Chapter 33: Three Hundred Li Around the Capital, Every Step a Human Heart

When the Wen Jun Army advanced toward the Capital City, they did not march at speed.

Jiang Che walked very slowly.

At each city, they first posted the Lu'an Sacrificial City Stele, then read aloud the Wen Jun Book, and finally opened the granaries and investigated cases.

If the city's officials were clean, they were left in post, with the order changed to place them under the Wen Jun Army's command.

If officials had taken part in the Sacrifice City, the Heavenly Gate, or in oppressing the people, they were tried in public.

Along this road, Jiang Che killed no few people.

There were county magistrates, commanderies' governors, branches of the Royal Family, and also jianghu sect masters wrapped in the cloak of a great name.

But he also saved far more.

The first to open the city and welcome the Wen Jun Army was Pingyang County.

The County Magistrate was a thin, frail civil official in his fifties, named Xu Bai.

When he opened the city, he wore an official's robe washed pale-white, and knelt at the city gate.

"This official, Xu Bai, is willing to welcome the Wen Jun Army."

Chen Shanhe said warily, "Why?"

Xu Bai raised his head; his eyes were shot through with red.

"The Lu'an Sacrificial City order reached Pingyang as well."

"The court ordered this official to prepare three thousand young boys and girls, saying they were to be sent to the Capital to pray for blessings."

The faces of the others changed at once.

Jiang Che asked, "Where are the people?"

Xu Bai said in a trembling voice, "This official killed the eunuch who delivered the order; the children are hidden in the county school."

He took a blood-letter from his sleeve.

"This official knows that killing an eunuch is a capital crime, and that opening the city to welcome the Young Master is the crime of rebellion."

"But if I cannot protect a county's children, then this office is not worth holding."

Jiang Che helped him to his feet.

"From today onward, you remain the County Magistrate of Pingyang."

Xu Bai was stunned.

Jiang Che said, "What the Wen Jun Army lacks is not officials who know how to kowtow."

"It is officials who dare to protect the people."

Xu Bai's old tears streamed down unchecked.

Once this matter spread, more officials along the route began to waver.

They were not all loyal and righteous.

But at the very least, they saw another path.

They need not die alongside the mad Emperor.

Nor need they wait to be purged after Jiang Che took their city by storm.

So long as they had not harmed the people, they could still keep their posts.

This made the Wen Jun Army's advance swifter still.

Within three hundred li of the Capital Region, nearly half the cities surrendered without a fight.

Of course, there were also those who held to the death.

Linhe City was one such.

The city lord was the Emperor's trusted confidant; the city garrisoned twenty thousand Imperial Guard troops, who held the citizens hostage to defend the walls.

After Jiang Che arrived, the city lord bound three hundred citizens to the wall and shouted:

"Jiang Che, if you dare attack the city, I will kill the citizens!"

Angry voices rose on every side within the Wen Jun Army's ranks.

Chen Shanhe requested to fight: "Young Master, let Green Blade Camp launch a night raid!"

Jiang Che gazed at the wall and shook his head.

"He wants to force me to attack the city and bear the name of one who kills the people."

Xie Tingxue asked, "Then what do we do?"

Jiang Che looked toward those behind him.

"Lin Xiaoman."

The boy ran out from History Camp.

"Young Master!"

Jiang Che handed him a sheet of paper.

"Read."

Lin Xiaoman stood before the ranks; his voice trembled at first, then grew steadier and steadier.

What he read was the register of names of those who had perished at Lu'an.

Name after name, carried by the Wind up onto the city wall.

"Lu'an East Street, Zhao Erniang, aged thirty-seven."

"Lu'an South Ward, Li Changsheng, aged six."

"Lu'an County School, Zhou Ming, aged eleven."

The citizens of Linhe upon the wall, listening, began to weep.

Among the Imperial Guard defending the wall, some also lowered their heads.

After Lin Xiaoman finished reciting, he began reciting the Wen Jun Book.

"If a ruler kills his people, how can the people still regard him as their ruler?"

As the voice faded, turmoil suddenly erupted within the city.

First, the common people rose in rebellion.

Then, members of the Imperial Guard turned their weapons against their own.

An hour later, the city gates opened from within.

The City Lord was dragged out, bound by the enraged populace, his body covered in blood.

He was still shouting, "I am an official appointed by the court! Jiang Che, you cannot kill me!"

Jiang Che walked up to stand before him.

"You are no official appointed by the court."

"You are a beast who uses the common people as shields for your blade."

The sword fell.

The head rolled across the ground.

Linhe City fell without a battle.

That night, Jiang Che stood upon the city walls, gazing toward the Capital City.

Xie Tingxue walked to his side.

"You are getting closer and closer to the Capital City."

Jiang Che said, "Yes."

"And closer and closer to that position as well."

Jiang Che remained silent.

Xie Tingxue looked at him. "Do you truly not wish to sit upon it?"

Jiang Che smiled slightly.

"I do not even wish to govern Han Zhou."

Xie Tingxue said, "But what if the world needs you?"

Jiang Che did not answer.

After a long while, he spoke softly:

"Let us wait until after we have questioned the Emperor before speaking of it."