General Hou saw the faces of the people at the bottom looking thoughtful, and coldly snorted.
“Today, I will set the rules here. After catching people who drink in the military camp, they will not be beaten by the military staff. They will be fined, one person will be 5 taels, two people will be 12 taels, and three people will be 15 taels!”
(TNote: military staff = a staff/ board for corporal punishment that looks and “feels” even more painful than the typical one used for households etc.)
General Hou waved his hand again, and the men underneath quickly came up carrying a heavy chest, which he personally opened to reveal the copper coins inside.
Looking down at the people below; “See? These, are from the two soldiers of the A-9th team, called Wang Da and Wang Er. They secretly brought wine back to the barracks and fined 10 taels!”
Wang Da and Wang Er were shrinking their necks when they suddenly heard their name being said. Their necks shrank even more.
General Hou continued, “I sent someone to replace the silver with 10,000 copper coins and distribute them to you.”
The soldiers below, who had been quiet and peaceful, immediately looked up, each with a joyful look on their faces.
“What are you happy about?! Are you happy with the money? Then you better hope that the next time someone dares to break the ban and gets caught again, this General will do the same thing, fine money, and distribute the money to others. Even if you don’t have money in hand, it will be deducted from the military pay.”
“The first time the penalty is 5 taels, the second time 10 taels, the third time it will be 15 taels, if you can’t afford to pay or deduct, then you will be punished for a serious crime!”
After saying that, he turned his head and left the stage with large strides.
The people below were immediately led to disperse.
Hiding in the back, General Hou was relieved, he almost forgot his words. Fortunately, he recited them all night last night.
Ji Changze came around from the other side and said, “General, in a moment, you take 2 taels, and give the two captains 1 tael each.”
“Didn’t he say that you only get money when you win?”
“They didn’t do anything wrong. They were dragged to the stage to get drunk for no reason, and they were knocked down by a thin small soldier in front of the whole camp people. At least they are still captains and need some face to some extent. If General doesn’t give some compensation, I’m afraid that they would have some resentment in their hearts.”
Ji Changze smiled and comforted him, “Anyway, you were willing to give 5 taels of silver just now, why are you afraid of 2 taels more?”
General Hou, who forced himself to forget the 5 taels of silver: “…”
Ji Changze: “Does the General not have the money? I’ll go to the Military Advisor for money if you don’t have it.”
General Hou was annoyed, “Who said I don’t have money. I’m at least a General of Xingguo, how could I not have money?!”
He dug and dug, dug and dug, and really pulled out a broken silver, and handed it to Ji Changze with a reluctant face.
“This silver the weight of 3 taels. Remember to pay me back 1 tael. That’s what I used to buy wine to drink.”
Ji Changze took the silver, turned to one side of the corner covered by wood, and then said, “What the Military Advisor said is true, the General really does have silver hidden away.”
The Military Advisor came out from around the corner, clutching a hand stove and tightly wrapped, and quietly looked at General Hou.
There were times when he really doubted that he and his cousin were related.
Cousin and Ji Changze were the ones related, right?
When these two came together, it was simply remarkable.
The Military Advisor didn’t say anything, except, “I’ll trouble the General to find a carpenter to come, there’s something to make.”
“Hmm, no problem, I’ll have my men look for it immediately.”
General Hou patted his chest and asked curiously, “What are you going to make?”
The Military Advisor looked at Ji Changze, and Ji Changze didn’t hide it, “A wheelchair.”
General Hou didn’t know it.
Ji Changze said, “General will know after it’s made.”
“By the way, I thought of another good idea to trap the Second Prince. Why don’t we go to the tent and talk slowly?”
This kind of thing was certainly not something that could be said outside. After the three of them entered the tent, they looked at Ji Changze, who was taking out the papers and laying them on the table. General Hou was curious again.
“Sir Ji, do you have a grudge against the Second Prince?”
Ji Changze twisted his eyebrows and thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll answer this question later.”
The Military Advisor opened the information sent today and was looking at them one by one. Suddenly, when he turned to one of the pages, his face turned cold and he slapped the table.
General Hou, who was sitting down and fanning himself, was startled by his appearance, “Co … cousin?”
“What’s wrong? Is there some bad news from the capital?”
Ji Changze walked over and picked up the information.
He sneered and handed it to General Hou.
“See, General, now I have hatred with the Second Prince.”
General Hou was confused and took it. He looked at it with his eyebrows furrowed fiercely and his face filled with anger.
He also slammed the table, and almost jumped up in anger, “Xingguo is now in chaos, the people are already living a difficult life. As a royal son, he is not thinking of helping the country and the people, but took advantage of the opportunity to snatch women and children to sell to the northwest. Does he still have humanity?!”
Ji Changze took the message, threw it into the fire, and watched it gradually burn. His deep eyes looked cold.
“It is by no means a day for two days. Otherwise, why can the rebels easily flee to the northwest? The Mongols’s on the other side, occupy the grassland, and they have many good horses, but there’s a lack of women. If the Second Prince exchanged my Xingguo people for good horses. I’m afraid it’s a good deal for him.”
The Military Advisor suddenly raised his eyes and looked at Ji Changze, “You already knew? Then the people who destroyed the village were the Second Prince’s people?”
“It’s not hard to guess.”
“And also.” The Military Advisor nodded and sighed, “The Second Prince’s fiefdom is near here. Although he hasn’t traveled to the fiefdom yet, it’s easy to act. In addition, he has always been generous and has countless good horses on hand. The money spent is clear, but no one had ever mentioned the source.”
General Hou, who was still in a rage: “…”
He could never keep up with these two.
“So, what do we do now? Now that the Second Prince’s matter has been revealed, how could we do nothing?”
The Military Advisor shook his head, “He won’t stumble. It’s just some civilians, no one will care.”
Ji Changze looked at the hand stretched out to roast the fire, “He was exposed this time. But someone in court mentioned that they wanted to redeem the people who were sold to the northwest by the rebels. General, if you can bring back the people of Xingguo after eliminating the rebels, is also a great achievement.”
General Hou nodded, “And your madam?”
“My wife, naturally, I will bring back myself.”
All this time he and the Military Advisor had been wondering what it would take to fight through as fast as possible, and it turned out that the fastest would be in 6 months.
And they had to ignore the Second Prince’s obstruction.
Earlier, they were wondering if it was just because they didn’t agree to the solicitation. Why is the second prince trying so hard to fight against General Hou?
Now, it seems that the intention was to take him down and replace him with his own people. It was easier and simpler to operate a person-for-horse exchange when that happens.
“Get ready to go, and fetch the miracle doctor.”
General Hou then remembered, and quickly said, “Speaking of this miracle doctor, my people came back after inquiring. They said that the miracle doctor is eccentric. Since testing a drug and crippling his own legs with poison, he refused to see another doctor.”
Ji Changze nodded, “I know, he will still help people to diagnose, but raised a condition.”
“Yes, he said that unless the person who wanted him for a consultation was able to make him move around as normal, he wouldn’t be interested in seeing them.”
General Hou thought this was an excuse, “He can’t cure himself. If someone really had the ability to do that, why would they need to consult him? “
“Before there were also people looking for him, but he didn’t like it. He doesn’t like being threatened or forced. I don’t think it’s possible. Why don’t we find someone else? But, I inquired again and again, only this doctor has a high reputation.”
Ji Changze: “Who said there was no way? “
He pointed to the drawing on the table, “This is the way.”
The army began to depart, and on the march, stopped to recuperate at the place where that miracle doctor was.
They led the men to a bamboo house there.
General Hou took the lead in standing up and saying, “My courtesy name is, Hou Ruoming, and I’m here to see the doctor.”
A little child pushed open the door and came out, saying in a clear voice, “Master has said that he will only see patients again if they can make him move around freely.”
General Hou’s face immediately showed a smile blended with smugness coupled with pride, and had the wheelchair brought forward.
Patting the armrest of the wheelchair, “This is what will allow the miracle doctor to move freely.”
The child looked up and down in disbelief, “What is this?”
General Hou pointed to Ji Changze, “This gentleman, who has great talent, made it.”
Ji Changze saluted with humility, “No, no.”