Chapter 41: I Only Want Justice
Chapter 41: I Only Want Justice
“The Imperial Father-in-law being in charge of the Ministry of Revenue means His Majesty wants him to keep an eye on the treasury,” Vice Minister Jiang Xian raised his cup to his lips, then suddenly laughed. “Some say the Imperial Father-in-law will embezzle…”
Standing lower down, Director Zhang Yue of the Ministry of Revenue bowed slightly and smiled as well. “Is the Yingchuan Yang clan lacking in money? Such talk is mere slander against the Imperial Father-in-law. They only dare to gossip behind his back, never to his face—proving themselves petty men.”
Jiang Xian gave him an approving look. “By the way, keep a close watch on the Imperial College.”
Zhang Yue lifted his eyes with deference, actively responding to his superior’s inquiry. “Rest assured, Vice Minister. Last time, the Imperial College merely cooperated with the constables to take a statement—hardly a great deed. If Ning Yayun dares to admit anything, I shall see to it he loses all face.”
“Keep an eye on those officials in the Ministry who hail from the Imperial College,” Jiang Xian said coolly.
Zhang Yue smiled. “Of course, Vice Minister. In the days of Emperor Wu, the Imperial College was handed to the scholars of Metaphysics. Their head swore an oath that students entering government from the College would never form factions. Otherwise, with so many alumni in office over the years, if they joined forces… even the emperor would have to be wary.”
Jiang Xian raised his teacup to his mouth, his eyes growing distant. “A great wind is rising. If we stand with the Imperial Father-in-law, as he rides the wind ever higher, by grasping his feet we, too, may soar…”
A fervor flickered in both their gazes.
“Vice Minister!” A minor official entered from outside. “People from the Imperial College have arrived.”
“What of it?” Jiang Xian stood and sneered coldly. “This is the Ministry of Revenue, not the Golden Guardians. Do they dare tear down my office?”
“They’ve brought a convoy. The wagons look thoroughly blackened by smoke and fire.”
Jiang Xian laughed. “Are they here to beg for alms?”
Laughter erupted. “Let’s go see.”
A crowd of curious officials gathered on the way, all bowing to Jiang Xian as he passed.
Outside the main gate, a line of wagons stood, their sides showing signs of scorching. One wagon leaned so badly that even the horse hitched to it slouched, looking as if it rather enjoyed the position—so much so, it cocked one leg in utter relaxation.
Jiang Xian’s gaze swept across the scene, stern as he addressed An Ziyu. “What is the meaning of this?”
Zhang Yue sneered. “This is the Ministry of Revenue, not the lawless Imperial College. Take your refuse back; don’t sully our grounds.”
The faction led by Imperial Father-in-law Yang Songcheng and his allied noble houses was opposed by Prime Minister Chen Shen, the Wang clan, and the Imperial College—sworn enemies.
Zhong Hui said breezily, “Open them up…”
“No need!” An Ziyu shook his head and cracked a ruler against the side of a chest.
Bang!
The chest leapt into the air, its lid split off, and its contents tumbled out.
Brilliant sunlight glinted off the objects, dazzling the watching officials.
“Gold… gold?!” someone cried out in shock.
An Ziyu strolled along the convoy.
Bang, bang, bang! One by one, the chests flew, spilling gold and silver everywhere.
The Ministry’s grand entrance was ablaze with golden light.
An Ziyu spun around. “Does this not count as great merit?”
Jiang Xian was stunned. “This is…”
“This is your so-called refuse!” An Ziyu grew angrier by the moment. “Today, Southern Zhou spies took advantage of the Golden Guardians’ citywide sweep to smuggle gold and silver out. Commander Yang Xuan of Wannian County had already discovered their plot, but lacked the manpower. So, the Imperial College volunteered and, at the North Gate, wiped out over thirty spies, seizing countless treasures. Vice Minister Jiang, is this not great merit?”
Jiang Xian was speechless, his mind thrown into chaos.
An Ziyu asked, “Does the Ministry want this so-called refuse?”
Jiang Xian and Zhang Yue’s faces twisted with embarrassment, but a voice from the crowd shouted, “Of course we want it!”
An Ziyu stepped forward. “Is this not great merit?”
Jiang Xian’s mind went blank. “It is.”
The watching officials burst into laughter.
“Let’s go!” The Imperial College contingent turned and departed, their figures exuding an unrestrained elegance.
“Go inform the Imperial Father-in-law—the Imperial College has… turned the tables.” Jiang Xian ground his teeth. “Damn it, they’ve done it!”
On the other side, Yang Xuan watched the flabbergasted faces of the Ministry’s officials and smiled.
Behind him, the old thief leaned on his bamboo staff, his eyes vacant as he stared ahead. “Commander Yang, may I leave now?”
Yang Xuan waved him off.
The old thief bowed. “Thank you, Commander Yang, for your mercy and magnanimity, your compassion—”
He turned and found himself facing a middle-aged man whose upright demeanor inspired respect. The thief blinked, tapping his cane about like a blind man. “Kind sir, let me by, I just want to go down and take a look.”
The man replied, “I am Cao Ying. My master is merciful and generous. Come, let us speak aside.”
The old thief giggled emptily. “Let me pass, won’t you?”
Cao Ying nodded sincerely. “Of course. Since my master has given his leave, you could go to the ends of the earth unimpeded. I am here only to see you off.”
“Heh.” The old thief laughed, tapping his way onward.
Behind, Cao Ying called out, “Someone’s stealing money!”
The old thief did not react, continuing forward.
A few patrolling guards appeared ahead, turning at the shout.
Clink!
The old thief stopped. A string of copper coins had landed before him.
He turned around, bewildered.
Behind, Cao Ying remained in his upright pose, still holding the stance of tossing coins, and smiled. “Safe travels.”
The old thief bent to pick up the coins and said to the guards eyeing him, “My master dropped his money.”
He walked back to Yang Xuan, bowed, “Greetings, Master.”
Yang Xuan nodded at the guards. “You still have five years of your sentence.”
Behind, Cao Ying added, “Return to your cell.”
Yang Xuan would never leave loose ends for his enemies to seize.
The old thief raised his hand. “I can tend horses.”
Yang Xuan mounted his steed.
The thief panicked, his eyes coming to life. “Commander Yang, I’m a tomb robber, a master of every trick and scheme.”
“A tomb robber?” Yang Xuan’s interest was piqued.
“Yes, my name is Jia Ren, tomb robbing runs in my family,” the old thief said with a bitter smile. “I’ve been locked up for ten years. After finally seeing the sun again, I can’t bear to go back. All I ask is a way to survive.”
“Go with him,” Yang Xuan said, pointing at Cao Ying.
Under the blazing midday sun, Cao Ying’s face had gone pale, his body cold with dread. He recalled the old tomb-robber’s words earlier: “Kind sir, let me by, I just want to go down and take a look.” Go down and take a look… kind sir… Wasn’t that something you’d say to a ghost?
Yang Xuan rode out onto Vermilion Bird Avenue.
A man waited ahead.
“I am Huang Li, officer of the Golden Guardians,” he said calmly.
Yang Xuan asked, “Vermilion Bird Avenue is wide. Only a dog would keep its sights fixed on a man.”
A chill flashed in Huang Li’s eyes, but was quickly suppressed. “The merit is yours. The Golden Guardians won’t trouble you further. In fact, we could even become friends…”
Yang Xuan shook his head, his eyes filled with deep disdain. That look stung Huang Li, who snapped, “We’ll release Bao Dong…”
“You needn’t. I will fetch him myself!” Yang Xuan spurred his horse forward.
Huang Li turned and followed. “What do you want? With Bao Dong’s release and this great merit, your accumulated deeds will earn you promotion and wealth. What more do you want?”
Yang Xuan looked at him earnestly. “I want justice. I want justice for Bao Dong. Is that possible?”
Justice? Huang Li stared blankly, then burst out laughing. “Justice? Are you mad?”
Yang Xuan was unmoved.
“Let’s see where you’ll find justice—hah!” With a spit at the ground, Huang Li watched him ride away.
Zhao Guolin and Wen Xinshu caught up behind.
“The matter of Bao Dong can be investigated by Wannian County as well!” Yang Xuan said. “The man died in a brothel; seize the courtesan involved and the madam too.”
“At once!”
After today’s events, Zhao Guolin and Wen Xinshu were noticeably more respectful.
Yang Xuan did not return home. Instead, a minor official found him.
“Minister Song of the Ministry of War summons you.”
Once a formidable general, Song Zhen now sat in his office, daily dealing with paperwork—a torment for him.
“…The Golden Guardians nearly turned Chang’an upside down, but aside from arresting a few petty thieves, gained nothing. Yet the Imperial College and that Yang Xuan lay in wait at the North Gate, capturing spies of Southern Zhou and uncovering gold and jewels.”
A clerk looked up from his documents, standing respectfully.
Song Zhen’s square face wore a rueful expression. “You are mistaken. It was surely Yang Xuan who orchestrated this.”
The clerk dared not contradict, but his skepticism did not escape Song Zhen, who said, “The Imperial College is full of idlers—gentlemen of leisure, as they style themselves. Emperor Wu once said that even if given a hundred thousand troops, they’d use them to build towers for lofty debates.”
Another clerk entered. “Minister, Commander Yang Xuan has arrived.”
Soon, Yang Xuan was shown in.
“Yang Xuan?”
“Yes.”
Song Zhen looked him over. Yang Xuan met his gaze.
“How did you know the Southern Zhou spies would try to leave during the commotion?” Song Zhen toyed with a signet ring, authority radiating from him.
Of course, I saw it in a movie… Yang Xuan replied, “This is Chang’an. The Golden Guardians’ citywide sweep seemed impressive, but created an opportunity—the gate guards were lax. With strict checks inside the city, the gates slackened, making it the perfect moment.”
“What opportunity?” Song Zhen was curious how this young man had reasoned it out.
Yang Xuan answered, “The opportunity for a feint.”
Song Zhen nodded. “Explain.”
A seasoned general, Song Zhen’s curiosity was sincere. Yang Xuan smiled. “The Golden Guardians’ sweep made the spies believe that was where the search would focus, so they tried to slip out through the North Gate, never expecting someone to be lying in wait. The feint was the Guardians; the real strike was myself and the Imperial College.”
“Well done! You even used the Golden Guardians to your advantage.” Song Zhen could not conceal his admiration. “I haven’t seen such talent in years.”
“Minister Song flatters me,” Yang Xuan replied, though his mind turned to the Wang clan. Wang Douxiang was a deep one, and their daughter, Wang Xian’er… Her bright eyes flashed in his mind, and the youth shamelessly stretched out his legs.
This young man relaxes his posture even before me? Such audacity is the mark of a true commander… Song Zhen suddenly turned cold. “Earlier, someone sought me out. They said if you would let some people off, your path would be far smoother in the future… What do you think?”
Yang Xuan raised his head. “I cannot!”
“Even if your merits are suppressed?”
Yang Xuan took a deep breath. “Even if all my merits are suppressed, I cannot!”
He spoke each word with force. “My brother still lies dying in the Golden Guardians’ cells. I will use every merit I’ve earned… to claim justice for him!”