Chapter 418: Execution!

Watching the two of them, Wang Dou could not help but sneer: “A mere woman, and she has frightened you into this state?”

Zhang Kejian and Wang Chengceng sighed and groaned. It was not that they feared a woman, but rather the Zuo Liangyu behind the woman. Recalling the ferocity of the “Pacifying Bandits General,” both felt dread in their hearts.

Wang Dou shook his head and said: “I will not release these mutinous soldiers. They are official troops, yet no different from bandits. Setting aside that they abandoned the city and fled, they even let their soldiers plunder. Such bestial acts — if they are not killed, the people’s anger cannot be quelled!”

He continued: “Of course, Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life. When the time comes, I will leave them with intact corpses. As for that woman, go back and tell her: if she dares make trouble again, I will arrest her, treat her as a mutinous soldier, and execute her together with them!”

Zhang Kejian and Wang Chengceng opened their mouths wide, about to say more, but Wang Dou waved his hand: “My mind is made up. Say no more!”

Wang Dou’s gaze shot over coldly. Wang Chengceng, the Prefect of Xiangyang — once personally promoted by Yang Sichang, praised as young and capable, daring to take on responsibilities — broke out in a sweat all over his head and said repeatedly: “Yes, yes, it shall be done as the General commands!”

Wang Dou looked at the two and said: “Also, what of the reward silver Xiangyang Prefecture promised me? Up to now, only one hundred thousand taels have arrived. Where are the other one hundred thousand taels? Before sunset today, I want to see every last tael of that silver laid out before me!”

Zhang Kejian and Wang Chengceng took their leave and came out, wiping the cold sweat from their foreheads, both feeling a sense of collapse.

They felt only that, compared to Zuo Liangyu, this State-Stabilizing General was even more terrifying, his pressure even heavier.

They dared not delay. After returning, they summoned Zuo Liangyu’s concubine and informed her of the matter, frightening the woman so much that she dared not make further trouble, only hiding in the residence weeping every day, longing for the Pacifying Bandits General’s return.

Those secretly watching the affair learned of it and all clapped in approval. That woman, relying on Zuo Liangyu’s power, had been domineering and arrogant within Xiangyang city. Everyone had long been dissatisfied with her, only daring to rage in silence. Now, seeing her run afoul of the State-Stabilizing General, they all took pleasure in her misfortune.

…On the seventh day. The troops of Wu Zhengchun, Shen Shiqi, and Gao Xun’s three Yi-grade army units arrived, along with Zhao Xuan’s artillery Company Commander and Sun Sanjie’s logistics Company Commander.

Wang Dou had previously sent orders to Logistics Company Commander Sun Sanjie, instructing him to lead the logistics unit to transport all the gains from Luoyang to Ruzhou, and then move all grain and fodder to Jiaxian. Knowing that there was grain and pay inside Xiangyang city, the logistics Company Commander had come mostly with empty carts.

The logistics Company Commander and the artillery Company Commander would have difficulty crossing the river, so Wang Dou ordered them stationed at Fancheng. The Garrison Commander of Fancheng had long regretted not joining the army on its campaign that day — otherwise, the merit of killing the Bandit Xian would have been partly his. Upon receiving the order, he dared not be negligent and vacated the best military barracks in the city for Sun Sanjie’s and Zhao Xuan’s units to occupy.

As for the three units of Wu Zhengchun, Shen Shiqi, and Gao Xun, Wang Dou had them stationed at the barracks in the southeastern outskirts of Xiangyang city.

With several thousand more Shunxiang Army troops arriving, Xiangfan was shaken even more. Though these infantry units were slightly inferior to the cavalry the State-Stabilizing General had previously led, they were still rare crack troops under Heaven. At the time, a Xiangfan scholar, after observing their military bearing, sighed that the State-Stabilizing General’s string of great victories and fame across the realm was by no means luck.

Wu Zhengchun and the others also learned of the great victory at Xiangyang and all the related matters. They were both delighted and envious, regretting only that they had not been able to catch such a grand occasion themselves.

On the eighth day, Wang Dou resolved to execute those mutinous troops, as well as some captured roving bandits and disorderly civilians. He issued a proclamation: the execution would be on the ninth day.

On the morning of the ninth day. The parade ground in the eastern outskirts of Xiangyang city.

The parade ground was vast, originally walled on all four sides. But by this time, except for the area around the martial performance platform, the surrounding walls on the other three sides were all gone. Those bricks and stones had mostly been taken by the surrounding villagers to build houses — such things were countless in the interior of the Great Ming, and the local government offices could not manage them all.

The eastern outskirts parade ground was usually desolate and cold, but now it was a sea of people, especially on the north and south sides, packed with the common folk of Xiangyang city who had come upon hearing the news. The day before, they had heard that the State-Stabilizing General was going to execute those mutinous troops and disorderly civilians, so whether city residents or people from the surrounding countryside, all had rushed to the edges of the parade ground early this morning.

They gathered in clusters, among them both country gentry and ordinary commoners. Everyone’s expression was stirred and excited, and all kept up a constant murmur of private talk, asking around and discussing. But excitement aside, with official troops present — especially the Shunxiang Army — no one dared to utter a single loud word.

At this moment, on the left side of the parade ground, several thousand Shunxiang Army soldiers were arrayed in neat formation. Their cavalry and infantry formed orderly ranks one after another. They were silent and composed, yet the oppressive force of a crack army so awed the surrounding soldiers and civilians that they could not speak. Those seeing the Shunxiang Army’s majestic presence for the first time, in particular, each drew in cold breaths.

On the right side of the parade ground were the local government troops. They too had gathered into formations, but unease filled the ranks, and waves of tension, dread, and fear spread among them.

They had privately discussed among themselves that the State-Stabilizing General was going to publicly execute the mutinous troops — this was killing the chicken to warn the monkey. But discussions aside, whenever these soldiers cast their eyes toward the Shunxiang Army formation across from them, they felt their hearts pound with terror, and dared not say much.

An oppressive atmosphere filled the grounds. Around the hour of Si, boom-boom-boom — three cannon shots sounded, and drums and music rang out together. The surrounding commoners stirred like a tidal wave, and everyone said: “They’re here, it’s starting!”

Amid the military music, from the ceremonial gate of the parade ground, file after file of armored soldiers clad in gleaming armor marched out in close order. Bearing blades and firearms, they ascended the tall martial performance platform directly ahead and stood in solemn ranks atop it.

Following them, Wang Dou in full armor, along with Vice Regional Military Commissioner Zhang Kejian in his official robes, emerged side by side. Behind the two came the staff of the central army division, Xiangyang Prefect Wang Chengceng, County Magistrate Li Tianjue, and others. Behind them were representatives of the local gentry, each nervously following behind.

The group arrived at the high platform, every expression extremely solemn. The atmosphere on the platform affected those below. Once the military music ceased, the entire grounds fell silent, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Wang Dou glanced at Zhang Kejian. Zhang Kejian had no choice but to step forward, clear his throat, and say: “Bring forth the convicts.”

To the lower right of the martial performance platform, all the way to the side gate, stood pair after pair of Xiangyang city government office runners. Well-versed in such occasions, someone immediately shouted loudly: “Bring forth the convicts.”

The runners’ voices passed the command along one after another. Very soon, a clamor of wailing and howling approached. From the side gate, over a hundred mutinous soldiers and over a hundred roving bandits and disorderly civilians were all escorted in. Still defiant, they shouted and struggled loudly along the way.

The mutinous Company Commander in particular, when ordered to kneel before the platform, still yelled toward the high platform: “You cannot touch me! I am a trusted man of Grand Commander Zuo! When the Grand Commander returns, he will not let you off!” Wang Dou’s face was expressionless, but Zhang Kejian was furious. In any case, having been pulled onto the horse by Wang Dou, he could no longer worry about greater consequences. He bellowed: “Insolence! You disorderly bandit — a military officer, yet you plundered the common people. If you are not executed, Heaven’s justice will not tolerate it!”

He shouted and scolded loudly, emphasizing to the entire assembly of soldiers and civilians the solemnity of military discipline. The commoners below the platform nodded as they listened, all praising: “Military Commissioner Zhang is truly a clear-sky grand lord.”

Zhang Kejian spoke at great length, his face stern, as if Bao Gong himself had returned to the world. But when he turned to face Wang Dou, his expression was entirely gentle. He said: “Would the General also like to say a few words?”

Wang Dou nodded. He walked to the front of the platform and slowly swept his gaze across the entire grounds. There had been some stirring in the crowd, but under this sweeping gaze, it fell silent again, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

At the same time, everyone was curious: what would this great general, famed across the realm, say?

At last they heard Wang Dou say: “Everyone in the world is curious why my Shunxiang Army is ever-victorious in battle and irresistible in assault. Here, Dou will say it — it is really nothing special, just the four words: strict military discipline.”

Wang Dou’s voice carried far and wide: “In the past, the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison, where I was stationed, was also overrun with bandits and plagued with military riffraff. In places like Baoanzhou and Yongningcheng, mutinous soldier riots occurred. But now, Dou is proud to say — I will not claim that in the lands under my governance, no one picks up lost items on the road and no one locks their doors at night — but at least governance is clear and honest, and both soldiers and civilians live in peace. Why? Because every bandit and mutinous soldier under my rule has been exterminated by me!”

The masses of commoners below collectively drew a cold breath. The Xiangyang officers and soldiers below the platform also collectively felt a chill run through their entire bodies. What a ruthless Shunxiang Army, what a ruthless Wang Dou.

Wang Dou continued: “Once, I was only a garrison soldier at a beacon tower. At that time, I had the fortune to read the military manual of Qi Shaobao. It said well: soldiers are the tools to kill bandits; bandits are what kill the common people. If official soldiers are willing to kill bandits, abide by military law, and not harass or harm the localities, how would the common people not honor them, how would the government offices not cherish them? The common people fear bandits looting them. If official soldiers also loot, how are they different from bandits? How would the common people not fear them, how would the government offices not trample on them and cast them aside in disgust?”

Wang Dou’s voice carried high and far. Everyone present was stirred. Many among the commoners below had tears welling in their eyes. Having seen so many disorderly troops and villainous soldiers, they had finally beheld a righteous army. Many felt yearning and curiosity toward the Eastern Route lands Wang Dou spoke of.

Some also sighed: General Wang was, after all, a guest army. The royal division could not remain long in places like Xiangyang.

The officials behind Wang Dou, including Zhang Kejian, were lost in thought: “This Wang Dou is glib-tongued. Every word he speaks is highly inflammatory. He is no ordinary man!”

They heard Wang Dou continue: “Dou has followed the teachings of Grandfather Qi. Starting from a single armored garrison soldier, I slowly developed into the great army of today. Wherever we go, the common people welcome us with baskets of food and jugs of drink. Dou is proud, and also apprehensive, fearing only to betray the expectations of the people. The two words ‘military discipline’ — not for a single day have I dared to forget them!”

He pointed at the mutinous Company Commander kneeling below the platform: “Just now you said you are a trusted man of Grand Commander Zuo, and that if we kill you, Grand Commander Zuo will not let us off when he returns?”

He sneered: “No matter who it is, if they dare violate military law, I, Wang Dou, will not let them off. What of Zuo Liangyu? If he dares to indulge mutinous troops and shield the likes of you — Dou will surely execute him!”

His words rang like clashing metal. Cries of astonishment rose from below and atop the platform. Zuo Liangyu’s fearsome reputation in Huguang could stop children from crying at night, but in Wang Dou’s eyes, he was as insignificant as a small chicken. Such was the confidence of a crack army — how could it not shake everyone present?

Below the platform, the mutinous Company Commander, and in the watching crowd, Zuo Liangyu’s favored concubine, both collapsed limp to the ground. What they had relied upon was nothing in another’s eyes, and might even bring unpredictable trouble upon Grand Commander Zuo — how could this not fill them with dread and terror?

The Shunxiang Army men on the platform, and the officers and soldiers below, all wore expressions of pride. The Shunxiang Army’s majesty would not tolerate challenge from anyone. What of Zuo Liangyu? If he dared oppose the great army, today’s Bandit Xian would be his fate tomorrow.

Wang Dou raised his hand and shouted: “Execute!”

“Execute!”

The armored soldiers on the platform roared.

“Execute!”

The Shunxiang Army soldiers below roared in unison. The orderly roar shook the earth. The Xiangyang soldiers and civilians on and below the platform all changed color.

On either side of the execution ground’s outer gate below the martial performance platform, two squads of soldiers were arrayed in neat order — one squad of firelock soldiers, one squad of spearmen. All were the most stalwart soldiers of the Shunxiang Army, each exuding killing intent, specially selected to serve as executioners.

Now, as the execution command rang out, one file of armored men immediately emerged from each squad, one on the left and one on the right, each dragging five men. They marched in great strides, stopping fifty paces from the high platform. Another fifty paces beyond was the formation of Shunxiang Army and Xiangyang troops, with over a hundred paces of distance between the two formations.

Among these ten men was the mutinous Company Commander. His earlier arrogance was long gone; he was dragged forward like a dead fish. The rest were also limp and paralyzed, some shrieking loudly, terrified to the extreme.