CH 12

General Above I am Below Chapter Twelve “Pleading For Mercy” 

Glossary

The tragic events in the military quickly spread out. Families with children’s joining the military are extremely agitated. The deceased are dead while those beaten in a hurry relied on personal relations and went to visit pleading for mercy. Those that went to see the general was blocked out, Duke Zhenguo residence Huang shi also closed the door and refused the guests. There were some smart people who ran to An Qinwang residence, which made An Taifei complain tearfully. An Taifei cannot turn blind to her friends request then sent a letter to Ye Zhao, told her to be magnanimous and help people once.

Ye Zhao received the letter, nodding her head. “Mother wants to favor the friendship. These names on this list the punishment make it lighter, be careful not to beat to death.”

The officer informed: “General the flogging is over, thirteen people died. Your meaning is……another round again?”

Ye Zhao generously shook her head and said, “Forget it, first time to tidy up the military can let loose a little. You go and educate those bunch of useless things, let them know what is a military discipline. If they don’t understand flog twenty times, they need to learn the lesson, if understood completely then let them recuperate.”

The officer accepted the order and went out.

In the capital city military barracks immediately emerge a studious frenzy, as long as there is the commander tone on the back, they are more vigorous compared to the top scorer in imperial examination.

Ye Zhao is very pleased with everyone’s efforts.

When several of the officials heard the news, they in anger went and asked for audience with the Emperor. Accusing Ye Zhao of being violently brutal, the punishment was too heavy causing all soldiers to fear.

Emperor Dezong is a benevolent person, for the dead children he also drops a few tears, naturally will not be merciless. Regrettably, he was so absorbed playing with the latest tribute the yellow-billed grosbeak bird and forgot all the officials who were kneeling outside, so they waited for about two shichen (1 shichen: 2 hours). By that time the head is off the shoulder and the flogging was over.

Emperor Dezong casually comforts the weeping cabinet ministers with few words. Told them to govern their children for good. He bestows Ye Zhao with a superficial meaning imperial edict, then continue to play with the birds. Ye Zhao also throw away this perfunctory edict to the side.

People saw the Emperor attitudes, their mind went crystal clear.

Not to mention all the great family relied on the successful military candidates to get their children to enter the camp. Not to make forward such shameful things, if the children are really favored, they will also reluctant to send them to the military and suffer hardship. Therefore, except for the other scoundrel from outside, the remaining are most likely the good for nothing or the not favored son’s of the household. Although it is very sad but after carefully calculated a bit, for them to offend the imperial clan powerful officials are not worth it.

Some of them sail with the wind, immediately starts flattering and said the capital city military using such actions to bring control are correct, that is to defend Dai Qin country for the remaining years. There is also people who won’t change minds, such as Ma Guiren. Since she entered the palace until now, her relationship with her nephew is very good. After heard the news of his death, immediately carrying her belly, she weep endlessly demanding to see Emperor Dezong.

Emperor Dezong playing with the birds at the side indifferently asked, “Why did your nephew joined the military camp?”

Ma Guiren said, “Since childhood, he wanted to devote himself to Dai Qin, to serve with his body and soul.”

Emperor Dezong asked, “There is a lot of ways to serve for Dai Qin? Imperial examinations, trading or farming is a very safe way, but why must enlist in the army?’

Ma Guiren dare not say that her nephews do not care for the literature and must relied on the connections to work for living, without any better option she just cry and said: “This……He just adores the military, want to make a name in the military. Render service for the Emperor and bring honor for the ancestors. His apprenticeship not yet finished but just from a small mistake, had provoked General Ye cruelty, he is so pitiful…… “

Emperor Dezong sighed: “It is pitiful, to make fame in the military is not easy to accomplish, naturally need to have some mental capability. How old was this boy? How many months in the capital military camp? “

Ma Guiren exclaimed: “He was twenty-three years old, entered for three months. “

Emperor Dezong: “Why would a man who wanted to build a military career, lived for twenty-three years and entered the camp for three months, but don’t know the Great Ancestor seventeen prohibition martial law? “

Ma Guiren was speechless for a moment, yet still want to quibble: “It is General Ye who don’t know how to teach, just recklessly killed people.”

Emperor Dezong flick his sleeve in anger, said, “Ye Zhao is holding the ancestors great iron whip, according to the ancestors martial law to punish your nephew. Are you saying that the teaching, the law established by the great ancestors was used to recklessly killed people? What a nerve! “

Ma Guiren: “No … Your Majesty, I do not think so, I …… my stomach ache.”

She wept, trembling and almost collapse.

“Don’t kneel, you are with pregnant body, crying is not good for the child,”  Emperor Dezong quickly support and comfort his concubine, “This matter is already done, but you still have another younger male cousin in the army? I guessed him and Ye Zhao also is not compatible. Since he wants to dedicate for the country and bring honor to the ancestors, it would be better to grant him as petty official and transfer to another region. How do you see about Southwest border military front line? There are many opportunities for a meritorious deeds, wait until he gain a victory, then I will properly reward him with additional promotions”

Southwest border often have an invasion from barbarian race and together with countless poisonous insects and swamp gas. The southwestern vanguard is also known as the “Death Squad”, which usually consists of a criminal banished to serve a penal sentence or the desperate local poor people. If you can survive in poverty for a few years, it is true that you can improve your fortunes, but not as many.

Ma Guiren minds finally went clear, hastily knelt down, begging for forgiveness.

“That is fine if don’t want to go, no need to bother?” Emperor Dezong once again support her up, smiling said, “Although I have established the crown prince and have a lot of son’s, but is still delighted for the child in your belly. It is best to be a little princess that resembles you, certainly will look the most beautiful. “

Ma Guiren head was spinning, she felt her belly began to really hurt.

Inside the military, the punishment cleanup works has not ended yet.

Ye Zhao sat down neatly in the general tent, flipping over the documents and unconsciously the night falls.

Hu Qing leisurely and unhurried stroll in, walk to her side and circled.

Finally she noticed the existence of the other person and raised her head: “Hu Li, these days to sort up with these group of brats, you worked so hard to collect such a complete list of offense like this.”

“Sure thing,” Hu Qing whimper and sit down next to her then asked, “Tomorrow is the rest day, we go out for a drink?”

Ye Zhao shake her head: “Not good with wine. “

Hu Qing: “I never suspect that.”

Ye Zhao: “I am saying that your drinking are not good.”

Hu Qing awkwardly touch his nose: “Aiya, everyone else is the same, who can distinguish which.”

Ye Zhao looked at her high wall of documents: “Another day.”

Hu Qing: “Won’t do!”

Ye Zhao frowned: “Why?”

Hu Qing was silent for a moment, then sorrowfully said, “You this fellow ah……have you forgotten our oath of eternal love?”

Ye Zhao was scared all over and alertly asked, “What kind of mischief are you up to?”

Hu Qing beaming looked at her: “You guess it.”

Ye Zhao thought for a moment, half squinting threatening said: “Even if considering friendship with you this shameless fox, it does not prevent Laozi from sometimes considered how to crush you…… “

“He he ㅡ fortunately only sometimes, only be considered.” Hu Qing jokingly said few sentences, see her face is not good immediately explained: “That years, when we swore vengeance. The night before the surprised attack, you said that if people can come back alive, will invite everyone to drink the capitals best wine, or do you forget? “

Ye Zhao heard that, she smiled.

How can forget that night?

There is no star and moon on the sky. Three thousands officer and soldiers escaped from the massacre at Mobei and gathered on the mountain top, constantly grinding the sword, swore a sacred oath, pledging on one’s life to avenge.

There are no strong wine, only substitute with a clear water.

There are no big piece of meat, only substitute with a wotou(cornbread).

She stood up and announced to everyone, “If we win in the battle and return to the capital, I will invite all brothers to drink a good wine!”

Everyone laughed and loudly jeered: “Only good wine won’t do! The pleasure boat on Qin river would be the best and it’s better with Lu’an lane dancer. General cannot be stingy, absolutely cannot drink you to poor! ”

She laughed and said: “Then drink for three days and three nights!”

“Good!” Everyone proudly drank a bowl of water, then threw the bowls and screamed: “Victory in one battle!” “See you in capital city!” Then put on the armor, picked up the weapons, immediately afterwards she altogether rushed down the mountain and attacked the enemy camp.

Fight till death!

Fight till death!

Follow orders to fight!

That night, they defeated the enemy troops, however one thousand two hundred thirty-seven brothers did not return back.

Six years later, among the three thousand brothers on that day, only remained five hundred and thirty-two people.

Old Huang known to chant a play is dead, the obstinate temper Gaosheng is dead, Xiao He who sings touching love songs like an oriole is dead, the master cook Old Mao is dead, Old Niu who can weave a grasshopper using straw is dead, Tie Zhu who everyday asked for a wife is dead, Ah Niu who loved to quarrel is also dead ……

What is worth more celebrating than living?

“Drink, this wine must drink! Immediately goes to Qin river, we shall have the pleasure boat, and Lu’an lane best dancer and musicians. I want to invite the brothers to drink the best wine!”