Chapter 526: Disobeying Military Orders
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
With Deputy General Lin’s demise, a somber mood engulfed the soldiers, causing a pause in the assault on the entrance. The belief that the general would perish before achieving success cast a foreboding shadow over the situation.
Adding to the disheartenment, many soldiers recognized the daunting challenge of attacking the entrance. The prospect of being transferred to the vanguard now seemed synonymous with facing certain death.
Fortunately, the secret of the oil and fire had been kept, sparing them from additional panic.
Chiliarch Yang dispatched individuals to the nearby mountains in search of evidence indicating the source of the fatal arrow. Establishing culpability for the incident could incriminate Qin Silong and provide an explanation to higher authorities. Unfortunately, their efforts yielded no results—the sharpshooters had vanished without a trace.
Doubt crept into Chiliarch Yang’s mind as he questioned whether the mysterious marksmen had indeed struck someone or if they had vanished out of fear.
Unaware that the two individuals were now under the custody of the Dragon Phoenix Hall, Chiliarch Yang, lacking solid evidence, directed his frustration towards Su Ping. He accused Su Ping of fearing death and insubordination, claiming that Su Ping’s unauthorized halt had led to Deputy General Lin’s failure to evade the fatal arrows.
Demanding retribution, he declared, “He should be executed! His head should serve as homage to Deputy General Lin’s memory!”
Simultaneously, he ordered strict vigilance across the three armies, proclaiming merciless consequences for any further instances of cowardice or insubordination.
Su Ping was Chiliarch Yang’s subordinate. He thought he had the right to punish Su Ping.
Su Ping didn’t say anything. He couldn’t understand how Deputy General Lin, who was protected by so many people, was killed by the arrows.
Was he really wrong to listen to Qin Silong’s orders in private?
Hearing that Chiliarch Yang was going to put him to death, he wasn’t too surprised.
If it was really because he disobeyed the military order that led to Deputy General Lin’s death, he was willing to accept punishment.
Just as he was about to accept his punishment, Qin Silong showed up.
“Chiliarch Yang, you’re too presumptuous!”
“What right do you have to execute a man of your rank?”
Chiliarch Yang sneered. “He’s just a temporary chiliarch. In my eyes, he’s still my centurion!”
“He disobeyed orders. Why can’t I execute him?”
Qin Silong waved his hand, and his guards immediately stepped forward, trying to free him.
Chiliarch Yang’s people didn’t allow it, but they were no match for him. After one or two moves, they were knocked to the ground and their restraints were removed.
The surrounding soldiers were left in stunned silence. While aware of Qin Silong’s formidable martial prowess, they were taken aback by the sheer skill of his personal guards, previously underestimated. The guards effortlessly subdued Chiliarch Yang, showcasing a level of expertise that surprised the onlookers.
Qin Silong addressed the bewildered crowd, clarifying Su Ping’s actions, “He didn’t disobey the order! I instructed him that if the morning resistance wasn’t too severe, we could press on. If it proved too challenging, we were to feint.”
He continued, “Last night, Deputy General Lin and I had thoroughly discussed this strategy with the other four chiliarchs. Faced with overwhelming resistance in the morning attack, we had just begun advancing, yet we’d already lost over a hundred soldiers. In such circumstances, halting and advancing slowly was the wisest choice!”
“He’s not wrong,” Qin Silong affirmed.
Chiliarch Yang retorted loudly, “What a joke! You’ve only lost a hundred people, and you claim it’s too much resistance? You’ve never experienced a real battlefield! Military orders are absolute. Even if eleven thousand people die, you still have to charge forward!”
Qin Silong met Yang’s raised voice with a cold gaze, stating firmly, “Not all battlefields are the same! Victory isn’t guaranteed by blindly charging forward!”