Chapter 28: The Back Door

The newcomer materialized through a shroud of water mist — a brawny, bare-chested man, his face mostly covered by a full beard. He carried no rain gear whatsoever; his clothes were crumpled into a ball and clutched in one hand. His bare torso revealed bulging, knotted muscles, and he let the wind and rain lash against his body, standing like a human boulder in the storm.

The man in the Huzhou silk gown, heedless of the downpour, strode out of the food stall and cupped his hands toward the bare-chested newcomer, speaking something. The rain was so loud Pang Yu could not make out a word, but the man in the Huzhou silk gown looked extremely agitated.

The two exchanged a few hurried words outside, then walked into the shop together. The bare-chested man was dripping water everywhere; he casually tossed the clothes in his hand onto the table with a wet slap, then scrubbed his hands roughly over his head and face several times, gathered the water droplets in his palms, and flung them outward — splashing right onto the clothes of the two Household Office auxiliaries.

The two auxiliaries glared over. The bare-chested man smiled with a hint of disdain, not taking the yamen men seriously in the slightest. The two auxiliaries were somewhat cowed by the force of his manner moments before, but with their superior Tang Weimin present, losing face by acting too spineless was also unacceptable. Just as they made a show of moving toward him, Tang Weimin gave a soft "Ai," and shook his head at the two. The auxiliaries, already unsure of themselves, saw their superior's signal and used it as a convenient excuse to back down.

Pang Yu had been observing the big man. His gait was steady, and most importantly, his waist and abdomen radiated ample strength; the muscles of his back were thick and solid, possessing both explosive power and endurance. He was definitely not the type who merely pursued good-looking muscles — he was likely someone who had practiced martial arts over a long period and would be very difficult to handle. However, the man was barehanded; even if he had martial training, he could not defeat superior numbers. Their own side still held the advantage.

Sensing earlier that Tang Weimin had been slighted by the man, and wholly intent on currying favor in front of Tang Weimin, Pang Yu leaned in close to Tang Weimin's ear and said, "Tang Daren, shall I take some men and seize him?"

Tang Weimin tilted his head over and said in a low voice, "Fang Rural Official thinks highly of this man. Seizing him would be pointless. Better to avoid trouble than stir up more."

Pang Yu was briefly stunned. So Tang Weimin knew this man. A moment later, he realized it was probably another household slave of some sort.

"Who is Fang Rural Official? A village head?" Although Pang Yu did not fully understand, he did not intend to ask further. In any case, it meant Tang Weimin did not wish to provoke him.

The man in the Huzhou silk gown, unwilling to cause more trouble, tugged at the bare-chested big man several times before the big man finally sat down with an imposing, wide-legged posture. The man in the Huzhou silk gown called the shopkeeper over, added several meat dishes, and ordered two large jugs of wine, then began drinking and whispering privately with the bare-chested man.

The bare-chested big man shot a fierce glare in their direction, then turned back to his own business, lifted his wine bowl, threw his head back, and drained it in one gulp, wine spilling all over his face.

"Traveling in such heavy rain — he's got a screw loose." Pang Yu mentally assigned this man a label.

The two in the corner ate and spoke in low voices, ignoring Tang Weimin's party entirely. Fortunately, the torrential rain did not last long; the rain gradually lessened, and after half a quarter-hour, it stopped completely. Though the ground was still badly flooded, Tang Weimin was anxious to get home, so Pang Yu's group had no choice but to continue their journey.

The bare-chested big man held his bowl, drinking, his eyes coldly fixed on the retreating figures of Pang Yu and the others from over the rim. Only after they had gone far into the distance did he set down his wine bowl and say in a low voice, "What are these yamen dogs doing here? Has the news leaked?"

The man in the Huzhou silk gown shook his head. "It should not be the case. They have quite a lot of luggage and are traveling with horses and a groom; I'd guess they are on official business heading to Kongcheng Town or North Gorge Pass. I made a point of listening to their conversation earlier — it was roughly about rations, pay, and granary storage. They just happened to run into us here."

"Brother Wang is truly meticulous. What you say makes sense. When I deliberately provoked them just now, if they had come to arrest people, they would not have been able to hold back." The bare-chested big man lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then stared at the tabletop and said coldly, "Even if they knew, with the caliber of men inside the Six Doors, they still couldn't capture us brothers. Give me a long blade, and I alone would dare to go and pick a fight with the Tongcheng County Yamen."

"Brother Wending is a genuine Military Examination Candidate by background; how could those yamen dogs stand against him." The man in the Huzhou silk gown finished speaking, then stood up and bowed deeply to the bare-chested big man. "Last time, all the brothers agreed to meet today at Lüting Post to reaffirm our former pact. I never expected we would run into this sudden storm. I, Wang, thought surely no one would be able to come today. I never imagined Brother Wang would fear neither wind nor rain and generously keep the appointment. This is the ancient spirit of a promise worth a thousand in gold — this is how we should establish trust!"

The bare-chested big man waved a hand. "For martial artists like us, trust comes before skill. As long as Brother Wang calls a meeting, I, Huang, will certainly come. Otherwise, what is the point of choosing an Alliance Leader? Since we have all pledged loyalty to Brother Wang as Alliance Leader, we must unite and obey orders. Only then can we accomplish great things."

The man in the Huzhou silk gown said with admiration, "But today, I, Wang, am willing to yield the position of Alliance Leader to Brother Wending. Only a hero of Brother Huang's caliber can lead all us brothers to achieve great things. My mind is made up; please, Brother Huang, do not refuse."

The bare-chested Huang Wending stood up. He had intended to decline again, but Brother Wang's attitude was so utterly sincere that Huang Wending could not be bothered to refuse further. He raised his wine bowl, clinked it against Brother Wang's, and accepted.

"Then I'll take the lead. This life is dull anyway. Damn those rats like Old Zheng, Wu Bing, and Yin Deng — they have no real skill whatsoever. Relying on their masters' influence, they seized the profitable business of the Household Office, and that's one thing, but they also have to ride on our heads and shit and piss on us. How can we brothers be content beneath such people? This matter must be carried out! However, command and strategy are not my strengths; I must still rely on Brother Wang to plan meticulously."

Brother Wang said darkly, "People like Old Zheng and Wu Bing seem to rely on their masters' influence, but in truth, they rely on the yamen's power. Whenever there is a conflict, the yamen dogs stand on their side. We are like men fighting with our hands tied — how can we gain the upper hand? Only by breaking the yamen's power can we defeat them. If it were not so, why would we need to take such a dangerous gamble? But relying on just our few dozen brothers is far from enough. Throughout history, those who accomplish great things first use momentum to overawe people's hearts, and second, use heavy profit to rally people's hearts. We must pursue both approaches simultaneously. The ninth month is precisely the time for collecting the autumn grain tax; every year at this time, public resentment boils over. This year, that Yang Fangzao is serving as Acting Magistrate; he is unfamiliar with both the people and the terrain of Tongcheng. This is our perfect opportunity to rise up."

Huang Wending ground his teeth. "First and foremost, we must take revenge and kill those few enemies. The first to kill will be Wu Bing. Damn it all, he is allowed to lend at high interest, but we are not. He even forcibly seized Zhang Ru's concubine. Now, who in Tongcheng still respects us brothers? We should stake everything and fight for once. Even if we fail, at worst we can go join those heroes in Shaanxi. They've roamed the land freely for years now; enjoying a few years of pleasure is a blessing in itself. Even if the officials behead us in the end, it's still better than living a whole life in such wretched humiliation."

"Roving bandits are still roving bandits, after all; their reputation is unsavory. The imperial court is still more respectable. If things go smoothly, we'll aim big — get the Anqing Prefecture to offer us amnesty and official posts, and have a taste of what it's like to be yamen lords ourselves."

Huang Wending nodded. "I'll leave all the strategic planning to Brother Wang. How exactly should we launch this rebellion? Brother Wang, you must have a plan so we can prepare early."

Brother Wang let out a long breath and said calmly, "The few of us will divide the tasks. Zhang Ru needs to provide some silver; we must forge weapons and equipment. Some men have families — we need to give them settlement pay to secure their retreat. I will be responsible for liaising with willing brothers in the various townships. I ask Brother Wending to lead them in practicing with weapons at a secluded spot outside the city. The rebellion is tentatively set for the ninth month. When the time comes, we strike first against the Wu Family, the Ye Family, and Fang Xiucai — those families we have grudges against. If things go smoothly, we then seize the County Yamen and the County Vice-Magistrate Office..."

Tap, tap, tap.

As night fell, Pang Yu, carrying a heavy bundle, gently knocked the door knocker on the side gate of the County Vice-Magistrate Office.

The Ming Dynasty was very considerate toward its officials. All yamens had residences for the presiding officials at the rear, but the main entrance was always behind the Second Hall. If someone had a private matter to visit, they had to pass through the main gate, the Ceremonial Gate, the Main Hall, and the Tuisi Hall in sequence — the gates were strictly guarded and many eyes were watching, which was extremely disadvantageous for a County Magistrate's private dealings. Later, people began cutting side gates into the rear courtyard walls. Although the imperial court repeatedly issued strict orders to stop this, it ultimately lost to reality. Many county yamens opened side gates, also called back doors. The later phrase "going through the back door" roughly originates from this.

Also because it did not conform to regulations, this back door of the County Vice-Magistrate Office was not lavish — it was just like the two-leaf courtyard gate of an ordinary household. After he knocked the door knocker, the small window on the gate creaked open, revealing a thin face with a wispy, rat-like beard.

"I am Runner Pang Yu of the Runner Squad, requesting an audience with the County Vice-Magistrate."

The gatekeeper stared coldly at Pang Yu, neither moving nor speaking. Pang Yu fished out a small piece of silver worth two or three Mace and presented it to the window. "Disturbing your peace late at night, I must trouble you, brother, to pass along the message."

The gatekeeper reached out and took it, then continued staring blankly at Pang Yu without a word, as if nothing had happened. Pang Yu cursed inwardly a few times, then presented another one-tael Water-thread Silver Ingot.

Only then did the gatekeeper's expression change slightly. He said in a deep voice, "So it is Runner Pang of the Runner Squad. These days, I've heard people say you are eloquent, know how to appreciate the Daren's pains, and are someone who understands gratitude. For that reason, I will report your arrival. Wait here."

"Thank you for your trouble, brother, running a..."

Before Pang Yu could finish, the small window slammed shut with a snap. Pang Yu stood dumbfounded before the gate for a moment. People say the servants at a prime minister's gate are seventh-rank officials; he wondered what rank the servants at an eighth-rank official's gate were. Now it seemed, at the very least, higher than the rank of a runner.

However, Pang Yu had spent no short time navigating society and had endured his fair share of cold stares. He was past the age of getting angry over such things; when encountering this kind of situation, he would use an optimistic attitude to adjust his mood.

After shaking his head with a smile, he waited patiently before the gate. The night curfew was already in effect; Tongcheng under the night sky was utterly silent. The small lantern above the side gate swayed gently. Pang Yu watched the shadow cast on the ground; the sound of the watchman's clapper drifted from afar. Pang Yu suddenly stared, entranced, as if he were still standing before some door in his previous life, and the sound of the clapper was merely traveling through time and space to reach his ears.

A creaking and groaning sound pulled Pang Yu back to the reality of the Ming Dynasty. Half of the gate leaf swung open, but the person who emerged was not the gatekeeper. By the lantern light, Pang Yu saw that it was actually Mr. Yu himself who had come out.

Pang Yu hurriedly greeted Mr. Yu. "How could I trouble you, sir, to come personally? A thousand pardons."

Mr. Yu pushed the gate open a bit wider and, after inviting Pang Yu inside, asked, "Pang Xiaoyou just returned this afternoon; the journey must have been exhausting. Why are you not resting at home this evening?"

Hearing the Advisor know his itinerary so clearly, Pang Yu felt relieved he had come promptly. "By the County Vice-Magistrate's order, I inspected the various granaries. Since granary storage is a major county matter, I feared the Daren might be concerned, so I made a point to report the relevant situation to the Daren early."

The Advisor stroked his beard and smiled. "It is rare to find Pang Xiaoyou so diligent in his work."

Pang Yu first presented a gift list, saying, "I have relatives in the countryside who brought some local products. I have also brought some for the County Vice-Magistrate to sample. I hope the Daren will not disdain them."

The Advisor took the gift list and glanced at it. It read: "150 Small Salted Fish." He immediately understood it meant 150 taels of silver. If it were gold, it would have been written as Small Yellow Fish.

One hundred fifty taels of silver was no small sum. At this time, ten taels of silver was enough for a family's living expenses for an entire year. The Ming Dynasty yamen was a vanity fair; this sum was not considered large, but given that the previous County Magistrate had already squeezed the area dry, this amount was acceptable.

The Advisor nodded approvingly. "Pang Xiaoyou is thoughtful. I, Yu, will certainly pass it on to the Daren."

He then instructed the gatekeeper to take the large bundle from Pang Yu's hands. As the gatekeeper took it, the clinking sound of silver ingots bumping together came from inside — definitely not a sound Small Salted Fish could make. Pang Yu stole a glance at the two men; both had perfectly composed expressions, as if Small Salted Fish indeed sounded exactly like that.

While the gatekeeper was away putting the silver aside, Pang Yu hurried two steps closer to the Advisor and said in a low voice, "Sir, you have followed the Daren in Tongcheng for three years, governing Tongcheng with ever-increasing prosperity. I have heard that you, sir, live very frugally. On behalf of the people of Tongcheng, I wish to express a small token of gratitude. Tomorrow, I will have Zhou Guniang deliver it to your residence. Please, sir, do not refuse."

Mr. Yu nodded slightly, with no other reaction whatsoever. Pang Yu knew he was guarding against the gatekeeper eavesdropping. During this business trip, Pang Yu had learned quite a few things from Tang Weimin.

The gatekeeper's post seemed inconspicuous, but in reality, it handled and witnessed the officials' most secret transactions, which was why it was always held by the official's closest relatives.

Officials often trusted these relatives even more than their Advisors. Within the residence, these relatives and the Advisors were in a state of mutual surveillance. Therefore, Pang Yu dared not give Mr. Yu his payment at this moment. Sure enough, after closing the door, the gatekeeper approached them again.

Pang Yu quickly moved a bit farther away from Mr. Yu. He had originally expected Mr. Yu to lead him inside to see the County Vice-Magistrate, but instead he heard Mr. Yu say, "The County Vice-Magistrate is somewhat fatigued today and has already retired. Whatever the situation is with the granaries, I, Yu, can relay it on your behalf."

Upon hearing this, Pang Yu realized it was exactly as He Xianya had said — he was not yet qualified to enter the County Vice-Magistrate's main hall. The fact that the Advisor had come out to exchange a few pleasant words was already giving him face.

Fortunately, Pang Yu had already experienced the full spectrum of human warmth and coldness in his previous life. If this was the way of the world, then he would adapt to it, without even feeling wronged. He did not press the matter, but simply took out two sheets of petition paper and handed them to the Advisor.

"Then I must trouble you, Mr. Yu. This humble one has already recorded the relevant situation in this dispatch submission. In general, the entry and exit records of Tongcheng's granaries are clear, and any damage is verifiable with witnesses. The granary storage losses were all caused by the earthquake and were beyond human control to prevent. The measures against damp, rodents, and theft at each granary are complete, demonstrating the effective daily supervision of Household Office Daren Zhao and Daren Tang. However, no one is perfect; the granaries still have flaws such as inadequate repairs, mixing of new and old grain, and aging granary structures..."

Mr. Yu took the dispatch with surprise. By the dim yellow light of the lantern, he skimmed it roughly. He saw the heading on the paper read: "Patrol Granary Report."

Ming Dynasty yamen official documents, just like modern ones, distinguished between communications to superiors, subordinates, and equals. The most commonly used was the "Dispatch." A subordinate like Pang Yu submitting a document upward was called a "Dispatch Submission." But Pang Yu had only studied this cursorily from Tang Weimin and clearly had not fully grasped it. Dispatch Submissions were mostly used for requests; a report like this should have been called a "Detailed Report."

But Mr. Yu did not pay it much mind. Because given Pang Yu's status as a runner in the Runner Squad, it was not his place to write formal official documents; Tang Weimin would naturally submit the Dispatch Submission to the County Vice-Magistrate. Therefore, this submission could only be considered a personal report to the County Vice-Magistrate. Mr. Yu did not intend to correct its formatting issues.

But the more he read, the more astonished he became. Most bailiffs were coarse and illiterate, many unable to even write their own names, yet the document Pang Yu had written was clearly organized, its dispatch listing and categorizing each granary.

Mr. Yu had long served in government offices. A glance told him the contents were entirely fabricated, but for a bailiff to produce a petition so lucid and clear — that was truly something Mr. Yu had never seen before in official service.

The entire composition was steady and well-balanced: it praised the County Vice-Magistrate's brilliance, flattered the Household Office's management, extolled the team leader Tang Weimin to the skies, and at the end included an analysis of hidden risks, even proposing improvements point by point. It made Pang Yu appear highly insightful. The only blemish was that the brush calligraphy was indeed poorly formed.

Pang Yu outlined the petition's contents, and Mr. Yu nodded involuntarily. This was exactly the effect Pang Yu wanted. Whatever one does, if one wishes to rise above others, character is merely a necessary condition — the work itself is the sufficient condition.

Take this granary patrol. The patrol was only the process; the final Detailed Report submitted to Anqing Prefecture was the patrol's Outcome. With this dispatch from Pang Yu, the Advisor's workload would be greatly reduced. In the future, the Advisor would need someone like Pang Yu and be willing to assign him more tasks. In his dealings with Mr. Yu, Pang Yu's value had just increased.

"The night is late. I dare not disturb you further, sir. Please rest early. This junior takes his leave."

Pang Yu deliberately used the self-address "junior" to draw closer to Mr. Yu. This time, Mr. Yu indeed did not correct him again. Clearly, he now held greater psychological recognition of Pang Yu's ability and no longer saw Pang Yu as merely a scheming Er Shazi.

After a few more pleasantries, Pang Yu took his leave and stepped out. Mr. Yu remained where he was, and by the faint lantern light, he gazed at the petition paper in his hands for a long time.