After arriving in Linxiang City, Ye Shikai's soldiers caused trouble by killing a shop owner in the marketplace. A large crowd of angry civilians blocked the roads, refusing to let the soldiers take the murderer away. Ye Shikai managed to calm the crowd by swearing an oath and reminding them of his past deeds. He then brought the offending soldiers back for punishment, only to be met by Mi Wen, who questioned him sarcastically.
A soldier committed murder in the street, an act witnessed by numerous civilians. Ye Shikai had just taken an oath to the heavens, vowing severe punishment for errant soldiers and strict military discipline to appease the populace. Thus, a death sentence seemed inevitable.
Truthfully, Ye Shikai harbored no desire for this. These soldiers had faced life and death alongside him, navigating perils from East County, with two-thirds perishing along the arduous journey. The survivors each held significant weight in his heart.
Furthermore, Ye Shikai had never personally ordered the execution of his own subordinates. While not performing the act himself, the command would originate from him.
"What would you have me do?" Ye Shikai inquired.
"At this juncture, you must order the soldier's immediate execution in public. Only then will the people's hearts be calmed," Mi Wen stated plainly, her tone frigid and devoid of emotion, as if discussing the demise of an insect. Naturally, as a master cultivator, one destined for greatness does not concern themselves with trivial matters. If she were to mourn the loss of a single soldier, how could she possibly conquer the world? It must be understood that any emperor's ascension to the throne is paved with countless bones.
Mercy holds no sway in an army. As a competent commander, Ye Shikai should not be overly burdened by his emotions, yet perhaps he was too sentimental. To command the execution of a soldier without betraying any expression was something he genuinely could not achieve.
"Is there no other recourse?" Ye Shikai voiced after a considerable pause.
"What is this? Did you not just assure the people with absolute certainty that you would not bend the law for personal reasons? Now that you have brought him back, do you intend to renego on your promise?" Mi Wen questioned, her brow furrowing slightly as she spoke with coldness.
"No, I am not reneging; it's simply... if a superior solution exists, would it not be preferable?" Ye Shikai shook his head. After all, he still harbored personal feelings. He did not consider himself a "Saint," let alone a deity. He was merely human, and who can be entirely devoid of emotion? If a viable alternative presented itself, naturally, he wished to spare the soldier's life.
"For instance, I can offer compensation to the merchant's family, any sum they deem sufficient, and I will also have the soldier flogged as punishment." Ye Shikai was not attempting to settle the matter with mere money but rather hoped to transmute the "capital punishment" into a "severe reprisal" through material concessions, so long as he could preserve a life.
"What is your opinion?" Mi Wen inquired.
"Naturally, I hope..."
"You are currently a General. You should not be contemplating the life or death of a single individual but the future prosperity of this entire army." Mi Wen interjected before Ye Shikai could complete his sentence.
"The future."
"Precisely, the future." Mi Wen nodded and emphasized. Observing Ye Shikai's continued silence, she pressed on, "You have brought your troops to Changsha to expand and strengthen your forces, a goal I naturally support. Therefore, if you require funds, I shall provide them; if you need provisions, I shall supply them. But have you truly considered the future?"
"In the future, if I merely execute this soldier, will it not dishearten the thousands of my comrades? We are all brothers-in-arms, facing life and death together, not to perish at the hands of the Qin Army but by our own decree."
"No, that is entirely incorrect." Mi Wen countered, "If you fail to execute that soldier publicly, you will forfeit the support of over 400,000 citizens within Linxiang City. In the future, not only you but your entire army will find themselves without standing in this city. You pledged before the people to punish the soldiers severely. Once you break your word, your reputation will be ruined. How then will you recruit soldiers in Linxiang City moving forward?"
Upon hearing this, a profound weight settled upon Ye Shikai. Mi Wen's point was well-taken. If they were to lose the populace's backing, how could they possibly grow and strengthen their forces? An "unjust army" would undoubtedly be met with scorn.
"Is it truly worth jeopardizing the future of an entire army for the sake of one person?"
"Greetings, General. Greetings... my lord." At this precise moment, Xue San hurried into the tent, awkwardly transitioning his address to Mi Wen as "my lord."
"What is the condition of that soldier?"
"His body is covered in wounds, all inflicted by the civilians. I have already assigned a military physician to tend to him."
"What is the current situation with the city's civilians?" Mi Wen inquired.
"Reporting to my lord, the majority of the city's civilians have dispersed. Mr. Sun is currently overseeing matters, and the market has returned to its normal order. However... those civilians are persistently clamoring to see how the General intends to resolve this."
"Ahem." Ignoring Mi Wen's icy glare, Ye Shikai stated resolutely, "Xue San, issue my order to detain him for now. Once his wounds have healed, we shall conduct a review."
"Yes."
"Are you defying me? Do not forget, I am your lord..."
"And never forget, this is a military encampment. As the commander here, I hold the ultimate authority. My commands are absolute and shall not be defied."
"You..."
..............................
Late into the night.
Ye Shikai remained awake the entire night, deeply troubled by how to resolve the situation. He found himself in a difficult position. As a commander, he absolutely recognized the paramount importance of military discipline. However, sparing a soldier's life was not the same as "twisting the law for personal gain." From his current perspective, the best course of action would be to first earnestly compensate the shopkeeper's family, seeking their forgiveness, and then commute the death penalty to severe flogging for the soldier. This could still be regarded as a harsh punishment.
Perhaps it was a divergence in his personal philosophy, or maybe his own selfish desires were influencing his thoughts.
The following day.
"General, something is amiss," Man Cang declared, bursting into Ye Shikai's tent before the break of dawn, rousing him from his sleep.
"What has happened?" Ye Shikai inquired immediately.
"Just moments ago, Mi... my lady, led a contingent and forcefully entered the military camp. They took away the soldier who caused the disturbance yesterday and then... departed directly."
"What? How could this be? Did you not attempt to stop her?" Ye Shikai exclaimed, suddenly wide awake and startled.
"They arrived with incredible speed. And now that she holds the title of 'my lady,' our men were hesitant, fearing they might harm her, and dared not obstruct her forcefully," Man Cang explained with a sense of helplessness.
"Where did she go?"
"Based on reconnaissance reports, after apprehending the soldier, they proceeded directly towards Linxiang City."
"No! Muster the guards and the cavalry at once; we must pursue them!" Ye Shikai donned his armor and rapidly exited the tent. Mi Wen had intended to "act first and report later," bypassing Ye Shikai to execute the soldier publicly. He had never anticipated Mi Wen would take such drastic action.
"General, I fear it might already be too late. They are light cavalry, and..."
"Less talk, follow me!" Ye Shikai mounted his horse and, without another word, galloped away, the guards in close pursuit.
Outside the walls of Linxiang City.
"Halt! Who goes there?" As dawn had yet to break, the sentry atop the city wall shouted loudly upon spotting a large cavalry unit approaching the city.
"I am Ye Shikai. There is an urgent matter. Open the city gates quickly for me."
"Ah, it is General Ye. My lady has issued orders that the city gates shall only be opened after sunrise. Kindly wait, General."
