Chapter 236: Stealing Horses, Stealing Men Too

In Faqian County, northeast of Dongjun, the city was in utter chaos.

About less than three months ago, the local Yellow Turban army rose up suddenly, killed the county magistrate, and several powerful local families met with mixed fates — some were exterminated, some fled to the countryside, and others joined the Yellow Turban uprising with their entire households; at that time, there was already a fierce period of turmoil.

Then, some ten days ago, the local Yellow Turban minor commander, having been summoned, led the main force of the city's Yellow Turbans to Dongwuyang, and by that time the city had already become very unstable due to the loss of control.

But it was only after the Yellow Turban army was defeated that this city truly fell into a state of complete, unorganized chaos!

Routed soldiers of the Yellow Turbans; powerful families surging back from the countryside under the banner of restoration; local ruffians and thugs; wandering swordsmen and bandits from the surrounding area... in short, every faction fought and plundered throughout the city, all intent on grabbing a hefty haul before the government troops arrived!

Of course, the gains these people sought were not the same, and some were not even after wealth at all... Thus, when the Han army's banners appeared far off on the horizon, the large-scale armed brawls in the city immediately ceased by unspoken mutual consent, leaving only those petty thieves and thugs, too low to count, still recklessly setting fires, killing, and looting.

"No rush to take over the county offices, nor to sweep the Yellow Turban strongholds." The moment he entered the city and saw the devastation everywhere, Guan Yu, ordered to come here and sweep up the Yellow Turban remnants and take over the county seat, flew into a rage. "Seal the four city gates for me, then have the cavalry sweep meticulously along the streets, lanes, and markets. Whether looting, theft, or assault, arrest all who break the law! Anyone carrying a blade without cause, drive them onto the streets to fight the fires!"

Hearing the order, his subordinates naturally responded with grave seriousness... How could they not see that their direct superior, Acting Commander Guan, was truly enraged? And since the campaign began, they had all become fairly familiar with each other — was there any subordinate who did not hold Guan Yu in awe and respect? A joke — who would dare trifle with this man at such a time?!

For a time, the cavalry swept in all directions, while in the city gate tunnel, Guan Yunchang dismounted and stood for a long while, his beard and hair stirring in the wind. It was not until the afternoon, when order in the city gradually and visibly stabilized, that he barely suppressed his anger and walked forward, leading his horse on foot.

However, upon reaching the street before the main gate of the county office, this Han army Acting Commander abruptly halted again: "Why are there so many people in the office courtyard?"

"Reporting to the Commander," a Northern Army Company Commander waiting there immediately bowed and reported. "These people are mostly clerks and prominent households of this county. Some took the county office in advance, some preemptively seized the large residence occupied by the Yellow Turban minor commander, and others guarded the government treasury — all are men of merit. This time, after putting out the fires as per military orders, they have come here specifically to have an audience with the Commander..."

"Then let these men of merit have their 'audience' inside the government office," Guan Yu retorted sarcastically at once. "I will handle matters outside the government office myself... Fetch a few stools, and bring all the captured criminals here. I will personally interrogate and identify them. This evening, I will go and have an 'audience' with those men of merit."

This Company Commander dared not say another word; instead, he simply shut the main gate of the county office, locking the group of 'meritorious officials' inside the courtyard so as to spare Guan Yu the sight of them and his irritation, and only then went to prepare the stools.

And so, a group of county clerks and powerful families stood dumbfounded and anxious inside the county office, separated by the main gate, while Guan Yu and his subordinates, the ranked Company Commanders, sat down calmly on the street outside the county office.

Among them, Guan Yunchang naturally stroked his beard and closed his eyes to rest, quietly waiting for the various squads to bring the troublemakers here, while those six-hundred-dan Company Commanders, beaming with joy, could not help but chat idly among themselves.

Their beaming joy was inevitable — they had won the battle, and such a swift and decisive victory meant promotion and wealth were surely just around the corner.

However, one man looked worried, standing out conspicuously, which immediately drew the attention of his colleagues:

"Is Old Pei still worried about Lord Xuande's injury?"

"No wonder Old Pei is like this. Lord Liu is, after all, a distinguished hero of Youzhou. When he saw Old Pei fall from his horse, he personally went to rescue him, but unexpectedly, Old Pei climbed onto the horse, while he himself fell into the Yellow Turban formation instead."

"I heard that when Lord Liu was found, a ring-pommel saber was thrust straight into his lower abdomen; he survived only by lying on the ground playing dead... It's fortunate that the General of the Household, upon returning and not seeing him, specifically sent men to search for him. Otherwise, he might have met his end here in Dongjun!"

The men all chimed in one after another, each marveling at Liu Bei's great luck.

"It's not so much worry about the injury," the Company Commander surnamed Pei, having listened for a while, could not help but shake his head. "Before I left, I specifically went to visit Lord Xuande, and only then did I learn that although he took such a deep stab to the abdomen, it miraculously missed his internal organs, so he is recovering extremely quickly and looks like he'll be able to get out of bed soon."

"Then that's good news, why do you still look worried?" Those around him were naturally puzzled.

"I am worried about Lord Xuande's fortune," this Commander Pei frowned and said. "I heard that when the General of the Household crushed the Guangyang Yellow Turbans in Zhuojun, it was also a great victory like this, yet Lord Xuande was stabbed by an old man in the midst of that great victory; earlier at Wei Village, although there was a minor setback, casualties were light, yet he, as a rearguard Company Commander, took another blade; now, just as this third battle begins, he's taken a third blade... and each blade is more vicious than the last... Tell me, is there something to be said about this man's luck? Is it in conflict with military service?"

"Then what does Old Pei mean?" those around him continued to ask.

"Since I owe him my life, I must do my utmost to help him," Commander Pei answered frankly. "He was originally a disciple of Lu Zhi's school, and is the junior fellow apprentice of both the General of the Household and the Army Protector Commander. When merits are assessed after the war, his rank should be secure. At that time, I will also have my family lend a hand; perhaps I can help him secure a county magistrate post, transitioning into a proper civil position in the local administration... But looking at the current situation, the Yellow Turban rebels are still powerful in both the north and south. The war may drag on, and we might have to fight again. If he takes another blade next time, what then? And if he can't survive the next one, what then?"

Upon hearing this, the men all broke into disorderly chatter... Someone suggested finding a local witch to perform a blessing for Liu Xuande; someone said that disaster peaks at three times, and perhaps Liu Bei's luck would soon turn; another said that one's fortune cannot be changed, and they might as well go together upon returning to plead with the General of the Household to let this Liu Xuande follow Chief Clerk Wang Xiu to manage logistics on the Yellow River.

These remarks were utterly laughable, yet in this era, sorcery and Daoism were widespread among the common people, and the army was naturally no exception — such topics were quite ordinary. Thus, the few of them spoke further and further afield, until finally Guan Yu, well-versed in the classics, could not help but open his eyes and was about to rebuke them.

However, it was just at this moment that the captured troublemakers in the city were brought before them, and the group of officers promptly fell silent of their own accord.

"What crimes have these men committed?" The imposingly built Guan Yunchang stood up, stroking his beard, and began his interrogation with a hint of anger. The several six-hundred-dan Company Commanders who had been idly chatting at his side also rose, hands on their saber hilts, and stood to his left and right.

With their armor and uniforms in perfect order, banners distinct, and an awe-inspiring presence, the scene was immediately brought under control.

"Reporting to the Commander!" A squad leader below immediately raised his clasped hands and answered loudly. "While sweeping the streets in the western part of the city, I encountered these men skulking along carrying a load of coins and silks. We also found bloodstained daggers and the like in their bosoms. It appears they had just looted and stolen from civilian households and were attempting to flee the city!"

"Looting, theft, and with so many people — clearly this is group banditry!" Guan Yu declared in extreme anger. "Immediately behead them and display their heads as a warning, according to the law!"

Caught with both the stolen goods and the perpetrators, those thieves dared not cry out their innocence upon hearing this, and could only kowtow and beg for mercy... But how could the Han cavalrymen, fresh from such a great battle, show them any kindness? The moment the order was given, they acted almost instantly, directly striking off these men's heads.

In fact, at this moment on the street before the government office, whether officers or common soldiers, even the common folk who had come out to watch curiously upon seeing the government troops garrisoned yet committing no offense — not a single person was moved.

Such were the hearts of men amidst the chaos of war... Human life was worthless, let alone the lawful execution of thieves and bandits?

"Reporting to the Commander, these men were identified by the neighborhood as arsonists!"

"Execute!"

"Commander, these men are routed Yellow Turban soldiers who fled back from Dongwuyang, identified by locals..."

"Have they committed any further evil since returning here?"

"None reported."

"Too many have died by the Yellow River already; no need to create more killing. Commute them to military penal slaves."

"Aye."

"What crime has this bound-haired youth committed?" Guan Yu could not help but frown slightly.

"Reporting to the Commander," upon hearing the question, a platoon leader with swollen lips, standing behind the bound-armed youth, was practically bursting with anger. "This is a horse thief!"

Guan Yu followed the voice and looked, and sure enough, saw someone behind this platoon leader leading a tall, fine white steed. Understanding dawned on him, and he sighed and shook his head slightly.

"General above me!" The youth, filthy all over and dressed in tatters, immediately struggled and shouted upon hearing this. "This horse was not stolen by me!"

"Do not quibble." Seeing the person was extremely young, Guan Yu ultimately did not wish to punish without teaching. "Dressed as you are, you are clearly a ruffian from the left side of the neighborhood gate. How could you possess such a divine steed? It is obvious that when the Yellow Turbans were defeated and our army had not yet arrived, chaos erupted in the city, and you took the opportunity to steal it!"

"General, please see clearly!" The youth struggled even more violently upon hearing this, forcing the two armored soldiers behind him to quickly press down on him, which revealed he possessed some physical strength. "Although I seized this horse during the city's chaos, it was not theft... Release me!"

"Let him speak!" Guan Yu waved his hand, dismissing the two armored soldiers. "If it was not your property, how does it not count as theft?"

"Reporting to the Grand General!" In the mouth of this ruffian youth answering boldly from the ground, Guan Yu's official rank grew ever higher. "This horse belonged to a Yellow Turban ringleader in the city. After the defeat, he led his men back to the city, intending to pack up his valuables and flee, but was pursued and driven off by the county's thief-catcher, who had been hiding at home, leading his men. I am young and did not participate in this matter, but seeing that Yellow Turban ringleader flee in haste with his men under the cover of dusk, with no one pursuing, I took advantage of my familiarity with the roads and the night to follow them alone. In the end, I caught up with them a dozen or so li west of the city..."

"Don't tell me you alone slaughtered a group of Yellow Turbans and seized the horse!" The platoon leader with the swollen mouth simply could not listen any longer.

"They were many, so naturally I dared not make a move!" The youth's face flushed red as he turned his head back indignantly and answered. "So I took advantage of their unpreparedness, directly untied the horse's reins, and fled back on the horse... As expected, they did not dare to pursue!"

"Isn't that just as I thought, a horse thief? The moment I ran into you on the street leading this horse, I guessed as much." The platoon leader laughed as he finished speaking, but then stopped abruptly, clearly recalling Guan Yu's temper and realizing that the head-butt he took from this ruffian youth on the corner of his mouth was for nothing.

"Enough." Guan Yu indeed stroked his beard and said, "That explanation is plausible... Untie his bonds, and let him stand by holding the horse. After we finish dealing with the criminals, we will ask that thief-catcher. If the stories match, release him."

Although the platoon leader below was indignant, how could he dare say no? He immediately drew his blade and cut the ropes on the youth's back.

Unexpectedly, the moment the youth was freed, he turned around, took back the horse, and hastily led it before Guan Yu, then knelt and bowed while holding the reins.

"What is the meaning of this?" Guan Yu asked sternly.

"General!" The youth clutched the reins with one hand and braced himself on the ground with the other, kowtowing repeatedly without cease. "I offer this horse to the General, and beg permission to join the army!"

Guan Yu sighed, a rare occurrence, and shook his head repeatedly: "How old are you even?"

"Seventeen... no, tomorrow I'll be eighteen!" the youth hastily answered.

"General, don't let him fool you. He just bound his hair this year — he's fifteen," someone behind couldn't help shouting. "He's a notorious little scoundrel in town, always stealing chickens and dogs, utterly without decorum!"

"Stop slandering me!" the youth shouted back, his face flushed red, then turned earnestly to Guan Yu. "General, I am truly sixteen this year, and when it comes to fighting in this city, I've always been known as the best on the west side."

At these words, not only the surrounding officers and riders, but even the onlooking commoners all burst into laughter.

"Whether sixteen or fifteen!" Guan Yu suppressed his patience and rebuked him. "At such an age, you should be at home striving to improve yourself — either studying or practicing martial arts. Where do you get off enlisting?"

"General!" The youth remained persistent. "My parents died early, my family is destitute, and I only survive on the charity of my clan. How can I strive to improve myself?"

Guan Yu could not be bothered to hear more and simply waved for someone to drag this little scoundrel away.

Seeing this reaction, the scoundrel youth grew even more frantic: "General, see clearly — this is no passing whim of mine. If my clan hadn't forbidden joining the Yellow Turbans, I would have wrapped a yellow cloth around my head back then! When I stole horses before, I heard that the finest of the official troops all rode white horses, so I ignored the gold and silver of the Yellow Turban chieftain and only stole a white horse before returning!"

Guan Yu, for once, couldn't help but laugh, yet still gave no answer.

Two officers beside Guan Yunchang personally took action, easily hauling the youth up from the ground and dragging him aside. The youth dared not resist further and could only shout as he was pulled back: "Take me in, General! We poor folk left of the village gate — before the Yellow Turbans rose, we were like weeds; when the Yellow Turbans rose, still like weeds; when the Yellow Turbans leave, we'll still be like weeds... Alone and with nothing, if I cannot rise up with a blade in hand, what else can I do? If I cannot be a government soldier today, are you forcing me to become a bandit?!"

"Drag him back!" Guan Yu's expression suddenly changed.

The slovenly, ragged scoundrel youth knew he had misspoken. After being dragged back, he recalled the severed heads of those bandits from earlier, and for a moment his hands and feet turned ice-cold, all four limbs trembling.

Seeing this, Guan Yu had meant to rebuke him, but instead his heart softened.

"Both your parents died early?" After a long silence, Guan Yu finally asked slowly. "And your clan only ensures you don't starve to death?"

"Yes!" the youth answered cautiously.

"You haven't reached the age," Guan Yu said seriously. "The army will not accept you as a regular soldier, let alone into the White Horse Volunteers. But this horse is truly a fine steed..."

"I wish to present it to you, General!" The youth immediately kowtowed upon hearing this. "I ask for nothing more, not even to enlist."

"How could I covet your horse?" Guan Yu glared at once. "What I mean is, if you present this horse to my Household General, I will take it upon myself to let you join my unit, receive half pay, and serve as my personal guard. You should know, I have a weapon weighing eighty-two jin. Though incomparably sharp, it is so heavy that it is rarely used. Thus, whenever I go into battle, I have a personal guard ride beside me to carry my blade. And I can see you have considerable strength..."

"I am willing to carry the General's blade!" The scoundrel youth raised his head in startled delight. "Being a government soldier not only guarantees full meals, but there's even pay? Far better than the Yellow Turbans!"

Guan Yu's anger half dissipated at these words: "What is your name?"

"Pan Zhang!" The scoundrel youth hastily kowtowed again. "A local of Fagan, Pan Zhang!"

"Pan Zhang, is it?" Guan Yu bent down, pressed a hand on his back, and said. "When I was in Hedong, I once heard the local elders say that back during the Western Liang mutiny, when they recruited sons to join the army, many youths with bound hair left in haste. At that time, the elders of their households would wrap their heads to perform the capping ceremony for them! Since you have followed me today, and your clan has shown no virtue in looking after you, I will take it upon myself to cap you and bestow a courtesy name... Your given name is Zhang, so take the courtesy name Gui. And since you are crude and unlearned, you should properly study letters... So, how about Wengui?"

Upon hearing these words, the youth did not even manage to kowtow in thanks before he could not help himself — tears streamed down unceasingly, and for a moment he was dazed, unable even to recall what his new courtesy name was.

Let us set aside how Pan Zhang, Pan Wengui, wept with gratitude toward his destined benefactor Guan Yu, and also set aside how Gongsun Xun dispatched his various generals to sweep through and settle the situation north of the river. Let us only say that as the sky darkened that day, because the great battle and the routing soldiers had all occurred north of the river, the counties south of the river — especially Dong'e County, which had never fallen to the Yellow Turbans — still appeared orderly and well-governed.

"Lord Zhongde." Under the candlelight, Xue Fang, the local magnate who had helped Cheng Li retake the Assistant County Magistrate's office in Dong'e, now sat uneasily on a high stool, respectfully reporting to the newly renamed Cheng Yu. "As you instructed, we did not make trouble for the County Magistrate. When he asked our clan's able-bodied men to accompany the county troops to retake Fan County, we did not offer the slightest excuse."

"Then that settles it," Cheng Yu continued leafing through the Scripture of Great Peace in his hands, not even raising his head. "Is there anything else?"

"Ah," Xue Fang asked cautiously. "All the households and families wanted me to ask Lord Zhongde..."

"Ask me what?" Cheng Yu helplessly set down the scroll in his hands. "Ask why I resigned from the county clerkship, or why I told you to cooperate fully with Magistrate Wenren?"

"Both."

"The world is about to fall into chaos," Cheng Yu sighed, a rare occurrence, then closed the scroll and answered frankly. "I am forty-four this year, already old and decrepit. Is it not permissible for me to resign from my clerk post and stay safely at home?"

"This..."

"I know what you all mean," Cheng Yu continued. "Since I declined General Gongsun's summons, I will not go back on my word. I said I would guard our homeland, and I will continue to do so... Henceforth, should any calamity befall our district, you may all come to seek me without hesitation."

Xue Fang immediately let out a sigh of relief.

"As for Magistrate Wenren," Cheng Yu shook his head again with a cold laugh. "Today I am no longer his subordinate, so I have no more scruples. He is indeed a waste, but in the end, he is a six-hundred-dan County Magistrate, an appointed official of the Han throne! When I told you to obey him, I did not mean for you to obey the three characters 'Wen Ren Sheng,' but to keep to your proper place and obey the Lord of Dong'e County! Do you understand?"

"Understood," Xue Fang hastily rose and bowed, with the air of one receiving instruction — though whether he truly understood or not was unclear. "Many thanks for resolving my doubts, Lord Zhongde. It is late, so I shall trouble you no further."

"Then I shall not see you out," Cheng Yu was straightforward. "Take care on the road."

Xue Fang said no more and left the hall directly. Escorted by Cheng Yu's eldest son, Cheng Wu, all the way out of the Cheng residence, he then boarded his carriage and returned home.

It must be said, ever since Wang Du joined the rebels, the Xue clan had been the undisputed foremost household in Dong'e. Thus, Xue Fang's several dozen sturdy retainers, each bearing blades and keeping careful guard, marched in a grand procession, barreling straight through without even pausing as they passed the county office — a display of considerable might.

However, such an ostentatious posture drew a glare of disgust from a man standing within the gate of the county office in the twilight. On closer inspection, this man was none other than the local County Magistrate, Wenren Sheng, who had 'merit in defending the territory.'

"The overbearing manner of these powerful families is utterly without virtue. Now they rely on their great merit to repeatedly slight me. If I did not still need to make use of them, sooner or later I would humiliate them thoroughly to vent the foul anger in my chest," Wenren Sheng lowered the hand covering his nose and said bluntly.

"Why should the County Lord be angry?" A man standing beside Wenren Sheng immediately bowed with a fawning smile. "The County Lord has merit in defending the territory and has now recovered Fan County. Before a few months pass and the rebellion is quelled, you will surely be promoted elsewhere. When the time comes, before you depart, simply find some pretext to thoroughly humiliate and mock this Xue Fang."

Wenren Sheng smiled without speaking, merely looking down at this man from a superior height with a sidelong, questioning gaze: "Let us set that aside for now. Chief Wang, you just said that this afternoon, in Wang Du's residence, you found a great deal of property he had hidden, including two antiques from the Zhou period... Is that true?"

"Absolutely true," the Chief hastily answered with a straight face. "They were just unearthed this afternoon. The goods and antiques are all there — how would this petty clerk dare deceive the County Lord? That scoundrel Wang Du's old residence is right within the city. If the County Lord does not disdain it, this petty clerk will drive the carriage for you now. We will arrive in an instant, and you may inspect them personally!"

"Very well!" Wenren Sheng pondered for a moment, but still nodded in agreement. "If I go tomorrow, the two antiques might still be there, but the valuables would likely be stolen clean by you crafty, petty clerks!"

This Chief Wang hurriedly went inside the gate to fetch the carriage he had arrived in.

"Hold on! You are also surnamed Wang, presumably a distant clansman of Wang Du. Why are you so zealous?" Just as he was about to board the carriage, this Magistrate Wenren suddenly recalled something.

"Precisely because of that, I must be zealous!" The Chief on the carriage gave an increasingly bitter smile.

Wenren Sheng laughed heartily and smugly at these words, then boarded the carriage. He then had two trusted clerical aides and four county soldiers follow in order before allowing the carriage to head toward the west of the city.

And so, just as the Chief had said, the carriage arrived in an instant. The old Wang residence in the west of the city was indeed brightly lit with torches, and several dozen sturdy men holding torches and carrying hoes and clubs had long been waiting there... More critically, even before entering the courtyard gate, Wenren Sheng saw with his own eyes a pile of coins and silks heaped in disarray under the torchlight within the courtyard — a considerable amount!

Thus, Magistrate Wenren, suspecting nothing, got off the carriage directly and rushed into the courtyard with those two clerks and four county soldiers. And Wang Du's distant clansman, that very Chief, entered last, then turned around directly and closed the courtyard gate.

The four county soldiers and two county clerks had no time to cry out before they collapsed limply. Only when a steel blade was pressed against his neck did Wenren Sheng start in terror, but he dared not make a sound either.

"Cut out his tongue first."

A large man emerged from the shadows. Wenren Sheng grew even more terrified, for he vaguely recognized this man as Wang Du's trusted confidant.

But by now it was too late for anything. Before the terrified Magistrate Wenren could cry out, four or five large men each seized his limbs. Two of them forcibly pried open his mouth, and one man straightforwardly thrust a dagger reeking thickly of blood deep into his mouth... Wenren Sheng felt only a burst of searing pain, and then mucus, tears, and even urine and feces flowed out together.

"Everyone!" The leader, seeing this scene, showed no pleasure; instead, his expression was somber. "Lord Wang died for a worthy cause — we have nothing to say. But as the saying goes, 'Eat a man's salary, serve him loyally.' We were kept by Lord Wang for so many years. If we cannot do something on his behalf, what face do we have to cling to life?"

The crowd, holding torches, including that Chief surnamed Wang, all listened in silence.

"Lord Wang's words before his death were clear and unmistakable. His rebellion, his uprising — all were because this man humiliated him beyond endurance... Lord Wang went to do everything, Lord Wang bore the infamy, while this man sat whistling in the office all day, reaping the credit. In the end, he was still some pure, moral gentleman, and he would use Lord Wang's hard work to gain promotion and wealth! Even that could be tolerated. Others saying Lord Wang lacked virtue could be tolerated... But how could he also look down from on high and mock Lord Wang for his overbearing, powerful-household manner, for lacking virtue and conduct? Everyone, tell me, is there such justice under heaven?"

The crowd did not answer.

"Indeed," the man said, and at this point he suddenly gave a cold laugh. "In truth, all under heaven follows this kind of justice... But this justice is wrong, and that is why Lord Wang rebelled! And that is why we have brought him here today! No more words are needed. Speak up, all of you — how shall we deal with him?!"

"One piece each — how about dismembering him?" someone said through gritted teeth.

"Kill a man, kill a man — since when is there a principle of dismembering the corpse?" Another man immediately spoke up in opposition. "Lord Wang faced death with extraordinary bearing. We absolutely must not commit such senseless, brutal acts in his hometown and bring shame upon him."

"Then what should we do?" The first man at once turned the question back on him. "It's not that I want to disgrace Lord Wang. It's that this county magistrate is so wretchedly feeble. I fear that if each man only gets one cut, this wretch will breathe his last before everyone has had a turn at vengeance. How will those who haven't yet struck vent this foul anger?"

The group was speechless for a moment.

"I have an idea." After a brief pause, it was the leader, Wang Du's trusted confidant, who suddenly spoke. "Fetch a burlap sack. Hang him from the eaves, and then everyone takes turns — beat him to death with clubs! After everyone has struck and vented their anger, then we inspect the corpse. At that point, what harm is there in leaving his whole body here for the people of the county to dispose of and bury?"

It was a good idea, and naturally the crowd voiced their agreement one after another.

As for Wen Rensheng, ever since his tongue had been cut out, he had felt nothing but unbearable pain and had not understood a word these men were saying. Thus, he did not know that he had just skirted the edge of being dismembered, nor did he know that he would be beaten to death with clubs... But even if he had heard, what difference would it have made?

These dozen or so men had come from the battlefield and were long past the retainers' manners they had possessed months ago as attendants to an Assistant County Magistrate. Their hearts were said to be like steel, their methods swift and efficient. They bound him up on the spot, efficiently pulled the sack over him, and directly hung this Dong'e County Magistrate from the eaves of the old residence of the former Dong'e Assistant County Magistrate, Wang Du. Immediately after, including the village chief, the men raised their clubs and, right there under the eaves of Wang Du's old home, beat this dignified county magistrate to death alive.

Seeing that Wen Rensheng's body was frail and the sack had stopped struggling after only a few blows from each man, the crowd still felt their grief and fury hard to bear, their foul anger difficult to dispel. Yet they could hardly continue beating a corpse, lest they stain Wang Du's virtuous name. So they all halted, silent and motionless. Just then, the leader, Wang Du's trusted confidant, suddenly stepped forward, wiped a handful of Wen Rensheng's blood from the ground, and by the light of the torches, wrote a line of characters directly onto a pillar under the corridor of the old residence:

The killer: a retainer of Lord Wang of Dong'e, Yu Du of Zhaoge in Henei!

Having written this with fierce determination, Yu Du finally vented the stifled anger that had been pent up in his chest since the battle at Cangting-Dongwuyang.

Seeing this, the others followed suit one by one. All fifteen of them, even those who could not read, begged others to guide their hands until they had finished writing these words. Only then did they turn back into the courtyard — yet their hearts felt hollow and empty, not knowing where to go or what to do.

"Brother Yu." The village chief, surnamed Wang, after much thought, stared directly at Yu Du and spoke bluntly. "Having done such a thing, we should no longer think of dividing the wealth and returning to our separate homes. You are a man of ideas, and this time you have avenged my clan uncle. I will follow you!"

The other thirteen men immediately voiced their agreement. Just as this Chief Wang had said, by proposing the plan to avenge Wang Du, this Yu Du of Zhaoge had already become the leader of these dozen or so men.

And Yu Du did not decline the responsibility: "Before he died, Lord Wang told us to live well, so we must live well. And since you all entrust your futures to me, as Lord Wang's trusted confidant in life, I have no words of refusal. The situation now is simply this: either we join the Yellow Turbans or we become mountain bandits. I have thought it over — the government troops are so formidable that we cannot go to the Yellow Turbans in either Jizhou or Yuzhou, because going there would be throwing our lives away. Besides, those two places are not short of men; a dozen or so of us would not be valued if we went."

The crowd nodded in agreement.

"If we become mountain bandits," Yu Du continued, "there are likewise only two places to go. One is to head north of the river to my home, Henei; north of Henei lies Mount Taihang. The other is to head east, to Mount Tai. Tell me, where should we go?"

The pros and cons of these two destinations were both obvious. Going to Mount Taihang meant that the leader, Yu Du, was familiar with the area, but they would have to cross the river and pass through regions dense with Han troops to get there. Going to Mount Tai was the opposite — unfamiliar territory, but the road there was relatively unobstructed.

And so the dozen or so men debated endlessly, until Chief Wang suddenly brought up one matter: "A few days ago at the village post, I overheard several county clerks mention that the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans were suppressed by the local authorities as soon as they rose. One of their marshals, Zhang Niujiao, has now also fled to Mount Tai to temporarily settle down. If those people are in Mount Tai..."

Yu Du's heart stirred, and he immediately spoke: "Then we shall go to Mount Tai and seek him out!"

"Why not go to your home in Henei, Brother Yu?" The others were thoroughly puzzled.

"Since we are already outcasts under heaven, we must stake our lives to make a name and show the world something!" Yu Du raised his torch and looked around, answering solemnly. "After this battle, everyone can likely see that the Yellow Turban main force will sooner or later be defeated. But from that battle, we also saw that the Yellow Turban banner is still second to none among the poor common folk! That being the case, why not take advantage of Zhang Niujiao's moment of distress to join him? In the future, under his banner, we can stir up the realm and make our own names known to the world. That would also serve to comfort Lord Wang's spirit below the springs, showing that we have not betrayed his heartfelt intentions!"

The crowd was silent for a moment, then all voiced their approval.

And so, the fifteen men took up their weapons, each wrapped up a small bundle of valuables — the surplus they could not be bothered with — and then, under cover of night, climbed over the wall. Striding boldly under the moonlight, they clustered around their new leader, Yu Du, and headed proudly in the direction of Mount Tai.

It was not until the afternoon of the next day that the laxly guarded Dong'e County discovered Wen Rensheng's bruised and swollen corpse, and in the end, they could only invite Cheng Yu to take charge.

Yet, in such circumstances, what could Cheng Yu do? He could only direct the people to collect the corpse on one hand, handing it over to Magistrate Wen's family at the county office so they could escort his spirit home for a proper burial; and on the other, have the leading county clerk urgently draft an official report to Gongsun Xun, who was north of the river at Dongwuyang, bearing the imperial tally and overseeing the overall situation. The Grand Administrator of Dong Commandery had fled to another commandery at the very start of the chaos and was now being impeached by the imperial court!

The corpse was carried out, and most people covered their noses and fled outside the courtyard. Yet Cheng Yu still stood in the courtyard, littered with chaotic bloodstains, clubs, and scattered coins and silks, staring fixedly at those names under the corridor.

Xue Fang, trembling with fear, saluted Cheng Yu and made his report.

"It wasn't me!" Before the other could even speak, Cheng Yu, without turning his head, said with a dark expression.

Xue Fang gave a bitter smile.

"It truly wasn't me." Cheng Yu glanced at Xue Fang, then let out a long sigh. "Sir Xue, have you ever seen a flood?"

Xue Fang immediately shook his head repeatedly.

"The Yellow River embankments are as solid as metal and stone; it's normal that you haven't seen one." Cheng Yu turned his head back again to stare at those words written in human blood. "But I am older. In my youth, I once witnessed a flood at the Daye Marsh in Jiyin Commandery. When the floodwaters came, they roared to the heavens, carrying mud and sand, sweeping all before them with overwhelming fury. Yet as long as one retreated to high ground beforehand, one would not be swallowed by the flood, and indeed, few people died that day. But after the floodwaters receded, the ground was covered in sludge and corpses. Dragons, serpents, insects, and vermin all lurked within, rising up together. Then a great plague swept in, leaving five out of ten houses empty!"

"Lord Zhongde, do you mean to say..." Xue Fang, suddenly understanding, looked toward the line of writing before him. He also recognized this Yu Du as Wang Du's trusted confidant. "...that the floodwaters have just receded, and already dragons and serpents are rising together, insects and vermin dancing in chaos?"

"You also know the floodwaters have just receded?" Cheng Yu's face was ashen. With a sharp flick of his sleeve, he strode away with his head held high. "This is nothing! The days of dragons and serpents warring and swarms of insects blotting out the sky are still far ahead!"

Xue Fang pressed his lips together and said nothing, only following closely behind Cheng Yu without pause.

A poem says:

Five brigands suddenly burst forth and fled; the myriad things vied in crumbling and rushing away.

In vain they practiced the arts of immortals, yet could not save the source of the Huachi spring.

They only learned the techniques of triumph in battle, vying to raise troops and store armor.

Dragons and serpents race to rise from the land; battling blood floats across the Central Plains.

—————I am the dividing line that follows you—————

"Pan Zhang, styled Wengui, was a man of Faqian in Dong Commandery. By nature, he was reckless, dissolute, and utterly without proper decorum. When the Yellow Turbans rose, the Grand Ancestor arrived in Dong Commandery. At the age of sixteen, Pan Zhang first observed the Grand Ancestor's ceremonial guard from atop the city wall, then saw Guan Yu's awe-inspiring presence within the city. Greatly sighing in admiration, he thereupon stole a horse to follow them and became the sword-bearing foot soldier under Guan Yu's command." — Old Book of Yan, Volume 73, Biography 23

PS: To reiterate, for everyone's health, please do not wait up at night... I strongly suggest reading every morning... Also, this is not today's chapter, it's tomorrow's!

Also, there is a reader group, 684558115. If interested, feel free to join.

(End of Chapter)