Chapter 217
The sunlight of the new dynasty never seemed to reach the Left Wing Grand Camp of the Dragon Victory Army west of Bian Liang City.
New Dynasty
Bian Liang City
west
Dragon Victory Army
Left Wing Grand Camp
This camp was originally the stationed ground of Zhao Kuangyin's direct lineage troops; although it has now been disbanded and reorganized, the air still lingers with an irrepressible restlessness and oppression.
Zhao Kuangyin
direct lineage troops
camp
On the drill ground, the training commands sounded weak and listless, and the soldiers' movements were half‑hearted; between the barracks, small groups of soldiers gathered, whispering with furtive glances, occasionally looking toward the central commander's tent.
drill ground
barracks
Central Commander's Tent
"Pah! What Marquis Zhongwu? Just a mud‑leg who got lucky!"
Marquis Zhongwu
A squad leader with a scar on his face spat fiercely, his voice full of hatred.
squad leader
"And Han Tong, Zhang Yongde—those two soft‑boned nobles? I see them as titles bought by selling out their lord!"
Han Tong
Zhang Yongde
Duke of the State
"Brother Wang, keep it down..."
Wang Ge
A younger soldier beside him nervously glanced around.
- No named.
"Now... now it's the Chen dynasty's world; speaking of this could get us beheaded."
Chen Dynasty
"Who cares!"
- No.
The squad leader called Wang Ge glared at him, his emotions flaring even more.
Wang Ge
"Inspector Zhao has shown us great kindness, yet now he's imprisoned in Chan Prefecture, his fate unknown!"
Inspector Zhao
Also "澶州" (Chan Prefecture) is a place name. Should we translate meaning? "Chan Prefecture" is a transliteration of the place name; but it's a meaningful place name? The rule: meaningful place names translate by meaning. However "澶州" is a historical prefecture; its literal meaning is "Chan Prefecture". Could be considered a place name; we could translate as "Chan Prefecture". Since it's not a person name, we translate meaning. So we will list "Chan Prefecture".
"I can't swallow this anger!"
- No.
He lowered his voice, a flash of cruelty crossing his eyes.
- No.
"I've heard that to the north... there are still 'those people' who haven't recognized this Chen emperor."
north border
those people
the emperor surnamed Chen
"Our Dragon Victory Army's old brothers—could we really have just submitted like this?"
Dragon Victory Army
Similar scenes quietly unfolded in various corners of the Left Wing Grand Camp.
Left Wing Grand Camp
A dark current of dissatisfaction, resentment, and fear is silently surging through the camp.
- No.
Several officers who once belonged to Zhao Kuangyin's personal guard, now demoted, have become the core of this current.
Zhao Kuangyin
personal guards
officers
They exploit their former influence, constantly spreading discontent toward the new dynasty, toward Shi Dun, toward Han Tong, exaggerating the alleged unfairness of post‑reorganization treatment, and stirring the soldiers' opposition.
New Dynasty
Shi Dun
Han Tong
"Why should the men of the Jing'an Army become battalion commanders and commanders while our Dragon Victory Army veterans are forced to bow?"
Jing'an Army
battalion commander
commander
Dragon Victory Army
"Exactly! I heard they want to retest and weed out the old and weak— isn't that cutting off our livelihood?"
- No.
"Han Tong must have swallowed our pay! Otherwise why hasn't it been issued after so long?"
Han Tong
Rumors spread like plague through the camp, gradually eroding morale.
- No.
Most lower‑rank soldiers don't understand the situation, are easily swayed by emotion, and panic over the uncertain future, making this dark current swell even more.
- No.
Inside the central commander's tent, the atmosphere is equally grim.
Central Commander's Tent
Shi Dun sits squarely in the chief seat, brows knotted into a lump, his dark face full of vexation.
Shi Dun
Han Tong and Zhang Yongde sit on either side, their faces equally grim.
Han Tong
Zhang Yongde
They have just settled a minor scuffle—two former Dragon Victory Army soldiers and a Jing'an Army‑born scout officer came to blows over an argument.
former Dragon Victory Army soldiers
Jing'an Army‑born scout officer
"Damn! This bunch of good‑for‑nothings—none of them give me a moment's peace!"
- No.
Shi Dun slammed the table hard, making the tea cups rattle.
Shi Dun
"Kind words won't work, military regulations won't be heard, and they're always speaking in riddles!
military regulations
In my view, we should seize a few ringleaders, give them a sound beating with the military baton, and see who still dares to cause trouble!
military baton
Han Tong sighed and shook his head.
Han Tong
"Lord Marquis Shi, this approach may not be appropriate.
Marquis Shi
Now that morale in the camp is unstable, harsh suppression might provoke a major uprising.
- No.
Many of these soldiers once followed Zhao... followed that leader, so bearing a grudge is understandable.
Zhao
We must focus on pacification and proceed gradually.
- No.
"Pacification? How do we pacify?"
- No.
Shi Dun glares.
Shi Dun
"Old Shi has explained the reasoning until it's hoarse; the emperor is benevolent, past faults are forgiven— as long as you serve honestly, your treatment will not be reduced!"
Old Shi
Also "陛下" (His Majesty) is a title, not a specific person's name; but it's a title. Should we list? It's an official rank/title. Might be considered a named entity? Probably not needed as it's generic.
Can they hear it?
- No.
They think I stole their positions, that General Han you sold out our former lord!
General Han
"This damn bunch of ungrateful white‑eyed wolves!"
- No.
Zhang Yongde pondered a moment, then spoke.
Zhang Yongde
"Marquis Shi, General Han's words are not without reason.
Marquis Shi
General Han
Harsh measures are a last resort.
- No.
The urgent task now is to ferret out those secretly fanning the flames.
- No.
If this evil influence is not removed, mere pacification is like trying to stop boiling by pouring hot water on it.
- No.
He looks at Shi Dun.
Shi Dun
"I have already sent extra personnel to conduct covert investigations within the camp.
- No.
But these people act very covertly; for now it's hard to obtain concrete evidence."
- No.
Shi Dun scratches his head anxiously.
Shi Dun
"Isn't Qian Gui in charge of the Inspection Bureau?
Qian Gui
Inspection Bureau
Have him send people in to investigate!"
- No.
"Damn it, this camp is practically turning into a bandit den!"
- No.
"I've already contacted Marquis Qian."
Marquis Qian
Han Tong replied.
Han Tong
"Personnel from the Inspection Bureau have already secretly entered the camp.
Inspection Bureau
main camp
But military affairs ultimately still need us to resolve them ourselves; excessive reliance on external forces is detrimental to army morale.
Just as the three were at a loss, a sudden clamor arose outside the tent, accompanied by clashing weapons and angry shouts.
Just as the three were at a loss, a sudden uproar came from outside the tent, accompanied by the clatter of weapons and angry curses.
A guard rushed in hurriedly.
A personal guard rushed in hastily.
"Marquis! Generals! Something's wrong! The men of the Left Wing Third Unit have risen up, surrounded the grain officer, claiming their rations were cut, demanding an explanation! The crowd keeps growing."
"Lord Marquis! Generals! It's bad! The men of the third Commander in the left wing have risen up, surrounding the quartermaster, claiming their rations were withheld and demanding an explanation—the crowd keeps growing!"
"What?!"
"What?!"
Shi Dun leapt to his eyes blazing with fury.
Shi Dun shot to his feet, anger flaring in his eyes.
"They've rebelled! Do they really think my iron staff is for show?!"
"They've rebelled! Do they think my iron cudgel is for show?!"
He said this and started to rush out.
He said this and was about to rush out.
"Marquis Shi, wait!"
"Lord Marquis Shi, wait!"
Han Tong hurriedly blocked him.
Han Tong quickly stepped in to stop him.
"This is suspicious.
"This matter is suspicious.
The distribution of rations was personally supervised by me and General Zhang; there is certainly no withholding.
"The distribution of rations is personally overseen by me and General Zhang; there is absolutely no withholding."
This is clearly someone using the occasion to stir trouble, trying to provoke a bigger riot!"
"This is clearly someone seizing the chance to cause trouble, hoping to stir up greater chaos!"
His face grew solemn.
His face grew solemn.
"If you now lead troops to suppress them, you'll fall right into their trap!"
"If you now lead troops to suppress them, you'll play right into their hands!"
"What should we do then? Just let them keep causing trouble?"
"What then? Are we to let them continue their uproar?"
Shi Dun shouted angrily.
Shi Dun snapped angrily.
Zhang Yongde's eyes flashed.
Zhang Yongde's eyes flashed.
"Report to the emperor at once!
"Quickly go report to His Majesty!
Meanwhile, we'll go to the scene to stabilize the situation, absolutely preventing it from expanding!"
"Meanwhile, we will go to the scene to stabilize the situation, absolutely not allowing it to expand!"
Imperial City, Hall of Reverent Governance.
Huangcheng, Chongzheng Hall.
Chen Wen was reviewing the latest memorials submitted by Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru concerning the relief of grain transport and the pacification of the metropolitan populace.
Chen Wen was reviewing the latest memorial submitted by Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru concerning the dredging of grain transport and pacifying the livelihoods of the capital region.
Qian Gui entered the hall silently like a shadow.
Qian Gui entered the hall silently, like a shadow.
"Your Majesty, the Left Wing Grand Camp of the Dragon Victory Army has encountered trouble."
"Your Majesty, the left wing camp of the Longjie Army has encountered trouble."
Qian Gui's voice was calm, yet the news made Chen Wen set down his vermilion brush.
Qian Gui's voice was devoid of any ripple, yet its content caused Chen Wen to set down his vermilion brush.
After hearing Qian Gui's brief report, Chen Wen's eyes instantly turned cold.
After hearing Qian Gui's brief report, Chen Wen's gaze instantly turned cold.
He rose, walked to the wall where the Bian Liang defense map hung, and his gaze fell upon the western military camp.
He rose, walked to the wall where the Bian Liang defense map hung, and his eyes fell upon the western camp's position.
"Sure enough, they could no longer be restrained."
"As expected, they could no longer restrain themselves."
His tone was calm, yet carried a hint of chill.
His tone was calm, yet carried a hint of chill.
"Are these the old troops of Zhao Kuangyin?"
"Are they those old troops of Zhao Kuangyin?"
"Yes.
"Yes.
Led by the former palace guard commander Wang Kui, seven men in total, they have been secretly colluding to incite.
"Led by Wang Kui of the original Imperial Guards, seven in total, they have been secretly colluding and inciting."
Today's incident is also their deliberate spreading of rumors to incite ignorant soldiers to besiege the grain officer.
"Today's incident is also their deliberate spreading of rumors to incite ignorant soldiers to besiege the quartermaster."
Qian Gui affirmed.
Qian Gui affirmed.
"The Inspection Bureau has already obtained partial evidence.
"The Inspection Bureau has already obtained some evidence.
Furthermore..."
"Furthermore…"
He paused.
He paused.
"It seems there are also persons of unknown identity mixed in the camp, very likely connected to the Iron Crow Army, attempting to muddy the waters."
"It seems there are also persons of unknown identity mixed into the camp, very likely linked to the Iron Crow Army, attempting to muddy the waters."
"Iron Crow Army..."
"The Iron Crow Army…"
Chen Wen's finger lightly tapped the map.
Chen Wen's finger lightly tapped the map.
"Truly omnipresent."
"Truly, they leave no gap unexploited."
He turned and looked toward Qian Gui.
He turned around and looked at Qian Gui.
"What do you think should be done about this?"
"What do you think, how should this matter be handled?"
"If the evidence is solid, according to military law we should behead the chief culprits to warn others."
"The evidence is solid; according to military law, we can execute the ringleaders immediately to warn others."
Qian Gui stated decisively.
Qian Gui said bluntly and decisively.
"But doing so might fail to win over the hearts of the men; the dark current in the army could turn into deeper dissatisfaction.
"But doing so may hardly win over the troops entirely; hidden currents in the army could turn into deeper discontent.
If the Iron Crow Army takes advantage to spread more rumors, the future troubles will be endless."
"If the Iron Crow Army takes advantage to spread rumors again, future troubles will be endless."
Chen Wen nodded.
Chen Wen nodded.
Qian Gui's thoughts matched his own.
What Qian Gui thought coincided with his own.
Simple, brutal slaughter is the lowest of options.
Simple, brutal slaughter is the lowest option.
He desires an army that obeys like a limb and is loyal, not one held together by fear.
What he wants is an army that obeys like a limb, loyal and devoted, not a force held together by fear.
"Issue the order."
"Issue the order."
Chen Wen said in a deep voice.
Chen Wen said in a deep voice.
"Proceed to the Left Wing Grand Camp of the Dragon Victory Army."
"Make preparations, we will go to the left wing camp of the Longjie Army."
"Notify Shi Dun, Han Tong, and Zhang Yongde to stabilize the situation; I will personally go meet these 'soldiers with grievances.'"
"Notify Shi Dun, Han Tong, and Zhang Yongde to hold the situation; I will personally go meet these soldiers who 'have anger in their hearts.'"
"Also, order the Palace Guard Headquarters to muster five hundred elite troops to accompany the procession."
"Furthermore, order the Palace Guard to muster five hundred elite troops to accompany and protect us."
Qian Gui's eyes flickered with surprise, then realization.
A flicker of surprise crossed Qian Gui's eyes, then he understood.
"Yes! I will attend to this immediately."
"Yes! I will arrange it at once."
The emperor himself will come to the troubled camp!
The emperor himself will go to the troubled camp!
This news spread like wings through the palace instantly, and those who received the order—Shi Dun, Han Tong, etc. —were startled, then felt immense pressure.
This news spread like wings, instantly throughout the palace, and also startled those who received the order—Shi Dun, Han Tong, and others—who then felt immense pressure.
When Chen Wen's procession arrived at the Left Wing Grand Camp of the Dragon Victory Army, the drill ground was already a sea of people.
When Chen Wen's procession arrived at the left wing camp of the Longjie Army, the drill field was already packed with people.
The troublemaking soldiers did not disperse; instead, they gathered in ever greater numbers, facing off against the personal troops led by Shi Dun and others, the atmosphere tense as drawn swords and nocked bows.
Seeing the emperor's golden melon axe-and-halberd guard and the accompanying elite armored troops, the noisy scene instantly quieted considerably, and many soldiers' faces showed reverence and unease.
Chen Wen did not ride the imperial carriage; instead, dressed in ordinary attire and mounted on a warhorse, he slowly arrived at the drill ground's appointing platform under the escort of Shi Dun, Han Tong, and others.
His gaze calm, he swept over the dark crowd below, taking in every face—whether agitated, fearful, or numb.
"Your Majesty..."
Shi Dun was about to plead guilty when Chen Wen raised a hand to stop him.
Chen Wen stepped forward, stood at the edge of the high platform, and his voice rang clearly across the drill ground.
"I have heard that among you, some feel wronged, some feel unjustly treated, and some worry that I, this new emperor, will shortchange you, the soldiers of the former dynasty."
His opening remarks were unexpected by all—no harsh rebukes, no empty consolation, but a direct exposure of everyone's thoughts.
Below, a deathly silence fell; you could hear a pin drop.
Countless gazes focused on Chen Wen.
"I have come today not to hear you shout 'long live the emperor.'"
Chen Wen continued, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable force.
"I am here to tell you how I, and the Great Chen dynasty, will treat you."
"Wang Kui."
He suddenly named him.
"Also Li Gou'er, Zhang Tiezhu… step forward."
He accurately listed seven names, precisely the ringleaders of the incitement on Qian Gui's list.
Those seven, mixed in the crowd, turned deathly pale at the words, wanting to retreat, but were blocked by the Inspection Bureau plainclothes agents who had appeared behind them at some point, their eyes cold and stern, and by Shi Dun's personal troops; they had no choice but to walk, trembling, to the open space before the platform.
"You spread rumors, incited trouble, and surrounded superiors."
Chen Wen looked at them, his gaze like a blade.
"According to military law, what crime does this warrant?"
Wang Kui forced himself to stay calm, sticking out his neck as he spoke.
"Your Majesty! We are not troublemakers; it is merely that the provisions officers have deducted our rations, leaving us unable to survive, so…"
"Deducted rations?"
Chen Wen interrupted him, taking a ledger from Han Tong's hand.
"This is the distribution record held by the provisions officers."
"This is the stub verified by Han Tong and Zhang Yongde."
"Every entry is crystal clear."
He passed the ledger to the attendant beside him.
"Pass it down so the literate brothers can all see—check if there's even the slightest deduction."
The ledger was passed among some literate officers in the front rows, eliciting murmurs and commotion.
The record was indeed clear, with no issues.
Wang Kui and the others' faces grew even uglier; they stammered, unable to speak.
"It seems the problem is not the rations."
Chen Wen's voice turned cold.
"Then it is that you harbor resentment toward me as emperor and toward Lord Shi as commander, harboring treacherous intentions."
He no longer looked at the seven, whose faces were ashen, and swept his gaze across the entire army.
"I know that many of you once served under Zhao Kuangyin."
"I can now tell you plainly that Zhao Kuangyin's mutiny and rebellion deserve death; my detaining him is in accordance with state law!"
"But I have also said before, let bygones be bygones!"
"As long as you observe military discipline and serve with peace of mind, you are my Great Chen's soldiers, on equal footing with those from the Jing'an Army!"
"Your rations will not be lacking by a fraction; your merits will not be buried in the slightest!"
"But if anyone, like these seven, harbors different aspirations, fans the flames, and undermines morale…"
Chen Wen's voice suddenly rose, filled with icy killing intent.
"This is the consequence!"
He swept his hand down violently.
The awaiting swordsmen and axemen stepped forward, a cold light flashing!
Seven heads fell instantly, blood staining the drill ground's earth red.
The entire field fell into dead silence; everyone was shocked by this sudden iron-blooded measure.
A thick smell of blood permeated the air, stimulating everyone's nerves.
"I ask once more!"
Chen Wen's voice was like cold iron, striking each heart.
"Who else feels wronged? Who feels unjustly treated?"
Wherever his gaze fell, the soldiers lowered their heads, daring not to meet his eyes.
In the absolute silence, only the rustle of banners in the wind could be heard.
Chen Wen knew that slaughter could only deter for a moment.
He drew a deep breath, his tone easing.
"I rose from the ranks, knowing well how hard it is for soldiers."
"I established this Chen dynasty not for personal glory, but to end this chaotic age, so that all who follow me may let their families eat their fill and stay warm, and, relying on the weapons in their hands, win the ennoblement of wife and heir, leaving their names in history!"
Let the past be past.
From today onward, your swords shall be brandished for the peace of the realm; your lives shall be fought for your own and your families' futures!
I hereby pledge that I will never let loyal and brave warriors feel disheartened!
He paused, and his voice carried across the entire field.
Now, everyone, return to your posts!
Straighten the ranks; tomorrow, perform martial drills on the drill field.
Let me see, are you the tiger-and-wolf troops that my Great Chen needs, or merely a mob that only knows how to fight among themselves?
Without further words, Chen Wen turned and stepped down from the platform for appointing generals.
Behind him lay the silent drill field, the shaken soldiers, the seven corpses still warm, and…… a multitude of hearts filled with fear, shock, and a faint yet genuine hope.
The undercurrents in the army were temporarily forcibly suppressed by these means of employing thunder and promise together.
But everyone knows that the true test lies in tomorrow, in the future.
End of Chapter
