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Hearing the nonchalant excuse, Luzi had no choice but to tell Bai Qi that if he dared to continue the indiscriminate killing of innocents, he would have to exercise his right to advise King Qin on this matter. If possible, he suggested changing generals during the troop's rest period.
Changing generals in the midst of battle is a major taboo in military strategy! Bai Qi initially wanted to laugh it off, but upon seeing that Luzi was not joking, he realized that he could not remain silent while being left behind in the rear. He completely set aside his pride and bowed respectfully, expressing his full obedience and promising never to kill indiscriminately again.
In ancient times, trust and righteousness were paramount; such words held weight wherever they were spoken. There was no need for written agreements or guarantors. It was simply a matter of word.
Luzi nodded and sighed, "General Bai! The Tao Te Ching states: 'Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs. The sage is not benevolent; he treats the people as straw dogs.' Since we hold the power of life and death, we must still have compassion in our hearts. If the enemy resists, that is another matter. But if they have already laid down their weapons, they are no longer sacrifices offered to heaven by us. When we return this time, I will discuss the issue of compensation for fallen soldiers with King Qin."
Upon hearing these words, Bai Qi nearly dozed off. However, when he heard about the issue of compensation, his eyes immediately widened. This matter had been a persistent concern for him and many other generals leading troops into battle. It was said that rewards could only be given based on military achievements, but there were many flaws in this system. The battlefield was chaotic; usually, records were only tallied after the fighting had ended.
Many brave soldiers did not have the chance to return and claim their rewards before they fell on the front lines; perhaps their merits were claimed by others. That was one issue, but more problems arose from pursuing the defeated enemy. In their eagerness to collect trophies, soldiers often forgot that they were there to fight.
They began to scatter midway through the pursuit, allowing more enemies to escape. Initially, some generals executed exemplary punishments to deter others, but over time this behavior became tacitly accepted. The enemy had come to fight at great personal risk; returning empty-handed was pointless!
Not only did the pursuit teams become disorganized, but the increased burden on each soldier also affected their running speed. Later, Bai Qi devised a solution: let those who needed to fight do just that without worrying about anything else. The reinforcements would help collect spoils afterward. Then they would categorize them by rank—prioritizing fallen soldiers first, then wounded ones, followed by those who remained unscathed. At first, some did not understand this approach, but as battles increased in frequency, they began to appreciate General Bai's concerns.
Who could guarantee that they would return unscathed? Who could assure their survival?
This seemingly unreasonable method was actually quite rational; even if one died in battle, there was no need to worry about leaving behind parents or wives and children without care. The fiercer one fought, the less one lost; even if one fell in battle, they would still be credited for their contributions and might even receive more recognition. Thus, morale remained high because there were no lingering worries!
For this reason alone, all soldiers of the Qin Army were willing to follow General Bai into battle. They fought fiercely and bravely without hesitation. Although Bai Qi's opponents viewed him as a devil, the soldiers of the Qin Army held him in great esteem. This could be considered an unspoken rule of the battlefield; it had been practiced for years without any external acknowledgment. Perhaps King Qin was already aware of this unspoken rule but chose to overlook it for the sake of everyone’s efforts in warfare.
Luzi had never had a chance to enter military circles and thus was unaware of such matters. However, indiscriminate killing did not fundamentally conflict with battlefield unspoken rules; therefore, it was not considered a violation. After all, unspoken rules were established based on killing enemies while indiscriminate killing referred specifically to harming innocents.
As long as the country can provide living security for military dependents, who would have the time to indiscriminately kill civilians?
Bai Qi immediately stated that he would abide by this agreement, but he also asked Luzi not to forget what was just said. Luzi hoped that Bai Qi would take the issue of killing seriously; once the goal was achieved, there would be no need for further entanglement. After bidding farewell with a cupped fist, he led his troops into battle. Watching Luzi mount his warhorse, Bai Qi stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, gazing at his figure until it disappeared, without returning to the Main Tent to rest.
The unspoken rules are fine as long as they are not passed around verbally. It is impossible to expect someone to speak loyally and then secretly reveal the truth to you. This understanding must come from personal insight; even if spoken aloud, it cannot be clearly explained. There is an old saying that one cannot help but agree with: you cannot sing a tune that you have not been taught. Bai Qi wished that Luzi could understand the internal rules so that he could save a lot of breath. The problem is, without a keen mind, one truly cannot navigate these matters! Another prerequisite is that it requires a significant amount of time to genuinely comprehend.
Still, it remains true that even if one wishes to express something, it may not be conveyed clearly and could even be misunderstood by the listener as having ulterior motives. With this thought in mind, Bai Qi shook his head helplessly and sighed lightly. He went to find Jiang Tai and others who had been brought back, signaling for them all to be untied. If there were any questions, he would return and report directly to King Qin; what does being tied up even mean!?
News travels fast without legs; within no time at all, it can spread throughout the universe. The rumor prohibiting soldiers from indiscriminate killing followed this rule and quickly became known among the Five Thousand Troops. If such a thing truly happened, why bother fighting at all!? It was said that there were only about three thousand people left in that city, averaging less than one per person! Following orders is one thing; having an understanding is another. Taking advantage of the night while camping, everyone elected the eloquent Chen Cheng to approach the general for information.
Lu Zizheng was reading in the marching tent when he heard a voice asking for permission from outside and gestured for them to enter. Seeing that it was Chen Cheng who came in, he understood somewhat. He invited him to sit down first and placed a Bamboo Slip on the table. "Let's establish three rules: First, no discussions about military affairs; second, no discussions about political matters; third, no questions allowed."
Chen Cheng stood up and saluted, saying, "Then I will take my leave first, Your Excellency."
Luzi nodded. "Go ahead!"
"Understood!" Chen Cheng saluted again and turned to leave the tent.
Lu Zi waited outside for a while without any movement and wondered if he had really left. Just then, he saw Chen Cheng leisurely returning! He quickly suppressed his eager expression and deliberately put on a serious face to ask, "Is there something?"
Chen Cheng bowed respectfully. "General, I have something to report back on behalf of Your Excellency."
Upon hearing that there was indeed something important, Luzi turned back and sat down properly. "Speak!"
The matter of seeking credit for others' achievements is bound to have its supporters and detractors. Although this practice may benefit the majority, it lacks a sense of fairness. If the higher-ups do not investigate, it may be manageable, but once an inquiry begins, everyone involved could face consequences. Moreover, given the humble status of most Soldiers, it is only natural for them to be cautious in such situations. However, right and wrong can still be distinguished, and this kind of behavior is bound to lead to significant issues sooner or later.
Chen Cheng has been in the military for seven or eight years and is well aware of the existing problems. However, discussing national policies and guidelines brings no benefit to oneself and could even lead to malicious rumors if taken out of context. General Bai is a victim of such rumors; had it not been for deliberate actions against him, he would not have remained silent for over two years before making a comeback.
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