Sweep Yuan

Chapter 258 A New Beginning After This Farewell
Relying on harsh laws and severe punishments to maintain high-pressure rule may indeed frighten most people temporarily, but it cannot solve all problems permanently.

Tyranny is like building a dam to block a flood. It may seem effective at first, but as time goes on, the water level rises higher and higher, and the energy accumulated inside will become greater and greater. Eventually, the dam will break and the flood will cause even greater disaster.

The Yuan court's strict control over the station households can be described as such a short-sighted tyranny.

Its laws and regulations were as harsh as military law, and in some aspects even stricter than the discipline of the Red Flag Battalion. The station officials who enforced the laws were extremely ruthless in their management and oppression of the lower-ranking station staff, leaving them almost no way to survive.

But Zeng Xing, who came from a humble background as a post station household, knew very well that despite the heavy pressure exerted by the Yuan court, its post station household management system was still a mess, rife with corruption, inefficiency, and the problem of post station households fleeing was repeatedly prohibited but never stopped.

He only became literate after following Shishan. He didn't read many books and knew very little about the laws of historical rise and fall. However, he was still able to vaguely realize, based on his life experience, that oppressive and terrifying rule alone could not solve the root problems.

Therefore, when Shi Shan suddenly asked this question, Zeng Xing immediately realized that he had guessed the marshal's intention wrong, and hurriedly bowed to admit his mistake:

"Your subordinate was foolish and presumptuously guessed the emperor's intentions. Please punish me, Marshal!"

If these words came from someone else, they would be inappropriate and might even arouse suspicion.

However, Zeng Xing had followed Shi Shan since the early days of the Chulan Army and was a staunch confidant of the Marshal. He knew that although Shi Shan was strict in disciplining his troops, he was not a narrow-minded or intolerant ruler. His statement that he "presumptuously speculated on the emperor's intentions" was, in fact, another kind of cautious "speculation."

Looking at Zeng Xing's face, which was filled with fear and sincerity, Shi Shan couldn't help but sigh inwardly: He had been busy with military and political affairs lately, and it had been so long since he had had an in-depth conversation with these core subordinates that they still needed to test his intentions with various words and actions.

He had been buried in official documents all morning and was indeed quite tired. He got up, walked out of the somewhat oppressive office, and said to Zeng Xing:

"Come on, let's take a walk in the yard."

"Yes!"

Zeng Xing quickly responded and followed, habitually maintaining a position half a step behind the side of the rocky hill.

It was May, and the weather in Jiangning was already quite muggy, but many saplings in the Marshal's Mansion compound, with their lush foliage, blocked the increasingly intense sunlight. The flowerbeds were a riot of color, their subtle fragrance filling the air; walking among them, a cool breeze refreshed the mind and spirit.

Shi Shan deliberately slowed his pace, and his voice became much gentler than it had been in the official hall:

“Zeng Xing, you must remember that I placed you in the position of Military Law Commander so that you could uphold the dignity of military law and safeguard its authority, not so that you could kill for me. Killing is easy; a knife slashes and heads fall. It can indeed temporarily suppress many problems, but it cannot solve all problems.”

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over a vigorous locust tree, and continued:

"Besides, if we really want to kill someone, why would the military law department need to take action? Wouldn't it be more efficient if I just released a battalion of soldiers? If killing one person causes the entire army to tremble, then kill him. But if killing one person causes the entire army to doubt, then we are destroying our own foundation."

If your judgments as military judge are based solely on your own subjective feelings and lack any discernible order, how can I possibly enforce military law to command respect? Destroying the hearts and minds of the people is easy, but rebuilding them is an impossible task!

"Your subordinate—"

The marshal's words were quite harsh. Zeng Xing felt a tremor in his heart and suddenly felt wronged. He wanted to explain that everything he had done was for the marshal's great cause and that he had no selfish motives.

But the words stuck in his throat—even if it was truly out of "public interest," could the hearts of the people that had been destroyed be restored? Moreover, if he asked himself honestly, did he not also have the idea of ​​trying to figure out the emperor's intentions and being eager to make a contribution and establish his authority when he hoped to severely punish Zhu Chongba?
Thinking of this, Zeng Xing's cheeks flushed slightly, and he was speechless for a moment, so he could only lower his head.

Although Shi Shan criticized Zeng Xing, he had no intention of punishing him. The Zhu Chongba case had not yet been formally adjudicated, and Zeng Xing's visit was precisely to solicit his final opinion. As a superior, if he wanted his subordinates to offer their opinions, he could not arbitrarily punish them simply because their opinions did not align with his own.

He preferred to guide and train these loyal but limited subordinates. If they couldn't keep up with his pace, then he would consider adjusting their positions and training a more suitable person.

If one is always demanding perfection and criticizes or insults indiscriminately when dissatisfied with something, it will not only fail to solve the problem but will also destroy one's own foundation. It will only force these loyal subordinates to be timid and hesitant, and to lie and do false things to please one's own interests, ultimately ruining the great cause.

“You are an old brother who started this uprising with me. How could I not know your intentions?”

Shi Shan turned his head, his gaze softening considerably as it fell on Zeng Xing's face, filled with earnest expectation. He continued:
"As long as you do your job well, I will never let you down."

The two walked to a pomegranate tree in full bloom, its fiery red blossoms clustered on the branches like burning flames. Shi Shan paused, gazing at the tree's vibrant display, his tone calm yet profound:
"Whether it's military law or the civil law that will be implemented in the future, their fundamental purpose is to maintain stability and achieve effective governance. They are written rules that forcibly constrain and regulate the behavior of the military and civilians, so that society can operate in an orderly manner."

If the law deviates from its original intent during its implementation, instead forcing civilians and soldiers to take risks and causing greater social unrest, then we must reflect: is the problem with the law itself, or with those who enforce it?

He turned to look at Zeng Xing, his gaze deep and his expression becoming more serious.

"But we must never resort to high-pressure tactics and terror to force the military and civilians to submit. Even if that solves the problem temporarily, it will only further exacerbate the conflict and sow the seeds of greater disaster in the future!"

As the military law officer, Zeng Xing had personally participated in the drafting and revision of numerous military laws, and naturally understood the process and function of lawmaking. He understood Shi Shan's words and finally understood why the marshal was dissatisfied with his proposed verdict in the Zhu Chongba case.

He immediately lowered his head deeply and said in an extremely sincere tone:
"The Marshal's reprimand is correct! I was foolish and failed to live up to the Marshal's trust, almost ruining a great undertaking due to my shortsightedness!"

"it is good!"

Shi Shan nodded slightly, his tone still calm, and encouraged him:
"Now tell me, how should this case be judged?"

Although Shishan has classified the case as a serious violation of discipline rather than treason, Zeng Xing's plan to establish his authority through the Xingda case has failed.

But on second thought, no one truly wants their lord to be a capricious tyrant who kills and exterminates entire clans at the drop of a hat—if someone else's head falls today, who can guarantee that the butcher's knife won't be wielded against them tomorrow?

Zeng Xing quickly changed his mind. After a moment's hesitation, he cautiously spoke:
"If military judges like Qin Shuang hadn't broken the law, tacitly approving or even actively facilitating this matter, Zhu Chongba, no matter how many ideas he had, would never have been able to put them into action. Therefore, the main culprit in this case is Qin Shuang! He should be severely punished..."

Although Zhu Chongba's actions may have been suggestive or instigating, his intention was merely to recruit fellow villagers, and there is no direct evidence to suggest that he intended to rebel, and..."

"Not bad!"

Shi Shan nodded again, affirming Zeng Xing's ruling.

To be honest, Zhu Chongba was a selfish and audacious man. Given his "great achievements" in the original historical timeline, and Shishan being no moral saint, it was impossible for him to be completely unprepared for him.

However, maintaining the seriousness and fairness of the Red Flag Battalion's military discipline is even more important—those who violate discipline must be severely punished, but the punishment must never exceed the limits of their actual crimes.

If, in order to kill Zhu Chongba, who has not yet shown any real signs of rebellion, we were to set a bad precedent of "guilt based on personal conviction," thereby undermining the foundation of military law and causing the soldiers to fear not military law, but Zhu Chongba's personal whims, then we would be losing more than we gain and destroying our own Great Wall.

Shi Shan pointed to the meticulously pruned and uniquely shaped saplings in the courtyard and said:
"Look at this garden of flowers and trees, their shapes are unique, and they are lush and green. Do you know how many gardeners must have taken care of them day and night, fertilizing, watering, removing pests and pruning, to create such a beautiful scene?"

His gaze became distant, as if piercing through the courtyard wall to see a wider world, and then he said:
"The world is vast, and the military and civilian situations are far more complex than this garden of seedlings. Even if I had three heads and six arms, I couldn't possibly do everything myself and manage everything under the sun. Ultimately, it is up to you all to perform your duties in order to maintain overall stability and prevent any chaos from arising."

The marshal's words revealed undisguised trust and responsibility, and Zeng Xing immediately felt a weight on his shoulders. His earlier fear and grievance vanished, replaced by a burning sense of responsibility and drive. He straightened his back and solemnly said:

"I will remember your teachings, Marshal! I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties and never fail to live up to your trust!"

……

The main hall of the Military Law Department. A solemn and dignified atmosphere enveloped the entire hall. Zhu Chongba was brought here again. This time, Qin Shuang, Zhou Dexing, and others were kneeling before him. Seeing this, Zhu Chongba knew that today was the day of the formal sentencing. His heart pounded uncontrollably, and his mind churned with chaotic thoughts: What kind of punishment would he be sentenced to? How many people would share his head?
Zeng Xing sat upright in the courtroom, his face ashen. The days of intensive interrogations had left a trace of weariness on his brow, but his eyes remained sharp. He didn't keep everyone waiting long; seeing that all the prisoners had been brought in, he grabbed the gavel and slammed it down heavily!
"Bang!" "Trial begins!"

The crisp sound echoed in the lobby, suppressing all the restless unease.

"The criminals Qin Shuang, Wang Dingqi... Zhu Chongba, Zhou Dexing and others have been brought to justice!" The yamen runner's voice was clear and forceful.

Zeng Xing unfolded the prepared judgment document, glanced at the crowd below, and began to read it aloud in a loud voice:
"The case of the private recruitment of soldiers in the Third Garrison of Fujunwei has been verified."

Qin Shuang, the former military judge of the town, violated the law by inciting and colluding with five other military judges in the town—Wang Dingqi, Zhao Sheng, Chen Cai, Li Liumu, and Sun Jiu—to commit fraud, conceal the facts, and arbitrarily register Zhou Dexing, Zhu Wenzheng, and six others into the military roster, thereby fraudulently claiming military pay and disrupting military order.

His voice was steady and clear, and every word struck the hearts of everyone present.

"The aforementioned actions seriously violated Article 5 of the 'Red Flag Battalion Military Judge Supervision Regulations,' Article 11 of the 'Recruitment Regulations,' and Article 7 of the 'Soldier Division Regulations.' They were egregious in nature and had an extremely negative impact. Only severe punishment can uphold military discipline and set things right!"

A deathly silence fell over the hall, broken only by Zeng Xing's voice. Zhu Chongba held his breath, listening intently to every single word.

"According to the law, the principal offender, Qin Shuang, violated the law while enforcing it, and his crime should be aggravated by one degree. He should be stripped of his military status and sentenced to three years of hard labor. Considering that he was able to confess his crimes in a timely manner after being brought to justice, did not make any futile excuses, and cooperated with the investigation and took the initiative to explain his crimes, his circumstances are somewhat acceptable, and his sentence should be reduced by six months at the discretion of the court."

In summary, the verdict is as follows: Qin Shuang is stripped of his military status and exiled to the Chuzhou mines to serve two and a half years of hard labor!

Upon hearing this, Qin Shuang trembled slightly, but knowing that such a judgment was already a mercy from the marshal, she kowtowed deeply and said in a hoarse voice:
"The guilty party...accepts punishment."

"The perpetrators are Wang Dingqi and Zhao Sheng..."

Zhu Chongba was somewhat puzzled. He had originally thought he was the principal offender and did not understand why Zeng Xing had pronounced the sentences of these accomplices first, and why the sentences were far lighter than he had expected.

Although his mind was racing, Zhu Chongba breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Qin Shuang's verdict—if even the accomplice Qin Shuang could be given a lenient sentence, then he, as the principal offender, wouldn't be sentenced too severely either, at least not for the serious crime of treason.

In that case, the chances of survival would be much greater, and a mixture of indescribable anticipation and confusion arose in his heart.

After all, being executed for violating military discipline is not a good reputation.

As long as he could survive, Zhu Chongba was willing to accept even years of hard labor; he had no intention of seeking death to appear heroic.

Zeng Xing was quite exhausted after interrogating the criminals for several days. After reading the verdicts for Qin Shuang, Wang Dingqi, and five others, his throat was already a little dry. He paused for two breaths. The hall was so quiet that you could hear the wind blowing outside the window. Zhu Chongba felt that those two breaths were as long as two years.

"The culprit is Zhu Chongba!"

Zeng Xing's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, and Zhu Chongba jumped up, immediately kneeling straight, his heart pounding in his throat.

"As the garrison commander of the Third Garrison of the Fujun Guard, he abused his power for personal gain and implied to Qin Shuang, the military judge of this garrison... Considering that he confessed his crimes promptly after being brought to justice and took the initiative to explain what he had done, and that there was no evidence to show that he had committed any further rebellious acts."

"Based on the above, after comprehensive consideration, the judgment is as follows: Zhu Chongba is dismissed from his post as garrison commander and demoted to squad leader, to be observed for future performance."

Zhu Chongba could hardly believe his ears! It wasn't hard labor, much less execution?
His mind went completely blank for a moment, and he stood there stunned, even forgetting to accept the punishment and express his gratitude. It wasn't until the bailiff beside him whispered a reminder that he snapped back to his senses and hurriedly kowtowed along with Qin Shuang and the others.

"The guilty Zhu Chongba confesses his sins! Thank you, Marshal and Commander, for your magnanimity!"

Next, Zeng Xing announced the decision to deal with Zhou Dexing, Zhu Wenzheng and six others: these seven people were recruited in violation of regulations, their military status was invalid from the beginning and was cancelled, and all the military pay they had received must be confiscated (the part that the seven people were unable to repay was to be deducted from Zhu Chongba's military pay on a monthly basis).

Given that these seven individuals did not intentionally plan the crime and that the circumstances were minor, they were not held criminally liable, were released on the spot, restored to civilian status, and repatriated to their places of origin.

After the verdict was announced, Zeng Xing slammed the gavel.

"Retire!"

The fierce-looking yamen runners stepped forward and put shackles and chains on Qin Shuang, Wang Dingqi, and others who were to perform hard labor. They were then escorted away on the spot and sent directly to the boats moored on the riverbank to be transported to the mines in Chuzhou, north of the river.

Zhu Chongba, Zhou Dexing, and others were immediately freed from their shackles and fetters, regaining their freedom.

Zhu Chongba followed the crowd out of the gloomy hall of the Military Law Department, his mind in a daze. The bright sunlight outside stung his eyes. He took a deep breath of the free air, and his cold lungs gradually warmed up, his mind calming down once more.

He was, after all, an extremely intelligent man. After carefully reviewing the entire trial process and the verdict, he had roughly guessed why he was given a lenient sentence—Marshal Shi wanted the law and the rules, not indiscriminate killing based on personal whims.

Although I still can't understand it, I actually benefited from this "law" this time?
Looking at Zhou Dexing, Zhu Wenzheng, and other fellow villagers and relatives beside him, still shaken, Zhu Chongba felt a pang of guilt. He stepped forward and said:
"Dexing, Wenzheng... brothers, to be honest, it's all my fault for dragging you into this mess. If you want to settle down and farm properly when you go back, I'll have someone send some money back to you when I've saved up enough for my salary. It will be some compensation from me!"

Zhou Dexing, Zhu Wenzheng, and the others had originally thought they would be badly injured, if not killed, so their unexpected escape was a pleasant surprise. In retrospect, they were the ones who had caused Zhu Chongba to be demoted and fined, and had even jeopardized his promising future. Hearing him say this now, they felt even more guilty.

"Chongba, don't say that..."

"Fourth Uncle, we've let you down..."

Zhu Chongba waved his hand, forcing a smile that, though somewhat complex, revealed a sense of relief and acceptance after surviving a calamity. He said:

"I've thought it through. Marshal Shi has a heart as vast as the sea, which is beyond the comprehension of a rough man like me. If you still wish to join the army, you can go through the normal recruitment process in the future. I don't think anyone will deliberately make things difficult for you because of today's incident."

However, remember to always abide by military regulations in the future and refrain from forming cliques in private, lest you give others a handle against you.

After their ordeal in prison, Zhou Dexing and the others were already like frightened birds, and had no desire to join the army again. They all expressed that they only wanted to return to their hometown of Zhongli, to farm in peace, and never want to live this life of constant fear again.

Zhu Chongba couldn't really figure out Shi Shan's true thoughts, and he couldn't be sure if Marshal Shi was truly forgiving. Seeing that the villagers were terrified, he stopped trying to persuade them.

He recalled that when he was captured by Hu Deji that day, he seemed to hear that the Third Division of the Fujun Guard had been disbanded, and he had now been demoted to a squad leader. The verdict did not specify his destination, and he had to rush back to the main camp to report. He was somewhat at a loss.

Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly heard someone call out behind him:

"Zhu Chongba, wait a moment!"

Zhu Chongba turned around and saw that the person who had called out to him was a stranger with a capable-looking face dressed in the uniform of a mid-level officer. However, Zhu Chongba recognized the two soldiers beside him as his former brothers from the Third Division. Each of them was carrying a bundle, which seemed to contain his own belongings.

He quickly bowed and asked with a hint of wariness:

"Forgive my poor eyesight, and who are you, sir?"

The officer was quite polite, returning the salute before taking out a document bearing the seal of the Military Command from his pocket and handing it over with a faint smile, saying:

"My name is Zhao Yong, and I currently serve as a military advisor in the Military Command. From now on, we will be colleagues."

(End of this chapter)