Chapter 21: Exerting Oneself to Strive for Strength

The next morning, accompanied by the crowing of roosters all around, Pang Yu smoothly climbed out of bed. Ever since arriving in the Ming Dynasty, he had been going to sleep especially early at night. Nightlife was out of the question — after the night drum, there wasn't even a flame to be seen.

The Pang household had been financially strained lately, and his mother absolutely forbade lighting the lamp, so he had no choice but to go to bed early. His daily routine had become much more regular than before, and even his biological clock had begun to shift.

After getting up, he insisted on rinsing his mouth with salt water. In an era without toothpaste, this was considered a luxury, something only wealthy families could typically afford. Although Pang Yu was now penniless once again, he didn't feel he lacked money — what he lacked was simply big money.

The County Vice-Magistrate was in excellent spirits today. He had served in Tongcheng for three years and was the county's sole Assistant Official. The Ming Dynasty emphasized Mutual Checks Between Major and Minor, a principle significantly reflected in the county yamen. Though an Assistant Official was a deputy, he had his own independent system and was not a soft persimmon the County Magistrate could squeeze at will. Thus, Magistrate Gu still showed him considerable respect, delegating some lucrative areas to his management, and they got along reasonably well.

But over those three years, there were inevitably some discordant people and incidents. The somewhat petty County Vice-Magistrate had recorded quite a few enemies in his little notebook — all people who had shown him disrespect. Ranking first among them was the Document Receiving Office. Only because Magistrate Gu was in office had he endured in silence. Now, in this power vacuum — the old magistrate gone, the new one not yet arrived, and even the Acting Magistrate not yet in post — he could finally rule with an iron hand.

After rounding up all his enemies in one sweep the day before yesterday, the County Vice-Magistrate was in an extremely pleasant mood. Revenge was done, and next he should win people over. At the very least, the majority in the yamen had to stand on his side. Otherwise, if someone reported to Anqing Prefecture that the County Vice-Magistrate had used public office to settle private grudges, beating dozens of people with the plank in one go, and Anqing Prefecture came to investigate — though it wouldn't be a major problem, it would still mar the affair and cost him a considerable sum in smoothing-over fees.

If he were the County Magistrate, it would be different; everyone in the yamen would certainly side with him. But as it happened, he was merely the Acting Hall Officer. So at this juncture, Pang Yu's brilliant speech yesterday in the Corridor had played no small role.

Therefore, after the session opened, the County Vice-Magistrate was in no hurry to discuss business. Instead, he addressed the hall: "Is Pang Yu of the Runner Squad present?"

A buzz of discussion rippled through the crowd. The previous night, Pang Yu had already considered many possibilities and prepared for various scenarios. The County Vice-Magistrate calling his name at the very start of the session was the best outcome he had anticipated. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he hurried forward from the back and said, "This humble one is here!"

The County Vice-Magistrate sized Pang Yu up, then nodded. "Yesterday, outside the Ceremonial Gate, you spoke of matters within the yamen. This official has heard some of it. Though your words were honest, this official acts only with a clear conscience. In the future, there is no need to stir up such a commotion. Whatever people say, let them say it."

"Your Honor sees clearly. What this humble one spoke were words from the heart. Your Honor's punishment of them was merely the surface; the deeper meaning behind it, I fear they have yet to grasp. This humble one, in a moment of urgency, blurted it out. Last night, upon returning home and pondering it repeatedly, I thought yet another layer deeper, and only then realized that Your Honor's punishment of them was not only deeply meaningful but also entirely well-intentioned. If I did not speak it aloud, this humble one's heart would feel blocked."

The County Vice-Magistrate had originally only called Pang Yu forward to use a word of advice for him as a way of signaling his stance. Given that he had also heard yesterday that Pang Yu's intelligence might not be high, he had not planned to let Pang Yu speak. But now, hearing the words "well-intentioned," he asked with slight surprise, "Oh? And what deeper meaning have you pondered? You may tell this official."

Having secured the chance to speak, Pang Yu considered his wording, then raised his head and said loudly: "The world always thinks that striking and scolding are bad things — that one is punishing and harming them. This is a shortsighted view. One must know that all parents have struck their children — is that harming them? No, it is hoping their sons become dragons and their daughters become phoenixes. The matters Your Honor dealt with that day follow the same principle; every one was impartial enforcement of the law. In this humble one's view, this was not harming them, but helping them — helping them recognize their errors, turn back from the lost path, and rein in at the cliff's edge. Your Honor's purpose was to learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones, to cure the sickness and save the patient."

The County Vice-Magistrate, upon hearing the last phrases, involuntarily revealed an expression of appreciation and nodded repeatedly. "Mm, mm, well said."

"All those who harbor resentment toward the County Vice-Magistrate have failed to fully reflect. They do not understand that a thousand-li dike collapses from an ant hole — every great evil accumulates day by day from small evils. Had Your Honor not helped correct them, they would inevitably have strayed further and further down the wrong path. And Your Honor, precisely at this moment, delivered a blow to the head and poured enlightenment upon them. Those who still possess the root of wisdom will return to the proper path and ought to be overwhelmed with gratitude toward Your Honor. This humble one boldly speculates that Your Honor, well-read in the books of sages and broad of heart, will surely also accept those who have reformed and begun anew, treating all equally, so that together we may serve the court and become pillars of our Ming Dynasty. This humble one dares to declare today: decades hence, those punished the day before will absolutely say, 'Were it not for the County Vice-Magistrate's painstaking efforts back then, how could we have today's blessings?' This humble one has merely spoken it out for them a little ahead of time. If this is not Your Honor's good intention, then what is it? This humble one has spoken what is in his heart and is finally at ease."

Discussion buzzed throughout the hall. After all, only a portion of the people had witnessed yesterday's events. Today, all the yamen staff were present, and everyone was astonished that Er Shazi could produce such an outstanding piece of flattery, portraying the County Vice-Magistrate's personal vengeance as even more benevolent than a mother's love.

Wang Dazhuang's expression, however, was somewhat unsightly. He had thought that Pang the Second Fool had merely gotten lucky yesterday to say those words. Who knew that today he would go even further, actually flattering the County Vice-Magistrate so lavishly, and with such clear reasoning and eloquence. The small-shoes plan, it seemed, could only be postponed indefinitely.

The County Vice-Magistrate listened with narrowed eyes, nodding and murmuring "mm" continuously. At this point, he finally waved his hand. "This official feels some emotion today. I have heard that some call Pang Yu 'Er Shazi.' Today, this official must say: Pang Yu is clearly a man of Understanding. The words just spoken are indeed all too clear. That is not foolishness — it is great wisdom appearing as folly. Especially the phrase 'learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones' — it fully expresses this old man's painstaking intentions. Where is the Squad Leader of the Runner Squad?"

Wang Dazhuang, suddenly hearing his name, jolted to attention and stepped forward. "Your subordinate is here. Awaiting Your Honor's instructions."

"Ordinarily, what duties does the Runner Squad assign to Pang Yu?"

"Whenever there is something suitable, Pang Yu is arranged to handle it. Just yesterday, he was assigned to handle a He Mai matter for the Punishment Office." Wang Dazhuang finished speaking and secretly wiped a handful of sweat. Thank goodness he had swallowed his anger yesterday; today, the skies were clear and the seas calm.

How he wished Pang Yu would, as he had yesterday, add a "damn his granny." In that case, the County Vice-Magistrate would never entrust such a person with important tasks, lest he himself become a laughingstock. But today, Pang Yu simply did not say it.

He never imagined that a fool he had never taken seriously could put a dignified Squad Leader in such a passive position. He couldn't help but glance sideways at Pang Yu beside him. Pang Yu was also looking at him, with a hint of smugness in his eyes. At this moment, Wang Dazhuang feared most that Pang Yu would open his mouth and speak recklessly. He watched Pang Yu nervously, but Pang Yu did not interject.

The County Vice-Magistrate's right hand stroked his beard, gently caressing it, as if greatly enjoying the feel of the whiskers. "Mm, all routine affairs. Has his talent been fully utilized?"

Wang Dazhuang had just been feeling a sense of relief, but he was a petty man by nature. Recalling Pang Yu's smug expression moments ago, as if mocking him, he simply could not swallow this grievance. Even less willing to give Pang Yu a path upward, he ignored the hint in the County Vice-Magistrate's words and said loudly, "In reply to Your Honor, your subordinate once assigned Pang Yu to work in the Household Office. Because he could neither count nor read, and furthermore handled matters perfunctorily, he was returned by the Household Office. The other offices also refused to accept him. It is not that your subordinate denied him opportunities; it is truly that his abilities are limited."

The County Vice-Magistrate responded with a noncommittal "mm." Pang Yu raised his eyes to observe the County Vice-Magistrate's expression but detected no Displeasure. He understood that Wang Dazhuang's usual relationship with the County Vice-Magistrate must be acceptable; the County Vice-Magistrate would not fall out with Wang Dazhuang over a mere runner.

He could no longer remain silent. Pang Yu spoke: "Reporting to Your Honor, what Squad Leader Wang says is not false, but that was half a year ago. This humble one, spurred by the Squad Leader's encouragement, has over these six months exerted himself to strive for strength and has self-taught some modest skills to rely on. I wish to share more of Your Honor's burdens."

The County Vice-Magistrate, hearing Pang Yu's appropriate speech — which, though rebutting Wang Dazhuang, did not embarrass his direct superior and was unlike the legendary fool — raised his estimation of Pang Yu a little more. He smiled and asked, "Then what are these skills you rely on? You may inform this official."

"Just now, Squad Leader Wang said this humble one could not count. This humble one exerted himself to strive for strength and specifically practiced arithmetic. I can be considered proficient."

The crowd in the Main Hall buzzed with discussion again. It wasn't that they thought Pang Yu was truly formidable — people from merchant families could all do arithmetic. The various runners, mingling in the marketplace, even when engaging in extortion, still needed to settle accounts. So they felt this arithmetic skill was nothing special.

The County Vice-Magistrate's half-closed eyes opened a little wider. "Proficient to what degree?"

"Faster than one skilled with the abacus. Your Honor may order someone to test me immediately." Pang Yu said confidently.

The County Vice-Magistrate furrowed his brow. Today, having heard Pang Yu's flattery, he had already planned to spend a thousand gold to buy bones — as long as Pang Yu himself provided a pretext, he could give him a pole to climb. A formal test was not necessarily required. The County Vice-Magistrate's consideration was this: since Pang Yu bore the nickname "Second Fool," he likely had no real talent or learning. If tested and he made a fool of himself on the spot, it would instead be difficult to handle.

Sure enough, Wang Dazhuang immediately seized the opportunity and said loudly, "Your subordinate is willing to set an arithmetic problem, to let Pang Yu display his true talent and learning."

As he finished speaking, he cast a sidelong glance at Pang Yu, his face full of smugness. He knew Pang Yu's true level better than anyone — even one plus one required the help of fingers. Talk of exerting himself to strive for strength might fool others, but it could not fool him, the direct supervisor.

Pang Yu's boastful words were precisely handing an opportunity to Wang Dazhuang. Although Wang Dazhuang had never studied, he came from the Household Office and had some foundation in arithmetic. He was confident he could make Pang Yu disgrace himself publicly, and the County Vice-Magistrate would have no grounds to blame him.

The County Vice-Magistrate furrowed his brow and glanced at Pang Yu. Seeing his composed demeanor and clear eyes, not at all the appearance of a fool, he muttered inwardly. He had heard of fools achieving Spirit Awakening, but achieving Spirit Awakening and immediately being able to do arithmetic — that was unheard of.

Now, in this public setting, with the situation as it was, if Pang Yu lacked some talent, it was already impossible for the County Vice-Magistrate to forcibly spend a thousand gold to buy bones.

"Since he is a man of the Runner Squad, and Squad Leader Wang has volunteered, then you shall set some counting problems commonly used in the yamen. They must be truly practical and usable, not overly complicated or fancy. Clerk Zhao, find someone to work the abacus and serve as witness. Pang Yu and Squad Leader Wang, both come up to the hall."

Clerk Zhao immediately went down from the hall to the Household Office to fetch an abacus. The crowd below, hearing this, all whispered among themselves. The yamen's Morning Session rarely had such an interesting moment.

Everyone could see it clearly: the County Vice-Magistrate wanted to give Pang Yu a pole; Pang Yu wanted to climb up it; Wang Dazhuang dared not strike at that pole but wanted to grab Pang Yu's pant leg to stop him from climbing.

The County Vice-Magistrate's words hinted that Wang Dazhuang should not set overly difficult problems, and he had Clerk Zhao of the Household Office act as judge — still giving Pang Yu some advantages. The rest depended on Pang Yu himself.

Pang Yu strode up onto the platform. Wang Dazhuang walked ahead. Seeing Wang Dazhuang kneel and kowtow to the County Vice-Magistrate, Pang Yu hurriedly followed suit and knelt. According to Ming Dynasty rules, not every meeting with an official required kneeling, but when one's direct supervising Hall Officer questioned and received replies, kneeling was required. Since it was a matter of doing as the locals did, Pang Yu had no psychological barrier.

Rising to his feet, Pang Yu lowered his head and swept his gaze across the hall. All present were Miscellaneous Officials and clerks from various offices — the highest echelon of Tongcheng's official circles. The way they looked at Pang Yu was not one of rejection, but curiosity tinged with a hint of mockery. When passing Mr. Yu, Mr. Yu kept his head down and eyes averted, making no eye contact with Pang Yu.

Pang Yu turned to face Wang Dazhuang. The gazes of over a hundred people below converged. In his previous life, Pang Yu was accustomed to such scenes; crowded conference reports were routine. At this moment, he was not the least bit nervous — on the contrary, he felt rather excited by this scenario of public attention.

The County Vice-Magistrate finally asked Pang Yu, "Pang Yu, do you need an abacus, or paper and brush?"

Pang Yu bowed and replied, "Thank you for Your Honor's concern. Your subordinate can calculate mentally."

The County Vice-Magistrate cursed "fool" inwardly. Jotting things down on paper would have been so much easier. There was nothing more to say. He turned to Wang Dazhuang: "Then Squad Leader Wang may set the problem."

Wang Dazhuang furrowed his brow in thought. He had served as a runner in the Household Office for several years. When he first opened his mouth, he had originally intended to make Pang Yu calculate the land tax for a whole village — a problem that gave even veteran clerks of many years a headache, and one he believed Pang Yu could certainly never solve. However, the County Vice-Magistrate had said practical and not overly complicated. Wang Dazhuang dared not go too far and could only switch to something simpler, though he still believed it sufficient to stump Pang Yu.

"Then I shall test Pang Yu with one problem. The work-food silver required within the yamen is what the Household Office must use annually. Say there is a county yamen with: eleven gatekeepers, each receiving six taels of work-food silver; twenty-seven runners, each receiving six taels and one mace of work-food silver; eleven mounted couriers, each receiving sixteen taels and eight mace of work-food and Forage silver; seventeen Foot Runners, each receiving six taels and two mace of work-food silver; nineteen men of the Zhuang Squad, each receiving six taels and three mace of work-food silver; six lamp-lighting men, each receiving five taels of work-food silver; nine sedan-chair bearers, each receiving five taels and three mace of work-food silver..."

The discussion below grew louder and louder. Each of Wang Dazhuang's items was not overly complicated in itself, but the number of items kept increasing. The Household Office would normally calculate each item separately and then sum them up. But Wang Dazhuang, taking advantage of Pang Yu's mental calculation, demanded that Pang Yu produce the total sum in one go, and he spoke faster and faster — clearly violating the County Vice-Magistrate's advice. The clerk from the Household Office, while working the abacus, still had to listen to Wang Dazhuang's subsequent numbers and missed several. He was now so nervous his forehead was drenched in sweat. Fortunately, another Household Office clerk beside him saw the danger and stepped forward to help the abacus operator record the numbers.

Wang Dazhuang also altered some round numbers to increase the difficulty — for example, the sedan-chair bearers, originally ten, became nine; the work-food silver of five taels became five taels and three mace. The Three Squads originally all received six taels, but he added fractional amounts to each, and each squad's amount was different. Most people in the yamen knew the actual figures and naturally buzzed with discussion.

Clerk Zhao of the Household Office, seeing the County Vice-Magistrate's expression grow increasingly dark, gave a soft dry cough.

Wang Dazhuang had originally intended to add more but, hearing this, had no choice but to stop. Still, he felt he had already given Pang Yu more than enough. He looked at Pang Yu contemptuously and said, "You, calculate the total work-food silver for all the items just listed. It is..."

Before Wang Dazhuang could finish, a voice loudly answered, "Seven hundred eighteen taels and three mace."