"What?!" Li Yong was so shocked that he jumped up immediately. Remembering that Li Laosi was at the drill ground, he didn't care about etiquette and ran out.
The Marquis brought Jiang Cheng with him, and then followed.
The vast training ground was now in an uproar.
Several thousand soldiers surrounded the northwest corner, completely blocking the soldiers lying on the ground in the middle, as well as Li Laosi and a few personal guards.
Those on the periphery, unaware of the situation, strained to peer through on tiptoe, whispering, "What happened? How did someone die?"
One soldier, who was usually dissatisfied with the strict training, said, "What could possibly happen? It's just exhausting. In the dead of winter, we're not allowed to rest. We run around like idiots every day in the wind and snow. It's no wonder people die."
Of course, there were also people with a conscience who retorted: "Shut up! Don't talk nonsense if you don't know the reason! We train like this every day, and look who has died from exhaustion, but everyone's physique is getting better and better! This person probably has some kind of acute illness!"
Li Laosi had no time to pay attention to these words. He squatted in the middle of the field, his face dark as he repeatedly checked the soldiers' breathing, hoping for any chance of rescue.
Unfortunately, the soldier's face was emaciated, his eye sockets were dark, and white foam was coming out of his mouth; he was dead beyond any doubt.
His brows were furrowed so deeply they looked like they could trap a fly, and he was utterly bewildered.
Today's morning exercises were the same as usual, just running laps, and there was no sudden increase in the number of laps.
As a result, the soldier fell behind after running only halfway. He caught up with him to scold him, but before he could even open his mouth, the soldier was dead.
It happened so suddenly that he didn't even have time to save anyone.
At this moment, Li Yong and Lord Hou and others also arrived.
Li Yong didn't mind and rushed forward to examine the soldier carefully. Seeing that there were no whip marks on the soldier's body, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
As long as Li Laosi doesn't make a move, whatever the cause of the soldier's death, it has nothing to do with him.
Clearly, the Marquis thought the same thing and immediately ordered his personal guards to find a military doctor.
Jiang Cheng wanted to drive the soldiers away, but after hesitating for a moment, he let them watch the show.
Soon, several military doctors arrived carrying boxes.
After a thorough examination, the military doctors were all uneasy. One of the oldest doctors carefully said, "My lord, this soldier was not poisoned! He was too weak and could not withstand the heavy training, which is why he died."
Li Laosi said in surprise, "That's impossible. The morning exercises are the same every day. Nothing was added today. How could he not be able to take it?"
Another military doctor thought for a moment and said, "General, that's true. These soldiers seem to have been completely drained of their energy and spirit."
"It's like a hollow tree. It looks just like an ordinary tree, but when it encounters wind and rain, while other trees just sway a few times, this hollow tree breaks off directly."
Everyone understood and couldn't help but nod.
The soldiers looked unhealthy, almost as if they were terminally ill.
Jiang Cheng asked, "He was checked when he entered the camp, so he shouldn't be like this. Besides, the camp didn't skimp on his food at all, so he shouldn't be this hungry. What exactly drained his energy?"
One of the soldiers, mustering his courage, blurted out, "Is there a fox spirit in the camp that sucks people's life essence?"
The bystanders instinctively shrank back, glancing around as if a fox spirit might suddenly leap out and bite them at any moment...
The Marquis rebuked, "Nonsense! This is a military camp, what spirits could there be here!"
Having said that, he ordered, "Wrap up this soldier, check all his belongings for clues, and then notify his family to come here!"
"Yes, my lord."
Li Yong and Jiang Cheng agreed in unison.
Although the Marquis didn't say anything, Li Laosi took the initiative to back down and wait for the outcome.
Soon after, the soldier was carried away and placed in a makeshift coffin nailed together with wooden planks.
All the soldiers' luggage and belongings were sent to the main tent, where all the deputy generals and vice-generals gathered to inspect them.
The luggage contained few items, just clothes, bedding, a few pieces of silver, and some jade pendants and other accessories.
If we're talking about strange things, there are two.
A very long pipe with a round gourd at the top.
One was a jade box the size of a jujube.
The pipe looks like it's for smoking dry tobacco, but upon closer inspection, it's a little different.
The jade box, which had probably contained something before, was scratched very clean and had a slightly bitter smell...
Everyone asked, but no one could guess what it was.
So all the soldiers who had been in the same tent as the dead soldier were summoned.
One of them was quick-witted. When the generals asked about the long pipe and the jade box, he started talking non-stop.
"My lord, my generals, the dead Chen He treasured these two things. We often saw him secretly holding this pipe, scooping something out of the jade box and putting it in, fiddling with it for a while, and then happily smoking it, looking as if he was about to enter the bridal chamber."
"We were curious and wanted to try it, but he cursed at us, calling us poor bastards and saying that the contents of this jade box were worth a thousand pieces of gold!"
“Yes, at the end of each month, when our family sends him gifts and we get together to eat and drink, he secretly hugs the jade box and smiles foolishly.” Another soldier chimed in, “But last month, it seemed like no one was sending him the jade box anymore, so he kept throwing tantrums, like a stubborn donkey, finding fault with everyone.”
The quick-witted soldier nodded vigorously and said, "A few times, I saw him acting like he was having a seizure, banging his head against the wall and rolling around on the ground. When I tried to find him a medic, he scolded me for being nosy!"
Everyone frowned, guessing that this matter must be related to this mysterious jade box.
But the jade box was empty, and they could only wait for the soldier's family to arrive before inquiring further.
Li Laosi has temporarily been relieved of the accusation of causing death through brutal military training, but the task of training the soldiers has still been handed over to Jiang Cheng.
As the sun began to set, the family members of the deceased Chen He finally arrived.
Going back two generations, the Chen family also had a distinguished military record, making them one of the most renowned military families in Tianwu.
But perhaps their ancestors were so exceptionally talented that they absorbed all the talent of their children and grandchildren.
By the time of Chen He's father and uncle, they were all mediocre in talent, relying on their family's legacy and loyalty to serve as fourth-rank military officers in the capital's garrison.
By the time it came to Chen He's generation, the Chen family was even smaller, with only Chen He and another cousin carrying on the family business and continuing the family line.
These two brothers spent their days playing with cats and dogs, indulging in eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring—living like gods.
When it came time to recruit soldiers, my cousin escaped the siege because he had impulsively bought a Xiucai degree the previous year.
Left with no other choice, Chen He reluctantly entered the military camp.
Now that Chen He is dead, half of the Chen family's roof has collapsed.
When Chen He's father, Chen Chuan, and Chen He's uncles arrived, their eyes were red.
Almost as soon as they met, the three of them grabbed Li Laosi by the collar, looking like they wanted to devour him.
Chen Chuan roared angrily, "Xiao He often wrote home saying that training was tough, and we even tried to persuade him to persevere. We never imagined you'd actually work him to death! You damned peasant, what do you know about training!"
"You are the murderer! I'm going to appeal to the emperor! No one can protect you! You must pay for Xiao He's life!"
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