The commanders’ faces turned pale. Those assistant generals fortunate enough to have participated in the Yuzhou Defense Campaign years ago involuntarily recalled in their minds Zhao Hanzhang stabbing Commandery Governor Zhang through the heart with that single thrust.
The thought had just flashed through their minds when they heard Zhao Ming say coldly: “It seems none of you thought about it. Fortunately, I thought about it for you!”
With these words, he called out loudly: “Men, seize him!”
Before his words had finished falling, Pingyi led three guards and suddenly pounced toward Xun Sheng.
Xun Sheng naturally wouldn’t submit without resistance. While resisting, he shouted: “Zhao Ming is rebelling! What are you all standing there for?”
After a moment of shock, Xun Ming and the other commanders reacted and immediately stepped forward to stop them. Pingzhong led the remaining guards forward, their swords half-drawn, shouting loudly: “Who dares step forward?”
Song Zhi, Chen Siniang, and the others also glared and stepped forward, blocking Xun Ming and the others—mainly the four non-Xun surname assistant generals, Meng Rui, Yuan Jun, and the others.
Song Zhi stepped forward and shouted: “Rebellion? Rebel against whom? Don’t forget—Yuzhou is Governor Zhao’s Yuzhou!”
He called out: “General Xun is injured and unconscious. Right now, Commandery Governor Zhao is the person with the highest official position and status in the army. He’s acting according to law. Who dares be presumptuous!”
Chen Siniang added: “If you offend Commandery Governor Zhao, when the Governor returns, watch your skins!”
Assistant General Qiao from Ruyin Commandery, who had been ordered to provide aid and was standing to the side, immediately pushed forward upon hearing this, saying repeatedly: “Don’t shout—if word spreads outside the main tent, I fear there’ll be upheaval in the army.”
When Meng Rui and the others heard this, they immediately lowered their voices. Even Xun Ming didn’t dare act rashly anymore and could only plead with Zhao Ming: “Commandery Governor Zhao, the retreat was our poor judgment, but with the general injured and the army leaderless, we made a mistake in our panic. When the Governor returns, we will certainly plead guilty.”
However, the law doesn’t punish the masses. Zhao Hanzhang had always mainly appeased them. As long as Xun Xiu woke and pleaded for them, presumably the outcome wouldn’t be too severe.
Xun Sheng thought the same, so his resistance became less intense. Pingyi and the three guards quickly pressed him to the ground and tied him up with rope.
Xun Ming looked at Xun Sheng, whose hair was disheveled and covered in sweat, and quickly said: “The Commandery Governor arrested well, but this is a time when we need people. Why not let Xun Sheng atone for his crimes through merit?”
Zhao Ming ignored them and turned to order Assistant General Qiao: “Go assemble the three armies. I have something to tell them.”
Xun Ming and Meng Rui exchanged glances, feeling uneasy, knowing Zhao Ming was going to publicly punish Xun Sheng, but not knowing how he would punish him.
According to military law…
No, he definitely wouldn’t dare follow military law. This was the Xun Family Army, and Xun Sheng was Xun Xiu’s clan brother. At most he would give him a beating and demote him.
Xun Sheng thought the same, but this didn’t mean he was willing to be publicly beaten. Therefore, under Pingyi’s pressure, he struggled forcefully and shouted: “Let me go! This is the Xun Family Army! You have no authority to punish mmph mmph…”
Before he could finish, Pingyi grabbed a cloth and stuffed it in his mouth. To prevent him from spitting it out, he forcefully pushed it further in. Xun Sheng was so disgusted he nearly rolled his eyes.
Xun Ming and the others frowned watching this, but glancing at Zhao Ming sitting by the bed, none of them spoke, deciding to plead for mercy at the critical moment.
The routed army had soldiers crowded together. In the vast empty space there were only dozens of tents, all belonging to the generals.
So everyone quickly gathered. The troops weren’t in formation, the army wasn’t organized.
When Zhao Ming led everyone before the army and saw this scene by the fading twilight, his expression grew even more somber.
Zhao Ming had Xun Sheng brought forward to kneel before the army, but didn’t immediately deal with him. Instead, he first spoke of the distinguished military achievements and honors Xun Xiu had led them to establish in the past.
“During the campaign when Yuzhou resisted the Xiongnu, Governor Zhao praised this army of yours more than once in public. General Xun was promoted to Yingchuan Commandery Governor because of this. I thought you should be like General Xun—viewing Yuzhou as your homeland, preferring death to losing territory.”
“But I never imagined that with General Xun barely injured, you would collapse and flee. We already knew the Stone Army was coming for a night attack. We ambushed them in camp and successfully repelled them. Why still flee?” Zhao Ming angrily asked them. “Is it because Chen Commandery is behind us, not Yingchuan Commandery?”
“But if Chen Commandery falls, how can Yingchuan Commandery remain safe? What about your fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, and children?”
Zhao Ming’s interrogation spread through the three armies. The panic on the soldiers’ faces was gradually replaced by shame and anger.
After raising the army’s spirits through his angry glare, Zhao Ming said: “Soldiers follow generals’ orders. This official knows that fundamentally, the fault in this matter doesn’t lie with you, but with those who falsely transmitted military orders—Xun Sheng!”
Zhao Ming suddenly shouted explosively, turning to glare at him and asking: “General Xun is injured, and this official assumed command as the highest-ranking general of the entire army. Who gave you permission to bypass this official and directly order a retreat?”
“Mmph mmph mmph…” Xun Sheng had a bad premonition. He struggled forcefully, wanting to speak, but Pingyi pressed down on his shoulder, giving him no chance to resist.
What Zhao Ming wanted was to establish authority—this wasn’t about debating right and wrong or being fair. It was just a perfunctory question that didn’t require an answer. He directly ordered: “Men, Xun Sheng privately transmitted military orders, causing delay in battle opportunities. Deal with him according to military law!”
Xun Sheng’s eyes widened. Kneeling on the ground, he shook his head repeatedly, shouting muffled cries. He anxiously looked toward Xun Ming in panic.
Xun Ming and several commanders were also startled and quickly knelt to plead for mercy. Zhao Ming looked at them coldly and said: “What? Could it be that you also participated in privately transmitting military orders?”
Xun Ming and the others’ hearts tightened. They lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
Zhao Ming waved his hand. Pingyi drew his sword, raised it high, and with a swoosh severed Xun Sheng’s head.
The head flew up and rolled to the side. When it stopped, his eyes blinked once, then opened wide and round, full of disbelief.
His body twitched twice, then fell half over. Everyone in the Xun Family Army felt their hearts seize. Assistant General Qiao’s expression also turned ugly as he fearfully glanced at Zhao Ming before lowering his head.
The entire army fell silent.
Having killed and established authority, only then did Zhao Ming say: “We still have two large armies in the rear who successfully ambushed the Stone Army. Therefore, as long as we turn back, we can take Meng County and join up with Governor Zhao. Everyone, hear my orders!”
Pingyi and Pingzhong immediately knelt to receive orders. Assistant General Qiao reacted and also quickly knelt. Meng Rui, Yuan Jun, and the others also knelt one after another.
Xun Ming’s body swayed twice. After being pulled by Meng Rui, he finally bent his knees and knelt, saying with difficulty: “This subordinate… hears your orders!”
“Rest immediately, return by the original route, and attack Meng County!”
Zhao Ming gave them no chance to cause trouble again. Even though the officers and soldiers had been running all day and were exhausted, he still made them turn back. Even if they only walked ten li forward, they had to walk.
He even brought the unconscious Xun Xiu along.
He lay in a cart, with Pingzhong taking over Xun Xiu’s security.
Although Xun Ming could see him, he could no longer make decisions about matters concerning Xun Xiu.
After walking back ten li, the officers and soldiers were all exhausted. Only then did Zhao Ming order them to camp and rest. The next day at dawn they continued rushing back. When they returned to Meng County, they heard that Zhao Hanzhang had attacked into the county town.
—