Chapter 33: The Severed Head (Part 2)

After a moment of silence, the Zhao Emperor, seated upright there, continued speaking with a blank expression:

"I am being open and honest with you today. Whatever I can do for you here, I will do my utmost to accomplish..."

"For those who want rewards, I can empty the imperial treasury to grant them to you; for those who feel wronged on Liu Guangshi's behalf, there are military canes prepared; as for requesting palace women to be granted as wives, it is not that it's impossible, but that I truly have none to give."

"But beyond that, there are some things I am powerless to do... For instance, the longing for home—I feel it myself, but what can I do? Does going home not require all of you to work together with me?! As for those who wish to leave the army, I have made some preparations here!"

"Very well, let those who are ready to leave the army and settle in the south wait here. The rest of you, get out of the tent. Those who want rewards, go find Minister Lu to receive them; those who want military canes, go out and find Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhang... The Jin are on the north bank; let us not waste time!"

The tent fell silent again for a while. Then, after a moment, under Zhao Jiu's piercing gaze, that Zhang-surnamed Preparatory General had no choice but to rise first, clasp his hands, and respond: "Your Majesty's meaning is clear, rewards and punishments are understood. I... your subject has nothing more to say!"

With that, the man turned and walked out of the tent on his own, but could not help muttering at the tent entrance: "Ten strokes of the cane, won't even redden the skin!"

At this, Zhang Jun and Lu Haowen hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, under Zhao Jiu's urging, they took their respective subordinates and hurried out to handle the matter.

And once the three had left, the remaining people in the tent exchanged glances, then rose in a clamor and followed out the door one after another... In an instant, only about twelve or thirteen people remained.

Yang Yizhong, who had been standing all along at Zhao Jiu's side, breathed an immediate sigh of relief, even loosening his hand on his sword.

"You people, are you truly set on leaving?" Zhao Jiu pointed at them, still wearing that same numb expression. "Won't you reconsider?"

"Your Majesty!" someone could not help but stand up. "I ask only one thing of Your Majesty: now that Your Majesty has separated us out as well, if we leave, do we get no reward?"

"That is the meaning... no reward!" Zhao Jiu replied softly, then recalled the man's name—Hou Dan, a Company Commander, a typical low-ranking officer.

"Then I won't leave!" the man gritted his teeth and rose. "I don't know what else I could do outside the army!"

"Then go collect your reward," Zhao Jiu continued softly, but could not help asking further. "Since you were ready to leave the army, it means you were scared by the Jin pursuit. Now that you're staying, aren't you afraid the Jin across the river will attack?"

"I figure, since Commander Liu is dead anyway, it looks like we'll be following Your Majesty's traveling court for a while. So following Your Majesty all the way is the way to go," the man said, a crafty look appearing on his face. "If Your Majesty retreats, I follow Your Majesty and am naturally safe. If Your Majesty dares to cross the river and fight to the death, why would we begrudge our lives?"

Zhao Jiu let out a helpless laugh, then waved his hand repeatedly, signaling the man to leave.

And once Hou Dan had left, he took two or three others with him. When Zhao Jiu looked again, he saw only eight or nine people left in the tent.

"You eight or nine—are you definitely leaving?" Zhao Jiu pressed again.

This time, someone else boldly answered: "Your Majesty, leaving is certain for us... but could we take a caning in exchange for a reward? Without a reward, how are we to live in the south? Are you forcing us to become bandits?"

"I understand," Zhao Jiu laughed again. "But there are only eight or nine of you, not enough to trouble Minister Lu and Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhang again. I will personally go fetch some easily portable gold and pearls from the palace stores. You can split them here in secret, then leave directly!"

The few exchanged glances, each showing anticipation. Zhao Jiu, paying them no further heed, rose and walked out of the tent, with Yang Yizhong quickly following.

Once outside, in the small stockade atop the hill, the distribution of rewards and the administering of canings were already in full swing, far more efficient than what was happening halfway up the mountain... There, things still seemed to be in an uproar. The Zhao Emperor hurried back to the northern peak stockade, entered his own tent, startling Yang Yizhong into thinking His Majesty truly meant to take his personal wealth, and he rushed in after him.

Unexpectedly, as soon as this Yang Secretariat entered the imperial tent, he saw the Zhao Emperor stripping off his own clothes, while several eunuchs, panicked and flustered, hurried forward to help.

"You take yours off too!" Zhao Jiu looked around for something, failed to find it, then glanced at Yang Yizhong, whose build was similar to his own, and gave a cold order. "Take off your armor and give it to me!"

Yang Yizhong was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood, and was filled with great terror.

"If you dare say one word of nonsense, you will be expelled from the camp today and sent to be a village head in Niujia Village, Hangzhou!" Zhao Jiu barked sternly, then ordered the eunuchs in the imperial tent. "Hurry and help Secretariat Yang remove his armor!"

Yang Yizhong's mind went blank. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He could only let the young eunuchs pull off his armor and then, trembling with fear, exchange clothes with His Majesty.

Moments later, Zhao Jiu emerged from the tent, called out several squads of the Imperial Guard he had just personally dismissed with rewards—fully armed—and then, personally carrying a bow and arrows taken from the tent, he strode furiously toward the small stockade atop the hill.

After a while, Yang Yizhong, having been informed, chased out in disarray, to the astonishment of Lan Gui and Hu Yin, who had rushed over—but he had only hastily thrown on a set of hard armor!

However, it was already too late.

Zhao Jiu, taking the lead, returned to the small stockade atop the hill. Those around him had no time to react, and even the few quick-witted ones who did only thought it was Yang Yizhong returning to 'handle business'!

And our Zhao Emperor, charging straight in, stepped into the tent himself, then raised his bow and loosed an arrow, shooting directly at the man who had earlier threatened him with banditry to demand a reward!

Now, the large tent in the small hilltop stockade was specially set up for military purposes—a proper central army command tent, capable of holding over a hundred men. Yet even so, its size was limited, and moreover, those men were lingering near the tent entrance, waiting for their rewards. Thus, when Zhao Jiu shot his arrow, it was as easy as shooting at a target back in the Mingdao Palace, and he felled the man directly.

Chaos erupted in the tent. It was not that no one thought of fighting back, but seeing His Majesty personally shooting arrows, the Imperial Guards were even more anxious than they were. How could they dare to be slack? They had already rushed in in disorder. The foremost ones blocked in front of Zhao Jiu as human shields, while those behind quickly drew their blades and began to cut down the men inside, overwhelming them with numbers!

After a short while, the tent fell silent. Zhao Jiu, having discarded his helmet, emerged from the tent, personally holding a severed head in his hand.

In the small stockade, from Lu Haowen and Zhang Jun on down, including Yang Yizhong, Lan Gui, and Hu Yin who had hurriedly chased after, as well as the Imperial Guards originally stationed there, and the dozens of Western Army officers who had just been receiving rewards and canings on either side of the stockade—all stared in shock, struck speechless by the sight... Minister Lu nearly fainted.

Zhao Jiu looked around, then gritted his teeth and spoke loudly before the many who had long since been stunned into silence: "You thought that with Commander Liu dead, you had lost your backing, and were filled with fear and worry, didn't you? Let me tell you today: I, your former Grand Marshal, will personally lead you three thousand useless soldiers! And these severed heads are the first rule of the army from now on... Any soldier who dares not fight shares Liu Guangshi's crime! And don't just stand there—those who have received their canings and rewards, all of you come with me to the mountainside. That is the second rule: from this day forward, I will personally control all military rewards and punishments. All rewards and punishments for the entire army will be decided before my eyes!"

After finishing this string of nonsense, seeing those Preparatory Generals and Company Commanders in a daze, hastily forming ranks, Zhao Jiu stood there for a moment, feeling something was off. It was not until he met Yang Yizhong's gaze that he realized, and he quickly hurled the head in his hand violently to the ground!

But by then, no one was paying attention anymore.

PS: Though reason is not exhausted, words fail. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and great wealth!!!! The new year has arrived!!!!