Chapter 33: Establishing Authority

Nightfall, Er Zhu Mansion.

Er Zhu Zhao, Er Zhu Dulu, and other Er Zhu clan youths, clad in armor and helmets, wielding long swords and holding torches, gathered in the courtyard.

“Uncle, just say the word—I’ll lead men to storm Jiuyuan City, kill that old villain Wei Qingbin, and rescue Ying’e!”

At this moment, under the corridor eaves, Er Zhu Rong stood at the center, Yuan Tianmu and Li Shuang flanking him on either side.

Er Zhu Rong’s face was dark, silent, undecided.

But Yuan Tianmu shouted out in rebuke.

“Enough!”

Er Zhu Zhao, stung by Yuan Tianmu’s rebuke, was resentful and opened his mouth to speak—but Yuan Tianmu cut him off.

“Wei Qingbin holds immense prestige; he is a descendant of the Prince of Yuyang, and now serves as Inspector of Si Province, stationed in Jiuyuan. To attack him would be tantamount to treason. Tianbao, you must not let a moment’s humiliation drive you to such a foolish act.”

Er Zhu Rong’s face darkened, his fist clenched tight.

“I know why Wei Qingbin came—I won’t do anything stupid! Tianmu, Tianba, return to your territories and guard them well. Wei Qingbin won’t strike only at me.”

Though the wine still flowed thick, neither dared delay—they took their leave.

After Er Zhu Rong marched south and seized Si Province, he claimed the lion’s share of the conquered lands; the two greatest beneficiaries besides him were Yuan Tianmu and Li Shuang.

After the two departed, Er Zhu Rong looked down at his array of imposing Er Zhu clan youths and, seething inside, spat:

“A pack of fools—take off your armor! You’re making a mockery of yourselves!”

Si Province, Jiuyuan.

Si Province was established in the seventh year of Tai Ping Zhen Jun under the Northern Wei; its provincial seat was Jiuyuan City.

Several years ago, Jiuyuan City had undergone expansion, but the Wanzi Qizhen Rebellion had ravaged it, leaving the city a shadow of its former self.

After marching south, Er Zhu Rong focused entirely on developing Xiurong Commandery, paying little heed to this city.

Taking advantage of Er Zhu Rong’s distraction, Wei Qingbin rode in with his staff, swiftly seizing control of the provincial capital.

Inside the Inspector’s Office.

Wei Qingbin sat upright; his Chief Clerk, Yao He, approached with a ledger in hand.

Er Zhu Rong’s southern advance had alarmed the court, prompting them to send Wei Qingbin to counterbalance him.

Wei Qingbin was no fool—he dispatched spies ahead while Er Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu were campaigning against Suhe Poluan Xian.

Once all was prepared, he made his move, catching Er Zhu Rong completely off guard.

The ledger in Yao He’s hands recorded the crimes of the Er Zhu clan youths.

“How goes it?”

“The Er Zhu clan’s land seizures, oppression of the people—evidence and witnesses are all thoroughly documented.”

Wei Qingbin took the ledger, glanced through it, and sneered at the list of Er Zhu clan crimes.

“What of Yuan Tianmu?”

“Yuan Tianmu hasn’t acted as recklessly as the Er Zhu youths, but there are still over a dozen cases of his retainers seizing farmland and assaulting women. I’ve gathered the witnesses too.”

Yao He’s face was cold, his tone mechanical.

Wei Qingbin listened, then let out a cold laugh.

“This brat has never been well-bred; his reputation and character have always been mediocre. I thought joining the army and heading north might reform him—but instead, he’s become Er Zhu Rong’s sworn brother. What a disgrace to the imperial clan.”

Wei Qingbin continued flipping through the ledger, skimming quickly until he reached the end, puzzled.

“Where’s that little bandit Li Shuang?”

Yao He’s expression finally flickered; he bowed.

“Your Excellency, forgive me—I’ve investigated for days but found no evidence of that brat’s crimes.”

Wei Qingbin’s face showed surprise.

“He’s just a mountain bandit—seized land, robbed homes—surely someone must have complaints?”

“Your Excellency, all tens of thousands of acres around Taipingzhuang have been planted this spring. Moreover, they’ve built several waterwheels, installed sluice gates, diverted the Ketuo River into reservoirs, and channeled water through irrigation ditches. Everywhere I’ve seen, the fields are fertile, the people content.”

“Could such a thing be true?”

As Wei Qingbin marveled, his bodyguard entered to report.

“Your Excellency, Er Zhu Rong has arrived!”

“Did he come alone?”

“He brought Er Zhu clan youths with him.”

“Tell them to wait—bring Er Zhu Ying’e in first!”

Er Zhu Ying’e had not been mistreated severely, but she was far from well-treated.

Shaozong the Swift Blade stood beside her; as soon as they entered the room, her suppressed emotions erupted.

“What crime have I committed? Why have you arrested me?”

Wei Qingbin sneered.

“You sneaked into the imperial pasture and rode to hunt—was that not a crime?”

“That was just wasteland—no one lived there anymore.”

“Law is law. If you moved to a new home and left your old house empty, unoccupied for years, would it be right for someone else to move in and claim it as their own?”

“You’re twisting the truth!”

Shaozong the Swift Blade seized the furious Er Zhu Ying’e, bowing low.

“Your Excellency is right—we acknowledge our fault!”

But Shaozong’s humility did not appease Wei Qingbin—it only provoked him further.

“Your Murong clan is a great family. Your ancestors Murong Ke and Murong Chui were heroes. Yet now your descendants sink to clinging to the Er Zhu clan.”

Though Shaozong the Swift Blade was usually quiet and kind, these words stirred anger within him.

Wei Qingbin turned again to Er Zhu Ying’e.

“Your mother, Lady Yuan, came from a fallen house and was forced to marry Er Zhu Rong. But you carry imperial blood. Don’t waste your beauty by adopting the barbaric ways of Er Zhu Rong.”

“How dare you speak of my father like that?”

Er Zhu Ying’e had grown up in Er Zhu Chuan, surrounded by praise for her father; she saw him as her role model.

Yet the Er Zhu Rong famed across the steppe was now painted as something else in this General’s mouth.

“Just a horse-breeding barbarian!”

Emperor Xiaowen’s sinicization reforms had ranked the eight Xianbei clans alongside the four Han clans as the highest aristocratic tier.

Wei Qingbin was one of the most fervent supporters of these reforms.

Why? His own surname, Wei, was originally one of the eight Xianbei clans—originally Weichi.

Wei Qingbin’s grandfather, Wei Juan, had served under Emperor Mingyuan Tuoba Si, and later, under Emperor Taiwu Tuoba Tao, rose to the Eight Seats, overseeing state secrets.

His family was purebred Xianbei, true Northern Wei nobility—utterly distinct from the peripheral tribes like the Er Zhu.

At that moment, Er Zhu Rong entered and saw the atmosphere—he knew what had happened.

“Your Excellency.”

“Why have you come?”

“I recently discovered that my Er Zhu clan youths, emboldened by their battlefield merits, have committed many crimes. I’ve brought them here to be punished as Your Excellency sees fit.”

Wei Qingbin looked down at the humble Er Zhu Rong and said coldly:

“Understood. Leave.”

Seeing her father treated like a servant and dismissed so casually, Er Zhu Ying’e stepped forward, outraged.

“Father, why grovel like this? Do you know what that old man just said about you?”

“Silence! Do not disrespect Your Excellency!”

Er Zhu Rong roared.

Er Zhu Ying’e had never seen her father so furious—her eyes instantly filled with tears.

“This daughter is unruly—I illegally entered the imperial pasture and committed a grave offense. I beg Your Excellency to punish me!”

“I did nothing wrong!”

Wei Qingbin’s expression darkened.

“Stubborn and incorrigible—lock her in the prison cell. Keep her under close watch.”

Er Zhu Rong heard this, gritted his teeth, his chest burning with rage—but he said nothing, swallowed the insult, his face grim.

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

Er Zhu Rong said no more, and left with Shaozong the Swift Blade.

Yao He stepped forward, whispering:

“Yuan Tianmu has sent a formal petition requesting an audience with you.”

“Refuse. A disgraceful creature.”

Having established his authority through Er Zhu Rong, Wei Qingbin tossed the ledger aside and said:

“I’d like to see just who this Li Shuang really is.”