In Dongchang City, Zhu Youjian ordered all the soldiers to help the people put out the fire and repair the houses, trying to minimize the damage in the shortest time possible.
The original Dongchang County Magistrate, Li Danian, had already been killed by Xu Hongru as a sacrifice to the flag. After he collected his bones, he placed them into a thin coffin and buried them. He also ordered the people who had died in the war to be buried properly.
A group of generals in heavy armor hurried in from outside the door. The leader was over sixty years old. His hair and beard were all white, but he was hale and hearty. He was Yang Zhaoji, the commander of the Southern Lu Army of the Ming Dynasty.
Behind him were his sons, Yang Yuyin and Yang Yufan, as well as the deputy generals, Zhou Shixi (Yang Zhaoji's son-in-law), Yu Youguang, and the others. They all fell to their knees."I am Yang Zhaoji, paying my respects to Prince Xin Qiansui!"”
"General Yang, please rise!" Prince Xin Zhu Youjian hurriedly held him up with both hands." I wonder how many soldiers have you brought this time?”
"I only brought five thousand soldiers.”
" There are too few soldiers..." Zhu Youjian frowned slightly. Yang Zhaoji laughed." The quality of the soldiers is not in quantity. Your Highness is sitting in Dongchang and watching the generals lead the troops to kill the enemy!"”
"Speed is the most important thing in war. Old General, immediately leave two thousand men to guard the city and lead three thousand soldiers to follow me out of the city to pursue Xu Hongru.”
Zhu Youjian knew that he had to suppress the bandits quickly. He could not let them move around and harm the village.
"Your Highness must be joking. Although my troops are not as good as your elites, they have all been to the battlefield and seen blood. It is better for your Highness to lead the troops to defend the city!”
Yang Zhaoji was a little impatient. He snorted and turned around to instruct General Yu Youguang," Order the entire army to station in the city and feed on the spot. Tomorrow morning, immediately send troops to eliminate Xu Hongru!”
"Impudent!" Zhu Youjian's expression changed when he heard that. He shouted," How dare you, Yang Zhaoji! Now Dongchang is suffering from military disaster, and was robbed by Xu Hongru and others, the common people are suffering, how can they eat on the spot? Order all the troops of Lunan to leave the city and set up camp. Do not disturb the people!”
" This..." Yang Zhaoji didn't expect this young prince to be so ungrateful. His eyes almost spewed fire!
Seeing this, the new soldiers stepped forward in unison and pointed their black muzzles at Yang Zhaoji's group.
Yang Zhaoji's soldiers were not to be trifled with either. They also drew their sabers, and the two sides confronted each other in the court.
"His Majesty has bestowed the seal of the Pinglu Great General here. Who dares to be impudent!”At the critical moment, Xu Guangqi carried an apricot yellow silk package and came to the front of the two people. He tore the silk with a swoosh." How dare you, Yang Zhaoji, kneel when you see the General Seal!"”
" General..." Yang Zhaoji gritted his teeth and kneeled down." General, please forgive me for my recklessness!"”
Noisy noises came from outside the door. Everyone turned their heads and saw Cao Wenzhao leading two new soldiers and a small soldier wearing the Ming Army uniform.
"Reporting to Your Highness Prince Xin, this pawn stole the treasures of the villagers in the city and insulted a woman. He was caught by this general. Please convict him!”
"Is the theft true?" Zhu Youjian frowned and looked at the soldier.
" I'm innocent. The gold, silver, and jewelry were left in the courtyard. I only picked up a few. They're all here…"
Only then did the soldier see that his commander was kneeling respectfully in front of this youth. His face changed color in fear as he stammered.
"Is it true that you insulted a woman?”
"I saw it with my own eyes!" Cao Wenzhao waved his hand.”
A rather beautiful woman around the age of 28 was kneeling on the ground with tears in her almond-shaped eyes. Her clothes were torn and she covered them with her hands." Your Highness, please help me!"”
"Robbing treasures and abusing women, the evidence is conclusive. What else do you have to say?”
"I just picked up a few necklaces and bullied a woman. At most, I'll be beaten twenty times.”The soldier glared at the crying woman and said indifferently.
"It's good that you admit it!" Zhu Youjian looked at his sloppy appearance and gritted his teeth in hatred. He did not expect military discipline to be so corrupt!
"This king was just about to rectify military discipline, and you dare to do such a shameful thing in broad daylight. Men, push him down and behead him to warn the others!”
"Your Highness!" When Yang Zhaoji heard this, his eyes widened like a cow. This soldier was originally his distant nephew. He had always been unruly and had been punished many times. However, this matter was usually punished with twenty strokes of the stick and then sent to the border to serve. He would not be beheaded!
"Could it be that Lord Yang wants to cover up and connive at this subordinate to harm the villagers?”Zhu Youjian was furious. He raised his gun and aimed it at Yang Zhaoji's forehead." If you dare to plead for him again, you will be punished with this soldier!"”
"Your Highness, you disregard human lives and kill people to establish your might. Aren't you afraid that this news will spread to the capital and attract criticism?”Behind Yang Zhaoji, his deputy general and son-in-law, Zhou Shixi, said in a strange tone.
"Your soldiers are human, but aren't the women he bullied human?”Zhu Youjian's roar made everyone's ears buzz." In this king's eyes, whoever dares to commit crimes and bully me will be dealt with to the end even if I have to risk my life!”
With that, he shouted at Cao Wenzhao,"Drum!"”
"Yes, sir!" Cao Wenzhao hurriedly ran outside the county government and beat the Drum of Injustice. The commoners were confused and gathered around, stretching their necks to look at the strange scene.
The soldier was pushed and shoved to the square at the entrance of the county government. He was tied with hemp rope and had a tall sign stuck behind his neck, on which his crimes were written.
"Fellow villagers, this king led the army to quell the chaos and did not commit a single crime wherever he went. How could this thief be so lustful? He insulted women, robbed gold, silver, and jewelry, and treated the laws of our Ming Dynasty as if they were nothing. Such a thief who harmed the people, if we don't kill him, it won't be enough to appease the anger of the people. If we don't kill him, it won't be enough to calm the morale of the army. Men, please bring the machetemen!”
A muscular axe-wielder walked forward and grabbed the soldier's long hair. He pulled forward and took a bowl of water. He took a sip and sprayed it on the soldier's neck.
"Open the blade and ask for execution!"
Zhu Youjian gave an order, and the axemen raised their knives and chopped down, causing heads to fall to the ground!
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