The Demon Lords-Chapter 707 - 148: Keeping Prisoners_1

Night fell, and the cold wind was biting.

Inside the army camp, a man meticulously wiped every part of the armor in his hand, his fingertips caressing every dent.

"Heh, I say, are you ever that careful when you're in the red tents cuddling women?"

The squad leader lifted the curtain, walked into the tent, sat down on the rug, and immediately pulled off his shoes. Puffs of white steam immediately rose from his bare feet, and the stench of foot odor quickly filled the air.

But the man polishing the armor didn't seem to mind, apparently accustomed to such scenes. He responded, "Once you're in a red tent, holding a woman... it's like a starving man finally getting a meat bun. He'd want to swallow it whole, who'd bother to chew slowly?"

"True enough, haha."

The squad leader then pointed to the Black Dragon flag in the tent and said, "Starting tomorrow, you carry the flag."

This squad was, by its nature, for flag bearers. The man, recruited from the prisoner soldiers, had long known what role he would play on the battlefield.

"Yes."

The squad leader rubbed his hands and asked, "I heard you were originally assigned to Shengle?"

"Yes, that's what the escorting official said."

Ran Min was indeed supposed to be sent to Shengle. However, Lord Jingnan mobilized his forces. Alongside the thirty thousand Jingnan Army serving as the main contingent, a batch of prisoner soldiers was also dispatched from the rear to transport military supplies to the front. Ran Min was conscripted into this group and thus couldn't go to Shengle.

After the military supplies were delivered, various units of the Eastern Conquest Army, which had suffered heavy casualties, began selecting able-bodied men from the prisoner soldiers to replenish their ranks. Ran Min, being from Tiancheng County and speaking with a Tiancheng accent, was selected to join a former Imperial Guard unit, assigned to a flag-bearing squad. He hadn't earned any military merits. But, due to good luck and a shortage of men at the right time, he was directly transferred from the prisoner soldiers to the regular army.

"What crime did you commit?"

"Murder."

"Heh, out here, killing isn't a crime. It counts as military merit."

"Yes."

"Actually, I... I can't hold it in anymore. For the past few months, I've been having nightmares constantly. I dream of the Wang River, filled with the bodies of our Yan Army soldiers... *Sigh*."

"Every time I close my eyes, it's like I see them in the river, crying out. They're cold, they're freezing, they're not resigned to their fate! They're calling out to me, wanting me to avenge them!"

In the Battle of Wang River, the Yan Army suffered a disastrous defeat. The Left Army was almost entirely wiped out. Tens of thousands of Yan Army soldiers were driven into the river, and countless drowned.

"Soon," Ran Min said, continuing to wipe his armor.

"Yes, soon! Then we'll show those Chu people and wild people—Direct Thief!—what true men of Yan are!"

Ran Min didn't respond further. He had arrived later and hadn't experienced that devastating defeat. Thus, he couldn't truly empathize with the deep-seated resentment of the veterans who had endured the previous battle.

"Do you like this armor?"

Ran Min nodded. "I do."

"Fight hard tomorrow. Kill enemies. Sooner or later, it will truly be yours."

Ran Min nodded again and replied calmly, "Mm."

During this time, Prince Cheng's Royal Mansion in Ying Capital City had long grown accustomed to Lord Jingnan's way of doing things. Unlike the time when the Eldest Prince commanded the Eastern Conquest Army, where both sides maintained a degree of leeway and mutual respect, this Lord Jingnan from Yan State was exceedingly direct. In this Lord's eyes, the so-called Prince Cheng was merely the prefect of Ying Capital City. The original civil and military officials of Cheng State were reduced to mere bailiffs and government servants. The Cheng State army was summarily disbanded and integrated into the Yan Army. Lord Jingnan showed no concern for whether the people of Cheng State felt he was discarding them after they'd served their purpose. Nor did he care if others criticized his methods as utterly crude.

The recent, constant military redeployments and changes of guard seemed to be a form of training and consolidation, designed to accustom the various military units to Tian Wujing's command style. It also served to familiarize everyone in Cheng State, from Situ Yu down to the local officials, with this new atmosphere.

Inside the former Cheng State royal palace, now Prince Cheng's Royal Mansion, the current Prince Cheng, Situ Yu, was attending a lesson. His lecturer was one of the original Hanlin scholars from the palace. Even though he was no longer emperor, the Prince was still young and required schooling. Moreover, Situ Yu's birth mother, who was also Situ Lei's principal wife and the former Empress of Dacheng, had extremely high expectations for Situ Yu's education.

Of course, any official capable of actual work was incredibly busy during this period. Lord Jingnan's unending stream of orders was like a series of execution writs, leaving them no room for negligence. Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked. This old Hanlin scholar, over forty and utterly clueless about practical matters, was thus only fit to serve as Situ Yu's tutor.

Situ Yu listened very attentively. He didn't believe, however, that anything his tutor taught would be of any practical use. But for him at this time, there was no need to learn anything really useful. In other words, he no longer lived for his own inclinations, but for how others perceived him. Only by living decorously and unobtrusively could he ensure a long life. Only then could this hereditary and irreplaceable title of Prince Cheng continue within the Situ Family. This, perhaps, was his mother's greatest hope for him.

When the lecture ended, a maidservant brought in a late-night snack: a bowl of white fungus soup.

The old Hanlin scholar sat at the table and, without ceremony, picked up a spoon and began to eat. Situ Yu sat beside his tutor, keeping him company as he ate.

"Your Highness, are my lessons tedious for you?"

The old minister, in private, still addressed Situ Yu as "Your Majesty" rather than "Your Highness."

"Master Cui, why would you say such a thing? Your learning is profound. It is my honor to receive your instruction."

"Heh." The old Hanlin scholar shook his head. "Your Majesty, you are still young. There's no need to live so somberly. It will only deplete your vital energy." This was another way of saying: excessive worry harms the body.

Situ Yu didn't argue, merely saying, "Thank you for the reminder, Master."

"Once the war is concluded, Your Majesty should petition the Yan Emperor in Yanjing to pay respects. The first petition will surely be rejected, as will the second. Keep petitioning, until His Majesty the Yan Emperor consents."

As he spoke these words, the weariness on the old Hanlin scholar's face seemed to vanish. A glint of shrewdness actually appeared in his murky eyes.

Situ Yu paused, startled, then rose and assumed a respectful posture, ready to receive teachings.

"A teacher's duty is, firstly, to impart the Way, teach skills, and resolve doubts. But in the end, this pursuit of knowledge is no different from an old village craftsman passing on his trade to an apprentice. The ultimate goal is to enable one to establish oneself and make a living in this world. Therefore, I must say these things."

"Yes, I, Situ Yu, accept your teachings."

"The current Yan Emperor is a broad-minded and ambitious ruler. To encounter such a sovereign is, in fact, a fortunate turn for Your Majesty. For now, any thought of restoring the kingdom or its former status is out of the question. It's not something to even consider; at least, no such hope is visible at present."

"So, please, Your Majesty, cast aside other aspirations. Focus on being a loyal and submissive subject. This way, in twenty years, forty years, perhaps a full sixty-year cycle, or even a century later, your descendants may yet find an opportunity for a resurgence when the political winds shift dramatically."

"Yes, I, Situ Yu, accept your teachings."

"First, hold onto your fiefdom. Even if it's just Ying Capital City, that will be enough. Therefore, Your Majesty must be perceptive and cooperate with that Yan Emperor. You must perform your role well in this grand play."

"What do the Yan people want now? Isn't it simply for all under Heaven to acknowledge their rule? Then let us give it to them. Let us follow their lead, comply with their wishes, serve them, and flatter them, to the point where they would feel embarrassed to further diminish our territory."

"As long as we are not relegated to a life of idle leisure in Yanjing, we retain a sliver of hope."

"But the war isn't over. I don't even... I'm not even sure of its current direction..."

"Your Majesty, I am no expert in military matters. However, these past few days, after finishing my duties, I've often strolled through the streets and along the city walls. Call it an outsider's idle observation, but I feel the current atmosphere here is quite promising."

"Lord Jingnan, though perhaps a bit forceful, is what's needed. In such a chaotic situation, decisive, iron-fisted measures are indeed necessary to restore order quickly."

Situ Yu nodded.

Just then, drums began to sound. The drumming began first from the command tent outside the city. Then, war drums from various army units took up the call, the sound spreading to other encampments beyond the walls. Simultaneously, the great drums within the city thundered in response.

"This is... the drum call to assemble the generals."

The old Hanlin scholar shot to his feet, fists clenched. He sat down again, fists still tight. He looked as if he wanted to slam his fist on the stone table but hesitated and ultimately restrained himself. Nevertheless, he couldn't hide his agitation, and he pumped a fist in the air.

"Finally! It's time to fight! Exterminate them! Exterminate those savage beasts!"

The old Hanlin scholar's home was east of the Wang River.

As the drums thundered, every military camp sprang into action. Regular troops, auxiliary soldiers, and even civilian laborers were all rapidly assembled under the commands of their respective superiors. Men donned their armor; warhorses were led from their stables. Commanders of battalion rank and higher swiftly departed their posts, galloping towards the Central Army Commander's Tent.

Within Ying Capital City, many were startled awake from their sleep. Yet, no one uttered complaints or curses. On the contrary, a sense of excitement filled the air.

When the drums sounded, everyone knew: the battle was about to begin!

The drums were calling the generals to assemble. The one beating the drums was Li Fusheng. The closer one got to the command tent, the more thunderous the drumming became.

Outside the Central Army Commander's Tent, rows of white candles flickered, and an offering table had been set up. Lord Jingnan stood with his back to the assembled officers.

When the drumming ceased, several ranks of generals, having arrived promptly, already stood behind Lord Jingnan. All held their breath, awaiting Lord Jingnan's address.

Tian Wujing took a step back and knelt on one knee before the offering table. The dozens of generals behind him knelt in unison.

"Today, we honor the tens of thousands of sons of Great Yan who perished in the Battle of Wang River. May their souls find peace."

"May their souls find peace!"

"May their souls find peace!"

Lord Jingnan rose first, and the generals slowly followed suit.

"Generals, hear my command!"

"Your orders, General!"

"Your orders, General!"

Once more, all knelt. A grim, murderous aura permeated the air. Everyone knew the command to begin the great battle was imminent.

"This is the first military order:

After tonight—

East of the Wang River—

The wild people—

The Chu people—

All kills will be counted by heads for military merit.

No prisoners!"