Chapter 113: Guilt Inescapable

Jiang Jiang Mingyu held the sketch in his hand, frowned, and stared at it for a long while before suddenly hearing Tu Tu Kesiluo's question and freezing in place.

"What do you mean 'what to do'? What happened?" He raised his head, somewhat bewildered, his face filled with confusion.

The matter of the City Defense Camp was too important to him; there could be absolutely no mistakes.

Tu Tu Kesiluo's face was black and terrifying; he kicked Li Goudan, who was curled up on the ground like a gecko, straight in the body and cursed, "Let him say it himself!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face turned even worse, but he still suppressed his anger and spat out the words one by one: "What exactly happened? And what about the City Defense Camp?"

Li Goudan was kicked until his teeth were chattering; he crouched on the ground, curled into a ball, with a flattering smile on his face, and stammered, "My lord, this matter... is actually your fault."

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu panicked; he grabbed Li Goudan by the collar, lifted him up, and widened his eyes until they were round: "If you say another word of nonsense, I'll cut you down! Spill it honestly right now!"

Terrified by him, Li Goudan's legs went weak; he trembled and said, "My lord, after the incident with Liu Liu Tianyu, I couldn't help but fall back into my old habits and got handsy with the soldiers in the City Defense Camp..."

"Damn it!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu exploded upon hearing this; he kicked Li Goudan over, grabbed his own hair with both hands, and cursed, "I thought you were talent and took you in, but who knew you were something worse than a beast!"

He swallowed the rest of his words; the furious Jiang Da Ren took a few deep breaths, forced down his rage, and spoke in a lowered voice: "Do you know what good deed you've done this time?"

"The army was only just formed! And you dare to run wild everywhere, in front of people and behind their backs!"

"Where does my face go? Where does Shang Mu's future go? You pig!"

Li Goudan was so scared his legs went weak; he knelt on the ground, trembling, and mumbled, "My lord, calm your anger; this subordinate knows his mistake..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked him up and down, his face twisted with rage: "Knows his mistake? You still know your mistake? If it weren't for the fact that everyone was watching, I would have torn you to pieces long ago!"

Saying this, he kicked Li Goudan in the leg with such force that the man was knocked flat on the ground.

Li Goudan was in so much pain his teeth chattered, groaning "Aiyo, aiyo" repeatedly, until Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally snorted coldly, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced back and forth in the room, his mind in turmoil, with various thoughts mixing together until he felt ready to explode.

He clenched his fists, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth gritted tight, with only one thought in his heart—no matter the means, he must teach Li Goudan a lesson and break his dog legs!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu punched the table, making a "Thump!" sound, causing the teacups on it to tremble several times.

"Damn it! So damnable!" He rubbed his throbbing temples, his teeth chattering, "This army of fifty thousand was built up by my own hard work; if this isn't handled properly now, tens of thousands of soldiers will scatter like stars and clouds. Whether we live or die aside, all my previous efforts will have been in vain."

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, until his vision even began to darken.

What fifty thousand troops meant to him, no one knew better than he did.

This was his last hope for survival on the fertile land of Shang Mu, the only path to realizing his lifelong wish.

Once he failed, his position in the court would be immediately exposed; at that time, he would have no place to stand and could only retire to the fields, sighing at the ocean.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced back and forth in the room, trying to calm his churning emotions.

He knew that the most important thing now was to think calmly; otherwise, if he couldn't hide his anger, it would only make matters worse.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to analyze the situation rationally.

He must find ways to weaken the impact of this incident and preserve the strength of the army.

Furthermore, no matter what, he must teach Li Goudan a lesson, otherwise negligence and carelessness would inevitably follow.

Finally, he must also find a way to explain this sudden event to the Emperor and maintain his position in the court.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu slammed his fist heavily on the table; the table made a loud "Thump!" and the teacups shook several times.

His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his eyes burning like torches, and his face was filled with anger.

"Damn it! So damnable!" He panted heavily, forcing down the rage in his heart.

Li Goudan's actions were nothing short of public humiliation to him; how could he bear it?

If it weren't for the fact that everyone was watching, he would have torn Li Goudan to pieces immediately.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu rubbed his temples hard, and a cold voice echoed in his mind: He must teach that beast a lesson and break his dog legs!

But another voice stopped him in time: Calm down; what you need most right now is calmness.

The big picture comes first; one must not make a huge mistake due to momentary impulse.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath and tried to calm his churning emotions.

Indeed, the most urgent thing right now is to find ways to stabilize the army's morale; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Perhaps he could use this incident to establish his authority within the army, but the punishment must be handled with extreme caution to turn defeat into victory.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced back and forth in the room repeatedly until he finally had a rough plan.

A cold smile curled his lips, and his eyes lit up again.

Perhaps he could use this incident to teach Li Goudan a lesson while simultaneously re-establishing his own authority within the army.

As long as the punishment was handled properly, perhaps he could turn the rotten into the miraculous.

With a black face, Jiang Jiang Mingyu strode into the City Defense Camp gate, his face clouded over like dark clouds blocking the sky.

The soldiers guarding the gate all turned their heads, their eyes strange, whispering and discussing among themselves.

"What's going on? Why did my lord bring that beast back?"

"Does a scum like that deserve to stay in the army? It's absolutely disgusting!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu heard their discussion, and a nameless fire rose in his heart; he wanted to tear them apart one by one.

But he still suppressed his anger, scanned the crowd coldly, and then strode toward the parade ground.

Li Goudan was even more hunched, his head bowed low, his face dragging almost to the ground.

What made Jiang Jiang Mingyu even more speechless was that Zhu Ge Yu was still standing in the City Defense Camp, with an unreadable expression on his face, as if to say: I never would have guessed, Master, that you had talent like this hidden among your subordinates.

With a black face, Jiang Jiang Mingyu didn't want to explain further: "Pass the order; the entire army must assemble at the parade ground. This official has something to say."

About half an hour later, the fifty-thousand-strong army had assembled in perfect order, everyone wearing expressions of confusion.

Standing on the high platform, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face was like frost; he waved his hand coldly: "Tu Tu Kesiluo, bring that beast up."

Immediately, Li Goudan, bound hand and foot, was dragged up to the high platform under the gaze of all.

With a stern face, Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke loudly: "Brothers, you all know the shameful deeds of this beast; this official does not wish to mention them again."

"Although this official temporarily holds military power, the occurrence of this matter is still due to my lack of strict discipline. I do not know who the victim is, but regardless, I must give you an explanation."

"That is correct; Li Goudan has followed this official for a long time, but that cannot be his excuse for breaking the law."

He cast a cold glance at Li Goudan kneeling on the ground: "Do you know your crime?"

Li Goudan stammered in reply: "I know my crime, your subordinate knows his crime!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded coldly: "Since you know your crime, that is good. Tu Tu Kesiluo, according to the laws of Great Feng, how should this person be punished?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo said disdainfully: "Unprecedented in history; I beg my lord to judge clearly."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, then immediately pronounced judgment: "Punish him as a case of lewd and evil conduct! Li Goudan, as a Yamen Runner, committed Zhi Fa Fan Fa; he shall be punished three times more severely. Beat him heavily with ninety strokes of the board right here, and imprison him for one month!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers murmured among themselves; some looked forward to the spectacle, while others showed pity.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face remained expressionless, but he chuckled inwardly: Punish one severely like this first, as a deterrent. Then, at the right moment, display benevolent governance to stabilize the army's morale, so that these fifty thousand mighty lions will don armor and take the field for me!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned his head and asked in a cold voice: "Li Goudan, I, this official, have judged you thus; do you accept it?"

Li Goudan nodded silently, daring not to make a sound.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said grimly: "Since you accept it, that is good. Come, strike him hard for me!"

Just as the executioning soldier raised the water-and-fire staff high, someone suddenly shouted loudly: "Stop!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned around abruptly and saw Zhu Ge Yu rushing over, his face filled with anxiety.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said displeasedly: "I am handling important matters; why do you speak thus?"

Zhu Ge Yu quickly clasped his hands in a bow: "Master, this matter is of great importance; I beg you to hear my words."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment and said lightly: "Speak."

Zhu Ge Yu looked at Li Goudan kneeling on the ground: "Today's events, I have witnessed with my own eyes. What Li Goudan did is indeed too shameful to speak of; whatever punishment Master metes out is justified. However, he has already confessed and repented, and this is his first offense; I beg Master to show leniency."

Having spoken, he gazed earnestly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu with both eyes, his neck bowed low like a bamboo pole.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered; since he had known Zhu Ge Yu, he had never before begged him so solemnly and seriously.

Seeing Zhu Ge Yu speak up to plead for mercy, the fifty thousand soldiers below immediately began murmuring among themselves, their voices rising into a great clamor.

"What sort of thing is this, that it dares to beg for mercy? Having committed such disgusting deeds, does he still have the face to remain in the army?"

"My lord's judgment is proper; if you let him off lightly, Laozi will not serve!"

"Let us go, brothers; staying with this beast day after day, who knows when we might also be harmed by him!"

"..."

Hearing the soldiers' rising and falling murmurs, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt his heart twisted as if by a knife.

He understood that this had already severely damaged the army's morale; decisive action must be taken to win back the people's hearts.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu slowly turned his head, his gaze burning like torches as he looked at Zhu Ge Yu: "Zhu Ge Yu, you have heard it too, have you not? If it were this kind of lewd and evil person who disgraced you, what would you feel?"

Zhu Ge Yu was stunned, not knowing how to answer.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued: "I, this official, am not fighting for my own grievance, but must give the soldiers an explanation. Tolerating such conduct—does that not mean allowing military discipline to deteriorate and rules to cease existing?"

Speaking thus, Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but clench his fists, his voice also carrying anger: "Remember this: they came here not to be insulted, but to defend their homes and country! This soldier's human dignity and sense of honor, I, this official, absolutely cannot let them lose!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath and announced in a heavy voice: "Strike him hard! This is to uphold military law, and even more, to show respect for every soldier!"

The executioning soldier raised the heavy whip-staff once more; seeing this, Zhu Ge Yu immediately knelt on one knee to plead: "Master, ninety military strokes will take his life; I beg you to show mercy!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, expressionless, declared firmly: "Even if it beats him to death, that is his own doing; I, this official, will absolutely not condone it!"

Just at this moment, Li Goudan, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly began to speak...