Fang Jie put down his marching notes, his mind filled with the magnificent scenes of the Sui Dynasty's conquest of the Shang Dynasty. Thousands of troops crossed the Yangtze River, sweeping across the southwest. The Shang Dynasty, with its centuries-old history, trembled under the iron hooves of the Sui army; mountains and rivers shattered, and the royal family was wiped out.
Ning Yan's notes were very detailed, recording where they arrived on which day, what they did, when the battle began, and when it ended.
The battle to capture Yongzhou was particularly detailed. General Luo Yao's left vanguard was the first to breach the gates of Yongzhou, and the army poured into the city like a tidal wave. At this point, the Shang people were completely collapsed; the defending soldiers had no fighting spirit whatsoever. Although some passionate generals organized the remaining troops to resist, how could they withstand the crushing force of the Sui army? The Sui soldiers, who had killed countless people, had become an extremely sharp blade, unstoppable.
The notebook also recorded Luo Yao's feat of killing an eighth-rank talisman master with a single punch outside the Yongzhou palace, but for some reason, it was only mentioned briefly without detailed description.
Fang Jie closed the notebook and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
"You seem to be worried about something?"
Ning Yan sat beside him, looking into Fang Jie's eyes and asking.
Fang Jie hummed in agreement, "I dare not hide it from you, Master. I know that the Sui army has not suffered a defeat in over a hundred years, and is invincible throughout the Central Plains. But… what I'm worried about is that this western expedition, the army hasn't experienced battle for twenty years. The soldiers are all new recruits; the veterans from the conquest of Shang should have already retired. Such an army is not lacking in spirit, but it lacks experience… I don't think the Sui will lose this war; I'm just worried that the initial stages of the war might not go as smoothly as people expect."
"Once you encounter setbacks… will you lose your fighting spirit?"
Fang Jie asked. "When the Sui Dynasty destroyed the Shang Dynasty, its soldiers hadn't fought a war for ten years."
Ning Yan said calmly, "You come from the border army, so you naturally know the characteristics of the Sui soldiers. Once they step onto the battlefield, they are no longer a group of men, but a pack of wolves."
"Let me show you something."
Ning Yan took out a thin piece of paper from his sleeve. Fang Jie took it with both hands and carefully read it. There weren't many words on it, but they were definitely weighty. These were the twelve military regulations issued by the Sui emperor for this western expedition. Although they hadn't been publicly announced, it wouldn't be difficult for the professors at the Martial Arts Academy to obtain them.
"Deserters will be killed!"
"Those who fail to provide adequate support will be killed!"
"Those who disobey orders will be killed!"
"Those who underestimate the enemy and advance recklessly will be killed!"
Twelve regulations, twelve punishments in total. Violating any one of them was a capital offense. It must be said that this military order was extremely solemn and strict. But after reading it, Fang Jie couldn't help but frown slightly, and then read it again from beginning to end.
"Do you think something's wrong?"
Ning Yan asked.
"The Twelve Military Rules... seem to focus entirely on tactical and operational constraints on soldiers, neglecting to address certain inevitable aspects of war. For example... soldiers looting Mongol civilians, seizing Mongol women, burning houses—none of these are mentioned."
Fang Jie asked in surprise, "The lack of restrictions on these matters, won't that lead to some unforeseen problems?"
Ning Yan smiled, "You think it's an oversight by His Majesty?"
Fang Jie remained silent for a moment before shaking his head: "No... how could His Majesty not have considered this? Sir, I think I understand His Majesty's intention." Although the Sui Dynasty and the Mongol Yuan Dynasty enjoyed a century of peace, and His Majesty even signed a trade treaty with the Mongol Khan Möngke, there is no doubt that there is absolutely no friendship between the two countries. Once war breaks out, both sides will tear each other apart like bloodthirsty wolves, giving each other no respite.
"Because of this hatred, the fiercely independent Mongol people are no longer just ordinary people; they become soldiers with their scimitars, and even women, given the chance, will bite Sui soldiers to death. Mercy will not bring victory, so His Majesty has never considered showing mercy to the Mongols." "Logically, if the Mongol cavalry were to charge into Sui territory, the people would likely react the same way. Therefore… rather than being lenient, it's better to simply unleash a massacre, instilling fear in the Mongol people. Only fear can ultimately subdue a fierce nation."
Ning Yan said, "Lenientness is for the future, not for war."
He paused, then continued, "As you just said, both the Sui and the Mongol have their own pride, and this pride will not be allowed to be desecrated by the other. Therefore, the war will be brutal from the very beginning. When the soldiers charge into the grasslands, they will be unable to…" "Control yourselves. They'll kill and loot like madmen; it's impossible to stop them. Military discipline is powerless against the soldiers' madness. So… Your Majesty simply lets the soldiers kill."
Ning Yan smiled slightly: "Years ago, General Luo Yao and I had a similar discussion. The General asked me, if the court were to wage war against the Mongols, and the army marched straight into the grasslands and ultimately won, how could we securely control that vast territory? How could we subdue hundreds of millions of Mongols?"
"How did you answer, sir?"
Fang Jie asked.
Ning Yan said calmly: "I told the General… if the Mongols submit, there's no need to discuss how to secure that vast territory. The simplest and most effective way to subdue them is to kill those who don't. If five or six out of ten are eliminated, their hearts will surely be filled with fear."
"Kill half…"
Fang Jie murmured, repeating it, a chill running down his spine. Ning Yan smiled and said, "Now the people of Jiangnan consider themselves Sui people and are proud of it… You must know that a hundred years ago, that General Li, while not killing half the population of Jiangnan, still wiped out about 30%. First kill, then appease, slaughter until the people are terrified, then implement benevolent policies. Those who survive benefit, feeling fortunate and satisfied to have escaped death. In just a hundred years, they only remember the good and forget the bad. And the people of Yongzhou now wear Sui clothes, spend five-zhu coins, children under fourteen attend Sui schools, and the elderly over sixty receive silver from the court. Only twenty years… they have already adapted to their current life. You see, it hasn't been long, has it?"
…
…
Prison can change a person; this saying is ultimately true.
Although Fang Jie's prison was somewhat special, this kind of life still had a great impact on his thinking. And it was precisely because of this environment that he could understand Ning Yan's saying that killing half was necessary. In the past, Fang Jie would certainly have disagreed.
He might even argue that only by treating the people with kindness will they treat him kindly in return. But Fang Jie would never say such a thing now. The emperor, wielding the reins of power, has far more to consider than the common people. And these matters are difficult to define simply as good or evil. You can have your own likes and dislikes, but you can't forcibly label the emperor's decisions as those of a tyrant.
Ning Yan and Fang Jie didn't discuss military law much; after all, discussing it privately would likely lead to being labeled as disrespectful.
In a world where imperial power reigns supreme, countless people have been crushed by this label.
Books were scattered haphazardly on the floor, and the maps on the walls were somewhat distorted. One of the stone locks on the floor was missing, embedded in the wall. On the stone bed lay Ning Yan's military notes, and the figure in the flying fish robe at the door seemed to be calling out something. When Fang Jie snapped out of his reverie, he heard the figure in the flying fish robe calling for him to bring the food.
The meal for two included meat and wine.
"This place is nice."
Ning Yan hadn't disturbed Fang Jie, who was lost in thought. He knew Fang Jie needed time to process his earlier, brief remarks. Although the young man was imprisoned, since he was sitting here lecturing, no one could be certain that he wouldn't see the light of day again. It was ironic how His Majesty had treated Fang Jie; he imprisoned him, yet had professors from the Martial Arts Academy travel several blocks to give him private lessons.
He was deprived of freedom, yet within confinement, he seemed quite free.
"Quiet, undisturbed, one can contemplate many things."
Ning Yan poured himself a glass of wine, and without using chopsticks, picked up a slice of cooked beef and slowly chewed it. "These peaceful days with wine, meat, and books to read—if I had the chance, I'd like to enjoy them too."
Fang Jie smiled helplessly. "It seems you're not the only one who thinks this is enjoyable. Perhaps my understanding is still insufficient, so even now I see it as torment, without finding any comfort in it."
"It has nothing to do with understanding."
Ning Yan took a sip of wine and let out a comfortable sigh. "Martial arts have levels of attainment, but what about scholars?" "What kind of realm is that? Is it simply saying a few seemingly profound words, writing a few ornate articles, that constitutes a realm? The realm expressed, the realm written, even the realm that others can see through—none of that counts as a realm. It's just pretense, and the higher one's status, the more adept they are at this. Everyone has thoughts, everyone has moments of accidental enlightenment—is that what a realm is? Then wouldn't everyone's realm be the same?"
"Some people find a scenic spot to live in, writing verses about picking chrysanthemums in the south mountain and planting peach trees in the north—is that a realm? The hunter in the mountains, the farmer in the fields—whose realm is higher than theirs?"
"It's a state of mind."
Ning Yan said calmly.
"A state of mind."
Fang Jie paused for a moment, then nodded. "This prison's walls are impenetrable. Even if the instruments of torture on the walls were replaced with maps, and you were surrounded by books and professors, this prison would still be a prison, unchanged. Since the prison cannot be changed, you must change it yourself. To be a submissive wretched man, to stand tall and proud, that's what makes a true hero."
"The Sui Dynasty has no need for heroes," Fang Jie said earnestly.
"The Great Sui Dynasty doesn't need ruthless heroes, not those with such ambitions."
Ning Yan said, "Who among those who wields great power doesn't harbor ruthless ambitions?"
"Sir, if others heard you say this, it would be a grave offense."
"What's so grave about that? Besides, I'm already a criminal; what more could I fear? His Majesty knows my nature. Those who speak frankly aren't necessarily traitors, and those who flatter aren't necessarily loyal ministers. If you manage to leave this place in the future, you'll surely join the army. I'm just telling you something every general must understand."
"As long as you ultimately win, why care about the means? Although your current life may seem somewhat miserable and make you resentful, you..." "If you can't even tolerate this, how can you hold a war in your heart? A battle? If you can't even handle a battle, what right do you have to talk about future success or failure? You're a coward, an idiot, not worth dying for."
"If your heart is a school, this isn't a prison. If your heart is a prison, everywhere is a prison. If your heart is resentful, even walking in broad daylight, you'll still feel a deep sense of gloom and coldness. If your heart is calm and expansive, you can command far more than a thousand armies. You're not learning willingly and comfortably now; you're forcing yourself to learn. Although both are learning, the results are worlds apart."
Fang Jie murmured a few words: "Mindset… I understand."