At Zhang Xin's command, everything changed in an instant.
Zhao Yun, Yue Jin, Zhu Ling, Yu Jin, and the others moved like lightning. Before Zang Ba and his companions could react, their heads were slammed onto the table.
The tent flaps were thrown open.
Dozens of armored soldiers surged in, crossbows raised, cold arrowheads aimed straight at the five men.
Only then did Zang Ba understand—
This had been a trap from the very beginning.
Chang Xi, you damned fool… he cursed inwardly, but immediately shouted:
"General! I have not disobeyed any military orders!"
"You have not?" Zhang Xin's voice was cold. "I ordered you to serve as the vanguard. Why did you refuse?"
Sun Guan stepped forward, trying to argue, "General, your authority extends only over Qing and Xu Provinces. Commandant Zang's advice was for the sake of your reputation—"
"We refuse to accept this!" the others echoed.
Zhang Xin let out a sharp laugh.
"Not convinced?"
His gaze swept across them like a blade.
"I have been entrusted by imperial decree to oversee military affairs in Qing and Xu. As officers of Xu Province, are you under my command?"
Zang Ba and the others hesitated, then answered reluctantly:
"Yes."
"The traitor Dong Zhuo is oppressing the emperor. As his subjects, it is our duty to rise and save him."
Zhang Xin's voice hardened.
"If this were a council discussion, your advice would be tolerated."
"But I have already issued a military order!"
He slammed his hand down.
"The order is given, yet you hesitate, argue, and obstruct. Do you take me for Tao Qian?"
Silence fell.
Zang Ba's heart burned with anger, but he had no choice but to bow his head.
"We are newly arrived and unfamiliar with military discipline. We beg for your mercy. We will not dare again…"
Inside, he cursed Chang Xi a thousand times over.
The others quickly followed, pleading for their lives.
Zhang Xin's expression softened slightly.
"Xiahou Lan."
"Here," Xiahou Lan stepped forward.
"According to military law, how should they be punished?"
"Disobeying orders is punishable by death," Xiahou Lan replied.
The five men felt their blood run cold.
"But," Xiahou Lan continued, "considering they are newly arrived and their intentions were not malicious, their lives may be spared. They can atone through merit."
Relief flooded through them.
Zhang Xin nodded. "Did you hear that?"
"Yes! Thank you, General! We will fight with all our might to redeem ourselves!"
They had no choice now.
Zhang Xin turned his gaze.
"Xu He."
"Present!"
"These five disobeyed orders. Death may be spared, but punishment cannot."
He spoke calmly:
"Strip them of rank. Assign them as common soldiers under your command. They will serve as the vanguard."
Zang Ba's face changed drastically.
"General! Our ranks were granted by imperial decree—you have no authority to strip them!"
Zhang Xin said nothing. He simply glanced to the side.
Zang Ba followed his gaze—
The imperial staff of authority rested there.
Zhang Xin asked quietly, "Do I?"
Zang Ba fell silent.
Sun Guan quickly interjected, "If we are all demoted, who will lead the troops?"
At that moment, Chang Xi spoke up, his tone sharp:
"If you strip us of rank, aren't you afraid our five thousand men will mutiny?"
The moment those words left his mouth, the others' expressions changed.
Idiot!
Zhang Xin slowly turned his head.
"And you are?"
Zang Ba hurried to intervene, "General, he—"
But Zhang Xin cut him off.
"Chang Xi?"
His eyes narrowed.
"The one who looted and slaughtered civilians in Beihai?"
Chang Xi felt a chill run down his spine.
"Take him out," Zhang Xin said flatly. "Behead him."
Before anyone could react, Dian Wei stepped forward, seized Chang Xi by the collar, and dragged him out.
"General! Spare me! Spare me—!"
His cries echoed outside.
Zang Ba stepped forward desperately.
"General! A battle is imminent—this is no time to execute a general! Spare him and let him atone through merit!"
Sun Guan and the others echoed him.
But Zhang Xin's expression did not change.
"He plundered the people and committed atrocities. Such a man—does he deserve to be called a general?"
Outside the tent, Chang Xi began to curse wildly.
"Zhang Xin, you—!"
Crack.
Dian Wei silenced him with a brutal twist of the neck.
Moments later, he returned, holding a severed head.
"My lord. Chang Xi is dead."
The tent fell into a deathly silence.
Zang Ba and the others stared at the bloodied head, their bodies trembling.
Zhang Xin waved his hand.
"Release them."
They staggered upright, drenched in cold sweat, barely able to breathe.
"Yu Jin. Zhu Ling. Xiahou Lan."
"All present."
"The Xu Province troops are now under your command. Within thirty days, I want a disciplined army."
"Yes!"
The three accepted the order and departed.
Yu Jin casually patted Chang Xi's severed head as he passed.
Zang Ba's heart sank.
This… was planned from the start.
Zhang Xin turned to Sun Guan.
"Who are you?"
"This humble one is Sun Guan," he replied, hands trembling.
"You just said—without you, no one can lead the army?"
"No! I misspoke!" Sun Guan shook his head frantically. "With so many capable generals under you, how could that be?"
Zhang Xin smiled faintly.
"Good."
He stood.
"Come. I'll show you what a real general looks like."
He paused, then added:
"And learn something. Stop acting like bandits who only know how to plunder. That path leads nowhere."
The four exchanged bitter glances.
We were bandits to begin with…
Under heavy guard, they followed Zhang Xin out toward the walls of Pingyuan.