"me……"
Zhang Qian looked up at Guo Ning's face and swallowed: "Commander Jies, I'm here to see Xu Canjun. Ahem, I have something to do. I have something to do..."
Guo Ning thought that he still had a pile of documents to read at home, so he waved his hand: "Then just wait! He will go to supervise the beheading and will be back soon!"
"Have you started killing people?" Zhang Qian asked in a voiceless voice.
Guo Ning sneered: "After killing people, they also ransack their homes and sent reports to various departments to serve as a warning!"
Zhang Qian screamed, threw himself in front of Guo Ning, and kowtowed: "Commander Jie, please spare my life!"
This action startled Guo Ning: "You guys, what happened again? Why do you want to spare your life?"
Zhang Qian raised his head, opened his mouth, and murmured: "General, the general is not strict in running the army, and the soldiers on duty at the three checkpoints under his jurisdiction are slack... But, but..."
"Ah?" Guo Ning looked confused.
Zhang Qian gritted his teeth: "But that has nothing to do with ordinary soldiers. Those soldiers are all good men who kill enemies on the battlefield. They are so lax. It's all because I, the general, didn't supervise them properly and strictly enforce military laws! It's mine! Sin! If Commander-in-Chief wants to punish me, he can chop off my head or raid my home. I just want to spare those soldiers!"
After saying these words, several lieutenants and brand leaders behind him also fell to their knees, and they all said: "It has nothing to do with the general, it's because we are not running the army well!"
While these people were begging, Zhang Qian continued to communicate with each other in tears, and knelt down and kowtowed.
The front of the main hall of Jieshuai Mansion is also used for military parades and military exercises. The place is open and paved with flat blue bricks. Zhang Qian knocked his head down with such force that his forehead suddenly swelled, and even the scar on his face became purple and swollen.
Zhang Qian and his elder brother Zhang Jiao were both born in the defeated army in Hebei Province. They followed Guo Ning through life and death, and fought hard and vicious battles. When they were defending Haicang Town, all Zhang Jiao's troops died in battle without even taking a step back. Zhang Qian took over his brother's position and continued to fight to the death. He was dug out of the dead by the medical officer after the war.
Zhang Qian used to have a very handsome appearance, but now the ferocious scar on his face was left in that battle. At that time, if the blade was an inch further in, his entire face would have been split in half.
Seeing his appearance, Guo Ning felt a little unbearable, and immediately stopped and came back: "Xu Jin went to supervise and kill the corrupt officials who were greedy for the land and exploited the people, not the few pawns in your department."
"Ah?" Zhang Qian wiped his face and raised his head.
Guo Ning raised his foot and kicked: "This look is too ugly. Just wait in the side hall for me and wait for Xu Jin to come back before asking him!"
"Yes Yes."
Zhang Qian took several of his subordinates and fled.
After half an hour, the sun sets in the west and night falls. Xu Wei came back to hand over the order: "Commander Jie, the man has been beheaded. The head was passed to the Recording Department first, and will be presented to the Government Affairs Department tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, it will be taken to Dengzhou Capital to command the Envoys Department."
Guo Ning nodded slightly: "Everyone in the Recording Department, how did you react after reading this?"
"Two people admitted their negligence and were willing to be severely punished. In addition, I..."
Guo Ning raised his hand to signal Xu Jin not to say any more: "You decide how to punish me, and I won't interfere. Remember, it's just this one time, and it won't be the same next time."
Xu Jin relaxed a little and bowed deeply: "I obey... Thank you so much, Commander-in-Chief."
He rushed back to Yexian in such a hurry just for this matter. When Guo Ning said this, he was unintentionally too implicated and gave Xu Jin the opportunity to make meritorious deeds. Thinking about the people in the Chief Affairs Department and Dengzhou, as long as they know something, their heads will always stay on their necks.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard Guo Ning ask again: "What trouble has Zhang Qian caused again? I think he came to you in a hurry and got angry, so he almost didn't kneel down in front of the commander-in-chief's house."
Xu Jin quickly told what happened today.
Guo Ning shook his head: "I have concerns about this matter. Go and call this guy."
Xu Jin brought Zhang Qian. Zhang Qian knelt down in front of Guo Ning's table with another "pop" sound.
Guo Ning sneered: "It's quite refreshing to kneel down."
Zhang Qian lowered his head and said nothing.
"Under what circumstances did you become a general? Do you remember?"
"Genjieshuai, I will remember that it was after two days of confinement."
"What did I tell you then?"
"Jie Shuai wants me to be self-disciplined in the future, not to talk nonsense and not to be frivolous."
"Did you agree then?"
"accepted."
"Did you do it?"
Zhang Qian moved his body slowly, with a bitter look on his face: "Generally speaking, I think it was done."
Guo Ning slapped the eucalyptus hard, making a loud bang:
"Did it? I declared military discipline to the whole army, why do you dare not abide by it? Is it so difficult to be on duty wearing armor? I think even you will be frivolous! You have the nerve to say in front of me, you did it ? Don’t you take military law seriously, and don’t take me seriously either? Is what you promised yourself just like farting?"
This series of curses immediately turned Zhang Qian's face pale as he continued: "I don't dare! I'm guilty! It's really because I'm frivolous that I'm lax in running the army. Please punish me severely, Commander-in-Chief!"
Guo Ning looked at Zhang Qian coldly for a long time.
The sky was getting darker and darker. The maid behind looked around and saw Xu Jin nodding, then came in to light the other oil lamps. But Zhang Qian knelt on the ground and did not dare to get up.
After another battle, Guo Ning softened his expression slightly: "You are a meritorious person, I remember. The lieutenant under your command who is supposed to be in charge of the checkpoint, the brand leader, and three old soldiers are all old men who have been with him for a long time in the war. I also Remember. I have always been happy to see you receiving rewards for your meritorious service and working with me to pursue great causes. However, when it comes to military law, we cannot condone it easily."
At this point, Guo Ning asked Xu Jin: "The three slack regular soldiers you saw along the way should be killed according to military law, right?"
"yes."
"I beg for a favor on their behalf. They will be spared the execution and be replaced with a hundred army sticks."
"Yes, I will arrange for someone to do it right away."
A hundred military sticks is a severe punishment, and a hundred blows on the back of the spine will make him half disabled and he will be a cripple for the rest of his life. Zhang Qian looked miserable and took two steps forward on his knees, waiting to plead for mercy again.
"In addition..." Guo Ning looked at Zhang Qian: "Since Zhang Qian himself said that he himself is to blame for his incompetence in running the army, then he will take apart the hundred army sticks. Zhang Qian himself, the lieutenant and the team leader who should be in charge , each person should bear half of the charge for his soldiers. Each person has fifty military sticks, drag them out to fight now."
"As you command!"
At that moment, Ni Yi came in with his guards and dragged Zhang Qian out like a wolf. The three officers lay down side by side in front of the hall and were beaten severely.
When Zhang Qian was lifted back, he was grinning in pain. The military robe behind him was torn, not to mention the skin on his back was torn and blood was slowly oozing out.
Guo Ning ignored him and did not call the medical officer.
The blow that Ni and his men had just made sounded like a crackling sound, and it was all done with crisp force. It caused tears of pain for a while, but it did not hurt the muscles, bones, and internal organs. For a fighting man like Zhang Qian, he can be alive and kicking after just three to five days of rest.
He turned slightly sideways and listened to Xu Jin continue: "It is inevitable that the soldiers will relax after not fighting for a long time. Therefore, it is time to take this opportunity to let everyone take turns to see blood and refresh their spirits."
Guo Ning nodded slightly: "You mean, over there in Liaodong?"
"I read that Li Yun said in the document that he was in Liaodong and had obtained the support of Shi Liehuanduan, the commander-in-chief of Fuzhou, and would establish a stronghold at Hesihan Pass south of Fuzhou. Then he would continue to the north via Posu Road Arrive at Huining Prefecture, then cross the Duck River, and go to the Northeast Recruitment Division in Taizhou. Along the way, transfer personnel will be arranged to conduct large-scale exchanges of our grain, medicinal materials, ironware, and horses, furs and other items from the Northeast. At the same time, he also interacts with the weaker forces in the northeastern hinterland to expand the influence of our navy. If he succeeds in this matter, the annual income will be huge... It will be very handsome. However, How can it be so easy to accomplish anything in our Golden Kingdom? Some problems can be solved with money, but some problems must be solved sooner or later with a sword."
Guo Ning nodded: "Thinking about it this way, Li Yun's one or two hundred men are really not enough. I read in his documents that if he hadn't used a hot air balloon to scare people, his entire army would have been almost wiped out!"
Having said this, Guo Ning looked at Zhang Qian again and sneered: "Just right."
Zhang Qian asked anxiously: "I wonder what the commander-in-chief's orders are?"
"Go back and order troops!" Guo Ning pointed at Zhang Qian: "We must select elites who can fight fiercely. We will gather them all at the Yexian military camp within five days! This time, you will have to endure hardships. Treat it as punishment." You! If you can’t handle it, come and see me... think it over for me!"
Although Zhang Qian didn't know the specific task yet, he jumped up with joy: "Yes! I'll set off right away!"
"Don't leave in a hurry. Come, let's take a look at the documents sent from Liaodong by Qun Mu." Guo Ning waved to him.
Xu Jin reacted quickly. He reached the wall in a few steps and took out the map of Liaodong.
While the three of them analyzed the situation in Liaodong in detail.
Li Yun, with a small number of his close companions, had continued northward and arrived in Gaizhou. In Guangning Mansion, which is more than 300 miles away from Gaizhou, soldiers on night patrol shuttle back and forth, as if facing a powerful enemy or a distinguished guest. In the specially vacated space in the city, a huge Mongolian-style felt tent stands. The lights were brightly lit inside and outside the felt tent, and servants serving wine and meat came and went like water.
Brother Yelvliu, a Khitan who has traveled across the Liaohai Sea for the past few years and calls himself the King of Liao, is holding a golden cup with lotus petals in both hands and respectfully toasts to the person in charge: "General Muhuali, please!"
