knife

Chapter 38 The General of the Frontier
Zhenwu City was an important town outside the pass, and the headquarters of the commander of 100,000 troops stationed outside the pass. It was a true military city, with a total population of more than 100,000 people, including soldiers and civilians inside and outside the city. Among the important towns outside the pass, its population was second only to Tai'an City.

The 100,000 people consisted of soldiers and their families.

However, the actual population of Zhenwu City was far greater than the number shown on the household register, because there were also a large number of slaves living there.

The Qin Dynasty did not allow the existence of slaves, but in Zhenwu City, these people had another name: prisoners or criminals.

Whether they are prisoners captured in war, bandits captured in anti-bandit campaigns, or criminals arrested for crimes, they will not be kept in jail and fed for nothing.

Zhenwu City does not support idlers.

The prisoners were either beheaded and used as fertilizer, or sold to soldiers as slaves. However, since the criminals were almost all Qin people, they naturally could not be treated as slaves. Even though Linghu Ye held immense power beyond the Great Wall, he dared not do so. These criminals were mostly forced to work at the government-run settlements.

Of course, it's perfectly normal for you to get sick and die in these places.

The officers and soldiers owned a large amount of land in and around Zhenwu City, which they could not cultivate on their own. The large amount of labor they needed came from these captured prisoners.

In the eyes of the people of Zhenwu City, these people were not human, but merely human-shaped livestock.

The 100,000 troops stationed outside the pass were scattered across major strategic locations, transportation hubs, and border towns. Only Linghu Ye's personal guard, numbering about 10,000, were actually stationed in Zhenwu City.

However, the families of officers of the rank of colonel and above were required to live in Zhenwu City.

This was also one of Linghu Ye's methods of controlling the major generals outside the pass.

Linghu Ye was a Grand General appointed by the imperial court, which was the pinnacle of military rank.

Outside the Great Wall, Linghu Ye also controlled the administrative power, truly managing the army on horseback and the people on foot.

Under the command of the Grand General, there were actually several other officially appointed generals, such as Xiao Changche's General of Chariots and Cavalry.

In theory, these officially appointed generals, bestowed by the imperial court, all had the power to command their own troops and establish their own offices. However, outside the Great Wall, only Xiao Changche truly achieved this.

The remaining two high-ranking generals, General of the Guards Wan Feng and General of the Left Wang De, had become complete vassals of Linghu Ye. They lived in luxurious mansions in Zhenwu City, surrounded by beautiful wives and concubines, and did nothing except affix their seals when they needed to sign documents.

Of course, they will receive every benefit they are entitled to.

It's that time of year again when the generals stationed in various places return to Zhenwu City to report on their duties. Every year at this time, Zhenwu City is at its most solemn, because rewards and punishments are also carried out during this period.

Some people were overjoyed to be promoted, while others were frowning and dismissed. Of course, some were simply dragged to the drill ground and beheaded.

When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven; conversely, when one person falls from grace, countless people associated with them are naturally cast down into the dust.

This time of year is also an opportunity for the redistribution of power and wealth.

Of course, for some people, none of this matters.

For example, Xiao Changche.

Inside the Grand General's headquarters, dozens of officers of the rank of colonel and above stood solemnly, while only four were qualified to sit.

The first person on the left, General Xiao Changche, was idly filing his nails with a small file. Below him sat General Wan Feng.

Opposite Xiao Changche sat a middle-aged man dressed in civil official robes. He had a ruddy complexion and three neatly combed long beards. He kept smiling as he looked at Xiao Changche. If you gave him a fan, he would look exactly like a cunning strategist.

This is Li Guohua, the chief secretary, whose real power is second only to Linghu Ye. Look at the way he looks at Xiao Changche; his eyes are full of affection.

However, Xiao Chang seemed to dislike him very much, not even lifting his eyelids.

To the left of Li Guohua sat General Wang De.

Footsteps echoed from the back hall, and Linghu Zhishu, the secretary and military advisor, appeared before everyone. He coldly glanced at them and announced loudly, "The General has arrived!"

With a clatter, all the generals turned halfway to face the tiger-skin chair at the head of the table. Li Guohua, Wan Feng, and Wang De also stood up.

Only Xiao Changche slowly put the file back into his waist pouch before standing up. As if by some unspoken agreement, the commander of the 100,000-strong army outside the pass, Linghu Ye, appeared in everyone's sight as soon as he straightened up.

Linghu Ye was short, only reaching Xiao Changche's neck. He was stocky, with a round face and slightly downturned corners of his mouth, which made him always look bitter. What was most striking about him were his two extremely thick and black eyebrows, which were straight and placed above his eyes.

The generals below him were all dressed in formal attire, but he was only wearing a casual robe.

"Greetings, Commander!" Everyone bowed in greeting, even the unruly Xiao Changche bowed respectfully.

"That's enough." Linghu Ye waved his hand casually, looking at Xiao Changche who had straightened up, a smile appeared on his face: "The end of the year is approaching. Changche, you've dealt with those roaming bandits on this trip, which will allow the people outside the pass to have a peaceful and joyful New Year. You've worked hard!" "It's my duty, I dare not complain!" Xiao Changche replied. "However, the headquarters still owes us half of our expenses this year. I urge the General to have compassion on the men who have a hard time supporting their families and to allocate the funds as soon as possible so that they can have a good New Year."

Linghu Ye burst into laughter, "Changche, Changche, you're talking to me, and before you've even finished three sentences, you're already asking for money? Hahaha, do you think we're just friends over money?"

The three people sitting at the top also laughed.

Seeing them laugh, the captains below also joined in with a chuckle. However, when Xiao Changche turned his head and glanced at everyone, the laughter immediately subsided by more than half. Even Wanfeng Wangde pursed his lips and suppressed his laughter.

Xiao Changche is a truly unreasonable person.

If you anger him, he will come to your door and beat you up.

Not to mention the captains below, even Wan Feng and Wang De were blocked at the door by him, scaring them so much that they dared not come out. In the end, it was only after the secretary Linghu Zhishu obtained the general's command token that Xiao Changche was allowed to leave.

"Guohua, is it really still halfway done?" Linghuye turned his head with a smile.

Chief Secretary Li Guohua nodded: "This year's harvest is not good, and there are many dissenting voices in the court. The money and grain that should have been allocated to us have only reached 70%. Moreover, because the barbarians keep infiltrating, many villages in the interior have been affected, and many soldiers have died in battle. The compensation expenses have increased significantly. There is nothing we can do, Xiao Cheqi. It's not just you who is in trouble; everyone is in trouble!"

"Yes, yes, my men have only taken forty percent!" General Wan Feng quickly chimed in, while several captains standing below lowered their heads, their faces showing resentment.

They must be subordinates of General Wei, Wan Feng.

Compared to General Xiao Changche's forceful demand for unpaid wages, Wan Feng could only nod in agreement. He, as the General of the Guard, was not short of money, but most of his troops relied on salaries and various expenses to make ends meet.

"Squeeze in a little, squeeze in a little more, and give the long train a little more space. We have to make sure we get to celebrate the New Year properly!" Linghuye said to Li Guohua.

"Yes, sir!" Li Guohua cupped his hands and said, "Then I will think of another way to see if we can squeeze out a little more! General, I am just a mortal, not a god, and I really can't conjure up money. It's not the scarcity that's the problem, but the inequality. The General of Chariots and Cavalry has already taken 50%, which is the most among all the departments. If we give more, won't his troops riot?"

Hearing the implied meaning in the song, General Wang De, who had been observing the situation, immediately chimed in, "Yes, Commander, you can't be too biased towards General Xiao. We've also been working hard all year, braving wind and rain!"

Xiao Changche snorted coldly and didn't bother to pay any attention to this guy.

Linghu Ye chuckled: "So, it seems I, the commander-in-chief, really have to conjure up some money for everyone!"

Everyone looked at Linghu Ye.

Linghu Ye's smile slowly faded, and his thick eyebrows changed from a straight line to an inverted V-shape. The room immediately fell silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Because everyone knew that Linghu Ye's appearance meant he was about to kill someone.

Although this is a tradition every year, this moment always sends shivers down one's spine.

"Zhi Shu, you speak!" Linghu Ye's voice seemed to come from the deepest hell, sending chills down one's spine.

“A few days ago, I went to welcome Scholar Zhang Ruo!” Linghu Zhishu said. “On the way, we encountered a barbarian band. In a fierce battle, my troops lost nearly forty soldiers before we wiped them out. After infiltrating our territory, these barbarian bandits have already slaughtered six villages and towns, killing and wounding more than a thousand civilians.”

"Well done!" Wan Feng exclaimed, beaming. "The secretary is indeed brave and fierce. These barbarians are not easy to deal with. To win against overwhelming odds, this battle is truly a classic!"

“That’s not the point!” Linghu Zhishu said with a smile. “The point is that there are some suspicious things about how these barbarians infiltrated and the crimes they committed.”

"Is that so? Barbarians eat raw meat and drink blood, they are extremely savage, and their actions cannot be judged by common sense. Even if there are some strange things, it is understandable," Wan Feng said.

"General Wei, do you think that I and my men are just sitting around doing nothing?" Linghu Zhishu's face turned cold. "This group of barbarians only slaughtered three villages and towns along the way, and those were all very poor villages and towns. The murderers in the other three wealthy villages and towns are someone else. Someone saw the barbarians sneak in, thought they had the opportunity, and dared to defy the world to kill my people, seize their wealth, and frame the barbarians."

"Is that so?" Wan Feng looked surprised. "Could it be that Li Dachui again?"

Linghu Zhishu chuckled, his cold gaze sweeping over the two rows of captains below. "Tell me, who did it?"

At this point, the meaning is quite clear: the perpetrator is one of the generals present today. Considering the previously announced direction of the barbarians' infiltration, the answer is obvious.

A captain looked ashen and swayed unsteadily.

"Chen Liang, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Linghu Zhishu asked.

Chen Liang looked down at Wan Feng in despair.

Wan Feng suddenly jumped up, "Chen Liang, could it be you? How dare you!"

(End of this chapter)