Chapter 1789: Chapter 1789: Unlucky Doctor Mao

After General Ge hinted at it, he patted Troop Commander Qiu on the shoulder and said, "Don’t make things difficult for everyone... Regardless of whether your son pursues civil service or military, we will provide him a future."

After saying this, he did not stay long and got up to leave.

Before exiting the military tent, General Ge placed Qiu Manwu’s waist knife within his reach.

Qiu Manwu trembled all over, perhaps due to the searing pain in his arm or the words of General Ge... He understood, but it still hurt him.

He recalled General Ge’s words earlier, General Ge didn’t say much, but the meaning was profound.

First, if he lived, the series of cases in Gaoshui County would tarnish General Xu’s reputation. Only if he died could the rumors in the Capital be completely silenced, and the malicious cases in Gaoshui County be thoroughly concluded.

Secondly, General Xu couldn’t publicly sentence him to death, because his merits against the enemies were significant, and punishing him by death just for trusting a brother would dishearten other soldiers and make General Xu lose their respect.

So, to avoid troubling everyone, writing a farewell letter and committing suicide was the most perfect solution.

Troop Commander Qiu understood that his death would be beneficial to everyone, but he still felt cold inside. He would rather General Xu directly use military law to sentence him to death than hint at him to take his own life.

"Sir, Doctor Mao is here. Let him give you a few needles, apply some anesthetic powder, and your arm won’t hurt." Company Commander Xiao Yue, seeing General Ge leave, came in to check on Troop Commander Qiu and saw him crying, assuming it was from the pain, immediately went to the neighboring tent to bring in the asleep Doctor Mao.

Doctor Mao, still in his nightwear, just wrapped in a coat, came in, opened the medicine box, took out the anesthetic powder, and intended to remove the bandage on Troop Commander Qiu’s broken arm.

Troop Commander Qiu stopped him.

Doctor Mao said, "Lord Troop Commander, I need to remove the bandage to apply the anesthetic powder."

Troop Commander Qiu said, "No need, a little pain will help me remember the lesson."

After speaking, he self-muttered, "I harmed many people, I was wrong, I ought to be decapitated."

Company Commander Xiao Yue hurriedly said, "Sir, how can you say that? The one at fault is Tang Zhongzhou, you didn’t do anything wrong in Gaoshui County. If you are at fault, then Low Level General and Company Commander Tong are even more at fault."

They and Company Commander Tong did discover the anomaly in Gaoshui County, but only reminded Troop Commander Qiu twice. Seeing his extreme trust in Tang Zhongzhou, they stopped mentioning it.

But actually, they could have informed General Ge, yet they didn’t.

So strictly speaking, both he and Company Commander Tong were guilty of concealing the truth, but they were only penalized with half a year’s military salary deduction.

Troop Commander Qiu said, "It’s my fault, you reminded me, but I scolded you, said you were sowing discord, deliberately damaging my relationship with Second Brother Tang... In hindsight, I was really stupid!"

He regarded Tang Zhongzhou as a blood brother, but Tang Zhongzhou harbored hatred due to the incident of tendon injury on the battlefield long ago.

"Xiao Yue, you are a good one, strive well in the future, you should be able to become a General, but don’t be like me, too trusting of others..." After saying these words, Troop Commander Qiu started to dismiss them: "You should leave, I’m fine."

"Sir, your injury is so serious, Low Level General will stay with you." Company Commander Xiao Yue was worried about him and wanted to stay.

Troop Commander Qiu shook his head: "No need, I want to be alone for a while... Your presence only embarrasses me since I’m no longer Troop Commander."

Company Commander Xiao Yue anxiously said, "Sir, you are always Low Level General’s superior!"

"Say no more, leave." Troop Commander Qiu didn’t want to hear any more and urged them again to leave.

Doctor Mao said, "Company Commander Xiao Yue, let’s go out first, Troop Commander Qiu’s wound hasn’t yet scabbed, and if he gets too emotional and yells, it will cause the wound to bleed again, making Troop Commander Qiu suffer more."

After hearing this, Company Commander Xiao Yue finally agreed to leave: "Sir, Low Level General will keep vigil outside your tent, if you need anything, just call."

With that, he followed Doctor Mao out.

Company Commander Xiao Yue was true to his word, staying guard outside the tent all night, lifting the tent flap several times to check on Troop Commander Qiu’s condition... But Troop Commander Qiu never slept, just sat on the mat covered with a quilt, in a daze.

Company Commander Xiao Yue was very worried, fearing that Troop Commander Qiu might do something foolish, and as dawn approached, he became increasingly frequent in checking on Troop Commander Qiu, until daylight broke and when Vice General Ma and General Ge were escorting Tang Zhongzhou to the county, the tragedy occurred.

Doctor Mao was quite unlucky, as Troop Commander Qiu slit his throat in front of him.

He had just finished changing Troop Commander Qiu’s medicine, and as he was about to leave with the medicine box on his back, he heard a swift slicing sound behind him, like a blade being drawn.

He frowned, turning around to check, only to find Troop Commander Qiu had already taken his own life, slashing so deep that his windpipe was severed. Doctor Mao screamed, rushing over to stop the bleeding.

However, the bleeding didn’t stop, and Troop Commander Qiu suffocated to death!

"Someone come! Someone come! Troop Commander Qiu has taken his own life!" Doctor Mao was covering Troop Commander Qiu’s throat wound, continuously shouting, his face frightened pale, his whole body trembling.

The soldiers guarding outside rushed in, seeing this very scene.

"Quickly, call for help!"

The soldiers panicked as well, hastily running to notify Vice General Ma, General Ge, Company Commander Xiao Yue, and Qin San Lang, among others.

Company Commander Xiao Yue, having kept vigil for Troop Commander Qiu all night, was both tired and hungry, and had just started eating breakfast. Before he could finish, he heard the bad news and immediately dashed to Troop Commander Qiu’s tent, only to see Troop Commander Qiu’s already fallen body: "Sir, Sir! Who did this? Who did this?!"

The soldiers inside the tent immediately covered his mouth and said, "Lord Company Commander, don’t speak recklessly, you can get yourself killed."

They quickly explained, "Troop Commander Qiu slit his own throat, and there is a farewell letter."

Another soldier pointed to the knife sheath, and under the sheath next to the mat was a piece of paper, with a farewell letter written in blood.

Upon hearing this, Company Commander Xiao Yue rushed over, attempting to pick up the farewell letter but was stopped by the soldiers: "Company Commander Xiao Yue, don’t take it! Wait for General Ge to come, if you want to see it, you can lie down and look, it’s clear enough to see."

If he touched the farewell letter, what if he got falsely blamed? Better wait for General Ge and the others.

Company Commander Xiao Yue wasn’t foolish; after his initial impulse, he calmed down, squatting to read the farewell letter.

The farewell letter wasn’t long: Although I was not sentenced to death due to my merits, I feel overwhelmed by guilt and cannot face the people of Gaoshui County, thus I chose to end my life.

I am ashamed of the support from the Generals, ashamed of my comrades, and have tarnished your names, hoping you all take me as a warning not to commit the same mistakes.

Brother Xing, now that you are sixteen, after your father’s atonement, you must uphold the family, take care of your mother and younger siblings. Should you join the military in the future, remember never to make the same mistakes as your father.

Lastly, a request, Tang Zhongzhou, Bian Family and such wicked people are extremely detestable; I urge the Generals to severely punish these wicked villains, clean up the Northwest, and let the Northwest soldiers and civilians live in peace!

In less than two hundred words, it conveyed many matters, clearly stating it was his own will to die, with no intention of resentment towards the Generals, even urging his son to join the military.

What was most brilliant was the last request, for which General Xu would surely be grateful.

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