The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1620: Killing to Establish Authority

"Reciprocation, you mean... counterattack the Qin Army," Shangguan Jian asked.

"Wang Li dispatched twenty thousand elites to attack two camps with less than three thousand troops. It’s clearly using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Why do this? He wants to give us a show of force. He knows full well that our smooth progress north is simply because Nanyang’s forces numbering in the tens of thousands can’t hold against our army of over a hundred thousand. However, he also knows we don’t have a real leader yet. Though nominally the master commands, in reality, she only directs from behind, while the generals at the front operate independently."

"Therefore, this time it seems the master officially appointed you as the commander."

"It appears so." Ye Shikai nodded, "At least now all the troops’ Commander’s Seals are under my control, and I have the power to act first and report later."

"That’s great; I think only you are worthy of this responsibility in all the forces. Otherwise, if those inept individuals were made commander, wouldn’t it be sending tens of thousands of brothers to their deaths for nothing?" Shangguan Jian, upon hearing this news, was very excited. With Mi Wen’s "commission," there’s no need to worry about those generals disobeying orders now.

"Is that so? But I really don’t want to command," Ye Shikai sighed deeply. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Mi Wen’s "threats," Ye Shikai really wouldn’t want to take on this position. Commanding over a hundred thousand troops in battle is no child’s play. If commanding errors lead to the needless deaths of tens of thousands, wouldn’t he be the criminal then?

"Old Ye, how confident are you in defeating Wang Li?"

"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"Nonsense, of course, the truth," Shangguan Jian pressed on.

"Alright, I’ll be upfront with you." Ye Shikai nodded, extending three fingers.

"Really? Only thirty percent."

"Shangguan, you’ve only enlisted for a few years. I’ve been enlisted for less than two. For small battles, no problem. But now it’s a great war involving hundreds of thousands on both sides. Wang Family is a General’s Family from the Qin Dynasty, and Wang Li’s command ability is exceptional. Frankly, I’ve never considered battling such caliber opponents."

"Indeed, battlefield skills aren’t solely reliant on talent but also require experience in war. Wang Li has been battling since childhood alongside his father, highly experienced. In our uprising ranks, while we don’t lack soldiers, we lack such prominent generals," Shangguan Jian agreed. After all, many in the rebel army were once robbers who were reformed. If a mountain stronghold had hundreds of bandits, the ’big boss’ was made the Five Hundred Master and so on. But these bandits couldn’t even read a word, how could they command a large army? Even generals like Zhang Lan Wang Lian were originally Chu Generals, but at most deputy generals, commanding ten thousand was the limit, unlike those Warring States famous generals like Xiang Yan.

"So when the master handed me this task, using ’terror-stricken’ is quite fitting," Ye Shikai suddenly halted his steps. That’s just it; Mi Wen has many subordinates, but if talking about rivaling Meng Tian and other contemporary famous generals, there’s truly none.

It’s undeniable, lacking distinguished ’commanders’ is an unavoidable shortcoming for the uprising army.

Although the future’s uncertain, Mi Wen pressured him with He Linghan indeed ’hit the snake’s vital point.’ Ye Shikai had no choice but to compromise.

"Looks like we need to find a new place to issue orders," Ye Shikai joked, "Shangguan, go send the orders. Tell the forces under command to move out of the city. We are the main force, can’t be stuck doing just defense, prepare early so we won’t face panic later."

"Understood."

.................................

Outside Wan City, in the main camp tent.

Ye Shikai sat in the center while several generals stood on either side. As the ’commander,’ though mentally unprepared, he nonetheless adapted to the ’role.’

"Why have few generals not arrived yet?" Ye Shikai stood up and asked indifferently.

"We have arrived," at that moment, four generals entered the tent, with the leader speaking quite ’arrogantly.’

"You’re late for the gathering I requested, why are you late?"

"Anyway, the battle isn’t underway yet, being late shouldn’t matter much, right?"

"Haha."

The generals laughed as Shangguan Jian stood on one side, his face already turned livid. This was clearly intentional tardiness to give Ye Shikai a show of force. If not for military orders, Shangguan Jian would’ve drawn his blade to slay these individuals.

"So, you have no legitimate reason, do you? Guards," Ye Shikai clapped his hands, and immediately, over a dozen guards rushed in from outside.

"General, what are your orders?"

"Arrest those four."

"Understood."

More than a dozen soldiers swiftly subdued the four, shocking the two-sided generals in the tent into standing.

"Ye, what do you think you’re doing?"

"Take them away, for delaying military actions, execute them on the spot, behead to serve as a reminder."

"Understood."

"Ye, how dare you, just joined the ranks, and you’re already bossing us around?" The leading general cursed, yet Ye Shikai could hear the unease in his tone, a clear indication of genuine fear since Ye Shikai just ordered their execution.

"If even generals lead in violating military discipline, wouldn’t the soldiers all revolt? Knowing the rules and intentionally violating, the crime is unforgivable, take them away and execute them."

"General Ye, considering General Chen’s hard-earned merits, please spare him."

"Please spare him, General."

At this point, everyone clearly understood Ye Shikai wasn’t joking; faces of disdain quickly became fraught with anxiety, many pleaded.

"Ye, by what right do you kill me?"

"Good question." Ye Shikai picked up a Commander’s Seal from the table, holding it in hand and displaying it to everyone.

"The master bestowed upon me the Commander’s Seal, entrusting me with the army’s leadership. As commander, I hold the right to deal with anyone, from generals to soldiers. Those earning military distinctions shall receive rewards; conversely, anyone lax or negligent in duty shall be punished without exception, even if it’s a confidant to the master. I will kill without mercy." Ye Shikai waved his hand, and over a dozen soldiers immediately dragged the four away. The remaining generals’ faces turned livid, brows furrowed, expressions harboring dread.

Since these generals rely on age to assume superiority, Ye Shikai must kill to establish authority.

"Report! The four have been executed," before long, several guards entered the tent to report.

"Hang their heads in the camp so all soldiers can witness."

"Understood."

Ye Shikai returned to his seat, coldly surveying the generals on either side. It was apparent they’d begun to ’revere’ him.

"Generals, I hope next time when I call upon you for discussion, you won’t be late again."