For several days in a row, Ji Province was calm and peaceful.
The adjustments of officials in various commanderies did not cause much upheaval. The corrupt officials were punished according to the law, which also made the common people cheer.
On the other side, Qu Yi was ordered to verify the embezzlement of military officers in the army. A total of thirty-seven culprits were found. Qu Yi then gathered military officers from various commanderies in Wei Commandery under the pretext of training and military exercises. Subsequently, with lightning speed, he apprehended all those who had embezzled and dealt with them according to military law.
For a time, the entire army was struck with awe.
Qu Yi, Gao Shun, and other Generals, under the command of Zhang Chen, integrated the troops from various commanderies, inspected them one by one, and finally discharged over eight thousand old, weak, and disabled Soldiers. The vacant positions in the ranks totaled over twenty-three thousand!
These old, weak, and disabled Soldiers, as well as the vacant positions, were all found in the other six commanderies, excluding Wei Commandery, Zhao Commandery, and Ganling.
For a time, a wind of rectification swept through the entire army.
On this day, Zhang Chen and Guo Jia came to the Military Camp. Looking at the report presented by Qu Yi, Zhang Chen's face couldn't help but twitch.
In the six commanderies, the vacant positions in the ranks reached as high as half the total. Among the remaining Soldiers, there were still over eight thousand who were old or weak. Calculating this way, the number of Soldiers capable of fighting was only a little over ten thousand.
Fortunately, Qu Yi was decisive and eliminated all these black sheep!
Zhang Chen said, "Reestablishing military discipline today, General Qu deserves the primary credit. From now on, such incidents must never occur again in my Jizhou Army."
All the Generals responded in unison. Qu Yi, however, frowned and said, "Lord, Zhang He has found another matter that is particularly important. As this matter is significant, Zhang He did not dare to act on his own. Zhang He requests Lord to make a clear judgment."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Zhang He has found that some people in the army are reselling military equipment and lining their own pockets!"
"What?! Such a thing exists?" Zhang Chen couldn't help but be startled. "Who is so bold? Don't they know that reselling military equipment is a capital offense?"
"Zhang He has only found a few Soldiers, but they insist that they were temporarily confused and seeking personal gain, with no one else instructing them. However, Zhang He finds this matter very strange and believes there must be a hidden reason!"
"Where are those people? Bring them in. I want to interrogate them one by one."
"Yes." Qu Yi said, turning around and shouting outside the tent, "Bring them all in!"
Before long, seven or eight Soldiers, tied up with ropes, were pushed into the tent.
Those people did not recognize Zhang Chen, but they recognized Qu Yi. Seeing this, they all showed expressions of fear.
"How dare you! Prefect is here, why are you not kneeling!" Qu Yi roared.
Upon hearing this, those people were immediately shocked. They immediately fell to their knees with a 'thump', kowtowing like pounding garlic, and repeatedly begging for mercy.
Zhang Chen snorted coldly and said, "I heard that you privately resold military equipment. Is this true?"
"This... this..."
Upon hearing this, the few people looked at each other but stammered and did not answer.
"How dare you!" Qu Yi saw this and shouted loudly, "In front of Lord, why are you not confessing truthfully!"
"Lord, spare us. We were temporarily confused, thinking that the left and right had taken empty pay, and this military equipment would be useless if kept, so it would be better to... better to..."
"Hmph! Good! I didn't expect my mighty Jizhou Army to harbor such Woodworms as you!"
Zhang Chen snorted coldly, his icy gaze sweeping over the few people.
Upon hearing this, the few people were immediately scared pale, and immediately pleaded, "Lord, spare us, Lord, spare us. This humble one was temporarily confused, and will never dare again!"
"Let me ask you, who instructed you to do these things?"
"This..." The few people immediately fell silent, their eyes wandering, secretly glancing at the person next to them.
After a long time, a military officer spoke, "No... no one instructed us. This humble one was temporarily... blinded by greed, thus, thus..."
"Oh? No one instructed you?" Zhang Chen sneered. "Then where did you find the buyer? And who, being so audacious, dared to purchase imperial military equipment?!"
"It's... it's..."
That person was repeatedly questioned by Zhang Chen, and his psychological defense line was on the verge of collapse. Large beads of sweat poured from his forehead.
Zhang Chen stood up, looked around at everyone, and said coldly, "What about you? Are you the same as him?"
Everyone lowered their heads, silent as cicadas in winter.
"Good! Since that's the case, then you will bear these charges. Qu Yi."
"Zhang He is here."
"By what crime should reselling military equipment be judged?"
Qu Yi glanced at the few people and said, "Lord, reselling military equipment is considered treason. Their families should be confiscated and exterminated, and they should be torn apart by five horses!"
Zhang Chen was expressionless and said coldly, "Then what are you waiting for? Take them down and deal with them according to military law!"
"Yes." Qu Yi responded, turned around and shouted, "Men! Tie these people to the training ground and tear them apart by five horses!"
After Qu Yi finished speaking, several Soldiers swarmed in and pushed the few people, ready to escort them away.
The few people were immediately scared out of their wits. The person from earlier shouted loudly, "No! Lord, spare me, this humble one... this humble one is willing to confess!"
"Wait." Zhang Chen waved his hand, signaling the Soldiers to retreat, and said to that person, "Have you thought it through? If there is any deception, you will be immediately taken out and beheaded!"
"Yes... yes, Lord, this humble one will confess everything. The matter of taking empty pay was indeed due to our greed, but this reselling of military equipment was instigated by someone else."
"Who instigated it?"
"It's... it's the defender of Nanpi, Xin Lin!"
Xin Lin?
Zhang Chen searched his memory and found that he had never heard of this person.
Xin? Could it be the Xin clan?
He only knew the two brothers Xin Ping and Xin Bi from the Xin clan, but he didn't know there were others.
Perhaps he was not particularly outstanding and did not leave his name in history.
"What is the background of this Xin Lin? Why do you all listen to him?"
"Lord, this person is a descendant of the Xin clan in Nanpi. Most of the troops in Ji Province are actually stationed in Nanpi. We are all subordinates of General Xin."
Zhang Chen glanced at Qu Yi, who silently nodded.
Just as that person said, most of the troops in the six commanderies were stationed in Nanpi, with very few troops elsewhere.
The Xin clan of Nanpi?
Zhang Chen pondered for a moment, looked at Guo Jia, and said, "Fengxiao, is this Xin clan also a powerful aristocratic family?"
Guo Jia, who was standing nearby, frowned upon hearing this and said, "Lord, this Xin clan was originally a prominent family in Yingchuan. They moved to Ji Province during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and are now settled in Nanpi. This Xin Lin is the eldest brother in the family. He also has two younger brothers, one named Xin Ping and one named Xin Bi. Both of them are studying at home and have not yet entered officialdom."
Indeed, it was the two brothers Xin Ping and Xin Bi. He just didn't expect them to have an elder brother.
"Qu Yi, quickly apprehend Xin Lin and bring him to justice. Detain him for trial!"
"Yes." Qu Yi responded, and was about to leave the tent.
"Wait!" Guo Jia quickly said, "Lord, Xin Lin is a descendant of an aristocratic family. If you move against this person, I'm afraid it will make other aristocratic families wary of you. Lord has just taken control of Ji Province and is not yet firmly established. It is really not advisable at the moment..."
"Fengxiao, your words are mistaken," Zhang Chen said. "If a prince breaks the law, he is treated the same as a commoner, let alone a mere Xin Lin? If I cannot uphold justice impartially, how can I govern Ji Province in the future?"
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, he looked at Guo Jia.
Guo Jia pondered for a moment, nodded slightly, and bowed.
"Lord is wise."