OFTLHFRO C125

Chapter 125: Punishment

When Ruan Feng hit the ground, he was still dazed. Only when he saw Liu Changlian and Li Yunde also topple down did he finally react.

Struggling to his feet, Ruan Feng helped the other two up. He cupped his hands toward Huo Yan on the stage and said, “Many thanks, General Huo, for your mercy. We concede defeat.”

Liu Changlian, too, was sincerely convinced, admiration written all over his face. “From now on, when General Huo says east, I’ll never head west!”

Li Yunde added, “Henceforth, we shall all follow General Huo’s lead.”

Standing beside Xue Kang, the strategist Ji Bowen regarded Huo Yan thoughtfully.

Though he knew nothing of martial arts, he knew well enough that such deep internal strength could not be cultivated in a day. Without decades of training, it was impossible to reach this level.

Looking at Huo Yan’s age—defeating three seasoned fighters so easily—could it be he had practiced some demonic art? Or had he been guided by a master?

From the way Huo Yan fought, Ji Bowen leaned toward the latter. If it were evil cultivation, his use of power would not have been so fluid and natural.

As Ji Bowen pondered, he suddenly heard Huo Yan call: “Deputy General Xue.”

The named officer immediately answered, “This subordinate is here.”

“When I returned, I ordered that an hour later the troops gather at the training grounds. Was that the case?”

Xue Kang knew Huo Yan was settling accounts. He admitted honestly, “Yes.”

“Then why, half an hour past the appointed time, were men only just lining up? Violating military orders—what is the punishment?”

Ruan Feng and the other two felt a chill down their spines.

Xue Kang pursed his lips and said, “Those who violate military orders—one hundred lashes. If the offense is grave, execution as a warning.”

Huo Yan turned his gaze on the soldiers standing in rigid formation. “Today’s matter may not concern you directly, but when the men leading you err, they too must be punished.”

Then he looked back at the three. “Each of you will receive one hundred lashes. All troops except the Second Battalion will run fifty laps. Deputy General Xue will carry this out. Any objections?”

“None!”

The three had already been subdued; they dared not object. A hundred lashes was harsh but still preferable to execution.

Huo Yan lifted his voice to the soldiers: “Any objections?”

The massed ranks roared as one: “None!”

Ji Bowen considered, then said, “General Huo, the barbarians press close. A hundred lashes is neither few nor many, but they will be bedridden for days. Perhaps it would be better to punish them separately?”

“No need,” Huo Yan replied flatly. “They will be beaten together.”

Xue Kang had no choice but to bring the three forward, then chose two soldiers of similar build from the Second Battalion to wield the whips.

Liu Changlian gloomily stripped off his coat. He had scoffed at Xue Kang’s words earlier, and now he was reaping what he had sown.

While the three endured their lashes on stage, the others circled the grounds in unison.

Watching the neat, pounding steps, Luo Mingchen found the sight oddly pleasing.

Standing beside Huo Yan as the punishments proceeded, Luo Mingchen at first reminded himself to maintain the general’s image. But after a while, standing so long, he unconsciously leaned closer and whispered, bored, “Will a hundred lashes kill them?”

He wasn’t cursing them—just noting how with one lash the back turned red, by ten blood was already seeping. The blows were brutally hard.

No wonder the strategist had suggested splitting the punishment.

At this rate, the three would be lying on their stomachs for days.

“They won’t die,” Huo Yan said, tilting his head slightly.

“Oh.”

When the one hundred lashes were done, and the soldiers had finished their laps, the three were finally helped away, pale and gasping.

Huo Yan’s cold gaze swept them. “If you offend again, I won’t hesitate to replace you.”

The three answered meekly, “Yes!”

Having established authority before the troops, Huo Yan handed them each a large jar of specially prepared ointment—so they wouldn’t be completely incapacitated tomorrow. He turned to Ji Bowen. “Later, deliver the ledgers, rosters, and defense maps.”

“Yes,” Ji Bowen replied.

Satisfied, Huo Yan led Luo Mingchen and Xiao Lin back.

Since Xiao Lin was to be his Deputy General, he would need men under him. But Huo Yan had no intention of randomly assigning leftovers. He meant to select promising soldiers, hone them into blades loyal to Xiao Lin alone.

He would not let Huo Yuntao swoop in and reap the harvest.

Xue Kang was the most loyal of them—that was why Huo Yuntao had taken him back to the capital.

As for Luo Mingchen, he had noticed more than once that Xue Kang reported his affairs back to Huo Yuntao. But he had never bothered to intervene.

Now, however, in Han City, cut off from the capital, such messages would not be so easily sent.

Back at the residence, Luo Mingchen sat in the study while Hongxing brought tea.

After a sip, Luo Mingchen suddenly remembered. “Weren’t you going to pay respects to General Hu?”

“No hurry.”

Just then, Steward Cheng appeared at the door. “General Huo, Strategist Ji is here.”

Luo Mingchen blinked. “So fast?”

They had only just returned. That meant Ji Bowen had already anticipated Huo Yan’s request, preparing everything in advance to present immediately.

This strategist… seemed rather capable.

Huo Yan, however, was unsurprised. “Let him in.”

“Yes.”

Steward Cheng admitted Ji Bowen, followed by soldiers carrying several large chests.

“General Huo, here are the items you requested.”

Ji Bowen had the men set down three heavy trunks.

Luo Mingchen stared at them in silence. Would they even sleep tonight?

Huo Yan opened one chest, flipped through a ledger, then unfurled a defense map. Detailed indeed. At last, he picked up the most recent ledger, scanning the expenditures—especially the grain and fodder. Everything tallied.

“Strategist, do you know of General Wu of Bing City?”

Ji Bowen smiled. “I do. General Wu comes from a line of heroes. I also heard that as General Huo passed through Bing City, you distributed relief grain to the people?”

“Does the strategist have any advice?”

“I wouldn’t dare. Only… that relief grain may well be seized back by General Wu.”

Listening to Ji Bowen, Luo Mingchen found the man interesting.

Asked about Wu, he hadn’t bluntly called him corrupt. Instead, he praised his ancestors, then pointed out through recent events that Wu was both greedy and backed by someone.

“No matter,” Huo Yan said indifferently.

His calm baffled Ji Bowen. After a pause, he pressed, “Is General Huo perhaps planning to secure Han and Bing City by controlling the refugees, ensuring they don’t perish elsewhere?”

That way, the disaster could be contained. And if the emperor laid blame, they could claim relief grain had been distributed—shifting responsibility onto Wu.

Yet… refugees who might have survived by fleeing could only starve if locked inside the cities.

“Die?” Huo Yan’s lips curved faintly. “With relief grain, how could they die?”

Ji Bowen froze.

Relief grain? Where?

A thought flashed through him, his eyes widening.

Could it be… Huo Yan intended to seize it?