not lean toward the national righteousness must not be allowed to live comfortably.
Every small and medium force in the war zone that can pick up a knife can superficially be “neutral,” but must secretly come to the organization to report. The organization will not casually sacrifice those who lean toward it, but those who do not lean toward the organization are inevitably expendable.
…Xuan Chong: I am carrying the torch for you all, you cannot just lie there motionless…
Wu Fei drafted the “Dragon Slaying Decree,” copying what King Minwu did, with specific clauses that were quite discordant. In his previous life, they would be called extreme hatred by literati, belonging to “extremism”.
Of course, Wu Fei was not blindly cosplaying King Minwu by chasing an idol. Rather, it was a choice made after trying conciliation and finding it unfeasible.
Countless truths proven in Eastern culture: In life-and-death confrontations, if the leading group does not extremely force its vassal forces to all stab the enemy, then the powerful enemy can use “punish only the prime evil” to disintegrate your team.
Wu Fei had read books, but also knew the martial world; in a team full of fence-sitters, not being extreme, not being ruthless enough, there is no way to stand firm.
Wu Fei’s original conciliation policy premise was to lure one Dragon Descendant to rebel, letting the enemy disintegrate internally first. That way, the enemy would fall into division and collapse, and he wouldn’t need to go extreme.
But Su Dong was extremely principled, which made Wu Fei very admiring, yet he had to use the most respectful method to deal with him.
Xuan Chong on the dark side: When confirming unable to win over, and judging that the enemy’s numbers are not so many as to overflow the “concentration camp,” then he would tire out his own armed forces and bear the infamy himself.
…Those who kill must be constantly killed; when deciding to kill, must seize every minute…
After issuing the “Dragon Slaying Decree,” Wu Fei immediately returned to the main camp for discussion, but rather than discussion, it was more like “persuading” his subordinates to facilitate announcing another decision.
Facing his subordinate non-commissioned officers, Wu Fei explained to these people from the capital city the causes and effects of issuing the “Dragon Slaying Decree”.
Non-commissioned Officer A looked at Wu Fei worriedly and asked back: “My lord, these scaly demon spawn, kill them and be done, why are you frowning? These dragon evils are not worth a shred of your kindness.”
Wu Fei glanced at everyone: “You all think I am reluctant to kill, but once the killing starts, I will roll the blade with you all.”
Non-commissioned Officer B: “My lord, we are willing to go through fire and water!”
Then more non-commissioned officers expressed loyalty one after another. In these two wars, Wu Fei had successfully proven his real skills on the battlefield. After these non-commissioned officers tasted the opportunity for meritorious service, they had now habitually become “loyal”.
Wu Fei suppressed everyone’s excitement and slowly said: “I know you are all loyal, but I need to bring you all safely out of the battlefield, let you all gloriously see your families. If I can’t do that, what face do I have to return to the East Market for drinks?”
At this point, everyone was also stirred with homesickness, feeling Wu Fei’s words sounded very good, but as smart people, they didn’t know what Wu Fei specifically wanted to say.
Wu Fei threw out the “Dragon Slaying Decree” and slowly said: “Below is when it’s life-and-death with the northern False Hao, you all will be pitting knives against the evil dragons. I won’t let you all just take blades like that; we must find more people to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with us.”
Wu Fei pointed at the Bo Prefecture map, then took out a list of major surnames in various places in Bo Prefecture. Wu Fei: “These great clans must also go up with us.”
Non-commissioned Officer C: “My lord, are we to arrest them all?”
Wu Fei: “A forced melon is not sweet. We must rally them. There are some things among them that will draw criticism from the Imperial Court; you all try not to get involved.”
Non-commissioned Officer A: “My lord, don’t mind any Imperial Court criticism; we are my lord’s soldiers!”
As the non-commissioned officers collectively pressed, Wu Fei slapped the table to stop them: “Shut up, you are all the court’s soldiers.”
After a moment of silence, Wu Fei said mildly: “You all will be pillars of the state in the future; now start paying attention to your reputation.”
After Wu Fei stated what he was going to do, all the non-commissioned officers fell silent. If not for the previous words, they would oppose immediately, but now, after Wu Fei finished the plan, some were hesitant to speak.
They knew that Wu Fei had now taken on the matter most likely to incur the court’s suspicion.
Xuan Chong: So-called politics has two elements: First, tell those you need to win over “you and him (the opponent) are not on the same side”; second: you and I are on the same side.
…A bowl of yellow wine poured on the yellow earth, soul-summoning banners rising in the wind…
May 1st, right after the “Dragon Slaying Decree” was issued, Wu Fei changed into coarse cloth and invited local great clan village elders. Bowls of local wine were placed before everyone, while the three sacrificial animals waiting for blood oath were tied downstairs in the hall.
These village elders had obviously been away from fine clothes and food for a long time, their teeth worn by sandy grains, but when talking about “returning to the homeland,” their responses were still resounding. Wu Fei sighed on the spot: Bo Prefecture has many heroic warriors.
Then he announced two things, one of which the village elders already knew: that “Dragon Slaying Decree” order. Everyone was drumming in their hearts about this order. Because they all knew clearly that the Da Yao court hoped they would now act as the blade.
But the first thing Wu Fei announced was beyond their expectations: It was to rehabilitate Prefect Han Yong (Chapter 24) from when Gu Shou Pass fell. Previously, due to suspicion of being part of Prince Bo’s faction, Emperor Shu lost Bo Prefecture, and then Prince Zhou’s great defeat failed to retake it. The court, to shift blame to the two “culprits” who lost territory, denied them their loyal titles.
Xuan Chong’s inner commentary: Because of losing Bo Prefecture, the biggest blame is on Emperor Shu. Next is Prince Zhou who commanded fifteen route armies and finally had to “retreat.” According to Imperial Court politics: Affirming Han Yong’s loyalty would to some extent emphasize those two’s “mistakes.” For any bureaucrats in Da Yao, exposing this is political suicide.
But now Wu Fei doesn’t care about these; his whole family is not in Yao Capital, and moreover, he came here charging forward without retreat. Lice don’t itch when there are many, debts don’t worry when there are many. For him, the most important is to win the war!
Emperor Shu’s favor is irrelevant; the system tasked him to go north, not to be Emperor Shu’s dog. In this great chaos under heaven, battle achievements equal reputation; he must seize them well.
Sure enough, as Wu Fei announced the rehabilitation of the two loyal men of Bo Prefecture, and would personally inscribe the text, affix his seal, and erect the inscribed text, the village elders on site shed tears and said: “My lord’s matters are our matters.”
Clearly, these village elders highly approved of the “Dragon Slaying Decree” and were all willing to swear blood oath and follow Wu Fei.
…Commentary dividing line…
This was not Wu Fei brainwashing these local village elders with a few words to make them willing to die for him. Rather, it was a clear transaction: Following to rebel against “dragon slaying” was risking blood labor, and blood labor needs blood reward to stimulate.
The blood reward is the “class ascent channel.” Emperor Shu’s “Gou River major case” implicated too broadly, even dragging in Bo Prefecture’s previous prefect and Gu Shou Pass’s generals, so that after dying in battle, they did not get due treatment. This was the top political structure openly declaring “these two are unreliable.”
In the Da Yao Dynasty’s Eastern Dynasty system, the “two great officials” are not just two people, but include Bo Prefecture’s local clans! They too were defined as unreliable and unable to advance in Da Yao.
Because even if they were loyal to Da Yao again, their label was the same as the previous pass-guarding generals and martyred prefect; their merits could not surpass these two martyrs. The Da Yao bureaucratic system, seeing this “label,” dared not use them.
When a region’s intellectuals cannot advance through normal imperial channels, not learning An Lushan or Huang Chao is already quite giving face to the empire. How about making them bring their own dry rations for blood labor? No way.
Thus, many local forces in Bo Prefecture began splitting off branches to defect to Hao State.
As for the other batch of local forces, though they had contradictions with Haotian, they also dared not completely break with Hao State following Da Yao’s corps. After all, Hao State’s retaliation was real. And due to their status issue, they had no blood labor.
Wu Fei now equated to wiping away their original sin with one sentence! This was extremely offending Da Yao’s top echelon. So in the past, no political group in Da Yao did this “rehabilitation.”
Now Wu Fei, bringing capital elites to annihilate one of Hao State’s armies in battle, had the capital to shoulder this. Emperor Shu also had to pinch his nose and temporarily accept it.
But if Wu Fei loses next, Emperor Shu will immediately disavow it.
Wu Fei now showed “rehabilitation determination” before the village elders, even leaving on-site pretext of erecting a stele. These Bo Prefecture village elders cannot let Wu Fei lose!
For these village elders: Isn’t it just dead people? These years of crop failure have starved many. As long as the “bad label” is washed off, the family’s young people in the future have a chance to rise, it’s worth it.
Thus, Wu Fei is now bound to the community of interests.
…And on the other side, the military camp is very clannish…
In the camp, the non-commissioned officers began whispering.
Non-commissioned Officer A: My lord really rehabilitated those two.
Non-commissioned Officer B: Yeah, we just stay silent like this, it’s really.
Soldier C: My lord didn’t tell us to speak, so we stay quiet.
Non-commissioned Officer A: Oh, I get it, you want to quietly make a fortune.
Non-commissioned Officer C: I just say, obey my lord’s orders, and in the future preserve ourselves for use.
Non-commissioned Officer A: You’re just cowardly.
Non-commissioned Officer D immediately advised Non-commissioned Officer A: Don’t violate military order.
……
With the assembly whistle, this group of non-commissioned officers dispersed, but some clenched their fists, expressions conflicted.
This is Mu Xingyu; he is the one persuading everyone to preserve themselves for use. However, he has another identity: he is a Secret Guard, meaning he must write reports to Emperor Shu, and at key moments flash the token to restrain if Wu Fei shows disloyalty.
He looked toward Wu Fei’s main tent and sighed, still reporting truthfully but adding some of his own narrative.
After writing, he placed the bamboo slips back into the well, then the bamboo slips turned into a swimming dragon entering the earth. Several hours later, they would emerge from the well where Emperor Shu, the Son of Heaven, is stationed, received by the Secret Guards and presented to Emperor Shu.
After Mu Xingyu finished this duty, his expression was very guilty. Clearly, by his moral view, this was betrayal. A long time later, he murmured toward Wu Fei’s direction: “My lord, I wish you flourishing military fortunes.”
At this point, even if the court replies telling him to use the token to restrain Wu Fei, it is basically impossible.
Mu Xingyu knew clearly that currently in the main camp, these non-commissioned officers recognize Wu Fei more.
…In the main tent…
Wu Fei did not know about Mu Xingyu’s situation, but Wu Fei knew that among the team he brought, there must be Emperor Shu’s people.
So on this “rehabilitation” matter, Wu Fei did not “act on his own,” but went through a “consultation” process, standing on the non-commissioned officers’ interests to tell them the reason for doing so!
Wu Fei let them know he was taking the black pot, earning merits for them, reducing risks. — After following Wu Fei in planning many operations, all soldiers also understood “what can be done, what cannot.”
Every non-commissioned officer knew: With just these ten thousand annihilating all Hao State’s Dragon Descendants is impossible, but if inciting Da Yao’s local forces, it is possible!
The merit of annihilating an army was no longer enough for these “dandies.” To restore all of Bo Prefecture, that is the merit to return to the capital and hold head high.
In the military tent, after confirming curfew systems executed everywhere, Wu Fei lit lamps to look at the map.
Wu Fei looked at the other Bo Prefecture cities on the map. Though viewing those two cities’ garrisons as mere clay chickens and tile dogs, his heart was filled with urgency to seize every second.
Wu Fei was uneasy: “That one (Zhao Cheng) should have noticed me by now.”
After taking out rear pond reports, Wu Fei inferred: “Even if noticed, currently has no time.”
Xuan Chong (Wu Fei) commented on his current situation: “Thousands of troops and horses avoid the white robe, but Erzhu Rong is not home.”
