Chapter 186: Fear Me

At the hour of Mao in the early morning, a light rain still drifted from the sky. On the Dajiaochang parade ground outside Zongyang Gate, the troops stood in solemn formation. On the general command platform knelt a row of tightly bound prisoners, with two personal soldiers standing behind each. The soldiers below the platform watched the scene before them, their faces full of confusion.

After the arrests the previous night, the personal soldiers had locked down the Sixth Bureau's barracks, and the First Bureau had been notified to stand to with weapons. These unusual movements in the camp had been more or less noticed by men from the other bureaus. Rumors spread through the camp, with all manner of speculation.

Pang Yu wore his official robes and a black gauze hat, standing in the rain atop the general command platform. Jiao Guozha knelt not far from him, his body struggling and twisting the whole time. His mouth was stuffed with cotton cloth, and he made incessant muffled sounds toward Pang Yu.

Pang Yu did not look at him. After sweeping his gaze across the parade ground, he nodded to Jiang Guoyong beside him.

Jiang Guoyong bowed slightly. As he lowered his head, he glanced back out of the corner of his eye. Guo Fengyou, Pang Ding, and Hou Shuban were also on the platform, not looking at him at all.

Jiang Guoyong drew a breath, walked to the edge of the general command platform, and unfolded a sheet of petition paper.

"Last night, while the Central Army Personal Guard Unit was patrolling the camp, seven gamblers were seized in the barracks. They are: Central Army Camp Commandant Jiao Guozha, Sixth Bureau Centurion Tang Ze, Sixth Bureau Banner Commander Zhang Fugui... and Central Army camp-following personal soldier Wu Dacai. Gambling funds totaling fifty-seven taels, eight qian, and three fen were confiscated."

A slight stir rippled through the ranks below. Over these past months, everyone had come to recognize Jiao Guozha, and they also knew he was Lord Pang's sworn elder brother, seemingly wielding more power than any centurion. No one had expected him to be arrested too.

Jiang Guoyong's face was slightly flushed. After the soldiers quieted down, he continued reading, "Following overnight interrogation, Wu Dacai further accused Jiao Guozha of forcibly seizing his military pay, and additionally accused Sixth Bureau Centurion Tang Ze of imposing levies on soldiers' pay and drinking blood money."

Wu Dacai knelt at the very end, feeling as if everyone was staring at him. He kept his head buried, not daring to look anywhere. Each time he heard his own name, his body gave a slight shudder.

Jiang Guoyong stole a glance at Pang Yu, paused for a moment, then raised his voice. "Our camp's military law clearly states: those who participate in gambling shall receive fifty military canings; those who operate gambling dens in camp shall be beheaded; those who embezzle military pay and drink blood money shall be beheaded. Tang Ze abused his authority to extort soldiers under his command, forcibly imposing levies on monthly pay for his own use. Jiao Guozha, as Central Army Camp Commandant, opened and operated a gambling den in the army, taking the lead in violating military law. Upon investigation, these facts are verified. Both men, according to the law... shall be beheaded!"

A collective gasp and sharp intake of breath rose from below. On the platform, Jiao Guozha froze for a moment, then suddenly began struggling violently, trying to stand. The two personal soldiers behind him held him down firmly.

After finishing the proclamation, Jiang Guoyong turned his head to look at Pang Yu, his own heart rather uneasy. No one had slept the previous night. In the dead of night, Hou Shuban had gone to see Pang Yu again, and then Jiang Guoyong was summoned. It was not until daybreak that Pang Yu had finally settled on the charges and the punishment.

But only at this moment did Jiang Guoyong feel that Pang Yu truly intended to kill Jiao Guozha, and was taking a centurion down with him. Everything had been so rushed that he still felt a sense of unreality.

Without looking at him, Pang Yu said, "Carry out military law!"

Beside him, Jiao Guozha struggled even more fiercely. Guo Fengyou directed two personal soldiers over, and they delivered a flurry of punches and kicks to the bound Jiao Guozha, leaving him collapsed on the platform.

Guo Fengyou walked over carrying a great blade. "Drag him below the platform."

"Behead him right here."

Guo Fengyou turned his head to look at Pang Yu and cautiously reminded him, "My lord, the old clerks say that beheadings are always carried out below the general command platform."

Pang Yu said coldly, "Right here on the general command platform."

Guo Fengyou dared not say more. He directed the two personal soldiers behind him to pull Jiao Guozha's upper body upright, still leaving him kneeling on the ground, exposing his neck. Guo Fengyou reached out and felt the cervical vertebrae joint, then used the blade's edge to cut a slit. Blood soon seeped from the wound, revealing a red mark.

He was also somewhat nervous, for he had never beheaded a man before. Although he had carried out two assassinations, those had mainly been stabbings, and the targets were people he had never met. But this Jiao Guozha was someone he saw every day. Originally, he had suggested hiring the county yamen's executioner, but Pang Yu forbade outsiders from carrying it out and designated Guo Fengyou as the executioner. After receiving the executioner's task, he had been forced to hastily ask the yamen clerks for the method.

He stole one last glance at Pang Yu, only to find that Pang Yu had not turned around at all, which showed his resolve was set. Guo Fengyou took a deep breath to steady his nerves and stood to the side of Jiao Guozha.

"Bazong Jiao, don't move around, lest you make yourself suffer more."

The great blade was raised high. A deathly silence fell over the parade ground. On Jiao Guozha's face, veins bulged, and tears and mucus streamed down. From his gagged mouth came bestial whimpers. His body trembled like a winnowing sieve, and beneath him, feces and urine flowed freely.

The great blade paused in the air for a moment, then whooshed down. Soldiers below the platform could not help but cry out in shock. Jiao Guozha's head thudded onto the general command platform, rolling twice before coming to a stop. From the severed neck, a fountain of blood shot forth like an arrow. After the first spurt, it became a steady flow of blood, occasionally pulsing with a rhythmic surge.

Only then did the two personal soldiers release the headless corpse, letting it collapse. The general command platform was covered in blood filth, the blood mixing with the rainwater and spreading everywhere.

Wu Dacai's forehead was nearly touching the platform surface. He lay sprawled on the ground, his mouth wide open, gasping for breath in great heaves.

Next was the beheading of Tang Ze. This man was a veteran of the Zhuang Squad and had participated in the night raid on Tongcheng. He had never imagined he would be beheaded, and now he too lay limp on the ground. When Guo Fengyou carried out the execution, it did not go as smoothly as with Jiao Guozha; it took three chops to sever the head. The two heads were placed on the general command platform, visible to all the assembled soldiers.

Pang Yu slowly stepped forward, reaching the edge of the general command platform. Jiang Guoyong hastily retreated two steps. Pang Yu swept his gaze across the entire assembly and drew two sheets of written pledges from his bosom.

"The jiezhuang signed upon entering the camp bear the signatures and thumbprints of these two men. Abiding by military law is no empty talk! Today, let everyone know: military law is not just pleasant words. This is an army. Military law is strict and brooks no challenge. Punishment must draw blood, and it does not spare kin! Military law is harsh not for the sake of killing, but so that on the battlefield, it can preserve more lives."

Nearly a thousand soldiers stood in the rain, silent as a graveyard. Blood from the general command platform seeped through the gaps in the wooden planks to the ground below, slowly flowing along with the rainwater.

Pang Yu shouted, "Jiang Guoyong, step forward!"

Jiang Guoyong hurriedly took another step forward. "Present!"

"From this day and hour forward, Jiang Guoyong is appointed as Zong Garrison Inspector Guan of the Garrison Battalion, with the rank of Bazong, overseeing all military law matters in the camp."

Jiang Guoyong froze for a second, then quickly said, "Yes, my lord!"

Pang Yu continued, "Establish one Garrison Inspector officer in each Hundred-Company Commander bureau, accompanied by one Garrison Inspector soldier, to enforce military law in each bureau! First Bureau Garrison Inspector Officer: Dong Mingyuan, step forward. Second Bureau Garrison Inspector Officer: Yang Guangzu, step forward. Third Bureau Garrison Inspector Officer..."

As Pang Yu called out the orders, the named individuals stepped forward one after another. They were all veterans of the Tongcheng Zhuang Squad who had not obtained squad leader positions in the garrison battalion. Now suddenly appointed, they were all somewhat caught off guard.

Pang Yu looked coldly at the entire battalion's formation and said loudly, "If soldiers fear me, they will not fear the enemy; if they fear the enemy, they will not fear me. All officers and men must hold military law in awe. Garrison Inspector officers at every level shall strictly enforce military law. Whoever violates it shall not escape punishment! If a Garrison Inspector officer fails to enforce it rigorously, I shall hold that Garrison Inspector officer accountable."

After speaking, he looked at Jiang Guoyong. "As for the remaining individuals, have the Garrison Inspector officers carry out the military canings on the other gambling participants! You will supervise."

Jiang Guoyong dared not delay and hastily announced, "All gambling participants shall receive fifty military canings. Wu Dacai, for his merit in making the accusation, shall receive thirty military canings at discretion. Garrison Inspector officers of each bureau, ascend the platform to carry out the punishment."

Upon hearing his own sentence, Wu Dacai's heart relaxed, and he went completely limp on the platform. At least he was being punished as a gambler and would not be deemed an accomplice in running the gambling den and beheaded. His life was spared, but if those thirty canings were delivered viciously, ending up crippled was still a real possibility. It all depended on what the person carrying out the punishment was thinking.

Before he could think much further, a figure was the first to run up onto the platform, carrying a military cane and standing beside him.

Wu Dacai looked at the person blankly. Only after a moment did he finally recognize him: it was Dong Mingyuan.

Wu Dacai gasped for breath, closed his eyes, and awaited his unknown fate.

The persistent heavy rain finally ceased. The weather in Anqing cleared, and the sky, washed by the rain, was a spotless azure.

On the second floor of the Great River Silver Bank beside the camp district, Pang Yu gazed somewhat abstractedly at the deep blue horizon.

He Xianya stood behind Pang Yu and cautiously addressed the back before him. "My lord, this humble one plans to take a boat to Nanjing early tomorrow morning."

Pang Yu gave an "mm" and said, "I've arranged two men for you to take along and use. Starting a newspaper from scratch is no easy task; you'll always need people at your beck and call. This periodical involves matters of great importance; you must put your heart into it."

"This humble one has remembered everything my lord has instructed." He Xianya hesitated for a moment, then said, "My lord built the Anqing Garrison Battalion from scratch, which was also no easy feat. This humble one has always wished to help in some way and intends to donate the silver distributed that day to the garrison battalion, to help my lord purchase more military equipment."

"What was distributed to you is yours." Pang Yu clasped his hands behind his back and looked at the river surface outside the window. "Every family needs to make a living. I don't want your silver. However, carrying it with you is also inconvenient. You can deposit the silver in the Great River Silver Bank and earn several hundred taels in interest each year. That would benefit both sides."

He Xianya said without the slightest hesitation, "Thank you, my lord. This humble one will go deposit it immediately."

Pang Yu turned around, looked at He Xianya, and said calmly, "Regarding the matter of Jiao Guozha, I have already spoken with you. Keeping him would only have dragged us all into a dead end together in the end."

"This humble one understands everything. He was advised, more than once. My lord showed him every kindness; the fault lies only with himself."

"It is good that you understand." Pang Yu nodded. "Go to Nanjing and do your work with peace of mind. Your family is in Anqing; I will look after them. You need not worry."

"Thank you, my lord."

He Xianya bowed in salute, lowered his head, turned, and went downstairs.

Silence filled the room. Pang Yu stood alone by the window, watching He Xianya exit the door and disappear into the flow of people on Zongyang Gate Street.

After a long while, Pang Yu also went downstairs. Pang Ding was waiting below. Seeing Pang Yu descend, he hurried over to greet him.

Pang Yu saw him holding a Silver Note and asked, "Didn't you say you didn't want to deposit at the silver bank?"

Pang Ding looked down at the Silver Note and said, "I won't be using it anyway, so depositing it for the interest is the better deal. I deposited all of it."

Pang Yu nodded silently, then stepped toward the door. Pang Ding hastily put away the Silver Note and followed behind.

"Where is the young master going now?"

"To Bai Shun Tang... to have a look."