Chapter 431: Grace and Power
It was time to light the lamps, and the hall was a little dark, but the maids did not dare to go in to light the lamps without being told.
Yu Cheng's face was shrouded in a semi-dark shadow, and his expression could not be seen clearly, but only a sense of oppression and anger could be felt.
Chang Qing and the others knelt stiffly, not daring to breathe.
After a while, Yu Cheng stood up, walked in front of Chang Qing, looked down at Chang Qing and said, "I can give you a chance."
Now is the time to use people. Since Chang Qing can be the main general, he must have some ability.
It would be too easy for such a person to be killed directly. It would be better to let him play his value, and even if he dies, he should die for a good cause.
Chang Qing was overjoyed when she heard this and bowed in thanks: "Thank you, Your Highness."
The Chang family members who had thought they were doomed to die now saw hope.
However, before they could ask for mercy, Yu Cheng's next words gave them another blow.
"I heard that your eldest son is already eighteen years old and is serving as a soldier under Wang Yuan."
Chang Qing's back stiffened.
Yu Cheng continued: "Let him go to the border with you and fight for the vanguard army."
"Yes, I obey your order." Chang Qing's teeth trembled and he could not agree.
Hearing Chang Qing's self-introduction, Yu Cheng said: "Your crime is serious. Although I will give you a chance to reduce your sentence, you cannot escape punishment. From today on, you will be dismissed from the position of commander-in-chief and demoted to the rank of vanguard captain. In addition, your family property will be confiscated, the female family members will be incorporated into the Jiaofangsi, and the male members will all be sent to the army to work in the rear service camp of the army."
Chang Qing knew that he had no right to negotiate, so he could only accept it with grief.
He had committed a capital crime that implicated his family members, and now that he could save the lives of his family members, it was a great leniency.
The female family members will be incorporated into the Jiaofangsi, and the male members will be sent to the rear service camp, and there will be a chance to redeem their merits in the future.
Yu Cheng did this in order to control Chang Qing, so that he would do his best to kill the enemy and make meritorious deeds, and he would not dare to slack off even a little.
"Brother..." Chang called in a low voice.
Chang Qing heard this and then remembered the Chang family members who were implicated by him.
Wang Yuan was already dead, so he had to protect Chang and his children, otherwise he would feel guilty.
"Your Highness, this is the villain's crime. Lord Wang was constrained by family affection and had no choice but to cover up. I hope Your Highness will show mercy and spare his family."
Chang Qing finished speaking and kowtowed sincerely.
"Please show mercy, Your Highness." The Chang family members also kowtowed and begged for forgiveness.
At this point, Wang Yuan was found guilty and there was no way to defend himself. Although they were heartbroken, they had to find a way to stay alive.
Yu Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Considering that Governor Wang Yuan has made great contributions to the governance of Ancheng over the years, he will be given a lighter punishment. His family property will be confiscated, and one of his two sons will be sent to the border. The rest of his family members will be sent away, and Governor Wang Yuan will allow his family members to bury him themselves."
Dazhao is in turmoil now, and the people must be united to avoid internal unrest. Using both kindness and severity and appropriate leniency will help to stabilize people's hearts.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Several people from the Chang family burst into tears, happy and worried. They
were happy that their family's lives were saved, but they were worried that one of their two sons would have to go to the battlefield.
The palms and backs of the hands are all flesh, and no matter what choice is made, it is painful.
Of course, this has nothing to do with Yu Cheng, and after the punishment, he let them leave to take care of Wang Yuan's funeral.
Yu Cheng ordered Chang Qing to hand over his military seal and sent people to confiscate his and Wang Yuan's property. In order to show his generosity, Chang Qing was allowed to say goodbye to his family and would be dealt with tomorrow.
As for the Chang family members, Yu Cheng allowed them to leave the house after burying Wang Yuan.
It was already dark, and the maid heard the order to go into the hall and light the lights.
Yu Cheng pinched his brows, worrying about the last important matter, the appointment of a new governor of Ancheng.
Ancheng is an important city, and the selection of the governor is crucial. However, Yu Cheng did not know much about his subordinates, and did not know who to appoint.
Looking at the list of officials of all sizes in Ancheng, Yu Cheng asked someone to summon Di Ming and three generals, asking them to recommend.
After being in Ancheng for many years, the four of them each had acquaintances. But the matter was of great importance, and Yu Cheng had just executed Wang Yuan and punished Chang Qing, so no one dared to show favoritism at this time.
Finally, after discussion, the four of them recommended the Strategic Appeasement Envoy Ran Hui.
Yu Cheng was very satisfied with Ran Hui's achievements and confirmed that he was capable of the task.
After finishing all the affairs, it was already dark. Yu Cheng, led by his servants, went to the guest house to rest.
That night, the lights in the backyard of the prefect's mansion were on all night.
Chang was not only busy with Wang Yuan's funeral, but also had to pack clothes and prepare to move out of the prefect's mansion early the next morning.
Of course, the most important thing is to decide which son will go to the battlefield.
Looking at his mother and sister with swollen eyes from crying, his pregnant sister-in-law, and his eldest brother who was afraid of embarrassment, the second son stood up.
"I'll go."
He hasn't married yet, and he has always wanted to be a majestic general. Since it is destined, then let's go.
The one who stays behind will also have to support the family, which is not easy.
Weighing the two, the second brother felt that the battlefield was more suitable for him.
After hearing this, the Chang family members were stunned for a moment, and then burst into tears again, and said goodbye in a painful voice.
The dark night dissipated without knowing when, and the sky gradually brightened.
Someone came to urge that the garrison had gathered and was about to set off.
The second brother knelt in front of Wang Yuan's spirit, kowtowed a few times, then stood up, put on his simple luggage, and walked away in the morning mist without looking back.
Outside Ancheng, Yu Cheng stood on a high ground on horseback, watching the garrison march to the border.
"Your Highness, it's time for us to leave." Yang Quan reminded him while looking at the sky.
Yu Cheng retracted his gaze, shook the reins in his hand, and drove the horse towards Fucheng.
"Drive! Drive!" The horses' hooves flew, raising a cloud of dust, blurring the figures of the group going away.
It was already the 20th day of the first lunar month, and the weather in Yicheng was sunny and the temperature rose sharply. Especially at noon, it was as warm as late spring.
The spring day with bright sunshine and the sprouting of all things is a season full of hope and vitality, but for Yicheng this year, it is a disaster.
The weather is getting warmer, which means that snakes are about to wake up from hibernation.
Early in the morning, Jiang Shu left the house and went to various cloth shops to check the progress of cloth armor production.
Yu Zheng went to the military camp as usual. When the affairs were being discussed, the military came to report that Eucommia ulmoides was invited.
Eucommia ulmoides never came to Yu Zheng for no reason. Yu Zheng knew that there was something important and immediately got up and left.
When Yu Zheng entered the medicine tent, Eucommia ulmoides was tinkering with the medicine stove. When he heard the noise, he looked up and saw Yu Zheng stopping his movements, picking up a bowl-sized gourd from the table and handing it to Yu Zheng.
"This is the poison I just made. When it is ignited, it will produce gray poisonous smoke. Let's try to deal with the poisonous snakes in Nanyan."
Yu Zheng reached out to take it, pursed his lips and asked, "Can the poisonous smoke harm people?"
When the two armies are fighting, the battlefield is full of people, and it is difficult to distinguish between ourselves and the enemy. If one of your own is injured, the gain will outweigh the loss.
Du Zhong said: "The dosage is low, it will not have much effect on people, and the poison is not fatal." Yu Zheng
felt relieved after hearing this, and was about to express his gratitude to Du Zhong when the tent was opened.
He looked at the account and said solemnly: "Prince, Nanyan is attacking."
Yu Zheng heard this and tightened his grip on the gourd in his hand.
"Prince, go and try it." Du Zhong said.
This medicine was developed based on the characteristics of the Nanyan venomous snake . , whether it is useful or not, and what its specific effect is, Eucommia ulmoides does not know.