Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

As dawn broke through the clouds, golden rays bathed the newly rammed earth walls of Starfire Fortress. The sentries atop the walls stood ramrod straight, their armor plates reflecting a cold, hard luster in the morning light. In the central open space within the fortress, a dense crowd already stood waiting, the atmosphere even more somber than when the Order of Merit was issued the day before.

Today's attendees were clearly distinguished. On the left were all the Wei soldiers, standing in neat rows of ten or more, their halberds planted firmly on the ground, utterly silent. Chen Wei stood at the front of the ranks, his hand on his sword, his face ashen. On the right were all the fortified people under Zhao Tiezhu's command, the able-bodied men in front, the women, children, and the elderly behind. Although they did not stand as neatly as the Wei soldiers, no one whispered to each other; everyone held their breath. The labor camp stood separately in the open space at the rear, strictly guarded by Wang Jian and ten guards wielding wooden sticks. The prisoners stood with their heads bowed, not daring to raise their heads.

At the northern end of the open space, in front of the low platform made of logs, a newly made, large wooden sign stood. The sign was coated with tung oil, white with black characters, densely covered with regulations. Li Shu, leading two literate refugee boys, was conducting a final inspection. Beside the platform stood two thick wooden stakes, wrapped with water-soaked cowhide ropes, swaying slightly in the morning breeze, exuding a sinister aura.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), Chen Xing took the stage.

He was still dressed in a dark blue, close-fitting outfit, with a worn cloak over it and a sword hanging at his waist. His gaze swept across the audience, lingering on the resolute faces of the Wei soldiers, the tense eyes of the villagers, and the cowering figures of the prisoners.

"Gentlemen," Chen Xing began, his voice not loud, yet carrying a metallic quality that echoed in the silent space, "The other day, the 'Order of Merit' was established to clarify rewards and encourage diligence. Today, we shall establish the 'Military Regulations' to uphold the law and enforce discipline!"

He turned to the side, pointing to the wooden plaque covered with writing: "These are the twenty articles of the 'Starfire Fortress Garrison Regulations'! All those armed and garrisoning within our fortress must strictly abide by these regulations! Anyone who violates them, regardless of rank or merit, will be severely punished according to these rules!"

The crowd below the stage felt a chill run down their spines, their gazes all turning to the wooden sign. Although many were illiterate, the neat lines and the somber atmosphere were enough to convey the weight of the matter.

"Chen Wei," Chen Xing called out.

"Your subordinate is here!" Chen Wei strode forward, turning to face the audience. He took a thin wooden stick from Li Shu, pointed to the title at the top of the sign, and announced loudly: "The Starfire Fortress Garrison Regulations, Articles One through Eight, are detailed explanations of the three ironclad rules! Listen carefully!"

He took a deep breath and, in a booming voice, read out each point one by one:

"Article 1: Anyone who takes public or private property within the fort without authorization, if the value is minor, shall be whipped twenty times and fined fifty merit points; if the value is significant or the offense is repeated, the offender shall be beheaded!"

Article Two: Anyone who plunders innocent villages, towns, or merchants, regardless of whether they are the ringleader or accomplice, shall be executed on the spot, and their head shall be displayed at the gate of the village for three days!

Article 3: Anyone who forcibly rapes a woman within the fortress, regardless of their status, shall be executed on the spot!

Article 4: Anyone who harasses, sexually assaults, or trespasses into a private residence and disturbs female relatives shall be punished with thirty to fifty lashes, imprisonment for ten days, and forfeiture of merit points; serious offenders shall be executed!

Article 5: Lewdness is strictly prohibited in military camps. Violators will be whipped fifty times, demoted to hard labor, or executed for serious offenses!

Article Six: Those who guard prisoners of war or those subjected to forced labor shall not, without cause, abuse, kill, seriously injure, or starve their subordinates to death. Anyone who violates this rule shall be punished as if they had committed murder, and shall be beheaded!

Article 7: If prisoners of war or laborers fall ill, they shall be given basic medical treatment. Anyone who intentionally delays treatment and causes death shall be whipped fifty times and demoted to hard labor.

Article 8: If prisoners of war or those in forced labor attempt to escape, resist, or cause sabotage, their guards may, depending on the circumstances, kill them on the spot or capture them and punish them severely. Those who escape will be whipped one hundred times and sentenced to three years of forced labor; those who resist or cause sabotage will be beheaded or sentenced to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense!

With each clause read aloud, Chen Wei's voice grew louder, and the wooden stick struck the corresponding clause heavily. The crowd below listened with trepidation, especially the repeated use of the word "execute," which felt like ice picks piercing their ears. The Wei soldiers remained expressionless, but their eyes sharpened even more. The villagers whispered amongst themselves, and the women instinctively hugged their children tighter. A few suppressed gasps came from the labor camp, and several prisoners' legs went weak, almost causing them to collapse.

After reciting the eight bottom-line rules, Chen Wei paused slightly and lowered the wooden stick: "Rules nine through twentieth are the rules for daily garrison duty. Violators will also be punished according to the law! Rule nine: Armor and weapons must be wiped and maintained daily to ensure they are fully prepared for combat. Those who neglect maintenance will be whipped ten times and penalized twenty merit points."

Article 10: Barracks must be kept clean and tidy, and must not be cluttered or dirty. Violators will be punished along with their accomplices, each receiving five lashes and ten demerit points.

Article 11: Patrols must be conducted on time and along the designated routes. Negligence, early departures, or unauthorized absences from duty are strictly prohibited. Violators will be punished with twenty to fifty lashes, deducted merit points, and in severe cases, demoted to hard labor.

Article Twelve: Upon hearing the drum and horn commands, one must respond immediately and assemble without delay. Those who delay will be whipped thirty times; those who delay in battle will be executed!

Article Thirteen: In battle, one must obey the commands of the flag and drum, and must not advance or retreat without authorization. Those who retreat without authorization will have their rear guard executed, and those who advance recklessly and disrupt the formation will be executed!

Article 14: If a comrade is seriously injured, he or she must be rescued to the best of their ability and must not be abandoned. Anyone who fails to rescue a comrade in distress shall be whipped fifty times, demoted to hard labor, and have their merit points confiscated.

Article 15: Information regarding the fort's defenses, grain reserves, and troop strength must not be disclosed to outsiders. Anyone who leaks information will be punished according to the severity of the offense, ranging from one hundred lashes to execution, or implicate their entire family!

Article 16: Private fights are strictly prohibited. Any disputes must be reported to a superior or manager for mediation. Those who engage in private fights, regardless of who is right or wrong, will first be whipped twenty times, and then the truth will be determined.

Article 17: No one shall drink excessively, cause trouble, or neglect their duties. Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited during wartime, and excessive drinking is also prohibited during peacetime. Violators will be punished with ten to fifty lashes.

Article 18: Merits and demerits, rewards and punishments must be recorded impartially, and favoritism and malpractice are prohibited. Those who falsely report or fraudulently claim or withhold merits and rewards shall have their gains confiscated, be whipped fifty times, demoted, or subjected to hard labor.

Article 19: Enforcement teams must be impartial and strict in enforcing military regulations, and must not abuse their power, solicit bribes, or engage in other corrupt practices. Violators will be punished more severely!

"Article 20: Any misconduct not specified in the military regulations may be punished by the fortress lord and the law enforcement commander in accordance with the relevant provisions!"

The twenty military regulations were clearly defined, with explicit penalties. Chen Wei finished reading them, put away his baton, and stood at attention, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. The open space was deathly silent, save for the slight creaking of the wooden signs in the morning breeze and the heavy breathing of a few people.

Chen Xing stepped forward, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across the entire area: "The Twenty Military Regulations have been proclaimed to you all! From this moment forward, all those under the jurisdiction of Xinghuo Fortress who bear arms and are stationed here must strictly abide by these regulations! Chen Wei!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"From today onwards, the enforcement team will be increased to thirty men, under your direct command, specializing in the enforcement, supervision, and punishment of military regulations! The enforcement team itself must set an example; any violation will be punished three times more severely! Can you do it?"

Chen Wei knelt on one knee, clasped his hands above his head, and said in a resolute voice, "This subordinate obeys! I will lead by example and enforce the law impartially! If I show any favoritism, I am willing to accept the most severe punishment under military regulations!"

"Good!" Chen Xing nodded, then looked down at the audience. "These military regulations are not merely for restraint, but for protection! To protect the peace within our fortress, to protect your lives and property, and to ensure the flame of revolution never dies out! I hope you all understand this deeply and act with caution!"

He paused, his tone softening slightly: "The Merit Order grants a future, while military regulations govern conduct. They are like the two wings of a bird, or the two wheels of a cart; neither can be lacking. By obeying the rules and regulations, and working together with one heart, Xinghuo Fortress can stand firm in this chaotic world, and you will all have peaceful days, merits to accumulate, and a future to strive for!"

Having said that, he gestured to Li Shu. Li Shu stepped forward and unfolded another, slightly smaller wooden plaque, on which was written a brief outline of the "Fortress Citizens' Covenant." Zhao Tiezhu also stepped forward and explained the key points of the covenant to the fortress citizens. It mainly consisted of daily norms such as cherishing public property, working on time, maintaining harmonious neighborly relations, and reporting disputes to the authorities. The penalties were relatively light, mostly involving the confiscation of merit points, forced labor, and whipping.

The comparison made it clearer to everyone: the military regulations were swords and the bottom line, which would result in injury or death if crossed; the convention was a rope and a daily routine, which would also be punished if violated, but with room for maneuver.

After the presentation, Chen Xing ordered everyone to disperse and return to their duties. However, many people did not leave immediately but instead gathered around the wooden sign with military regulations. Those who could read read it aloud in a low voice, while those who could not asked others to explain it to them. Each "斩" (beheading) character was like a branding iron, searing into the hearts of everyone.

In the ranks of the Wei elite infantry, the squad leaders began whispering instructions to their men: "Did you all hear that? From now on, keep your eyes peeled! If you break the rules, even I can't protect you!"

Among the displaced youths, one clicked his tongue in astonishment: "My goodness, this is too harsh... to be beheaded for stealing a little something or touching a woman?"

The older man beside him glared: "Strict? If we're not strict, how can we keep those murderers in check? If we're not strict, how can you farm in peace? Our lord is doing this for our own good!"

As they were being escorted away from the labor camp, Wang Jian sternly rebuked them: "Did you all hear that clearly? Work honestly and don't have any crooked thoughts! You just heard clearly what happens if you try to escape or resist!"

Chen Xing and Chen Wei stood on the stage, watching the crowd gradually disperse.

"My lord, the military regulations have been announced, but the hearts of the people cannot be won over in a day," Chen Wei said in a low voice. "Especially those prisoners and some newly surrendered refugees, there may be a chance of them escaping unscathed."

"I know." Chen Xing's gaze was deep. "Therefore, we need one fact to make everyone understand that this rule is not just empty words. Chen Wei, the enforcement team must always keep a close eye on things. The first violation of the rule, no matter how small or who is involved, must be dealt with strictly according to the rules and made public throughout the fortress! We must let everyone see that this rule is ironclad and uncompromising!"

"This subordinate understands!" Chen Wei nodded emphatically.

As they were talking, Zhao Tiezhu approached, his face filled with worry: "My lord, during the lecture just now, I noticed that several young men among the refugees had shifty eyes and were muttering amongst themselves, seemingly dissatisfied with the military regulations and feeling that they were being interfered with too much. Also, that Liu San in the hard labor camp, the one who was scavenging through the rubble a few days ago, kept his head down during the lecture today, but his fists were clenched tightly..."

Chen Xing looked at Chen Wei: "Make a note of these people's names and keep an eye on them secretly. But don't punish them without evidence, or you'll give others grounds to criticize you."

"Yes."

As the morning light grew stronger, it illuminated every inch of Starfire Fortress, including the brand-new wooden plaque inscribed with the twenty iron rules. The ink on the plaque was not yet dry, gleaming with a dark luster in the sunlight.

The rules have been established, and the blade has been drawn. Now, all that remains is to wait—to wait for the first person to test the law, to use their blood to forge a new order in these ironclad rules, to make everyone truly understand what is permissible and what is forbidden within Starfire Fortress.

Chen Xing stepped down from the low platform, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his steps steady. He knew that peaceful days would not last long. In chaotic times, internal threats are often just as deadly as external threats. Only a framework forged with ironclad rules can support the flesh and blood described in the "Order of Merit" and ensure that Starfire Fortress truly stands firm.

On the distant slope, the land reclamation team had already begun work, shovels slamming and soil flying everywhere. On the fortress walls, the soldiers on patrol stood ramrod straight. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, and the distant barking of dogs could be heard.

Everything seemed orderly, but beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were beginning to stir. The first day, with its ironclad rules, was destined to be anything but ordinary.