Chapter 182: Faint Evening Glow (Repaying Debts)

After arriving in Handan, the Zhao capital, there was a reason Gongsun Xun always felt restless and uneasy.

First, whether viewed through certain strange doctrines learned from Lady Gongsun, what Gongsun Xun witnessed with his own eyes, or the feedback from Wang Xiu, the Zhao Kingdom—or Handan—before his eyes had major problems... At the very least, sharp class contradictions were unavoidable, not to mention a State Chancellor who had been in office nearly two years yet did absolutely nothing.

And under such circumstances, the hollowing-out of the Zhao King’s and the Zhao King’s Tutor’s authority, the bizarre existence of someone like Xiang Xu, and even Zhao Ping—who had Zhao Zhong backing him—voluntarily shrinking back, all directly resulted in Gongsun Xun having no simple and effective means to swiftly seize the core power of Zhao Kingdom!

Indeed, it was merely that there was no simple and effective means—not that there was no way at all... In fact, Gongsun Xun could perfectly well do as Wang Xiu suggested: start from the duties of the Handan Magistrate, uphold the law and morality, and through harshly striking down those who obstruct and hinder, drag out those who had usurped power.

He could, of course, also settle his mind, go into the villages, walk among the lanes and alleys, and from the bottom up, thoroughly sort out the inner workings inside and outside Handan city—then naturally nothing could remain concealed any longer.

There were even other methods: commandery clerks, established clans, local strongmen... If power did not rest in the hands of the Zhao King, the State Tutor, the State Chancellor, or the eunuchs’ protégés, could it possibly escape the grasp of these people? So without resorting to anything else, simply summon everyone to a banquet, then shut the doors, set up a new-style Anli-brand large iron pot in the middle, and whoever talked nonsense would be thrown in—no need even for a ding cauldron—and he refused to believe this crowd would dare cause trouble!

Every kind of method, the Kingly Way and the Hegemonic Way, all readily available.

To put it plainly, the reason Gongsun Xun found it hard to accept was not that the situation was impossibly difficult, but rather that after easily annihilating Goguryeo—destroying a state, razing its walls, and being enfeoffed as a Marquis—he could not help but grow somewhat arrogant and complacent, and had also acquired a measure of indolence... He felt everyone ought to revere and submit to him, and that every matter should be resolved as easily as reaching out his hand.

But then again, over all these years, thanks to Lady Gongsun’s reasonably diligent education, and the fact that there were always some good teachers, helpful friends, and fine subordinates around him, Gongsun Xun had walked step by step from a reckless border commandery youth to his present status with purple ribbon and gold seal. At the very least, he had never failed at a critical moment—whether in holding to the correct stance or in staking everything on a desperate gamble, he was still admirable.

And so, availing himself of Wang Xiu’s admonition, this time Gongsun Xun finally settled his mind, prepared to act on multiple fronts, and properly purge and cleanse this Handan.

By early the next morning, the newly appointed Magistrate of Handan County summoned all the county clerks of Handan County. First, he publicly affixed his seal, issuing an official document to that man called Wang Xiu granting him “exclusive authority over county affairs,” making him fully responsible for receiving and inspecting the official business of every bureau in the county. Then, this Magistrate declared repeatedly that he was going on a tour of inspection of the county, and also ordered the two Handan County Commandants who controlled the county troops to prepare carriages, horses, and regalia, and then prepared to leave the city directly.

It must be understood that this Magistrate was a rare Marquis of a Village, and certainly could not be outfitted according to the mere status of a thousand-dan county magistrate. So the county troops and official carriages were practically emptied out, and they even borrowed many commandery troops, carriages, and horses from the commandery, only then barely assembling enough personnel and regalia according to protocol... And then, he directly left the city!

In doing this, Gongsun Xun naturally intended to lure the tiger from the mountain—if the county troops and the County Commandants were all taken away, then when Wang Xiu made big moves inside the city, it would reduce considerable resistance and avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

Moreover, there was also a sense of paying someone back in their own coin... Wasn’t it said that Xiang Xu lay high upon his bed, so that Gongsun Xun could find no one in charge to deal with? Very well, then in a couple of days, when a band of border commandery youths, knives in hand and riding white horses, launched a large-scale investigation of county governance, certain people would probably also find no place to go and reason with anyone.

Beyond this, Gongsun Xun had a vague sense of handing things over entirely to Wang Xiu, to test him a little... He wanted to see just how much substance this man—who without doubt ranked last among the scholars under his command—truly possessed!

Of course, returning to the essence of the matter, regardless of anything else, it was only natural and proper for a local chief official newly arrived at his post to tour and inspect his jurisdiction... Unavoidable!

Carriages rumbled, horses neighed. After leaving the city, Gongsun Xun’s first stop was the flourishing area south of Handan city.

As mentioned before, Handan city and Ye city, several dozen li to the south, together formed the core metropolitan area of Hebei. This region, a hundred li in circumference, besides the two great metropolises, also included several large counties such as Liangqi, Quliang, Yiyang, Guangping, and Wu’an. If one also counted smaller towns like Pingyang and Wu cities, it appeared even more prosperous... Truly the very essence of the entire Hebei region in this era.

And probably precisely because of this, although Gongsun Xun’s procession was grand, the farmers weeding in the fields and on the paths, the girls picking mulberry leaves, and even the merchants and travelers on the road were all merely curious, not frightened.

Gongsun Xun was also particularly satisfied with this—no one dislikes a place full of vitality, and even more so as a local chief official, seeing his jurisdiction thriving and flourishing naturally earned his special approval.

After inspecting a post station on the South Gate Avenue and bidding farewell to the Post Chief as he came out, Gongsun Xun suddenly recalled the events of the previous day and casually asked: “Yesterday, when Zhao Ping and that woman of the Qin clan stirred up trouble and were encountered by my personal guards—was that place nearby?”

“In reply to the Magistrate,” the Post Chief, who had come out to see him off, naturally knew of this matter. “It was precisely on that village lane to the east, the place next to that grove of mulberry trees.”

Gongsun Xun immediately nodded: “That being the case, the Qin clan to which that Qin woman belongs also resides nearby?”

“In reply to the Magistrate, the Qin clan indeed resides in Fubei Village under this post’s jurisdiction. This village is named because before the Fuyang River changed its course in former days, it lay southeast of Handan city—a hundred years have passed since then. And the Qin clan has also been established southeast of Handan city for over a hundred years.” This Post Chief was remarkably familiar with the Qin clan’s circumstances.

“Since that is so, as I am going into the villages to inspect anyway, I might as well go take a look in this Fubei Village.” Gongsun Xun directly boarded his carriage and quite casually decided on the next destination.

Naturally, no one had anything to say. The Post Chief even led out a horse and personally acted as guide for the Magistrate who had just taken office and already frightened the Director of the Retinue, and in accordance with his duties, provided some additional introductions.

It turned out that the Qin clan from which that Qin woman came could barely be considered a “great household” locally in Handan. At the very least, half of Fubei Village, located southeast of Handan, was inhabited by the Qin clan, and most of the farmland nearby southeast of the city was also the Qin clan’s property.

Moreover, members of the family had served as commandery clerks and county clerks; among the younger generation, some had reputations as wandering swordsmen, and some were quite versed in poetry and letters. The clan also possessed two workshops and had a branch clan in Quliang County of Wei Commandery to the east... Calculated thus, they were naturally one of the foremost great households under this post’s jurisdiction.

Of course, this “great household” was only great locally; without anyone serving as a court-appointed official or a prominent clerk, they counted at best as third-rate within Handan city.

The carriage arrived at Fubei Village. Members of the Qin clan, having received word, hurried out to welcome him.

And what was interesting was that, probably because the previous day’s events made the Qin clan feel this newly appointed “Marquis Magistrate” was a man who upheld the law, even though quite a few of these people surnamed Qin had once served as ranked clerks, those standing before the village gate holding brooms to welcome him were only the village chief and the village gatekeeper of Fubei Village... However, the village chief was still surnamed Qin, of course.

Even more, after everyone had finished the greeting ceremonies before the village gate, the Township Ranked Official (the chief official of a prosperous township; a Se Fu was the chief of a smaller township, analogous to a County Magistrate and a County Chief) who arrived in haste also introduced himself as surnamed Qin.

“Since the township and village officials are all surnamed Qin, why is the Post Chief not surnamed Qin?” Gongsun Xun also found this amusing. “I recall the Post Chief just now said his own surname was Wang?”

“In reply to the Magistrate,” the local Post Chief Wang naturally understood the young Magistrate’s meaning, but dared not conceal anything. “This humble clerk’s wife is surnamed Qin.”

“Very well then!”

Gongsun Xun threw back his head and laughed, then strode with head high and hands clasped behind his back directly into the village.

Sure enough, after entering through the south-facing village gate, on the left-hand side were all low earthen houses, with only the occasional household possessing a somewhat tidy courtyard; whereas the right-hand side, with excellent sunlight, consisted entirely of proper houses of brick and timber construction—not only were they arranged in a pleasing, staggered manner, but among the several gateways occupying larger plots in the middle, there were even multi-story buildings.

The sun rises in the eastern corner, shining upon the towers of my Qin clan... Beyond this, the distinction between the left-side poor and the right-side powerful was also clear at a glance.

It was just before noon, and unlike the right-side households, all of which had people about, the left-side commoners’ dwellings were utterly silent... Considering the season, the men were clearly all out in the fields weeding, and the women were all picking mulberry leaves.

From the two County Commandants down to the local Qin clan magnates, no one knew what this young noble’s temper was truly like. But from the fragmentary glimpses seen the day before, plus Gongsun Xun’s background and record laid out before them, these people could only imagine him to be decisive, ruthless, harsh, and domineering... Now, seeing this Magistrate disregarding convention and merely standing in the village looking around in all directions, they were all inwardly uneasy.

“Magistrate,” an older member of the Qin clan who had once served as a commandery clerk was pushed forward by the others and could only brace himself and offer greetings. “The Magistrate has toiled on his inspection tour; why not enter our Qin clan’s house and sit at ease? Though our home has no broad gate or high lintel, it is at least clean. The village Thrice Venerable of virtue and the youths learned in letters will arrive shortly.”

“No need.”

As Gongsun Xun spoke, he directly took several steps forward, then pushed open the door of a low earthen house on the left-hand side and walked in... Perhaps because in these times the outer village gate provided shelter, or perhaps because the household had nothing of value, or even more likely because they simply could not afford a lock, the houses on the left side were generally without any obstruction.

The crowd behind looked at each other in dismay. Even the two County Commandants who had accompanied him were extremely nervous, yet the doorway of this poor family’s home was narrow, and one of the Magistrate’s personal guards had followed him inside, so the rest could hardly crowd around after them.

“A house with nothing but four bare walls, barely able to scrape by.” A moment later, Gongsun Xun came out holding a dirty earthenware jar. He glanced at it in the courtyard sunlight, helpless, then stuffed the jar into his attendant’s hands. “Put a few coins in it, as a token of apology for the disturbance.”

That was the most deeply hidden earthenware jar beneath the bed planks in the room, pressed down by a clod of earth, yet inside there were only a few handfuls of old millet.

Inside the village gate, outside the earthen house, from the County Commandants down to the Qin clan members, this crowd had never seen such a scene before. Witnessing this, they only grew more fearful and apprehensive.

“The Magistrate, moved by observing the people’s livelihood, must surely have some instruction to impart. We are willing to listen with respectful attention.” Left with no choice, that Qin clan elder could only brace himself once more and speak.

“What instruction is there to impart?” Gongsun Xun immediately shook his head. “However, since you all happen to be surnamed Qin, and seeing with my own eyes the distinction between the left-side poor and the right-side powerful so starkly drawn, I cannot help but sigh with emotion... Tell me, why was it that in those days when the tyrannical Qin held power, the nobles of the Six States east of the mountains repeatedly failed to rebel, yet in the end it was Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, a band of left-side commoners and men of the wilds, who raised their arms and rallied the call, destroying the Qin clan’s realm? And yet, in our present dynasty, why must we instead rely heavily on the powerful right-side families to sustain the villages? Between the left-side poor and the right-side powerful, which are truly the pillars of the realm?”

The crowd behind him looked at one another in bewilderment.

It was not that these leading figures of the Qin clan could not understand these words—after all, quite a few among them had studied and served as commandery clerks—but rather that they could not fathom this Magistrate’s intent. Moreover, this question was clearly directed at their own Qin clan with some implication, so they dared not answer rashly... Fearing that one misstep would invite disaster.

But since a superior had asked, how could it be evaded? Even if others could evade it, that leading Qin clan member could not.

And so, this Qin clan elder, who had served as a commandery clerk and understood the stakes, could only force himself to kneel and beg pardon: “In reply to the Magistrate, though we of the Qin clan are the dominant surname in this village, we have never committed acts of oppressing the people. Living together in this village for a hundred years, we have always dealt with one another by morality, in peace and without incident. We would never commit acts of devouring our fellow villagers.”

“Let us assume for the moment that you are a virtuous and esteemed clan,” Gongsun Xun said dismissively, standing on the open ground before the earthen house. “But accumulated abuses over time—some matters are beyond the control of mere morality. The Township Ranked Official, the Post Chief, the Village Chief—all are men of your clan. To say nothing else, in matters of tax levies and corvée labor, lawsuits and disputes, monopolies and exclusive sales, do not all the benefits go entirely to your Qin clan, and all the harms entirely to the left-side households? Over time, even if your Qin clan has no intention of harming the people, the common folk around you will find their lives growing harder day by day because of you... In those days, Cai Yong, Cai Bojie, submitted a memorial to the Son of Heaven, saying that the Law of Mutual Avoidance caused many vacancies in You and Ji provinces. That was the view of a bookworm. Some positions are better left vacant than filled carelessly; some laws, even as the state grows increasingly unable to sustain them, must still be upheld.”

“Does the Magistrate mean... that we of the Qin clan should resign from the local township and post positions?” The Qin clan elder could only respond in this manner. “They are but petty offices with a pittance of a salary. We are willing to obey your command.”

“Forget it.” Gongsun Xun clasped his hands behind his back and gave a long sigh, appearing utterly listless. “Looking at the situation before us, if within the villages your Qin clan does not hold these township and post offices, who else could? If we let those from the left-side households do it, they probably cannot even read, and cannot even make sense of the laws and decrees. Moreover, the more propertyless a man is, the more cunning and unsteady his heart; perhaps they would oppress the common people even more rampantly. And if we let other powerful clans do it, how could they possibly compare to a century-old great clan like yours, which understands prudence and knows to leave some leeway?”

The Qin clan members all breathed a sigh of relief... In truth, how could they bear to give up these so-called petty offices with a pittance of a salary? After all, as this Magistrate had said, these low-level clerk positions held the power over village tax levies and corvée labor, lawsuits and disputes, monopolies and exclusive sales. These were essential for a family’s growth and expansion, and for maintaining their own standing.

Over several centuries, it was precisely by holding these grassroots positions of authority that the powerful right-side families had been able to establish themselves locally, and then proceed to annex and expand on a grand scale—it had all become an established norm.

However, among these people surnamed Qin, there were also some young and hot-blooded ones. Even as they breathed a sigh of relief, they could not help but feel resentment... In their view, perhaps they themselves might unconsciously engage in acts of oppressing the left-side poor, but did not the officials above them oppress them, the great households of the countryside? Had not the Director of the Retinue, Zhao Ping, just yesterday directly blocked their clan’s treasured Luofu on the mulberry path, preparing to forcibly take her as a concubine? Was such an act not even more despicable?!

In the final analysis, layer oppresses layer—who is any cleaner than whom?

If the person before them were not a Marquis with a purple cord and gold seal, and also the County Magistrate of Handan County itself, then based on those words just spoken, he would certainly have been beaten and thrown out.

"Speaking of which," Gongsun Xun seemed to recall the earlier matter as well, so he looked again toward the tall building on the right and said, "Yesterday the Prince of Zhao suddenly summoned me, and I did not get to conclude the case. Did your family's Qin Luofu return home safely, and was she frightened?"

"Many thanks to the County Lord for upholding justice impartially." A middle-aged man of the Qin clan stepped forward and praised him with an ingratiating smile. "My young daughter is unharmed, and being naturally innocent and lively, she went out early this morning with the wives and sisters of the clan to pick mulberry leaves in the fields."

"That is good." Gongsun Xun finally managed to brighten a little. "Rest assured, as long as I am in Handan for a single day, it will never be the turn of someone like Zhao Ping to run rampant..."

"Yes."

"Speaking of farming and sericulture, how much can the best fields south of the city yield per mu?"

"In reply to the County Lord, one mu yields three dan of millet — this is the local norm."

"And poor land?"

"Also three dan... there is no poor land south of the city."

"Why is that?"

"In the early years of this dynasty, Lord Bai served as Chancellor of Zhao and built irrigation works along the Fuyang River, constructing canals and ditches that remain unobstructed to this day. Therefore, from south of Handan city to the Fuyang River at the border with Wei Commandery, all is fine fertile land, guaranteed harvest in both drought and flood... According to the records our Qin clan has kept over a hundred years here, barring corvée labor, banditry, or plague, there has never been a shortfall."

"All such fine fields — then according to the dynasty's method of gaining profit through commerce and securing the family through agriculture, this place should have gathered a great number of large and powerful households, yes?"

"Truly as the County Lord says." Seeing that the County Magistrate was beginning to show some serious intent to 'inquire into local customs,' this Qin clan elder could not help but open up a little. "In truth, although Handan was the ancient capital of the Zhao Kingdom, it was originally only a strategically advantageous place backed by mountains and facing the river. Its connection to Yecheng, growing daily in prosperity until the two were called the Twin Capitals, actually began with Lord Bai... The fields here are extremely good, and Yecheng is the hub between Hebei and Henan. Over time, the wealthy households and heroes of Yecheng all came here to acquire property, gradually making Handan flourish."

"Your honored clan claims a hundred-year foothold here — presumably you also migrated here in a similar fashion?" Gongsun Xun suddenly interjected.

"The County Lord is perceptive." The other party immediately smiled wryly and admitted it. "The various clans have been established here for many years, and everyone knows each other's roots — there is nothing to hide... Our Qin clan was originally nothing more than traveling merchants, trading back and forth to Yecheng. After making a profit, we acquired property here and multiplied. However, precisely because of this, the other local clans all look down on our Qin clan. Even though the Qin clan has been rooted here for a hundred years, diligently cultivating our sons' and younger members' studies, we have still never managed to produce a single six-hundred-dan court-appointed official. My serving as a Chief Clerk in the commandery was already the limit across several generations."

"And what of merchants? I lost my father as a child, and it was my mother's merchant trade that raised me." Gongsun Xun could only laugh it off.

Is that the same thing? The people around could not help but smile wryly. Your clan has been a great border commandery family of two-thousand-dan rank for generations, and moreover it was only your widowed mother alone who engaged in such matters...

Gongsun Xun naturally understood what these people were thinking, and he sighed inwardly, but then suddenly changed the subject: "In truth, the powerful families of the realm come from no more than four origins: first, the ancient pre-Qin nobility; second, officials retiring from office and returning home or relocating; third, merchants who used their profits to reclaim land; and last, local strongmen who annexed by force... Before I came to Zhao, I already knew that Zhao has the three established clans of Wei, Handan, and Li, as well as four prominent powerful families — Wang, Zhang, Lu, and Shen — who are quite well-known. Since you say the various clans have been established here for many years and know each other's roots thoroughly, can you tell me what their origins are?"

The Qin clan elder felt a stir in his heart and actually froze for a moment before replying to this extremely simple question, which was also a routine inquiry during a commandery or county chief's inspection tour:

"In reply to the County Lord, this is also quite simple. Among the various clans of the kingdom, the Wei clan is preeminent — their family's prominence is surely known to the County Lord. And according to the County Lord's classification, the Wei clan likely has both the first and second origins... Their family was originally descendants of the Wei royal house in Yanzhou, south of the Yellow River. Later, in this dynasty, they turned to classical scholarship. An ancestor served a term as Grand Administrator of Wei Commandery, and after leaving office, settled in Handan, north of Yecheng."

Gongsun Xun nodded slightly. He naturally knew the details of the Handan Wei clan. As things currently stood, the previous clan head had served as one of the Nine Ministers, as Superintendent of the Imperial Household. There were also two current two-thousand-dan officials: one was the current clan head Wei Qing, who had just been appointed Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat (deputy to the Director of the Imperial Secretariat) with the additional title of Palace Attendant; the other was Wei Qing's younger brother Wei Song, who had previously served a term as Chancellor of the Lu Kingdom and was now at home after being dismissed from office over some matter, effectively managing clan affairs. And the two commandery clerks earlier had said that last year everyone jointly recommended the Wei clan's Qilin son as Filial and Incorrupt — that referred to Wei Qing's son, who was now said to have gone to court to serve as a Gentleman Cadet, coincidentally in the same cohort as his own clansman Gongsun Zan.

As for the other clans, though they were said to be of equal renown, even combined they might not match the Wei clan's prominence. And Gongsun Xun had already inquired about such matters thoroughly back in Boren when he met his senior fellow apprentice Shen Yu.

"As for the Handan clan and the Li clan," the Qin clan elder continued with a smile, "they are standard examples of the first origin. The Handan clan, taking Handan as their name, were originally a cadet branch of the Zhao ruling house, and the Zhao Kingdom's Li clan are descendants of Li Mu... both are indigenous great clans that have persisted locally for five or six hundred years."

Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly, but was not particularly concerned... As mentioned before, although the Handan and Li clans were ranked alongside the Wei clan, they were only brought in to make up the numbers because of their long histories. Moreover, the gap between these two families was also quite large: the Handan clan had a larger population, spread throughout the Zhao Kingdom, and had at least produced one two-thousand-dan official — with some effort this generation might produce another; as for the Li clan, the highest they had ever produced was merely a thousand-dan county magistrate, and they could only hold their heads high by relying on their ancestor's name.

Of course, this was also Gongsun Xun failing to recognize true worth... This Zhao Kingdom Li clan would later endure for a thousand years, and together with his teacher Lu Zhi's family and Wang Yun's family, would be ranked among the so-called Five Surnames and Seven Preeminent Clans, while the Wei and Handan clans would vanish into the long river of history — such is the unpredictability of worldly affairs.

Of course, that was a matter for later times, and it might not necessarily come true again.

"And as for the four families of Wang, Zhang, Lu, and Shen," this Qin clan elder continued, "they are neither pre-Qin nobility, nor retired officials of this dynasty, nor of merchant origin from humble households like our Qin clan... Otherwise, how could they stand a head above our Qin clan?"

At these words, the faces of the other Qin clan members all turned pale. They had no idea why their clan elder, who had always been so capable, would say such a thing... Was this not publicly declaring that these four families ran rampant and lawless, relying entirely on forcibly annexing the countryside to achieve their current power? If these words spread with so many county soldiers present, how could it end well?

In fact, the two County Commandants had long since turned green and red in the face.

However, upon hearing this, Gongsun Xun merely laughed in spite of himself and made no comment.

After laughing, he did not linger any longer, but waved his hand and strode loftily out of the village gate, then ordered the procession to turn toward the northwest of Handan city. It was clear that he had lost interest in the wealthy areas south and east of the city, and was preparing to go see the poorest and most miserable places in Handan County.

This trip lasted a full three days.

And during these three days, Handan city had already descended into chaos.

"Is this the home of Shen Meng, the Commandery Merit Evaluator? Is Shen Meng present?" In broad daylight, a group of warriors riding white horses and equipped with swords and bows kicked open the village gate with a crash, then surrounded a courtyard with a tall building facing the street in the city, front and back. "County clerks have confessed, saying that at your instruction they altered the tax account books. Come with us quickly to the county office to see Special Commissioner Wang and explain this matter!"

Shen Meng's home was located in the most prosperous part of Handan, so on a tall building across the street, a large number of interested parties quickly gathered, then clustered together, looking down from above at the scene opposite, discussing animatedly, each in their own state of fear.

"It's over — even Chief Clerk Shen's household is going to suffer!"

"Rounding up all the county clerks is one thing — after all, they belong to Handan County, and no one can say much. But Chief Clerk Shen is a prominent official of the kingdom directly subordinate to the Chancellor, and the Shen clan is a great family in the kingdom. How can they just arrest him?"

"They even dared to kill Wang Fu and Duan Jiong, and could destroy an entire kingdom — how would they not dare arrest one Merit Evaluator?!"

"But where is the principle of a county lording it over a kingdom? Isn't this arrogance going too far?!"

"Where is the Chancellor?! If the Chancellor were here, he could naturally reason with him, but the Chancellor is in that state..."

"To have such a formidable figure come to our Zhao Kingdom, and the Chancellor just happens to be in that state — we are truly unlucky!"

"Didn't you say before that the Chancellor being in that state was just right?"

"When did I ever say that... don't slander me."

However, what soon brought these people to an abrupt halt was that, probably because Shen Meng was getting on in years and his several sons were accustomed to acting imperiously, at this moment they actually blocked the main gate, set up barricades, and directly resisted questioning. Even more, Shen Meng's third son had led some able-bodied household members armed with bows, arrows, swords, and blades up onto the street-facing tower to threaten them.

This group of white-horse warriors lacked the means to assault fortifications and were forced into a temporary stalemate.

The people on the street scattered far away but did not hide far off, while those in the building opposite, though each was silent, all watched this scene with a trace of excitement, secretly hoping that Shen Meng's sons could block this evil wind from Handan County...

It must be said, three days ago, the new Handan County Magistrate Gongsun Xun had taken away the two County Commandants and most of the county soldiers, then disappeared without a trace into the hilly area northwest of the county. Meanwhile, that Special Commissioner Wang, who had received the County Magistrate's written order to take over county affairs, was meticulous. From criminal cases to lawsuits, from tax assessments to corvée labor, from promotions to dismissals, he had conscientiously sifted through every matter in the county.

To be honest, in this world, everything fears conscientiousness — let alone things that were already a complete mess.

And so, the county clerks within Handan County suffered utter calamity. Faced with account books and case files riddled with holes, virtually none of the current heads and deputy clerks of the various bureaus escaped. One after another, these border commandery warriors from You and Bing provinces broke down their doors, rounded them all up, and efficiently tossed them into the county jail. At once, ugly talk began to spread, saying that the border commandery barbarians were giving the people of Zhao no way to live... And now, as if the county's own rectification was not enough, they were even following the clues and beginning to implicate people outside the county.

How could this not cause panic among the great clans and commandery officials throughout Handan, high and low?

And interestingly, amid the panic, those strange complaints could no longer be heard.

"Special Commissioner Wang is here." At someone's shout, a group of white horses came trotting lightly from the distant street, and the person being escorted was none other than the city's most notorious figure of recent days, Wang Xiu, Wang Shuzhi. His appearance also made the people in the buildings on both sides of the long street either tense or excited.

"Is Chief Clerk Shen at home?" Wang Xiu dismounted directly on the street and then raised his voice to inquire.

"My father is indeed at home, but he will not go with you!" Shen Zhi, the third son of the Shen family, who was standing on the street-facing tower holding a naked blade, directly showed his face and loudly rebuked them. "If you want to enter our family gate, you must first kill us brothers!"

"Special Commissioner Wang!" Another person leaned out — it was Shen Jing, the second son of the Shen family. "It is not that we maliciously resist the law, but commandery and county are distinct. My father is a prominent official in the commandery kingdom, holding the post of Merit Evaluator. If your county's case implicates my father, please have the county submit a document to the Chancellor. Once the Chancellor issues an official notice, we will naturally have nothing to say."

"Special Commissioner Wang." After the previous two had withdrawn back into the tower, another person — Shen Ning, the eldest son of the Shen family — also appeared on the street-facing building. He cupped his hands slightly toward the street below. "Special Commissioner Wang, it is not that we wish to oppose the Marquis of Wulu. We are well aware of the Marquis of Wulu's achievements and reputation. But our elderly father is already over sixty, and those whom Special Commissioner Wang has summoned these past days have almost all been thrown into the county jail... As sons, how can we sit by and watch our elderly father fall into prison? Moreover, you are merely the Marquis of Wulu's specially appointed county administrator. Such heavy-handedness — is this truly the Marquis of Wulu's own intent? Why not wait until the Marquis of Wulu returns from his county inspection to settle this matter?"

"These three sons of the Shen family each have their merits," someone in the building opposite could not help but stroke his beard and sigh. "The third son has courage, the second has law, the eldest has filial piety... It seems the Shen family is about to flourish greatly!"

The people around also nodded in agreement, but then fixed their eyes intently on the 'Special Commissioner Wang' on the street below, who had been quietly waiting for the Shen brothers to finish speaking.

"What the three of you say all has reason." Wang Xiu stood below the building with his hands clasped and answered upward. "However, I am entrusted by my lord and Marquis to specially administer county governance. If I wait for his return with nothing to show for it, I fear I will also have no way to account for myself. So, worthy brothers, how about this — since your esteemed father is advanced in years, there is no need for him to go to the county office to confront the Household Bureau. I will personally enter your home and ask a few questions, just to see if he still remembers these past matters. What do you think?"

He's backing down!

Who knows how many people in the buildings on either side of the long street felt a surge of secret delight, and conveniently let out a long breath of relief.

And in the Shen family’s building, after a brief argument, the eldest son Shen Ning once again leaned out, gave a dry laugh, and cupped his hands in salute: “Since Special Clerk Wang is willing to visit our home as a guest, how could we brothers fail to treat him with courtesy? It’s just that those volunteer followers of the Marquis of Wulu outside the gate are mostly fierce men from the border commanderies, and our father is advanced in years and his vitality is weak…”

“How many of you brothers are there?” Wang Xiu suddenly laughed and looked up to ask.

“Uh, three…”

“I will also bring only three people inside to make inquiries. The rest will withdraw beyond the ward gate and simply wait on the street… How does that sound?”

“In that case… excellent!” Upstairs, Shen Ning pondered for a moment, then glanced at the guests and retainers packed into the courtyard and building of his own home, and his heart was set at ease.

“Good!”

“Now this is good!”

“The Shen brothers truly have courage, resourcefulness, propriety, and restraint. In the future, there will surely be a place for these brothers in Zhao State!”

The commandery clerks and sons of great households in the building opposite now congratulated one another, while inwardly giving the Shen brothers a silent thumbs-up.

And indeed, the Special Clerk Wang below proved true to his word. The group of White Horse Volunteers sullenly withdrew from inside the ward gate, and then only three men accompanied Wang Xiu to the Shen family’s front gate.

“Remove the barricades, open the main gate!” Seeing the people on the upper floor and atop the walls all nodding in agreement, the eldest son of the Shen family, Shen Ning, let out his last breath of tension. “Let us invite this Special Clerk Wang inside, and treat him with courtesy… However, those on the walls and in the upper floor are not to come down. Put away your bows and arrows, grip your sword hilts, and continue to keep careful watch.”

The assembled guests and retainers all voiced their assent.

Removing the barricades behind the gate took quite some time, but outside the gate, Wang Xiu stood before it with Qian Zhao, Yang Kai, and Wei Yue, showing not the slightest impatience.

“Special Clerk Wang, we have kept you waiting.” As soon as the gate opened, Shen Ning took the initiative to cup his hands and apologize. “Please, come inside.”

Wang Xiu nodded slightly, ignored the sturdy men gripping swords and carrying bows on the surrounding walls, and walked directly to the center of the courtyard, where he suddenly stopped and advanced no further.

“Hmm, what does Special Clerk Wang mean by this?” Shen Ning was momentarily puzzled.

“You are the eldest son of the Shen family, are you not?” Wang Xiu asked, his hands tucked into his sleeves. “Just now on the street, were there not two others who questioned me from on high? One of them was even carrying a weapon. Now that I have entered your courtyard alone, why do I not see the other two come out to meet me? Could it be that they look down on me? Or do they look down on my lord marquis?”

“What are you saying?” Shen Ning glanced at the many family members and guests to his left and right, and could not help but give another dry laugh. “How could rustic folk like us dare look down on the Marquis of Wulu? However, just now we brothers were indeed somewhat discourteous, and we truly ought to apologize to Special Clerk Wang… Both of you, come down!”

As soon as he spoke, two figures emerged from the adjacent building facing the street. It was clear that the youngest, the third brother lagging behind, had just tucked his saber into his belt, and his mouth was still muttering something unsavory. He was clearly unwilling and resentful, only going through the motions to save face because of his two elder brothers.

Of course, in the view of the two elder Shen brothers, this Special Clerk Wang had already backed down on the larger issue, so they could not confront him head-on anymore. Otherwise, when the marquis returned, even if they invited the top dignitaries in the state to mediate, the matter might not be settled amicably.

Shen Ning even thought that his brothers’ conduct this time could be called courageous, resourceful, proper, and restrained, clearly putting this Special Clerk Wang in his place. And when the Marquis of Wulu returned and heard of this affair, he might even take a liking to them… In that case, wouldn’t they become colleagues with this Special Clerk Wang? If so, it was all the more reason to resolve enmity rather than deepen it.

The three brothers each harbored their own thoughts, but in the end, they all came into the courtyard, then faced Wang Xiu, gave a formal bow, and verbally offered their apologies.

Wang Xiu swept his gaze over the three brothers before him, nodded slightly, and took a step back.

At that very moment, Wei Yue, Yang Kai, and Qian Zhao, who were at Wang Xiu’s side, suddenly stepped forward with composure. Each seized one man, and as easily as grabbing chicks, they took the three brothers captive in their hands.

The surrounding guests and retainers were dumbstruck, but then they heard Wang Xiu’s cold shout: “What are you waiting for? Resisting the law and refusing arrest, setting up barricades and bearing arms on a public street — kill them directly!”

Before the three brothers and those guests could react, Wei Yue and the other two, having received the order, directly drew their blades and, still as if slaughtering chicks, lopped off the heads of the bewildered three brothers.

At that moment, a shout went up from the street, and the volunteers waiting outside immediately surged in. The guests and retainers, seeing their pillars of support killed so cleanly and swiftly, had no idea how to respond, and one after another, at Wang Xiu’s shouted commands, they laid down their arms and surrendered.

And at this stage, Shen Meng, the Meritorious Evaluator of Zhao State who had remained hidden all along, was also dragged out from inside the house with a dazed and stupefied expression.

“Meritorious Evaluator Shen!” Wang Xiu did not even glance at the bloodstains on the ground, but simply stood in the courtyard and coldly questioned the old man with graying hair and beard. “I ask you one thing. Three years ago, the county Household Clerk came to your home to collect the poll tax. You were unwilling to pay, and told him he could over-assess the property of your neighbors to pay on your behalf. He said it was not enough, so you instructed him to alter the account books, even to the point of appraising a neighbor’s earthenware jar at three thousand cash, with a tax due of three hundred sixty cash… Later, this family was forced to abandon their property and flee into exile. Is this true?!”

The old man responded with a blank stare, not even looking at the blood of his three sons on the ground. He was merely drawn by a sliver of afternoon sunlight shining through a gap in the opposite building, his mouth slightly open as he raised his head.

“What is this?” Wang Shuzhi was momentarily speechless.

“Senile dementia!” Qian Zhao, standing nearby, took one look and understood the truth. “It must have happened within the last year or two. The Shen brothers, coveting the authority of the State Meritorious Evaluator, and with the State Chancellor not handling official business, concealed this matter.”

Wang Xiu grew even more indignant, but could only clench his fists, then followed the demented old man’s gaze toward the building opposite.

It must be said, the many onlookers in the building opposite had still not recovered their wits even now. When Special Clerk Wang now looked at them, each felt a chill run through their entire body, jolting them awake.

“Quickly, go beg for help!” Someone shouted, disregarding all decorum. “No matter who it is, we must beg them all, and together send for the Marquis of Wulu to return and negotiate, or else our lives are forfeit!”

——————— I am the dividing line of forfeit lives ———————

“…rose and bowed to him. The next day, the Grand Ancestor further granted him special authority over county affairs, allowing him to tour the county on his own in the northwest of Handan. At that time, Handan had many cunning clerks. There was a Shen clan serving as Meritorious Evaluator of Zhao State. He was gradually becoming senile and should have resigned. His three sons, relying on the power and violence of their clan and coveting the rank and authority of the Meritorious Evaluator, hid their father at home, summoned clerks and commoners to their home to conduct public business, and privately used the official seal. Xiu was rectifying county affairs when a county clerk reported this underhanded matter concerning the Shen clan. Xiu dispatched his attendants to arrest them and bring them to justice. The Shen clan became greatly alarmed, and thereupon fortified their own encampment facing the street, refusing to answer the summons. Xiu alone led three riders straight through their gate, beheaded the brothers, while the surrounding guests and retainers were shocked and none dared move. He then pacified and comforted the rest. From this, the entire city was brought to order. The Grand Ancestor returned and sighed: ‘That Handan is well-governed is thanks to Xiu’s accomplishment of it.’” — New Book of Yan, Volume 68, Biographies, Chapter 18

PS: Embarrassing, let me explain. Yesterday went like this: I was writing… and fell asleep. Then after midnight a classmate sent me a private message, and I woke up… Then I continued writing, but found myself terribly blocked… I looked up no fewer than several dozen papers on powerful local clans in the late Han countryside. The more I read, the more helpless I felt… The more I read, the less I knew how to write.

And to be honest, although I’ve now written it out and paid my debt, I feel that you might not necessarily like the village and local clan scenes in the first half of the chapter, which took a great deal of effort and research. But these dry and tedious contents must be written. If they are not written, this entire volume loses its reason for being.

Helpless… but at least the debt is paid.

(End of Chapter)