"Those who plunder property shall be executed! Those who kill surrendered soldiers shall be executed! Those who ravage women shall be executed!"
Xia's Great General for Suppressing Rebellion, Min Wuyan, led two hundred thousand troops to suppress the rebel army of the Chen Kingdom and Huang Chong in Pengze Lake. After more than a month of fierce fighting, with the assistance of two reinforcement armies from Xia, they decisively defeated the rebel army and captured the strongholds of Chen Guo and Huang Chong, the Fengxi Mountain fortress.
Upon entering the Fengxi Mountain fortress, Min Wuyan issued three military orders.
"General Min, the soldiers have suffered heavy casualties and worked so hard. Why do you do this?" asked Xia's Cavalry Commandant, Lü Zang, displeasedly upon hearing the orders.
Cavalry Commandant Lü Zang and his contingent of fifty thousand troops were one of the two reinforcement armies from Xia.
Lü Zang had been ordered to reinforce Min Wuyan's troops. However, during the fierce battle between Min Wuyan's forces and the rebel army, he had not contributed much, merely waving flags to boost morale.
After the Xia army captured the stronghold of Chen Guo and Huang Chong, the Fengxi Mountain fortress, they intended to plunder freely. However, Min Wuyan's three disheartening military orders had thwarted their plans.
Chen Guo and Huang Chong had operated in Fengxi Mountain for many years, amassing vast amounts of gold, silver, treasures, and provisions, not to mention countless beautiful young women. If the imperial troops were allowed to plunder, they would undoubtedly reap substantial rewards. Furthermore, Chen Guo and Huang Chong were rebels. Plundering the wealth and women of rebels would incur no repercussions, and the Xia court would turn a blind eye.
Min Wuyan's three military orders, however, effectively cut off their source of wealth. How could Lü Zang and the others not be angry, not be resentful, not be hateful?
Lü Zang was merely a commander of one of Xia's reinforcement armies and his official rank was lower than Min Wuyan's. Under normal circumstances, he would not dare to openly defy the commander of the main army, Xia's General for Suppressing Rebellion, Min Wuyan. However, Lü Zang was the third son of Xia's Grand Marshal, Lü Qiyue. Although a concubine's son, he was still Lü Qiyue's biological son. He usually acted arrogantly, relying on his father's power. Why would he fear Min Wuyan now?
Lü Zang was also Hong Wuji's brother-in-law.
"Commandant Lü..." Min Wuyan replied indifferently after glancing at Lü Zang, "If I allow my soldiers to plunder, how am I different from the rebels?"
The suppression of the rebel army led by Chen Guo and Huang Chong in Pengze Lake had resulted in countless casualties on both sides, with the rebel army suffering particularly heavily, numbering in the tens of thousands. After the great battle, Min Wuyan felt a profound sense of compassion.
During the battle, it was a matter of life and death, leaving no room for Min Wuyan to show mercy. After the battle, however, things were different.
Most of the rebel soldiers were ordinary citizens who had fallen into destitution. Influenced by the deception of Chen Guo, Huang Chong, and others, they had joined the rebellion. Many had even been forcibly conscripted by Chen Guo and Huang Chong and had joined under duress and enticement. Therefore, they could not be indiscriminately killed.
Moreover, Min Wuyan had always harbored ambitions of marching north to reclaim their lost territories. By selecting able-bodied men from the surrendered soldiers, he could not only strengthen his own forces but also enhance the strength for the northern expedition, while simultaneously showcasing the benevolence and magnanimity of the Xia court.
In this regard, why not?
However, while Min Wuyan thought this way, others, like Lü Zang, did not share his sentiments.
"Is General Min toying with the rebels?" Lü Zang asked unwillingly.
"Hmm? Commandant Lü, what do you mean?" Min Wuyan asked in surprise.
"Rebels who rebel deserve death, regardless of gender," Lü Zang said coldly. "If General Min forbids killing and looting, isn't that like toying with the rebels?"
"Nonsense!" Min Wuyan's face contorted with rage. He pointed at Lü Zang and roared, "Do all these hundreds of thousands of people deserve death? Do you have an imperial decree for that?"
"General Min..." Min Wuyan was renowned for his exceptional martial arts and his formidable troops. At this moment, his anger sent a shiver down Lü Zang's spine, but he steeled himself and said, "Those who conspire to rebel are the ringleaders; executing them is sufficient. Do you intend to kill all hundreds of thousands of them? Most of them are ordinary folk, deceived by Chen Guo and Huang Chong, merely trying to survive and escape. They are merely gathered to save their lives."
"Hmph," Min Wuyan snorted, "the ringleaders are but a few rebels; their heads are enough. Do you intend to kill all hundreds of thousands of them? They are mostly ordinary citizens, deceived by Chen Guo and Huang Chong, merely trying to survive and escape. They have only joined the rebellion to save their lives and escape."
"Alas, General Min, Commandant Lü, cease your quarreling," said Zhang Zheng, the supervisor of the Xia army and a Tongzhi Sanqi Changshi, interjecting to mediate. "The rebels have just been suppressed, and there are many complicated matters. Why dwell on this now? As for the lives of those individuals, we shall await further imperial orders."
Zhang Zheng, an eunuch from the palace and an elder, intervened, and both men felt obliged to give him face. Lü Zang snorted and rode away.
"General Min..." Zhang Zheng said to Min Wuyan after glancing at the angrily departing Lü Zang, "You have traveled a thousand miles from home to suppress rebels, only to be motivated by wealth... Why then must you block their path to riches and chill the hearts of the soldiers?"
"Have we not already distributed considerable wealth as rewards for the soldiers? How could their hearts be chilled?" Min Wuyan asked in surprise.
"Considerable? Is that so?" Zhang Zheng said with a cold laugh, looking at Min Wuyan.
"What does Duke Zhang mean...?" Min Wuyan asked, his face flushing slightly.
The wealth Min Wuyan had distributed was barely enough to satisfy beggars.
Min Wuyan intended to allocate the majority of the spoils from suppressing the rebels to the national treasury. While Min Wuyan thought this and acted accordingly, others did not share his view. Most would suspect Min Wuyan of embezzlement.
Even if they knew Min Wuyan intended to send the wealth to the treasury, they would still be displeased, even resentful. Min Wuyan was dedicated to public service, but not everyone was like him. Once the wealth entered the treasury, the chances of it reappearing to benefit them would be slim.
"A smooth sedan chair is carried by many people; plant more fruit trees and fewer thorns," Zhang Zheng replied blandly.
This was how officialdom worked. Officials relied on mutual protection, support, and even arranged marriages to ensure smooth careers and progress. Otherwise, they would face obstacles, be unable to advance, lose their positions, or even meet a tragic end.
This was why it was said that an honest official found it hard to govern, and a good general found it hard to lead.
In this campaign, Min Wuyan had led his army to suppress the rebels and achieved great merit. After the suppression, if he had turned a blind eye, or even flattered those in power, Lü Zang and others might have exaggerated his achievements tenfold upon their return to the capital. Otherwise, Min Wuyan might have received no credit at all, and Lü Zang and others might have even impeached him for his slackness in military affairs and the protracted suppression of the rebels, thus turning merit into demerit.
"Thank you, Duke Zhang, for your guidance," Min Wuyan said, sighing inwardly and cupping his hands in thanks.
Min Wuyan's official rank was earned entirely through his own sword and battlefield exploits. He had survived countless battles and accumulated merit to receive imperial honors. His reputation as "Little Feng Xian" was known throughout the land. Emperor Yang Liang of Xia, who favored the young general, had bestowed upon Min Wuyan his imperial appointment.
Min Wuyan was unaware of these underhanded dealings in officialdom. Even if he were, he would have disdained them.
At this moment, Min Wuyan had no choice but to heed Zhang Zheng's advice. This was because Min Wuyan hailed from an ordinary family and had no backing in the court. In this era of powerful aristocratic families dominating politics, those without background, influence, or connections faced immense hardship. There were very few who could speak for Min Wuyan in court, and Zhang Zheng was one of them.
Zhang Zheng was a palace eunuch. He had been dispatched from the palace to supervise the army during this suppression. Not all eunuchs were wicked and treacherous; some were upright, and Zhang Zheng was such a person.
Zhang Zheng admired Min Wuyan's loyalty to the emperor and the state, his bravery in battle, his skillful command, and his willingness to lead from the front. Therefore, he often spoke favorably of Min Wuyan to Emperor Yang Liang of Xia.
"Alas, Shijian, there is no need for such formality," Zhang Zheng sighed. "Human nature at birth is inherently good. I too wish to maintain a good heart, but the officialdom of the capital is a great dye vat; it turns the white into black as you emerge."
"Duke Zhang, I understand," Min Wuyan nodded.
Zhang Zheng's intention was for Min Wuyan to leave the capital and, preferably, serve as an official or general on the border. While border service was arduous, it would remove him from the troublesome environment of the capital.
Shijian was Min Wuyan's courtesy name.
"A promising youth!" Zhang Zheng finally nodded with satisfaction and smiled.
...
"We, the junior generals, respectfully bid farewell to the General for Suppressing Rebellion!"
A month later, Emperor Yang Liang of Yan issued an imperial decree ordering Min Wuyan to lead his contingent back to the capital, escorting Chen Guo, Huang Chong, and over three hundred other leaders and their families to the capital. The remaining individuals in the Fengxi Mountain fortress, the able-bodied men, were to be incorporated into the army, while the old and weak were to be provided with grain and allowed to return to their fields to work, demonstrating the benevolence and compassion of the Emperor and the Xia court.
Of course, the fate awaiting Chen Guo, Huang Chong, and the other more than three hundred leaders and their families would be extremely tragic. They would be publicly executed in a brutal, bloody, and desolate manner. Even if their families managed to survive, they would be reduced to official slaves, prostitutes, or servants, and would remain so for generations, never to regain their freedom without a special imperial decree.
The imperial decree ordered Lü Zang and other generals to garrison Fengxi Mountain and surrounding areas, to root out any remaining rebel elements, and to handle post-campaign matters.
On this day, Min Wuyan led his contingent of over ten thousand "Victory Army" troops back to the capital. Lü Zang and the other generals saw them off outside the gate of the Fengxi Mountain fortress.
Min Wuyan had followed Zhang Zheng's advice and distributed a large portion of the seized wealth to Lü Zang and the other Xia army generals. Lü Zang and his fellow generals were naturally overjoyed and puzzled as to why Min Wuyan had suddenly changed his ways.
During that month, Min Wuyan had still forbidden them from indiscriminate killing or mistreating women. However, now that Min Wuyan was leading his army away, the remaining matters were in the hands of Lü Zang and the others. Who would decide whether to burn, kill, and loot? They could simply use the excuse of "remaining rebels, their hearts still unpacified and continuing their rebellion" to report to the court.
Therefore, Lü Zang and the other generals were now "sincerely bidding farewell," wishing for Min Wuyan and his ten thousand Victory Army to leave as soon as possible.
"I hope you will prioritize the people and the nation's affairs," Min Wuyan said coldly, looking at Lü Zang and the other generals.