The happy life of the devil and the devil

The author has something to say: It’s over, revisionism has broken out again...

Xiaoling, you continue to kneel and wave your hands~~~ I can't take care of you for a while~~~~

Xuanjiawei's barracks on the outskirts of the capital, together with the farms attached to the barracks, were specially rewarded by Yuan Shao when he first arrived in Beiliang.The camp ground is paved with sand mixed with cinders, and hundreds of men pull stone rollers to make it even, and it can accommodate 3000 people for daily performances.To the north of the school field stands a rammed-earth platform with a radius of five feet and a height of three feet.

At this moment, under the martial arts parade platform, two thousand soldiers formed five square formations of varying numbers, facing the high platform, and there was no sound.In front of the stage, three 400 people knelt down on the ground in three groups. A dozen of them were tied up five times, and the other two 300 people were only symbolically tied twice.The remaining small group of people were uniformed as officers. Although they were not tied up, they knelt there without daring to lift their heads. It seemed that they had caused the most trouble.

"Ding Bai," Huan Gong's subordinates and personal guards behind him were half a foot away. Ling Yucheng stood alone in front of the stage, looked around, and called out the name of the deputy captain of the personal guards who led the team this time. "You come and tell them what happened today!"

"Your subordinates obey!" Normally, Ding Bai would be in the circle of subordinates behind Ling Yucheng, but at this moment he was obediently kneeling under the stage.Hearing Ling Yucheng call his name, Ding Bai kowtowed to the ground, stood up from the front of the small group of officers, and turned to face the phalanx behind him.

Although he was ashamed to death, Ding Bai tried his best to raise his voice, and repeated his previous report to Ling Yucheng, daring not to change a single word of the details.Every time he said a sentence, the soldiers in the own army recited it aloud. After a long sentence, his back was soaked with sweat, and he couldn't tell whether it was hot sweat or cold sweat.

"...You guys are pretty good at it." Amidst the roar of the north wind, Ling Yucheng raised his voice, breaking the overly shocked silence on the school grounds. "Attacking friendly soldiers for no reason, killing and injuring fellow soldiers, and robbing friendly soldiers of war—very good, very good, these are the soldiers I brought out from Ling Yucheng! These are the military rules I taught you!"

He strode to the entrance of the stage and stared at the hundreds of soldiers who were tied down on the ground: "I'll give you another chance. You guys—" Pointing to the group of people who were tied up on the left side of the stage: "Who No one killed anyone back then, now it’s too late!”

"...No?...Among the others, whoever murdered someone like you, I allow you to point it out and make amends!"

"No? You—" He turned to the group of officers and soldiers in the middle who only wounded people but didn't kill them. "Who killed people? Who didn't attack the friendly army at that time, but just blocked their companions?"

"I counted dozens, but no one spoke, so I'll just treat you as true sinners! One! Two!"

The number of ten was counted quickly, the audience was silent, and no one spoke back in public.Ling Yucheng waited quietly for another moment, flicked the cloak behind his back, turned around and returned to the center of the martial arts parade, raised his internal strength, and sent out a loud voice:

"Everyone knows what happened. Ding Bai! Tell yourself how to deal with today's incident according to the law!"

"My lord—" Ding Bai had thought about the consequences thousands of times, and at this moment he answered loudly without hesitation: "Fighting with friendly troops without reason, according to military law, the murderer will die, and the wounded will be punished! Subordinates Incompetent, weak restraint, according to the law, should share the guilt!"

"Okay—someone, behead these criminal sergeants who ignore military rules and kill friendly soldiers!"

There was a small commotion on and off the stage.

Ling Yucheng stood on the stage with his sword in his hand, his pure black cloak fluttered in the north wind, his body remained motionless.Under his suppression, the subordinate officers and soldiers dared not even utter a word of intercession. After a while, the trumpet blasted, and more than a dozen small fountains of blood spewed from the audience, and a row of heads was quickly offered up.Ling Yucheng carefully looked at them one by one with a serious face, and then nodded: "Take it out and order the camp gate."

No one dared to spy on his face at this time.

The dead bodies were dragged away, the pool of blood on the ground was covered with sand, and the sergeants who participated in the fight but did not kill were dragged up row by row.Dozens of thick oak wooden army sticks flew up and down, and gradually each stick was covered with blood, but no one dared to shout loudly. Under the martial arts parade, except for the increasingly heavy breathing, It was the sound of the wind breaking as the military stick was swung heavily.

Regardless of leader or subordinate, everyone is a solid 300 army stick, even those who have been injured before.No matter whether the soldiers were exhausted and unconscious, or they were able to support themselves, two soldiers would come up to set up one, and drag them directly to the nearby shed.After the beating of two or three hundred people was over, three or four of the torture sticks were broken, and the executioners changed three batches one after another.

From the beginning to the end, Ling Yucheng stood on the martial arts parade, staring down, silent.

Even Ding Bai, who was closest to him in the audience, could only see Ling Yucheng's face getting more and more serious, and the cheeks that were originally stained with blood from galloping horses gradually turned white and transparent in the cold wind.

Today's treatment, every knife, every stick, seemed to hit him hard on the body and heart.

This is what he owes them.

If he hadn't been using the original military uniforms and equipment, he would only have replaced Yu Xia's old flag with that black flag; if he hadn't changed the army formation at all, even the title of the position, the way of training soldiers and even the military song of the password would have remained the same ;If he didn't teach them every day, they are already the army of Great Liang, and they should abide by the customs and etiquette of Great Liang...

If it wasn't for him from the bottom of his heart, he wouldn't regard Xuanjiawei as Great Liang's army at all.

Before, he was partly reluctant to touch and partly indulging on purpose. He just wanted to give them and himself some time, and subtle influence would always pay off; Jianmen - isn't it beautiful to win?

If it weren't for this, how could the "No Clothes" sung in unison in despair and grief by those former comrades who were struggling in the muddy water, hunger and cold, how could it possibly affect the mood of his soldiers, and how could the situation get out of hand !

Unexpectedly, today, all kinds of incidents are unavoidable. In order to avoid even greater consequences, he had to deal with the soldiers who followed him and left their homes one by one.

Soon, only Ding Bai, the deputy captain of his personal guard, was left kneeling in front of the stage with forty or fifty mid-level officers.

Ling Yucheng's eyes finally softened a little.

He took a few steps forward, looked around the audience, suddenly raised his inner breath, and sent out his voice loudly:

"Today's incident is that the soldiers under your command knew the law and broke the law, and you, as officers, were not effective in restraining you. The root cause is that I failed to give you repeated orders, and taught you severely in advance with military regulations. As the chief general, I should be held accountable."

He untied the cloak on his shoulders, shook his arm, and threw it far away. In the eyes of everyone, he turned his back to the school field and knelt down:

"I'll get [-] army sticks myself, and everyone below Ding Bai will be given [-] heavy responsibilities. Starting from me, the punishment will be executed immediately!"

"grown ups--"

With the sound of clattering leaves, all the subordinates on the stage knelt on the ground. If he hadn't accumulated a lot of prestige on weekdays, someone would rush to hug him and stop him immediately.There was a lot of chatter, and everyone's faces were full of grievances and resentment when the sentence was just executed, but by now it has turned into panic:

"My lord, you can't do it!"

"My lord, it's not your fault!"

"My lord, it is the subordinates who are not effective in leading the troops, and the punishment is to punish the subordinates!"

"grown ups--"

Everyone was half short, except for the two execution sergeants, who were acting as guards of honor, who were at a loss, neither standing nor kneeling while holding their military sticks.Ling Yucheng used his arms to shake off He Liu and Xia Bai who were rushing towards him, turned his head and shouted at them: "Come here, do it!"

"grown ups?"

"Did you disobey my military order?"

"grown ups--"

"Go!"

The heavy army stick finally fell down with the sound of the wind.Ling Yucheng clenched his fists tightly, trying not to make a sound, and finally heaved a sigh of relief when he fell to the ground following the force of the stick:

In this way, there will be an explanation between the top and the bottom.When the rules are changed and their various habits are separated from the motherland, the rebound can also be limited to a controllable range...

"Wow!"

There were several heavy sticks on the legs, which were dull at first, and then turned into sharp pains that exploded all over the body.The army stick was raised high again and swung down heavily. On the way, someone didn't know who jumped on his back, and even the person and the armor leaf pressed him up, sinking like a mountain.There was a tightness in the chest, and before he could break free, another human body piled on top of him...

"My lord, I beg you—won't it be okay if this subordinate suffers for you!"

The soldiers gathered on the school field retreated like a tide.Ling Yucheng took the medicine and tidied things up a bit, and whispered instructions to his subordinates, while walking quickly to the gate of the camp surrounded by his personal guards.

"He Liu," he softly called his captain of the personal guard, his confidant who always represented him among the high-ranking officials and nobles, "prepare a great gift and go to see General Hussars on my behalf. Just say what I said, this All the fault of this conflict lies with Xuanjiawei. The treatment and compensation for the dead and wounded soldiers of Hussar Guards will be fully borne by our army. Please calm down and allow me to come to the door to plead guilty in person someday."

With a cruel heart, he added with an emphatic tone: "Take...all the prisoners of war."

"……grown ups?"

Ling Yucheng didn't answer, and just stared down at He Liu with cold eyes, forcing him to lower his head.Only then did he turn his face around, motioning for Xia Bai, who was a step behind him to the right, to step forward.

"I always feel something strange about this matter." His voice was low, except for He Liu and Xia Bai who had been following closely all the time, no one else could hear clearly even if they pricked up their ears:

"If it doesn't happen sooner or later, why did it happen to this group of people today?"

More than 1 prisoners were taken from the battlefield to the capital, and they got along with Xuanjiawei every day, and nothing happened; he led his troops out to hunt, and only [-] guards were left in the capital to guard the mansion, and nothing happened; Still nothing happened.

However, one month after the arrival of envoy Yu Xia, after following his horse through the sword gate and pointing the soldiers at the homeland, all the soldiers who watched him rein in the horse Gaopo calmly returned to the fief, and a new batch of soldiers was transferred from Qingzhou It was about to arrive, and on the day before he had time to meet him in person, this incident happened!

Is it a coincidence?

Or is it an arrangement made by someone with a heart to make the best use of the situation?

Xia Bai shuddered, and immediately lowered his head: "My lord, this subordinate will investigate immediately!"

"...Go and investigate." Ling Yucheng's voice was firm: "Who are these people who are dispatched for defense, when did they arrive, has the news been spread, who leaked it, and to whom!"

"Everyone, you can look it up if you think it's relevant. At this moment, we can't afford to have any more internal problems!"

"My subordinate understands!"

Along the way, someone had already led the horse, and Ling Yucheng rode out. As soon as the gate of the camp opened, there was a group of envoys carrying golden flags standing in front of the gate.The leader did not know how long he had been waiting, looking up at the numerous heads hanging on the high pole at the door, his face was livid.

"My lord..." The squad leader guarding the gate of the camp came over to salute with a bitter face, while turning his face to look at the messenger outside, mumbling to say something.Ling Yucheng nodded without waiting for him to speak, waved him aside, and urged his horse to meet him.

The envoys of the king's flag were all sent by the Jinwu Guard, carrying a one-foot-square golden corner flag symbolizing imperial power. All important matters such as the emperor's ascension to the throne, appointment of the crown prince, and amnesty were all announced to the world and passed on to all directions.In the capital, they are also responsible for conveying the emperor's various urgent or important imperial edicts. They also have another role, which is to supervise the field during the annual Nine White Hunt and take away the soldiers who "died in battle" during the exercise.

Although the envoy was blocked at the gate of the camp for an unknown period of time, he was still quite polite to Ling Yucheng.Even if Shengzhi didn't have to dodge himself, he reined in the horse and nodded solemnly on the horse's back: "I have seen you. I have ordered you to come to Xuanjiawei to arrest the murderer. Please help me."

I'm really afraid that something will come - General Hussars seems very angry this time.Calculating the time, it should be that he got the news and went to the palace to complain to His Majesty——Ling Yucheng reined in his horse and nodded to the envoy in return: "... Thank you for your kindness. The perpetrators are waiting, I have already dealt with them, and I am about to enter The palace apologizes to His Majesty, can you invite your envoy to accompany me?"

"This……"

After a moment of hesitation, the guards following Ling Yucheng had already dispersed on both sides, and double-teamed up silently.The envoy looked around, although Ling Yucheng might not dare to make a move, but what if he really didn't care?Even if you work hard and fight for the holy family, you can't beat him. If you suffer a loss in front of you, you may not be able to get it back... Besides, even if you charge by force, look at the puppies and cats around you.

He immediately turned his horse's head with a smile on his face:

"Sir, please—"

"came back?"

The door of the small study room in Zhaoxin Hall was gently pushed open, Yuan Shao raised his head from the desk and greeted casually.Ling Yucheng didn't respond with a smile like usual, closed the door behind his back, walked a few steps, and knelt down on his knees when he was seven or eight feet away from Yuan Shao.

"Chen Te came to plead guilty to His Majesty."

The vermilion pen in his hand paused, Yuan Shao didn't raise his voice immediately, but took a deep look at him.It wasn't until Ling Yucheng lowered his head under his scrutinizing gaze that Yuan Shao sighed, and raised his left hand to help:

"Get up. ——I have already sent someone to arrest the murderer. After dealing with it later, I will comfort uncle for you. Let's stop here."

Ling Yucheng did not get up as ordered.Looking up at Yuan Shao, he gritted his teeth and bowed his head again:

"Your Majesty, forgive me. When the envoy arrived, the officers and soldiers who caused the incident had already dealt with it themselves."

"Huh?" Yuan Shao's voice was a little unhappy, but then he regained his composure, "How did you deal with it?"

"The 17 murderers were executed, and the remaining 220 people who participated in the brawl, each with [-] army sticks. Those who were above the rank of the team and did not participate in the brawl will be punished with the rod for ineffective restraint."

"No wonder there is such a bloody smell on my body..." There is also the smell of medicine.Yuan Shao pondered for a while, and his tone softened by two points. "Turn the person over to the Jinwu Guard and ask them to ask the question again. You don't have to interfere with the rest of the matter.

"Your Majesty, forgive me, those people, I have already dealt with them!"

"you--"

Yuan Shaoning paused for a moment on the tip of his pen in the air, then raised his head to stare at Ling Yucheng.In my impression, since coming to his side, Ling Yucheng has never disobeyed his orders, not to mention, under the circumstances of already making mistakes, he still contradicts him again and again!

The people at the bottom of the steps knelt down and bowed their heads without making a sound.Yuan Shao endured and endured, and finally "slapped" the Zhubi on the table, and suddenly got up:

"You come with me!"

The two walked into the main hall of the bedroom one after the other.Yuan Shao turned around and sat on the big chair in the center of the main hall. Seeing Ling Yucheng knelt down silently, his face darkened, and he snorted coldly:

"What's going on before and after, you should explain it to me first!"

"The minister complies with the order—"

The narrative that came out of Ling Yucheng's mouth was almost not substantially different from the content of the Hussar General's complaint in the palace.In Ling Yucheng, there was some concealment and distortion at this time, which was enough to fuel Yuan Shao's anger; He fabricated the necessary facts.Yuan Shao listened silently until Ling Yucheng finished explaining the cause and effect, knelt there for a long time and bowed his head silently, then he let out a sigh of relief, his face paled:

"... Finished?"

"Yes."

"After you've finished speaking, hand it over to someone. For the sake of you already punishing them, as long as the matter is not significantly different from what they reported to you, I will check it out, and there will be no additional punishment."

"His Majesty!"

"how?"

"Before I deal with them, I have already investigated them thoroughly." Ling Yucheng lowered his head, tried to slow down his voice, and defended softly, "I didn't dare to cover up a little bit."

"Oh, you've already asked." Yuan Shao's tone was so flat that he couldn't hear any joy or anger, "Since you have asked, you have been punished, and you have done what you should do, what are you doing here in front of me?"

"minister--"

"You've got some skills!" Before Ling Yucheng could reply, Yuan Shao had already yelled angrily: "Attacking friendly troops for no reason, snatching prisoners of war, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries! Fights between the two armies are handled like you. Withstood the charge of the hussars? It's not for my sake, the bitter master will enter the palace and beg me to be the master? They are respectful, you, who caused trouble, don't take me seriously! Shut the imperial decree outside , You beat people up with your own hands, and come to me to plead guilty after the beating, what kind of heart are you in?"

"minister--"

"Do you know what they committed! Do you know that if you mishandle this matter and make a fuss, it's because you have the motherland in your heart and deliberately instigated it, and even I can't protect you! You can't count this matter if you investigate it. Only when I come forward can I be fair and convince the public, do you know that!

I should have handed them over to the hussar guards, but now I send the Jinwu guards to arrest them, just to keep things down for your sake.I have promised you that you will not pursue punishment, what else do you want! "

Ling Yucheng's shoulder shook violently.Of course, he understands all the stakes in this. In all fairness, Yuan Shao's handling of this has already favored him too much - but he still can only bury his head deeply, and reply respectfully and in a low voice:

"Your Majesty's grace, I am deeply grateful to you. But Your Majesty, you will be punished for every action. Since I have already dealt with them, please Your Majesty—"

"Shut up!"

Yuan Shao couldn't believe that Ling Yucheng, who was always submissive in front of him, could be so stubborn.Seeing that Ling Yucheng still refused to change his words, Yuan Shao stood up angrily from the throne, stepped in front of him in two or three steps, stared down at his head and said in a cold voice:

"Why, your man, I can't even ask?"

This question is extremely heartbreaking.Ling Yucheng shuddered instinctively, clenched his teeth, bent down and kowtowed:

"I dare not!"

"If you don't dare, get out!" Yuan Shao's angry shout was countless times stronger than Ling Yucheng could think of: "Go out and bring Wang Qi's envoys, and hand over the gang of troublemakers to them! Stop the envoys before! I will settle the score with you when I come back!"

Logically speaking, to achieve this result, he should already respectfully thank God.Another courtier would have been beaten to death eight hundred times by His Majesty as early as when he stopped the envoy - but there might be a traitor among these guys. hand?

What's more, Yuan Shao's so-called "ask again"...

Ling Yucheng smiled wryly at himself, and bowed deeply again:

"I beg Your Majesty to be merciful. Under the three trees, what can I ask for... I can't bear them to be asked again by others."

After all, he had no choice but to hand over these soldiers who had followed him and left their hometown to anyone other than him.

Even the lord to whom he is loyal.

"You won't?"

The questioning voice from above his head was extremely cold, and Ling Yucheng knew that Yuan Shao was on the verge of eruption without raising his head.Before he could answer, the storm-like anger had turned into accusations, and he lashed out like a whip:

"If a subordinate of your general violated the military law, and the general reported to you after cutting off his own words, what would you say?"

Forget about small things, but if you dare to do this for big things, you won't be able to beat him to death!He still doesn't care about me as a general—but these words can't be said now, all Ling Yucheng can do is to bow his head in silence, without saying a word.

"Then you have the face to beg me? What are you relying on? You are just relying on the fact that I dote on you - you have been by my side for more than a year, and you have not learned good things, but you have learned to be proud of being favored!"

After a round of seizures, Yuan Shao took two steps away with his hands behind his back, obviously furious, turned his back, pointed at Ling Yucheng and reprimanded him like a cannonball:

"You asked General Xiaowu to treat the people of Jianmenguan leniently. I thought it was always the meat of the king. It would be the same if you took it early or late. You didn't say anything. You asked the hussars to take care of the prisoners you captured. I thought it was yours." Spoils of war, you used the ransom to say that you finally became famous, so you turned your eyes and closed your eyes. Even when you met Yu Xia's envoy last month, I didn't care about it seriously—"

"I'll save face for you in everything, and treat you leniently in everything, but it will make you even more ignorant of the heights of heaven and earth!"

Amidst the angry shouts, Ling Yucheng's expression turned pale.

Yuan Shao didn't say a single word wrong, that was the emperor, the lord, and within the borders, there was no one he couldn't intervene or deal with.In this matter, Yuan Shao has already taken care of him a lot, but he is the one who struggles with him even though he clearly has no reason——

What is he relying on, it is nothing more than the emperor's favor, his unreasonable request has nothing to say except arrogance and arrogance!

Ling Yucheng, Ling Yucheng, it turns out that you will become such a person...

"I'll ask you again, are your subordinates my people!"

"Your Majesty is the lord of the world." Ling Yucheng replied with his head bowed.Yuan Shao sneered when he heard the words: "You don't need to be so respectful - I'm just the lord of a country in Great Liang. Then, your people, do I have the right to ask, do I have the right to deal with it!"

"Your Majesty naturally has the right to dispose of it... I just beg Your Majesty to show mercy." Ling Yucheng slowly raised his head, looking sad at Shang Yuanshao's disappointed and angry eyes. "Your Majesty is rich all over the world...but I, I only have them."

Seeing such pleading gazes made Yuan Shao's heart soften.However, soon, the overwhelming anger overcame the sadness. He gritted his teeth and took a few steps forward, then turned around suddenly, stared into Ling Yucheng's eyes and sneered lowly:

"You only have them? - Even you belong to me! Ling Yucheng, I only care about your face, so I let you hand them over in person! If you are obsessed with obsession, I don't want you!"

"His Majesty!"

After repeated persuasion failed, Yuan Shao's limited patience finally ran out, he waved his hands and walked out.Ling Yucheng knelt in the hall, turned his head to watch him cross the threshold, his tall figure was about to disappear outside the door, finally made up his mind, got up and chased him out regardless.

"Your Majesty!" He rushed to Yuan Shao's back in three steps and two steps, knelt down on his knees in the vast atrium between the main hall and the sleeping hall, and grabbed the hem of Yuan Shao's back: "I beg your majesty to be merciful——"

Yuan Shao turned his head slowly.

One by one, he pulled back the tightly gripped skirt from Ling Yucheng's hand, his eyes were cold, and his chest heaved violently:

"Very good. It seems that I spoiled you too much in the past - in this case, you should kneel here for me and think about what it means to be a minister!"