Chapter 127: Putting the Greater Cause Above All Else

Several personal guards lunged forward like fierce wolves, binding Dou Jiande and Liu Heita, and dragged them onto the ship, forcing them to kneel before Lai Hu'er.

Lai Hu'er said nothing at all, looking at them with pity. He thought to himself that he had no choice but to use the two of them as scapegoats. Otherwise, with four thousand elite troops returning with only a few thousand cavalry, and having never suffered such a disastrous defeat in his entire life, where would he hide his old face?

"I have wronged you both! Neither Qin Qiong nor Li Dong can save you now!"

Suppressing his emotions, Lai Hu'er jerked his head away, turned his back, and waved his hand, signaling the guards to take them off the ship for execution.

How could Dou Jiande and Liu Heita willingly submit to execution? They struggled violently to the left and right, bristling with defiance, and several guards could not hold them down.

"General Lai! What crime have I committed? Why are you beheading me? Let me die knowing the clear reason!" Liu Heita roared loudly, filled with utter injustice and indignation!

"General Lai! This defeat cannot be blamed upon us!" Dou Jiande also struggled left and right, trying to break free from the guards' restraints. "Before we set out, I specifically warned you, General."

"Ahahaha..." Fei Qingnu laughed up to the heavens, his expression indescribably smug. "Fine! I will let the two of you die knowing the truth, die with your hearts at ease!"

Fei Qingnu paced back and forth around the two men, looked at the thick ropes binding them, and said coldly, "Why did our Great Sui's four thousand elite soldiers suffer a total and bloodless defeat? It was entirely because of you—and you—" As he spoke, he pointed his finger right at the tips of Liu Heita's and Dou Jiande's noses.

"Right before we marched, the two of you claimed the enemy had ambush forces, shaking military morale and disrupting the Great General's established plans, which led us right into the enemy's trap! What? Do you dare not own up to it now?"

Fei Qingnu was indeed a capable commander who had spent years by Lai Hu'er's side, and he understood Lai Hu'er's mind thoroughly. The reason this defeat was so tragic was entirely because they had recklessly advanced for glory and ignored advice.

However, the military camp remains while soldiers flow through; the general, however, would never be replaced. Pulling forward two scapegoats after a defeat allowed one to deflect some of the blame. This tactic was called sacrificing the rook to save the king. Lai Hu'er often did this, and Fei Qingnu, acting as the fox exploiting the tiger's might, naturally knew how to handle things after a defeat.

"You, you, you, you..." Liu Heita's eyes were bloodshot with rage, left speechless and trembling for a long time before he finally managed to speak: "You, you are twisting the facts and shifting the blame!"

By this time, Dou Jiande had grown slightly calmer, having figured out their intentions. They had been shameless for more than a day or two. Without General Lai's order, how would Fei Qingnu dare to overstep his authority and privately order the arrest of himself and Liu Heita? And why would General Lai agree without a moment's hesitation?

With men acting as the cleaver and cutting board, and oneself as the fish and meat, it seemed escaping death this time was impossible!

Ah, until now, I finally understand completely why Li Dong and Qin Qiong tried to stop me from seizing a military post! This military post should never have been accepted, not even as a gift!

Yet... yet... since Li Dong already knew in advance that this trip was fraught with extreme danger, why didn't he stop me completely? Why did he wait until halfway, after I had won several battles and secured the military post, to try and stop me? The strange thing is, what is he doing now? Why isn't he coming to rescue me from this fiery doom?

"Heaven above, Earth below, there are spirits three feet deep in the ground. The heavens will bear witness for us that we die unjustly and with deep grievance. Even if we turn into vengeful ghosts, we will never forgive you!" Dou Jiande's heart had turned to ashes by this point; he no longer sought survival, desiring only vengeance against the fickle and merciless Fei Qingnu.

Hearing this, Fei Qingnu laughed grimly. "There are plenty of people who want to harm me! You are neither the first nor the last! What can you possibly do to me? After all these years, haven't I lived on just fine? I am still an imposing and majestic General of Wuben! All those freaks and ghosts who swore to take my life have long since turned into a handful of dust and withered bones. Close your eyes in peace and be on your way!"

Just as the words fell, the guards grabbed the backs of their shirts and dragged them toward the shore.

The executioners tested the edges of their axes against the two men's necks, figuring out the best spot to sever their heads with a single blow. Having seen plenty of executions, the executioners knew these men were merely scapegoats. Giving them a clean, swift chop so they would feel nothing would set their own minds at ease.

"Hold the execution!"

A loud roar shook the bodies and souls of everyone on and off the ship.

Recognizing the voice as Qin Qiong's, General Lai's body twitched slightly, but he refused to look back, hardening his heart to take their heads.

Seeing that General Lai remained unmoved, Fei Qingnu sneered, "What is it, Qin Qiong? Do you still have something to say?"

Why hadn't Li Dong come? Why had Qin Qiong come? Qin Qiong had come precisely upon Li Dong's instructions.

Before departing, Li Dong had already taught him what to say to persuade General Lai.

Li Dong was currently disguised as Dang Yuqian, fearing his identity would be exposed. While in Qi County, he had caused them no end of trouble. Especially Fei Qingnu, who had been defeated by him twice and harbored a bone-deep hatred for Li Dong, wishing he could grind his bones to dust to vent his spleen.

Now, for a matter of saving lives, it was inconvenient for him to show his face; he could only send Qin Qiong. Once he showed his face, it would likely produce the exact opposite effect. Li Dong was also confident that the words he taught Qin Qiong would successfully persuade Lai Hu'er to spare them—or at least prevent them from being killed on the spot.

Qin Qiong dropped to one knee, performed a deep bow, and replied loudly, "That is correct! Qin Qiong has something to say! I implore General Lai to think twice before acting!"

General Lai still did not move.

Seeing this, Fei Qingnu knew what to do and ordered the executioners on the shore, "Proceed with the execution!"

The executioners raised their heavy axes high, and it seemed the two men were about to offer their necks to the blade, their blood splashing five paces, leaving their corpses where they stood.

"Let him speak!" Lai Hu'er's shoulder twitched slightly.

"Stop!" Fei Qingnu broke out in a cold sweat and hastily ordered the executioners to halt the execution.

That was a close one! Qin Qiong sighed inwardly.

"Speak!" Since General Lai had given the word, Fei Qingnu had no choice, however unwilling he might be.

"Understood!" Qin Qiong replied ringing out, "Now the formidable enemy is pressing upon our borders and our army is in imminent peril, how can we execute our own beloved commanders? We should spare their worthless lives and let them redeem themselves through meritorious service. I am certain they will be deeply grateful for General Lai's immense grace, and will throw themselves into the fray, fighting heroically to repay the General's kindness! I beg the General to think thrice!"

"Then... Qin Qiong..." General Lai finally spoke. "Tell me, do they count as beloved commanders?"

Hearing General Lai speak, Qin Qiong felt a surge of joy, thinking to himself: The words Li Dong taught me are truly miraculous! As long as General Lai is willing to talk, there is a sign of loosening!

"The Battle of Salsu River was merely their first battle after joining the General's ranks. They lack experience and still need seasoning. I implore the General to grant them a thread of life. Remember, the tens of thousands of guards currently on these ships were all recruited from Qi County! Once Dou Jiande is executed, which of their fellow townsmen won't feel a chill in their hearts? Everyone will fear for their own safety, and that will truly ruin military morale, leaving no one daring to easily step forward and kill the enemy in battle! Won't danger then invite itself? I earnestly beg the General to think thrice!"

One had to admit that Li Dong was an absolute master at military management, possessing a profound insight into what words needed to be spoken at a critical moment to alter Lai Hu'er's mindset.

Every single one of these words struck like a hammer upon the heart of General Lai, who had also commanded troops for many years. Every sentence spoken by Qin Qiong made his heart flutter with fear, driving into his soul like a sturdy iron nail.

If Lai Hu'er stubbornly insisted on executing Dou Jiande and Liu Heita, it meant there was a genuine possibility of a military mutiny.

Even Lai Hu'er himself could no longer guarantee his own safety. Yet, if he pardoned them simply because of Qin Qiong's few words, retracting his newly uttered command and breaking a habit of leading troops for years—when the Emperor, Yang Guang, inevitably blamed him later, who would bear the responsibility?