Chapter 3: Revenge

The residents of Xinhui who had gone out of the city to pay their respects were now returning in a steady stream. Just as when they had left, the crowd made no sound; all that showed were the tear stains still wet upon their faces. Now and then, one could hear a sob or two.

No more paper money drifted down in the wind, and the offerings were gone from the procession. Most of the white mourning garments had been shed, yet the bleak, sorrowful solemnity had not diminished in the slightest. A faint breeze passed, and all heaven and earth seemed a dim, murky blur.

Watching the common folk return to the city, the runners all breathed a sigh of relief. As long as nothing had happened, all was well.

What they feared was not that the Ming army might come back, but that someone, grieving over dead kin, might stir up trouble against the Qing army.

Before leaving the city, County Magistrate Huang had warned them over and over: nothing must go wrong, or their posts would be at an end. Now that nothing had happened, the runners naturally relaxed.

Drawing grain at the county yamen was a good post, and none of them wanted to lose that rice bowl for nothing.

The city gate was nearly at hand, yet Huang Si still did not feel easy. He deliberately took a few runners and made another check front and back, and only after confirming that no one would cause trouble did he lead his men to the front.

As they neared the gate, they saw a squad of Qing soldiers escorting a mounted officer out of the city. Huang Si recognized the man at once: it was You Yunlong, Assistant Regional Commander under the Prince of Pingnan.

This You Yunlong was of noble standing, a genuine product of the Han Banners.

He had followed the Prince of Pingnan in Liaodong as early as the Taizong era, had even received praise from Emperor Taizong himself, and after marching south with the Prince of Pingnan in the fifth year of Shunzhi, he had cut down generals and seized banners all the way, leaping from a mere Company Commander to Assistant Regional Commander.

In the Prince of Pingnan's eyes, he was a man of great trust. In terms of closeness, Wu Jinzhong, Regional Commander of the Green Standard's right wing, who was also garrisoned at Xinhui, could not compare with You Yunlong.

That was why, when the old bandit army had besieged the city, the defending Qing forces had been led chiefly by You Yunlong, the Assistant Regional Commander, with Regional Commander Wu Jinzhong in support.

Where was Assistant Regional Commander You going, leaving the city?

Huang Si muttered under his breath. How could a lowly man like him dare ask about the affairs of a Han Banner Assistant Regional Commander?

He was just wondering whether to go into the city and report to the magistrate when he saw County Magistrate Huang, with the Assistant Magistrate and a clerk, hurrying out of the city gate at a quick step.

Having trotted all the way from the county yamen, Huang Zhizheng was thoroughly worn out. But if he could persuade Assistant Regional Commander You to speak to the Prince of Pingnan and have Xinhui's taxes remitted for three years, then all his hardship would be worth it.

The moment he heard that You Yunlong was returning to Guangzhou to pay his respects to the Prince of Pingnan, he had rushed over, afraid that arriving late would delay the matter.

All along the road he had worried that You Yunlong had already left. Now, seeing that the man had not yet gone, Huang Zhizheng's heart leaped with joy and he breathed easier.

In three quick strides he reached You Yunlong's horse, and before he had even caught his breath, he bowed respectfully and stated his purpose.

You Yunlong, in the saddle, listened for a few moments, then nodded. Raising his riding crop, he said with evident sympathy, "Xinhui lies in ruins, and the people suffer bitterly.

I have seen it with my own eyes. Very well — since County Magistrate Huang is so devoted to the people, leave this matter of tax remission to me.

When I see the Prince, I will see your wish fulfilled. Otherwise, I would have no face to come to Xinhui again."

"Many thanks for the General's kindness. On behalf of the people of Xinhui, this humble official thanks the General for his great favor!"

Hearing You Yunlong agree, Huang Zhizheng was overjoyed at once. Seeing You Yunlong rein in his horse as if to leave, he hastily bowed and said, "This humble official bids the General farewell!"

You Yunlong laughed heartily and was about to spur his horse forward when he saw the common folk returning from their grave-sweeping already at the city gate.

Somehow, at the sight of those people, who looked as though their souls had left them, the bloodthirsty Assistant Regional Commander You, who killed without blinking, found himself, as if moved by some ghost, lowering his riding crop.

He did not move, only reined his horse to a standstill.

Huang Zhizheng saw this and understood the reason, but did not dare speak. He stood carefully to one side. You Yunlong's personal guards also stood in silence, and a few of them, looking at the common folk, showed clear traces of guilt in their eyes.

Under the gaze of the Qing soldiers, the returning commoners passed group after group into the city. On the wall and at the gate, no one spoke; the hush was suffocating.

Just as nearly all the commoners had entered the city, a young man dressed as a xiucai suddenly stepped out from the crowd and walked quickly straight toward You Yunlong.

His movement at once drew the attention of the Qing soldiers. The personal guards behind You Yunlong made as if to intercept him, but You Yunlong waved them back. In his view, to be so nervous about a xiucai who could not truss a chicken would be a laughingstock if word got out.

He watched the xiucai stumble straight toward him, looking from a distance as though in great urgency, as if some grave matter were afoot. You Yunlong was puzzled. After a moment's thought, he turned and asked Huang Zhizheng below his horse, "County Magistrate Huang, do you know this xiucai?"

Huang Zhizheng was also taken aback, not knowing what the xiucai was doing coming over. Hearing You Yunlong's question, he peered carefully, then said at once, "In reply to the General, this humble official knows the man.

He is Zhou Shixiang, a xiucai of this county." The Assistant Magistrate beside him also knew Zhou Shixiang and nodded to confirm it was indeed him.

Hearing that he was indeed a xiucai, You Yunlong was even more at ease. Pointing his riding crop at Zhou Shixiang, now close at hand, he called out, "What do you want, xiucai?"

No sooner had he spoken than Zhou Shixiang suddenly knelt down about a zhang away, then bowed his head and began kowtowing to him.

This sudden sight greatly surprised You Yunlong. For someone to come and kowtow to him in broad daylight truly piqued his curiosity. Puzzled, he dismounted, took a few steps forward with his riding crop, and asked the kneeling Zhou Shixiang, "What are you kowtowing to me for, xiucai?"

But Zhou Shixiang did not answer. Only after kowtowing heavily several more times did he raise his head and say slowly to You Yunlong, "In reply to the General: this student's father, mother, wife, and children are all in the General's belly.

The Cold Food Festival draws near, and this student has no place to make offerings. Seeing the General here, this student has come especially to bow.

If the General will not permit it, where is this student to bow?" With that, he kowtowed heavily several times more.

These words, coming from Zhou Shixiang's mouth, left You Yunlong's personal guards and Huang Zhizheng and the others stunned. You Yunlong's old face flushed red, full of shame and unbearable embarrassment.

As for whether this man's parents, wife, and children were truly in his belly, he dared not verify it no matter what. During the months of defending the city, he, You Yunlong, had eaten quite a few of Xinhui's common folk.

At night, he had not been free of waking from nightmares. Thinking of it now, he was indeed ashamed, and sorry toward the tens of thousands of people of Xinhui.

"You xiucai, you really... really..."

Ashamed and humiliated, You Yunlong could neither curse nor hold his tongue. In the end, he simply turned his head and ignored the scholar.

With so many people watching, Assistant Regional Commander You's skin was not truly that thick; he could hardly lower himself to argue with a sour scholar who had lost his parents, wife, and children.

He was just about to step away when he heard Zhou Shixiang call out again, "General, wait. Would you permit this student to come forward and say a word?"

"What is there for you and me to say?"

You Yunlong instinctively meant to refuse the scholar, but seeing the pleading look on the other's face, he sighed and said, "Very well, come forward. I will hear what you have to say."

He thought to himself that if this scholar had some difficulty and sought his help, he ought to help him a little. That would count as some small recompense.

"Many thanks, General!"

Zhou Shixiang rose at these words and walked up to You Yunlong. Bending slightly, he said without any change of expression, "General, what this student wishes to say is..."

He paused, then added with a trace of grief, "This student's father, mother, wife, and children all died by your hand. May this student ask the General: should this student take revenge?"

The words had barely fallen when a cleaver appeared in Zhou Shixiang's right hand, no one knew from where. The cleaver had long been tucked beneath the robe at his waist!

"You!"

The scholar suddenly drew a blade. In that abrupt turn, You Yunlong was horrified.

Before he could react, the cleaver in Zhou Shixiang's hand had already slashed viciously into his neck. So swift the motion, so great the force, so precise the aim, that even this hardened fighter who had traveled far and wide and killed countless men could not dodge.

With a "sizzle," the soft flesh of You Yunlong's neck was instantly cut more than half through. Red flesh gaped, and a spray of blood burst out.

The cleaver, driven with such force, lodged in the bone. But the vengeance-crazed Zhou Shixiang no longer looked anything like a scholar.

Gritting his teeth, he wrenched the cleaver up again with a violent effort. Before You Yunlong's scream could sound, the blade entered the neck once more.

This time, it cut clean through You Yunlong's neck. With a "gurgle," Assistant Regional Commander You's head, official cap and all, tumbled to the ground.

Everyone stared dumbfounded. You Yunlong's headless corpse, wreathed in blood mist, stood rigid and did not fall.

"Go!"

His blow landed, Zhou Shixiang did not hesitate. He snatched the saber from You Yunlong's corpse, kicked out, and sent the headless body sprawling.

Before You Yunlong's personal guards could react, he shot forward with lightning speed to You Yunlong's mount, leaped aboard with practiced ease, clamped his legs, and yanked hard on the reins. With a neigh, the horse bolted forward at full gallop.

"The General is dead! The General is dead!"

"Assassin! There's an assassin!"

"Quick, quick, stop him!"

"..."

Not until Zhou Shixiang, man and horse, had burst more than ten zhang away did You Yunlong's personal guards and the Qing soldiers at the gate come to their senses.

Shouting in alarm, they gave chase, but You Yunlong's mount was a fine Mongol horse, and Zhou Shixiang's horsemanship was superb. By the time they gave pursuit, Zhou Shixiang, man and horse, had long vanished from sight.

A single rider fled into the distance — where was there any catching him!

When the sudden catastrophe erupted, Huang Zhizheng had still been unaware. Only after You Yunlong's head hit the ground and Zhou Shixiang galloped away did he come back to himself. Staring blankly at You Yunlong's head on the ground, he muttered, "What is to be done, what is to be done!..."

The Assistant Magistrate behind him was also frightened witless, his body trembling uncontrollably, yet his mouth kept repeating, "How could Scholar Zhou be so fierce, how could he be so fierce..."

The clerk was so terrified he sat down hard on the ground, his teeth chattering, quite unable to speak. As for the common folk before the city gate, they too were all in a panic, and the gate area was thrown into utter chaos, driving the Qing soldiers to stamp their feet in frustration.

Author's note: The Prince of Pingnan is Shang Kexi. The Prince of Jingnan is Geng Jimao, son of Geng Zhongming.