Chapter 150: Its End Is Immediately Visible

After leaving the Eastern Zhang residence, Chen Ping looked back at the towering gate lintel, his hands still trembling slightly…

In the hall just now, he had seemed calm while delivering that speech, but inside, Chen Ping's heart had long been surging with excitement.

This was, after the "Wife-Stealing Scandal," the most painstaking deliberation he had ever undertaken, the most all-out performance he had ever given.

Years of arduous study had all been poured into this day.

Chen Ping was utterly confident in his stratagem — having the Zhang clan lend grain to the common people, paying the thousand-dan levy on their behalf, with repayment after the autumn harvest. This plan had come to him from the rural lending practices he saw every day. Chen Ping's family was poor; when they truly could not get by, he had to follow Uncle Chen to borrow grain from wealthy households. Through long exposure, he had absorbed it and remembered.

This idea was not particularly brilliant, but its strength lay in being applied in the most fitting place.

First, it would let Heifu smoothly complete the grain levy. Second, it would let the Zhang clan gain the reputation and local prestige they valued so highly. Third, it would let the villagers and common folk avoid starvation during the lean season when the old crop was gone and the new not yet in.

But most importantly, he, Chen Ping, had once again fully displayed his talent before the Qin official and the local magnates! And once word of this spread, he would be praised by everyone in Huyou Village.

Chen Ping was a man of talent with enormous self-interest; even when offering a stratagem, he would never leave himself out of the benefit.

Yet Heifu, walking ahead, seemed to see right through him. After leaving the Zhang residence, he turned to Chen Ping with a smile and said, "Chen Ping's stratagem is a plan that kills four birds with one stone — a win for all! Without your grain-lending plan as a complement, merely offering grain for rank could never have persuaded the Zhang clan to hand over two thousand dan of grain in one go. Chen Ping, if word of this gets out, your name will be illustrious in the village…"

Startled, Chen Ping hurriedly bowed with clasped hands and said, "How could I dare? Without the Patrol Chief's trust, bringing me into the Zhang residence to discuss with the two gentlemen Zhang, I could not even have entered this gate."

"Not so."

Heifu shook his head. "After coming to Wei, I heard someone tell a story. It is said that during the Siege of Handan, Lord Pingyuan of Zhao was going to Chu to seek aid. He intended to bring twenty men, but in the end could only assemble nineteen. Among his retainers was one called Mao Sui, who requested to go along. Lord Pingyuan disdained Mao Sui, who had been in his service three years yet still had no accomplishments, and said: 'A worthy man of talent living in this world is like an awl placed in a pouch — its sharp tip will immediately show itself…'"

"But Mao Sui replied, 'Had I been placed in your lordship's pouch earlier, I would have burst through the bag entirely — how could I show only a hint of sharpness?' So Lord Pingyuan brought Mao Sui along. After arriving in Chu, Mao Sui indeed displayed his full abilities and fulfilled the mission with honor."

Heifu pointed at Chen Ping and said, "Chen Ping, you too are a sharp awl. For many years, the reason you were slighted by the villagers and your name remained obscure was because you stood out from the crowd. Now, I have only placed you in the pouch for a few days, and your sharp edge has already revealed itself. I believe that, given time, you will surely burst forth from the pouch — in Huyou, in Yangwu, and even across all under Heaven!"

Chen Ping had been listening in silence at first, but by the end he was somewhat stirred, for this was the first time in many years that anyone had so affirmed his talent.

He immediately bowed his head in thanks and said, "The Patrol Chief has given Chen Ping two opportunities — first helping me escape slander, then giving me a chance to display my abilities. Chen Ping dares not forget, and the Patrol Chief's praise today, Chen Ping shall also remember for all his life!"

But — it was only a matter of not daring to forget, of remembering for all his life. Kowtow and pledge allegiance? Be unwaveringly loyal from then on? Chen Ping was not the sort of person who, upon receiving favorable treatment, would weep with gratitude and remain utterly devoted. His self-interest ran very deep.

He would peddle his talent and wisdom, but he would absolutely never sell himself.

He would devise strategies for others, but he would absolutely never stake his own life to ensure success.

Nor did Heifu expect Chen Ping to follow his every command right now. In any case, under Qin's system, when an official was transferred, he could not take even a single old subordinate with him, let alone someone like Chen Ping who held no formal post.

Even if he wanted to take on retainers, he would need to reach the rank of Commoner Chief or Marquis before he was qualified, before it was worth anyone's while to attach themselves to him. For a mere Bugeng like himself, such thoughts were far too distant.

Leaving behind a debt of gratitude, giving a helping hand along the way, making Chen Ping deeply impressed by him and even a little grateful — that was enough.

Besides verbal praise, there had to be material reward as well. Heifu said to Chen Ping, "Your grain-lending stratagem alone is worth quite a sum in coin and grain. Tomorrow, take two hundred banliang coins and two dan of rice home — let that be my repayment for your offered plan."

A single coin can stymie a hero. Chen Ping was overjoyed at these words; he was wise, but not aloof, and was perfectly willing to bow his back for five dou of rice.

The two had just cooperated superbly. Zhang Bo and Zhang Fu had already agreed to the grain-for-rank and grain-lending plans, but since night had grown late, they decided to gather again after daybreak tomorrow to discuss the details and the issue of how to transport the grain.

"When we meet to discuss tomorrow, you shall come along as well," Heifu said. "Act as a recording scribe, and along the way, see if you can spot any gaps to fill…"

This was giving Chen Ping even more chances to show his worth — how could he not be overjoyed?

As they spoke, the two had already left the eastern tower ward where Zhang Bo's home was located. Just as they were about to turn onto the main road of the village, a dark figure flashed ahead — someone blocked the way and called out loudly.

"This humble man seeks an audience with the Patrol Chief!"

…

"Who goes there?" Dongmen Bao and Gong Ao were extremely alert; at the sound, they immediately advanced with blades drawn.

By the faint light, the man saw two fierce, menacing Qin soldiers charging toward him and was terrified. He immediately fell to his knees, raising both hands high and kowtowing repeatedly.

"This humble man is a local villager. I have a matter to report to the Patrol Chief!"

Heifu waved his hand, signaling Dongmen Bao and Gong Ao to haul the man over. He saw it was a middle-aged man in a black hemp robe, apparently a servant or menial from some household. His face was bruised and swollen, as if he had recently been beaten.

The man had a very thick accent, and in his panic, he spoke extremely fast. Heifu could not make it out clearly, and since Zhongming had already been sent back earlier, he had to have Chen Ping relay it.

"This humble man has a matter to denounce to the Patrol Chief!"

Heifu glanced around; the nearby lanes and alleys were empty. "What matter do you wish to denounce?"

The man said, "Yesterday at the village market, this humble man saw the wooden board the Patrol Chief had posted. Not knowing how to read, I asked a bystander what was written on it. The bystander told me it was the Qin army's warrant for the former Magistrate of Waihuang, Zhang Er, along with Zhang Er's wife and son. One who captures Zhang Er will be rewarded a hundred gold; one who gets his wife and son will get ten gold. If one can denounce them, there is also a reward of five taels of gold. May I ask the Patrol Chief, is this true?"

After Chen Ping relayed this, Heifu was taken aback. From the sound of it, this man knew the whereabouts of Zhang Er and his wife and son? Could it be that he had guessed wrong, and Zhang Er and his family really were near Yangwu County?

This was a big fish. He immediately pressed, "Every word of the warrant is true. If you can denounce them, there will certainly be a reward. Report it at once!"

The man was overjoyed at this and kowtowed again. "This humble man is a servant of the Zhang residence in the eastern tower ward, working in the rear courtyard. Two months ago, Master Zhang partitioned off a separate small courtyard in the back, saying it was for distant relatives to live in."

Chen Ping was alarmed at these words, a silent cry of dismay in his heart, but he could only continue to relay.

"A few days later, a mother and son arrived. The carriage was tightly sealed, and when they got out, they wore bamboo hats. From that day on, they have lived in the rear courtyard without ever stepping outside. They never attend the Zhang clan's banquets and gatherings, only having us deliver meals every day. Master Zhang himself visits every other day."

"The servants in the mansion all whispered among themselves, thinking it was a concubine Master Zhang kept outside and an illegitimate son. But one day, while I was sweeping outside that small courtyard, I heard Master Zhang inside speaking with that mother and son. He addressed her as Madam, mentioned the name Zhang Er, and called the youth Zhang Ao…"

The Zhang residence servant raised his face, beaten nearly out of shape, and mumbled through swollen lips, "This humble man did not take it to heart at first, until I saw the warrant for Zhang Er at the village market. Only then did I feel something was wrong — Zhang Er's son is indeed called Zhang Ao!"

"Because of this matter, this humble man was restless. This morning, I carelessly made a mistake in the courtyard, angering Master Zhang, and he ordered me severely beaten…"

Somewhat aggrieved, he finally said through gritted teeth, "Since Master Zhang treated me without benevolence, let him not blame this humble man for lacking righteousness. I wish to denounce to the Patrol Chief — Zhang Er's wife and son are hidden in Zhang Bo's home!"

After the relay was finished, Chen Ping was already sweating at the brow, his palms ice-cold.

He took a few steps over and said quietly to Heifu, "Patrol Chief, this man's hearsay cannot be trusted! Moreover, even if Zhang Er's wife and son truly are inside the Eastern Zhang residence, so what?"

"At present, the Patrol Chief's primary duty is to levy grain for General Wang. If you cannot collect the required amount, you will surely be punished. By contrast, capturing Zhang Er's wife and son yields only twenty gold — a reward of just over ten thousand coins — and there is no penalty for failing to get them. If you take this servant's one-sided word and lead soldiers to the door to seize people, even if you ultimately capture them, how will you handle the aftermath? At best, the grain-for-rank and grain-lending plans we negotiated today will come to nothing. At worst, the Patrol Chief and the Zhang clan will become sworn enemies, the two sides locked in irreconcilable conflict, ultimately plunging the entire Huyou Village into chaos! Who would benefit from that?"

With that, Chen Ping bowed deeply!

"Patrol Chief, you must distinguish the primary from the secondary and keep the greater picture in mind!"

Heifu, however, remained silent for a long while, not uttering a word. He merely looked up at the pale moon shrouded by dark clouds, then glanced at the Zhang clan's grand mansion that nearly occupied the entire ward, lost in thought.

After a moment, he let out a long sigh and said, "Had this man not come to denounce them, this official truly would not have seen it. Zhang Bo — that fat rabbit — wants not just three burrows, but a fourth as well!"

"While pledging allegiance to Qin, he is also secretly sheltering Zhang Er's family. Could it be that he is thinking, should Qin fail to hold Wei's territory, or should the people of Wei one day restore their kingdom, he could rely on this righteous act to switch allegiance once more and preserve his family estate?"

With that, Heifu walked over to the Zhang clan servant, clapped him on the shoulder, and said approvingly, "You have done very well!"

The Zhang servant raised his head in delighted surprise, thinking of the reward he would receive and his revenge against Zhang Bo for the vicious beating — his face was all smiles.

Yet, under that expectant gaze, Heifu's expression suddenly changed, and he rebuked, "But you probably do not know that the laws of Qin state: when a servant denounces his master, it is a non-public indictment, and officials shall not accept it. Though this official is stationed separately with troops abroad, Qin law is as immovable as a mountain — I dare not violate it!"

With that, Heifu ordered Dongmen Bao and Gong Ao, "Seize this master-betraying slave! Bind him and gag his mouth!"

Before he could even struggle, the servant was pinned down by two burly men, his hands bound behind his back and his mouth gagged — his eyes bulged wide with sheer terror!

Heifu turned his head and said to Chen Ping, who still hadn't caught up with what was happening, "Let's go. We'll have to pay another visit to the Zhang residence and hand this master-betraying, faithless slave over to Zhang Bo in person, so he can deal with him himself!"

Only then did Chen Ping jolt alert and hurry to follow.

At that moment, the moon, which had earlier hidden itself among the dark clouds, emerged once more and cast its pale moonlight down into the lane.

Chen Ping watched as Heifu, as casually as if paying an ordinary visit, strolled toward the Zhang residence, his expression perfectly composed — yet at a corner, he suddenly drew his sword, inspected the very tip of its edge, then slid it back into its scabbard and said with a laugh, "While we're at it, let's help Zhang Bo make his choice — between the Qin State and that pack of shiftless gallants with no future!"

(End of chapter)