The general tried to explain, attempting to save face.
But Jin Xuanming lashed him hard with a whip, tearing his skin and causing blood to flow freely.
"All this nonsense is just an excuse for yourself!"
Before he could finish speaking, Jin Xuanming lashed out with his whip.
Even after one lash, Jin Xuanming still felt unsatisfied.
"Crack!" Another lash! The general's screams grew louder, which made Jin Xuanming feel a surge of satisfaction.
His eyes were bloodshot as he lashed out, one lash after another, unable to stop.
"You dared to blow up the dam! You dared to neglect maintenance! You dared to be derelict in your duties! You dared to be a good-for-nothing!"
Jin Xuanming whipped and cursed at the same time, each lash whistling through the air and each curse like a thunderclap!
In his eyes, the generals of Haixia Pass were not even as insignificant as ants.
The general was beaten until his skin was torn open and he was covered in blood.
How could he dare to resist? Resistance meant certain death!
Who is Jin Xuanming? He is a favorite of His Majesty.
The person second only to the emperor in Java!
With a flick of a finger, he can be reduced to ashes!
These powerless and lowly officials from humble backgrounds can only be bullied by others!
Jin Xuanming got tired and finally stopped.
He felt a little better when he saw the general kneeling on the ground, trembling.
He flicked the whip in his hand; it was still stained with blood.
He glanced at the general with disgust, as if he were looking at a pile of garbage.
"Useless trash! If I find out who bombed the dam, I will tear them to pieces!"
Jin Xuanming spat out a mouthful of saliva viciously, which landed right on the general's face.
The general dared not speak out in anger, and could only silently wipe the spittle off his face with his sleeve.
He mentally cursed Jin Xuanming's ancestors for eighteen generations.
They even took their pet chickens, ducks, cats, and dogs!
"Duke Wu, in my humble opinion, this matter requires further consideration..."
A man who looked like a strategist cautiously approached Jin Xuanming and whispered something.
"Deliberate planning? What a load of rubbish! The dam has already collapsed, what's the point of discussing anything!"
Jin Xuanming kicked the strategist in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.
"My lord, please calm your anger! What I mean is that now that the dike has collapsed, the most urgent task is to find a way to plug the breach as soon as possible, otherwise the seawater will flood in, and the consequences will be unimaginable!"
The strategist clutched his stomach, enduring the excruciating pain, and spoke with difficulty.
Jin Xuanming calmed down a bit. He frowned, paced back and forth, and muttered curses under his breath.
"Damn it, it's like when it rains, it pours! I was just about to attack Shannan Prefecture, and now the dike has collapsed! I'm so angry!"
"Duke Wu, I have an idea..."
Seeing that Jin Xuanming's emotions had stabilized somewhat, the strategist mustered his courage and spoke again.
"Spit it out!"
Jin Xuanming roared impatiently.
"I believe we can conscript local people and have them use sandbags to plug the breach..."
"Conscript the people? You want those unruly peasants to plug the breach? What if they take the opportunity to rebel?"
Jin Xuanming stared wide-eyed, his face full of suspicion.
"Duke Wu, the situation is urgent, and we have no other choice but to resort to this tactic! We can send troops to keep watch, and I doubt they would dare to rebel!"
Jin Xuanming pondered for a moment, feeling that although the idea was not very reliable, there was no better solution at the moment.
"Alright! We'll do it your way! Immediately conscript local residents, have them bring tools, and hurry up and plug the breach!"
"If you can't stop it, I'll hold you responsible!"
"Yes, sir!"
The strategist, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, quickly got up and limped off to deliver the order.
Jin Xuanming looked at the collapsed dam in the distance, feeling extremely agitated.
He always felt that this matter was not so simple.
Do those rabble in Shannan Prefecture really have the ability to blow up the dike?
...
As night fell, a black curtain enveloped Qingshui County in Shannan Prefecture, and rain pattered against the city walls.
Tu Rong stood at the foot of the city wall, shivering from the cold wind.
His wet hair clung to his scalp, and his armor was soaked through by the rain, clinging heavily to his body.
Two days and one night of going against the current is even more difficult than the journey to the West.
Add to that the perilous struggle during the bombing of the dam.
He felt like a lemon that had been squeezed dry, incredibly sour and refreshing.
Even though he was strong and healthy, he felt weak at this moment.
The water level in the inland rivers of Qingshui County has risen considerably due to the collapse of the Haixia Pass dam.
However, Tu Rong could tell at a glance that the water level would not have a significant impact on Shannan Prefecture.
At most, it will flood some low-lying farmland.
"Commander Tu, welcome home!"
The soldiers on the city wall shouted enthusiastically.
Tu Rong felt a warmth in her heart, a warm current flowing through her entire body.
These four words are more precious than any reward.
He was slowly hoisted onto the city wall in a basket, feeling like a triumphant hero returning home, receiving the admiration of the people.
She spotted Lu Yan standing in the rain waiting at a glance.
Wearing a straw raincoat and carrying a dim oil lamp, Lu Yan stood out remarkably in the wind and rain.
Tu Rong quickly stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
"Greetings, Your Excellency! I have fulfilled your trust and destroyed the main dike of Java."
"However, the current was too turbulent, and two boats were capsized. More than a hundred people are missing. Please punish us, Your Excellency!"
The naval soldiers behind him also knelt down and shouted in unison:
"Sir, the water is too fierce. The commander was afraid that the thunderbolts would not be able to destroy the dam in time, so he did not go too far."
"This battle was not the commander's fault; please investigate thoroughly, sir!"
Lu Yan sighed and helped Tu Rong up.
"You are without fault and have made great contributions! Although I have never led the navy in battle on rivers and lakes, I know the ruthlessness of floods."
"Natural disasters are beyond human control. I'm already very surprised that you were able to bring so many people back safely from the flood."
Tu Rong had prepared herself for a scolding, but she was taken aback by Lu Yan's words and was momentarily stunned.
"My lord, I..."
Happiness came too suddenly.
"Tu Rong lived up to expectations, disregarded his own life, and blew up an important dike in Java, buying a lot of time for our Shannan Prefecture. He is awarded a second-class merit!"
Lu Yan's voice was loud enough for everyone on the city wall to hear clearly.
Li Kui was the first to jump out, laughing loudly as he patted Tu Rong on the shoulder:
"Commander Tu, congratulations!"
"Commander Tu, congratulations!"
"Commander Tu, you're awesome! Teach me how to blow up the dam later, I want to try out this thunderclap bomb too!"
Looking at everyone, looking at Lu Yan.
At that moment, Tu Rong felt an indescribable joy welling up inside her.
Having grown up in Java, he felt an even stronger sense of belonging than he did at this moment.
Perhaps it was Lu Yan's clear distinction between rewards and punishments, his wisdom and decisiveness, or something else entirely.
Tu Rong discovered that he had an inexplicable sense of identification with Shannan Prefecture and with these brothers who had gone through thick and thin together.
"Thank you, Lord Xie. Tu Rong is ashamed!"
Tu Rong grinned, revealing a set of big white teeth, but the smile was uglier than a grimace.
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