Chapter 40: Li’s Duty!

"County Magistrate!"

"County Magistrate!"

At the gates of the Qingyang County Office, Master Zheng, accompanied by several other wealthy townsfolk, intercepted Magistrate Xue just as he was preparing to leave. Surrounding him, Master Zheng bowed deeply, his face full of distress as he pleaded, "Your Excellency, hasn't the county office formed a bandit-suppression squad to deal with the robbers? Yet instead of decreasing, these bandits seem to multiply. All of our goods have been stolen in recent days!"

"Exactly, exactly!" echoed another, a merchant dealing in medicinal herbs, who bemoaned his woes. "Your Excellency, I’d just purchased several cartloads of herbs. Not long after entering Qingyang County, the mountain bandits robbed me. It’s as if we’re cursed! Tell me, what would bandits want with medicinal herbs?"

"My bolts of cloth were also seized by the mountain bandits!" someone else cried out indignantly. "In the past, when goods were transported here, even if we encountered robbers, a little bribe would settle the matter. But now those villains have grown so brazen, they take everything—every last piece of cargo!"

"That’s right, that’s right!" another shouted. "There weren’t so many bandits before. Why is it that the more the county office tries to suppress them, the more they seem to appear?"

Assailed by their complaints, Magistrate Xue finally let out a heavy groan. "Have you not complained enough?"

Instantly, all fell silent, no longer daring to utter a word.

Magistrate Xue swept his gaze over them, his tone icy. "The county’s efforts to suppress the bandits have been clear for all to see. That gang from Black Crow Mountain is still locked in the county jail, awaiting their punishment. Would you like to see them for yourselves?"

"And yet you dare say the more the county suppresses bandits, the more numerous they become!"

His voice rose in anger. "The increase in banditry—what has that to do with the county’s efforts? Do you not know in your hearts why the robbers are multiplying?"

At these words, everyone grew hesitant and reticent.

At last, Master Zheng forced a dry laugh and bowed again. "Your Excellency, the imperial court’s tax increases are the court’s concern and have nothing to do with us common folk..."

"We only wish to run our little businesses in peace."

"The county soldiers risk their lives to suppress bandits, yet you show no concern for them. Now that the bandits increase, you come to make a scene!"

"Such is the heart of men!"

With a wave of his sleeve, Magistrate Xue declared, "Make as much of a fuss as you like. If you’re not satisfied, go make a scene at the prefecture. Ask there whether banditry has increased in the other counties of Xuanzhou!"

Master Zheng bowed his head, forcing a bitter smile. "Your Excellency, it’s not that we seek fault with the county office, but lately, several convoys of ours haven't been able to enter the city at all. If things continue, our businesses will be finished. My grain shop’s deliveries can’t get through—soon even the townsfolk will have trouble putting food on the table."

"Your Excellency must find a way to ease the people’s troubles."

Magistrate Xue cast a sidelong glance at the crowd and said in a muffled voice, "I have long been making arrangements to suppress the bandits. Captain Li has already left the city to investigate their whereabouts. He should return in a few days. Once he’s back, I’ll have him give you all an explanation."

"That’s enough," he added impatiently, waving a hand. "Disperse."

With no other choice, Master Zheng and the others could only leave, one by one.

Originally intending to go out and clear his mind, Magistrate Xue now had lost all desire. With a sweep of his robes, he turned and strode back into the office, summoning the bailiff Chen Da.

Chen Da bowed deeply in respect. "Your Excellency, you summoned me?"

"Go," Magistrate Xue snapped, not even looking up. "Find Li Zhao and bring him here at once!"

"Ah?" Chen Da stammered, a little bewildered. "Your Excellency, I don’t know where the Captain has gone..."

"Then go and look for him!" Magistrate Xue’s anger flared. "Find him immediately and bring him to me!"

Since taking office in Qingyang, Magistrate Xue had shown a generally mild temperament, only losing his composure when his daughter was abducted. Now, his sudden outburst startled Chen Da, who quickly bowed his head again and again.

"Yes, yes, I’ll go at once, right away—"

…

It wasn’t until the third morning after Magistrate Xue’s outburst that Captain Li finally swaggered back into the county seat, after a leisurely ten days outside.

As soon as he reached the county office gates, Chen Da hurried over, grabbed him by the arm, and whispered urgently, "Chief, you’re finally back!"

Li Yun glanced at him, took a bite of the plum in his hand, and asked with a smile, "What’s the matter? Why the rush?"

"The Magistrate’s been looking for you everywhere—he was furious. You’d better go see him right away!"

The chieftain tossed his plum pit nonchalantly onto a patch of empty ground, then turned to Zhang Hu and Li Zheng with a grin. "Go on home and wait for me. I won’t be long."

With that, he walked toward the county office, still smiling, and asked, "What’s got the Magistrate so riled up?"

"It seems… it’s about the bandits. A lot of them appeared out of nowhere recently, robbing several merchant shipments. Those merchants came to the Magistrate with their grievances."

Li Yun gave a simple "Oh," patted Chen Da on the shoulder, and said calmly, "I understand. You go about your business."

Chen Da sighed. "If you ask me, Chief, this really isn’t your fault. Of all the captains in Qingyang over the years, you’re the only one who’s gone out to fight the bandits properly. It doesn’t make sense that you risk your life, and when something happens, the blame falls on you."

The chieftain sighed deeply as well. "One must serve the people without regard for personal gain or loss. A little injustice means nothing."

With that, he strode off toward the Magistrate’s study.

Chen Da watched him go, feeling a swell of admiration.

A true man of righteousness!

…

Inside the study, Captain Li cupped his fists in greeting, his face wreathed in smiles. "Your Excellency, you wished to see me?"

After several days, Magistrate Xue’s anger had cooled somewhat. He put down his brush and glared at Li Yun. "Where have you been?"

"Out investigating the bandits’ movements, of course," Li replied, smiling brightly. "I reported it to you before I left—have you forgotten?"

"Nonsense!" Magistrate Xue thundered, slamming the table. "Do you take me for a child to be fooled?"

Ordinary men would have been terrified by such a display, but Li was made of sterner stuff. He stepped forward unhurriedly, still smiling. "Your Excellency, there’s no need for such roughness. Surely we can discuss things calmly."

Magistrate Xue tried to keep his temper in check, grinding his teeth. "You are the Captain! An official of Qingyang! How can you go about such business?"

"If word gets out that I, the County Magistrate, associate with someone like you, and someone with ill intent accuses me of treason, how could I defend myself?"

Li Yun put on a look of innocence. "Your Excellency, what have I done?"

"I’ve done nothing at all."

Magistrate Xue’s face was ashen. "Even having your brother do it is unacceptable! What sort of conduct is that?"

"You’re an officer of the court, conspiring—conspiring—"

He forced his voice low, speaking through clenched teeth. "Conspiring with bandits!"

Li Yun shook his head. "Your Excellency, you must be mistaken. How could I ever conspire with bandits? I have nothing whatsoever to do with them."

"And don’t go passing information to them, either!"

Magistrate Xue seethed. "I don’t ask you to be ruthlessly just and send your own brother to jail, but you must sever all ties with them! If anyone finds out, it won’t only implicate me. Yun’er’s reputation will be ruined yet again!"

This was true—if it were known that "Li Zhao" had connections with the bandits, the tale of his heroic rescue of Miss Xue would be shattered, and the Xue family shamed beyond all defense.

Most of Magistrate Xue’s anger stemmed from this.

Captain Li poured a cup of tea for Magistrate Xue, smiling as he spoke. "Your Excellency, don’t be angry. The bandit problem really has nothing to do with me."

"As for those merchants in the city—" Li Yun sat down, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and, after taking a sip, said calmly, "You need not trouble yourself. Just have them come see me."

"As Captain of Qingyang, the responsibility to protect them is mine—"

"To keep the trading routes open."