Chapter 130: Passing On

The sky hung low, snowflakes drifting down from time to time. Over a hundred new graves had risen on the wasteland in Tongcheng's southern outskirts. The sound of soul-summoning bells echoed across the open fields, and countless paper spirit-money danced in the wind through the air.

Several dozen common folk were shoveling earth into two large pits. Buried inside were all Roving Bandits or servants. If it were up to everyone's wishes, leaving their corpses to rot in the wild would be best — but this place was too close to the city. No one dared let them decompose, so they had to laboriously lay them to rest in the ground.

Near Wuyin Temple, rows of bodies lay arranged in order — all commoners killed outside the city. Many people moved about nearby, trying to identify whether any were their own family or friends. One after another, people made confirmations, and from that area came bursts of heart-rending wailing. Those whose emotions had already settled found door planks and the like, transporting the corpses to various villages for burial.

Pang Yu stood by the banks of Tong Stream, watching a group of commoners use bamboo poles with rope loops to drag out bodies left behind in the river. Many of the corpses were bloated and swollen, their skin bleached white from soaking, already beginning to rot.

Pang Yu had demanded that the Community Soldiers must bury the river corpses deep, strictly guarding against any outbreak of plague. Today he had also specially dispatched some Foot Runners out of the city to inspect the damage along the Official Road. The more onerous tasks of dealing with the aftermath had yet to begin.

From behind came He Xianya's voice. "Squad Leader, the Zhuang Squad lost seventy-three killed in action. Five Squad Leaders died, one Zhong Dui Zhang died. Twenty-one missing, including two Squad Leaders. Thirty-three wounded, three of them severe. Those three severe cases likely won't make it either — they'll hold on two or three days at most."

"What of those Family Dependents?"

"Every family is deep in grief. Most have transported the bodies back to their villages. Over ten households haven't left yet — they want the county yamen to provide Relief Silver. As for the others, those without deaths or injuries, their families are all urging them to return to their villages. Especially those from far away — their villages weren't touched by the Roving Bandits this time. Only the ones who joined the Guards in their village died. They all say this posting isn't worth it. Already over ten Guards have asked to leave."

"It is somewhat not worth it." Pang Yu looked down at the ground, bent over, and picked up a piece of red cloth at his feet. On it was a character: Zhuang. It must have been lost by some Guard by the river during the night raid. He held it in his hand and gently rubbed it.

He Xianya did not know what to say and could only stand waiting at the side.

"What of the Fast Squad?"

"The Fast Squad lost nineteen killed in action — among them six mounted runners. Three missing. Twelve wounded, including one severe. Additionally, the mounted runners sent to the south side have not yet returned. At present, only three mounted runners in the yamen are usable."

"Have all three mounted runners been dispatched?"

"All have gone out. Official Yang sent one to Anqing Prefecture to deliver the Detailed Report on the city defense. Of the other two, one went to the Qianshan County Boundary, and one went to Lujiang. The one who went to Lujiang has just returned."

"Are there any follow-up Roving Bandits to the north?"

"None have been discovered, it's just that Lujiang County seat..."

"What of Lujiang County seat?"

"The houses inside the city are utterly destroyed. Not one in ten of the common folk remain. In the streets and alleys, many corpses lie uncollected and unburied. The stench of death has begun to rise in the city. Too many women threw themselves into the wells to die — all the wells are so clogged you can't even lower a bucket. He had to go one li outside the city before he found a well to drink from."

He Xianya lifted his eyes for a glance. Pang Yu's expression was blank. He only responded flatly, "A bit tragic."

He Xianya was about to continue when he heard Pang Yu speak again. "If everyone refused to serve as a Guard, if everyone thought only of avoiding it, this is how it ends in the end. In the final reckoning, I wonder if it's worth it or not."

"The Squad Leader is right. Even for those far from the city — preserved this time, they may not be so next time."

Pang Yu stood up, tucked that piece of red cloth into his bosom, and asked again, "How many dead and wounded among the commoners inside the city?"

"On the Community Soldiers' side, over fifty killed in action. Inside the city, commoners dead and wounded by stray arrows and fire total over three hundred and thirty — the full city count isn't complete yet. That also includes the two Westerners beaten to death by commoners..."

Pang Yu waved his hand, and He Xianya stopped. His eyes were red and swollen. Pang Yu had assigned him to tally the battle losses. The work was extremely complicated, and Pang Yu had not pressed him. He Xianya felt utterly exhausted too, but he could rarely fall asleep, so he spent all his time on the tallying. The rough figures were already in — how many the Roving Bandits had lost on their side, however, he had not yet finished counting.

Pang Yu paused a moment, then said, "I heard from Mr. Sun that Roving Bandit ears can count toward military merit. Go give the order once more — cut off the ears before you bury them."

He Xianya answered in a low voice, gave a slight bow, and withdrew.

Pang Yu looked toward Wuyin Temple. There, among the expanse of new graves, was the figure of a woman. She stood alone in the early spring's cold wind, her silhouette from behind appearing lonely and desolate.

After a moment's hesitation, Pang Yu stepped forward and walked that way. His pace was very slow. It took a long time before he came up behind the woman.

Zhou Yueru's clothes were filthy and tattered, her hair a tangled mess. Her hair bun had completely come apart, and she had not tidied it.

Before Zhou Yongtian's grave were laid some three sacrificial animals, sugar figurines, and fruit — none in great quantity. Even this little bit cost three or four taels of silver, because in these two days there had been too many burials. With no supply replenishment in the city, everything was rising in price. The stock of the three coffin shops had been swept clean. After the city gates opened, many people busied themselves going to Longmian Mountain to fell timber and sell it to those coffin shops. As soon as a coffin was made, it was sold — and still supply could not meet demand.

There was no stone tombstone before the grave either. Zhou Yueru had made one from a wooden plank and written Zhou Yongtian's name on it herself, just to mark the place for now.

"I have already found a mason. After noon, he will start by making a tombstone for your father."

Zhou Yueru gave a soft "Mm," neither thanking him nor refusing.

Pang Yu coughed once, then said quietly, "That night of the raid, that old servant of your family was asleep. Your father woke and went out alone. He got into a dispute with the neighbors and a fight broke out... It was all the Roving Bandits' doing — the harm they caused."

Zhou Yueru's shoulders trembled faintly. She fought hard to hold back her sobs. That day, after fleeing the Roving Bandits, she had gone west into the mountains. Together with others who had also fled into the mountains, they seized food at the mountain villas of the great households, then pressed deeper into the mountains. Every day, people went out to scout. They hid until the Roving Bandits left, and only then did they descend Longmian Mountain.

On the road, they learned that Tongcheng had held out. Everyone was overjoyed. When she returned home full of hope, she found Zhou Yongtian's body — yet he had not died at the hands of the Roving Bandits.

For a moment, Pang Yu did not know what to say either. In his heart, he had in fact never suspected Zhou Yongtian. The Zhou Family's livelihood was here. Zhou Yueru drew a monthly wage of three taels — a high income at this time. There was not the slightest reason to help the Roving Bandits.

As for old hometown ties and such, they naturally carried no weight in the face of self-interest. That was why the Village Elder had agreed to let Zhou Yongtian transport supplies, and Zhou Yongtian had worked with great zeal. The Village Elder only forbade him from going up onto the City Wall and from going out at night — in truth, to let him avoid suspicion.

That day, when Zhou Yongtian went out at night and suddenly started a fight after exchanging words with that Zhang Daiwen, over a hundred neighbors and Community Soldiers were present. Most had taken part in the mob beating. Pang Yu had no way at all to arrest the killers. The public mood at the time — the commoners' hatred of the Roving Bandits — would not permit him to seek justice for a Westerner either. He could not even arrest Zhang Daiwen, because Zhou Yongtian had frightened him off and he had not joined the mob beating at all. Moreover, Zhou Yongtian had struck first. No clause of any law could be applied to Zhang Daiwen. Zhou Yongtian's murder case could only be left unresolved like this.

The two stood silently before the grave. All around, the ringing of soul-summoning bells continued unbroken. From time to time, paper spirit-money drifted past before them.

After a long while, Zhou Yueru finally said softly, "I heard someone say that he was afraid I would come home late at night and be unable to get in, and wanted to wait for me at the door."

Pang Yu knew that at this moment she did not need conversation — only a listener. He remained silent, making no sound.

"In past years, back in Shaanxi, he always loved to quarrel and fight with people. Later, relatives said business in Shaanxi was hard to do, and we followed them south. He still had that temper — flying into disputes at the slightest provocation. Being outsiders, we were never on good terms with the neighbors because of it." Zhou Yueru paused a moment, then said, "But still, he shouldn't have met such an end. He even helped carry stones up to the city wall for two days."

At this, Zhou Yueru shook her head. For a moment, tears fell like rain, yet she still did not cry out loud.

Pang Yu sighed and reached out to pat her shoulder gently twice.

From behind came a ringing of bells, and a voice spoke. "This young lady — the dead cannot return to life. All mortals suffer. Departing the world, one walks ten thousand paths, but to walk the right one is great Fu Bao. On the Wang Sheng Knowledge Lu, one needs a guide. This humble Daoist inherits the secret teachings of our own sect, not passed on to outsiders, specifically to point out the road at the time of passing. Whether one is reborn into Tian Jie or first meets the Ming Si — among those ten thousand paths, there is one path. If your relative here walks it correctly, then Yu Huang Tian Zun himself will come to receive and guide him. Henceforth he will dwell in Tian Jie, escaping the suffering of Lun Hui. It is just that Chao Du consumes tremendous magical power, so the silver required is somewhat more. But as a child..."

Pang Yu turned his head to look. It was actually Wang Ren. He had brought out that original set of props and had the appearance of a Daoist sage full of otherworldly grace.

The moment Wang Ren saw that the one turning around was Pang Yu, he hastily shut his mouth and moved to leave. But then he turned back and said, "As a child, doing one's utmost is enough. This young lady is clearly one with a kind face and a good heart. Your friend or relative must surely have accumulated ample Fu Bao. He was originally destined for Tian Jie — there is no need for Chao Du. This humble Daoist has matters to attend to. Young lady, please restrain your grief."

He finished speaking and turned to leave. Pang Yu said, "Wait."

Wang Ren dropped to his knees with a thud and begged for mercy. "Squad Leader, spare me. This humble Daoist saw that there is too much Chao Du in the city — the monks and Daoists are all too busy to handle it. This humble Daoist wasn't going to take any money."

"Very well, then. You will perform some rites free of charge. Conduct Chao Du for all those corpses no one has claimed."

"This..."

"Make it a grand affair — let everyone see it. If you need to buy anything, ask Liu Shopkeeper to advance the payment first."

Wang Ren agreed with a miserable face and trudged toward the city, head drooping, to find Liu Shopkeeper. That Daoist sage's otherworldly grace had also vanished without a trace.

With this interruption, Zhou Yueru stopped weeping as well.

After a moment, she spoke. "How is Sun Tianxiu?"

"I only finished the city affairs today. Once the bodies in the river are all retrieved, I will go to South Pond Neighborhood to see her. Do you want to come along?"

Zhou Yueru turned her head and looked at Pang Yu. "Always waiting until the work is done before remembering this girl. You don't truly hold her in your heart."

Pang Yu listened with his head lowered and did not refute it.

She turned her head back after speaking. "You go. I dare not go. If... whether good or ill, don't tell me. In any case, in days to come I will be far from Tongcheng. I won't see her either way. I will simply pretend she is still living there."

Pang Yu said softly, "Miss Zhou, you saw that notice. His Honor isn't insisting on driving the Westerners away — he's only trying to calm the mood in the city."

"The notice states it plainly: His Honor wants the Westerners to leave on their own within one month."

"His Honor worries that host and guest will grow suspicious of each other, and if later any life is lost, no matter whose, it would be a tragedy — that's why he issued the notice. But if a reliable person vouches for you, you may also stay." Pang Yu looked at Zhou Yueru. "I can go to the county yamen and stand as guarantor. You don't have to go."

"Stay for what? To keep living in the same neighborhood as the men who beat my father to death?"

Pang Yu sighed softly. "I could find you another place to live."

"No need. In the end it's still the same town — you run into them coming and going." Zhou Yueru met Pang Yu's gaze. "I'm the only one left now. Once the seven weeks of mourning are over, wherever is quiet, that's where I'll go."

Just then Pang Ding came over from the riverbank and said, "Young master, all the bodies have been pulled from the water. The pit over there is dug too. Scholar Wang says to ask you to come see whether it's deep enough, and how the lime should be spread."

Pang Yu nodded, then said to Zhou Yueru in a low voice, "Miss Zhou, please restrain your grief."

With that he hurried off. So many bodies had been recovered from the river that one pit could not hold them all; in all, three large pits were dug. The corpses were covered with lime and buried deep.

When the time came to begin filling in the earth, Pang Yu made his apologies to Wang Wenyao and set out for South Pond Neighborhood with Pang Ding. Both rode horses — these two horses had been borrowed from Yang Erming's groom. Pang Yu's own mount had long since been given to the mounted Runners.

The road was a scene of devastation everywhere. Every village was nothing but broken walls and ruins. Although Pang Yu had already learned the general situation from the Runners he had sent out, seeing it with his own eyes still shocked him to the core.

Scattered snowflakes drifted through the sky. Beneath the overcast heavens, all things lay bleak and desolate. The closer Pang Yu drew to South Pond Neighborhood, the heavier his heart grew.

At last he reached the Sun family's village. Outside the village he could see people summoning the souls of the dead and burning spirit paper. Pang Yu dismounted and walked slowly through the village. The village dogs that used to block the road were nowhere to be seen. Everywhere in the village were broken walls and ruins.

When he reached the gate of the Sun family's courtyard, the gate leaves stood wide open. On the door leaf hung a bunch of wildflowers, already somewhat withered, still swaying gently in the wind. Pang Yu stepped carefully into the courtyard.

The Sun family's tumbledown thatched house had been reduced to ashes. The rammed-earth walls had been scorched black by the great fire. Even the grass and trees in the corner had been consumed by the blaze.

Pang Yu slowly approached that heap of burned wreckage. Beneath a charred roof beam was pinned a small outstretched hand. In the hand was still clutched a shoe, half burned away. On the toe of the shoe was a large embroidered character: Fortune.

…

Two days later, several people stood before three grave mounds. The other villagers who had come to pay their respects departed one after another.

Before the graves were laid offerings of meat and candy. In a pile of ash, remnants of spirit money still burned.

Though it was early spring, snowflakes danced through the air. A cold wind blew, and the paper streamers summoning the souls atop the graves stirred faintly. Black paper ash scattered on the wind in all directions.

Of the three grave mounds, two belonged to Sun Tianxiu's parents. The one on the far right was Sun Tianxiu's. On the headstone were carved only three characters: Sun Tianxiu.

Pang Yu had hired someone to carve headstones for all three graves — a considerable sum of money in the countryside.

Her uncle, bringing Sun Tianxiu's two younger brothers, wanted to kowtow to Pang Yu. Both younger brothers kept their heads lowered, their expressions somewhat dull and dazed.

Pang Yu waved his hand, looked at him, and said, "These two little ones — if it's inconvenient for your clan, you may entrust them to me."

"The clan elder has already spoken. The clan will raise them. We won't trouble Lord Pang."

Pang Yu gave an assenting murmur and said, "If trouble comes, seek me in the city. You should all head back first. I will stay a while longer."

Her uncle nodded silently, brought the two children to kneel before Pang Yu, and kowtowed three times in succession. After rising, he headed back toward the village first.

Before the graves, only Pang Yu and Pang Ding remained.

Pang Ding looked at the grave mound and asked, "Young master, why did you only write her name?"

"I couldn't think of anything else to write."

Pang Ding stole two glances at Pang Yu, then quietly tried to console him. "That little girl met a good man like you, young master. At least while she lived, she kept her home. She must have been happy. You can only blame the Roving Bandits."

"Do you really think your young master is a good man?"

Pang Ding hesitated a moment, then said, "That depends on who you compare him to. If a monk of great virtue is a good man, then young master definitely doesn't qualify. If you compare him to the Roving Bandits, then young master qualifies."

Pang Yu laughed in spite of himself. "So your young master is that unappreciated — only a little better than Roving Bandits. When all is said and done, still a bad man."

"Huang Wending, Wang Guohua, Liu Xiucai, Fang Rural Official, and the Roving Bandits — they all surely think you're a bad man. Aunt Liu might well think so too. But Sun Tianxiu surely thought young master was a good man."

"Sun Tianxiu? I only met her four times. I helped her get her fields back, gave her a little silver, dealt with the Village Chief and the Tax Register Clerk. I thought I had saved that family. But in the end, the Sun family still perished and its home was destroyed. The value of the help I gave her was far less than any single transaction I made with anyone else." Pang Yu gazed at that small grave mound. "So Zhou Yueru was right. I never truly took Sun Tianxiu to heart. Because to me, she lacked practical value. Yet what she gave in return — that was the most valuable thing of all."

"Young master, I don't understand what you're saying."

"Because with those people it was transaction. With her it was sincere repayment." Pang Yu drew a breath of icy air. "Among my colleagues in the yamen, the Zhuang Squad and Fast Squad, my superiors, the helpers at Bai Shun Tang, the neighbors — I fear few think your young master is a good man. Even our father may not think so. Ever since he found out I opened Bai Shun Tang, he hasn't spoken to me for a long time. Zhou Yueru may not see me as a good man either. I'm afraid it truly was only Sun Tianxiu."

"Young master, being a good man is something you do for yourself, something you do for Heaven to see. If you do it for people to see… there are too many people. There have always been those who speak well and those who speak ill — no one is spoken well of by everyone. Heaven is only one. Doing it for Heaven to see is more fitting."

Hearing this, Pang Yu turned his head and looked at Pang Ding. Suddenly he let out two loud laughs, laughing until he doubled over. Pang Ding was baffled by his laughter.

When Pang Yu finished laughing and straightened up, the corners of his eyes were a little moist.

He wiped the corners of his eyes, then pulled Pang Ding close. Pang Yu placed his hand on Pang Ding's shoulder and gazed into the distance. "There are many kinds of good men. Your young master can become a good man."

Pang Ding nodded as if he half-understood and said nothing more. In silence the two of them stepped onto the Official Road and walked toward Tongcheng.

Snowflakes drifted down in flurries, layer upon layer covering the earth's wounds. On the Official Road, deep cart ruts stretched endlessly toward the distance. Beneath the somber sky, the snow grew heavier. The howling north wind whipped the snowflakes about. Between heaven and earth, a vast expanse of gray.

Pang Yu kept his hand on Pang Ding's shoulder. The figures of master and servant slowly receded on the Official Road, gradually vanishing into the wind and snow swirling across the sky.

…

End of Volume One