Chapter 21 Torture
Lin Changning and Wan Jin went to the training ground to be punished after leaving the house.
The two obediently lay on the bench, while the border guards beside them received orders to work in pairs, raising thick military batons and bringing them down with a whooshing sound.
"Slap," "Slap," "Slap," "Slap," "Slap," "Slap"
The executioners were all seasoned veterans, and they were very efficient.
The five strokes of the military rod were completed in an instant. Lin Changning's buttocks burned with pain, but it should be harmless and had not damaged his bones.
Wan Jinsiha got up with a grin, limping as he clutched his backside: "A beating for five taels of silver, what a bargain!"
The surrounding border soldiers sneered: "What nonsense are you talking about? Wan Jin, you haven't had enough of a beating yet. If you think it wasn't enough, lie down now, and I'll give you a few more lashes."
Wan Jin rubbed his buttocks: "Then forget it."
Laughter rose and fell around them. Wan Jin cupped his hands and said, "Hehe, the commander gave me some silver today. Tonight, Changping and I will buy some roast chicken and yellow wine and go to Old Liu's house. Brothers and uncles, please do us the honor of having a good meal today."
Wang Wulong, who was carrying out the punishment, said in his patched-up coat: "Alright, I'll bring my brothers over later, and I'll also have your sister-in-law bring some pickled radishes from last year."
A group of people were chatting and laughing when a commotion came from the side. Lin Changning turned around and saw that it was that disgusting eunuch Bai Changsui, being dragged over by two soldiers who were tied up hand and foot.
A group of young eunuchs were caught in a dilemma, unable to decide whether to help or stop them.
"Oh dear, sir, the servant is still injured. How can he possibly take thirty strokes of the cane?"
"My lord, could you wait a moment? Bai Changsui is one of our Sima Jian's men. It's not appropriate to arrest him directly. Could we wait for our supervisor to arrive before we discuss this?"
The man shoved aside the three eunuchs blocking his way: "Go away, don't bother us. It's no use calling anyone. That Bai guy colluded with the Tartars to ambush the warhorses. Thirty lashes are already too lenient for him."
As he spoke, Bai Chang, panting heavily, was casually pressed down onto the bench.
The man rubbed his hands together, rolled his fists, and took the cane that was handed to him. Lin Changning keenly noticed that this cane seemed to be different from the ones that had just been used on them.
On the left is a two-inch-wide elm plank with a glossy, smooth finish, while on the right is a jujube wood stick with sharp edges, long and thin like a child's arm.
The soldiers standing nearby smirked, seemingly enjoying the show. Lin Changning understood; Bai Changsui must have offended quite a few people in the past.
Everyone was kicking him while he was down. Lin Changning rubbed his slightly numb buttocks and leaned against the wooden stake, watching Bai Changsui get beaten.
"Smack!"
The first blow landed on Bai Changsui's waist and abdomen, tearing the blue satin fabric with a crack. The executioner's wrist trembled, and the broad end of the rod slammed into Bai Changsui's lumbar spine. The rod head struck the same spot repeatedly, and after only four or five blows, a muffled thud was followed by a slight cracking sound. Suddenly, Bai Changsui straightened his legs.
"Hit me again!"
"A commander of a thousand households shook his sleeves and said."
Ignoring the cries of the group of eunuchs, Commander Ma coldly gave the order. After about seventeen or eighteen strokes, Bai Changsui lay motionless on the bench like a dead fish.
Blood was slowly seeping from his mouth and nose, indicating that he was in a state of taking in more air than he was exhaling.
The man checked his breathing and hesitated for a moment: "Chief, I'm afraid the man is going to die."
Commander Ma sneered: "Since military law has been established, we must finish the beating even if we die. Give me the rod, I'll be the last one."
Commander Ma took the jujube wood cane and struck Bai Changsui's back with a fierce gust of wind during the last dozen or so blows. After a dozen or so blows, the jujube wood cane was broken in two. Commander Ma's hands were numb from the recoil, but he felt extremely satisfied.
He stared at Bai Changsui's almost shattered spine and exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling an immense sense of relief.
His daughter was ruined by this old man. At the tender age of thirteen, she was saved from the brink of death several times. Now, she sits on the bed weeping every day, listless and dispirited. He and his wife are terrified that one day, without a proper check, the girl will be gone.
He truly hated that old beast.
Blood and snow water mingled and trickled down the wooden stool legs toward the ground; Bai Changsui was clearly lifeless.
The man checked the air: "Commander, the man is dead."
Ma Baihu took out a cloth from his pocket, which belonged to his daughter Xiu, and wiped the back of his hand: "Take him back to the Sima Bureau and tell your superiors that there are spies in the Sima Bureau colluding with the Tartars to try to steal warhorses. There are more than just Bai Changsui. The commander said that if they can't find out who leaked the information within three days, our commander doesn't mind personally leading people to investigate!"
After saying that, she glanced at Bai Changsui with disgust and waved her hand to signal him to be carried away. Lin Changning raised her eyebrows. The old man was indeed disgusting, but this commander seemed to have a grudge against him. She had just seen that the cane used to beat Bai Changsui was different from the cane used to beat her and Wan Jin.
Although the two men were beaten, their skin wasn't broken. At most, they would have bruises on their buttocks for a couple of days. These were all superficial injuries that would heal in two or three days. It seemed that the soldiers who carried out the beatings had gone easy on them. However, Bai Changsui's beatings were real, each one damaging his tendons and bones, and were intended to kill him.
Commander Ma turned to look at Lin Changning: "I heard it was you who beat this filthy thing today?"
Lin Changning cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Commander Qianhu. It is indeed you."
Commander Ma nodded: "You're not bad."
"Thank you for the compliment, Commander."
After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, the group dispersed.
Lin Changning and Wan Jin also prepared to go back together. The two of them were limping along the way. Lin Changning asked casually, "Did that Commander Ma and Bai Changsui have a grudge? I thought he was going to kill someone."
Wan Jin walked along, scoffing, a hint of disgust flashing between his brows: "It's already too lenient of him not torn that old bastard to pieces. He's a habitual offender, he especially likes kids in their early teens, always trying to take advantage of them. It's disgusting. A few years ago, the little girl from Commander Ma's family had just turned eleven. She came to the garrison to deliver food to the commander and he happened to see her. He seduced her..."
At this point, Wan Jin clenched his fist tightly: "After the girl from the Ma family came back, she tried to kill herself. She was saved three or four times. Now she stays at home weeping every day. She's so thin that a gust of wind could blow her over. We all hate her so much that we want to tear that old man to pieces! But the old man has the steward protecting him, so there hasn't been any real punishment. It just makes us even angrier."
As he spoke, Wan Jin suddenly became happy: "Now it's all good. That old man is dead. I think Ma San Niang's condition will improve after hearing this. It's also thanks to you, Changping. Otherwise, the commander might not have been able to catch him red-handed and deal with him so quickly."
A hint of disgust flashed in Lin Changning's eyes: "You beast, in that sense, it would be better if you died."
The two chatted and laughed until they arrived home.
Shi Lang, carrying a basket, bumped into Lin Changning at the door and excitedly greeted him: "Sixth Brother, I found a lot of medicinal herbs today and brought them back."
Lin Changning smiled and said, "Let's go back first. I have a minor injury on my arm. Could you bandage it for me?"
"Okay, Sixth Brother, let me take a look."
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