Chapter 94: A Thousand-Li Rush to the Rescue

Everyone in Tewu County knew: county magistrates come and go, but the Zhang clan is forever.

After all, just over a decade ago, when Tewu was still called Fuping, the entire county was the Zhang family's fief. As descendants of the ruthless official Zhang Tang, this clan shone brilliantly under the Former Han's Emperors Xuan and Yuan. Their fifth-generation ancestor Zhang Anshi rose to the position of "Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry." From then on, the Zhangs enjoyed wealth and rank for generations — not imperial in-laws, yet more secure than in-laws. In the Guanzhong region, people even used "Jin and Zhang" as shorthand for illustrious houses.

But after the Wang in-laws monopolized power, the Zhangs fell on harder times. First they lost their offices and were driven back to their fief; then Wang Mang stripped them of their marquisate, leaving them only a minor "Attached City" title. They became mere landed gentry.

Still, though their political standing fell short of the Marquis of Yiyang's Fu clan and the Marquis of Yicheng's Gan clan — earning them the mocking title of "Third Power of the North" — the Zhangs' wealth far exceeded both houses combined. They also wielded immense local influence; even the county magistrate had to bow and scrape before them.

Tewu had everything going for it, except its location on the frontier, pressed close against the Rong and Di barbarians. So the Zhangs built three towering watchtowers — fortified manors — near the county seat, positioned to support one another, defending against the Xiongnu without and mutinous soldiers and bandits within. They had nearly a thousand servants, tenants, and hired laborers, plus several hundred armed retainers, and controlled the intake and outflow gates of both the Qin Canal and the Han Canal.

On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, a large-scale armed clash broke out in the county — something that could hardly escape the Zhangs' eyes and ears. Since the fighting was not far from the fortified manors, the family head, Zhang Chun, sent his son Zhang Fen with over a hundred retainers to see what was happening, while he himself watched from a distance atop a manor tower.

After two quarter-hours, the fighting ceased, and Zhang Fen returned.

"Father, just as I arrived, I saw bandits attacking government troops."

Zhang Chun frowned. "Are you certain they were bandits, not Hu barbarians?"

Zhang Fen said, "Though they covered their faces with hemp cloth so we couldn't see their features, their bound topknots cannot be faked — they were definitely not braid-haired Xiongnu. They also carried apricot-yellow banners reading 'Execute Heaven's Will on Heaven's Behalf.'"

Zhang Chun shook his head. "Bold words indeed. Which heaven do they claim to act for, and whose Way do they walk?"

"Besides, the bandits south of the county number only a hundred-odd riders and have always stuck to petty raids. Why would they suddenly attack a Xin army grain convoy? Have they gone mad with hunger?"

Zhang Chun sank into thought. "The mixed Qiang and other Hu tribes in the Anding Dependency, and the three Lu brothers of Sanshui County who claim descent from Emperor Xiaowu — they also wear mallet-shaped topknots… Go on."

Zhang Fen said, "By then the fighting had already stopped. A tall bandit, face covered with hemp cloth, had skewered a severed head on his spear. He stood atop a cart and shouted, 'Your Ru Chen is dead! We only execute the chief villain; the rest will not be killed.'"

"Ru Chen is truly dead?" Zhang Chun felt a surge of joy instead. Though a mighty dragon does not crush a local snake, with the Swallow-the-Hu General nearby and an imperial decree backing him, Zhang Chun had not dared to lead the local gentry in resisting taxes and grain levies.

Yet Zhang Chun loathed Ru Chen — that rule-breaking, hen-killing, egg-snatching scoundrel — with utter disgust. The man had actually dared to come to the Zhangs' door demanding grain contributions!

Even without the bandits, once Zhang Chun's patience ran out, he himself had been planning to set a trap and take Ru Chen's life.

"And then?"

Zhang Fen said, "After that, the men under Major Ru Chen scattered in a single breath, abandoning the grain carts without a care."

"The bandits were just about to drive off the grain carts when they heard a wave of battle cries from the north — it was Major Diwu Lun, garrisoned north of the county, arriving."

Zhang Chun stroked his beard. "Wait. The two encampments are so far apart — why did Diwu Lun get there so quickly?"

Zhang Fen said, "The two had arranged to deliver grain to the main camp together today. Diwu Lun had already crossed the Bitter River and was no more than twenty li away. When he heard the urgent summons, he abandoned his own baggage and grain supplies and rushed to help!"

"Strange to say, when Ru Chen's Boar-Rush Braves encountered the bandits, they all scattered in a single breath and collapsed at the first touch. But the several hundred supernumerary conscripts Diwu Lun led — though their formation was ragged — stayed tight on his heels, unafraid of the bandits' stray arrows. I don't know their true fighting ability, but that momentum was truly startling. Even those vicious, hardened bandits were intimidated and dared not engage them, fleeing far away with only Ru Chen's head."

"I took the chance to go over and meet Diwu Lun. Just as we were talking and sighing, he suddenly slapped his thigh!"

Zhang Chun said, puzzled, "What happened?"

Zhang Fen said, "Diwu Lun said… 'The bandits are cunning. Now that they have Major Ru Chen's head, they may well turn and attack the barrier fort. I beg you, Master Zhang, to send men to help my camp's Clerk Xuan Biao escort the grain to the county seat, while I go reinforce our allies!'"

…

According to the plan, Ma Yuan was only supposed to take seventy or eighty riders, brandish Ru Chen's head outside the barrier fort camp, and intimidate them a bit, giving Diwu Lun a pretext to enter and take over the camp.

But neither of them had imagined that the barrier fort's defenses would be this lax. On the road, Ma Yuan had a sudden whim: he had his men change clothes and drove a mob of routed soldiers ahead of them, fleeing toward the barrier fort. The Company Commander whom Ru Chen had left to guard the fort, hearing that Major Ru Chen was being pursued by bandits, gave it no further thought and actually opened the gates to receive them.

So Ma Yuan, following right behind the routed troops, seized the moment to charge forward, shouting that Ru Chen was dead to intimidate everyone. He then cut down several gate guards in quick succession and killed a Centurion. As luck would have it, it was the very man who had tried to conscript Ma Yuan and Wan Xiu that day — and so he lost his life.

The barrier gate was thus lost. The Boar-Rush Braves all thought the Hu barbarians had come slaughtering and fell into chaos; some even took the chance to flee. The remaining Company Commander could hardly organize a counterattack.

Right in the midst of this chaos, Diwu Lun arrived with his men. Seeing the barrier fort in turmoil, he too was startled — this was not the script they had agreed on.

He then ordered his men to shout that the Diwu camp had come to the rescue. At this cry, Ma Yuan took the hint at once, helped the wounded onto horses, and led his riders charging out of the barrier fort, galloping away south.

By the time Diwu Lun and his men came panting and shouting over, there was not a single trace of a bandit left — only a camp barrier in complete chaos.

"Major Ru Chen has been slain by bandits. From this day forward, until the Swallow-the-Hu General dispatches a new Major, I shall temporarily take charge south of the county."

Diwu Lun acted with lightning decisiveness, ordering the barrier fort's defenses rearranged. He also took over the granary at the same time.

Ru Chen's trusted Company Commander raised objections to this and refused to hand over the account books. Diwu Lun turned on him on the spot, declaring that the Company Commander was the bandits' inside agent — that he had not only informed the bandits of Ru Chen's movements but had deliberately opened the gates to let them in. With everyone having witnessed it, the crime was conclusive. He was seized and beheaded on the spot!

The Company Commander never even had time to cry, "I bled for the Great Xin!" before losing his head, which was hung from the camp gate. No one else dared resist Diwu Lun.

And the account books were conveniently "lost" in the confusion. Now, apart from Diwu Lun, no one knew exactly how much grain remained in the storehouse.

When Diwu Lun entered the granary and saw the several thousand dan of grain and rice piled like a mountain — in just half a month, this was far faster than the Diwu clan's painstaking farming and trading. Truly, the means to get rich are all written in the penal code!

Diwu Lun scooped up a handful of glistening yellow millet and broke into a grin. "Ru Chen, oh Ru Chen, you certainly squeezed plenty of grain from the people's fat and blood. But in the next second — it's mine!"

…

"Something's wrong."

Company Commander Dai Gong crouched beside the dozen-odd carts that the Diwu camp was escorting, his heart deeply uneasy.

Ever since Diwu Lun had been received by the Emperor and granted a title, Dai Gong had behaved much more obediently, no longer daring to make trouble for Major Diwu, openly or in secret.

He had wanted to beg Liangqiu Ci to transfer him away, but to his surprise, Diwu Lun warmly insisted he stay. Liangqiu Ci also told Dai Gong, "Stay, and keep an eye on Diwu Lun for me, your Colonel."

So Dai Gong began his life in the shadows. On the Diwu camp's journey north, he noted every move and reported to Liangqiu Ci whenever he got the chance — mostly about Diwu Lun's love for his soldiers, his benevolence, and his pity for the farmers.

But after they garrisoned north of Tewu County, things began to change.

Though he held the rank of Company Commander, Dai Gong had been completely sidelined. He was only allowed to supervise the soldiers farming; the critical tasks — grain requisition, arms and armor, the storehouses — were all assigned to Diwu Lun's trusted men. The civil and military "two Biaos," Diqi Biao and Xuan Biao, became Diwu Lun's right and left arms. Even Pingdan, Jiming, and Diwu Fu wielded more real authority than Dai Gong.

Dai Gong brooded in misery — until yesterday, when Diwu Lun singled him out and entrusted him with an important mission: to help escort grain to the Swallow-the-Hu General's main camp.

This meant he could see Colonel Liangqiu again. Dai Gong accepted with delight — this time he would definitely beg the Colonel to transfer him away! But after Diwu Lun sent his trusted soldiers to load the grain onto the carts, Dai Gong sensed something amiss. Those hemp grain sacks looked a bit strange. He reached out to open one and take a look, but Diqi Biao shouted at him to stop.

The journey was not smooth either. Not long after crossing the Bitter River, Major Ru Chen sent word of an emergency. Without a second word, Diwu Lun ordered the Boar-Rush Braves to unload the grain carts. Riding oxen, packhorses, and donkeys, he led several hundred men rushing to help.

Left behind at the spot were only Diqi Biao, Dai Gong, and a few dozen Boar-Rush Braves guarding the dozen-odd grain carts. This made Dai Gong somewhat afraid. "Even if the Major is zealous for the public good and values honor, does he really need to risk his life like this?"

He cautiously voiced his worry to Diqi Biao. Diqi Biao slapped his thigh. "Worthy of the veteran Company Commander Dai — you're right. We must guard against a bandit attack."

Diqi Biao was an old campaigner himself. With a wave of his hand, he ordered, "Everyone, pull the grain carts over and form a wagon barricade, in case the bandits come!"

After the Boar-Rush Braves had strained to haul the heavy carts into a circle, dust from a passing mounted column indeed appeared in the distance. Everyone was alarmed. Diqi Biao climbed onto a cart to look.

The accompanying squad leader, Zang Nu, gripped his long spear, eager for action. After so many days of full meals, and with Diwu Lun organizing training sessions between farming duties, he and these several dozen Boar-Rush Braves all hoped to prove useful. They at least had the nerve to resist bandits from behind a wagon barricade — they were just waiting for Diqi Biao's order.

To their surprise, Brother Biao cried out in dismay, "There are several hundred riders coming! I fear we're no match for them. Everyone, we'd best evade their sharp edge for now and preserve our useful lives!"

With that, he ordered everyone to retreat at once. Zang Nu froze, looking reluctantly at the grain and fodder on the carts, but Diqi Biao kicked him and threatened to behead him if he disobeyed. Zang Nu could only withdraw in bitter resentment, muttering, "We are truly useless. We have failed the Major."

Dai Gong, utterly bewildered, was about to leave with the group when Diqi Biao shouted again, "Company Commander Dai, watch out for stray arrows!"

The burly Diqi Biao lunged forward, slamming Dai Gong, who was just about to slip away, to the ground.

Before Dai Gong could even thank him, he discovered a knife blade had somehow been plunged into his chest!

Dai Gong cried out in agony, staring dumbfounded at Diqi Biao, only to see Brother Biao already on his feet, shouting: "Company Commander Dai has been struck by an arrow — there's no saving him! Move, now!"

Then he turned back and gave Dai Gong a savage grin — because Diwu Lun had promised that once this was done, Diqi Biao could take Dai Gong's place and be promoted to Company Commander!

Diqi Biao brushed the dust from his backside and left, leaving Dai Gong lying where he was. Today his trusted men had all been kept back at camp; no one was coming to save him. All his strength seemed to drain away with the flowing blood — he could not even cry out, yet he could not die just yet. As Dai Gong lay helpless, not knowing what to do about the knife in his chest, the bandits' hooves were already closing in.

A man with his face covered by a black hemp cloth came over and glanced down — it was Wan Xiu.

Dai Gong stretched out a hand and pleaded feebly: "Save… save me. I'll give you coin and silk."

Wan Xiu paid him no heed, only raised his head to look at the wagon barricade clustered together and laughed in a muffled voice: "All bunched up — good. That saves us the trouble of lighting them one by one."

"Burn them? This is all grain — shouldn't we take some back?"

"Burn them when I say burn them. No more talk."

Amid the mounted bandits' grumbling, the grain wagons were set alight. Inside was all flammable dry grass, straw, and the like, with only a few heavy sacks of sand and earth pressed on top.

As the flames licked and the kindling crackled and burst, a great bonfire rose on the grassland beneath the setting sun — visible from the county seat dozens of li away.

The firelight flickered in the eyes of Dai Gong as he struggled for breath. The smoke stung his nose, and with every cough, bloody froth kept bubbling up. The next moment, he was hauled up again — the bandits began dragging Dai Gong along, toward the blaze.

The fire blazed fiercer and fiercer, swelling and growing, like a roaring giant beast thrusting out long tongues of flame, eager for fresh prey.

Wan Xiu called to the others: "Throw this old thieving clerk in too!"

Just before he was shoved into the fire, Wan Xiu whispered in Dai Gong's ear: "Boyu told me to tell you — your crimes are too many to count even if one plucked out every hair. Only a raging inferno can burn your sins away!"

…

The next day, after Diwu Lun had escorted the grain convoy across the Yellow River and reached the main camp at Shanghe, he went at once to pay his respects to General Tunhu.

The moment Diwu Lun entered the tent, he declared with the utmost grief and indignation: "General Han, yesterday my subordinate Major was attacked by bandits while transporting grain and met an untimely death!"

The old general Han Wei was shocked — and then he said something that, had the Major still been alive, would have shattered him in an instant.

"Losing a man is no great matter — but the grain… is the grain all right?!"

…

PS: Chapter 2 at 18:00. Recommendation votes, please!