Chapter 1405: Positions_2

One report was about Centurion Ma Youliang’s unit failing to assault a military fort, resulting in the centurion’s death, and the remaining dozen men who retreated were sentenced to execution.

In the Yan Army regulations, if the main general dies without winning the battle, the subordinates who survive must be buried with him.

Lord Zheng’s directive was: rescind the executions, send them to the vanguard army to serve with a guilty charge.

Another report stated that a mass brawl broke out involving hundreds in Luo Ling’s civilian labor camp, triggered by dissatisfaction when Jin land laborers discovered their meals were inferior to those of Yan region laborers.

The military discipline officer proposed executing both leaders of the disturbance and the captains of the civilian labor camps, with accomplices to be punished by whipping.

It’s fair to say, both sides received thirty lashes.

Lord Zheng’s directive was to only punish the Jin land laborers and the camp captain.

In the military, punishment often involves bloodshed because the army is an instrument of killing and the laws must be strict; otherwise, it is impossible to control these soldiers who live on the edge.

Thus, rulings often come with executions, which greatly differ from local officials who prefer to mediate and are extremely cautious in murder trials.

Due to Tian Wujing’s preference for attention to detail and control in utilizing and commanding troops, these memorandums are all sent to the King’s Tent for Tian Wujing to review.

With the great army gathered, including combat soldiers, auxiliary troops, and civilian laborers, numbering over a million, the prefects of wealthy provinces in the Yan region cannot truly control such a vast number due to the imperial power not reaching the countryside.

Tian Wujing set down the first memorandum and said:

“Xue Chugui’s troop management is lax, twenty lashes.”

Prince Jingnan felt that just punishing the commander wasn’t sufficient; even the main general needs to be punished.

Tian Wujing set down the second memorandum and said:

“Siege warfare is different from field battle charges, thus the applicable military regulations are different. Let it be reviewed by the entire army’s main general and let them decide for themselves.”

Previously, Li Fusheng’s division in the snowy plains suffered more casualties because soldiers didn’t return after the rear sounded the retreat due to this habit of the Town North Army.

Generals lead from the front, and soldiers protect their generals; only with such an atmosphere does the army have true combat strength and fearlessness, but that’s in field battles. Siege warfare requires meticulous attention to detail, completely another form of war, and some military laws become untimely.

As for the third memorandum,

Tian Wujing looked up, glanced at Zheng Fan, and threw down the memorandum,

and said:

“Speak your thoughts.”

The brawl among civilian workers, especially between Yan region workers and Jin land workers, theoretically, the original punishment by the military discipline officer wasn’t wrong; currently, it’s vital to focus on the larger picture, as the people and troops from Jin land are a significant force in the campaign against the Chu State.

“I believe that the civilian workers’ meals were decided by the officials, which means any responsibility should fall on the officials, furthermore…”

“Was it intentional bias?”

Prince Jingnan interrupted Lord Zheng.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Our army is the Yan Army. Yan region workers have come a long way to participate in the national war; they deserve preferential treatment.”

“I had thought that Lord Pingye valued the principle of teaching without discrimination.”

Because, under Lord Pingye, Yan people are actually not the majority; the majority comprises barbarians, Jin people, and now the wild people.

“Prince, the division under me is a special case. From the broader perspective, this great campaign against Chu State, we still rely on the old Yan people truly. If it were under my command, I would have handled it differently, but this incident occurred within Luo Ling’s division, which is your Jingnan army’s main division, so it cannot be dealt with as such.

The Sixth Prince once told me, pointing at the barbarians, that barbarians fear power but do not embrace virtue; Jin people are not barbarians, but at least for now, as Jin people are newly conquered by Yan, and swept into this national war, their dissatisfaction is inevitable.

Therefore, treating both sides equally won’t elicit gratitude from the Jin people, whereas Yan people will feel hurt.

Rather than losing on both fronts, it’s better to grasp the fundamentals first.

True equality between Yan and Jin, seeing Jin people as Yan citizens, transforming them into Yan people, can only be pursued after we break through Town South Pass and eliminate the threat from the Chu State.

Finally,

Lord Zheng solemnly added:

“No matter the time or circumstance, the old Yan people, Yan citizens, Yan Army, will always remain the true foundation of Yan.”

Tian Wujing looked seriously at Zheng Fan,

Zheng Fan stood calmly there.

Finally,

Tian Wujing nodded,

and said:

“So be it.”

“Yes, Prince.”

“Help me don the armor and accompany me to inspect Li Fusheng’s division.”

Lord Zheng helped Prince Jingnan put on the armor.

Subsequently,

guards outside brought the Pixiu for the two of them.

With only a hundred riders as guards, Lord Zheng and Prince Jingnan rode out from the central military camp.

Gongsun Zhen, who was there drawing maps and making records, looked up at the departing group, and he, being young, couldn’t help saying:

“Lord looks similar to the Prince.”

The same Pixiu,

The same golden armor,

And an indescribable feeling makes them appear very similar.

Gong Lin upon hearing this,

said:

“My father said, our Lord is the Prince’s designated successor.”

Immediately,

Gong Lin realized he had spoken too much, probably because Gongsun Zhen was indeed too young, and thus lacked caution, resulting in his verbosity.

Unexpectedly, Gongsun Zhen nodded and said:

“My father also said the same.”

…

Compared to the swift fall of East Mountain Fort, the situation at West Mountain Fort has become a prolonged and intense standoff.

If Li Fusheng were to choose, he would certainly prefer the scenario under Zheng Fan.

The defending army charges out, he then pushes forward, clean and decisive, the battle concludes.