Chapter 101: Relying on Wisdom, Not Force

General Lai Hu'er asked in a stern voice what should be done when there was a traitor within the army.

Fei Qingnu was terrified out of his wits, his face ashen, and he stammered, "According to the law... one should be beheaded..."

"Since you know the law demands beheading, why did you, without my authorization, lead private soldiers to break into the Yanchun Pavilion to arrest people? Who gave you the order to take them away? Who gave you the right to disturb Qi Commandery?"

"Do you think I didn't notice that so many soldiers were missing when you left and returned?" Lai Hu'er roared, slamming his hand against the desk until it thundered. "I asked you at the time to give you a chance to realize your mistake! I never expected you to be so brazen as to disregard me entirely. Now you dare to deceive me—what will stop you from raising an army in rebellion later?"

Fei Qingnu could no longer sit still. He scrambled forward, falling from his chair to his knees, kowtowing and begging for mercy: "General, have mercy! General, save me..."

"Heaven may forgive those who court disaster, but those who bring it upon themselves cannot live!" Lai Hu'er glared, his face cold and grim as he loomed over Fei Qingnu. "You have violated the Kaihuang Code. Even if the Emperor himself wanted to save you from this fire, he would have to weigh the consequences carefully!" Lai Hu'er rose abruptly, pacing behind his desk in agitation, shouting his reprimands.

"General..." Fei Qingnu kowtowed repeatedly, his voice choked with sobs. "I have followed you for half my life, serving at your side through thick and thin, never daring to commit even the slightest error... Please, for the sake of our past, spare my life..."

Fei Qingnu remained prostrate on the ground, not daring to look up. With his life hanging by a thread, he was trembling like chaff in the wind, whimpering in a low voice.

The General only needed to utter a soft command to have the soldiers drag Fei Qingnu away, which would have meant the end of him. But Lai Hu'er did not do this. Instead, he ordered the soldiers out of the tent, turning this into a private reprimand—a final chance for redemption.

It is far easier to save a talented man than to cultivate one from scratch. Moreover, with the campaign to Liaodong approaching, the army was in dire need of men. How could Lai Hu'er bear to slaughter his own capable commander? Yet, if he did not act, what would happen if the man truly rebelled later?

First, scare him until he is terrified out of his mind, making him believe his life is over and forcing him to abandon all hope of survival. Then, suddenly point toward a path of life, leaving him filled with such profound gratitude that he would be willing to lay down his life to repay the grace of being spared.

The General's art of managing men was truly profound!

"You fool! Qingnu, tell me, what is our primary objective in coming to Qi Commandery?" Lai Hu'er sat back down, his tone less fierce, his fingers tapping lightly on the table as he asked.

"Drafting... soldiers," Fei Qingnu replied, still pressed to the floor, not daring to lift his head.

"Drafting soldiers? Shame on you for knowing that. Does this not require us to rely on Ye Jishan and Zhang Xutuo of Qi Commandery to manage things for us? Even I treat them with courtesy. How could you, while under their jurisdiction, commit such an act of overstepping your authority?"

"Why are we drafting soldiers? To take them to a brothel and flaunt your power, getting into brawls with patrons? No, absolutely not! It is to march to Liaodong, to execute the Emperor's decree, and to fight the Goguryeo rebels to the death! That is where your chance to shine lies, not here and now!"

Lai Hu'er spoke to himself, half-counseling and half-criticizing, pointing out Fei Qingnu's errors while spurring him on to fight bravely on the battlefield. To handle ideological work with such mastery was truly seasoned and refined.

"Yes! The General's instruction is correct! I will surely fight to the death and will not hesitate even if my brains are spilled on the ground!" From Lai Hu'er's tone, Fei Qingnu sensed a glimmer of hope, a chance for redemption. He immediately swore his loyalty, feeling even more grateful and awed by Lai Hu'er.

"Since you know you were wrong, bring out the people you took from Yanchun Pavilion and bring them here." Lai Hu'er paused, then asked, "Are you willing?"

"Yes, yes, I will go at once..." Fei Qingnu scrambled to his feet, eager to leave. He was terrified that if he lingered, Lai Hu'er might find another reason to punish him to death.

Before long, the sound of messy footsteps and shouting erupted outside the tent, interspersed with the curses of soldiers and the crying of a woman.

The tent flap was lifted, and over twenty people were pushed in, including Li Dong, Qin Qiong, Luo Shixin, Dou Jiande, Liu Heita, Yan Ruyu, Zhang Jincheng, and his dozen attendants. Everyone was bound tightly, their faces showing unconcealed defiance. Only the young woman, Yan Ruyu, was sobbing continuously.

Lai Hu'er sat firmly in his command chair. When he saw Li Dong among those bound, he stiffened, his brows knitting slightly. "This... what is the meaning of this?"

Fei Qingnu was merely a subordinate commander and was unaware that Li Dong was highly favored by the Emperor. However, Lai Hu'er knew clearly that the portraits of Zhang Xutuo and Li Dong had already been sent to the front lines at Liaodong; it was very likely that they would soon be summoned to meet the Emperor himself.

If he offended him now, and Li Dong said a few disparaging words before Emperor Yang of Sui—given Yang Guang's volatile temperament—not only would Fei Qingnu be finished, but Lai Hu'er himself would be in deep trouble.

Right now, he had to treat Li Dong with the utmost respect and flattery, soothing him with kind words and entertaining him with fine wine and food. He didn't even ask for Li Dong to speak well of him; he would be grateful if Li Dong simply refrained from sabotaging him.

And now this? To have him bound, and potentially to have snatched the woman he had his eyes on, Yan Ruyu—Fei Qingnu had caused a massive disaster. He could not be let off lightly!

Lai Hu'er put on a smile, quickly stepped out from behind his desk, and personally untied Li Dong's ropes, comforting him: "I am sorry for the fright, truly sorry! He was unaware of the situation..."

He then ordered a seat to be brought for Li Dong.

How could Li Dong sit? To sit would signify that he forgave Fei Qingnu's actions. How could he let him off so easily? He had to make him suffer a little.

Li Dong remained standing, cupped his hands to Lai Hu'er, and saluted: "Thank you, General, for your kindness. I am but a commoner without any rank or merit; to receive such high treatment from the General makes me feel deeply uneasy!"

"But..." Li Dong looked at the others who were still bound, "they are still tied up..."

"Ah, ha ha ha..." Lai Hu'er forced a laugh, saying, "From what I understand, these people got into a brawl over a courtesan, and I intended to send them to Governor Ye to be dealt with."

"What?" Li Dong stared back. "Was the General at the Yanchun Pavilion at the time?"

"This..." Lai Hu'er stumbled over his words. "I heard about it afterward."

"How can you believe what you heard afterward? We were the ones there on the scene; why didn't you ask us?" Li Dong questioned.

"Very well, which of you will tell me what happened?" When he was at the Yanchun Pavilion, the madam had already told him the truth, so he knew the whole story. Doing this now was merely to give Li Dong face, to provide a way out for both of them.

"I'll speak first!" Zhang Jincheng, with his impulsive nature, was the first to step forward. "We were watching Yan Ruyu dance when a man suddenly broke in—it was him—" Zhang Jincheng gestured with his chin toward where Fei Qingnu stood. "He suddenly tried to snatch Yan Ruyu. When we tried to reason with him, he had us bound and brought here."

"I will speak as well," Dou Jiande stepped forward. "What Zhang Jincheng said is entirely true. I can bear witness!"

"I bear witness..."

"I bear witness..."

Qin Qiong, Luo Shixin, and Liu Heita also stepped forward, confirming that Zhang Jincheng’s account was true.