Zhuge Liang tossed a command token onto the ground.
The guards on either side picked up the military order, then dragged Zhou Yu away. Soon, heavy blows rang out outside, accompanied by screams.
Lu Su's heart burned with anxiety, but there was nothing he could do. He could only shed tears in silence.
After dealing with Zhou Yu, Zhuge Liang seemed only then to remember that Xu Huang was still present. He gave another order. "Throw this rebel into prison. In three days, sacrifice him to the flag!"
Xu Huang had been left stunned by the rapid succession of events. Only at those words did he come back to his senses, casting Zhuge Liang an astonished look.
Then he was led out of the command tent.
Outside, Zhou Yu had been stripped to the waist and bound to a punishment frame. Two officers stood beside him, wielding military staves and striking his back heavily.
The sun blazed mercilessly. The skin on Zhou Yu's back had split open, exposing torn flesh in a sight too ghastly to bear. He was already in too much pain even to cry out.
Even Xu Huang felt his heart pound with horror at the sight.
As he passed Zhou Yu, he could not help glancing at him, and Zhou Yu happened to raise his head.
But the instant their eyes met, Zhou Yu's eyes rolled back, his head slumped to one side, and he lost consciousness completely.
At the entrance to the command tent, Lu Su was craning his neck to look outside.
Once Xu Huang had been taken far away, he rushed over to Zhou Yu and called anxiously, "Quick! Fetch a physician!"
As he spoke, he stepped forward himself to untie Zhou Yu from the punishment frame, then carried him into the command