Chapter 38: Lowly Petty Official, How Dare You Oppress the Scholar-Gentry?

He wore simple clothes, bore no jade pendants, arrived without an ox cart, showed no pickiness about the food, and devoured the few small dishes with relish...

These details had long been noticed by Liu Zhao.

So before Wang Yang borrowed three thousand coins, Liu Zhao had already concluded that Wang Yang’s family was extremely poor; thus, when Wang Yang first hinted at needing a loan last night, he lent it without hesitation, hoping to aid this gifted youth.

But now, barely a night had passed, and Wang Yang again claimed debt—this time for a much larger sum: thirteen thousand coins!

He held Wang Yang’s talent in high regard, even admired it, so he feared Wang Yang might have taken up some vicious habit.

Chupu was a popular form of gambling at the time, favored by both high officials and commoners alike. Playing a few rounds was harmless amusement, but there was a vast difference between occasional recreation and addictive obsession.

Wang Yang hurriedly said: “Of course not.”

Liu Zhao’s expression grew even more serious: “Then do you indulge in courtesans and brothel pleasures?”

“Where—no! When? I’ve never even seen one!”

“Could it be you take Five-Stone Powder, or study alchemy?”

At the time, alchemy and drug-taking were both extremely expensive hobbies, and some even squandered their entire fortunes on them.

“Five-Stone Powder? Even if someone gave it to me for free, I wouldn’t take it!” Wang Yang, seeing Liu Zhao’s guesses grow increasingly absurd, decided to be frank: “This money isn’t mine—I’m helping a friend.”

Seeing Wang Yang’s expression was genuine, Liu Zhao finally relaxed and said: “Fine, I’ll pay this sum!”

Wang Yang beamed: “Still, I’ll count this as a loan from you! I’ll repay it, I swear!”

“No need! As long as you finish ‘Zhixia,’ even a hundred thousand coins are trivial!”

Wang Yang bowed deeply to Liu Zhao: “I will repay this money—I thank you, Master, for saving my friend’s entire family!”

Liu Zhao also bowed deeply to Wang Yang: “Money is trivial; learning is paramount. I thank you, Zhiyan, for composing this work destined to endure!”

The old man and the youth bowed to each other, mutual respect and admiration filling the air—they felt blessed to have met.

Liu Zhao said: “Come, let us resume—we must finish the manuscript as soon as possible.”

Logically, Wang Yang had no reason to refuse at this point.

Du San’s repayment deadline was three days away, meaning Wang Yang still had half a day today and all of tomorrow. Since Liu Zhao had agreed to lend, there was no urgency.

But Wang Yang preferred caution: first, having money on hand meant peace of mind; second, Hei Han and A Wu were waiting anxiously at home—returning the money sooner would ease their worries; third, the book could be written anytime, a day or two made no difference, but repayment had a deadline—what if delays caused unforeseen trouble?

So Wang Yang politely declined Liu Zhao’s proposal and asked to deliver the money first, then return to write.

Liu Zhao reluctantly set aside his eagerness and ordered Yu Yuling to fetch the money for Wang Yang. Yu Yuling had long wished to study under Wang Yang but had lacked opportunity; now that he heard Wang Yang was leaving the city, he volunteered to accompany him.

Liu Zhao readily agreed—not because he feared Wang Yang would flee with the money, but to ensure Yu Yuling would urge him to return quickly. He also arranged his own ox cart for Wang Yang to ride.

The ox cart was a hallmark of that era.

The scholar-gentry of the Six Dynasties favored ox carts, believing their pace deliberate and steady, their demeanor refined, superior to horse-drawn carriages.

As Wang Yang sat inside the ox cart, he discussed scholarship with Yu Yuling, and inquired about the scholar clans of Jingzhou, local customs and traditions—feeling the ancient charm, as if on a journey.

At the entrance of Baying Village, Wang Yang told Yu Yuling to wait in the cart, then walked to Hei Han’s home with the money bag. Before entering, he sensed something wrong—the thatched hut’s door stood wide open, and inside came the desperate cries of father and daughter.

“Let go of my daughter! Let go of my daughter!”

“You bastards! The Young Master is coming soon—you’ll regret this!”

“Young Master? Fine! Let him come! Honestly, I’ve been missing him.”

“Who’s missing me?” Wang Yang stepped inside and saw Hei Han pinned to the ground by three men, veins bulging, face flushed, struggling and shouting: “Young Master! Save A Wu!”

Little A Wu was held aloft by a large man, flailing her tiny hands and kicking her feet—she had seemed fiercely brave until she saw Wang Yang, then burst into tears.

Wang Yang said coldly: “Let go.”

The four men holding them had all come with Du San. Previously terrified of Wang Yang, they now ignored his words, staring at him with open defiance.

Du San sat in the main room, smiling: “People are just like that—you think of them, and they appear. I was just thinking of you, and here you are.”

Wang Yang looked at Du San and sneered: “Du San’er, you show up before the deadline—your character is questionable.”

Hearing Wang Yang call him “Du San’er,” Du San flew into a rage:

“You’re dead already and still pretending? Let me tell you plainly—I’ve already checked: the Wang clan of Langya has no one else in Jingzhou except Wang Tai! Once you’re in jail, I’ll have plenty of time to play with you!”

He shouted loudly outside: “Tong Luozhu, arrest him!”

Three plain-clothed officers rushed in, saw Wang Yang’s cornered headband and white robe, standing tall and composed, and paused—this man’s attire clearly marked him as a scholar, unlike what Du San had described!

Du San, seasoned and sharp, instantly guessed the officers’ thoughts and said: “This fraud changed clothes to bluff—he’s the one!”

The lead officer steadied himself and said: “I am Luozhu of Baying Village, Jiangling County. Someone has accused you of impersonating a scholar-gentry and swindling people. Come with us.”

Luozhu was a village-level peace officer under the County Magistrate, responsible for maintaining order in peacetime and conscripting men in wartime. Though not a high official, he held real authority.

Tong Luozhu had originally prepared for “immediate arrest”—his men even had shackles ready. But seeing Wang Yang’s bearing and attire, he unconsciously softened his tone.

Time for another performance!

Wang Yang looked at Tong Luozhu, slowly smiled, then burst into loud laughter—as if witnessing something utterly hilarious.

Everyone was stunned, especially Tong Luozhu, who felt a creeping unease from the laughter.

But if he knew,

that the man laughing now felt even more terrified than he did, he would have no idea what to think.

Little A Wu had a sudden idea and cried: “Don’t you get it? Our Young Master is laughing at how stupid you are!”

Tong Luozhu’s doubts deepened.

“What are you waiting for? Arrest him!” Du San grew impatient and, disregarding Tong Luozhu’s dignity, barked orders.

Tong Luozhu dared not defy Du San. He gritted his teeth, waved his hand, and two officers advanced toward Wang Yang.

Wang Yang saw there was no time for pretense—he roared: “I am a son of the Langya Wang clan! You lowly, base officials—how dare you oppress a scholar-gentry? Do you truly wish to die?!”

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Note: The reasons for the Six Dynasties scholar-gentry’s preference for ox carts are complex, involving institutional, economic, and cultural factors. Liu Zenggui has argued that the ox cart symbolized “purity,” aligning with the Eastern Han’s Qingliu tradition—a view that is sound, yet often overlooked. See Liu Zenggui’s “Carriage Systems Between Han and Sui” and Sun Zhengjun’s “Manufacturing Scholar-Emperors: Ox Carts, White Gauze Caps, and the Jinxian Crown.”