Following Ye Zhen into the temporary command tent, before Ye Zhen had even come to a stop, He Qi, Marshal of the Northern War Zone First Army, swept aside his armor, pushed aside mountains and toppled jade pillars, and dropped to his knees behind Ye Zhen with a thud, his forehead touching the ground.
"He Qi has failed to govern the army. A traitor emerged from our ranks at the critical moment before battle, ruining our great undertaking and nearly plunging our army into a calamity beyond redemption. I beg Marshal Ye to enforce military law and behead me, to serve as a warning to others."
Ye Zhen turned leisurely, his face filled with fury as he sneered. "Marshal He, your poor command caused tens of thousands of soldiers from both our forces to die in vain. Do you truly think this Marshal would not dare take your head to uphold military law?"
At those words, He Qi was greatly alarmed and pressed his forehead to the ground again. "Marshal Ye, He Qi has absolutely no intention of relying on his troops to act arrogantly.
"My plea for punishment just now came from the bottom of my heart, without a shred of falsehood.
"Before the battle, Marshal Ye repeatedly instructed this subordinate that orders must be obeyed without fail. Yet who could have imagined such a blunder would arise before the army lines? This subordinate is so ashamed I wish I were dead, and I have even less face to face the brothers-in-arms who died in vain in this battle.
"I beg Marshal Ye to punish me according to military law!"
Having said that, He Qi, Marshal of the Northern War Zone First Army, pressed his forehead to the ground once more and remained kneeling, his sincerity unmistakable.
Seeing this,