Chapter 68: Seizing Power in a County

The setting sun hung low to the side as the south gate of Wenxi was thrown wide open.

Surrendered enemy soldiers filed through in an endless stream, organized into squads of forty to fifty men, each escorted by five or six Tiger Guard troopers. Among them, the subordinates and veterans of Han Xian were bound together in strings of ten, their right hands secured with leather cords.

Outside the south gate, Tiger Guard chariots stood at a halt, flying a banner that read: "Acting on Imperial Edict to Punish the Rebels."

Magistrate Zhang Bu stood waiting with the county officials, his face still bruised and swollen as if someone had delivered a heavy blow to his cheek.

Before long, Zhao Ji led the final detachment of Tiger Guard troopers and wagons returning from clearing the battlefield. Most of the carts had been seized from the southern district, loaded with various types of weaponry and grain, and were pushed and pulled in turns by the prisoners.

"This humble official, Magistrate Zhang Bu of Wenxi, respectfully welcomes the superior emissary."

Zhang Bu hurried forward to greet him, bowing deeply at the waist, almost to the point of performing a full kowtow.

Behind Zhao Ji, Han Shu carried the severed head of Li Le upon the tip of his spear, while Pei Bao bore the head of Han Xian in the same manner. The Han court's General Who Conquers the East and General Who Conquers the West thus hung listlessly from the points of weapons.

Zhang Bu was deeply afraid that he, too, might be summarily beheaded and hung from the city walls as a public warning.

Reining in his horse, Zhao Ji cast a neutral glance at the magistrate, having no prior impression of him and knowing nothing of his reputation. In his memory, the magistrate should have borne the surname Geng; he had no idea when it had been changed to Zhang.

Seeing that Zhao Ji remained silent, Zhang Bu grew even more terrified and hurriedly explained, "It is not that this humble official willingly followed the rebels! The rebel ministers held Han Xian's direct orders, and since this humble official knew nothing of the court's proclamation to suppress the rebels, I had no choice but to follow orders and cooperate."

"I am in no position to distinguish the truth from falsehood in your words, nor will I dispose of you arbitrarily. Your innocence or guilt shall be judged by the court in due time."

Pointing his riding crop at Hu Ban standing behind him, Zhao Ji addressed the group of county officials by Zhang Bu's side: "Place the magistrate under house arrest for now and await the court's disposal. The affairs of this county shall be temporarily managed by Military Sima Hu. What do you gentlemen think?"

Hu Ban's face tightened, but he offered no refusal. This was nearly his due, and he was the only one capable of rapidly rallying his former colleagues and mobilizing the strength of the county.

However, the group of county officials remained unresponsive, all eyes fixed on Zhang Bu, waiting for his stance.

Tilting his head, Zhao Ji scrutinized Zhang Bu. "And what does the magistrate think?"

"This subordinate is willing to lead our people in following the Tiger Guards to punish the rebels. Even if I have past crimes, I wish to redeem myself through meritorious service. I earnestly implore the superior emissary to grant me this opportunity."

Zhang Bu bowed deeply once more, making his plea with solemn desperation.

Looking up, Zhao Ji happened to catch sight of the morning star. "So, Magistrate Zhang refuses to submit to my judgment?"

"I earnestly implore the superior emissary to grant me this chance!"

Zhang Bu's voice even carried a trace of weeping. Once placed under house arrest, dismissal from office would inevitably follow, and no favorable outcome awaited him. Wenxi was the northern gateway to Anyi; even if he were entirely blameless, he could not possibly be allowed to remain here.

Seeing this, Hu Ban felt a pang of sympathy. Come to think of it, he had originally been recruited to his post as a clerk by Zhang Bu himself. True, he had been officially summoned, but his father had spent no small sum of money and pulled many strings to secure it.

If he were to speak up for Zhang Bu now, he would undoubtedly win Zhang Bu's favor and better preserve the personal reputation of his former master. Yet, if Zhang Bu were allowed to live, that mouth of his would remain uncontrolled, and Zhang Bu's personal connections would continue to exert influence, ultimately tarnishing Zhao Ji's renown.

Hu Ban glanced at his colleagues and superiors; these young scions of local gentry families all lowered their heads in silence. Since Zhang Bu refused to surrender his official seal of his own accord, these men could never bring themselves to break away from him.

To ruin one's reputation would be to implicate one's entire clan and younger generations. If a father or elder brother were known to have betrayed the magistrate, how could any future Magistrate of Wenxi ever dare to trust and recruit members of their clan?

Were it not for the terrifying deterrent effect of Li Le and Han Xian's severed heads, and the fact that their executioners were men of their own county, some among these officials would have dared to step forward and risk their lives to protect Zhang Bu.

If one man died, the entire clan would reap the benefits. Regardless of who served as Magistrate of Wenxi in the future, they would inevitably rely upon the families of loyal and righteous men.

Tang Xian, watching from nearby, suddenly spoke up, "The Colonel nearly took an arrow today precisely because these people followed the rebels!"

Hearing this, the county officials immediately glared daggers at Tang Xian. Although Tang Xian hailed from Nanjiang and operated around the Wenxi region, he was still an outsider separated by a county boundary.

At last, the county officials grew truly afraid. Dying to protect Zhang Bu versus being executed alongside him as accomplices to rebellion were two vastly different fates.

Even so, still no one stepped forward to yield, stubbornly holding their ground and refusing to back down.

Seeing such stubbornness, Zhao Ji could not help but laugh. "When the Son of Heaven was held captive by the rebels, I saw none of you display such unyielding spine; yet before me, you show such deep affection for the magistrate. This is truly choosing minor loyalty and minor righteousness while casting aside major loyalty and righteousness. I intended to give you a chance to redeem yourselves through service, but it seems I was casting pearls before swine."

The surrounding Tiger Guards, who had been resting casually, gripped their spears and halberds anew. A few who had been standing at the outer edges shifted their positions, closing in to surround the dozen or so county officials.

Zhang Bu looked back at the group of officials, his expression strained yet touched with a bitter consolation. "It is I who have implicated you gentlemen."

"We dare not say so. It is we who were incompetent, mistakenly letting rebel ministers run free and causing the magistrate to be held hostage." Pei Zheng, the county主簿 (Master of Records), stepped out, cupped his hands in salute, and cast a glance at Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji used his folded riding crop to scratch his cheek. "Third Brother, do not blame me for being heartless. Military urgency leaves me no room for leniency."

Pei Zheng also cupped his hands. "Since taking office in this county, Magistrate Zhang has been diligent and conscientious, never oppressing officials or common people. I beg Ah Ji to spare the magistrate's life."

"I never had any intention of killing him; it is he who clings too dearly to power."

Turning his head, Zhao Ji looked at Tang Xian. "Escort the magistrate and the officials to the camp for confinement, and hand the magistrate's seal over to Military Sima Hu."

"Understood!"

Responding promptly, Tang Xian stepped forward and reached for the brocade pouch containing the official seal. Reluctant to part with it, Zhang Bu instinctively moved his hand to protect it.

"Do not test my patience," Tang Xian rebuked sternly. "If I mar your face, I will show no mercy!"

Chastised by the rebuke, Zhang Bu no longer dared to resist. Tang Xian smoothly retrieved the seal, inspected the inscription on the bronze stamp, and nodded to Zhao Ji, "Colonel, the seal is authentic."

"Good."

Zhao Ji turned his gaze back to the county officials. "I must gallop through the night to rescue the Son of Heaven. Since you refuse to assist, at least do not stand in the way."

The officials wore varying expressions, while Zhang Bu's face shifted through a kaleidoscope of colors.

Pei Zheng remained expressionless, merely casting a glance at his younger clansman, Pei Bao, who sat on horseback holding the spear tipped with Han Xian's head. Pei Bao, too, was expressionless; having received little formal education, his branch of the Pei family was distant and financially disparate from Pei Zheng's lineage.

With neither Zhang Bu nor the officials offering any response, Zhao Ji flicked his riding crop lightly in his right hand. Instantly, the Tiger Guards stepped forward with lowered spears, escorting the group away into the city.

As the figures vanished into the gloom of the city gate tunnel, Hu Ban finally spoke up, "Why must Ah Ji needlessly offend them?"

"I have just executed both Li Le and Han Xian, yet they still refuse to rise in righteousness alongside us. Should our military campaign hit any snags, they would inevitably turn their coats."

Leaping down from his horse, Zhao Ji took the bronze seal from Tang Xian and handed it to Hu Ban with both hands. "Immediately levy the able-bodied men within the city, using the county garrison as a backbone to organize a volunteer force of five hundred men to assist the Tiger Guards in guarding the prisoners. Tomorrow, carefully screen the former White Wave soldiers hidden among the captives and compile a roster. Issue orders to all the districts to recruit volunteers—the faster, the better!"

Cupping the official seal in both hands, Hu Ban asked doubtfully, "How many men does Ah Ji intend to recruit?"

"Two thousand!"

Zhao Ji's tone brooked no argument. "When I finish suppressing the rebels and march north, the county must provide me with two thousand fresh troops! Tell them: as long as I have a mouthful of food, I will not let them go hungry! The Tiger Guards currently in the county will also be left under your command to temporarily fulfill the duties of county officials."

The seal felt even heavier in Hu Ban's hands. "Two thousand men? That is far too many. The total number of able-bodied men of eligible age in this county barely reaches ten thousand."

"I care not; I want two thousand men. A good portion of them will be the new recruits previously gathered by Han Xian, so this task is hardly impossible. In my view, this is by no means a bad thing—do not try to shirk it. If our forces are too scanty, changes will arise in the north!"

Zhao Ji was forced to borrow the formidable prestige of Zhao Yan to press his point. Upon hearing this, Hu Ban immediately nodded, "Yes, this subordinate understands."

Nodding in approval, Zhao Ji said, "I shall not enter the city. After a brief rest, I march south to guard the Son of Heaven!"

"Wishing the Colonel boundless martial fortune and sweeping victory in every battle!"

Hu Ban bowed deeply, offering a congratulatory phrase that struck Zhao Ji as slightly unusual, yet entirely fitting for the prevailing martial spirit of the times.

Reaching out to steady Hu Ban, Zhao Ji urged, "Do not linger. Make haste to the county office!"

"Understood, this subordinate takes his leave."

Bowing once more, Hu Ban stepped back, turned, mounted his horse, and galloped off followed by several local Tiger Guard troopers.

Zhao Ji walked over to the Tiger Guard chariots, where a campfire had already been kindled. Not long after he sat down, Wang Qi came riding in from the city, dismounted swiftly, and asked, "Has the Colonel placed the county officials under house arrest?"

"Indeed. They were temporarily blinded by folly, but I am wide awake."

As Zhao Ji was eating a flatbread, he waited for Wang Qi to sit cross-legged beside him before asking, "How are the wounded being treated?"

"Quite well. Most of the local physicians had been forcibly conscripted by the White Wave rebels, but there were five physicians and over a dozen apprentices among Han Xian's forces, and they have all been properly put to work."

Catching a piece of flatbread tossed by Tang Xian, Wang Qi continued, "The distilled liquor brought from Beijiang has run out, so we requisitioned the private stocks of the local gentry, and people are already busy distilling more. Once it is ready around the fourth watch, Wenqing will bring it along when he marches south to reinforce us."

"Good. Have Jingchun bring two more physicians along."

"Colonel, how are Wenzhen and the others?"

"They are all resting in the southern district. I will rendezvous with them shortly to enter the capital and guard the Son of Heaven."

Zhao Ji's voice dropped low. The Tiger Guards still lacked experience and had let slip a dozen of Han Xian's cavalrymen, who by now might well have carried the news to Yang Feng and Hu Cait. Fortunately, people in this era generally disliked night operations, and the Tiger Guards rarely suffered from night blindness.

If they could reach the Emperor's temporary encampment before the White Wave generals, the battle would already be half-won. Before setting out, Zhao Yan had analyzed figures like Yang Feng and Hu Cait, concluding that they lacked the guts to attack and kill the Emperor's bodyguards.

Even if they had the stomach for it, their subordinates might not. Furthermore, Wang Yu, the Wei clan, and the Fan clan were hardly sitting idly by; they would naturally dispatch troops to entangle the enemy.