Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Chapter 154: 154 Reward for Meritorious Service, Commander of 2 Armies and 1 Camp Commander

Below Qingwan Town, corpses were scattered across the field, blood flowing everywhere.

With Huangfu Hao leading the troops, thousands of cavalry entered the scene, causing the rebels to scatter like beasts and birds.

Qingwan Town was occupied by the Song Army.

...

Inside the county government office of Qingwan Town.

Generals at the camp level and above gathered in the hall.

The leader of the rebels in Qingwan Town was not dead; after receiving some treatment for serious injuries, he was brought to the county office for questioning.

The leader of the rebels in Qingwan Town was named Xu Liang. Upon entering the county office and seeing Huangfu Hao, he immediately knelt down, desperately pleading for forgiveness, crying and saying that he was forced to join the Yellow Turban Army.

He claimed that if he did not join, his family would suffer, saying it was not intentional.

But who would believe such nonsense?

A forced recruit would be entrusted as the Defender General of Qingwan Town?

When the army arrived, instead of surrendering, you tried to ambush the entire Vanguard Army.

However, the generals did not immediately expose him. Huangfu Hao shouted sternly, asking Xu Liang for his full name and address, and then said:

”Answer my questions without hiding anything...”

”I understand, I will not hide anything.” Xu Liang interrupted before Huangfu Hao could finish.

The gathered generals found it amusing.

Especially Gao Fen, who recalled Xu Liang’s arrogance during the siege.

Huangfu Hao asked seriously, ”Where is your main force?”

”They went towards Fengchi County. Have you heard of Nanyang’s most beautiful woman in Fengchi County? To win her favor and occupy the entire Nanyang County, they marched overnight towards Fengchi County.”

The Yellow Turban Army was nothing more than a ragtag bunch with no cohesion, let alone loyalty.

Now that Xu Liang’s life was at stake, he dared not hide anything and confessed truthfully.

”How many are in your main force?” Seeing his assumption was correct, Huangfu Hao continued to ask.

”About 500,000 the day before yesterday, not sure how many now,” Xu Liang thought for a moment before answering.

These words caused all the generals present to be taken aback.

Even though the Rebel Army was merely a ragtag bunch, the sheer number was rather large.

Handling 500,000 pigs wouldn’t be easy, let alone men.

Huangfu Hao’s expression tightened, continuing his inquiry, ”Who are the higher-ups? How many Innate Martial Artists are there?”

”About a dozen or so, but I really don’t know how many Innate Martial Artists there are,” Xu Liang said.

”Hmm?” Upon hearing this, Huangfu Hao furrowed his brow.

Xu Liang stammered fearfully, ”Reporting to the General, I truly don’t know!”

”After conquering Nanyang, what were your plans?”

”I... I really don’t know,” Xu Liang began to panic, fearing for his life.

However, on this point, he truly didn’t know.

”What about the people’s confiscated wealth in Nanyang?” He had surveyed the city earlier, and everything was looted so thoroughly that even mice would be disappointed, just like in Beijiang County.

”This... this I know. It was all taken by the General’s personal soldiers and moved with the main force,” Xu Liang quickly answered, fearing a slow response would cost him his head.

”Were you ordered to defend Qingwan Town to retreat from it later?”

”I... I don’t know.”

”So many ’I don’t knows’. Guards! Take him out and behead him!” Huangfu Hao waved his hand coldly.

Immediately, two personal soldiers came in from outside the office.

Xu Liang was terrified, kowtowing desperately, his forehead bleeding: ”General, Grand General, forgive me, I truly don’t know!”

Yet Huangfu Hao no longer listened.

He knew Xu Liang didn’t know either.

Because Huangfu Hao never intended to spare his life.

Soon, Xu Liang was beheaded outside the office as a warning to others.

...

After dealing with the rebels.

Next came the rewards and punishments.

Rewards to those deserving, punishment to those who erred.

Huangfu Hao’s gaze fell upon Gao Fen.

Gao Fen shivered, his back already sweaty with cold.

Huangfu Hao, having witnessed the chaos throughout Nanyang County these past days, developed a bitter hatred towards the Yellow Turban rebels, intent on eradicating them from the county. He was extremely angry at Gao Fen’s actions.

”Acting alone, hiding reports, missing the chance for battle, the Vanguard Army suffered nearly two thousand casualties...” Overcome with anger, Huangfu Hao waved his hand, ”Guards! Take Gao Fen out and behead him!”

The personal soldiers waiting outside entered once again.

Hearing these words, Gao Fen collapsed, falling limp on the ground.

But Gao Fen couldn’t be killed.

Most generals in the room were aligned with Gao Fen instead of Huangfu Hao.

The generals pleaded repeatedly for Gao Fen.

Even Huangfu Hao’s aides whispered in his ear, ”Gao Fen is the third son of Gao Qiu, the Commander of the Palace Guard, who is close to the Prime Minister.”

Meaning Gao Fen has powerful backing and should not be easily crossed.

Huangfu Hao understood the intricate court relations; his earlier words were driven by anger. Hearing the generals, he dismissed the idea of executing Gao Fen, instead saying, ”The death sentence is waived, but he won’t escape punishment. Take him out, give him a hundred lashes, demote him to Military Commander, and report his misconduct to Your Majesty.”

Demoted from deputy general directly to military commander.

A significant drop in rank indeed.

The generals stopped pleading.

Very soon, Gao Fen was dragged out.

The sound of cries echoed outside the office.

After dealing with Gao Fen, the reward ceremony followed.

Huangfu Hao smiled and said:

”Today’s battle’s first credit goes to Chen Hong. Without his staunch defense at the gate, capturing Qingwan Town today would have taken more time. A deserved reward. Bring the military merit record for this general to review.”

The Great Song Dynasty’s army had supervisors observing the battlefield to check for deserters and soldiers earning merit.

They recorded achievements officially.

Of course, there might be discrepancies, so soldiers were required to bring back the decapitated heads as proof.

”Fourth Camp of the Three Armies, Eastern Capital’s Captain, Chen Hong, decapitated 1,123 enemies.”

Upon hearing this number, everyone in the hall was shocked.

A person’s physical strength is limited.

Even at one every ten seconds.

How long would it take to kill over a thousand?

”Fourth Camp of the Three Armies, under Captain Chen Hong, Deputy Captain, Gao Zheng, decapitated thirty-six.”

”Fourth Camp of the Three Armies, under Captain Chen Hong, Commander, Liu Dan, decapitated twenty-seven.”

”...”

After speaking.

Huangfu Hao picked up cinnabar, circled Chen Hong’s name, and noted a reward of one hundred taels of gold, a Yellow-grade treasure, and a promotion to Camp Commander of the Second Army’s First Camp, with authority to arrange camp positions himself.

...

As the army commander, His Majesty tasked him with overseeing the Nanyang campaign.

Huangfu Hao naturally had the authority to appoint and remove positions.