My father, King Chu, was besieged at Gaixia

Chapter 72: Support and Courage
When Xiang Chang arrived on horseback, he saw the door of the storehouse wide open, and an unknown amount of wine had been stolen. A strong smell of alcohol was wafting in front of the storehouse, and six or seven empty wine jars were randomly discarded.

In the mud soaked in wine, Xiang Xi lay in it like a mud pig, with a bruised face and nose, whimpering constantly.

Jumping off the horse, Xiang Chang looked at the messy scene in front of him with a cold face, squinting his eyes, and his cheeks twitched imperceptibly a few times.

The cold and arrogant young man Tian Jian, who followed behind, was furious. He ignored the filth and went forward to help Xiang Xi up, cursing at him all the while.

During the siege of Gaixia City a few days ago, Xiang Xi single-handedly risked his life to sneak into Gaixia City and promptly delivered Xiang Chang's order to Wu She, which led to Wu She's successful persuasion of Peng Yue's army to retreat. This was a crucial step in the successful resolution of the siege of Gaixia City.

Moreover, Tian Jian was guarding the east gate at that time, and it was he who welcomed Xiang Xi into the city. The two of them had a long history. Now they were both transferred to the rear army by Xiang Chang, and they were of the same blood. Naturally, he was extremely angry.

Qu Fu, the deputy general standing behind Xiang Chang, felt an inexplicable chill in his body and looked up at Xiang Chang's figure. As a close minister to Xiang Chang, at this moment, he could keenly sense the anger surging in Xiang Chang's heart.

"How is it? Can you still hold on?" Xiang Chang's words were extremely calm, and no emotion could be heard from his expression.

Xiang Xi, who was barely standing up with the help of Tian Jian, raised his face with a shocking whip mark and tried to open his swollen eyes. Seeing that it was Xiang Chang, he grinned stupidly and said, "It's embarrassing for the general. Those guys snatched the wine."

Then he defended himself somewhat unconvincedly, "They are too shameless. I am not wearing armor and holding a blade, otherwise they would never succeed!"

"It seems that you can still hold on. Then stand behind me, stand up straight, and don't embarrass me!" Xiang Chang said unhappily.

"I'm very strong. This little flesh wound is nothing. Even if I break my arms and legs, I won't embarrass the general." Xiang Xi really stood behind Xiang Chang, trying to stand up straight, muttering softly.

"Qu Fu, go and summon the criminal who broke into the storehouse and robbed the fine wine."

Hearing Xiang Chang use the word "criminal general", Qu Fu was startled. As a member of the same noble family of Da Chu, he knew Ding Gu's origin and the power behind him very well, so he instinctively hesitated. However, seeing Xiang Chang's cold eyes, his heart skipped a beat, and he dared not hesitate any longer. He bowed and took the order in a deep voice, and hurried away with his guards on horseback.

Qu Fu understood clearly that when the siege of Gaixia was lifted, the young dragon roared, which shocked the entire Han camp. Now he had to make his own voice heard in the Chu army camp, so he could not afford to make any mistakes on this trip!

At this time, Xiang Xi's guard, the sergeant guarding the warehouse, came over timidly, but did not dare to get too close. He just stood there not too far away, with a flattering smile on his face.

"Drag Xiang Xi's guards here! As guards, they stood aside and watched the general being besieged. What crime should they be punished for according to military law for such dereliction of duty?"

Tian Jian waved his hand, and the attendants and guards behind him rushed over fiercely, bringing all the twelve guards of General Xiang Xi over, and answered Xiang Chang's question in a deep voice: "Thirty lashes!"

"Add ten points! The punishment is over, and you will be demoted to the baggage camp!"

When Xiang Xi's guards heard this, they were horrified and hurriedly knelt on the ground, begging loudly and swearing that they would be loyal to their duties and protect General Xiang Xi from now on.

Forty lashes were enough to kill them, and being relegated to the baggage camp, was that a place for people to stay? Not only did they not have enough food to eat, but they also had to do the heaviest and hardest work every day. It was no exaggeration to say that life was worse than death.

Before they could finish speaking, Tian Jian's attendants and guards pounced on them like wolves and tigers, forcing them to take off their clothes and lie on the ground.

Xiang Xi's guards were well aware of the severity of military law, and knew that they would be beheaded immediately if they dared to disobey. So while they begged for mercy, their subordinates did not dare to delay and took off all their clothes.

Tian Jian's attendants and guards had become impatient and kicked them to the ground, then whipped them hard. "Bang!" "Bang!" The crisp sounds of whipping flesh were heard in front of the warehouse.

Tian Jian knew that these guards were originally sent to protect the nobles, generals and ministers of the Chu State, and they inevitably developed arrogant temperaments, especially for soldiers of common origin, they completely disdained and had a strong sense of psychological superiority. Now that they were sent to protect Xiang Xi, who was of common origin, they were reluctant and secretly looked down on him. When they saw Ding Gu teaching Xiang Xi a lesson, they were afraid of Ding Gu's identity, and they were afraid that they would feel very happy! Therefore, this punishment was entirely his own fault and he did not deserve any sympathy.

The guards were whipped to death, screaming miserably. Who wouldn't want to watch such a scene? Not only did the officers and soldiers who were watching just now become more and more unable to move their legs, but more were attracted, and soon the warehouse was crowded with people.

Xiang Chang did not drive him away and just let him watch.

In the midst of the flogging, the encirclement of the crowd was suddenly opened up by someone from outside, and the rear army lieutenant general Qu Fu walked in quickly with the lieutenant general Ding Gu. Unexpectedly, Ding Gu was followed by dozens of lieutenant generals, lieutenant cavalry, and lieutenant generals, all of whom were from the aristocracy of the Great Chu.

Dozens of noble generals rushed into the encirclement with cold eyes and arrogant expressions, and then took a few steps closer before stopping. They stood in a circle, with their hands behind their backs, and looked at Xiang Chang coldly. Dozens of people stood in a group like this, and even if they didn't say a word, a strong sense of oppression had already spread out invisibly.

Behind each of these generals is a noble family, the difference lies in the strength of their power and territory.

Ding Gu followed Qu Fu to Xiang Chang and saw the guards' backs were bloody and their screams that used to shake the roof tiles were now weak and powerless. Seeing them dying, he was not only shocked, but also a little amused: "A show of power? Such a childish trick, used on a brave general like me who has fought many battles? Isn't this rear general too naive?"

"Greetings, General!" Ding Gu bowed slightly and saluted to Xiang Chang.

When Qu Fu found him, he had gathered a large group of nobles and generals who were toasting and drinking fine wine in a very lively atmosphere.

Qu Fu ignored the other generals, walked up to him coldly and gave him military orders.

Ding Gu served under the command of General Zhongli Mei. He was arrogant and wanted to ignore the order from General Xiang Chang. However, he saw Qu Fu reaching out to grab the hilt of the sword, with a cold face and murderous eyes, as if he would draw his sword and kill him on the spot if he said no.

Ding Gu was secretly terrified. He didn't know where Xiang Chang got the courage to kill him without asking the Overlord for permission. However, when he thought of the great achievements Xiang Chang had made in the past few days, especially the successful lifting of the siege of Gaixia by "persuading three kings in one day", the night attack on the Han camp of 70,000 troops and the defeat of them, and how both the general Zhongli Mei and his nephew, the right general Ji Bu, praised him highly, he couldn't help but feel scared. He didn't dare to be presumptuous, let alone resist. He stood up and followed him obediently.

The noble generals who were enjoying a refreshing drink with him were originally full of complaints about the Overlord's military order today. Seeing Qu Fu's rudeness, they became furious. Although they did not dare to stop or question him, they were unwilling to retreat. They looked at each other, stood up and rode their horses to follow him, to give courage and support to Ding Gu.

Xiang Chang raised his head and glanced at these generals with a look of surprise, but his eyes became colder. He knew why these generals came so aggressively.

"Force the emperor to abdicate? As my father's angel investor, you think you can be the master of the Chu State. If things don't go your way, you start making a scene? You are like an old sow licking the millstone. You want to blind your hearts."

Xiang Chang turned around and ignored Ding Gu's salute from a nearby person. He left him there and watched the ongoing flogging with indifference.

Ding Gu didn't know whether to stand up or continue bowing. He suffered such humiliation, his face turned red and he was filled with inexplicable anger.

However, as a newly promoted general of the Great Chu based on his military merits, not to mention the eldest son of the Overlord, Xiang Chang was not from a peasant family like Xiang Xi, so he would not be allowed to act presumptuously. Even if it was obvious that he was being humiliated, Ding Gu had no choice but to endure it.

After the flogging was over, Xiang Xi's guards were dragged away like dead pigs and thrown into the baggage camp. Xiang Chang continued coldly: "The soldiers guarding the warehouse failed to take good care of the military supplies, and the military supplies were stolen. What crime should they be punished for!"

"He should be beheaded according to his crime!" Tian Jian said in a deep voice.

Xiang Chang waved his hand, and as Ding Gu's eyelids twitched wildly and the faces of the noble generals changed drastically, four guards were dragged over. Ignoring their screaming pleas, Tian Jian's attendants and guards raised their swords and chopped off their heads in one fell swoop!

At this time, both Ding Gu and the noble generals who came to join in the fun without knowing the consequences, knew that Xiang Chang was serious about it.

Even though he was trying to remain calm, Ding Gu couldn't help but his face turned slightly pale.

The noble generals also slowly moved their feet, trying to retreat back to the crowd of onlookers. Even though they were numerous and powerful, they suddenly felt a little weak and insecure.

"The military camp warehouse is an important place, it should be strictly guarded, but the items were robbed so casually. It would be fine if it was robbed, but the guards did not stop it, their bodies were intact, and they were smiling, as if they were happy to see it happen? The general also emphasizes that one has the responsibility to defend the territory and do his duty. What's the point of not killing such a derelict of duty?" Xiang Chang said this casually, and after determining the nature of the matter, he turned his head to look at Ding Gu, looked him up and down, and said with a playful look: "Are you Ding Gu, the Lieutenant General?"

Ding Gu's heart suddenly shuddered, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead in an instant.

As a veteran general like him, who had fought in the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, he had a keen sense of the approaching danger. At this moment, he could clearly read the cold murderous intent hidden in Xiang Chang's ambiguous eyes.

He was a little confused. Although he had disobeyed the military orders of the Overlord and even beat and humiliated the Lieutenant General Xiang Xi, he had only stolen a few jars of good wine. Considering his background, military rank, and previous military achievements, he could only be fined for such a crime. Why did General Xiang Changhou want to kill him?

Where did he get such hatred towards me? I definitely didn't offend him!
Ding Gu had no idea about this issue, but Xiang Chang knew it very well.

I beg the brothers who have enough money to vote for the monthly ticket...

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(End of this chapter)