Chapter 87: Chaos

Outside the Zhou Family paper shop on Dongzuo Gate Inner Street, a crowd had gathered, a clamor rising from within, where Zhou Yueru's sharp voice flickered in and out of the chaotic background noise.

Pang Yu had just arrived with five Runners. The street was not only packed with city residents but also with commoners from outside the city, carrying their belongings as they walked. This was something neither Pang Yu nor Yang Erming had anticipated. News of the Roving Bandits' approach had inevitably leaked from the yamen, quickly fermenting among the populace, and some of those living outside the walls had entered the city. This was the reverse of the Civil Unrest, when people had fled the city to escape disaster; this time, they were entering the city to escape it.

Those entering now were mainly residents of the Suburban Area; not many farmers had come in yet, but Pang Yu estimated that if the Roving Bandits truly approached the county seat, large numbers of people would enter. After all, the county seat had a City Wall, which felt more secure than the towns and villages — though the reality might not necessarily be so.

The residents inside the city did not need to flee, but they still faced the threat of the Roving Bandits breaking through. Everyone turned pale at the mere mention of the bandits, their minds conjuring all manner of horrific scenarios. With no outlet for their pressure, the Westerners in their midst became the first target.

The clamor within the crowd grew louder. Pang Yu could already hear Zhou Yongtian's uncontrolled shrieks. He turned and nodded to the Runner behind him. The Runner raised a copper Gong and struck it — Clang! Clang! Clang! — a fierce barrage. Pang Yu bared his teeth until the piercing sound ceased.

When the onlookers saw it was the Fast Squad, they hastily parted to make way. Pang Yu walked into the crowd under the gaze of countless eyes and swept his gaze around. Most inside were ordinary commoners, but there were also two wearing yamen runner uniforms. Looking closely, he saw it was none other than Wang Dazhuang's little brother-in-law, Zhang Daiwen, who was dragging a door plank, preventing Zhou Yueru from closing the shop door.

Zhou Yueru looked somewhat haggard. Facing the crowd, her expression was one of terror, her forehead beaded with sweat. When she saw Pang Yu, a look of surprised delight immediately appeared on her face.

The moment Zhang Daiwen saw Pang Yu, he hastily dropped the door plank and limped backward a few steps. Pang Yu glared at him. This man was just this infuriating, yet not utterly irredeemable. Pang Yu regarded him merely as a petty man, not worth dealing with the way he would Clerk Zhao.

This time, Zhang Daiwen had been struck twenty strokes of the board by Yang Erming, yet he was out and about again after only seven or eight days. Pang Yu suspected the Runner who had carried out the punishment had old ties with this Jailer; otherwise, how could he have recovered so quickly?

Yang Erming had not pursued the matter further either, because Zhang Daiwen's offense was sleeping on duty, not disrespecting the County Magistrate. In Yang Erming's mind, the crime was somewhat lesser. After Zhang Daiwen recovered, Wang Dazhuang had personally brought him to kowtow and admit his error to Yang Erming, and he was still working as a Jailer in the South Prison.

Pang Yu fixed his gaze on him and said, "Zhang Daiwen, why are you here?"

"I... this humble one lives right in this neighborhood. The Roving Bandits are almost here, and this Zhou Yongtian is a Westerner — he'll most likely become a vanguard for the bandits. This humble one heard the County Magistrate's proclamation and brought the neighbors to expel him from the city."

"The County Magistrate merely said that to avoid suspicion between host and guest, Westerners who have a place to go should leave on their own. Did you see that word 'please' clearly? Who told you to stir up a huge commotion and bring people to drive them out?"

Zhang Daiwen hastily defended himself, "Zhou Yongtian has been a sojourner in Tongcheng for over two years and has often been on bad terms with us neighbors. Even if he wasn't a spy for the Roving Bandits before, there's no telling once they arrive. It's still best to expel him."

The surrounding neighbors voiced their Approval one after another, denouncing Zhou Yongtian in a cacophony of voices. Zhou Yongtian, clutching a staff, shrank back inside the paper shop, pointing the Guntou outward in terror.

Pang Yu recalled how Zhou Yongtian had grabbed a staff and struck someone that day; his temper was probably not good, and the bad blood with the neighbors was likely real. He couldn't help but glance at Zhou Yueru. This Female Aide was still looking at him expectantly. He remembered he hadn't received a single copper coin of Mortgage payment from this woman and had instead ended up paying out over ten taels of silver. This business deal was already showing signs of becoming a bad asset.

But many people knew Zhou Yueru was his Female Aide; it wouldn't be proper to ignore this. With the crowd gathered now, he couldn't make an enemy of everyone. It was best to deal only with the ringleader stirring up trouble.

He rubbed his nose and said to Zhang Daiwen, "You're not on duty at the South Prison, yet you run out here to cause trouble. Last time you slept on duty, this time you've abandoned your post without leave. Do you think the Fast Squad's boards didn't hit hard enough?"

"This humble one just finished a day of guard duty. The Laotou said my Injury was just healed and let me rest at home today. This humble one is not..."

Pang Yu leaned in and interrupted in a low voice, "You still know your Injury just healed. If you don't get these neighbors to disperse right now, the next time the boards come down, I'll have Xu Lengzi deliver them for you. How does that sound?"

Zhang Daiwen's throat bobbed with a gulp, and he cowered backward a step.

Pang Yu turned to the crowd and said loudly, "I am Pang Squad Leader of the Fast Squad. The county yamen indeed issued a proclamation asking Westerners to leave on their own, and it specifically stated that innocent civilians must not be wronged. We have no proof or evidence; we cannot judge the Zhou Family as bad people simply because they are Westerners. I also ask all you neighbors to rest assured: the Tongcheng Constable will naturally investigate Roving Bandit spies and will certainly keep Tongcheng safe."

After speaking, Pang Yu glared at Zhang Daiwen. Zhang Daiwen hesitated for a moment. He knew Pang Yu was the yamen's favored man, with over a hundred men under him in the Fast Squad and Zhuang Squad, and once the Zhuang Squad was fully recruited, it could reach over two hundred. The gentry of Tongcheng were now moving to Nanjing one after another; Pang Yu could be said to be the single largest force in the county seat. Offending him again would not be like before.

Reluctantly, Zhang Daiwen stepped forward and said to the surrounding neighbors, "If Pang Squad Leader says he can keep Tongcheng safe, then he certainly can. Let's all listen to the yamen. Everyone, stop surrounding the Zhou Family paper shop. Let's go to the Village Elder's house and discuss how our neighborhood is to provide over a hundred Community Soldiers. Every family should go and talk it over."

Many of the onlookers already recognized Pang Yu. That day he had paraded through the streets dragging a cart full of heads, and now he was here with several yamen runners carrying Blade Staffs. Since he had spoken, no one dared disobey. Seeing Zhang Daiwen take the lead in leaving, the others all dispersed as well.

After the crowd scattered, Zhou Yueru drew close to Pang Yu and said in a low voice, "Thank you."

"Why haven't you come to work as an aide recently?"

Zhou Yueru kept her head lowered. "That night they burned the Wu Family Residence, my father was badly frightened. He's needed constant care ever since. The silver I owe you, I will repay..."

Pang Yu waved his hand. "Forget the silver for now; this young master isn't short of that bit of silver from you. It's just that, given the current situation, it's best not to open this paper shop of yours for the next few days. Keep the door planks up during the day, lest your father be frightened again."

"Then what will we eat if we don't do business? Let alone still needing to repay your silver."

Pang Yu turned his head to look inside the paper shop at Zhou Yongtian, who was still on guard with his staff, and said flatly, "Go to the Latecomer Student Pawnshop and work for me, managing the accounts and valuables. I'll give you three taels of work-food silver each month."

Zhou Yueru was first delighted, then her expression darkened again. Seeing this, Pang Yu smiled and said, "It won't be deducted from your debt. You'll be paid in cash silver every month."

Only then did Zhou Yueru beam with joy. "Then I'll go tomorrow."

"Remember, you only manage the accounts and valuables. Other matters — pawning, lending, debt collection — you cannot interfere with Liu Shopkeeper. No matter how dissatisfied you are, you can only speak to me. You absolutely must not disrupt Liu Shopkeeper's operations."

Seeing Zhou Yueru nod, Pang Yu felt slightly more at ease. He had never found a suitable person to manage the accounts at the pawnshop. Currently, Liu Ruogu was helping him run two pawnshops, a gambling den, and a Grain Shop. For now, Pang Yu planned to operate according to the current model, only expanding the scale and using the advantage of volume to crush other competitors. So he would need to continue expanding. Pang Yu wasn't short of silver now; what he lacked most was people. Originally, he had planned to have his old man manage the accounts — that would be the most reassuring — but his father had lectured him soundly before he even finished explaining, and he had abandoned the idea.

Pawnshops, gambling dens, and grain shops were not places of tender warmth. Pang Yu worried Zhou Yueru would interfere with Liu Ruogu's management. But now it seemed Zhou Yueru's recent days had not been easy; she had no leisure to pity others.

"Then tomorrow I'll have Pang Ding come to guide you, to visit a few places and familiarize yourself with the territory."

Pang Yu finished speaking and prepared to leave. Zhou Yueru let out an "Ah," and tugged at his Sleeve. Pang Yu stopped and looked at her.

"They all say those Roving Bandits are coming. Is it true?"

Pang Yu let out a soft breath. "I can't be certain either. Official Documents have come from Qianshan, but the information isn't definite. There was a Roving Bandit scare in the first half of the year too, and in the end they never came. Life goes on as it always does. Surely a bit of news about Roving Bandits doesn't mean everyone abandons their Livelihood."

"The yamen assigned our neighborhood over a hundred Battlements, one Community Soldier for each. When my father heard, he was ready to go defend the city, but then the neighbors, they..."

Zhou Yueru buried her head, choking with sobs, tears falling like a string of Pearls.

Pang Yu shook his head with a helpless, wry smile. Tongcheng had already identified over thirty Westerner households across its various neighborhoods and wards, and even some Qin People who had settled there years ago had been singled out. Most of these Qin People were Hangshang, with economic strength considerably greater than the average local. A large portion of them had put down roots here, with wives, concubines, and children all in Tongcheng, and they owned real property locally.

From the perspective of interests, these people were actually more afraid of the Roving Bandits than the local poor. Pang Yu could see absolutely no reason for them to welcome the bandits. So-called hometown sentiment with the Roving Bandits was not worth mentioning in the face of actual interests. Yet, most people did not think this way; the idea of expelling Westerners had broad popular sentiment as its foundation.

In Pang Yu's view, if the Westerners sojourning in Tongcheng were pushed too hard, it would artificially create a sense of closeness between them and the Roving Bandits. Resentment toward the locals would become the true bond of their feelings, pushing these people onto the side of the bandits.

"Don't worry about the neighbors. They're just tense and looking for an outlet. This young master believes in you. The Dibao also said that among the officers and soldiers pursuing the Roving Bandits, many are from the Shaanxi Border Army — Westerners as well. That further proves there are many good people among the Westerners."

Zhou Yueru's expression improved considerably after hearing this. Pang Yu looked around. "These past few days, the commoners have just heard the news of the Roving Bandits; an overreaction is normal. Close the paper shop for a few days. Have that old helper of yours stay home and watch over your father. You can go earn silver working at the pawnshop."

After speaking, Pang Yu prepared to continue on to Dongzuo Gate. The market had been somewhat chaotic lately, with more people entering the city. Pang Yu had demanded the Fast Squad strengthen inspections at the six gates, and that all personnel patrol the streets.

At that moment, he heard someone behind him calling "Squad Leader." Pang Yu turned his head to see He Xianya chasing after him, panting heavily.

When he caught up, Pang Yu asked, "Third Brother, why are you running like this?"

"Run... run..."

"I know you're running."

Without waiting to catch his breath, He Xianya said anxiously, "It's the Zhuang... Zhuang Squad. Three Guards have run off, taking their Clothing and Belongings with them..."

Pang Yu was stunned. "When did this happen? Who's watching the others right now?"

"Zhuang Chaozheng said that since the Zhuang Squad learned the Roving Bandits were coming, people started making noise last night. They're from the countryside; their families aren't in the city. Many said they wanted to go home. Morale has been unstable. This morning, three men were gone. The Team leaders have everyone else confined in the East Garden. Yao Dongshan is blocking the garden gate with a Sword."

Pang Yu stood dumbfounded for a long moment, then muttered, "Your granny's Zhuang Squad!"