Chapter 184: with translation of chapter title

Just as Niu Jizong and Feng Tang were chatting and laughing.

Yu Lin Cheng garrison commander Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong hurriedly came up to General Jia Jing's horse, deeply bowed and performed the salute, and said:

This humble subordinate, Deputy General Zhou Yingyuan of Yulin City and Colonel You Shiyong, pays respects to Marquis Jingwu!

Thank you, my lord, for saving our lives this time and avenging our fallen Yulin brothers.

They had already learned from Niu Jizong and others the true identity of Jia Jing, realizing that this young general before them was the Marquis Jingwu ennobled after last year's battle.

At the same time, they also realized that this marquis, who excels at beheading generals and capturing flags and possesses extraordinary martial prowess, is the Expeditionary General of the West and Governor-General of the Three Frontiers sent by the court to oversee the northwestern war.

Their faces showed deep gratitude, and they performed a grand salute to Jia Jing.

They knew full well that had Jia Jing not rushed to their aid day and night, and had he not single-handedly charged into the Northern Yuan's fifty-thousand-strong army and routed the enemy, this battle would have been lost.

They feared that by now they, together with countless Yulin civilians, had already been slaughtered by the Northern Yuan.

Jia Jing glanced at the two men; before coming to the northwest, he had gathered information about some of the border garrison's officers.

Among them were Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong.

Zhou Yingyuan initially served as a county clerk in Liaodong under the Da Han Empire; he was bold and knowledgeable, possessing both wisdom and courage.

In the early reign of Emperor Jing Sheng, the False Qing dispatched a large army to attack this county, but under Zhou Yingyuan's command and organization...

The city's soldiers and civilians stood firm, united in resolve, vowing to fight to the death rather than surrender, dealing a heavy blow to the besieging Qing forces.

After the war, Zhou Yingyuan gave up his scholarly pursuits for a military career, repeatedly earning battlefield merit.

Through accumulated merit, Emperor Jing Sheng promoted him step by step to Senior Fourth‑Rank Guardian Righteousness Middle Lieutenant General and Second‑Class Earl, and at the end of last year the emperor transferred him to garrison Yulin.

You Shiyong, meanwhile, came from a military examination background, was renowned for his bravery, had once followed Nian Gengyao in battle at Peaceful Far, and had distinguished himself fighting at the eastern part of the city.

Their faces showed deep gratitude, and they performed a grand salute to Jia Jing.

After many years of military service, he accumulated merit and was promoted to Senior Fifth‑Rank Colonel and Second‑Class Viscount.

Furthermore, You Shiyong actually has a familial connection to Jia Jing: his paternal cousin is the father of the matriarch of the Ning Guo Estate, Lady You.

Although the father of the You clan has already passed away, making this connection rather distant, one could still consider them kin.

Jia Jing looked at the two men, their campaign robes stained with blood and bearing multiple wounds, and spoke in a solemn tone.

The marquis said, 'I have been entrusted by His Majesty with overseeing the military affairs of the Three Frontiers and Four Garrisons, so coming to the aid of Yulin is naturally my duty.'

The Northern Yuan invaded our border garrisons without provocation, slaughtering countless civilians and soldiers; I, the marquis, share no heaven with them—what thanks could there be?

It is you two and the troops under your command who have endured the hardship of defending the city.

Your brave stand against the Northern Yuan, vowing to fight to the death without retreat, has been seen by me, the marquis, and I will surely petition the court for merit on your behalf.

Having said that, Jia Jing shifted his tone and asked:

But, could you tell me how, with Yulin City's high walls and thick defenses, its ample supplies of grain and fodder, and the court having repeatedly issued orders since the end of last year to guard against the Northern Yuan...

How could the city gates have been breached so quickly by the Northern Yuan, to the point of nearly falling?

Jia Jing's question was not meant to suggest that Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong's defense of the city was at fault, causing Yulin's situation to become dire.

From what he saw when he rushed to the scene, the two men displayed brave and tenacious resistance against the Northern Yuan's tens of thousands of troops, showing no sign of incompetence or cowardice.

With such a resolve to fight to the death, and with the investigation showing that neither man is mediocre, how could the Northern Yuan army have broken through the city gates so quickly, nearly losing the garrison?

Moreover, why has the chief commander of Yulin Garrison, Marquis Ji An, not yet appeared?

There must certainly be some reason unknown to him.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yingyuan's face grew solemn; he pondered for a moment before he could speak.

Meanwhile, You Shiyong angrily shouted aloud:

'My lord, this is all the fault of that bastard son of a bitch, Marquis Ji An! He secretly sold off the city's grain stores, and last night he fled the city in panic with his personal troops and trusted aides.'

'We were completely unprepared, allowing the Northern Yuan to seize the southern gate, which led to the breach.'

'This scoundrel nearly got the entire city's populace killed; if it weren't for the marquis's timely arrival, Yulin would by now have become a hell on earth.'

You Shiyong could not conceal his hatred for Marquis Ji An.

He has always been frank and outspoken, saying exactly what he thinks.

Even now, when questioned by Jia Jing, he speaks bluntly without reservation, showing no regard for the fact that Marquis Ji An is his superior, and he spares no mercy in his condemnation.

Those nearby, including Niu Jizong, hearing this, were filled with righteous indignation and joined in loudly cursing.

'What? Marquis Ji An abandoned the city and fled? As the chief commander, deserting the city is a capital offense!'

This wimp...

Coward afraid of death!

Meanwhile, Zhou Yingyuan, seeing this, seemed to have made up his mind and knelt down once again.

'My lord! Marquis Ji An abandoned the city and fled, causing countless innocent soldiers of the Han army to die needlessly.'

'Had it not been for the marquis's timely arrival and his unmatched courage, all of Yulin's civilians and comrades would have been killed by him.'

'This humble subordinate does not ask the marquis to seek titles and rewards from the court for us; I only ask that he memorialize the throne to severely punish Marquis Ji An, so that we may vent our anger over the fallen soldiers under our command.'

You Shiyong also knelt down and said:

'My lord, please uphold justice for us and severely punish that treacherous scoundrel, Marquis Ji An!'

The Yulin soldiers nearby also knelt down and shouted in unison:

'My lord, please decide on our behalf!'

Jia Jing watched Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong kneel solemnly, then glanced around at the sea of soldiers kneeling all around.

He drew a deep breath, nodded solemnly, and said:

'According to the Da Han Empire's law, any border commander who, when besieged by bandits, fails to hold the position and instead abandons it, or who neglects defenses and allows the enemy to sneak in and capture the stronghold, shall be executed.'

'His Majesty has entrusted me with command of the Three Frontiers and Four Garrisons, and has bestowed upon me an imperial sword so that I may act with discretion.'

'His Majesty has entrusted me with command of the Three Frontiers and Four Garrisons, and has bestowed upon me an imperial sword so that I may act with discretion.'

: (maybe missing) Actually after 【62】 there is no 【63】 in the list; the next is 【64】? Let's see: The user message ends with 【62】 line? Actually after 【62】 there is a line: 【63】:??? Let's scroll: The user message ends with:

'Rest assured, Marquis Ji An will not escape

According to the "Military Law" clause in the Da Han Empire's statutes, a border commander who, when the enemy attacks and besieges a fortified town, does not hold firm but arbitrarily abandons it.

If a city falls because defenses were not set, it is deemed a capital crime and punishable by execution.

This rule explicitly classifies "abandoning a city" as a grave military offense; regardless of actual loss, any abandonment constitutes a capital crime.

Moreover, if a commander retreats before battle or flees while besieging an enemy city, the death penalty also applies.

Da Han Empire, amid frequent border crises, places extreme emphasis on military discipline, and harsh laws become a key means for the court to maintain the defense line.

Of course, how far the law can be enforced depends on those who control it.

Duke Cao is a prime example; his loss of a city and flight caused heavy casualties for Da Han Empire.

Yet, protected by the Supreme Emperor and with Jing Sheng Di's authority unstable in the past two years, he escaped death.

But Ji An Marquis did not share that luck; now Jing Sheng Di holds supreme power, and the Jingnan faction is like a grasshopper after autumn.

This time not only he himself cannot escape death, but his entire household will also bear the blame.