Chapter 1193

First Volume, Chapter 1193: Again, Wu Heli

Qin Feng was furious—he had repeatedly ordered all soldiers to remain vigilant and strictly forbade any further bandit massacres.

Before he could even catch his breath, another disaster struck—this time, the village attacked was one of the most prominent in the Gusu region.

In just a few days, the news would spread throughout all of Gusu City, and every nearby civilian would come to fear the very words "Imperial Court" as if they were tigers.

Facing Qin Feng's roar, Zhao Zhenhai's expression was complex.

He silently dismounted, kneeling on one knee before Qin Feng.

"Your Majesty, this land falls under my jurisdiction."

Hearing this, Qin Feng grew even angrier—Zhao Zhenhai had once served as Vice Commander of Tianji Camp, leading Tianji Camp Guards into bloody battles and earning repeated military merits.

He was one of Qin Feng's most heavily cultivated officers.

Yet after arriving in Nan Jing, he had grown so lax that a bandit massacre occurred right under his nose—this could not be tolerated.

Qin Feng wasted no words; he raised his hand and took the whip from his guard, hurling it before Zhao Zhenhai.

"Military command is as firm as mountains!"

"I have long said: whoever is responsible for attacks on civilians within their jurisdiction shall be severely punished."

"Even if you are one of my old subordinates, no leniency will be shown."

As he spoke, Qin Feng glanced at the stunned women in the village.

"Datian Village—how many died?"

At first, no one spoke; their emotions were tangled, unsure whether to believe this so-called prince.

Finally, Liu Cui whispered: "At least one hundred and twenty."

One hundred and twenty!

All because of lax defense and neglected weaponry—one hundred and twenty civilians dead.

Qin Feng's gaze turned icy: "For every victim of Datian Village, one lash upon Zhao Zhenhai."

Then Qin Feng turned to Liu Ming, who stood silent beside him: "You will carry out the punishment."

Liu Ming had been promoted to Jin Yi Wei Commander; as Spy Chief, he would show no mercy—these one hundred and twenty lashes would surely kill Zhao Zhenhai.

All the officers and vice commanders present dismounted and knelt, pleading for mercy.

"Your Majesty, please show mercy—even iron bones could not withstand one hundred and twenty lashes."

"Consider Zhao Zhenhai's many shared trials and tribulations with Your Majesty—he may not have great achievements, but he has endured great hardships. Please show mercy."

"Your Majesty, please see clearly: General Zhao has never been lax—he has always led us in patrols around Gusu City, searching for secret escape routes."

"The tragedy at Datian Village was unforeseen by anyone."

Facing their pleas, Qin Feng's expression did not soften one bit—it remained icy and severe.

"Military command is as firm as mountains! Are you daring to plead for Zhao Zhenhai because you've already formed a faction with him?!"

At these words, the ten-plus officers pleading for him felt a chill run down their spines.

Everyone knew Qin Feng despised cliques most of all.

Rewards and punishments were clear-cut: if you erred, even Xu Mo or Zhao Yulong would not be spared—let alone Zhao Zhenhai.

To plead for Zhao Zhenhai now was to tell everyone that connections in the army could exempt one from punishment.

At that moment, Zhao Zhenhai barked: "No more pleading for me!"

"This failure is my negligence—I deserve punishment!"

"If I cannot endure these one hundred and twenty lashes, then I have earned my fate—I shall serve Your Majesty as a loyal dog in my next life."

Qin Feng's eyes sharpened: "Well said!"

"Liu Ming, stand down—I will do it myself."

Under the awe-filled gaze of all present, Qin Feng dismounted, picked up the whip, and swung it across Zhao Zhenhai's shoulder.

"A true man—strip off your armor!"

Zhao Zhenhai did not hesitate; he quickly tore off his armor and tunic, revealing a muscular body crisscrossed with scars.

Everyone present drew a sharp breath—they had never seen Zhao Zhenhai's body before; it bore over ten scars, large and small.

All these scars were from battles against the northern Di tribes alongside Qin Feng.

"Your Majesty, punish me—do not spare me because I am an old subordinate."

The moment he finished speaking, Qin Feng raised the whip and brought it down hard on Zhao Zhenhai's back.

Crack!

A sharp crack echoed—the moment the whip struck, a mist of blood erupted on Zhao Zhenhai's back, leaving a horrifying, deep gash across his sturdy spine.

One strike—skin split, flesh torn—clear proof Qin Feng showed no mercy.

At this force, ten lashes would likely kill Zhao Zhenhai—let alone one hundred and twenty.

With no pause, Qin Feng swung again—no time for Zhao Zhenhai to breathe.

After two lashes, Zhao Zhenhai began growling low in his throat; he clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, sweat pouring from his brow, yet refused to flinch.

All the officers turned away, unable to watch.

Just as Qin Feng raised the whip again to strike, a wail broke out—it was Liu Cui.

"Your Majesty, stop! I believe you!"

"If the Imperial Court were all like Your Majesty—a righteous army—how could villages ever be targeted?"

"This general arrived at once—that alone proves his loyalty. Please, Your Majesty, give him another chance."

As she spoke, Liu Cui knelt with her three children.

They had lost their family's pillar; in this chaotic world, their only hope lay in these soldiers who truly protected them.

Qin Feng gripped the whip and looked at Liu Cui, asking softly: "Have you thought this through?"

"This place falls under Zhao Zhenhai's jurisdiction. Because of his careless negligence, the tragedy occurred. Even if he were punished severely, it would be no more than he deserves."

The reason Qin Feng was so furious was that Zhao Zhenhai was too rigid, even stupidly so—only knowing how to follow the Military Order to the letter, executing everything by the book, utterly incapable of adapting.

Within his jurisdiction, there were only eight villages in total. Even if he had sent a few scouts to patrol near each village, the moment enemies were spotted approaching, the troops could have been notified at the first opportunity to come and intercept them.

Such a simple matter, and he still couldn't handle it well. If he isn't punished, he won't make the slightest progress for the rest of his life.

Zhao Zhenhai naturally understood that Qin Feng's fury came from the high hopes placed in him.

These two lashes of the Whip were well deserved.

Not only Liu Cui, but the surviving women and children of Datian Village had already come to place their complete trust in Qin Feng and the others.

Realizing that the troops behind the Bandit Massacre were not the imperial army, there was only one explanation—they must have been local troops.

For a moment, wailing and cursing rose in an endless chorus.

"Damn them to a thousand cuts—the soldiers of Jiangnan slaughtering the people of Jiangnan—what kind of justice is this!"

"Aren't they supposed to protect us? Why are they instead so vicious?"

Liu Cui wiped her tears, threw caution to the wind, and shouted at Qin Feng: "My lord, I once heard those bandit soldiers arguing. The leading general seemed to be called… Wu Heli."