Subduing

Three nights after Zhao Si received his bounty, several impatient old veteran ruffians secretly gathered in a corner of the camp to gamble. They were all Sun He's former subordinates. Thinking the storm had passed and their Chieftain was now "easy to talk to," they had gotten greedy again.

They thought they were being stealthy, but they didn't expect that after only a few hands, the tent flap was violently thrown open by a hand.

Wei Zhe's expressionless face appeared at the entrance.

The gambling soldiers were so terrified they nearly lost their souls, their gambling tools clattering to the ground.

"Ch... Chieftain..."

Wei Zhe said nothing, merely staring at them coldly. Following behind him, Qian Hu and Hu Lei pounced like wolves and tigers, pinning the men to the ground.

Soon, the emergency assembly whistle blew again.

Three thousand soldiers, groggy with sleep, gathered on the training ground, unaware of what had happened.

When the gambling soldiers were brought forward, bound and gagged, everyone understood.

"It seems some people have treated the rules I laid down as mere wind in their ears," Wei Zhe's voice was as cold as a knife in the silent night.

"Gambling in the army disrupts morale and corrupts discipline! According to the military law of Great Qin, how should they be punished?" he asked sternly.

"Execution!" Qian Hu and Hu Lei shouted in unison.

At the word "execution," the soldiers immediately shat and pissed themselves, a foul odor filling their pants.

"Chieftain, spare us! We'll never dare again!"

"We were wrong! Please, Chieftain, give us one chance!"

Wei Zhe remained unmoved.

Just then, Sun He stepped out from the formation. After all, these men were soldiers he had led. He couldn't just stand by and watch them be beheaded.

He braced himself and cupped his fists. "Chieftain, they were merely confused for a moment. Their crime doesn't warrant death. I beg you... to show leniency and spare their lives!"

Wei Zhe glanced at him coldly. "Oh? Centurion Sun believes my words from a few days ago were all nonsense? Or do you think your face carries more weight than the military orders I've established?"

Sun He's face turned red with embarrassment, but he dared not retort.

"However," Wei Zhe's tone shifted, "what you say has some merit. Shedding blood so soon after expanding the army is indeed not auspicious."

Everyone's hearts eased slightly.

"Death is forgivable, but punishment is not," Wei Zhe's voice turned cold again. "I'll give you two choices."

"First, these men will each receive one hundred military rod strokes, their legs broken, and they will be immediately expelled from my Tiger and Wolf Army, never to be employed again!"

One hundred military rod strokes! What was the difference between that and being beaten to death?

Everyone gasped.

"Second," Wei Zhe's gaze locked onto Sun He's face, "you, as their Centurion, failed to discipline them properly. You will take thirty military rod strokes on their behalf. This matter will be considered closed. Choose yourself."

Silence fell over the entire field.

All eyes focused on Sun He.

This choice was brutal.

It was forcing Sun He's hand. If he chose the first option, it would mean abandoning his subordinates, destroying his prestige, and losing all credibility.

But if he chose the second, it would be thirty military rod strokes! Administered by fierce men like Qian Hu and Hu Lei, he'd be lucky to survive. And to be beaten in front of three thousand men, where would his dignity as a Centurion go?

Time ticked by, second by second.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Sun He's forehead. His fists clenched with a creaking sound. He looked at his old subordinates kneeling on the ground, their eyes pleading, then at the young man on the high platform with cold, emotionless eyes.

He knew this was Wei Zhe's final test for him.

And his last chance to either fully integrate into the Tiger and Wolf Army or be completely cast aside.

Finally, as if making a firm decision, he suddenly raised his head, his hoarse voice echoing across the entire training ground.

"I... will accept the punishment!"

As the words "I will accept the punishment" were uttered with extreme difficulty from Sun He's mouth, a collective gasp swept through the training ground.

The new soldiers, especially the several hundred old soldiers who had originally been under Sun He, widened their eyes, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

They never imagined that their boss, who was usually arrogant and valued his reputation above all else, would actually choose to accept public punishment for a few errant subordinates.

This was thirty military rod strokes!

Military rods were unlike family discipline. They were made of hard wood soaked in oil, as thick as a bowl. Each stroke was enough to break bones. Forget thirty strokes; even ten strokes could be fatal for someone with a weaker constitution.

Sun He was using half his life to protect his men and uphold his dignity as a Centurion!

The gamblers, who had been kneeling and weeping, were now completely stunned. They stared blankly at Sun He, their mouths agape, having forgotten even to beg for mercy.

Wei Zhe stood on the high platform, looking at Sun He's face, which appeared somewhat ferocious due to his resolve. A barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in the depths of his eyes.

This was the result he wanted.

A general who lacked the courage to take responsibility for his subordinates was not fit to lead soldiers. Although Sun He was a ruffian and a troublemaker, at his core, he was still a soldier with a sense of responsibility. Such a person, if properly disciplined, would surely become a formidable general in the future.

"Very good," Wei Zhe's face remained expressionless as he waved his hand dismissively. "Proceed with the punishment."

Qian Hu and Hu Lei exchanged glances, dragged a long bench from the side, and each picked up a heavy military rod. Their expressions were equally solemn, devoid of any schadenfreude. Military law was absolute, and they were merely its executors.

Sun He didn't hesitate in the slightest. He strode into the center of the training ground, ripped open his shirt, and revealed his bronze back, covered in scars of all sizes. These scars were a testament to his more than a decade of military service and the pride of a veteran soldier.

He didn't say a word and bent over, lying down on the bench.

"Boss Sun!"

"Centurion!"

The veteran soldiers under him could no longer hold back, their eyes red as they shouted.

"All of you shut the hell up!" Sun He suddenly turned his head and roared, "Look closely! This is the consequence of disregarding military discipline! If anyone dares to cause trouble for me again, I'll personally twist their head off!"

His roar was like thunder, making everyone's heart tremble.

Silence fell upon the training grounds once more.

"Begin," Sun He said, lying down again, his voice muffled.

Qian Hu took a deep breath and raised the military rod in his hand high.

"First strike!"

"Whoosh—"

The military rod whistled through the air, striking Sun He's back fiercely!

"Crack!"

A crisp, teeth-grindingly loud sound!

"Ngh!" Sun He's body trembled violently, and a suppressed groan escaped through his clenched teeth, but he bit down hard, refusing to cry out.

A bright red welt quickly began to swell on his back.

Hu Lei stepped forward, also raising the military rod.

"Second strike!"

"Crack!"

Another heavy blow, crossing the first welt. Flesh and skin instantly split open, and blood began to pour out.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

One strike, then another.

The heavy thuds echoed through the silent night, like drumbeats striking the heart of every soldier.

No one spoke; everyone held their breath. They watched the man lying on the bench, his body trembling with each strike, his back a bloody mess, yet he never uttered a cry of pain. Their hearts were filled with shock and admiration.

The soldiers who had committed the offense were already kneeling on the ground, their heads banging against the floor with loud thuds. Their foreheads were covered in blood, and they wept uncontrollably.

Wei Zhe stood on the high platform, his expression as dark as water, motionless.

However, his mind was far from calm. He was observing, watching everyone's reactions.

He saw the fear on the faces of the new recruits diminishing, replaced by awe. The way they looked at Sun He was filled with guilt and reverence; the way they looked at him was filled with bone-deep fear and absolute obedience.

This was the effect he wanted.

An army cannot be built on kindness and rewards alone; that would only raise a flock of sheep. It must have iron discipline and a bone-deep reverence for military law. Only by clearly distinguishing rewards and punishments, and balancing leniency with severity, can a true Tiger and Wolf Army be forged.

"Twenty-ninth strike!"

"Crack!"

"Thirtieth strike!"

"Crack!"

When the final blow landed, there was not a single patch of uninjured flesh left on Sun He's entire back. Blood flowed down the bench, pooling on the ground. He looked as if he had been pulled from a pool of blood, his hair and pants soaked with sweat. He lay there, motionless, seemingly unconscious.

"Execution complete!" Qian Hu reported loudly, dropping the military rod.

Wei Zhe slowly descended from the high platform, walking step by step until he stood before Sun He.