Chapter 107: Rectifying the Military in the Capital

The other deputy generals were all on edge, none daring to step forward to stop General Chu. Today, General Chu seemed possessed by a spirit. In the past, he had at least shown some consideration for the status of their lord behind them, sparing them some dignity. But judging by his demeanor now, not only would he not show them any mercy, even if their lord appeared, Chu would surely continue to strike without hesitation.

The incident today had indeed escalated, resulting in many casualties among the soldiers in the camp. General Chu was a man who valued discipline above all, and disturbing the camp was a grave offense in his eyes, which explained his furious rage. To the other deputy generals, Chu’s anger was clearly not just about their oppression of the Northwest Army. After all, everyone knew General Chu was typically indifferent toward the Northwest Army. Even his recent demand for that 150 acres of land for the Northwest Army was, in their minds, just another way for him to procure supplies for the Capital Army.

“General Chu… please, let’s talk this through calmly… I am a man of the Third Prince; General Chu, you cannot kill me without cause!” Deputy General Liang gritted his teeth against the pain coursing through his body, sweat pouring down as his pale face grew paler with each word.

Cold fury burned in Shen Zhao’s eyes as she advanced her sword a fraction forward, instantly piercing Liang’s skin. “So what if you’re the Third Prince’s man? Who gave you the right to disrupt the camp? Open your eyes and see how many of our soldiers have died because of you and your damned father! Even if I kill you now, the Third Prince won’t utter a word of complaint. This is a purge of the camp.”

Liang’s legs trembled uncontrollably, sweat dripping down his cheeks. That Chu really intended to kill him! He had even prepared an excuse, showing no regard for the Third Prince’s reputation. He did not want to die—he had struggled hard to reach his current position.

“General, I admit my fault. Please, in light of my momentary madness after losing my son, spare me this once. I won’t dare to offend again.”

“If I spare you, who will spare the innocent Northwest soldiers who died unjustly? What crime did they commit to be targeted repeatedly by you? Out of respect for your lord, I’ve turned a blind eye all this time, but you have only grown more brazen until today, when lives were lost. If I spare you now, where is my honor? Where is discipline in the army?”

Shen Zhao’s words were not only for Liang but for everyone present. The other deputy generals’ hearts skipped a beat—is General Chu standing up for the Northwest Army? Before this, he had never cared for those four thousand old, weak, and sick soldiers. What had happened today?

Shen Zhao caught the expressions of the deputies out of the corner of her eye. Shocked? The real shock was yet to come.

From now on, the Northwest Army would have a place in the Capital Army camp.

Shen Zhao knew clearly that the Liang father and son were merely scapegoats today.

“General, I truly know my mistake. If you spare me this time, I am willing to do anything you command.” Liang was now thoroughly terrified.

Originally a soldier who had idled in the army, he was fortunate to have a beautiful daughter who had caught the Third Prince’s eye and become a favored concubine. This connection had allowed him to rise to the rank of deputy general in the Capital Army, arrogantly wielding his status.

But today, when General Xie and the Loyal and Righteous King came to the camp, he had taken quite a beating. Growing resentful, and hearing that the Northwest Army, whom he despised, had acquired 150 acres of land, he felt increasingly humiliated. Why was he being insulted for no reason, while these useless soldiers gained such benefits? Provoked, he made a grave mistake.

Now, he deeply regretted showing off in front of everyone. He was nothing but a coward.

The more Shen Zhao looked at the pitiful Liang, the more disgusted she felt. The Capital Army was full of corrupt and useless men. True experts in warfare were few and far between. They were all good-for-nothings.

If she wanted to forge the Capital Army into a force capable of standing against the other two armies, the first step was to replace all these useless men.

Right now, she only wanted Liang’s life—to sacrifice him for the wrongly slain Northwest soldiers.

“Good that you admit your fault. Don’t make the same mistake again,” she said, raising her sharp sword and slashing toward Liang’s head.

“General, please have mercy!” a weak voice came from behind.

Shen Zhao recognized it—it was Lin Song. He was actually pleading for Liang.

There was no way Shen Zhao would stop her strike. In a flash, she twisted her wrist, changing the sword’s direction to scrape along Liang’s cheek instead.

A terrible scream rang out: “My ear… my ear!” Liang, who had thought death was imminent, closed his eyes and fainted from the shock.

A severed ear silently fell before the other deputies.

Turning to Lin Song, Shen Zhao said irritably, “Why did you ask me to stop? Do you know he would have you skinned alive? That Liang is a reckless murderer of innocents. I am upholding military law.”

Lin Song was held up by two Northwest soldiers. A lean man who had not shed a tear when knives were pressed to his body now wept bitterly.

“General, I am deeply grateful for your protection of the Northwest Army, but this Deputy General Liang must not be killed.”

“Why not?” Shen Zhao looked Lin Song straight in the eye, demanding an explanation.

“If you kill one Liang, there will be thousands more. How long do you intend to keep killing?”

Lin Song’s words snapped Shen Zhao out of her hatred.

Indeed, if she killed Liang today, countless others like him would be brought into the camp. That would only heighten the enemy’s vigilance. Her dream of truly unifying the Capital Army would become even harder. The Third Prince would simply place a more difficult figure within the Capital Army.

Better to keep Liang alive and deal with a cowardly, useless man like him. Especially one who valued his life so much.

“Since Lin Song pleads for Liang, I will spare this dog’s life. Someone, carry Deputy General Liang away to be treated. Shall we watch him die of fright instead?”

Immediately, Liang’s subordinates rushed forward, hastily lifting their master.

The other deputies breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Zhao shifted her tone: “Everyone present bears some fault in today’s matter. Fault must be punished. Except for the Northwest Army, the entire army will forfeit a month’s pay and lose one meal per day.”

She would not punish them with drills but let them taste the hardship once endured by the Northwest Army.

Some could not bear it. The Northwest Army’s pay had only just been restored, and now Chu was going to force them into hardship again.

“General, this seems unfair. The incident was initiated by Deputy General Liang and his son. We only came to persuade them. Punishing us is unreasonable.”

Shen Zhao sneered at the speaker.

“Persuade? Tell me, how exactly did you ‘persuade’ them? When I arrived, I saw clearly—all of you, one by one, armed and taking Liang’s side, ruthlessly exterminating the Northwest Army. You call that persuasion?”