Ji Han Grand Commander

Chapter 159 153. Stuttering Official
Unlike the sad and solemn Wei army, the Han army camp was filled with a cheerful atmosphere. The soldiers reveled and everyone had some meat to eat, which was even happier than the New Year.

"Gong Heng, have you calculated how much our army has gained this time?"

In Xiangyang City, Feng Xi and all the generals were sitting in the conference room. Feng Xi was sitting at the top and asked Huang Quan, who was in charge of counting the gains and losses.

"Yes, Grand Commander, our army captured more than 13,000 heads last night and more than 28,000 Wei soldiers. The rest of the Wei soldiers who were seriously injured are still being rescued."

Huang Quan replied with a bow.

"What are our military losses?"

Feng Xi's face was calm, and he showed no excitement or excitement because of last night's great victory. Instead, he continued to ask Huang Quan about the losses of the Han army.

"Yes, since the Wei army invaded Fancheng, our army has lost more than 8,000 soldiers in dozens of battles, and more than 5,000 were seriously injured."

Huang Quan reported the Han army's losses in this round of battle to Feng Xi without changing his expression.

"Well, we will provide condolences to the families of soldiers who died in battle based on the standard rations for one year, and reduce half of their taxes for three years. Seriously injured soldiers will receive half a year's rations, and general taxes will be reduced for one year."

Because the basic foundation of Jingzhou is still unstable and Feng Xi does not have time to carry out drastic reforms, the compensation for soldiers killed or seriously injured in battle is not much, but it is already much more humane than many early warlords.

"Yes."

Huang Quan bowed and said that Wang Fu, Liao Hua and others who were still in Jiangling would be responsible for the implementation of these lists.

"Xiangyang is an important place and we must defend it. General Zhao, General Xiang, you two are in charge here. You must be cautious and stay alert when facing Cao Wei or the Wu army that may come to attack. It is better to defend than to lose Xiangyang. Do you understand?"

Feng Xi still handed over the defense of Xiangyang to Zhao Rong and Xiang Chong. As generals who were impressed by Feng Xi, the two were able to carry out Feng Xi's orders meticulously.

In addition, Zhao Rong and Xiang Chong were both generals with a calm mind and considerable self-awareness, so there was no problem in defending Xiangyang.

"Here."

Zhao Rong and Xiang Chong clasped their fists to indicate that they accepted the order.

"Well, when the affairs of Jingzhou are stabilized, I will also promote a few capable officials to assist you as a supplement."

Feng Xi nodded. As two military generals, they were definitely not enough to govern a place. However, Jingxiang was also a little stretched now. There were enough military generals, but not so many civil officials. So he would have to make some arrangements later.

"Where is Xu Huang's body now?"

After a moment of silence, Feng Xi asked.

"It is well kept. Although Xu Huang was shot by several arrows, he committed suicide in the end."

Huang Quan bowed his head in reply. The great achievement of forcing Xu Huang to death last night finally fell on his head. Although Huang Quan realized later that he had let Cao Zhen, Cao Ren and other Wei generals go, having Xu Huang was still a great achievement.

As for Xu Huang's body and some of the captives of Cao Wei, Feng Xi also sent envoys to the north to negotiate with the Wei army. Although Feng Xi was short of people, it didn't take so many people to guard Jiaozhou, and so many Wei troops in Jingzhou were also a hidden danger.

Secondly, it would be quite costly to keep so many people who eat for free, so Feng Xi intended to keep 10,000 Wei troops and send them to Jiaozhou, and then send the rest of the Wei troops back in exchange for some resources.

Although this move inevitably aided the enemy, most of the Wei troops had been frightened by what happened last night, so it would be a good idea to let them go and spread some stories about gods and ghosts among the Wei troops.

"Well, let's handle it this way for now. Is there any commotion among the surrendered soldiers of the Wei army? Are there any big fish hiding among the ordinary soldiers?"

After the business came to an end, Feng Xi breathed a sigh of relief and asked about the surrendered soldiers of the Wei army. After all, Feng Xi didn't know if there would be any future big figures hiding among these ordinary soldiers.

"General, everything is under control. Most of the Wei soldiers were frightened by what happened last night, and they confessed very straightforwardly. This is the list of the Wei army officials captured last night."

Huang Quan handed over a scroll with only a hundred names in it, all of whom were officers or officials of the Wei army.

"Um……?"

Feng Xi took a closer look and finally saw a familiar name at the end of the list.

"Where is Deng Ai now?" Feng Xi pointed at the list and asked everyone below.

"General, this Deng Ai is a minor official who looks after the grain and grass. He seemed to have fainted last night. He just woke up this morning. He is just an official who looks after the grain and grass, and... he has some disabilities..."

Bao Feng seemed to be quite concerned, but Feng Xi knew what he meant. After all, Deng Ai had a stutter, and this era was not very friendly to people with stutters.

"It's okay, bring him up, I will interrogate this man in detail."

Feng Xi found an excuse and signaled Bao Feng to bring this person to the hall. After all, Feng Xi was the Grand Commander, so Bao Feng didn't dare to ask more questions and just mentioned the person.

Soon, a minor official who was shabby, covered in dust, and with a face so dirty that it was hard to see clearly, was brought up by Bao Feng.

"Your humble servant Deng Ai...Ai greets the Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Han Army."

Feng Xi and the other generals looked at the person in front of them with inquiring eyes. Judging from his appearance, this person did not seem to have any disabilities. His hands and feet were nimble and there were no scars on his body.

When this man spoke, all the generals present were stunned for a moment. It was because he was a stutterer.

"You are Deng Ai? You are in charge of the granary. Am I right?"

Feng Xi didn't take it seriously and asked.

"It is your humble servant."

Deng Ai bowed and acknowledged his identity. Feng Xi also asked a few questions related to the Wei army's supplies, and Deng Ai answered Feng Xi haltingly.

"I…I dare to say that there is something I don't understand. I hope the Grand Commander can help me to clear up my confusion."

After chatting for a few sentences, Deng Ai suddenly stuttered and asked about Feng Xi.

"You are a petty official, you can't even speak clearly, how can you have so many questions!"

Bao Yi stood up and scolded the clerk, and his words seemed to show contempt for his stuttering.

"Don't be rude, Bao Yi. Don't attack others' physical disabilities. In the past, the Grand Historian ordered Sima Qian to be castrated so that he could complete the History Records with his disabled body. A disabled person must have a strong will. How can you laugh at him here?"

Feng Xi scolded Bao Yi twice, forcing Bao Yi to bow and sit down to see what Feng Xi was going to do.

"Deng Ai, you are now a prisoner. How do you know that I won't just push you down and behead you in public just because you are so rude?"

Feng Xi smiled broadly, without any airs of a great commander, and asked Deng Ai the question in return, seemingly not thinking there was anything wrong with it.

"Grand...Grand Commander, please allow me to report. I...I cannot understand this at all. If I don't...can't find out, I will die with my eyes open."

Deng Ai's attitude of being ready to die, as if willing to die in exchange for an answer, also made Feng Xi take it a little more seriously. This attitude of "I am willing to die if I hear the truth in the morning" showed that the other party really took it to heart.

"If you have any questions, you can ask them first. I will decide whether to answer them depending on the situation."

Feng Xi waved his hand and did not make any final statement, but wanted to hear what Deng Ai wanted to ask.

"I…I dare to ask how the Grand Commander-in-Chief started the fire in Fancheng?"

The question asked by Deng Ai was very interesting. It was obvious that he did not accept the so-called "Han army attracted thunder and fire from heaven and earth", but insisted that the Han army used some means to achieve the result of burning Fancheng.

"Haha, you should have heard about it, right? Last night, it was the Han army that invited a master to stir up the thunder and fire. How could there be any conspiracy?"

Feng Xi wanted to see what Deng Ai's current level was, but he didn't give a direct answer and just insisted that it was superstitious talk.

"Grand Commander, please don't deceive me. I don't believe in the words of gods and ghosts. When our army entered the city, we checked the city and found nothing that could start a fire, and there were no scattered soldiers of your army lying in ambush in the city, so I asked this question. I hope the Grand Commander will not continue to deceive me, so that I can die with a clear conscience."

Unexpectedly, Deng Ai was so angry that he stopped stuttering and spoke very fluently.

(End of this chapter)