Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 313 - 3: Marquis Boping Yang An (Third Watch)_2

Chapter 313: Chapter 3: Marquis Boping Yang An (Third Watch)_2

"Salute to the Divine Might General."

The inspectors and members of the temple in the square, including the accompanying officers, all bowed in respect.

Zhao Xing saw this and also cupped his hands in salutation.

Yang An was very young, with fair skin, red lips, and a high nose bridge, he was extremely handsome. If he hadn’t been wearing blue battle armor, military boots, and carrying a large sword, dressed in fine clothes, he would have looked like a refined gentleman. It was impossible to tell that he was the chief commander of an army.

At this moment, everyone referred to him as ’Divine Might General,’ rather than ’Marquis Boping.’

Because the former was his official position and the latter his title, in formal occasions, he had to be addressed as Divine Might General.

He was accompanied by a middle-aged scholar with triangular eyes, a face full of cunning and deceit, he was likely Jia Pu, a well-known strategist of the Divine Might Army.

Zhao Xing felt somewhat disappointed in Yang An, even his salute was perfunctory.

After cupping his hands, he silently descended the clouds and returned to the corridor, standing next to Old Chen.

Chen Shijie could easily guess Zhao Xing’s thoughts and whispered, "Just watch closely. The marquis never disappoints."

Oh?

Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow and looked up at the sky again.

As soon as Yang An appeared, Zhao Xing had no chance to speak. The one conversing was Qiu Mingyi.

"Why does the Divine Might General hinder law enforcement?"

"The Inspection Bureau wants to execute 1366 of my brothers, how could Yang An not come?"

"If Mr. Qiu insists on executing them, at least give them a chance for final words."

Yang An landed on the square, and the Dragon’s Claw shattered the Silence Technique instantly.

"Marquis, Marquis!"

"I’m wronged, Marquis!"

"Marquis, Qiu Mingyi is a cruel official with ulterior motives, he wants to kill us!"

The people in the square immediately cried out in anguish.

Zhao Xing? Not influential enough, and not well-known, it seemed the anger was directed at Qiu Mingyi.

Qiu Mingyi stepped into the air and landed on the square, unafraid, directly facing the Dragon’s Claw’s might.

"Then let’s hear what they have to say."

Yang An nodded, "Silence!"

The square immediately quieted down.

A strange look flashed in Zhao Xing’s eyes, this was not a Ritual Repairer’s spell, but something achieved by Yang An’s own charisma.

"Hong Tai, what grievances do you have?" Yang An first asked the highest-ranking officer, Hong Tai. "Speak up, and I will uphold justice for you!"

Hong Tai looked up, his lips moved, but he couldn’t speak.

Was he wronged? He wasn’t wronged.

The crimes were true, the evidence was true.

How could he defend himself?

"Can’t speak up?" Qiu Mingyi sneered, "Then let me speak for you. Hong Tai, you were transferred to Tao County as Land Register Commander in the tenth year of Jingxin Calendar. At that time, given the situation of the Divine Might Army, even Marquis Boping was dismissed."

"You switched from military to civil, from a proper seventh-rank to secondary seventh-rank. Tao County was a fertile land, not suffering from natural disasters. Your position transfer did not require fighting or night watch, your salary even increased. Do you think the court wronged you?"

Hong Tai, with his neck stiffened, said, "The marquis took the blame for the brothers! The marquis was forced to resign to protect the brothers in the army..."

"Good!" Qiu Mingyi interrupted Hong Tai, "It’s good that you know."

"But how did you repay Marquis Boping in Tao County? Answer me!"

"Marquis, I, I know my mistakes..." Hong Tai dared not lift his head.

"Know mistakes?" Qiu Mingyi snorted, "I don’t think so."

"In five years in Tao County, you raped fourteen women, leading to the deaths of five. The remaining nine were silenced with money."

"A year ago, when Marquis Boping returned to the army and started to reform the military."

"You feared exposure and crazily killed the families of these fourteen women to silence them."

"You thought it was perfect, but didn’t know there’s always divine observation."

"How did a capable Changshui Captain fall so low?"

"You cry injustice, but who is truly wronged, you, the women you killed, or their souls?!

With every word, Qiu Mingyi took a step forward. By the end, his voice echoed across the sky, and no criminal in the square could lift their heads.

Qiu Mingyi scanned the square, "If any of you feel wronged, speak out loudly. If there’s any misjudgment, I will kill myself immediately to atone!"

Silence, deathly silence.

After Qiu Mingyi finished, the command arrow in the sky fell three inches lower, Dragon’s Claw seemed to falter and was about to collapse.

Hong Tai kneeled before Yang An.

"Marquis, I know my sins are unforgivable!"

"For the sake of our years together, please spare my life, let me die on the battlefield!"

"Hong Tai, will certainly die in battle!"

After speaking, Hong Tai kowtowed heavily on the ground.

The others saw this and followed suit, kowtowing.

"Marquis, I, He Long, only embezzled a few thousand taels, is it worthy of death?"

"Marquis, even in death, let us die on the battlefield!"

"Marquis..."

Qiu Mingyi fell silent.

Because these people confessed their crimes, did not argue, they sought Yang An’s clemency, wishing for a different way to die.

If Yang An granted their wish, Qiu Mingyi couldn’t interfere, for this was the prerogative of the powerful and the aristocracy, an issue left by history. At the founding of the land by the Grand Ancestor, first-class strong people could have gone to the eight directions of the earth to become kings. If there were no privileges, why would they pledge allegiance to Great Zhou?

These privileged systems were neither wholly good nor bad, but they existed.

Zhao Xing watched this scene, feeling this test was indeed difficult.

Facing former subordinates’ pleas, especially for a different form of death, anyone would be moved to grant clemency.

However, if Yang An did grant clemency, his evaluation would certainly lower.

Of course, at this moment, Zhao Xing would never speak to persuade.

Everyone had their own choices, Zhao Xing’s choice was severe punishment, not opposing the court’s strict crackdown.

What choice would Marquis Boping make?

...

After a moment of silence, Yang An spoke, his tone icy:

"Hong Tai, Qi Shan, you were once my brothers in the Divine Might Army."

"I, Yang An, never mistreated you!"

"You have merited, but also received rewards!"

"The crimes you now commit are unforgivable!"

"Since there is no grievance, today, no matter who judges, the result is the same!"

"Nation’s law imposes penalties, crimes do not allow clemency, I will personally send you on your way!"

After speaking, Yang An’s sword suddenly unsheathed.

In an instant, it penetrated 1366 people in the square!

After doing all this, Yang An’s voice echoed for miles.

"The Divine Might Army is not a place for filth and crime, practicing martial arts and fighting is to protect the nation and love the people!"

"If one’s heart is no longer true, they are no longer a member of my Divine Might Army!"

After speaking, Yang An’s sword made a circle and came back.

"I, Yang An, failed in governance, and thus today, lost 1366 brothers!"

"I, too, shall be punished!"

Then, the golden sword, under the gazes of all, suddenly slashed across his left shoulder and right leg.

"Slash~"

The blade cut off his left shoulder and right leg cleanly!

"Marquis Boping!" Qiu Mingyi was moved.

"Marquis!"

"Divine Might General!"

Exclamations came from all corners of the square!

Zhao Xing was also surprised, he hadn’t expected Yang An to be so ruthless, directly cutting off his arm and leg.

Although there were treasures in this world for regenerating limbs, for a Fourth Rank strong person, obtaining Bone Healing Ginseng was not difficult.

But to truly dare to do this, he was a ruthless person!

"From today, I, Yang An, am demoted to the bitter rank, punished into the First Camp, to atone by killing enemies for the souls wronged by the Divine Might Army’s villains!"

"Until I kill ten times the number, I shall not be reinstated! May all soldiers of the Divine Might Army take this as a lesson, discipline themselves and their subordinates!"

After speaking, Yang An’s Dragon’s Claw swept up the corpses of the dead soldiers and flew away from the Inspection Bureau.

"Such a ruthless Yang An, truly ruthless." Zhao Xing watched Yang An’s retreating figure, a flash of admiration in his eyes, "Handled decisively and cleanly, no wonder he is renowned throughout the world!"