Chapter 56: Right and Wrong

Liu Chengyou, for his part, stayed in Tuanchi Village, sleeping soundly and fully restoring his energy. Only at dawn did he set out southward over the mountains, escorted by his personal guards.

Along the way, reports from the front came in one after another—all good news, which put Liu Chengyou in an especially fine mood. Crossing ridges and valleys, surrounded by verdant forests, even the broken blades and scattered corpses along the roadside did nothing to dampen his spirits.

By the time Liu Chengyou emerged from the mountain pass and reached the place where Geng Chongmei had fallen, the battle was long over. Most of the Yan troops had been captured and were docilely sitting as prisoners. The Hedong armies had made camp on the spot to rest, clearing the battlefield, tending to the wounded, and tallying their losses.

The battle had been won easily, with relatively few casualties and abundant gains. The entire camp was steeped in a relaxed atmosphere.

When Liu Chengyou arrived, the officers of the various armies came out with their men to greet him, joy written on every face.

"You have all worked hard!" Dismounting before the camp, Liu Chengyou's gentle manner showed his good mood.

"All thanks to Your Highness's steady command and strategic planning—that is how this victory was won!" Zhang Yanwei stood at the front, joy spilling from his eyes, face, and words alike, flattering with great enthusiasm.

"How could I claim credit that belongs to the soldiers? You fought through danger and death, pursuing the fleeing enemy—I have noted it all in my heart!" Liu Chengyou waved a hand. "Come, let us enter the camp and talk."

As he toured the camp, the soldiers of every unit, upon seeing Liu Chengyou, began—led by someone unknown—to shout "Ten thousand victories!" The cheers rang out like a mountain roar and continued for a long while before subsiding.

"So this is Geng Chongmei?" In the command tent, Liu Chengyou sat down with legs spread wide, pointing casually at the severed head Zhang Yanwei had presented.

"Yes, Your Highness. That is indeed him!" Zhang Yanwei reported.

"Truly dark-skinned!" Liu Chengyou gave it a brief look—an ugly visage of an "old chieftain"—then waved for it to be removed, remarking offhandedly: "I had hoped to pry some information about the Khitan from his mouth, but it seems there's no chance now. Never mind!"

"Your Highness, according to the tally, since the battle began last night, of the Liao army's three thousand-plus troops, over a thousand were slain, some sixteen hundred captured, and the rest fled and scattered. We seized several thousand pieces of armor and weapons, and over a hundred war horses... In addition, General Li's elite force, after heading south, also made considerable captures. The full accounting of each unit's losses and gains will require careful tabulation and a detailed report." Once seated, Guo Rong rose and reported crisply to Liu Chengyou.

"It seems this battle has brought us no small harvest." Liu Chengyou nodded, pondered briefly, then turned to Li Wanchao: "Our army won this battle completely. General, you led your men on a circuitous route to cut off the enemy's retreat, sparing no hardship and braving great peril—you deserve the foremost credit!"

As Liu Chengyou's words fell, the assembled officers all turned their gazes to Li Wanchao, this newly attached general, yet no one raised any objection. Everyone knew that a flanking strike to the rear was grueling work.

Li Wanchao was rather surprised, but meeting Liu Chengyou's gaze, he grinned and bowed submissively: "It was Your Highness's excellent planning. I merely followed orders."

The corner of Liu Chengyou's mouth rarely curved upward. He swept his gaze around and said in a deep voice: "As for the officers and soldiers of the other units, all have been recorded in the books. In due time, rewards will be given according to merit!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Once everything is packed, the entire army continues south. We will camp at Gaoping and rest!"

"Yes!"

"Your Highness!" This military council should have ended in a harmonious atmosphere, but something discordant occurred after all.

The one who stepped forward was Sun Li, Commander of the Second Army. With a stern face, he said to Liu Chengyou: "Your subordinate has a grievance to report."

Somewhat surprised, Liu Chengyou raised a hand in invitation: "General Sun, please speak."

"Your subordinate accuses Captain Yang Ye of arrogance and insubordination. In contending for military merit, he snatched Geng Chongmei's head and even resorted to violence, gravely wounding a fellow soldier..." Commander Sun, once he opened his mouth, poured out his grievances with righteous indignation.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's face immediately turned cold. He looked sternly at Sun Li: "Fellow soldiers harming one another is a capital crime under military law. General Sun, you should weigh your words carefully!"

"If your subordinate has spoken falsely, I will accept military punishment!" Sun Li clasped his hands, looking thoroughly confident: "The wounded brother is right outside the tent. Your Highness need only summon him for a face-to-face confrontation!"

The atmosphere in the tent suddenly grew heavy. The officers exchanged glances—most had heard something of the fight on the battlefield.

"Bring him in!" Liu Chengyou waved a hand.

Soon, a burly soldier in a Captain's uniform walked in. His appearance was rather pitiful—he bore several wounds, all bandaged. Upon seeing Liu Chengyou, he knelt and bowed directly.

"Were all these wounds caused by Yang Ye?" Liu Chengyou's brows knit as his suspicious gaze swept over the man.

Sun Li took the initiative to answer, not daring to fabricate on this point: "These wounds were suffered in the heat of charging and fierce combat. A brave and skilled warrior like this was bullied by Yang Ye—please, Your Highness, see justice done."

"Tell me, what happened?" Liu Chengyou withdrew his gaze and asked the Captain.

The man seemed poor with words and spoke haltingly, but he eventually made the matter clear. Roughly: he had led his men to find Geng Chongmei's corpse first; Yang Ye arrived later, and over the credit for the kill, a conflict arose. Blows were exchanged, and he came off worse, suffering internal injuries. He was careful to emphasize that Yang Ye had struck first...

Listening to his account, Liu Chengyou mulled it over privately, glancing at Sun Li. He thought a moment, then looked up at Murong Yanzhao, who had remained silent throughout: "General Murong, Yang Ye is a man of your Fourth Army. Do you have anything to say about this matter?"

Facing Liu Chengyou's inquiry, Murong Yanzhao stepped forward and answered cautiously: "The dispute over merit did occur; the exchange of blows is also true. Yang Ye did strike, and he should bear responsibility. But as for what truly sparked the conflict, I beg Your Highness to investigate thoroughly!"

As he spoke, Murong Yanzhao's gaze calmly flicked toward Commander Sun, clearly implying more than his words conveyed.

"Your Highness!" At this moment, Guo Rong stepped forward on his own initiative, saying flatly: "If we are to have a face-to-face confrontation, how can we listen to only one side? Why not summon Yang Ye and hear what he has to say!"

"To hear both sides is to be enlightened; to trust only one is to be benighted—well said!" Liu Chengyou immediately voiced his agreement.

After a pause, Liu Chengyou continued: "However, that won't be necessary. Patrol Inspector Guo, you will investigate this matter thoroughly. I grant you full authority to handle it!"

Upon receiving the order, Guo Rong immediately acknowledged: "Yes!"

"Right and wrong will have their own reckoning. Everyone, dismissed!" Taking a deep breath, Liu Chengyou waved his hand, and as he spoke, he cast a glance at Sun Li and that Captain.

"General Guo, you have always enforced the law impartially. Surely your handling of this matter will not be biased..." After the tent dispersed, Sun Li sought out Guo Rong on his own, pressing him with his gaze as he "reminded" him.

Guo Rong was not the sort to be cowed. A faint smile touched his lips as he replied calmly: "Commander Sun, please rest assured!"

The army assembled and soon marched south with their prisoners and spoils, resting at Gaoping.

"Well, what's the result?" In the evening, in the second hall of the Gaoping county office, Liu Chengyou asked Guo Rong, who had come to report.

Guo Rong's expression was calm as he answered impartially: "Your subordinate has questioned everyone one by one. Yang Ye did indeed strike first, but the one who provoked the fight was that Sun Han!"

"How was it handled?"

"Yang Ye's death sentence was commuted in exchange for his battle merits. He was demoted three ranks, given twenty strokes, and transferred to the cavalry to tend horses. Sun Han was demoted one rank and stripped of his merits. The other soldiers involved in the brawl each received ten strokes and were all transferred to the logistics camp!" Guo Rong replied.

"Mm!" Liu Chengyou acknowledged softly, signifying his approval of Guo Rong's handling.

Perhaps there were other hidden circumstances, but they no longer mattered. Striking a fellow soldier first had already crossed an unforgivable line—even Yang Ye had to be punished.

"What relation is that Sun Han to Sun Li?" After pondering a while, Liu Chengyou suddenly asked in a low voice.

"He is Commander Sun's nephew on his wife's side..."

"Oh..."