Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Facts had proven that Wei Ci was familiar with Jiang Pengji’s temper. It was really what he had expected.

“Send some scouts to observe the movements of the Tsing Yi Army in Jiaoping District and Maolin District. If there are signs of them dispatching their troops, report to me immediately.”

Jiang Pengji squinted. She had originally intended to gradually encroach the four districts in Fengyi County and go ahead steadily and surely, but the Tsing Yi Army sought death and gave her this opportunity. As long as they dared to attack Xiangyang District, she would dare to let those bastards lose their nest.

“Yes, Lord!” Meng Hun received the order. “I’ll do what you say.”

Most of the scouts were in the vanguard, so he was naturally responsible for this.

Xu Ke said, “Lord, we have insufficient armed forces now. If the troops are divided to attack Maolin District and Jiaoping District, I’m afraid that it’s beyond our ability…”

As he finished speaking, he secretly glanced at Qiguan Rang and Wei Ci, hoping that the two would step up and dissuade their lord. However, Qiguan Rang liked to take risks. Jiang Pengji’s unusual way of attacking was very much to his appetite. As for Wei Ci… He knew that it was difficult to dissuade his lord. If he dared to dissuade her this time, she could come up with something bigger next time.

According to previous wars, if the Tsing Yi Army really wanted to attack Xiangyang District, they would definitely dispatch a lot of troops. One should know that when Jiang Pengji had just started to rule Xiangyang District, there were tens of thousands of members of the Tsing Yi Army who guarded Xiangyang District, but she still managed to wipe them out.

Therefore, attacking Xiangyang District with an extremely small number of people would pose no threat at all. In order to attack Xiangyang District successfully, the Tsing Yi Army definitely had to transfer most of their troops. The rear of the Tsing Yi Army would certainly be very weak. It was not impossible to capture Jiaoping District and Maolin District at the same time. It was just that it would require bold courage and strong judgement.

Seeing that they refused to speak, Xu Ke suddenly understood what they were thinking. He could only quietly let out a sigh. It was difficult for one to do much single-handed. It was impossible for him to reverse the lord’s decision.

Sitting on the seat in front, Jiang Pengji said, “That’s all for the time being. If the Tsing Yi Army in Jiaoping District and Maolin District dispatch their troops, we’ll send our troops and crush their nest. If they know their place, we’ll let them enjoy themselves for a moment.”

It would depend on the Tsing Yi Army’s actions as to whether to send the troops or not. Jiang Pengji’s priority was the construction in Chengan District. With the experience in Xiangyang District, it was not difficult to rebuild Chengan District. It was just that she had to face innumerable problems.

One of the biggest problems was the people in Chengan District.

Due to the trouble caused wantonly by the Tsing Yi Army, the young people who could escape had already escaped. The people who remained in the city now were mostly old and weak. They were so starving that they looked sallow and emaciated. There was no grain in the rice tanks of every household. Even if there was, they dared not to make a fire and cook for fear that the smoke from the kitchen chimneys would cause the Tsing Yi Army to plunder. Therefore, they could only soak raw rice with water and eat it raw when it was slightly softer.

Upon hearing the news from Xu Ke and the others, Jiang Pengji’s somewhat cheerful mood had become gloomier.

“How many people are there approximately?” Jiang Pengji asked.

“I estimate that… there are less than 3000 people,” Xu Ke answered.

What was more serious was that the long-term lack of salt intake had weakened the bodies of the 2000 people. Even if Jiang Pengji provided them with food, not many of them could become effective laborers. As a result, the situation in Chengan District was much worse than that of Xiangyang District.

Now that they had not figured out the movements of the Tsing Yi Army in Jiaoping District and Maolin District, they could not easily move their troops. Otherwise, they would not be able to receive reinforcements in time.

Jiang Pengji said, “I’ll see it for myself.”

…

In another place, the 31 troops who had broken the rules were punished. Fortunately, their crimes were not very serious so they were just given a dressing-down. According to the military rules, the only remaining trooper must be executed in front of a battalion in order to serve as a warning to others.

The person carrying out the punishment was Jiang Nongqin.

The trooper was tied up with his hands behind his back and sent to the drill ground which was temporarily cleared. Jiang Nongqin read out his crime in public with an indifferent facial expression. All the troops burst into an uproar. They had only heard that it was a crime to rape women. They had never heard that one would also be punished according to the military rules if they raped a man. However, the military rules clearly stated that the troops could not rape the commoners. The male victim was a commoner, so the trooper had indeed broken the military rules.

Of course, although the troops did not comment on the verdict, they still had some doubts and objections in their hearts.

The man was one of the members of the military brothel of the Tsing Yi Army. Could it be considered as a violation of military rules to have sex with him?

It could not, right?

However, they did not have the guts to voice their doubts. Instead, they kept it in their minds, so that they would not make a mistake due to forgetting in the future.

“… According to the military rules, he’ll be executed!” Jiang Pengji read out indifferently. “Carry out the punishment!”

There were four people carrying out the punishment.

Two female troopers held the troop’s shoulders so that he could not escape. The other two female troopers were holding sticks which would be used for the execution.

Of course, the trooper refused to accept his fate. He tried all kinds of ways and used all his strength to try to break free. The veins on his face bulged. His face was flushed and extremely hideous. His eyeballs even looked like they were about to pop out…

With tremendous force, the heavy sticks landed on his body. It hurt so much that the positions of his internal organs were about to be shifted. However, his mouth was gagged. Even if he had a stomach full of enmity, he could not shout it out. A rusty smell soon surged into his mouth.

The wind was calm that day. The drill ground was silent.

The troops of the entire battalion looked livid. They were so horrified that they did not even dare to inhale. They watched as the trooper went from struggling violently to breathing feebly. At last, he died. His back and buttocks were smashed. His bones which had been broken were revealed.

The four female troopers who executed the punishment still looked somber. They were not at all scared by the scene in front of them. Upon seeing that the troop had breathed his last, one of the female troopers let go of his shoulder and checked his breathing and pulse.

The female trooper said to Jiang Nongqin who was observing the execution by the side, “The execution is done. The convict is dead.”

Jiang Nongqin waved her hand. “Bury his body. It’s the final mercy.”

This was how to beat the dog before the lion and warn the impetuous troops.

Violators of the military rules would end up like that!

Since then, the ethos in the military camp was set straight. The troops mumbled the military rules all the time for fear that they would follow in the trooper’s footsteps.

Of course, there was another advantage apart from that.

Was there any male trooper who would still dare to talk frivolously to the female troopers?

Their knees would feel like jelly upon seeing the female troops. They wished they could bypass them.

The grains which Jiang Pengji brought were very sufficient. Xu Ke and the others were busy sorting out the paperwork of the district headquarters in Chengan District. Meng Hun and the others led two battalions to slightly repair the damaged city walls and gates. Jiang Nongqin led the remaining laborers to set up gruel stalls everywhere…

After three to four days, a few ‘uninvited guests’ had arrived in Maolin District and Jiaoping District.

“Our General Cangtian has died a miserable death. You must avenge him…”

After escaping death for three to four days, how could the Tsing Yi Army who lived in ease and comfort for half a year withstand it?

They looked extremely shabby and they were clothed in rags. Thinking about the past few days, they felt that their mouths were full of bitterness.

Thus their emotions became more and more genuine as they poured out their grievances.