Chapter 23.2

Zhuang Yan’s heart skips a beat, and he can’t help but lift his head to stare directly at Wei Jing. “Lord He’s legitimate eldest son died prematurely; the third wife bore him a second son, and the fourth wife bore him a third son. Both of these sons have already reached the coming‐of‐age, and Lord He holds them in the highest regard.”

A county magistrate who wishes to eliminate the Qu family utterly and remain unshakable must, in truth, masterfully exploit the power struggle among the sons of the He family!

The keen insight, precise perspective, and swift, accurate methods employed by the person before him stirred something deep within Zhuang Yan’s heart. Suddenly, he felt that what was being described as a crisis might well represent a tremendous opportunity. Should the Zhuang family manage to seize it, their clan could very likely rise at least one level.

With his blood pounding and his heart surging, his face growing ever more solemn and respectful, he clasped his hands and said, “Although Lord Dong is a close relative of the third son, the county captain Bao Zhong is the trusted aide of the second son.”

For in Anyang Prefecture—and indeed throughout Yizhou—the two factions, though outwardly maintaining equal courtesy, have long been locked in an intense struggle beneath the surface.

This situation perfectly matches Wei Jing’s recollections. Even though he had never been to Yizhou before, constant news reports enabled him to easily connect the dots between the rival sides.

This time, there was no need for further inquiry; Zhuang Yan continued on his own. “The Pu tribe is greedy, and the illicit profits from their salt—but smuggled to the provinces and prefectures—are enormous. Lord Qu must undoubtedly have kept a private ledger.”

That ledger is the ironclad evidence that could bring down Qu Cheng. Zhuang Yan had always known of its existence, yet there was absolutely no means to obtain it. Moreover, even if, by some stroke of luck, it were acquired, the Zhuang family would not dare be the provocateur because one misstep could condemn the entire clan to irrevocable ruin.

Over the past ten or so years, Pingtao changed several county magistrates. The first one blatantly colluded with the corrupt, while the later ones were somewhat better. Alas, those fragile scholars with no influential backing ultimately proved unreliable—some simply couldn’t endure the strain and defected, while others “died of illness.”

At that moment, Zhuang Yan was thoroughly convinced. With respectful hands clasped in greeting, he said, “My lord, though I am unworthy and untalented, if I may get hold of the ledger, I will surely ensure it reaches Lord Bao.”

“Excellent!” Wei Jing rose to his feet, helped Zhuang Yan up, and with a nod and a smile, said, “In that case, once you secure the ledger, this matter will be handed over to you.”

Ever observant, Wei Jing knew that although Zhuang Yan maintained an impressive façade, his inner turmoil inevitably betrayed him. With no suitable messenger available among his men, Wei Jing decided that Zhuang Yan would serve the purpose well.

Decisively, Wei Jing entrusted him with this important task. This assignment set Zhuang Yan’s blood boiling with excitement, and he responded in a resonant tone, “Lord Yang.”

Suddenly, Zhuang Yan recalled something and hurriedly added, “You must be cautious in the coming days. Lord Qu only sent someone this evening to inquire about your affairs.”

Wei Jing raised an eyebrow and asked, “What did they ask?”

“Uh, they inquired about the day you lodged, how many days you stayed, the size of your party, and they even took the guest ledger.”

(The guest ledger is the register in which the detailed identity information of the lodging guests is recorded.)

Wei Jing’s eyes flickered slightly, yet his expression remained unchanged. Nodding, he said, “Nothing of concern; just go back and make the necessary preparations.”

“Yes!”

“Husband?”

After Zhuang Yan excused himself, Wei Jing picked up Shao Qing. Worried, she whispered, “What are we to do about that Third Master Qu?”

Even though they’d only caught a fleeting glimpse of her, her face made it obvious she was a woman. If we take this guest register back, the Qu family will soon notice something amiss.

A false identity, however, is the two of their greatest vulnerability.

“No matter.” Wei Jing responded in a steady tone, “Let’s go to the Qu residence right now.”

In the dark of night, he tiptoed lightly and dashed out, landing with remarkable grace in the shadow on the rooftop of the Qu family’s front courtyard.

Since the layouts of these courtyard houses hardly differed, Wei Jing surveyed the area for a moment and quickly pinpointed two spots suspected to be Qu Cheng’s external study.

The first one was it.

Inside, the room was brightly lit—several members of the Qu family, father and sons, were still present. Qu Cheng furrowed his brow and remarked, “You say that Yang Ni is really a woman.”

He reopened the guest register on the desk, his gaze settling on the two characters “Yang Ni.”

“Absolutely true!” Still trembling with lingering fear, Qu Qian said, “Father, that Yang Ze is too terrifying! I nearly couldn’t get out! That silver hairpin was driven straight into the wall—at least two inches deep!”

“Father, why do you think Lord Yang was transferred to Pingtao? It just shouldn’t be so!” Qu Qian’s elder brother was utterly baffled.

Indeed, for someone like him, there’s no shortage of fine assignments—why on earth should he be sent all the way to the southwest?

It just doesn’t make sense!

How many years has Pingtao County been in existence? In these remote borderlands, posts have always been filled by men with no backing or connections—just like the previous county magistrates.

So how is it that suddenly such a formidable figure has appeared? Could it be a sham?

Qu Cheng sprang up abruptly. “Bring Chen Ting in!”

Chen Ting—the commander of the county garrison and one of Qu Cheng’s most trusted lieutenants—had scarcely been summoned when he hurried over with lightning speed.

“Immediately, gather your forces and set out for Liang County in Yiling Commandery, Yuzhou, to verify Yang Ze’s identity. Then get back here at once.”

“No—send out two additional detachments, making three in all; depart tonight!”

“Understood!” Chen Ting promptly left with his orders. While the Qu family’s father and son were still deeply discussing other matters, Wei Jing stopped listening and trailed behind Chen Ting.

The three detachments streamed out of the city in succession, each heading in a different direction, while Wei Jing looked on coldly from a vantage point.

“Ah Qing, I’ll be right back.” He found a secluded, sheltered spot and safely placed Shao Qing before swiftly slipping away.

Shao Qing watched his retreating figure and exhaled a long sigh. She fully knew what he was off to do but did nothing to stop him; after all, Qu Cheng had run rampant for years, and his trusted aides bore more than their fair share of disgrace.

It wasn’t long before Wei Jing returned, escorting Shao Qing once more back to the Qu residence.

By midnight, the night was deep, and the lamp in Qu Cheng’s outer study had long been extinguished. Though there were plenty of guards—even ones specifically posted to watch the outer study—none of these ordinary brutes could halt Wei Jing’s progress in the slightest. He held Shao Qing in his arms, silently standing in the outer study.

The room was pitch dark; only two front windows, through their delicate screens, filtered in small patches of hazy moonlight so that the interior’s visibility was extremely low. Still, Wei Jing’s eyes were sharp. With barely a shift in his gaze, he methodically swept over every inch—from the bookshelf to the scattered documents.

If one were to speak of secret chambers and hidden compartments in the world, none would be as exquisitely designed as those in the imperial palace. Given his background, it was also clear that a county officer’s study wouldn’t possess any particularly ingenious secret compartment. In no time at all, however, he found his target.

Within the wooden cabinet, half of its space was a concealed compartment. He reached inside and fiddled for a moment; at that instant, Shao Qing heard a gentle “clack” as the hidden drawer propped open and revealed a large stack of account books.

Wei Jing’s lips twisted into a smile devoid of warmth as he removed all the ledgers. When Shao Qing attempted to take off her outer garment to pack the items, he promptly stopped her. Instead, he removed his own outer garment and quickly wrapped it up.

Shao Qing forced an awkward laugh—as her nerves got the better of her, she momentarily forgot that here the standards for men and women were very different. A woman seen going out with only her inner gown could hardly be regarded favorably.

With one hand holding the package and the other still around her, Wei Jing departed the Qu residence silently. Together, they made their way back to the rear courtyard of the neighboring county office.

Inside the room, after lighting an oil lamp, Shao Qing exhaled deeply. “Oh my goodness—tonight has been incredibly thrilling.”

Luckily, everything was smoothly resolved. Wei Jing was grinding ink and writing swiftly. He personally penned a letter explaining the matter clearly and affixing the county magistrate’s official seal.

“Tomorrow, deliver both of these items to Zhuang Yan.”

“Husband, do you really think this Zhuang Yan is trustworthy?”

After the tension had passed, drowsiness set in. Shao Qing quickly re-towel-dried her long hair—which was already about eighty percent dry—and, stifling a yawn, climbed into bed, removed her clothes, and went to sleep.

They had been sharing the same bed for a long time, so Shao Qing was well accustomed to it. Besides, in those ancient days, the inner garments were always long robes and trousers, so that initial sense of awkwardness had long been forgotten. However, tonight was destined to be a bit awkward.

In her fluster, as she dressed, she hadn’t even properly fastened the sash of her inner garment, and when she put on her outer robe, the fabric unexpectedly tugged at her neck, prying it apart.

A pale yellow underwear revealed a particularly voluptuous spot—a full, graceful arc of snow‐white, supple skin.

Quick of reflex, Shao Qing immediately tried to cover it up, but Wei Jing happened to be looking in that direction—and he caught a perfect view. His gaze darkened instantly as the elegant curve of her shoulder, neck, and jade-like arms flashed before him. In the crystalline, mutton-fat white tone of her skin, two specks of tender, rosy pink—like delicate plum blossoms—adorned the surface. A faint, alluring fragrance drifted in the air, heightening the seductive aura.

After a few rapid movements of his Adam’s apple, Wei Jing paused for a moment before saying, “Don’t worry. From now on, even if a member of the Zhuang clan isn’t truly submissive, he won’t dare play any tricks.”

“It’s late—go on and rest.” His voice was a bit huskier than usual, but Shao Qing—busy tying her sash with her back turned—barely paid him any mind. She merely murmured a couple of soft “mmhm’s” in response.

Recalling that extremely awkward moment, her face and ears flushed with embarrassment. She quickly rolled onto her side, drew the thin quilt around her, and fell asleep without another word.

With a “pfft” sound, Wei Jing blew out the oil lamp and lay down.

Everything was as usual—except that tonight the gentle, elusive fragrance of the young woman was exceptionally clear. It wound around him in delicate, intertwined tendrils, entering his body through his nostrils, and it seemed as if the blood in his veins were being drawn along, more agitated than usual.

Wei Jing felt no repulsion; instead, he felt unusually secure. Silently, he turned his head and glanced at Shao Qing. In the dim light, he saw a familiar rising form—and after a moment, he closed his eyes.

……

Shao Qing had thought that she would at least have to toss and turn a bit before she could fall asleep, but in truth, she was so exhausted and drowsy that the moment her head touched the pillow, she immediately sank into a blissful, deep slumber.

After a satisfying sleep, when she awoke the next day, Wei Jing was just as he always was. Thus, she optimistically concluded that he hadn’t noticed anything at all and that she needn’t overthink the matter.

Thinking this through, she felt considerably relieved; the faint awkwardness quickly melted away from her mind. They still had matters to attend to—the first being to deliver the ledger and Wei Jing’s letter to Zhuang Yan.

Zhuang Yan promptly dispatched a trusted subordinate, who quietly set off for Pingtao.

Gaoling, the county seat of Anyang Prefecture, was over two hundred li from Pingtao, and with both water and land routes unobstructed, under normal circumstances a round trip would take at least seven or eight days.

Zhuang Yan’s men hurried on all the way, and by the evening of the fifth day, they had returned with word.

“Reporting, County Lord—here is a reply penned by Lord Bao.” Zhuang Yan announced respectfully as he handed over two letters, each sealed with wax.

When Wei Jing received them, he lowered his eyes to check that the wax seal was intact. Then he broke the seal and unfolded the letter.

“… Qu Cheng has exploited the official salt monopoly for personal gain for over a decade. For him to deceive his superiors and subordinates alike, he must have been acting under someone’s orders. I have already sent word to Gucheng and vowed to ensnare these audacious miscreants in one fell swoop. As for you—if you continue to act independently—your achievement will indeed be most remarkable. I immediately ordered the county troops to make haste for Pingtao and capture the traitorous Qu. Should any changes occur, you (Ziguang) may act as you see fit.”

Ziguang, even though Wei Jing was using words that suggested close familiarity despite never having met before, it was clear that Lord Bao was greatly surprised upon learning of the matter.

T/N: all characters in this book call each other by courtesy names. Ziguang is Yang Ze (Wei Jing)’s courtesy name.

As for Gucheng, it is the location of the state administration. The privatization of official salt is no small affair. Bao Zhong immediately submitted the case to He Zhoumu, hoping to strike a heavy blow against the faction of Third Master He. Ideally, they could even eliminate Governor Dong Du, allowing their faction to seize full control of Anyang County.

“The above outlines the struggle between two factions. Bao Zhong’s original intent was to use Qu Cheng as a starting point to strike upward step by step; to this end, he had already mustered the commandery troops and set off in person for Pingtao.”

Wei Jing skimmed through the report and, with a slight curl of his lip, remarked, “Good—the matter is settled.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yan was overjoyed: “Lord Bao will come in person! Excellent—our time is nearly here!”

Although the commandery troops do not move as swiftly as a lone horseman, they would be at most two days behind schedule. Having nursed this long-cherished ambition for many years, he was suddenly so excited that his face flushed bright red.

In a single sentence that encapsulated thousands of words, Zhuang Yan bowed deeply with clasped hands and said, “My lord, your wisdom is unparalleled!”

“Wengui, there’s no need for such formalities,” he added.

T/n: Wengui is Zhuang Yan’s courtesy name.

Wei Jing helped him and smiled: ‘I have just arrived in Pingtao, and everything here is unfamiliar. If you are inclined, Wengui, why not lend me a little assistance?’

By this, he effectively recruited Zhuang Yan to serve as his subordinate in the county office. After this campaign, it is almost certain that eight or nine out of every ten county officials will be on his side—and Zhuang Yan is proving himself quite reliable.

With his heart surging, Zhuang Yan swept aside his robe and knelt, declaring, “I’m ready to serve my lord with all the loyalty of a humble dog or horse!”

He was equally decisive, immediately pledging his fealty to Wei Jing as his master.

Wei Jing helped the man up once again. The newly acquainted host and guest exchanged a few pleasantries and words of encouragement, and he said, “Wenfui, how many household guards do you have?”

His second objective in summoning Zhuang Yan into the county office was to borrow some manpower so that he could seize complete control of the entire Pingtao County before the county troops even arrived.

Zhuang Yan had just remarked that it would take two days, but in Wei Jing’s view, that was too passive, and it wasn’t the best strategy. After all, Lord Bao’s letter stated that if anything were to go wrong, one should act opportunistically, and the other reply, which had already been opened, bore the county captain’s order stamped with a brilliant red seal. Very good, excellent!

It would have been very easy to capture—or even outright kill—Qu Cheng and his men, yet the entire county town needed to continue operating normally. This was precisely why he needed to borrow men from Zhuang Yan. But now that Zhuang Yan has thrown in his lot with him, there is no need to borrow; he can just give the orders directly.

Zhuang Yan’s household guards numbered only a few dozen, but between them, the merchant caravan escorts, and the able-bodied young men from the military guards, the total could easily be three or four hundred.

“That will suffice.”

…

Next, he planned to incite Qu Cheng.

It was very simple. The very next morning, right after finishing breakfast, Qu Cheng received a message that filled him with both astonishment and fury.

“What! You say that Yang Ze discovered the illicit salt affair?! And that he plans to slip out of Pingtao to expose it in Gaoling?!”

Gaoling, of course, has its superior—Governor Dong—but it also has Lord Bao Zhong, and neither holds sway over the other. If Bao Zhong learns of this matter, it will be disastrous!

Not to mention Dong Du; as for Qu Cheng, who is directly managing the illicit salt operation, he will have to immediately face the complete downfall of his entire household.

“We absolutely cannot let that surnamed Yang succeed! We cannot allow him to leave Pingtao, and by all means, he must not be allowed to live!”

Qu Cheng sprang to his feet suddenly, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

“Immediately mobilize the county troops, surround the county office, and execute Yang Ze!”

“No, Father, that Yang Ze is exceptionally skilled. I fear that even if every county soldier rushes in, they still won’t be able to capture him!” Qu Qian, who had experienced it firsthand, spoke in a tone tinged with evident alarm.

Qu Cheng wasn’t entirely convinced—after all, he knew his youngest son, the one who fears neither heaven nor earth, had never shown such an expression.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he said, “Does the back courtyard of the county office not need to procure rice, flour, meat, and vegetables every day? Have the merchants arrange for a personal delivery. While they are at it, spike the kitchen’s water jar with a heavy dose of knockout drug!”

“Whoever fails to execute this properly, I’ll take the lives of his entire family!”

By midday, a subordinate officer on duty at the county office quietly reported, “It’s done!” He then used an excuse to go inside and present an official report, only to find that the people around the dining table had already collapsed, rendered unconscious.

“Good! Follow me and surround the county office—execute Yang Ze and his men!”

Afterward, they would report that he died from failing to adapt to the local conditions, and this matter would be completely hushed up in Pingtao.

The county soldiers of Pingtao poured out in full force, numbering two thousand, completely blocking off the county office. Qu Cheng, along with his trusted subordinate officers and over a dozen company sergeants of the county troops, led his robust soldiers in a rush from the weathered main gate of the county office, charging straight into the rear courtyard.

As they turned the folding screen, everyone was momentarily stunned. They saw a tall, slender man in black standing in the central courtyard with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and his gaze indifferent. Not far off, beneath the corridor in front of the county office’s main hall, two men stood with stern faces fixed on them, their features utterly devoid of panic.

The few constables on duty at the county office had already been thrown unconscious in the corridor, their state—dead or alive—unknown.

Is anything still unclear? Yang Ze is now turning their plan against themselves.

With a grim expression, Qu Cheng shouted harshly, “Everyone, attack! Kill him! Leave none surviving! Whoever slays this man will receive a reward of fifty taels and be promoted three ranks!”

He couldn’t believe it—two thousand men yet unable to kill one?!

“Brothers! Kill him!” Yao Da roared angrily, brandishing his knife as he charged straight at Wei Jing.

That order acted like a switch being flipped; instantly, shouts of battle erupted, and the county soldiers surged forward like a flowing torrent after Yao Da.

“Overestimating your own strength!” The reversal came even faster. Wei Jing raised a mocking smile; without even having to make a move, he spun swiftly and delivered a precise side kick that struck Yao Da’s chest and abdomen right in the midst of his charge.

“Ah!!!!” With a short, agonized cry, Yao Da spat a mouthful of fresh blood. In an instant, he was hurled through the air—flying seven or eight zhang (roughly 21 to 26 meters) before crashing heavily against the stone relief wall of a sunlit mountain-and-water scene, and after a dull “bang,” he collapsed to the ground.

Yao Da’s eyes went wide as blood continuously gushed from his mouth and nose. A section of his chest was caved in—his ribs completely shattered—and he died on the spot.

For a moment, a deathly silence fell over the area; the county soldiers who had just been so fierce now seemed as if a pause button had been pressed—their necks stiffened, unable to move further.

“Everyone, now listen to me.”

Wei Jing’s voice was not loud but resonated clearly: “Qu Cheng has been engaging in illicit salt dealings for personal profit for decades. Now that this case has been presented to Gaoling, Lord Bao is hurrying over with the county troops through the night—they will be here by tomorrow or the day after.”

He raised his hand and held up the second reply letter from Lord Bao; the bright red large seal on the captain’s order was exceptionally striking.

“Turning state salt into private profit—what crime is that? And what should the punishment be? I suppose there’s no need for Lord Yang to belabor the point.”

Wei Jing scanned the room and saw that every person present—from Qu Cheng downward—wore expressions of terror. Some ordinary soldiers, their hands and feet trembling, clattered their long knives to the ground.

A young soldier cried, “County Magistrate, I had no idea! I was only following orders!”

Qu Cheng had naturally kept the illicit salt affair under wraps, so it was normal that these ordinary soldiers were in the dark. However, having run amok in the countryside for many years, the Qu family certainly did not lack these men to aid their villainy.

Whether out of smug self-satisfaction or resignedly just going along with things, the Pingtao County troops had, over the years, enjoyed quite favorable treatment. However, at this moment, it was not appropriate to probe every single detail—after all, Wei Jing couldn’t possibly kill all the county soldiers in one fell swoop.

In a calm voice, he declared, “Except for the main offenders and their cronies, if the rest surrender, past misdeeds will be forgiven.”