Jiuxi

Chapter 100 099 [Unexpected Joy]

"You bastard!"

In the temporary meeting hall, Taixing Army Commander Kang Yanxiao was furious. He stared at Gao Yuqi, who was kneeling on the ground with his hands bound, with a pair of hawk-like eyes. He raised his finger and pointed at his nose, spitting almost all of his saliva on his face. .

"How many times have I told you that the Commander-in-Chief has repeatedly issued orders to address the issue of military discipline. Before setting off this time, he even preached to the entire army that no violations of discipline should be allowed. In particular, after entering the city, you must not harass the local people, whether they are small families or high-ranking people. No matter how big a house you are, you must make people sincerely submit to you."

Kang Yan's filial piety was not lost at all, and he said bitterly: "It's a good thing for you, as a captain, you didn't set an example for the soldiers under your command, but instead took the lead in breaking into private houses! If you just knocked down a few doors, that's all, why are you going to rob it?" The things that belong to someone else’s house, and you still…rape their maidservant! What a bastard!”

Gao Yuqi's head was drooping like an eggplant beaten by frost at this moment.

Kang Yanxiao couldn't help but kicked him in the chest.

This kick was so powerful that Gao Yuqi was kicked three or four feet away. He endured the severe pain and struggled to kneel down again.

Kang Yanxiao scolded angrily: "Do you think you can ignore military law just because you have made a small contribution? Do you think the Seventeen Rules and 45 Kills are a joke? You can lead by example when fighting, and you also take the lead when doing such stupid things. ? If I had known you were so stupid, I should not have been rescued in Xinchang City before. I allowed you to die in the enemy's formation. This would be regarded as sacrificing your life for the country, and it is not as embarrassing as it is now!"

"There are no brothels in the city? Are you so unable to control the piece of meat on your crotch?"

"This general has deducted your military pay? Are you so unable to control your own hands?"

"Lift your head! Talk!"

Kang Yanxiao's barrage of roars made Gao Yuqi completely lose the courage to quibble.

However, the expressions of other people in the meeting hall were a little complicated.

In addition to Kang Yanxiao, the deputy commander of the Taixing Army, the chief and deputy commander of the Lai'an Army, and the commander-in-chief of the Panlong Army were all present.

Lu Chen and Lin Xi were sitting at the bottom, seemingly inconspicuous, but Kang Yanxiao's eyes glanced across his face from time to time.

Everyone gradually understood the implication of Kang Yanxiao's words. Gao Yuqi's behavior was indeed seeking death. However, this man fought bravely and made many military exploits. He was an out-and-out brave general in the Taixing Army. It would be a pity to execute him directly.

The others remained silent, their eyes gradually focused on Lu Chen.

At dawn before departure, the Huaizhou army generals received military orders at the Governor's Mansion in Lai'an City. In addition to leading the army's vanguard assault, Lu Chen also shouldered the responsibility of military judge.

Kang Yanxiao knew this very well. Although he was much higher than Lu Chen in terms of rank, he had to get Lu Chen's consent in this matter in order to let the idiot Gao Yuqi survive.

But he scolded and hit him, but Lu Chen still didn't say a word.

Kang Yanxiao felt a little uneasy, so he bowed his hands to Lu Chen in a bachelor manner, and said bluntly: "Captain Lu, this guy has done something wrong and cannot be forgiven. As the commander of the Taixing Army, I am also responsible for the lax command of my subordinates." , I am willing to give up my merits. I would also like to ask Colonel Lu to be more generous and give this guy a chance. I will be very grateful!"

Lu Chen stood up and returned the salute, and said calmly: "General Kang's words are serious."

Kang Yanxiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and Gao Yuqi, who was kneeling on the ground, had a joyful look in his eyes.

Lin Xi looked up at Lu Shen's side face thoughtfully.

Lu Chen said unhurriedly: "General Rong Zhen, I have already known him on the way here. The children of the Wang family are all engaged in reading, and they have always been good to others. They have a good reputation among the people in the city. Today, the high school captain is leading the troops. Breaking in, hurting, robbing, and even raping maidservants, how is this behavior different from the evil soldiers of the Jing Dynasty back then?"

Kang Yanxiao gradually frowned.

Upon seeing this, Lu Chen said frankly: "General Kang, there were more than ten similar incidents in the city today. There were people in the Taixing Army and the Lai'an Army who violated military discipline, not just the Gao Xiaowei. The military law team inspected the city and they all caught the situation. "

He Gui, the commander of the Lai'an Army who was sitting peacefully, said with a livid face: "Someone in the Lai'an Army also committed crimes?"

Lu Chen turned to look at him, nodded and said, "Yes, there are 23 people in seven groups."

He Gui said angrily: "These idiots!"

He originally wanted Lu Chen to deal with it in accordance with military law, but then he thought about Kang Yanxiao's current embarrassing situation, so he had to hold off temporarily.

Kang Yanxiao looked at Gao Yuqi, whose face was filled with the desire to survive, and then said to Lu Chen: "Captain Lu, can you show your respect? Even if you let people beat this guy with dozens of military sticks, as long as he temporarily spares his life, I will definitely do it." Remember today’s kindness.”

Everyone looked at Lu Chen with complicated expressions.

He Gui hesitated to speak, because Duan Zuozhang told him in private that he had a great liking for Lu Chen and knew that Governor Xiao intended to support this young man.

However, seniority is very important in the military, and Lu Chen is too young. If he wants to gain a foothold in the upper echelons of the Huaizhou Army, the attitude of every commander is very important.

As long as he gives in a little bit now, Kang Yanxiao will definitely be on his side.

Although Lin Xi was not familiar with the officialdom, he had seen similar scenes before, because the Seven Star Gang was not a small village with dozens of people, and there were similar intrigues within it.

She stared at Lu Chen's side face, but there was no doubt or uneasiness in her heart, because she firmly believed that her junior brother would make the right choice.

The flow of time seems to have become very slow.

After a moment, Lu Chen met Kang Yanxiao's complex gaze and said slowly: "General Kang, there are five people like Gao Xiaowei who have committed capital crimes. The last general has decided to deal with them in accordance with military law."

The disappointment on Kang Yanxiao's face was extremely clear, and his tone became indifferent: "Colonel Lu enforces the law impartially. I should be ashamed of myself, but -"

The situation suddenly became tense.

He Gui quickly interjected: "Old Kang, Lieutenant Lu is a military judge appointed by the Governor. Don't talk about Gao Yuqi, a fool. Even you and I are under his supervision. Military law cannot be violated. This is what the Governor appointed many years ago. We also preached the dead rules to our subordinates before we sent out troops. They are responsible for their own lawlessness. Listen to me, don't be confused."

The two had known each other for many years and were extremely familiar with each other's temperaments. He Gui naturally knew that the fierceness in Kang Yanxiao's bones had emerged again.

Kang Yanxiao's face was gloomy and uncertain, and he looked at Lu Chen coldly.

Because of He Gui's interruption, his next words were not spoken.Lu Chen said calmly: "Today afternoon, the military law team will execute the execution in a wide area of ​​​​the city. The gentry and common people in the city will be allowed to watch, and at the same time, the military discipline of our army will be preached to them."

Kang Yan Xiaohan said in a cold voice: "Okay, very good. Lieutenant Lu is unselfish and selfless. I will take note of it."

After saying that, he turned and left.

"General Kang!" Lu Chen said with a slightly more serious tone.

Kang Yanxiao stopped and turned to look at him indifferently.

Lu Chen said slowly: "I dare to ask General Kang, why did the Governor not actually attack Qingtian City and Yongquan Pass, but instead cooperated with the Jingzhou Governor's Office to recover the eastern part of the Pseudo-Yan Moyang Road?"

Kang Yanxiao sneered and said, "I know this is Lieutenant Lu's clever plan. The Governor has praised you very much, so there is no need to mention it in front of me."

Lu Chen took two steps forward and said, "That's not what the general wants to say. The general knows that after the Yuanjia Incident, the people in the north were repeatedly ravaged by the Jing Dynasty's army. The establishment of the puppet Yan Kingdom did not make this situation better. This puppet Instead, the imperial court intensified its cruelty on the people. In the past ten years, countless families have been destroyed and killed in Beidi. That is to say, places close to the border like Xunyang City are slightly better. Today's emperor once said that the Northern Expedition to regain the homeland and save all the people from hanging is the most important thing. It is the duty of Qi Chengong, but now that Gao Yuqi is acting like this, how will the people of the North view our soldiers?"

The anger on Kang Yanxiao's face gradually faded.

Lu Chen continued: "In this battle, our army has been attacking for hundreds of miles. Is it just for the sake of quick success? If the people in the city are not convinced that we are fundamentally different from the puppet Yan army and the Jing Dynasty tigers and wolves, then the enemy will counterattack in the future. At that time, how could we hold on? From Xinchang and Shiquan to Xunyang today, our army has been invincible. Apart from the bravery and courage of the soldiers, does it have nothing to do with the enemy's cruelty and unkindness? "

Kang Yanxiao was stunned.

Everyone else in the hall looked thoughtful.

After a long time, Kang Yanxiao sighed with a complicated expression and said slowly: "Colonel Lu is right, I have learned a lesson."

Lu Chen bowed his hands and said, "I don't dare to accept it."

Gao Yuqi, who was still kneeling on the spot, finally had a look of despair and regret on his face.

In the afternoon, the intersection in Xunyang City was crowded with people.

Among the onlookers were scholars wearing long gowns, businessmen with rich faces, and even more ordinary people in commoners' clothes and hairpin skirts.

On the makeshift high platform, a group of officials and dignitaries who used to commit crimes and prey on the common people knelt on the edge. The Qi military judge with a loud voice read out their countless crimes, and then chopped off their heads in public.

The smell of blood filled the air.

Next came those who violated military discipline within the Qi army. The first batch included 80 people. The crimes they committed were not serious, so the military law team only imposed varying amounts of cane punishment in public.

There were sparse cheers from the crowd.

The second group consisted of five people. The military judge read out their crimes in detail, and then, with everyone watching in disbelief, they decisively announced that they would be sentenced to death.

When the five bloody heads rolled to the ground, the eyes of the people in the city finally changed when they looked at Qi Jun.

This army turned out to be really different.

Lu Chen did not go to the scene in person. He determined the next combat strategy with Kang Yanxiao, He Gui and Panlong Army Captain Liu Chong.

4000 Panlong Army troops stayed in Xunyang, while the Lai'an Army, Taixing Army and the Pioneer Cavalry rested for two days. Then they continued south and attacked Jianghua City according to the established plan to join the main force of the Jingzhou Army.

It was already evening when Lu Chen returned to the guard camp cavalry station. He was preparing to have dinner with Lin Xi when two uninvited guests suddenly came outside the camp.

Li Chengen took the two of them to the simple duty room. Lu Chen looked up and saw the Wang family father and son whom he had seen in the morning.

When they met again, Wang Shao and Wang Jun's attitudes were completely different. They saluted Lu Chen meticulously, with obvious excitement in their tone.

After the ceremony, Lu Chen asked with a smile: "Mr. Wang, do you have any advice?"

Wang Shao said humbly: "In front of Captain Lu, how dare you call me "master"? If the captain doesn't mind, you can call me by your name. I'm here today because Quan Zi wants to join the captain. I know it. This matter is very abrupt, please forgive me."

Lu Chen was indeed a little surprised. He raised his eyes and looked at Wang Jun, who was similar to himself, and asked with interest: "Why do you have such thoughts?"

Wang Jun looked a little nervous and replied: "Because the school captain is different from those tigers and wolves in the Yan Dynasty, I want to do my best."

Lu Chen did not delve into the question and asked with a smile: "Do you know martial arts?"

Wang Jun shook his head and said honestly: "No."

Lu Chen thought of what he had seen in the morning, and vaguely saw a hint of déjà vu in this young man. However, the minimum requirement for recruiting soldiers for the Guards Battalion was to be used to killing on the battlefield. He had no interest in taking a young man from an aristocratic family to travel around the mountains and rivers. .

When he was about to refuse, Wang Jun said sincerely: "Captain, I have been familiar with military books since I was a child, and I may be able to make suggestions for the captain in the future. I know that I don't have the ability to charge into battle, but I will never let the captain down." "

Li Chengen, who was standing aside, smiled.

Lu Chen glanced at Wang Shao, who was silent, and began to think about it. He said slowly: "In that case, you will stay under my command for a while. If you can endure this hardship, even if you can't go into battle to kill the enemy, You can also follow me."

"Thank you Captain!" Wang Jun saluted quickly.

At this time, Wang Shao suddenly said: "Captain Lu, are your troops going south to Jianghua City next?"

Lu Chen said calmly: "What advice do you have, Mr. Wang?"

Wang Shao took a deep breath and said slowly but firmly: "This villain is not talented, but he can help Lieutenant Lu capture Jianghua without spending a single soldier!"

(End of this chapter)