Chapter 406

There was a natural earthen ditch here, very long, winding for several li.

This earthen ditch was not continuous; some parts were deeper, some shallower, and some were almost level with the ground.

But despite this, it was still a good defensive position.

The soldiers used local materials, reinforcing the ditch with wood, earth, and stones.

Moreover, with their backs to Dashan and the high terrain, it would not be easy for the enemy to cross this defensive line.

Peng Xiang inspected several spots and felt very satisfied.

Just as he was about to go elsewhere to look, he saw a soldier climb down from a tree, holding something in his hand, half...

191. Military Law Is Ruthless

"Let us go over and see," Peng Xiang said, walking over.

The soldier sent by Zheng Zheng Zili to guide them followed behind, looking somewhat nervous.

He saw that what the soldier was holding was a kite.

Taking a kite down from a tree was not a problem in itself.

But the issue was that orders had just been given: upon obtaining a kite, one was not to examine it but to hand it over immediately.

He worried that soldiers below might examine it privately and happen to be seen by the special guards sent from above.

The few of them walked to the tree and saw five or six soldiers gathered together, one of whom was muttering something.

"What are you doing?"

Zheng Zheng Zili's subordinate immediately shouted.

Peng Xiang frowned and immediately whispered, "Do not reveal my identity!"

Saying this, he quickened his pace and walked over.

Seeing someone approach, those soldiers immediately scattered.

One soldier instinctively placed the kite he was holding behind his back.

"What is in your hand? Hand it over!" Peng Xiang said calmly.

"You found a kite and still haven't handed it over quickly?" Zheng Zheng Zili's subordinate added.

"I was just about to hand it to my superior," the soldier holding the kite hurriedly took it out from behind his back.

"Hmph, I clearly heard you reading the content just now! And you others, how much did you hear?" Peng Xiang's severe gaze turned to the other soldiers.

"Reporting to my lord, no one heard much," a bolder soldier replied.

"What about you others?" Peng Xiang demanded sternly.

"I only heard a few words before you arrived."

"Me too."

"I only heard one or two sentences."

The soldiers spoke up one after another.

"So you admit you heard him reading the content on the kite," Peng Xiang's gaze fixed on the soldier holding the kite: "What do you have to say?"

"My lord, this humble one knows his mistake; please spare my life!" The soldier holding the kite, his face ashen, immediately knelt down.

"Hmph! We just issued an order forbidding the passing and reading of kites, and you immediately broke it!" Peng Xiang's face showed killing intent: "Guards, execute them!"

"My lord, the enemy could attack at any moment; we urgently need soldiers to fight. Please allow them to atone for sins through merit!"

Zheng Zheng Zili's subordinate immediately pleaded.

"Without discipline, treating military law like a child's play, how can we fight well?" Peng Xiang said coldly: "I am the captain of the special guards; I came here specifically to assist General Zheng in enforcing strict military discipline! Now I order that all of them be executed, and their heads hung high for public display!"

"My lord, spare our lives! We only heard a few sentences and did not spread them!"

"My lord, spare our lives!"

The soldiers cried out one after another.

"Execute the order immediately! Anyone who dares to obstruct will be put to death at once!" Peng Xiang shouted.

The special guards he brought immediately drew their swords and rushed forward.

Those soldiers knelt on the ground, daring not to resist; even if they did, they were no match for the special guards.

Soon, five heads were cut off and then hung on the tree.

Looking at the heads on the tree, Peng Xiang felt very satisfied.

Military discipline must be strict; if it is said that passing and reading the kite's content is forbidden, then it is forbidden. All who violate this must be executed.

Only this way can this group be controlled.

Otherwise, the army's morale will be unstable; then what war can be fought?

"You, go tell the soldiers stationed elsewhere what happened here. Let everyone know of this matter and take it as a warning."

"If anyone makes a mistake again, their fate will be the same as theirs!"

Peng Xiang said loudly.

Soon, the matter spread throughout Zheng Zheng Zili's troops.

Everyone was dissatisfied.

To be honest, those few died a bit unjustly.

Because the content on the kites had already spread; basically, everyone knew they were two letters urging surrender.

The soldiers who looked at the kites did so out of curiosity only.

In their view, the content on the kites would be more detailed than the rumors.

Outside Zheng Zheng Zili's main tent, the deputy general walked over with several subordinates.

Leaving his subordinates to guard the tent entrance, the deputy general entered himself.

"General, Peng Xiang killed five of our men as soon as he arrived. Do you know about this?" the deputy general said angrily.

"I know,"Zheng Zheng Zili said, frowning.

"He kills people over a trivial matter. Is he here to help or to cause trouble? Now the brothers below are growing resentful. If we let him Hu Nao like this, we won't be able to lead these troops!"the deputy general said.

"Those few men violated military law; killing them is justifiable."Zheng Zheng Zili sighed as he spoke: "It's just that Peng Xiang did this without consulting me. He doesn't respect me!"

Executing soldiers who broke discipline was very common in the Qin Army.

If the number of soldiers executed was not large, the Grand General did not need to issue the order; a grassroots commander could make the decision.

But the problem was that Peng Xiang was an outsider, an "assistant" who had just been sent over.

He arrived and took it upon himself to kill five soldiers, which did not conform to the unwritten rules of the army.

The normal procedure was to first arrest the men, then go and discuss the matter with Zheng Zheng Zili to show respect for him.

And Zheng Zheng Zili would most likely support Peng Xiang's actions to show support for Peng Xiang's work.

Now Peng Xiang directly executed those five, which meant he believed he had the right to do so and saw no need to notify Zheng Zheng Zili.

In Zheng Zheng Zili's words, it meant Peng Xiang did not respect him.

"General, this Peng Xiang has ill intentions. I think he is here to seize power!"

"If we let him continue like this, everyone in the army will think that the power of life and death over them lies in Peng Xiang's hands, and then your military authority will slip away!"

the deputy general said.

"I know this, but we are Wei Pao's army. Now Wei Pao has sent someone else to manage the troops with me. How can I refuse?"Zheng Zheng Zili said.

"General, although we are Wei Pao's troops, we are also the Great Qin's troops!"

"We are soldiers of the Great Qin. We originally pledged allegiance to Wei Pao thinking that serving Wei Pao was serving the Great Qin. We never intended to rebel!"

the deputy general said.

"They want to oppose Ying Su..."Zheng Zheng Zili said.

"If they oppose Ying Su, it is rebellion. Unless the First Emperor orders us to oppose Ying Su, how are we any different from rebels?"

"General, when Wei Pao wanted to rebel, he did not consult you in advance. We joined in blindly."

"Now they do not trust us and have sent people to monitor us and seize power. I fear they want to eliminate you!"

the deputy general continued.

In fact, when they originally rose up to oppose Ying Su, they knew beforehand and had agreed.

At this moment, he intentionally claimed ignorance to exonerate himself.

Since Wei Pao no longer trusted them, there was no need for them to admit to participating in the rebellion.

"You are right. We are the Great Qin's army, serving the Great Qin's Emperor."

"Now, whether it is the First Emperor or the new Emperor, both are ordering us to surrender. It is time for us to make a decision!"

Zheng Zheng Zili made up his mind.