Chapter 038 The Farmer and the Snake (1/2)

Today’s update may be delayed, likely until sometime tonight.

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The soldiers of Yiyang are renowned as elite troops in Jingxiang. Tracing their origins back, their beginnings can be found during the Yellow Turban Rebellion. In the chaos of that uprising, faced with the Yellow Turban rebels and the government troops who behaved little better than bandits, the people of Yiyang formed a volunteer force. They fought many bloody battles against both the rebels and the government army, and thus their reputation for valor spread throughout Jingxiang.

It is said that Wei Yan’s father perished during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Liu Biao’s entry into Jingxiang was hardly smooth. Especially when he first arrived in Jingzhou, he came almost alone, without a single soldier at his side. At that time, the province was plagued by rampant banditry; the local gentry and powerful families each controlled their own territories, the region as fragmented as a pile of loose sand.

Liu Biao’s arrival inevitably provoked resentment from many of these local powers. Coupled with the widespread banditry, he was forced to quickly assemble his own forces. After secret negotiations, he gained the support of the Huang family of Jiangxia, Cai Feng and the Cai clan of Xiangyang, and the Kuai family, also of Xiangyang. Thereafter, under the title of Governor and as a relative of the Han imperial family, he began recruiting men across Jingxiang. The Yiyang martial soldiers were formed in this context and became a crack force.

At first, the Yiyang martial soldiers numbered just over five hundred and sixty, forming a single company.

Wei Yan was only fifteen at the time, a mere foot soldier. The Yiyang soldiers then followed Liu Biao across Jingxiang, quelling bandits in Nanyang, Nan County, and Changsha, and suppressing several great clans such as the Yangs of Nanyang and the Chens of Changsha, earning considerable battle honors. However, as the Yiyang soldiers were all men of humble birth, and Liu Biao’s rule relied more on the support of the great clans, their achievements brought them little benefit. Only the officers leading them received promotions. Wei Yan himself, starting as a mere soldier, gradually climbed the ranks and eventually held the position of Company Commander for a time.

“Then why is he now only a Squad Leader?” Wang Mai asked curiously.

Deng Ji, slightly drunk, leaned back on the rickety couch and sighed softly.

“You’ve all seen Wen Chang’s foul temper. Tell me, how could a man like him ever win favor with his superiors? So, while the Yiyang soldiers always led the charge in battle, they never reaped the rewards... It was about a year ago. Wen Chang’s uncle was the company commander at the time, ordered to join Governor Liu’s nephew, Zhang Yun, in suppressing the Wuxi tribes in the Wuling Mountains. They were ambushed, and the Yiyang soldiers were nearly wiped out—Wen Chang’s uncle was killed on the spot, and out of three hundred men, only forty-three survived. Wen Chang was punished for this and demoted to Squad Leader.”

“Since then, the Yiyang soldiers have returned to garrison duty at Yiyang, and no one has paid them any mind…”

Wang Mai was astonished. “How could that be? If it was an ambush, surely the responsibility lay with the commanding officer, not with Wei the Company Commander?”

“Someone always has to take the blame for defeat. At the time, Zhang Yun reported that the Yiyang soldiers had acted without orders, leading the entire force into the ambush. If Wen Chang’s uncle hadn’t died in battle, who knows what charges they might have faced. Over the years, the Yiyang soldiers have built some connections through their campaigns. Thanks to those who pleaded on Wen Chang’s behalf, he kept his life. But promotion is out of the question now... And Zhang Yun doesn’t like them either.”

Wang Mai’s expression darkened. After a long silence, he finally muttered, “What’s the point of serving such a lord?”

“Brother Tiger, be careful what you say!”

Cao Peng, who had been half-dozing with his eyes closed, gathering his strength, was startled. He opened his eyes and whispered urgently.

Did he forget where they were? The main camp of Jiunü Fortress... Even in the Yiyang soldiers’ own quarters, one could never be sure who might be listening. Wang Mai’s last remark was dangerously seditious—an offense punishable by death.

Deng Ji sobered up at once, shivering with fear. He gave a wry smile. Why was he talking about such things with Wang Mai anyway? The man was too blunt, unable to keep anything to himself. In the future, he would have to choose his confidants more carefully. Afu, at least, knew what could and couldn’t be said.

Cao Peng stepped outside the tent, made sure no one was nearby, and returned.

“Brother-in-law, you made a mistake today.”

“Oh?”

Cao Peng said, “The saying goes, ‘Compassion has no place in command, nor righteousness in managing wealth.’ You shouldn’t have pleaded for Ma Yu and the others to be let in today… Brother-in-law, we’re in a perilous situation. You should be extra careful. Ma Yu is clearly at odds with us, yet you insisted on admitting him—aren’t you bringing trouble upon yourself? When we charged the enemy, they stood idly by. They should have been prepared for punishment. Since when does a commander lead a charge while his followers do nothing? To put it bluntly, that’s desertion. By law, they could have been executed, so why intercede for them?”

“But…” Deng Ji said softly, “We’re all from the same hometown. I truly couldn’t bear it…”

“Brother-in-law, if you ever come to rule a region, and your heart is always weighed down by such sentimental ties, how will you enforce clear rewards and punishments, and maintain discipline? Besides, you know some of these people bear ill will, yet you continue to indulge them for their sake…”

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Let me tell you a story, brother-in-law.

Once, there was a farmer who found a nearly frozen viper on the road. Moved by pity, he placed the snake in his bosom. When the snake warmed and revived, it did not thank the farmer, but bit him viciously. Your actions today are like that farmer’s. Ma Yu and those like him are vipers—you save them, but they may never be grateful, and may even turn on you at any moment.

Brother-in-law, you’ve read more books than I have, and understand the greater truths even better… But you must never let sentimental kindness rule your actions, lest it harm both you and others.”

Deng Ji lowered his head, embarrassed and silent for a long time.

He understood what Cao Peng was saying.

Yet, after so many years, he had grown accustomed to these ties of community and native soil. To cast them aside so quickly was truly difficult for him. But he knew Cao Peng was right; today, he had indeed erred.

“So what should I do?”

“While nothing has happened yet, find an excuse and get rid of Ma Yu.”

“What!”

“Brother-in-law, Ma Yu is a rotten apple—you must not bring disaster upon yourself. You’re a section leader now; you can address this through military discipline.”

Deng Ji hesitated, wavering.

Cao Peng was exasperated. Clearly, Deng Ji’s temperament wouldn’t change overnight.

He had studied the classics, cultivated uprightness, and sought to act with integrity. Such deliberate calculation was hard for him to accept for now.

It would likely take a few hard lessons for him to change.

It seemed that if Ma Yu was to be dealt with, Cao Peng would have to devise his own plan…

The tent fell into silence.

After a long pause, Deng Ji looked up and asked softly, “Afu, can you tell me what’s really going on? Why was I conscripted?”

This question had probably been on Deng Ji’s mind for some time.

He’d managed to hold it in until now—a testament to his restraint. Cao Peng glanced at Wang Mai, then smiled and said, “It’s nothing but a matter of romance.”

“Romance?”

“Do you remember Zhang Shuo?”

“Zhang Shuo?”

“The girl from the Zhang family of Nieyang…”

Cao Peng recounted his suspicions to Deng Ji in detail.

Deng Ji couldn’t help but laugh.

He had thought it was some grave matter, but it turned out to be this. He didn’t blame Cao Peng; after all, who could say for sure about such things?

“Brother-in-law, what do you think Huang She is planning?”

Deng Ji thought for a moment and shook his head. “It’s hard to say. With young lords like Huang She, if consumed by jealousy, there’s no telling what they might do, no matter the consequences. But you did well to come with me; at least the family is spared trouble.

Now that we’re in Huang She’s hands, he’s bound to stir up more trouble.

I suspect it’ll happen in the next few days. In any case, we must be careful not to give him any pretext. Remember, military law is merciless…”

His suspicions thus confirmed, Deng Ji guessed that Huang She’s move would likely involve invoking military discipline.

But if that was the case, he would need to be especially cautious in dealing with Ma Yu, and plan thoroughly before taking action.

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Dawn broke.

Above the main camp of Jiunü Fortress, the commanding sound of horns rang out.

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At this hour each day, there would be a drill. In truth, it was nothing more than marching in formation and practicing some martial skills. Each company drilled separately, not as a unified force. The content of the drills was decided by each company commander, with few set rules.

After all, the Jiunü Fortress camp was composed of local militia hastily conscripted from various regions.

Each had its own system, and it was impossible to integrate them all at once. The situation in the Yiyang company was even more peculiar—utterly neglected, with no one bothering to inspect or supervise them. One could say that the Yiyang company answered to Wei Yan alone.

Ma Yu emerged with a bruised and swollen face, instinctively tightening his coarse brown robe around himself.

This was the garb of a prisoner. Having only arrived yesterday, he and the others had not yet been issued armor or weapons, so they stood in their prison clothing, lined up in the camp.

Wang Mai had become a cavalryman, now serving as Wei Yan’s personal retainer.

Meanwhile, Cao Peng continued to follow Deng Ji, and Wei Yan had also assigned four saber-wielding guards to protect Deng Ji.

Promoted to company commander, Deng Ji’s original subordinates also received advancement. Tang Ji, the burly man built like a black iron tower, was Wei Yan’s closest brother-in-arms and a capable fighter—about the level of a third-rate general. Naturally, he became a squad leader.

A company comprised two squads, thus two squad leaders were needed.

Wei Yan nominated his own family member for the other position, which Deng Ji readily agreed to.

Wei Ping, eighteen this year, had served for three years and survived the Wuling Mountain campaign. He was not tall—about one hundred seventy-five centimeters—with a fair, solidly built appearance that might have passed for a scholar in different clothes. However, Tang Ji told Cao Peng that Wei Ping was known in the Yiyang company as a daredevil. Though not skilled in martial arts, he became ferocious on the battlefield.

Every fight left him covered in wounds, yet he always survived—a miracle in itself.

Deng Ji of course raised no objection, and his agreeable attitude greatly pleased Wei Yan.

“Today, everyone will drill in groups of five.

Those without armor or weapons will practice in mock formations. Once Section Leader Deng returns with supplies, equipment will be distributed and squads formed!”

“Yes, sir!”

Ma Yu shivered, standing with the prisoners from Jiyang.

Last night, he had been badly beaten by these Jiyang prisoners, left in a sorry state. To them, if not for Ma Yu and his men, they would not have suffered such humiliation. All blame fell on Ma Yu, and as they lived together, he could expect no mercy.

“You, what happened to your face?”

Wei Ping approached with a cold expression, fixing Ma Yu with a gaze utterly devoid of emotion, chilling him to the bone.

Ma Yu shuddered and answered softly, “I…I fell and hurt myself last night.”

“Fell, did you?”

Wei Ping replied blandly, “Is it serious?”

“No, nothing serious!” Ma Yu replied, his heart pounding under the hostile stares of the Jiyang prisoners.

“Good. Be more careful. We’ll have a mission in a few days, and I don’t want unnecessary casualties. Now, return to your squad and continue drilling.”

With that, Wei Ping patted Ma Yu on the shoulder and walked away.

Ma Yu felt a shiver run through him as he watched Wei Ping’s retreating figure, an odd feeling rising within him…

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Thanks to readers jhonjhw, An Shi Meng Hun, Fei Zuo, Star Baby, RMB Lost in the Mountains, Ten Years and Ten Years, and She Cangyun for their generous rewards.

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