Chapter 28: I’ll Spank You

Xu Anhong had not expected Wei Wuji to speak in such a manner.

For a cavalry captain, losing a hand was no different from losing one’s life.

“My lord, Captain Wang acted without malice. Please, be magnanimous and do not hold this against him!” Xu Anhong still wished to deescalate the situation. From a broader perspective, a cavalry captain was entangled with far too many interests.

Now truly wasn’t the time to touch Wang Xian, especially since he hadn’t committed any grave transgression.

Let me off and forgive Wang Xian for nothing? Wei Wuji’s dissatisfaction was well concealed but resolute; he would never agree to that. Was he, a noble’s son, to be bullied at will? Absolutely out of the question.

What face would he have as a prince hereafter? How could he command respect among the troops?

Let alone the Grand General—if even the Marquis of Wei stood before him, Wei Wuji would not yield without discussion.

“Old General, it is not that I am cruel by nature, but Captain Wang is simply too arrogant,” Wei Wuji continued. “Consider: if he dares attack his own comrades now, would he not one day dare to storm the central camp itself?”

“My own honor matters little, but His Majesty’s safety and the security of Wei must never be neglected!” As Wei Wuji finished, he could not help silently praising his own eloquence.

Xu Anhong was left dumbstruck by Wei Wuji’s words. To twist matters so—such skill at framing was truly impressive.

“My lord, you exaggerate!” Xu Anhong interjected at the right moment. If all were judged so harshly, half the officers in the Wei army would be executed, for who among them had not clashed with others now and then?

“My lord, you wrong me grievously! I am loyal to His Majesty and would never dare commit any treasonous act!” Wang Xian was nearly in tears; how had he encountered such an unreasonable man, and a prince at that?

“Captain Wang, I’m merely acting according to regulations. Did you not just insist that everything be by the rules?” Wei Wuji replied slowly, utterly unhurried.

Wang Xian was in utter misery. Was this really acting by the rules? He had just ordered his men not to draw blood, but here Wei Wuji wanted to cut off a hand at the first opportunity.

Once again, Wang Xian cast a pleading gaze at Xu Anhong—his only hope for salvation.

“My lord, this is too much!” Xu Anhong said solemnly, Wei Wuji’s persistence clearly grating on him.

Seeing the old man about to lose his temper, Wei Wuji decided not to press too far. “Old General, it’s not that negotiation is impossible.”

“I’ve often heard that in the army, there is the practice of beating with the military staff. How about this: thirty strokes for Captain Wang, and let that be a display of my generosity.” At last, Wei Wuji revealed his true intent.

After all, severing a man’s hand was not only unfeasible, it would bring public condemnation and hinder his future prospects. Better to feign severity then show mercy—no one could object to a beating.

“This…” Xu Anhong hesitated. This hardly seemed appropriate.

Such corporal punishment was customarily reserved for common soldiers, not for officers of Wang Xian’s rank. Nothing like this had ever happened in the Wei army.

But Wei Wuji either genuinely did not know, or if he did, that only made him more determined—he would never pass up a chance to humiliate an adversary.

“My lord, Captain Wang shoulders great responsibility. Spare him the beating. I promise to discipline him myself,” Xu Anhong tried to persuade.

“Old General, is Captain Wang more important than His Majesty and the safety of Wei?” Wei Wuji turned to him, speaking slowly. Did Xu Anhong really think he would give another inch?

“Of course… His Majesty and the state are paramount!” Under Wei Wuji’s unwavering gaze, Xu Anhong had no choice but to concede. This was an acceptable outcome—Wang Xian would only lose face.

“Then, as you say, my lord,” Xu Anhong agreed.

He turned to the stricken Wang Xian. “Captain Wang, take your men and report to the provost for your thirty strokes.”

Wang Xian was near tears. For a captain to be flogged—such humiliation was unheard of.

“I obey,” he muttered, voice thick with grievance. He had suffered a crushing defeat.

Just as Wang Xian was about to leave, Wei Wuji called out, “Wait!”

Wang Xian froze, inwardly wailing: What more do you want?

Xu Anhong, too, looked over in confusion. Wei Wuji brushed off his sleeves before speaking, “No need to trouble the provost—let the punishment be carried out here.”

Before Xu Anhong could protest, Wei Wuji turned to Liu Xuanba and his companions. “Come, help Captain Wang loosen his muscles—but don’t be too rough.”

“My lord, you mustn’t abuse your authority for private punishment,” Xu Anhong objected.

Wei Wuji waved dismissively, putting on a serious air. “Old General, all is for the good of the state—how could this be considered private punishment?” He had shifted the argument cleverly.

Xu Anhong was left at a loss—when the prince invoked the state, could he really object?

At that moment, Liu Xuanba and the others, emboldened by Wei Wuji’s command, approached. Liu Xuanba’s gaze toward Wang Xian was predatory.

“My apologies, Captain Wang,” Liu Xuanba said, feigning respect with a bow, though inwardly delighted.

“You…” Wang Xian felt bitterness well up inside; the very man who had been his captive now stood over him, poised to mete out punishment.

Such are the twists of fate, Liu Xuanba mused, but it was Wei Wuji, calm as ever, who had brought all this about. Despite his earlier embarrassment, Wei Wuji’s composure only deepened Liu Xuanba’s admiration for him.

One problem remained: there was no military staff on hand. How was the punishment to proceed?

Wei Wuji had thought of everything. He took a spear from a nearby soldier and handed it to Liu Xuanba. “Use this,” he instructed calmly.

What? The crowd was stunned by this novel approach.

Who was Wei Wuji? He prided himself on ingenuity—if there was no opportunity, he would create one.

As Liu Xuanba, spear in hand, strode toward him, Wang Xian’s despair deepened. He hated Wei Wuji more with every passing moment.

Subdued and pinned to the ground, Wang Xian received the full force of Liu Xuanba’s “staff”—each blow delivered with all his strength.

One… two… ten…

All present watched in silence as Wang Xian suffered his punishment. Yet not one showed the slightest hint of pity.

In Wang Xian’s cavalry, aside from his closest followers, most were secretly delighted.

He had brought this upon himself. While disputes were not uncommon in the Wei army, they were generally open and direct; Wang Xian’s underhanded methods were universally reviled.

Further off, the soldiers under Wei Wuji’s command were elated to see the once-arrogant Wang Xian beaten to within an inch of his life.

“Our lord truly has means!”

“He’s a man of remarkable resourcefulness—a real savior to us all!”

“When Wang Xian had us surrounded, our lord never wavered; I said he’d have a way out!”

The foot soldiers sang Wei Wuji’s praises, for it was his deft handling of the pillar-general that had brought Wang Xian to his knees. Even the instrument of punishment had been provided by Wei Wuji himself.

Who could not feel admiration for the man who had avenged their grievances?

At last, Liu Xuanba, not yet sated, finished the thirty strokes—each one delivered with his full strength, leaving Wang Xian half-dead.

Xu Anhong signaled for Wang Xian to be carried away, for he had fainted from pain.

So much for his efforts to protect Wang Xian; the man had still been beaten senseless. Forget leading troops—he’d be lucky to stand in two or three months.

At this, Xu Anhong couldn’t help feeling resentment toward Wei Wuji. Had he not insisted, things would never have come to this.

But Wang Xian had erred first, and Xu Anhong could not truly blame Wei Wuji. In his heart, he had always despised men like Wang Xian.

“My lord, there are ties between Wang Xian’s family and Old Wu. Was it necessary to act so harshly?” Xu Anhong sighed.

What? Old Wu, who is that? Why should I have to worry about such things when punishing a man? Wei Wuji cursed inwardly.

Wait—could Old Wu be none other than the other pillar-general, Wu Mingyan? The thought rattled Wei Wuji.

“Old General, by Old Wu, do you mean General Wu Mingyan?” Wei Wuji asked cautiously.

“Indeed, that old fox,” Xu Anhong replied, stroking his beard and casting Wei Wuji a teasing glance.