Chapter Forty-Four: The Sincere Spirit of Officialdom

Early the next morning, more than a dozen constables had already gathered at the county office gates. Magistrate Xue personally came to inspect them, but found no sign of Li Yun, nor the two attendants who usually accompanied him.

He beckoned a constable over and asked, “Where has your captain, Li Zhao, gone?”

The constable glanced outside and replied, “Sir, Captain Li took a few brothers to deliver compensation to Zhu Gui’s family.”

“Nonsense,” Magistrate Xue scolded, his temper flaring. “Even if compensation is to be given, it should be distributed by the county office. What business does he have delivering it himself?”

Yet, despite his anger, Magistrate Xue knew that his relationship with Li Zhao was not strictly one of superior and subordinate. For the sake of his daughter, he could not simply expel Captain Li. After rebuking him, he waited a while longer before seeing Li Yun return from outside, accompanied by five or six constables.

Upon catching sight of Magistrate Xue from a distance, Captain Li stepped forward, saluted with a cupped fist, and addressed him, “Magistrate.”

Master Xue cast him a sidelong glance and called him aside, his face dark.

“The compensation should be distributed by Deputy Magistrate Tian or someone from the clerks’ office. Why did you take it upon yourself?”

Master Xue spoke with a muffled voice. “Are these constables all named Li, then?”

Captain Li’s expression remained calm as he replied, “Magistrate, if the twenty strings of cash I brought were to reach Zhu Gui’s family as twenty strings after passing through Deputy Magistrate Tian, I would have no reason to concern myself. But can they resist the temptation?”

“Besides,” Li Yun continued, a smile appearing on his face, “I mentioned this matter to you yesterday in your study, Magistrate. You nodded your consent then. Why blame me now?”

Master Xue rubbed his brow, recalling that he had indeed agreed to this. He grunted but said no more, instead instructing, “It’s getting late. Set out at once. When you reach Shidai, remember to handle major matters as minor, and minor matters as nothing.”

“Just cooperate fully with the county office there.”

He paused, then cautioned, “There is one matter I must make clear.”

Li Yun nodded, “Please speak, Magistrate.”

“No matter what, those rebellious villagers must not spill over into our Qingyang. Do you understand?”

Li Yun nodded quickly, “Rest assured, Magistrate. There will be no connection whatsoever to Qingyang.”

“Good,” Master Xue finally waved his hand. “Off you go.”

Li Yun turned to the gathered constables and called out loudly, “Fifteen men, follow me!”

Captain Li now commanded considerable respect among the constables, especially after distributing money to his subordinates. Many genuinely followed him, and even those not in the anti-bandit squad eagerly raised their hands, shouting, “I’ll go! I’ll go!”

Seeing the noisy commotion, Captain Li began to assign roles, “The two injured brothers from the anti-bandit squad, stay and rest. The rest, come with me. Chen Da, pick a few more to make up fifteen.”

Chen Da responded, turned to select a few familiar faces, and soon the group followed Li Yun, leaving the county office.

Magistrate Xue watched their departing backs, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

“How long has it been?” he muttered.

“He’s already got all these constables firmly in hand…”

......

“Listen carefully,”

Once outside the city, Li Yun turned and addressed his subordinates, “This assignment is no small matter. Once we leave Qingyang, behave yourselves. When we reach Shidai’s territory, follow my orders in all things!”

“Do you understand?”

His stern question prompted immediate replies from the anti-bandit squad, while the other constables were slow to respond, eventually murmuring their assent.

Li Yun nodded, “Very well. Let’s go!”

As the group set out, Chen Da trotted up and asked, “Chief, aren’t you riding a horse?”

“With so many of us, where would we find enough horses?” Li Yun waved him off. “I’ll walk with you.”

Chen Da considered this, then suggested, “Chief, it’s over a hundred li to Shidai. We’re going to suppress unrest—if we walk, we’ll be exhausted. Why not let me and Dayong return to town: I’ll fetch your horse, and Dayong can hire a few wagons to carry us all to Shidai.”

He glanced at Li Yun, adding, “We’ll cover the cost of hiring animals, so you won’t have to spend a thing.”

Li Yun paused, smiled at him, “You’re quite clever.”

“Go ahead, I’ll pay for it.”

Chen Da was delighted, turned back to rally the other constables, and soon everyone found a tree to sit and rest beneath.

Li Yun, Li Zheng, and Zhang Hu also settled under a tree. Watching Chen Da leave, Li Zheng said with a smile, “Second Brother, Chen Da’s pretty sharp. Why not let him join us?”

Li Yun shot him a look, “He’s a constable, not a bandit like you. Don’t let your imagination run wild. We’ll wait and see.”

Li Zheng nodded, saying nothing more.

After a while, Chen Da returned with a horse and several mule carts, and the group set off toward Shidai.

The next day, they finally entered Shidai territory and headed straight for the county seat without delay.

By the time they reached the outskirts of Shidai County, it was late afternoon, nearing dusk. Though the sky had not yet darkened, the city gates were tightly shut.

Li Yun regarded the gates with a frown and said to Li Zheng, “It seems the trouble here is quite serious.”

Li Zheng nodded silently.

“Chen Da.”

Li Yun called out, and Chen Da, having gotten off the cart, hurried forward, “Here!”

“Go get the city gates opened.”

“Yes!” Chen Da answered with confidence, called out a few times at the gate. After a while, someone peered down from above, saw the group of constables in black uniforms, asked a few questions, and finally opened the rather shabby gate, letting Li Yun and his men inside.

As they entered, Captain Li glanced at the gatekeepers and remarked with a smile, “It seems those unruly villagers have raised quite a ruckus, closing the city gates even in broad daylight.”

“No doubt about it,” the Shidai constable sighed. “Things are calmer now, but a few days ago those people nearly took over the entire county seat.”

Captain Li exchanged a few polite words, then sent the drivers back to Qingyang, while he and his group entered Shidai County.

Upon arrival, Li Yun found a tea stall by the roadside and invited his subordinates for tea. After they sat down, he looked at Li Zheng.

“Skinny Monkey, go find out what’s happening.”

Li Zheng nodded, rose silently, and slipped away into the crowd in plain clothes.

He soon vanished among the people.

After Li Yun and his men had nearly finished their tea, Li Zheng returned, sitting opposite Li Yun. He picked up a cup, drank, and finally spoke.

“I’ve got the gist of it.”

“About half a month ago, the people near Dahe Town in Shidai County gathered and beat up the local headman. When the constables came to arrest them, clashes broke out.”

“In the end, somehow the locals rioted, killing three of the five constables sent, badly injuring the other two, and then the people of Dahe Town nearly marched straight into the county seat.”

Li Yun clicked his tongue, “Truly a place of rustic honesty.”

He asked, “How much extra tax did Shidai collect?”

“Eight hundred coins,” Li Zheng replied, setting down his cup and lowering his voice, “They say Dahe Town collected even more—nearly one string of cash per household. That’s what sparked the conflict and led to bloodshed.”

Li Yun sipped his tea and shook his head.

“Shidai is not just honest in its folk customs, but its officialdom…”

“Is honest indeed.”