The Bodyguard King's CEO Wife-Chapter 1403: Prisoner Camp

"This is the prisoner of war camp, Old Ye. Are you really sure you want to go in and see?" Shangguan Jian brought Ye Shikai to the temporarily constructed prisoner of war camp at the fortress, where over a thousand Wolf Clan soldiers were detained. After the battle ended, many generals indeed suggested to Han Hao that they execute these Wolf Clan prisoners to prevent future threats. After all, over a thousand is not a small number. However, Han Hao did not agree, as Ye Shikai had initially promised these soldiers to spare their lives. Although showing mercy on the battlefield is cruel to oneself, if they go back on their word and kill these Wolf Clan soldiers, no Wolf Clan would ever surrender again in the future...

Ye Shikai turned to look at the hundreds of troops behind him. These were Qin army soldiers arranged by Shangguan Jian, led by Man Cang, to personally protect Ye Shikai’s safety.

"Are you so worried? I am not afraid of these Wolf Clan soldiers wearing armor and holding weapons, let alone now that they are prisoners of war." Ye Shikai showed no fear. He was not afraid at all because he understood the psychology of the Wolf Clan very well.

"We must remain vigilant, not to mention you are now holding the position of cavalry commander. Losing here would be too costly." Shangguan Jian remained worried and insisted on having guards accompany Ye Shikai inside.

"Open the door." Shangguan Jian shouted loudly.

"Yes." The fortress guards slowly opened the gate, and many prisoners began to gather around slowly.

"Back off. If you don’t retreat, we’ll shoot arrows." The officer guarding the camp shouted loudly, the crossbowmen above all aimed at the Wolf Clan soldiers below.

"No need to panic." Ye Shikai raised both hands and shouted loudly.

"Soldiers above, heed my command, lower your crossbows." Ye Shikai shouted loudly. Prisoners naturally have a rebellious mindset; the more tightly guarded they are, the more defiant and resistant they become. This is what Ye Shikai most wanted to avoid because he was planning to select future cavalry trainers from these people, so the first thing was to eliminate hostility from both sides.

"You all can retreat, but when you leave, close the door behind you." Ye Shikai turned and said indifferently.

"What, Chiliarch, that’s not possible. General Shangguan ordered us to protect you well; we can’t leave." Everyone exchanged glances. If they retreated and the door was closed, it would be as if putting Ye Shikai into a ’cage.’ If the Wolf Clan prisoners rushed forward, even if Ye Shikai was skilled in martial arts, he couldn’t defeat so many people.

"You don’t need to worry; I won’t come to harm. If you follow me, my plan will never succeed." Ye Shikai said indifferently. The Qin army is known for its strict discipline; soldiers must obey their superior’s orders. Disobedience is punishable by beheading, so these guards dared not leave casually. If Ye Shikai came to harm, they would be in grave trouble.

"Rest assured, if anything happens, I’ll bear the consequences myself, and it has nothing to do with you. You can convey these words to Shangguan Jian; he won’t blame you." Ultimately, after Ye Shikai’s repeated persuasion, these guards finally retreated and closed the camp gate as he requested.

Indeed, hundreds of prisoners gathered around Ye Shikai, like sharks in the ocean smelling blood, realizing that Ye Shikai was not an ordinary soldier but the officer who had advised surrender on the city wall that day.

Ye Shikai slowly took off his sword belt, and everyone’s footsteps suddenly halted. Then, something unexpected happened: Ye Shikai did not pull out the sword; instead, he threw the sword along with its sheath on the ground, slowly raised both hands, palms facing them, indicating he carried no weapons.

"What do you want?" Finally, someone from the Wolf Clan called out to Ye Shikai.

"I want to ask you, do you want to go home?" Ye Shikai shouted.

"This..."

Everyone was clearly surprised by Ye Shikai’s question, more accurately put, they didn’t understand the purpose behind Ye Shikai’s questioning. Going home was every prisoner’s dream, but in the ancient era of cold weapons, describing this dream as a ’fantasy’ would not be an exaggeration.

"Who wants to go home, is there no one?" Ye Shikai asked.

"Of course."

"Yes."

"Since you want to go home, then why do you come to die? Isn’t it good to stay home?" Ye Shikai retorted. "Are you so obedient to your general’s orders that even if told to die, you’d unhesitatingly comply?"

Upon hearing this, everyone sighed. The Wolf Clan is brave and battle-ready, but they are not all brainwashed soldiers. They want to succeed in conquering Xianyang, not to die tragically here; otherwise, they wouldn’t have chosen to surrender.

"I now offer a chance for you to return home alive." Ye Shikai changed his tone, and everyone abruptly looked up at him.

"I need your help to train our cavalry, and if you agree, you’ll be able to go home." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Oh, as expected, you have motives. You Qin army are deceitful and want us to help train your troops; impossible."

The Wolf Clan people sneered and cursed, a reaction Ye Shikai had already anticipated. Although they wanted to go home, agreeing would indeed be a betrayal. Even if they did go home, they might be arrested.

"Of course, you may refuse, and I won’t punish you. However, I only need a few people, just one hundred of you. Take your time to consider." Ye Shikai spoke calmly, bent over to pick up his sword, and walked towards the door.

........................

"How’s it going? Is anyone agreed?" At night, Shangguan Jian came to inquire about the results.

"If someone agreed, I’d be at the training grounds now." Ye Shikai placed a jar of wine on the table.

"Have a drink."

"I think you’re wasting your time; how can these people easily listen to you and help train our cavalry? I think it’s better to give up." Shangguan Jian felt frustrated. Almost everyone doubted Ye Shikai; nobody believed he would succeed.

"I didn’t say I’d fail, although the plan needs time. Just because I haven’t succeeded now doesn’t mean I won’t later." Ye Shikai showed a faint smile, still wearing a confident demeanor.

"Alright then, you’ve made such great achievements, no one will say anything, but the cavalry training mustn’t be delayed."

"Rest assured, if I don’t succeed within two weeks, I’ll choose to give up, and bear all consequences myself."