After listening to the account, Zhao Cheng looked at Fan Jianglin, who was bowing on his knees to the ground, and nodded.
“Get up,” he said.
“Please, my lord, stand up for my fallen brothers. We don’t seek wealth, we only wish for our names to be cleared – cleared of shame,” Fan Jianglin choked out. “So that their spirits in heaven may rest in peace.”
Xu Sigen also bowed in salute.
“I understand,” Zhao Cheng said, gesturing for them to rise.
Only after expressing their thanks again and again did Fan Jianglin and Xu Sigen finally get up and respectfully withdraw.
“My lord, what do you think?” a close attendant stepped forward and asked.
“Can’t you see it?” Zhao Cheng replied, watching Fan Jianglin – supported by another -walk out of the government hall. He sighed. “Would someone feel such grief if it were only for money and reward?”
Such sorrow, one that seeps out from the bones – no amount of money could buy it.
The attendant nodded.
“So what should we do now?” he said. “My lord, this matter may seem small, but it can also be very big.”
If small, it would mean simply resubmitting a report for merit – just a matter of paperwork that a clerk could write in moments. If big, once reported upward, Assistant Commander Fang being punished for falsely claiming rewards would be a minor issue. The real problem was that the court would accuse them of failing to distinguish between reward and punishment. That single charge could implicate all the officials along the northwestern front – and might even expose errors in the pre-battle planning of this very campaign.
If that happened, the triumphant victory in the northwest would instantly be overturned.
Inspector Zhao stroked his beard in silence, his expression dark and heavy.
With a sharp crash, a celadon bowl shattered on the ground, fragments and tea splashing across the mottled, timeworn blue-brick floor.
“Restore my name? Do you take me for a fool?”
Fang Zhonghe slammed the table and shouted, his face dark with fury.
“…Can my innocence be returned? If they truly meant to clear my name, they should have driven that brat out, locked him in prison! Put him before military law!”
Still seething, he flipped the table with one hand, stood, and began pacing back and forth.
Several close attendants hurried to soothe him with caution.
“Zhao Cheng, that good-for-nothing – didn’t I always know he couldn’t stand the sight of me? Afraid I’d take his place, so he seized this chance to come after me, didn’t he?” Fang Zhonghe shouted, waving his hand furiously.
“My lord, my lord – it’s said it was that Sixth Son of the Zhou family in Shan-zhou who made the connection, acted as go-between,” one attendant hurried to explain.
Fang Zhonghe stopped in his tracks.
“Zhou family’s Sixth Son?” he muttered, frowning as he recalled. “That brat! Of course – it was him. He went to see the inspector that day…”
He looked around at the people in the room.
“Does he have a grudge against me?”
“He doesn’t bear a grudge against you, my lord – likely he has kinship with the other side,” another attendant replied.
There is never kinship or enmity without cause.
Fang Zhonghe narrowed his eyes in thought.
“The inspector once said the reason he sent reinforcements was because of this Zhou brat’s warning… I thought he did it for my sake… Now it seems – could it have been for those dead wretches instead?”
“My lord, that no longer matters now. The inspector has taken an interest in this case -things may turn ill,” an attendant reminded.
“Perhaps you should go see the inspector?” another suggested.
Fang Zhonghe let out a cold laugh.
“Why should I see him? To look guilty?” he said, pacing a few steps before stopping. “If someone can pass him a message, can’t I have someone pass mine as well?”
…
“My lord, Commissioner Jiang requests your presence.” Someone hurried in to report.
Commissioner Jiang?
A whole day had passed, and Zhao Cheng – still mulling over how to handle the matter – was taken aback.
With the Northwestern Military Commissioner’s post temporarily vacant, Jiang Wenyuan served as Deputy Military Commissioner. Although there was also the court-appointed Inspector Zhou Fengxiang, in the northwest Jiang Wenyuan was, in truth, the real authority.
Hearing that he had summoned him, Zhao Cheng dared not delay. He rose quickly and went over. The moment he entered the room, he saw Fang Zhonghe standing inside. Zhao Cheng’s heart gave a jolt – he instantly understood, and at the same time, a flicker of annoyance welled up.
No commander liked being bypassed by a subordinate’s direct complaint.
And for Fang Zhonghe to claim he had nothing to hide – who would believe that?
After some inquiries about military and administrative affairs, Jiang Wenyuan shifted the conversation toward the rumors currently spreading.
“The great war has only just ended. The northwest still faces many pressing matters. These trifling side issues are not proper business – better not to waste too much thought on them,” he said slowly, setting down the teacup in his hand.
Zhao Cheng bent forward in salute and answered, “Yes.” Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Fang Zhonghe wearing a smug smile.
“But, my lord,” Zhao Cheng raised his head again and said, “if we leave Fan Jianglin’s words uninvestigated, I fear it may unsettle people’s hearts.”
That bastard – was he doing this on purpose? Commissioner Jiang had already made himself perfectly clear, yet Zhao Cheng still dared bring it up!
Fang Zhonghe’s face darkened; he couldn’t help but step forward.
“Inspector, what do you mean by that? Are you suspecting me?” he snapped, showing no politeness.
After all, he would soon be appointed village magistrate, no longer a minor under this inspector’s watch. With Jiang Wenyuan as his backing – what was there to fear?
“I am thinking of Master Fang’s innocence,” Inspector Zhao said.
“My innocence? My innocence is about to be-” Fang Zhonghe glared, grinding his teeth.
“Enough. Master Fang’s innocence needs no proving. As for those few men – their hands were never clean,” Jiang Wenyuan cut them off, speaking directly as he rose to his feet.
At those words, both Zhao Cheng and Fang Zhonghe froze, staring at Jiang Wenyuan in surprise.
Could it be that he also knew these men?
Were those lowly soldiers actually… that notorious?
“They once caused trouble before, even killed a superior officer. This time, they returned only because they were given the chance to atone for their crimes through service,” Jiang Wenyuan said, a cold sneer forming in his heart.
So it was true – after stirring up storms in the capital, now they wanted to raise havoc here as well.
To demand recognition and reward? Utterly absurd! How shameless they were to even voice such things!
Who would have thought several of them would die this time – excellent. Better that such troublemakers were gone. And now, the two survivors still want to stir trouble? Last time they ruined his affairs; would they dare disrupt him again – before he had even secured his position?
“The words of such unruly soldiers cannot be trusted. If they will not heed gentle persuasion, then deal with them as you must. If unrest spreads, that only shows you have failed to govern strictly,” Jiang Wenyuan said sternly.
Zhao Cheng and Fang Zhonghe both bowed in response, not daring to utter another word.
When Fan Jianglin and Xu Sigen came again to seek out Inspector Zhao for news, they were met with a closed door.
“My lord, my lord…” Fan Jianglin, leaning on his crutch, tried to rush inside.
Xu Sigen reached out and held him back.
“Brother, let it go,” he said, glancing up at the lofty government hall with a knowing, bitter smile. “It’s useless now.”
Fan Jianglin bit down hard, staring at the hall.
“I’m useless…” he murmured.
Useless… They were nothing more than ants – what use could they possibly have in the eyes of these grand officials behind their gates?
“It’s not that we are useless,” Xu Sigen said. “It’s they who are useless!”
With that, he took Fan Jianglin by the arm.
“Brother, let’s go.” He turned and walked away without looking back.
…
“Liu-lang, what are you doing!”
The man reached out but failed to catch Zhou Liu-lang.
The young man charged straight toward the government hall like a stubborn calf.
“That brat!” The man stomped his foot and hurried after him, this time managing to seize him.
By now, they were already outside the hall. From within came the sounds of laughter and conversation – clearly the place was full of gathered officials.
“If they were still alive, perhaps it would be worth asking. But now those few are already dead. No one will pursue the living on behalf of the dead! Don’t be childish and make a scene!” the man whispered urgently.
Zhou Liu-lang stared at the hall.
“Someone will,” he said. “I will. And she will too.”
She? Who?
The man froze in surprise, and in that instant Zhou Liu-lang had already broken free and stepped into the hall.
The chatter and laughter inside the hall stopped at once.
Outside, the man stomped his foot in frustration and had no choice but to follow him in.
In the main hall sat more than a dozen military officers. Today’s banquet had been set for those who had received official appointments and rewards for their merit in the battle.
Now, seeing the young man standing stiff-necked in the middle of the hall, Fang Zhonghe’s face was full of mockery.
“That’s right, I said it,” Jiang Wenyuan looked calmly at Zhou Liu-lang and said. “Is there a problem?”
“My lord, did you investigate it?” Zhou Liu-lang asked.
Jiang Wenyuan laughed as he looked at the hot-blooded young man before him.
“There’s no need to investigate,” he said, rising to his feet and lifting his hand. “I believe my men were brave and unflinching in the face of death, pure and upright – just as I believe you here are merely hot-headed and stirred up by others.”
“Sir, Liu-lang truly is like that. He has been terribly rude,” an elder of the Zhou family quickly stepped forward to apologize, glaring fiercely at Zhou Liu-lang. In a low voice meant for his ears alone, he added, “Don’t forget you bear the Zhou name. Cause trouble again, and I’ll send you back to the capital.”
Zhou Liu-lang clenched his fists, jaw tight, his face taut with frustration.
“My lord, this matter actually harms no one. They were not trying to steal credit from anyone, only asking for recognition. Just one small reward for merit – that would be enough. No need for money, just an official acknowledgment of honor.” He stepped forward, lowered his head, and spoke softly at Jiang Wenyuan’s side. “For you, my lord, this would be an easy thing.”
Yes, it would be easy – but why should he do it?
Would a man choose to make himself uncomfortable instead of living well?
Jiang Wenyuan gave a faint smile.
“How could military affairs be treated like a child’s game?” he said. “Every battle brings its casualties. You must learn to grow accustomed to it. If you cannot, then it’s best you return home.”
The Zhou family members could no longer hold back; they hurried forward, seizing Zhou Liu-lang while glaring fiercely at him, all the while apologizing to Jiang Wenyuan.
Jiang Wenyuan paid them no further attention. Smiling, he turned to greet the silent officers present.
“Come, come, let us first see off those who are departing for their posts. If there is anything else, we can discuss it later.” He laughed as he stepped forward.
At once, the hall grew lively again. Everyone began chatting and laughing, crowding around Jiang Wenyuan as they moved outside. Fang Zhonghe, with a trace of smugness, deliberately swayed past Zhou Liu-lang’s side.
“Master Jiang,” Zhou Liu-lang called out again, ignoring the furious glare of the man beside him as he turned around.
At the doorway, Jiang Wenyuan stopped, and naturally the others also halted.
“Master Jiang,” Zhou Liu-lang said, “don’t regret it.”
So that was all – just a childish outburst, a laughable threat from a hot-blooded youth.
Jiang Wenyuan smiled, did not look back, and simply lifted his foot to continue on. The crowd bustled after him, noisy and lively as they left the hall.
Fang Zhonghe’s steps, however, faltered slightly.
Don’t regret it…
That phrase again.
He turned his head, looking back at the young man still standing inside the hall. The dim, uneven light blurred his features, leaving only the sight of his sturdy figure standing tall and rigid.
Don’t regret it, don’t regret it.
You’re the one who will regret it – offending Master Jiang. Let’s see how you manage to survive here then!
Fang Zhonghe curled his lip, then lifted his foot and followed the others out.
