Chapter 296: Punishment Halved

"Your Highness is willing to accept defeat, which shows his integrity and gentlemanly demeanor. He is also willing to bear the punishment alone, which is a manifestation of his love for his subordinates," Nan Xi said. She saw the generals of the Huainan Army nodding in agreement subconsciously, and a faint smile appeared in her eyes. "I think that although the military law is strict, it is rare to have good character. How about a small punishment and a big warning? How about halving the number of military sticks?"

Half?

Chu Hongyi sighed softly.

Half is actually not bad.

Although forty sticks are not light, if the strength is controlled, it will not cause serious injuries.

The King of Huainan has guarded Huainan for twenty years and has an extraordinary influence. This time, if his only legitimate son suffers irreversible injuries in the imperial capital when he returns to Beijing from afar, I am afraid that it will be difficult to explain to the emperor. At the critical moment when Princess Feng is about to ascend the throne, it is better to have less trouble than more.

It is always bad to cause trouble.

Rong Yu frowned slightly, as if he was not satisfied. However, before he could speak, several generals of the Huainan Army could not wait to salute Nan Xi and said respectfully: "Thank you, Princess Feng, for showing mercy!"

Others naturally bowed their heads and shouted respectfully: "Your Highness Princess is wise!"

"Thank you, Princess Feng, may you live a thousand years!"

The Huainan Army thanked them together, their voices shook the sky, and a dull and exciting echo echoed in the barracks, making people feel a sense of vastness in their hearts.

Looking at the momentum in front of them, it is enough to see the prestige and popularity of the Prince of Huainan in the army. The soldiers absolutely respect him sincerely.

Military generals are different from civil officials. Most of them are straightforward. They like what they like and hate what they hate. Their submission and sincere respect due to their status and power can be seen from their words and deeds, and they cannot deceive people.

But everyone knows that the current situation of Regent Rong Yu is difficult to get off the tiger.

Faced with such a scene, he had no other choice.

Princess Feng was the crown prince of Dongling, and Rong Yu was only the regent of Da Zhou. In the military camp of Dongling, the crown prince's words naturally carried more weight, even if the regent was Princess Feng's husband - yes, the Huainan Army knew the relationship between the regent of Da Zhou and the crown prince of Dongling. They all believed that the crown prince was respected, and the regent was the princess's minister, so he should naturally listen to the princess.

So when Nan Xi spoke, they immediately thanked her, saying that they had already obeyed Princess Feng as the monarch and that Rong Yu must obey.

In fact, they knew better than anyone that the military camp had its own rules. Even if Princess Feng was the crown prince, she had no right to interfere in the affairs of the military camp before she ascended the throne.

If Rong Yu did not agree to Nan Xi's request, she could not force him.

That's why they thanked the princess immediately after she opened her mouth, forcing Rong Yu to agree under pressure, and they were also betting that the regent would obey Princess Feng - in front of so many soldiers, if he insisted on not changing his mind and not being soft-hearted, it would undoubtedly have a great impact on Princess Feng's prestige.

The soldiers were looking forward to someone with a say to interfere in this matter, but they were also worried that the cold and ruthless regent of the Great Zhou would go against Princess Feng, so they did their best to support Princess Feng at this moment.

Rong Yu remained silent.

The longer the silence lasted, the greater the psychological torture for all the soldiers.

After an unknown amount of time, Rong Yu said indifferently: "The military camp has its own rules, and Your Highness the Princess should not have interfered in the affairs of the military camp."

Everyone was shocked.

"The regent is wrong." Chu Hongyi retorted calmly, "Princess Feng is the crown prince of Dongling, and the future empress of Dongling. The territory of Dongling is yours, and the people of Dongling are yours. Her Majesty has the right to interfere in all matters within the territory of Dongling. This applies to the court, and the military camp is no exception."

A general in the Huainan Army echoed: "General Chu is right! The soldiers and people of Dongling must submit to your majesty, be loyal to your majesty, and protect your majesty's country!"

In this situation, no matter how unruly they are, they will not be stupid enough to rebel against Princess Feng. As long as their own prince can suffer less, it is not too much to praise this princess to the sky.

Others shouted in unison: "The people of Dongling submit to your majesty and protect your majesty's country!"

The voice was deafening, the momentum was magnificent, and it lasted for a long time.

Nan Xi's expression was a little subtle. She felt that this group of Huainan soldiers seemed very simple... However, her eyes accidentally fell on the kneeling young man in white robes. She didn't know if she was dazzled. The young general who had been very calm from beginning to end seemed to twitch his mouth slightly.

Nan Xi was thoughtful.

Rong Yu didn't say anything. When the soldiers' voices fell, the military camp was completely quiet. He finally let go. His cold tone did not reveal any emotional fluctuations: "Princess Feng has an order, and this king must obey it."

The generals of the Huainan Army were relieved.

"Xuanyuan Yao and Ling Fan will each be punished with forty military sticks, and the others will be exempted from punishment." Rong Yu said coldly, "Do it."

After the voice fell, the Huainan Army was completely relieved.

The soldiers of the Great Zhou Xuanjia Army also breathed a sigh of relief.

Chu Hongyi looked at the white-robed general, and deep thought appeared between his eyebrows. A strange feeling slowly fermented in his heart.

The four soldiers holding sticks had no reason to delay any longer. Two of them walked to Xuanyuan Yao's left and right, and the other two stood beside Ling Fan.

Rong Yu raised his hand to signal.

The soldiers raised their hands, raised and lowered the sticks, and the heavy sticks hit the backs of the two men fiercely. From the sound of the sticks hitting the backs, one could hear the force of the blow. There was no let-up at all, and the beating was solid.

Xuanyuan Yao and Ling Fan both grew up in the military camp and were very familiar with military law. Although they did not look that strong, it was true that they were physically strong and naturally had a stronger endurance.

But even so, the pain of being hit by a heavy mahogany stick was unbearable for ordinary people.

After a few hits, the two men's faces began to turn pale, cold sweat oozed from their foreheads, and they unconsciously clenched their hands and held on tightly without making any sound.

The military camp was so quiet that only the sound of the military stick hitting the back could be heard.

Although it was broken in half, it still hurt, and there was still worry. The expressions of the generals of the three armies were tense, and they looked at the two commanders being beaten in the middle of the upper field nervously and worriedly.