Chapter 146 - Su Fei's Burial
Translated by Bloodfalcon, Edited by Krayto
“General Su Fei....!!!” Liu Mang is in a state of disbelief. The human called Su Fei was turned into a “human swine” with his four limbs severed, eyes stabbed, nose and ears sliced off and finally put in a jar.
“Sun Ce!!! Jiang Qin!!!” Liu Mang's said in low voice. Liu Mang started apologizing in his heart “General Su Fei, this is Mang's fault. This is my mistake for being so angry in the first place!”
“Little lord....” The mood was very grim for all the people present. They cannot believe that a person they knew was made into a “human swine” like Concubine Qi, one of Liu Bang's wives. Empress Lu Zhi (Liu Bang's legal wife) was very jealous that Concubine Qi is very loved by Liu Bang, so after Liu Bang died, she tortured Concubine Qi. The process was similar: She began by gouging out her eyes, amputating her arms and legs, shaving her head, deafening her using molten copper, skinning her alive and forcing her to drink acid that destroyed her vocal chords. The mute and limbless concubine was then tossed into a cesspit in the palace with the swine.
Although this type of torture was invented by Empress Lu Zhi, no one ever use it again until Jiang Qin.
Although Jiang Qin did not put Su Fei inside a piss pot or deafening him with molten copper or gouging his eyes out his method was still very cruel. Su Fei's tongue is half-missing, his eyes were stabbed, his nose and ear are missing, and his four limbs are also gone. He was wrapped in cloth and put into a jar. There are also traces of hemostatic powder and in Su Fei's mouth, there is a thousand-years-old ginseng. This is used to prolong Su Fei's life.
“Ai!!! Su Fei!!!” Huang Zhong also sighed. He and Su Fei had worked together, although for a very short time. Huang Zhong really respected this young man. This Su Fei really understood when to advance and when to retreat. When Su Fei was his vice commander, he always called Huang Zhong “Old General Huang”. He also did not put on airs being Huang Zu's trusted general but continued to seek Huang Zhong's counsel.
Normally Huang Zu will dispatch Su Fei as the commander-in-arms. But when Su Fei was recommended by Huang Zhong, it can be said Su Fei’s talent has been recognized by Huang Zhong's.
“NICE!!! NICELY DONE BOTH OF YOU!!!” Liu Mang's whole body is trembling, holding his anger. Liu Mang thought “When I made Zhou Tai into a meatloaf, I beheaded him first, making sure he did not suffer and hang his head above Wancheng city, after that did I turn his body into meatloaf. But both of you had done this while Su Fei was still alive, make him into a “human swine”. FUCK YOU ALL!!! I'LL BOIL BOTH OF YOU ALIVE!!!”
“Little lord, we excuse ourselves!!!” Liu Kai and Liu Neng did not dare to look at Su Fei inside that jar. Both of them are nobles, they are treated their servants like tools. And when those “tools” made mistakes, they will punish them by flogging or hanging them. They thought they are already cruel, but this... This is a work of a monster, making a person a “human swine”. Liu Mang understood what they meant and quickly waved to dismiss both of them.
“So, Sun Ce, you have also sent me a declaration of war, then I accept it!!! Liu Mang banged his fist as hard as he can on the table until his hand started to bloody and the table broke.
“Is Xingba there?!” Huang Zhong thought about Su Fei and Gan Ning. Su Fei is the body and Gan Ning is the brain. One of the reason that Su Fei surrendered to Lu Bu is because Gan Ning already do not have anything to do with Huang Zu beside Huang She was captured. So it is very apparent to who the body and who the brain is.
Liu Mang responded “No, I have ordered Xingba to install the weapon! So I ask him to avoid any battle and prepare the weapon properly!!!” Huang Zhong then nodded.
So, Su Fei, in order to keep off enemies from getting information about Gan Ning. He, with only 2,000 naval troops, dared to challenge 100,000 troops. He will not let Gan Ning be branded as a coward. Who knew that this parting will become his last?
“Everyone, we should keep this matter a secret first, nobody tell Xingba!!!” Liu Mang ordered. Liu Mang feared that if Gan Ning knew the matter, he will be unable to bear the sadness and will challenge Sun Ce for a fight to the death and destroying all of his schemes.
Huang Zhong sees that the jar is moving in agreement with Liu Mang's order and inquired “Su Fei, you agree?!”
“General Su Fei, thank you!!!” Liu Mang quickly removed his cloak and started to bend his knee.
“Little lord, what are you doing?!” Those all present are shocked. Because in their eyes, this little lord can be considered having half of lord's authority but this little lord is bending his knee to kneel now.
With their lord knelt, all of them also knelt down inside the briefing room.
“General Su Fei, this is Liu Mang's mistake. If Liu Mang do not recruit General Su, you will still be under General Huang Zu and will not have this fate!!!” Yes, if Liu Mang did not make Su Fei and Gan Ning surrender. Su Fei right now should be in Jiangxia and fighting Zhou Yu.
“If Liu Mang did not issue the order for Xingba to refuse the battle, there will be no fate like this for you!!!”
“This is Mang's mistake!!! Please blame Mang for this!!!” Liu Mang started to cry. He thought that it is easy being a lord in this times of war. But once he made a mistake, the consequences is very big. He now understands that sacrifices must be made in order for one to achieve success in these times of war.
His Urban Army and Su Fei are the living proof of these sacrifices.
“Little lord, this is not your mistake! The mistake lies in the body of Jiang Qin and Sun Ce’s army!!!” Liu Neng is trying to comfort Liu Mang. However, mentioning those people names was like taboo, as Liu Mang’s eyes is emitted killing intent, scaring Liu Neng big time.
“DAMN YOU SUN CE!!!! DAMN YOU JIANG QIN!!!! General Su Fei, I am sorry, Mang cannot save you but your wife and children will be treated as Mang’s elder sister and Mang’s son and Mang will prepare your son to receive your inheritance in good way. Regarding your anger, Mang will take revenge for you. Jiang Qin and Sun Ce’s head will be offered to your grave. With the sky and earth as my witness, this is my oath to you!!!” Liu Mang said fiercely.
“With the sky and earth as our witness, we will assist little lord to kill Sun Ce and Jiang Qin!!!” Other generals also screamed their oath.
“General Su Fei, please rest in peace!!!” Liu Mang unsheathe his sword and put it on Su Fei’s throat. Su Fei can no longer be saved. Even if he is able to be saved his four limbs are missing and he is mute. This is too cruel a fate for any combat general. So, killing him is the best act for now. Only in death is there freedom; freedom from all the pain and suffering.
Liu Mang then moved his sword to behead Su Fei. When he behead Su Fei, even though blood was splashing, Su Fei’s face there held no resentment at all. In fact he had a relieved expression visible on his face. He is free now, free from any suffering.
After he beheaded Su Fei suddenly there was a messenger screaming while kneeling toward Liu Mang “REPORT!!! General, report. Outside the city, the enemies are in massive numbers!!!”
The messenger thought that Liu Mang will be anxious. Surprisingly instead he was very relaxed and said “Oh, already here?”Liu Mang stood up “Someone, please give General Su Fei a proper burial and make sure his wife and son attend the funeral. For the memorial service, we will need to wait until Milord returns!!! The others come with me, we shall make annihilate Sun Ce’s army to the last man!!!” Liu Mang exclaimed.
Never before had his killing intent been so intense, not even when killing Chen Lan, or when he ordered for Zhou Tai to be killed and definitely not even when he killed those nobles who destroyed the commoners.
Sun Ce and Jiang Qin has just made Liu Mang’s blacklist.