Chapter 6: The Credit-Stealer

The ting was a basic administrative unit in Qin, usually set up along roadsides, responsible for public order within a radius of ten li. A ting was headed by a "Ting Chief," also called a "Ting Se Fu," whose duties included patrolling the villages, inspecting for violations, and arresting bandits and thieves — much like a police station chief in later ages.

Under the Ting Chief were subordinate officers known as Qiu Dao and Ting Zu, who were authorized to carry standard military weapons such as bows, crossbows, halberds, and swords.

Running into colleagues in this ancient era did not cheer Hei Fu up in the slightest, because he sensed not a shred of goodwill from these "police officers." They noisily surrounded Hei Fu and Ji Ying, thrusting their weapons to within a few chi of them.

With backup, the Huyang Ting Chief grew even more overbearing. Adopting the tone of interrogating a suspect, he demanded, "Who are you people? Do you have your identification tallies and travel permits?"

Common folk were simply a rung below officials — there was no way around it. Hei Fu and Ji Ying had no choice but to hand over their "identity cards" and "letter of introduction" for him to inspect once more.

The Huyang Ting Chief merely glanced at them and sneered, "So you're just two lowly conscripts heading to the county seat for labor service. And you dare to stand in my way and argue!"

Looking down on their humble status, he raised his head and asked, "These bandits — were they really captured by you two?"

Ji Ying replied, "For the Ting Chief's information, the two of us worked together to capture them. We were just on our way to deliver them to the county authorities."

The Huyang Ting Chief's eyes darted shiftily. He had someone fetch his two-chi writing tablet and rope, and declared with bureaucratic pomposity, "As the chief of this ting, pursuing and arresting bandits is my duty."

Pointing at the three bound bandits nearby, he said, "Since this case occurred within my ting's jurisdiction, it stands to reason that I should conduct the interrogation and escort. You two are on your way to the county seat for labor service, are you not? Hurry along, then. These criminals — just leave them to me..."

Hei Fu and Ji Ying looked at each other, stunned by the Ting Chief's demand. Ji Ying quickly leaned in to Hei Fu's ear and whispered, "Isn't this Huyang Ting Chief trying to steal our credit? Whatever you do, don't agree! If he escorts the bandits to the county seat himself, that twenty-thousand-plus cash will have nothing to do with us!"

Hei Fu nodded, fully agreeing.

Qin's system of heavy rewards made the scramble for heads and merit incredibly fierce. Back home, he had heard his eldest brother Zhong talk about it plenty: on the battlefield, comrades-in-arms would sometimes draw blades on each other just to fight over a single severed head — let alone in peacetime. This Ting Chief was definitely scheming after those three bandits. If they gave in, the huge reward within their grasp would fly away!

So Hei Fu cupped his fists and said, "The county seat is not far from here. We can manage the escort ourselves; no need for the Ting Chief to trouble himself."

Ji Ying also chimed in loudly, "That's right! Ting Chief, please go back! Just let that merchant accompany us to the county seat to testify."

"Is this matter for you to decide?"

The Huyang Ting Chief's face hardened. Just as he was about to lose his temper, his deputy — the short-statured Qiu Dao holding a bow — darted his eyes shiftily and whispered something in his ear. The Ting Chief suppressed his anger, walked a circle around the three bandits, and said scornfully, "Bandits are cunning and skilled in martial arts. Just the two of you managed to subdue them? I don't believe it!"

At the same time, the Qiu Dao shot a meaningful glance at the merchant. The merchant was a native of Huyang Ting and well-acquainted with the Ting Chief and Qiu Dao, so he understood immediately.

He pulled Hei Fu and Ji Ying aside and said to them, "You two brave fellows, don't be too greedy. The Huyang Ting Chief, upon hearing of bandits, rushed all the way here with his Qiu Dao and Ting Zu. Even if they have no merit, they've endured hardship. How can you let them make a trip for nothing?"

Hei Fu asked coldly, "What are you suggesting, then?"

The merchant put on a smiling face. "There are three bandits anyway. Why not split them with the ting's men? Just say they were captured jointly. How about that?"

The moment he finished, Ji Ying cursed under his breath, "You ungrateful, treacherous profiteer! We were kind enough to save you, and now you want to screw us over? Just now, Brother Hei Fu risked his life in a desperate fight and captured these bandits by his own skill. Why should we share them with anyone else? Don't even think about it!"

With Ji Ying spraying spittle in his face, the merchant's attempt at playing peacemaker failed, and he could only slink back dejectedly.

With negotiations fruitless, the Huyang Ting Chief revealed his vicious side. With a wave of his hand, his Qiu Dao and Ting Zu pressed forward again with their weapons, startling Ji Ying. "What are you trying to do?"

The Huyang Ting Chief said coldly, "Hand the bandits over to me! You two leave on your own. Otherwise..." He raised the writing tablet and rope in his hands as he spoke — this was a threat to take them by force.

Ji Ying grew somewhat afraid. He turned back to look at Hei Fu, hoping he would make a decision.

Hei Fu remained outwardly calm; he had been pondering what to do all along.

Before leaving home, his honest and simple eldest brother Zhong had repeatedly admonished him: when away from home, be forbearing in all matters, do not quarrel or brawl with others, and above all, do not offend any official who holds a rank.

Although this Huyang Ting Chief was just a petty "grain-scooping" minor official, he was still an official. According to Qin law, if a commoner raised a hand against an official, regardless of who was in the right, they would be convicted. Once sentenced to penal labor, one's entire life would be ruined.

Yet the Huyang Ting Chief's insufferably arrogant manner made Hei Fu's blood boil. Whether it was handing the bandits over on a silver platter or splitting the credit with the Ting Chief and his men, he was unwilling to accept either.

What should he do? Hei Fu was caught in a dilemma.

Just at that moment, he spotted a horse-drawn carriage slowly approaching on the road. The carriage was lacquered in black and red, pulled by two horses, one black and one white. Wasn't that the very carriage belonging to that "Dafu" who had stayed at the same inn as them last night?

Hei Fu's eyes lit up at once.

"If you truly suffer an injustice, the best course is to report it to the authorities!" This was what his eldest brother had repeatedly told him. As things stood, this was the only option left to Hei Fu.

He immediately seized an opening, violently burst through the encirclement of the Qiu Dao and Ting Zu, and darted out. Running to the middle of the road, he spread his arms wide and stopped the carriage!

The Ting Chief, the merchant, Ji Ying, and the others were stunned by this sudden turn of events and didn't react for a moment.

The carriage driver also hadn't expected anyone to block the road. He hastily pulled on the reins, and the carriage barely managed to stop a few chi in front of Hei Fu. The driver cursed furiously, "Where did this brat come from, daring to block the road? Do you know whose carriage this is?"

"Of course I do!"

Hei Fu cast aside all decorum at this moment. Performing a salute right there in the dusty middle of the road, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "This humble man has been wronged, and beseeches the Dafu to see justice done!"

After a moment, the bamboo curtain of the carriage slowly lifted, revealing a hand holding a bamboo scroll and the face of a middle-aged man. He wore a headdress and a deep robe, had two arrow-shaped tufts of thick mustache above his lip, and wore brocade shoes on his feet — indeed, he was a refined and cultured official.

The civil official glanced at Hei Fu and asked slowly, "What grievance do you have? Speak."

Hei Fu said, "This humble man is a conscript on his way to the county seat for labor service. Last night, I lodged at the same inn as the Dafu. This morning, traveling with my comrade, we encountered bandits robbing and killing a merchant on the road. We intervened, captured three bandits, and were about to deliver them to the county authorities, when unexpectedly..."

By this time, the Ting Chief and his men had also come to the middle of the road. Hei Fu pointed at him and said, "Unexpectedly, the local Huyang Ting Chief wants to seize the bandits and claim the credit for himself!"

As he finished speaking, Hei Fu's heart pounded. He could only hope that he had not gambled wrong — that this civil official Dafu before him was an upright official capable of distinguishing right from wrong!

"Superior official, please investigate clearly!"

The Huyang Ting Chief was utterly flustered. He recognized this Dafu before him. Hastily prostrating himself and kowtowing repeatedly, he said, "This subordinate was merely making routine inquiries! There was absolutely no intention to steal credit or swindle rewards! This conscript is making a false accusation!"

As the two sides argued back and forth without resolution, the Dafu on the carriage was in no hurry. With one hand holding the bamboo scroll and the other stroking his mustache, his gaze shifted back and forth between Hei Fu and the Ting Chief. He also looked over the others and the three tightly bound bandits, and quickly came to a decision.

"Who is telling the truth and who is lying — you will escort the suspects and follow this official to the county for a trip. Then we shall know."

Finally, he revealed his own identity: "This case falls within my jurisdiction. I am the Prison Clerk of Anlu County — Xi!"

(End of Chapter)