Chapter 143: Story

In the Second Hall of the Tongcheng county yamen, the county magistrate — not yet fifteen in actual years — paced back and forth, his brow tightly furrowed, occasionally scratching the back of his head without thinking.

A voice from outside the hall said, "My lord."

Yang Erming looked up and saw Pang Yu enter. Without waiting for him to salute, he hurried forward a few steps. "Pang Squad Leader, you're finally back."

"Does my lord have orders to give?"

Yang Erming turned in a circle, agitated. "The Village Elders in the city have submitted a joint petition demanding that the yamen make the Westerners leave at once."

Pang Yu replied with slight surprise, "My lord already issued a proclamation telling those Westerners to leave on their own. Why are the Village Elders still harping on this?"

"These past two days, more Westerners have been beaten. Crowds keep gathering near the lodgings of the Westerners staying in various places. Yesterday, several Green-Skins robbed a Westerner household in broad daylight, and not a single neighbor in the surrounding streets lifted a finger to help. If this goes on, a major incident is bound to happen sooner or later. The Village Elders, pressured by public sentiment, are demanding that the yamen forcibly expel the Westerners from the county. What am I supposed to do?"

Pang Yu advised, "My lord could reason with the Village Elders. The Westerners are not bad people. Some of the Westerners in the city have been here for over ten years and have property and families here. Of the twenty-some Westerner households in the city this time, not a single one joined the bandits. Each family even helped transport bricks and stones, and seven households donated tung oil, cotton blankets, and silver. Their lives and livelihoods are here in Tongcheng — would they really welcome the Roving Bandits to break through the city, then follow the bandits into a life of roving with their entire families? If we truly force them to leave, these people will certainly harbor resentment, and it's very possible they might end up joining the bandits after all."

Yang Erming looked at Pang Yu in astonishment. "Pang Squad Leader, you even have statistics on this?"

"In reply to my lord, as long as this humble one has the time, I make a point of compiling such statistics — including the Roving Bandits killed or wounded below the city walls: how many died from stones, how many from Fire Thunder, how many from bows and arrows. On the city walls, how many died from short spears, how many from javelins, the average number of hits per person — this humble one has statistics for all of it. Descriptions are often inaccurate, but numbers do not lie. Only then can we know later how to improve our methods of city defense."

Yang Erming looked at Pang Yu oddly, unable to quite grasp it for the moment, and gave up trying to understand. He merely sighed and said, "This official naturally understands the reasoning regarding the Westerners. I had originally thought that once the Roving Bandits passed and the people's emotions settled, the matter would resolve itself. That is why I only issued a single proclamation — in truth, it was merely to calm the people's hearts. But now there are agitators in the city stirring things up, and the common people are in a furious uproar. It is no longer up to this official. If I insist on keeping those Westerners here, they will most likely end up dead at the hands of the Community Soldiers in the city, which would also be doing them harm."

Pang Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "If my lord has no other recourse, then set a deadline and order them to leave on their own. State clearly that if they do not leave, the Three Squads will be mobilized to expel them. Only, under no circumstances must the Community Soldiers be used — otherwise, those Westerners may never make it out the city gates."

"That is all we can do. And the Zhou family… does Pang Squad Leader still intend to vouch for her?"

Pang Yu lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "There is no need. The city is filled with hostility; staying may not be a good thing. This subordinate will arrange a destination for her on his own."

"In that case… let it be so." Yang Erming let out a long sigh. "When do you leave to take up the Donated Imperial Student status?"

Pang Yu raised his eyes slightly and glanced at Yang Erming. He had only told Yang Erming about the Donated Imperial Student matter because it required the county yamen to issue an official document — it could not be kept secret. But the possibility of entering the path of civil or military office was not something he could conveniently tell Yang Erming before it was settled. After all, Yang Erming was his direct superior. If he mentioned it and then it fell through, things would be awkward between them afterward.

"This subordinate plans to set out tomorrow, after arranging matters for the two squads."

"Once you enter the Imperial Academy, after you complete the required years, you can also become an official. It is, in the end, a formal status. Pang Squad Leader has the talent for it — you absolutely should go. Be careful on the road, and go quickly and return quickly. The affairs here in Tongcheng are troublesome and complicated enough."

Pang Yu could hear a certain reluctance in Yang Erming's words. Moreover, Yang Erming seemed not to fully understand that an Imperial Academy Student could directly purchase an official post — he still thought the Imperial Academy operated as it had in the past, requiring the completion of the full term of years. He was still rather naive. Pang Yu knew that this young county magistrate, facing the mess left behind by the Roving Bandits all alone, was indeed struggling. The boy's precociously grave and steady demeanor was no longer an act — it had been forced out of him by circumstance.

Pang Yu sighed inwardly. He said nothing more for the moment, saluted, and withdrew from the Second Hall. He followed the covered corridor to Tangqian Bridge. Just as he was about to cross, he suddenly heard someone mention Zhou Yongtian's name.

Pang Yu stopped. Several yamen runners were gathered in a circle by the Tong Stream, and in the middle of them was none other than Zhang Daiwen.

"Let me tell you, that day when Zhou Yongtian came out, I saw at a single glance that something was off about him. You ask what was off? His movements were furtive as hell — sneaking around, up to who knows what, about to set a fire somewhere. With me, Zhang Daiwen, here, could I let a Westerner ruin our Tongcheng? Without a second word, I went up and took him down in three moves, two moves."

One of the runners said, "If you took him down, how come he got beaten to death anyway?"

"Don't rush, listen while I tell it. Zhou Yongtian refused to accept it verbally, wanted to fight me again. Would I be afraid of him? So I let him go to fight again. The moment he reached out, he was going for a blade. I was about to use my bare-hand blade-disarming technique right then, just to stop him from hurting anyone — I had no intention of taking his life. But who could help it when public anger was roused? How could I alone hold back that many people?"

The several runners all flattered him: "Brother Zhang is mighty."

Another runner asked curiously, "What happened to that daughter of the Zhou family afterward? She served as an Auxiliary for Pang Squad Leader — aren't you afraid of Pang Squad Leader's anger?"

"So what if she was an Auxiliary?" Zhang Daiwen raised his head proudly. "When the Roving Bandits besieged the city, she vanished without a trace. The moment the bandits left, she came back. How could it be such a coincidence? She might fool others, but she can't fool me, Zhang Daiwen. This time, it's already out of consideration for Pang Squad Leader's face — otherwise, our neighborhood would have driven her out long ago."

That runner said mysteriously, "What I heard is that your neighborhood was afraid of alarming the Stick God and didn't dare drive her away."

Zhang Daiwen said, somewhat angered, "The Stick God is our Tongcheng's Stick God — he didn't come from Shaanxi, after all. There's no reason for him to protect a Westerner woman. If she leaves, she has to leave the Stick God behind. Our neighborhood wasn't afraid of alarming the Stick God at all — we just saw that she was a pitiable woman and let her stay a few more days, that's all."

"So Brother Zhang, how do you all plan to drive her away?"

Zhang Daiwen folded his arms smugly. "That shop of hers is rented. Our whole neighborhood went together to find the landlord. The landlord knows his family are Westerners — now he's not renting anymore. Where can she stay? Using this as a pretext to drive her out, even the Stick God can't blame us. And if she still won't go, then I'll just kick her door in with one foot… Aiya!"

It was Pang Yu, who had strode up behind Zhang Daiwen and kicked him violently in the backside. Zhang Daiwen, completely off guard, let out a cry of alarm and plunged into the waters of the Tong Stream beneath Tangqian Bridge.

The current in the stream was not swift. Zhang Daiwen flailed ceaselessly in the water, choking down several mouthfuls.

"Help!"

People around the Main Hall, hearing the cry, all ran over to look. The Tong Stream River passed through the county yamen's Main Hall, and people had often fallen into the water there in the past. The current here was not swift — normally, everyone would simply pull the person out together. But the several Jailers and runners standing around, upon seeing Pang Yu, actually dared not go to the rescue. The others, seeing that these few were not rescuing him, all stopped at the riverbank. The entire hall full of people stared blankly at Pang Yu, leaving Zhang Daiwen to flounder in the stream.

"Your granny's."

After cursing, Pang Yu did not even glance at Zhang Daiwen in the water. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked straight across the bridge and away.

……

"Young master, of this new batch of Guards who've come, the majority are still from Tongcheng. Only twenty percent are from Lujiang and Qianshan, and those are from places near the County Boundary. But they all have one thing in common — they're all along the Official Road. Every person who came this time has suffered losses in their family."

"They came full of fury." Pang Yu nodded. "That kind of soldier is good. You did well to record their native places — that's not bad. In the future, we can continue to categorize them further: their occupations before enlistment — Farmer, city dweller, Household Slave, miner, River Bandit, and so on — as well as age and the like. Based on their performance later, we'll know what kind of people are best to recruit. The recruiting has been done well. Tomorrow, your young master is going out. You stay and continue recruiting."

"We're almost at one hundred thirty. If we recruit more, we'll be full very soon."

"Never mind that. I still think it's too few. For now, keep them all under the designation of Auxiliary — don't put them directly into the Zhuang Squad. That Jiang Guoyong I told you to ask last time — has he given a reply?"

"He said he'll only come to the Zhuang Squad. If it's the Fast Squad, he absolutely won't go."

Pang Yu shook his head and laughed. "It was the Zhuang Squad we spoke of originally. With that temperament of his, if he went to the Fast Squad, he'd end up being driven out by people in the end anyway. Then let him stay in the Zhuang Squad."

Pang Ding observed Pang Yu's expression, then said, "Young master, you went out of your way to recruit him — should we give him a Team leader position or something?"

"Don't give him anything. Let him train together with the other Guards. No one who comes in is an exception. All positions will depend on training performance. We'll talk about it after I return and take a look."

Pang Ding still wanted to try to get himself sent to Nanjing, but seeing Pang Yu's cold expression, he swallowed his words back down.

"Go call Wang Ren in."

Pang Ding turned and went out the door. A moment later, Wang Ren entered.

Pang Yu leaned back in his chair and looked at Wang Ren, who had the appearance of an immortal sage. "Master Wang, what have you been doing lately?"

"Bai Shun Tang has had no business lately. This humble one… this humble one went back to telling fortunes for people. Didn't earn much silver. This humble one also helped that Zhou Guniang block some attacks, as a side matter."

"How did you go about it?"

"This humble one performed a ritual at her doorway and told the surrounding neighbors that if they alarmed the Stick God, every household living in that area would suffer disaster."

Pang Yu laughed in spite of himself. "That's a method too. Master Wang has put thought into it."

Wang Ren squeezed out an ingratiating smile onto his face, and his immortal-sage aura instantly vanished without a trace. "What I admire most is Dongjia. I know Dongjia cannot bear to see Zhou Guniang in distress. As subordinates, we should always handle the matters that Dongjia cannot get to."

"I am going out tomorrow. For the time I am away, I have a task to arrange for you."

"Dongjia, please instruct me."

"Polish up the story of how Ben Squad Leader quelled the Civil Unrest single-handedly and dealt the Roving Bandits a fierce blow. Turn it into a short, concise tale. Make a circuit through the several counties of Anqing and tell it to the common people. You must tell it in every single Village. Tell them that the Tongcheng Zhuang Squad is recruiting."

Wang Ren replied almost without thinking, "This humble one will certainly tell it well. However, this humble one has a thought here. Squad Leader's fierce blow against the Roving Bandits is only one part — brave as it is, the common people will hear it and then forget it. But the matter of Dongjia's Stick God Spirit Awakening and bringing a drowned woman back from death — that, the common people will hear and never forget."

Pang Yu furrowed his brow in thought, then laughed. "You should understand this matter better than I do. Tell it however you think is fitting. Bring a few people you think have the aptitude and have them follow you in handling this. I don't care how you make up the story. My requirement is that the common people everywhere in Anqing must know that an extraordinary figure has emerged from Tongcheng — that following this man to fight the Roving Bandits means victory, and following this man in doing things brings benefits."

Wang Ren did not know that Pang Yu wanted the military appointment in Anqing, but he knew Pang Yu was going to make a donation for the National University, which was probably for a civil official post.

He probed, "If Dongjia becomes an official in the future, he cannot serve in Anqing. Even if everyone in Anqing knew of Dongjia, it would be of little use, so…"

He glanced at Pang Yu, and only when he saw Pang Yu's expression remained calm did he continue, "Then making up stories is not difficult, but the profit is also small — I cannot see any benefit worth much money."

Pang Yu looked at Wang Ren for a long moment, then suddenly laughed. "The benefit doesn't have to be collecting silver right away. This is only the beginning. You'll see later — sometimes money itself is worthless. Making up stories is what's truly valuable."