The Captain said to his men; “Stand at ease.”
The Captain said to his men; "Stand at ease."
A: The Captain urged his men to stand at ease.
B: The Captain commanded his men to stand at ease.
C: The Captain wanted his men to stand at ease.
D: The Captain told his men that they should stand at ease.
The sentence is in direct speech with a command. Changing to indirect speech becomes “The Captain commanded his men to stand at ease.” Reporting verbs like commanded are used for orders.