Qing Yao

Chapter 392 No Grass Grows
When Zhang Biao's troops clashed with Ye Zhigui's retreating troops, considerable chaos ensued. If the salt bandits had turned and charged at this moment, the Qing army might have suffered a major defeat. This angered Ye Zhigui so much that he wanted to draw his sword and kill someone.

But remembering Shaojun's instructions, Ye Zhigui swallowed his anger and advised Zhang Biao not to pursue the salt bandits for the sake of the bigger picture, because the terrain ahead was easy to ambush, and if the salt bandits were deliberately feigning defeat to lure the enemy in, it would be too dangerous for Zhang Biao's troops to rush over like that.

But Zhang Biao, who was eager to claim credit, wouldn't listen to Ye Zhigui's advice. Seeing that Ye was just a captain, he put on the airs of a garrison commander and told him not to say anything more.

In the past, Ye Zhigui would have dared to chop this lousy garrison commander to pieces, after all, he had almost killed the Fuzhou general. However, after being transferred to Fu Biao as a transport soldier, he was repeatedly reprimanded by Zhao An, who demanded that he be "organized and disciplined." Now, under the patronage of the young master, he has transformed into a sixth-rank officer in the imperial court, so he can only suppress his anger no matter how great it is.

Seeing Zhang Biao chasing after the salt bandits despite all advice, Ye Zhigui spat and said, "You don't listen to your elders, and you'll regret it. A bunch of good-for-nothings who're just trying to be reborn!"

Ye Zhigui's curse came true.

Zhang Biao, who completely disregarded the salt bandits, hadn't even led his troops across the canyon below Black Rock Pass when arrows rained down from above, and stones rained down from the sky. The Qing troops, who had no cover below, were beaten and howled in agony.

The salt bandits who had been charging forward turned back and attacked again. More than two hundred salt bandits who had been lying in ambush for a long time also jumped out from their hiding places, cutting off the Qing army's retreat.

In an instant, Zhang Biao's troops were caught in a desperate situation of "three-dimensional attack". The soldiers, who had no armor and only a few shields, were exposed in the open ground below and were used as live targets by the salt bandits. Many soldiers were smashed to death by stones, and their brains were splattered everywhere.

The Qing army that was ambushed suffered a horrific scene; the soldiers cried out in despair and trampled each other, resulting in heavy casualties.

Although Zhang Biao fought valiantly, he could not reverse the defeat. He was shot in the shoulder by a skilled salt bandit and, in pain, had no choice but to lead his remaining troops in a desperate attempt to break through the encirclement.

When the panicked Wang Dingfang led his troops to provide support, the scene before him shocked the deputy general into gasping for breath. Of Zhang Biao's more than 500 men, only about 70 had escaped. The rest were either dead in the canyon or lying there wailing for help.

"It's over!"

Knowing he had made a grave mistake, Wang Dingfang turned pale. Zhang Biao had been ordered to attack, and now that they had suffered a crushing defeat, he, as the deputy general, would certainly have to bear the responsibility.

Just as he was terrified and unsure how to explain to the acting governor, or rather, how to defend himself, Zhao An arrived with his men. He glanced at Zhang Biao, the garrison commander being helped by his personal guards and receiving bandages, and then at the group of wounded soldiers who had narrowly escaped death. Zhao An's expression was grim.

The scene was deathly silent, while in the distance, the salt bandits who had won the battle cheered, interspersed with the screams of wounded soldiers who had been abandoned by their comrades and lay on the ground groaning in agony.

All the officers and soldiers held their breath, staring at Lord Zhao, who had just been digging and carrying timber with them.

Old Song also frowned slightly, knowing that Zhao An must have murderous intentions.

Even though Fengyang Tongzhi knew nothing about military affairs, he knew that this defeat of the government troops would have a huge impact on morale. He sighed repeatedly, worried that the loss of this battle would seriously affect the morale of the army and ruin Lord Zhao's important plans.

"grown ups,"

Now that things had come to this, Wang Dingfang could only try his best to defend himself. But he was interrupted by Zhao An raising his hand as soon as he opened his mouth. His face was expressionless, showing neither anger nor regret. He simply said in a voice that was not loud but could be clearly heard by the officers and soldiers present: "Zhang Biao, the assistant garrison commander of Huizhou, was greedy for merit and acted rashly. He disobeyed orders and caused heavy casualties to our soldiers. According to military law, he shall be executed!"

The final word "slay" pierced Zhang Biao's ear like an ice pick after his wounds were bandaged, causing him to fall to his knees with a thud, banging his head against the ground like a pestle: "My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life!"

The lips are dead and the teeth are cold.

Seeing that Zhao An was about to execute Zhang Biao without asking any questions, Wang Dingfang was terrified and quickly pleaded for Zhang Biao's life: "Sir, although Zhang Biao has made mistakes, his bravery is commendable. Considering his..." Before he could finish speaking, Zhao An's gaze shot towards him like a knife, and a very calm sentence slowly came out of his mouth: "Wang Dingfang, the deputy general of Shouchun Town, has failed in his duties and made poor command, which has led to the disruption of our overall situation and the loss of the lives of our officers and soldiers. According to the law, he should also be executed!"

"what?"

Before Deputy General Wang could recover from the words "should also be executed," Ye Zhigui waved his hand, and several soldiers, acting like wolves in sheep's clothing, immediately stepped forward and pinned Wang and Zhang to the ground, holding them down no matter how much they struggled.

Seeing this, none of the officers from Shouchun Town present dared to make a move.

As the broadsword was raised, Wang Dingfang seemed to wake from a dream, and cried out hoarsely, "My lord, spare my life! This humble general dares not do it again! This humble general will never dare to be greedy for credit again!"

"My lord, spare my life! This humble general is willing to atone for my sins by performing meritorious service!"

Zhang Biao was so frightened that he begged for mercy.

"I wouldn't dare, please spare my life?"

Enraged, Zhao An pointed at the corpses in the canyon ahead, his eyes filled with heartache. "I'll spare you, but who will return the lives of my soldiers? How can I face their parents, wives, and children? Do you know that their parents, wives, and children are waiting for them to come home for the New Year?"

"cut!"

With Ye Zhigui's renewed wave of his hand, a flash of light appeared, and the shouts abruptly ceased.

Two heads fell to the ground, their blood staining the rocks red.

The scene was completely silent. All the soldiers, whether they were from the Fubiao Army or the Huainan Green Standard Army, were stunned by the two severed heads that had rolled to the ground.

No one expected that Lord Zhao, who had been so approachable these past few days and treated them like brothers, would also have such ruthless methods.

"Only by strictly enforcing orders can we build a strong army! The fates of Wang and Zhang today should serve as a warning to all of you. Anyone who disobeys military orders, deserts their post, or underestimates the enemy and advances recklessly will be executed without mercy, regardless of rank!"

Wherever Zhao An looked, all the officers were terrified. Who would dare to underestimate him? Who would think that setting up a fortified camp and fighting a tough battle was just a tortoise-like strategy that this young man had come up with on a whim?

"Ye Zhigui's troops remained calm in the face of the enemy, repelled the bandits, and held the defensive line. They are hereby commended for their meritorious service and will be rewarded with 500 taels of silver for all the soldiers who participated in the battle!"

Zhao An was fair in rewarding and punishing, and immediately his personal guards brought out five hundred taels of silver to distribute as a reward in public. Although each soldier only received one tael of silver as a reward, the feeling of holding one tael of silver in his hand was more encouraging than one tael of gold.

After ordering Ye Zhigui to "merge" the remaining remnants of the Huizhou garrison, Zhao An silently took several dozen steps forward. Looking at the corpses and wounded in the canyon ahead, he pondered for a moment, then turned and instructed An Deshun, the Assistant Magistrate of Fengyang:

"Go and talk to the bandits. If they allow me to collect the bodies of the fallen soldiers and treat the wounded, all those captured by my troops in the future will be pardoned and released once. Otherwise, even if blood flows like a river on this mountain, I will ensure that this area within a hundred miles is barren, devoid of both people and livestock!"

(End of this chapter)