novelraw Chapter 653: A Beating Will Do the Trick!
Chapter 653: A Beating Will Do the Trick!
"Eldest Young Master, the people have been brought!"
Liang Army Camp.
Li Qingmu, dressed in casual attire, leaned against a soft couch, while outside the tent came two men in black, each carrying two young men inside.
"Bang, bang!"
The two were thrown to the ground like dead dogs, and despite the loud noise, they showed no sign of waking or moving.
Li Qingmu’s gaze, cold and indifferent, fell upon them, and he said lightly, "Thank you for your hard work!"
"It’s an honor for us to serve the Eldest Young Master!"
They exchanged pleasantries and then left.
As soon as the men in black left, several soldiers came in, holding ropes, swiftly binding Chang Zhen and Cao Anxing.
Once the busy work was done, the two finally awoke.
The first to wake was Chang Zhen. He looked around in confusion, finding the unfamiliar environment, and then discovered his hands and feet were bound.
He struggled immediately, but at this moment, he was completely powerless. He couldn’t even open his eyes; moving was difficult.
"Ah..."
The commotion startled Cao Anxing beside him, who gradually opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Chang Zhen, seeing him bound all over and struggling desperately, he was stunned: "Brother Zhen, you..."
He felt his neck aching, and his voice was somewhat hoarse.
Then he realized he was also securely bound.
He raised his head in shock, meeting a pair of deep, pitch-black eyes.
When Li Qingmu saw them waking, he wore a silver mask to avoid unexpected trouble by not showing his face to familiar people.
Cao Anxing was deeply attracted by the pitch-black eyes instantly, feeling a sense of familiarity but couldn’t recall where he had seen those eyes before?
As for Chang Zhen, he also noticed the man on the couch and shouted fiercely, "Who are you? Why did you capture us? What do you want?"
"Rude, how dare you talk to the Eldest Young Master like that?"
A small commander nearby immediately reprimanded coldly.
Li Qingmu raised his hand and waved lightly, making the small commander lower his head and retreat.
His gaze once again fell on the two, his lips curling in a mocking smile: "Young ones from Dazhou Army? What are your names?"
He didn’t recognize either of them, but he worried about being recognized, so he deliberately disguised his voice even while speaking.
"Hmph, I am Cao Anxing, the eldest grandson of the Cao Family, unchanged whether sitting or standing!"
Cao Anxing spoke first, slightly raised his head, full of arrogance!
Grandfather said, if caught by the enemy, never give in, otherwise it would disgrace the Cao Family, and military generals respect courageous heroes, showing daring at least allows you to die with dignity.
No matter how ignorant, Cao Anxing is from a military family, and judging from the setting, he knows it’s a camp, specifically a Liang’s camp!
They were captured!
Damn it!
"Chang Zhen, from the Chang Family!"
Chang Zhen also straightened his chest, speaking and staring at Li Qingmu fiercely, if looks could kill, he’d have shot him thousands of times.
Li Qingmu lay slightly to the side, casually watching them for a while, suddenly asking the nearby small commander, "These two seem like they want to eat me alive, what do you think should be done?"
The small commander thought for a moment and said, "If they’re disobedient, give them a beating!"
Li Qingmu stroked his chin, nodding: "Hmm, a good idea! Someone, these two dared to defy me, give them ten strokes each!"
The small commander was slightly taken aback: "Young master, isn’t that too light?"
In the army, ten strokes is too light, just like scratching an itch, usually ranging from thirty to fifty.
Li Qingmu shot him a "are you stupid" look: "These two are hostages, if accidentally harmed, are they still hostages? They’re prisoners! Hostages and prisoners are different, hmm?"
The small commander was depressed, captured by them, aren’t they prisoners?
But since he’s the Eldest Young Master, he’s the highest authority, whatever he says goes!
He immediately ordered: "Men, drag these two out, give ten strokes!"
"Let go, let go of me! You treacherous scoundrel, only know to plot behind backs, have the guts to step out and fight my Cao Family Army man-to-man, do you dare? You coward!"
Cao Anxing shouted fiercely, even spat.
Li Qingmu massaged his eyebrows, pointing at him: "Gag these two! They stink!"
Actually, he was concerned they’d suddenly bite their tongues in suicide.
That would be a big issue.
These people naturally didn’t understand Li Qingmu’s concern, so they stuffed a rag in the mouths of the two upon hearing his order.
Shortly after, muffled sounds came from outside, ten in total.
After the beating, the two were dragged back.
Their backs covered in scars.
Cao Anxing and Chang Zhen, their eyes bloodshot, glaring at Li Qingmu with the intent to tear him to pieces.
Li Qingmu lazily yawned, looked at the two: "What, still want another beating?"
"Mmm mmm..."
"Release their gags."
"Ah, pugh!" As soon as the rag was released from his mouth, Cao Anxing spat harshly, "Got the guts, kill me, kill me! Cao Family men are unafraid of death!"
"Exactly, if you’re a man, kill us! Torturing is what women do!"
Uh...
Li Qingmu hesitated a moment.
The small commander instantly rushed forward, punching the two.
"Enough, take them away, gag them to prevent tongue-biting suicide, also send someone to Zhou Army to report the news!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The small commander led them out, Li Qingmu reclined again on the couch, his gaze deepened.
Hmm, Cao’s son, Cao Anxing?
Interesting, interesting!
Grandfather has a good grandson!
"Right, ensure they’re not mistreated after containment, otherwise trading later would be difficult."
Indeed, treating hostages well is essential, but Li Qingmu feared mishaps, so he emphasized again.
Someone immediately complied to carry out the orders.
"Grandfather, there’s no choice."
Li Qingmu looked at the azure sky outside, feeling a bit guilty.
Meanwhile, Cao Anxing and Chang Zhen were confined in a tent.
Outside, twelve guards watched vigilantly, preventing escape.
Cao Anxing twisted his body desperately, trying to ease the ropes’ discomfort, but his back was all wounds, slight movement pained him to grit his teeth.
"Mmm mmm..."
He worked hard to push the rag with his tongue, his mouth forcing open and closing, repeatedly trying to get the rag off.
Li Qingmu overthought, Cao Anxing wasn’t foolish enough to bite his tongue in suicide, after much effort, he finally managed to remove the rag.
"Pugh! Brother Zhen, we need to find a way to escape quickly, otherwise that masked guy will surely use us to threaten grandfather and General Chang!"
Chang Zhen blinked, his gag still undone.
After some time, he also spat out the gag and said: "There are enemy guards outside, we can’t get out!"
"There’s got to be a way, there must be!"
"Even if we leave this tent, we can’t get out of Liang’s camp!"
Chang Zhen dropped his head, somewhat dispirited.
This is just ridiculous, how did they just get captured out of nowhere?
Also, how did the enemies infiltrate the Zhou Army?