Chapter 151: Laying Out the Corpse

"Cousin!"

Inside the Eastern Zhang residence, Zhang Fu glanced at the brightly lit hall, his heart still pounding with lingering fear, then glared at the somewhat dazed and despondent Zhang Bo and hissed in a low voice, "How could you be so foolish? Surrendering to Qin on one hand, yet still daring to shelter Zhang Er's wife and son on the other! Are you trying to bring disaster upon the Zhang clan?"

Zhang Bo explained weakly, "Cousin, the Huang clan of Outer Yellow, whatever else one might say, has had ties of friendship with our family for two generations. Zhang Er is also a great knight-errant of Wei East and has always treated our Huyou Zhang with the utmost respect. Whether weddings, funerals, or celebrations, he always sent men to offer gifts. I've traveled and befriended him for many years, often calling each other uncle and nephew. When Outer Yellow fell, he entrusted his wife to my care — how could I refuse?"

"Thus, surrendering our entire clan to Qin was knowing the times; sheltering Zhang Er's wife and son was upholding righteousness..."

"You've upheld your righteousness, all right. Now that this matter has been exposed, what position have you put the Zhang clan in? Why didn't you discuss it with me beforehand?"

Zhang Fu was so angry he stamped his feet. The Zhang clan had Zhang Cang serving as an official in Xianyang, and the brothers, by merit of their surrender, had successively become Se Fu and San Lao. With old Wei destroyed and Qin's new rule being established, this was a prime opportunity for the clan to grow and flourish. Yet now, all these efforts had been ruined by Zhang Bo's "righteous" act.

Zhang Er was now a fugitive whom the Qin army was hunting with top priority; even his family members were on the wanted list. Did sheltering his wife and son mean that the Huyou Zhang had become Zhang Er's accomplices, still clinging to the thought of resisting Qin?

But he was also helpless. Guarding petty righteousness while ignoring the greater picture — that was simply this cousin of his's nature. Zhang Er had probably seen through this very trait and thus entrusted his wife to him in a moment of crisis. The most dangerous place is often the safest; Zhang Bo had surrendered to Qin early and even become a Qin official, so none of the Qin officers had expected that he was still hiding Zhang Er's wife and child in his home.

Zhang Bo was loyal enough to hide the two in his house for two months, acting on the surface as if nothing were amiss. Had it not been for a treacherous servant of the Eastern Zhang denouncing them to the Qin officers, even Zhang Fu would have been kept completely in the dark.

Zhang Bo still stubbornly insisted, "The mother and son were only staying here temporarily. Chen Yu will soon send someone to take them away, change their names, and bring them to Zhao..."

Zhang Fu sighed. "There's no chance to leave now. That Heifu is sitting right outside in the hall, hand on his sword, holding your two sons and my son Zhang Zhong hostage. Are we to sacrifice our own children and clan just to protect Zhang Er's wife and son? Let's first think about how to explain this to that Qin officer."

As he spoke, he beat his chest in relief. "We're also fortunate that this Constable Heifu is reasonable and that Chen Ping was there to persuade him. He didn't lead troops to storm the house and arrest people upon hearing the servant's denunciation. Instead, he tied the man up and brought him here in the middle of the night, letting us handle it ourselves..."

Heifu's departure and sudden return earlier had given Zhang Bo and Zhang Fu a terrible fright.

He threw the trussed-up servant at their feet, then kept repeating things like, "According to Qin law, when a child sues a parent, or a servant sues a master, it is a non-public prosecution; officials shall not hear it. Therefore, I have brought him back for the Zhang clan to handle on its own..."

The two naturally did not understand that "public prosecution" and "non-public prosecution" were categories of lawsuits in Qin law. A public prosecution referred to cases accusing someone unrelated by blood of theft, murder, assault, and the like. All public prosecution cases had to be accepted by Qin officers and could not be refused.

A "non-public prosecution" referred to children suing parents, slaves suing masters, and so on. In all non-public prosecution cases, Qin officers generally would not accept them.

This peculiar rule in Qin law became a perfect excuse for Heifu to let the Zhang clan off the hook without having to rupture relations completely. He chose diplomacy before force, letting Zhang Bo remedy the foolish thing he had done on his own.

However, after giving the Zhang clan ample face, Heifu's next words were full of menace.

"Se Fu Zhang, this matter was handled with far too little discretion. Even a lowly servant knew about it. One can imagine how many people in the residence are aware! I fear that after tomorrow, denouncers of this matter will come in an endless stream! Within Huyou Township, I can still help Se Fu Zhang suppress them, but if they denounce you to Outer Yellow, or to Daliang..."

Heifu sneered. "Se Fu Zhang, I will no longer be able to protect you!"

With that, Heifu tossed a dagger at the feet of the Zhang brothers and said coldly, "Between being an official of Qin and the righteousness of a knight-errant, you two gentlemen Zhang must make your choice — and quickly!"

After speaking, Heifu and his two subordinates, hands on their swords, detained the sons of Zhang Bo and Zhang Fu, threatening that the two must dispose of Zhang Er's wife and son before dawn!

"Thus, first, it will prevent anyone from continuing to file accusations. Second, it will preserve the entire Zhang clan, as well as Zi Hu's official post in distant Xianyang, sparing him from collective punishment. Third, it will allow me to give an account to my superiors..."

By now, that unlucky servant had long since been beaten to death on the Zhang brothers' orders and buried under a tree in the rear courtyard. But when it came to "disposing of" Zhang Er's wife and son, Zhang Bo still hesitated.

Zhang Fu knew time waited for no one. After checking the hour, he hardened his heart, a rare thing for him, and said to Zhang Bo, "The lives of the entire Zhang clan, the rise or fall of our lineage — all hang upon this. My brother, you must decide!"

Zhang Bo of course understood his current predicament. The Zhang clan was already bound to Qin. With Daliang growing more precarious by the day and places like Taoqiu successively falling to the Qin army, they were merely minor local magnates and absolutely could not rebel again.

Therefore, there was only one choice: kill Zhang Er's wife and son and hand the corpses over to Heifu to fulfill his duty!

Zhang Bo, who had been tough all his life, suddenly turned cowardly at this moment. He could not bring himself to give the order and even sent someone to the hall to ask Heifu, "Can the Qin soldiers do it?"

After a moment, Chen Ping came back with Heifu's reply and said flatly, "This matter arose because of Se Fu Zhang; it should be concluded by Se Fu Zhang's own order. That will also prove to the Constable the Zhang clan's loyalty to Qin..."

"If Gentleman Zhang truly cannot bring himself to do it, handing Zhang Er's wife and son directly over to the Constable is also acceptable. But in that case, the Constable cannot guarantee whether Zhang Er's wife, once brought before the superior officers, might confess that the Huyou Zhang sheltered and harbored them..."

With that, Chen Ping bowed deeply and took his leave.

"What ruthless Qin men!" Zhang Bo spat curses. "He doesn't want to dirty his hands — does he think I do? He wants our family to become Zhang Er's mortal enemy, cutting off all retreat, so we can only serve Qin with desperate loyalty!"

Curse as he might, when it came down to it, Zhang Bo was helpless. Between the lives of his own sons, the future of his clan, and "righteousness," he still chose the former.

Urged by Zhang Fu, he could only wave his hand weakly, ordering two household servants unwaveringly loyal to the Zhang clan to take up sharp blades, follow him to that most secretive little courtyard, and knock on its door...

It was already the dead of night, the courtyard shrouded in darkness. But soon, the door opened. The old woman whom Zhang Bo had assigned to tend to the daily needs of Zhang Er's wife and son opened it, muttering curses under her breath.

"Who is it?"

"It's me..."

Seeing that it was her master arriving in person late at night, the old woman hastily stepped back and bowed. Looking up, she saw two household servants with sharp swords following close behind and was so frightened she nearly lost her wits.

Hearing the noise, Lady Huang inside hurriedly dressed and came out of the inner room. She appeared to be in her thirties, yet her charm was undiminished — arched brows and elegant eyes, skin as fine as silk, worthy of being Outer Yellow's foremost beauty. She wore a two-toned ruqun skirt that trailed along the ground, graceful and slender, her long black hair hanging behind her. Because of the cool night breeze, she had draped a crimson shenyi over her shoulders, strikingly dazzling under the moonlight.

"So it is Uncle."

Upon seeing Zhang Bo, Lady Huang respectfully performed a wanfu salute to him — a solemn, slow bending of the knees with a lowered head. But when she lifted her head, she saw Zhang Bo's bitter face and the two blade-wielding servants flanking him.

Lady Huang understood everything in an instant, her face turning as pale as the moonlight.

"Niece... no, Madam Zhang, the matter has been exposed. This old man, this old man truly cannot keep you mother and son safe..."

Zhang Bo was too ashamed to say anything more. He could only hang his head, bow, and sigh.

After a moment of dizziness, Lady Huang steadied herself once more. Clutching the collar at her chest, she said with difficulty, "This humble wife has followed her husband for nine years and has often dreamed of flashing blades and shadows of swords. I have long expected a day like this..."

She raised her eyes and asked, "May I ask Uncle, have the Qin officers come knocking?"

Zhang Bo nodded.

She wrung her hands and asked, "This time, can this humble wife keep her life?"

Zhang Bo shook his head.

Lady Huang nodded without a word, then turned to look at the ajar door. Her son with Zhang Er was not yet eight years old and was sleeping soundly inside, unaware that outside, events deciding his fate were unfolding.

Lady Huang seemed to have made up her mind. She raised her hands level with her brows, knelt on both knees, and pressed her head to the ground, remaining prostrate for a long time, performing the most solemn jishou ritual bow to Zhang Bo...

Zhang Bo hastily stepped aside, ashamed, and said, "This old man is unworthy of such a rite."

"Uncle is worthy! When Outer Yellow fell, Uncle, mindful of old friendship, sheltered us mother and son for two months. Throughout that time, food and clothing were supplied without cease, allowing us mother and son to enjoy a brief spell of peace in this world torn by chaos."

"Now that the Qin officers press at the gate, I imagine Uncle must hand us mother and son over. But Uncle also fears that I might not withstand torture and might say things I should not, implicating the Zhang clan. Therefore, when I am handed over, I must be a corpse... Is that so?"

Zhang Bo turned his head away. Though he was loath to admit it, that was exactly what he intended to do.

Lady Huang kowtowed again. "But Ao'er is only seven and knows nothing of the world. However cruel the Qin officers may be, they would surely not go so far as to torture him and extract testimony from a child's mouth. I beseech Uncle, in consideration of the many years of friendship between our two families, to spare Ao'er's life!"

She raised her head, tears streaming from both eyes. "His father has drifted through half his life and is now nearly forty. Whether he is dead or alive is unknown. Even if he survives, whether he can have more heirs hereafter is also unknown. Zhang Ao is his sole flesh and blood! The Qin men are hunting us mother and son to force him to surrender. Zhang Ao's crime does not warrant death. Even if he enters Qin as a slave, as a bondservant, at the very least he can preserve a descendant for his father..."

"This wife is willing to trade her death for Zhang Ao's life. I beseech Uncle to grant this!"

Lady Huang spoke with such earnest feeling that Zhang Bo, already deeply ashamed, felt his heart soften and nodded as if possessed.

Lady Huang was overjoyed. She bowed three times with her head to the ground, then retreated backward into the room.

She lifted the thin gauze bed-curtain, walked to the bedside, and gently stroked her child's hairline, revealing a soft, beautiful smile. She left one last kiss on his cheek, a few tears falling onto it.

Finally, as Zhang Ao drowsily mumbled and opened his mouth, searching for his mother, Lady Huang forced herself to pull away and leave.

She walked out the door, turned back reluctantly to gaze at the child's form on the bed, tears streaming down her face, yet still hardened her heart. She closed the door with both hands, then stood on the steps and drew the short blade Zhang Er had given her for self-defense.

"I once married another man, then despised him for his mediocrity and fled, which is how I met my husband. People say, if you seek a worthy husband, follow Zhang Er…"

"These nine years, those words have proven true. My husband treated me as his dearest kin, and I have always firmly believed that my husband is a hero among men."

"Therefore, though I die, I have no regrets… I go ahead, hoping that beneath the Yellow Springs, I may still see you pour wine and sing for me, sword in hand, striking with skill!"

Lady Huang's eyes were resolute. She slowly raised the short blade, past her chest, up to her long, slender neck…

Watching this scene, Zhang Bo's old tears streamed down. This bloated old man of over fifty actually knelt and bowed his head to the ground toward Lady Huang, again and again.

The dagger slipped from her hand, clattering with a ringing sound…

Her corpse lay stretched upon the steps.

The moonlight was deathly pale.

Her deep robes were blood-red…

…

Accompanied by a child's wailing from the rear courtyard, Heifu and his men finally received the Zhang clan's resolution of the matter.

Zhang Bo walked ahead with a somber face. His two servant boys, using a large roll of pure white silk, carried a bloodstained corpse wrapped within. They walked slowly into the hall before setting it down.

Displayed before Heifu and the others was a female corpse with a peaceful expression…

"Is this truly Zhang Er's wife, Lady Huang?" Heifu was somewhat doubtful.

"The matter, this old man has already carried out. As for whether you believe it, that depends on the Patrolman himself." Zhang Bo glared at Heifu, his eyes full of remorse.

Zhang Fu hastily tugged at his clansman's sleeve, then came over to look as well. He cupped his hands and said, "Nine years ago, when Zhang Er and Lady Huang were wed, they invited us two brothers. This is indeed Lady Huang, without a doubt!"

"Where is Zhang Er's son, Zhang Ao?" Chen Ping examined the scene, saw only one corpse, and couldn't help but ask. He was very concerned about this point.

Zhang Bo said coldly, "A seven-year-old child — what could he possibly know? This old man could not bear to do it. The person is in the rear courtyard. The Patrolman may take him to present to the superior official. If both mother and son were dead, I fear they could no longer be used to coerce Zhang Er into surrendering."

Though the words were harsh, faintly, one could hear that Zhang Bo hoped Heifu would spare the child's life.

Chen Ping shook his head disapprovingly, but in front of the Zhang brothers, he started to speak, then stopped.

Heifu, however, burst out laughing. He sheathed the sword he had kept his hand on, released Zhang Bo's son, and said, "Since Sire Zhang the Seigneur doesn't mind if that child talks recklessly, then what do I mind? Men, take the corpse and the young child — back to camp!"

He knew that the role he played today was, through and through, the "villain."

But Heifu had little choice. His orders demanded the arrest of this mother and son, yet they had taken refuge in the home of Zhang Cang's uncle. Heifu could not destroy the Zhang clan just to fulfill the arrest warrant — that way, not only would he fail to complete the grain levy and disrupt the order of his own district, he would also make an enemy of Zhang Cang far away in Xianyang, the only person he knew in this era with the makings of a scientist. Just for the ten-thousand-coin reward for capturing Zhang Er's wife and son? It wasn't worth it.

But neither could Heifu simply let the matter go, because it could not be kept secret. If someone later reported it to Waihuang or Daliang, not only would the Zhang clan be punished, but he himself could not escape involvement — a charge of harboring fugitives would be unavoidable.

After much thought, the best course was to force the Zhang clan to act themselves — kill Zhang Er's wife and son, display the corpses outside, and claim that the Zhang clan and he had jointly captured and slain them. This would close the matter and also preserve the Zhang clan.

In this way, the Zhang clan would become sworn enemies of Zhang Er and the gallant swordsmen of Wei, leaving them no choice but to follow Qin wholeheartedly.

Although in the end Zhang Bo killed the elder but spared the younger, it did not affect the overall outcome.

When leaving the Zhang residence, unlike Zhang Fu and the Zhang clansmen, who had fawned before him with smiles and endless gratitude for Heifu's "leniency," the aged and bloated Zhang Bo, after the blow he had suffered tonight, no longer even had the strength to walk. Powerless, he was carried by several servant boys. He stared fixedly at Heifu and suddenly said:

"Heifu, this old man will not thank you. For forcing me to commit this unrighteous act today, I will bear a grudge against you!"

"Shut your mouth!" Zhang Fu hastily rebuked him, then piled on a smile and said, "Patrolman, pay him no mind. This old man understands your difficulties. The Zhang clan will remember the Patrolman's kindness. As for Zihu in Xianyang, I will also write to him and truthfully inform him of this matter…"

Heifu shook his head and said he did not mind.

There was no need for him to quibble with this bloated old man who spoke bluntly but lacked the courage to act on his defiance. By the looks of it, Zhang Bo probably did not have much longer to live.

Heifu had Dongmen Bao hoist the struggling, crying Zhang Ao — who was screaming for his mother — onto his shoulder. As they walked through the lanes of the hamlet, Heifu thought to himself, "That's right, Zhang Bo, you will hate me. Five years, ten years — you'll carry that hatred into your coffin. But the Zhang clan, and Zhang Cang far away in Xianyang — they will thank me! Thank me for saving them!"

PS: Recommending a novel, "The Red Emperor of the Three Kingdoms"

The end of the second century AD, yet another great era of contention. The most glorious, most stirring, most legendary era in human history — the era of the late Han and the Three Kingdoms — is about to begin.

Heroes rise up with vigor; the wise employ strategy, the brave wield blade and sword. For their own ambitions, for great righteousness, to leave their names in the annals of history, and even more, to save this irredeemable world, they fight with all their might.

It is also at this time, in Hebei, You Province, Zhuo Commandery, Zhuo County, that a soul from the twenty-first century merges with the soul of a hero of that same era.

After brief astonishment and reflection, the newborn hero makes his decision: with vision and knowledge surpassing the age, and with determination and perseverance second to none, he will end this chaotic era.

This time, tragedy will not repeat itself. Huaxia shall be reborn anew!

(End of chapter)