Mo Sang – CH 131

Chapter 131. Rewards and Punishments

As dusk fell, the fleet docked at the pier.

Wen Shunzhi, dressed in a silver-white brocade robe, stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the pier, slightly tiptoeing as he looked at the ships.

The ships had barely stopped, and the gangplank had not even been properly lowered when Huang Yanming rushed ashore, bowing respectfully to Wen Shunzhi, “It’s General Wen; this humble general dares not…”

“I was not waiting for you,” Wen Shunzhi said, subconsciously taking a step back and glancing sideways at Huang Yanming. “I am here on orders to welcome Boss Sang and the Yunmeng Guards.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Huang Yanming straightened up, let out a long sigh of relief, and wiped the sweat from his brow.

If they had come specifically to wait for him, it certainly would not be to celebrate his victory, and that would definitely be bad news. Thank goodness!

This was a large pier, with dozens of ships docked together.

Hei Ma, leading the way, jumped off the boat and waved wildly at Wen Shunzhi from afar. “They are all back, not a single one missing!”

Wen Shunzhi greeted him with a smile. “Master Ma, you’ve worked hard.”

Hei Ma jumped up at Wen Shunzhi’s address of “Master Ma.”

“What? I do not deserve it! I am telling you…”

Hei Ma’s face had just lit up with a rosy glow when Da Chang grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the back.

Wen Shunzhi greeted Li Sangrou and Qiao An with a deep bow. “Boss, General Qiao, you’ve worked hard.”

Qiao An quickly stepped aside, bowing in return. Li Sangrou also stepped aside, cupping her hands and smiling. “I am truly unworthy of such a greeting.”

“You two have worked hard,” Wen Shunzhi said, bowing again, then straightening up, smiling. “The first bow was on the commander-in-chief’s orders to welcome you both; the second was on Shouzhen’s instructions; and the third was for me.”

“This is truly unworthy of such a greeting,” Qiao An chuckled.

“Please go first, you two!” Wen Shunzhi stepped aside to let them pass.

The dock was not far from the camp. The group chatted as they entered the gate.

Not far from the commander’s tent, Li Sangrou saw one side of the tent open, with guards standing ramrod straight out from the entrance. She quickly stopped and smiled at Wen Shunzhi. “I will not go in.”

“Alright,” Wen Shunzhi hesitated slightly, then nodded with a slight bow. Li Sangrou had not received her military rank yet, and besides, the soldiers were lined up in the command tent to enforce discipline; punishments and beatings were not rewards, so it was best if she were not there.

Li Sangrou, along with Da Chang and the others, turned back to her own tent.

Hei Ma, Xiao Lu, and the others had slept enough on the boat. Seeing the scene inside and outside the tent, they could not resist. This was definitely more interesting than those fake performances on stage!

Since their leader had not said it was wrong, Hei Ma led the way, followed by a string of others, and slipped out. They squatted in a row at the base of the tent opposite the command tent, hands tucked in, watching the spectacle.

In Li Sangrou’s small tent, hot and cold water were already prepared.

Li Sangrou finished washing and changing her clothes, came out, and sat at the tent entrance. Da Chang handed her a cup of tea, smiling. “Ru-Yi brought half a sheep, two fish, and a cured pork leg. What are we having for dinner?”

Before Li Sangrou could answer, Datou ran up to her, shouting, “Boss, they’re fighting! They are starting a fight!”

Hei Ma followed closely behind Datou, slapping him on the head. “Can you not speak properly? What do you mean by ‘started a fight’? Boss! They are really starting a fight!”

Li Sangrou almost choked.

“Boss, go see! They are really fighting! They are really fighting!” Xiao Lu pounced on Hei Ma, followed by Chuantiao and Mazha, who pounced on Xiao Lu. “Blood and gore are flying everywhere!”

Li Sangrou stood up, shoved the cup into Da Chang’s hand, and ran towards the command tent.

Hei Ma and Xiao Lu hurriedly followed, and Da Chang, holding the cup, also went after them.

At the entrance to the commander’s tent, Chu Xing knelt on the ground, shirtless, while two guards lashed him with whips.

“That’s it?” Li Sangrou stopped and turned to ask Hei Ma and the others.

“Just like on the stage. Look, they really hit him.” Hei Ma was immediately embarrassed.

He seemed to be making a fuss. Yes, what was the big deal? Just like on the stage!

Li Sangrou rolled her eyes and turned to walk back.

……………………

Half of Huang Yanming’s troops remained in Jiangning City. Including Chu Xing’s troops, of the more than 23,000 to 24,000 who crossed the river, more than 21,000 returned. Due to the mistake, the losses were limited.

He was reprimanded and fined, while Chu Xing received twenty lashes—truly extremely lucky.

The more than 20,000 who fled back to Jiangbei after a night of frantic running were even more fortunate to have survived.

Over 20,000 people received new tents, bedding, utensils, and food. Each team was also given two large jars of calming wine. The camp was filled with a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

Qiao An carried two jars of wine towards Huang Yanming’s tent.

In front of Huang Yanming’s tent, a fire was lit, a grill was set up, a copper kettle hung, and the table was laden with hot and cold dishes—everything was ready.

“Look, all your favorites. More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Your taste has not changed, has it?” Huang Yanming saw Qiao An, took a dozen steps forward, and patted him on the shoulder a few times.

“My taste has not changed,” Qiao An replied with a smile, raising the wine jars and saying, “I got two jars of good wine from the Boss. I heard it’s Privy Councilor Pang’s private stash.”

“That’s rare!” Huang Yanming reached out and took one jar of wine.

He was filled with questions and curiosity about General Sang and Boss Li, but he was not in a hurry. He had plenty to ask Qiao An; with wine and meat, he could speak slowly.

The two sat down, and Qiao An broke the clay seal, pouring the wine directly from the jar into two large bowls.

“I burn paper money for you every year, and now I am sitting across from you drinking again. I never expected this! Let’s finish this bowl!” Huang Yanming exclaimed with deep emotion.

Qiao An laughed, picked up his bowl, raised it to Huang Yanming, and drank it all in one gulp.

“What exactly happened back then? Can you tell me?” Huang Yanming asked, his voice low, as Qiao An poured more wine.

“Back then, in that competition, I did not listen to you. I insisted on going, insisted on winning. After winning, I joined the Yunmeng Guard.” Qiao An’s voice choked slightly.

At that time, he had just turned twenty, young and impetuous, arrogant, and wanting to win everything.

Before participating in that long-distance surprise attack competition, General Huang was not the only one who tried to dissuade him, but he could not suppress his competitive spirit.

“You should have heard of the Yunmeng Guard.” After a pause, Qiao An’s slightly tense throat relaxed, and he smiled at Huang Yanming.

“I’ve heard of it; there are many legends about it. Is it really like the legends say? The Emperor’s, that one?” Huang Yanming leaned forward, his voice extremely low.

“Yes, the first thing you do when you join the Yunmeng Guard is to forget your past and forget who you are,” Qiao An lowered his eyelids.

Huang Yanming stared straight at Qiao An, then, after a moment, picked up his bowl, tilted his head back, and drank the wine in it in one gulp.

“In the first month of the lunar calendar, the Emperor summoned me and ordered me to lead the Yunmeng Guard to the Commander-in-Chief’s tent to receive orders.

The Emperor said that the Yunmeng Guard was the most elite force in the Great Qi army, the sharpest sword in the Great Qi, meant to be unsheathed on the battlefield, their might awe-inspiring, not hidden in the shadows.

So I went to the Commander-in-Chief’s tent, and the Commander-in-Chief said that on the battlefield, one must be upright and have one’s name. So I returned,” Qiao An said, wanting to laugh but unable to, and bowed to pour wine for Huang Yanming.

“His Majesty is wise!” Huang Yanming picked up his wine bowl. “The Commander-in-Chief is brilliant!”

Qiao An chuckled, picked up his bowl, and tapped it against the rim of Huang Yanming’s bowl.

“I just heard about your battle at Hefei. General Sang is truly a genius! The Commander-in-Chief’s courage and insight, tsk tsk, truly a genius!” Huang Yanming changed the subject.

“Yes, that battle was exhilarating. The Emperor’s decree said that the Yunmeng Guards, once their swords are drawn, are unstoppable.” Qiao An laughed.

“I heard…” Huang Yanming leaned forward, but before he could ask, Chu Xing interrupted him, “General, could I have a bowl too? This wine is so fragrant.”

The two turned around at the same time. About ten paces away, Chu Xing, wrapped in a cloak that looked like a birdcage, smiled obsequiously, nodding first to Huang Yanming, then to Qiao An.

“You just got whipped; instead of going home to rest, you are running around everywhere?” Huang Yanming glared at Chu Xing.

“It’s all superficial wounds, nothing serious.” Chu Xing dragged his injured leg, walking quite quickly.

A guard brought over a stool and a bowl. Chu Xing sat down, gesturing for Qiao An to hand him the wine jar. “I need to drink a few more bowls to dispel the blood stasis and the poison.”

“You… you are swollen like this?” Huang Yanming reached out to pinch Chu Xing’s birdcage-like cloak.

“How could it be swollen like this? It’s just a superficial injury. The physician said it’s best to let it air out; it will heal faster. I could not stand being cooped up in the tent, so I had someone weave a frame out of bamboo strips. Here, I hang it over my head, put on my clothes, and I can come out.

Our commander really has all sorts of skilled craftsmen here. Look at this frame; it’s so light and convenient,” Chu Xing said, turning his head, causing his cloak to swirl.

Qiao An quickly leaned forward and pulled up Chu Xing’s cloak for a closer look.

Huang Yanming chuckled, beckoning his guards to bring a charcoal brazier and place it beside Chu Xing.

“What are you talking about? General Qiao, your battle at Hefei was amazing! I wish I were there! It was so satisfying!” Chu Xing finished a bowl of wine in a few gulps.

“I heard General Sang is the leader of Shunfeng?” Huang Yanming asked, continuing the conversation.

“Yes,” Qiao An nodded.

“Which Shunfeng? Shunfeng Express? I heard the head of Shunfeng Express is a woman, and yes, General Sang is a woman too! Really?” Chu Xing’s eyes widened.

Qiao An and Huang Yanming glanced at him sideways.

“The woman I am talking about is not what I meant. Not all women are the same.

I do not mean any disrespect. I saw General Sang looking up at him! That crossbow of hers, is there some kind of mechanism? How can it shoot so far and be so accurate?

Did she bring that crossbow? Can we make one? Our Great Qi has plenty of skilled craftsmen; we can definitely make one exactly like it.

There would be at least a hundred or two crossbows like that, let alone many!” Chu Xing said excitedly.

Huang Yanming raised his eyebrows, looking at Qiao An; he thought the same thing.

“The Boss has a total of seven crossbows.

The ones you see today are repeating crossbows; four were made, each capable of firing ten arrows at once.

During the Battle of Hefei, the Boss single-handedly stood at the front lines, routing the charge of tens of thousands of Liang cavalry, using only this repeating crossbow.

Later, during the cleanup, Master Wen specifically had it checked; every arrow hit its mark, hitting both horse and target.

There’s also a large crossbow; I heard it takes at least four people to draw it. The arrows are heavy and small, with an extremely long range. The Boss used this large crossbow to kill Wu Huaiyi and shoot down the Liang army’s banner.

These crossbows were all made by the Boss after she joined the general’s army.

Making them is easy, but where can you find such accuracy?” Qiao An asked, looking at the two men.

Chu Xing looked on incredulously. “No mechanism? All by human eyes? Is that really the kind of accuracy?”

Huang Yanming frowned, about to say something, when Qiao An looked at him and laughed, “Fire in unison? Forget about it.

The boss’s crossbow costs as much silver as it weighs. The crossbow itself is not the problem; the arrows, I heard, can only be made by four or five craftsmen. They are not just iron; they’ve added a lot of things. The arrows from that big crossbow, I heard, even have a lot of gold mixed in.

Without the boss’s accuracy, these crossbows and arrows are not cost-effective, and we cannot afford them.”

“That’s really unaffordable.” Huang Yanming clicked his tongue.

Chu Xing looked disappointed. These crossbows and arrows were just too expensive!

Alas, what a pity. If only they were cheaper so they could fire them in a row!

……………………

In the camp, not far from the commander’s tent, Li Sangrou and Gu Xi walked side by side, observing the bustling activity around them, talking slowly.

“In the defeat at Jiangdu City, in truth, my fault was greater. I was too hasty, forgetting that Jiangdu City was easy to defend and difficult to attack,” Gu Xi reflected on his actions.

“Hmm,” Li Sangrou simply hummed in response.

Compared to a war, a battle, such a small mistake was insignificant, but when these small mistakes fell on the heads of individuals, they became catastrophic.

But in war, these things were unavoidable.

“Chu Xing is a fierce general, but he often lacks foresight. Huang Yanming is meticulous in his thinking, but he excels at defense rather than offense,” Gu Xi sighed. “This is all my fault; I have not been good at recognizing and utilizing talent.”

Li Sangrou glanced at Gu Xi. He was telling her all this; yes, he was reflecting on himself. And rightly so. These were things he could only say to her, someone who was not exactly a subordinate. In front of the other generals, he had to maintain his image of brilliance.

“Is this Chu Xing’s first time fighting a real battle? What about General Huang?” Li Sangrou asked.

“No, all those above the rank of commander have been trained in the north. However,” Gu Xi paused, “this is also where I failed to consider things.

For the past twenty years or so, with peace between the North and South, we’ve been using the northern barbarians as training grounds. More than a decade ago, the northern tribes ceased to be a threat; no matter the tribe, their able-bodied men never exceeded a thousand.

Even someone like Pan Dingshan, with a group of retainers and the guards from the Tea and Horse Bureau, dared to chase and fight them.

This is their first time fighting a battle of equal strength, and neither am I.”

“The same goes for Southern Liang. After six months to a year, it will be fine.” Li Sangrou sighed softly.

“Yes, after a few battles, a few victories and defeats, we’ve learned a lot, and so has Southern Liang.” Gu Xi raised his head slightly, looking at the sprawling camp. After a pause, he continued, “This first battle, thanks to you, was a great victory, but a narrow one.

The battle of Jiangdu City was due to my impatience; although our losses were limited, it was a major defeat.

This win and loss, at best, is a draw.” Gu Xi sighed deeply. He needed more experience, learning, and constant reflection.

Li Sangrou turned her head to look at a group of soldiers not far away, leaning against a campfire, surrounding two soldiers who had taken off their shirts and were wrestling, shouting, laughing, clapping, and stomping their feet. Hearing Gu Xi’s words, she hummed in agreement after a moment.

“By the way, my Elder Brother wrote a letter. Your merits in the Battle of Hefei are enough to atone for your crimes.

He said that if you wish to stay in the army, you will be rewarded according to your military service. If you wish to leave, you can go anytime; it’s entirely up to you.” Gu Xi changed the subject.

Li Sangrou paused and looked at Gu Xi.

Gu Xi met her gaze and smiled. “Me too; it’s entirely up to you.”

“I am a merchant.” After a moment of silence, Li Sangrou looked at Gu Xi and said, “I told you once, although I am very good at killing, I do not like killing.”

“Hmm, then, back to Jianle City?” A hint of disappointment flashed across Gu Xi’s face, and then he smiled.

“Of course, there’s no better place in the world than Jianle City,” Li Sangrou paused, then smiled. “Hangzhou City is also nice! I want that Bai Causeway!”

Gu Xi chuckled.