Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 36: Humiliated

Inside the Revered Soul Banner.

Tu Shanjun looked toward the official seated at the head of the hall, clad in a silver embroidered robe.

He wore a square headscarf and a feathered ceremonial hat.

A white jade belt supported the sabre at his waist.

As the sun rose, light shone in from the front of the government office's main hall.

Solemn and dignified.

Under such brightness, it seemed as though there was no place where filth or corruption could hide.

At the same time, the man at the head seat could be clearly seen.

He looked to be in his thirties or forties, chubby and fair-skinned, clearly pampered and well-off.

“Old Xiang¹, it’s not that I’m not giving you face, but your subordinate dared to draw his blade in court, he defied authority.”

“I’m really scared, What if one day, he gets hot-headed and my head ends up rolling?”

“What do you say I should do, Old Xiang?” The chubby Qianhu Commander stood up and walked to Old Xiang’s side,

Reaching out to pat his shoulder.

A look of surprise appeared on his face.

Old Xiang’s right shoulder was actually empty.

But the astonishment quickly passed and he regained his composure, his gaze becoming resolute.

“My lord, it was my failure to discipline my men properly. I will take full responsibility.” Old Xiang became even more respectful. The wrinkles and scars on his face layered upon each other, masking his expression.

Seeing how tactful Old Xiang was, the chubby commander suddenly lost interest.

Bullying an old slickster like this gave no sense of achievement.

That young soldier tied up outside was much more amusing.

The chubby commander waved his hand. “Just take him back.”

“Oh right, take the condolence payment back with you as well, two hundred taels in total.”

“It’s all here.” As he spoke, the chubby commander handed over a cloth pouch.

He let go.

Thud.

The cloth pouch dropped to the floor.

Xiang the Baihu Commander hurried to pick it up, but the moment his hand felt the weight, his expression changed drastically.

The bag in his hand weighed maybe three or four jin at most.

Far from enough for a proper condolence payment of forty taels per person.

Commander Xiang knew that the higher-ups would always take a share, but they normally wouldn’t take this much.

The bag probably held only around forty taels total. Divided among everyone, each man would get less than ten taels.

Commander Xiang gripped the pouch tightly, his voice trembling slightly as he looked at the chubby commander. “My lord, this... this is not in accordance with protocol.”

The chubby commander’s eyes bulged, voice rising sharply: “Protocol?”

“Drawing a blade in court, insubordination by the Embroidered Guards’ own rules, that’s a capital offense!”

“And you want to talk to me about protocol? Your subordinates don’t seem to understand protocol at all.”

Within the Revered Soul Banner, Tu Shanjun sneered.

That damned fat bastard had made his calculations all too well.

Clearly, it was because the condolence silver was short by eighty percent that Shizhu and the others got so furious.

Couple that with Old Xiang losing an arm, he’d be easier to bully.

Might as well use this matter to apply pressure and force them to swallow the loss in silence.

The scar on Commander Xiang’s face twitched, and the veins on his hand gripping the pouch bulged visibly.

Even missing an arm, he was still a second-rate expert, his internal energy was full and vigorous.

Killing this bloated commander would be a matter of a single strike.

But in the end, he didn’t act.

He’d seen this sort of thing many times before, just never thought that one day, it would happen to him. Clearly, his backer had a problem.

Commander Xiang picked up the pouch and prepared to leave.

But as he stepped forward, the chubby commander called out to stop him.

“Old Xiang, you’re getting on in years. Staying in this position too long isn’t good, gotta give the young ones a chance.”

“How about this, tomorrow write a formal petition and request retirement.”

“If you do, not only will I let your subordinates off as if nothing happened...”

“I’ll even make up the missing condolence payments.”

“In light of your loyal service and bloodshed for the court, I’ll personally gift you another fifty taels as a resettlement fund.”

“How does that sound?” The chubby commander stroked the mustache at the corner of his lips, eyes narrowing into slits.

Commander Xiang suddenly turned his head, a gleam of sharp light flashing in his eyes. “Has something happened to the Heir of the Marquis Jing'an?”

The chubby commander looked somewhat surprised, this old rustic had such sharp political instincts?

But even if he’d guessed it, it didn’t matter. What had happened to the Heir of Jing’an was already as good as finalized.

There was no room left for reversal.

Wait too long, and the man might not even be alive anymore.

The old commander let out a long sigh.

Five brothers lost along the way and a severed arm.

Finally back in Liang City, only for the high-ranking patron behind him to have fallen.

And now, for a measly two hundred taels of silver, he had to hand over the title of a sixth-rank baihu commander of the Embroidered Guards.

What use was indignation?

What use was the power to kill the chubby commander?

He had to think about the soldiers who followed him.

For them, for his own family.

“I understand.”

“I’m willing to submit the petition.”

In that moment, Commander Xiang’s once-straight back bent.

He suddenly seemed to have aged ten years. Old.

“Someone come, release the man tied outside.”

“And bring the prepared condolence payments for Lord Xiang,” the chubby commander called out in a loud voice.

Commander Xiang walked out of the grand, righteous main hall.

The soldier pressing down on Shizhu let go, and another man in Embroidered Guard robes carried over a chest filled with silver.

Solid silver. Full weight.

The brothers hurried over, carefully moving their fallen comrades onto the cart, then loading the silver as well.

Everyone looked pleased.

It seemed that as long as Commander Xiang took charge, there was no problem that couldn’t be solved.

But Commander Xiang himself looked grave.

“Boss, how come that fat bastard was so generous this time? Didn’t skimp on condolence or tribute at all,” a young soldier asked, smiling broadly but with a trace of doubt.

“Of course, it’s because our boss has skills.”

“That’s right! With Boss Xiang on the case, there’s nothing that can’t be handled,” the brothers chimed in one after another.

The mood was lively like a big, warm family.

And Commander Xiang was the head of that family.

Shizhu, however, noticed the unease in his commander and lowered his head in shame, face flushed: “Boss, sorry. I was too impulsive...”

Commander Xiang shook his head. “It’s alright. Anyone would’ve lost control in that situation.”

“Don’t dwell on it.”

“I won’t be around in the future, you all have to tread carefully. Don’t offend your direct superiors.”

The cheerful chatter of the group suddenly fell silent.

Everyone turned to look at the old commander, expressions stunned, as if they’d just heard something unbelievable.

“Boss, what do you mean?”

“After this fight, I feel my age even more... and I’ve lost an arm. I plan to submit a retirement petition.”

“After I leave, Shizhu don’t act rashly again. Tietou is steady by nature. You should consult with him when things arise.” The old commander spoke gently, making arrangements.

Seventeen soldiers remained.

He knew them like the back of his hand. Treated each one like a nephew or son.

Now that he was leaving, he found himself reluctant.

But this was the promise he had made.

Only by agreeing to step down could he persuade the chubby commander to show leniency, and make up the condolence payments for the fallen.

“Boss, did that fat bastard threaten you?”

“Let’s go fight him, we’ve got nothing to lose!”

“Yeah! Let’s fight them!”

“I don’t believe the court would really let them swallow our pay like that!”

Their voices were filled with anger, but in truth, they had only one path: to risk their lives.

To be frank, it wasn’t a good choice.

If Xiang were thirty years younger, he might’ve gone for it. But now, things were different.

Killing an Embroidered Guard Qianhu commander was tantamount to rebellion.

A capital crime implicating nine generations.

It would only bring more death.

Now, sacrificing one position could save all of them.

Though they’d be ostracized later, at least they could feed their families and survive with dignity.

So Xiang made the decisive choice to abandon his hereditary sixth-rank commander post in the Embroidered Guards.

“Coward.”

That was Tu Shanjun’s evaluation.

But he said no more.

They weren’t from the same world.

Different circumstances, different joys and sorrows.

(Chapter End)

¹ Xiang is his actual surname, Bai(Baihu) was his rank.