Chapter 205: A Commandery Order

As someone who had visited the museums in both Hunan and Hubei, Heifu naturally had impressions of names like "Xi," "Heifu," and "Li Cang." Yet after two years of knowing Li Xian, sharing life-and-death dangers together, it had never occurred to him that Li Xian's son was also named Li Cang.

Of course, whether this was the very same Li Cang—the Chancellor of Changsha in the Han dynasty, whose wife became China's first known mummified corpse—was another matter entirely. Perhaps it was merely a coincidence of names?

Heifu's attention was entirely drawn to something else Li Xian had mentioned.

"You all want to see Yun Man censured and dismissed from office?"

Heifu was somewhat surprised, and also a little amused, by his subordinates' spontaneous initiative in scheming against his adversary. But he could understand it—these men he had brought back were now firmly bound to him, sharing glory and ruin alike.

Among the Qin officials of Anlu County, a new faction had already emerged: the "Heifu Clique."

So Heifu had Li Xian explain the matter in detail.

Li Xian said, "For three generations, the Yun clan has held the post of County Left Commandant. Their old associates and relatives are spread throughout the entire county, especially within the commandant's office system—nearly half the personnel are Yun clan people. All are Qin officials, with varying ranks of nobility and authority. They collude with one another, and there is no doubt they have committed plenty of graft and corruption. Although Yun Man is cautious enough not to leave any handles for others to grab, his old associates and relatives cannot possibly cover every trace completely."

"In the past, we were merely petty village officers, powerless against them. But now, we have become Commandant Clerks and Patrol Officers, and we can make full use of our official positions to investigate the Yun clan in secret. Once we uncover a crack, we can inform the Right Commandant and use the opportunity to impeach Yun Man. That way, Yun Man won't hold the Left Commandant post for long... and you, Officer of the Great Officer rank, can replace him!"

Heifu listened, lost in thought. Just as Li Xian had said, the Yun clan's underlings were bound to have minor problems that could be caught in droves, but none of those would be fatal. To completely topple the Yun clan, so deeply rooted in Anlu County, they needed a serious crime that could be nailed down with solid evidence!

He had a vague suspicion, but the key witness, Dou Ran, was a tough-boned, die-hard noble of Chu who had kept his mouth shut the entire journey. He had now been sent to the Nan Commandery jail for detention—who knew if the law officials had managed to extract anything from him?

Heifu's plan was to strike from top to bottom, directly attacking the Yun clan and pulling the firewood out from under the cauldron. Li Xian and the others, however, wanted to work from bottom to top, starting the investigation with the Yun clan's old associates and trusted followers, like termites gnawing at a tree.

These two approaches could actually be combined and carried out together...

Heifu thus approved Li Xian's request, allowing them to use the convenience of their official duties to launch an investigation into the Yun clan's lower-level personnel.

"This humble official will report every matter, great or small, to you, Officer of the Great Officer rank," Li Xian said, showing a clear understanding of how things should be done.

Heifu, however, shook his head. "When I am not in Anlu, you shall take charge of this matter. Although Dongmen Bao and Xiao Tao hold higher noble ranks than you, you have the convenience of serving as a Commandant Clerk in the county seat. I will instruct everyone that they must follow your orders and not act recklessly. Furthermore, you must also keep everyone in line on my behalf. Aside from Xiao Tao, the rest all have their vices—Bao is addicted to drink, Ji Ying is lecherous, and Bu Cheng is greedy for wealth. While you all move against the Yun clan, the Yun clan may very well be plotting against you as well. Be extremely careful; do not lose the greater for the lesser!"

"Yes!" Li Xian, receiving such trust from Heifu, was somewhat stirred, but then he caught on.

"Not in Anlu? Officer of the Great Officer rank, could it be that you are going elsewhere?"

Heifu only gave a mysterious smile and revealed nothing, merely saying, "Indeed. I will not stay here long. After the start of spring, everything in Anlu will have to depend on you all yourselves!"

Leisure time at home always flew by, and in the blink of an eye it was the first month. Zhong, as the Field Overseer, began busying himself with preparations for farming and spring plowing, while Heifu was not idle either. While refusing several marriage proposals, he had found an excellent match for his younger brother Jing.

On the first day of the first month, Heifu personally paid a visit to propose on his younger brother Jing's behalf, requesting that Yan Zheng betroth his granddaughter to Jing!

Yan Zheng and Heifu shared the bond of teacher and student. His discerning eye for talent two years prior had now yielded rich returns. After Heifu became an Officer of the Great Officer rank, Yan Zheng, who had long since retired in old age, became a sought-after figure once more. Everyone marveled at his wisdom in taking Heifu as a disciple back then, and their respect for Yan Zheng grew accordingly.

Yan Zheng found Heifu's request somewhat difficult. In truth, his family had set their sights on Heifu himself... but Heifu had refused every matchmaker in the county, making it clear he had no intention of marrying for the time being. Thus, Yan Zheng could only settle for the next best thing and betroth his granddaughter to Jing—it was also a way to forge a deeper bond with Heifu's family.

The only fly in the ointment was that Jing was currently just a minor disciple in the academy, holding no noble rank. This marriage, if word got out, would be a bit of a loss of face.

"There is no need to worry about noble rank."

Heifu had no need to hide things from Yan Zheng. Lowering his voice, he said to him, "If I am not mistaken, this year the Great King may once again issue the 'Grain Contribution Ordinance.' Commoners who contribute a thousand shi of grain will be granted one step of noble rank..."

A glint flashed in Yan Zheng's aged eyes. "You mean to say the Great King intends to attack Chu again?"

"Not just attack, but to muster the entire nation's strength and destroy Chu without fail! Nan Commandery and Anlu will not be spared. This is no longer a secret in Guanzhong; I expect word will reach Nan Commandery after the spring plowing. With a great war imminent, first, the commanderies and counties will be pressed to intensify troop training, and second, granaries everywhere will need to stockpile military provisions."

After saying this, Heifu cupped his hands in salute. "Please set your mind at ease, Master. My family has already stockpiled a thousand shi of grain in advance. Within this year, we will certainly be able to raise Jing to the rank of Gongshi!"

According to Heifu's plan, even his brother-in-law Chuan and his eldest brother Zhong could each advance one step in noble rank through grain contributions, for this might be the last opportunity...

With Heifu's assurance, Yan Zheng no longer hesitated and immediately agreed to the marriage.

When Heifu went to the county seat and told Jing the news, Jing was so overjoyed he could not contain himself. He ran and jumped two circles on the spot, then prostrated himself before Heifu.

"Second Brother, you are truly my greatest benefactor!"

Thinking that he would soon be able to marry the little beauty he had been pining after for two years, Jing grinned so wide he could not close his mouth.

"Don't celebrate too soon."

Heifu, however, said, "I have discussed it with Lord Yan. You and the virtuous maiden of the Yan family are both still young. You will wait another two years, until you have successfully graduated from the academy, before marrying. If you get carried away and neglect your studies, failing to graduate..."

Heifu put on a stern face to frighten him. "Lord Yan will annul the engagement!"

Jing was badly startled and immediately swore an oath to heaven, vowing that he would fulfill his duties as a disciple and not delay the marriage.

"Second Brother, just you wait. When you become a Battalion Commander, I will come to your side as a clerical law official and follow you on campaign!"

Jing had heard that at the level of Battalion Commander, leading a thousand men, one was entitled to bring along a number of clerks and scribes. He very much wanted to join the army in that capacity after completing his studies.

Heifu looked at his younger brother, so full of longing for war, and felt somewhat helpless. It was all the fault of that big mouth Ji Ying—their combat exploits on the front lines had greatly influenced Jing, filling him with curiosity and anticipation for military life.

In this young lad's eyes, war seemed like a grand adventure, a wondrous journey away from everyday life, where one could witness marvels and win wealth and glory.

He had no idea that it was a foul-smelling hell, reeking of excrement and urine, dripping with fresh blood, where lives were worth less than weeds.

"My foolish little brother."

Heifu thought to himself, "The very reason I tricked you into the academy, to stay there for three years, was precisely to keep you far from war and preserve your little life, was it not?"

So Heifu said, "Your elder brother will not stand still waiting for you."

He took a wooden tablet from his bosom and handed it to Jing. This was something Heifu had just retrieved from the County Commandant's office.

"I am leaving again."

"Leaving... for where?" Jing was a bit stunned. Had Second Brother not only been back for half a month or so? When he opened the wooden tablet, his eyes widened.

"This is an order from the commandery!"

Heifu smiled. "That's right. The Commandery Commandant has conscripted me, ordering me to take up a post in the Commandery Military Office! A commandery order cannot be disobeyed. I have already accepted! The day after tomorrow, I depart to assume my post in Jiangling City!"

At the same time, Left Commandant Yun Man also received news that struck him like a bolt from the blue...

Staring at the gifts that had been returned, completely untouched, by the Commandery Merit Evaluator, Yun Man's face alternated between pale and flushed. He sat there in a daze, staring blankly at the fine silks, gold, and silver.

Only when his nephew Yun Xiong arrived in answer to his summons did Yun Man hurl the Merit Evaluator's reply letter to the floor at Yun Xiong's feet!

"See for yourself! See your brilliant scheme!"

Yun Xiong was equally horrified. He picked up the wooden tablet and looked at it, only to find it covered entirely with the Merit Evaluator's words of reprimand.

The Merit Evaluator said that the Yun clan truly did not know what was good for them, actually trying to make him do something that would bury a meritorious official. Did they not know that this meritorious official Heifu's name had reached the ears of the Great King? What if the Great King, on a whim one day, inquired what post Heifu currently held—what then?

The Merit Evaluator also said that the first thing the new Commandery Commandant did after assuming office was to conscript Heifu for a post in Jiangling City. At such a critical juncture, the Yun clan had written him such a letter—what was their intention? Were they trying to goad him into opposing a Commandery Commandant of profound backing?

"A new Commandant? Could it be that..."

Yun Xiong's face went deathly pale as he looked at his uncle, only to see Yun Man already slumped weakly against the desk, saying in despair:

"Li You, Left Chief of the Masses Li You is the new Commandant of Southern Commandery!"

(End of Chapter)