Chapter Forty: Human Life Is Cheap as Grass

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The flames outside the city towered several yards into the night sky. As soon as the constables patrolling the county town spotted them, they hurried to report the matter to the magistrate.

Zhu Jiuchang had just finished coupling with his concubine and came to the main hall of the rear yamen in a foul mood.

Several of the yamen’s senior officials were already waiting in the hall. When they saw Zhu Jiuchang, they rose and saluted him one after another.

“Sit, sit.” Zhu Jiuchang yawned and lowered himself into the grand armchair at the center of the room. “Why have you all come so late?”

A constable brought in a cup of hot tea and placed it on the desk beside him.

Standing to one side, Secretary Qian spoke first. “My lord, a great fire has broken out in the direction of Shuitai Village, ten miles from the county town. It seems the village may have fallen victim to bandits.”

“Aren’t troops from the Tiansheng Guard stationed ten miles away? Are they all blind? How could roaming bandits slaughter people and set fires right under their noses?” Zhu Jiuchang frowned.

For a time, no one in the hall answered.

After a long silence, the official in charge of the county’s finances said, “I fear Shuitai Village has been attacked by soldiers masquerading as bandits.”

“What?”

At the words “soldiers masquerading as bandits,” Zhu Jiuchang was so startled that he lost his grip on his teacup. It fell to the floor, and every trace of sleep vanished from his face.

He did not need to think to know who those soldiers were. Apart from the government troops stationed outside the county town by the Tiansheng Guard, there were no other soldiers within the county.

“Someone come clean this up,” Secretary Qian called.

A constable was summoned to clear away the broken cup, and another fresh cup of tea was brought in.

Zhu Jiuchang did not touch it. His face tense, he asked, “They—they aren’t going to attack the county town, are they?”

That very afternoon, he had driven a centurion from the Tiansheng Guard out of the county yamen. Now, on the same night, the troops had begun plundering under arms. Fear seized him.

What if the army outside the walls attacked the county town?

Secretary Qian reassured him. “There is no need to worry, my lord. The city gates have been shut for some time. Those thousand-odd men outside do not even possess siege equipment. They would have to be mad to attack the town.”

“The gates are shut. Good. That is good.” Zhu Jiuchang’s voice trembled slightly. “Send word down that so long as those soldiers remain outside, the gates are not to be opened under any circumstances.”

The registrar of Yangyuan County said, “Rest assured, my lord. The constables on duty have already been stationed along the walls. At first light tomorrow, I shall conscript able-bodied men from the town to help defend them.”

“Good. Good.” Zhu Jiuchang felt somewhat more at ease.

Nearby, the financial official secretly exchanged a glance with Secretary Qian.

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Secretary Qian gave the financial official a slight nod, then said, “Before you arrived, my lord, I discussed the matter with several of the other officials. We all believe the government troops outside the town, having failed to capture the bandits, intend to pass off the heads of commoners as those of the bandits.”

The meaning was immediately clear to Zhu Jiuchang. He flew into a rage.

“How dare those brutes! They intend to kill innocent people and claim military merit? I shall impeach them without fail and seek justice for the victims.”

“My lord, you must not!” Secretary Qian hastily tried to stop him.

“I am a Presented Scholar of the third rank and the magistrate of Yangyuan County. Are you saying I cannot impeach a mere military commander of the frontier?” Zhu Jiuchang glared at Secretary Qian in displeasure. His tone suggested that unless he received a satisfactory explanation, Secretary Qian himself would pay the price.

Seeing that Zhu Jiuchang was truly furious, Secretary Qian could only brace himself and say, “My lord, allow me to explain this matter to you in private.”

Zhu Jiuchang knitted his brows, his displeasure plain.

County magistrates came and went, but the administrative officials endured. The men seated below were all seasoned survivors of officialdom, and one after another they rose to take their leave.

When only Zhu Jiuchang and Secretary Qian remained in the hall, Zhu Jiuchang lifted his teacup and said, “They are gone. Speak.”

“Yes.” Secretary Qian glanced cautiously from side to side before lowering his voice. “My lord, Li Kaiyang cannot be impeached.”

Smack.

Zhu Jiuchang slammed his teacup onto the table, splashing tea across the desktop.

“Why can he not be impeached? Or have you accepted some benefit from him behind my back?”

“My lord, please calm yourself.” Secretary Qian spoke with extreme caution. “You have not been in Yangyuan County long, and there are many matters of which you are still unaware…”

Before he could finish, Zhu Jiuchang struck the table and shouted, “Isn’t Li Kaiyang merely supported by Li Guangyi? Do you think I fear them? Li Guangyi may be Deputy Commissioner of the Shaanxi Military Defense Circuit, but even his reach cannot extend all the way here.”

“My lord, please calm yourself and let me finish.” Secretary Qian picked up the teacup from the table and offered it to him.

Zhu Jiuchang shoved it away. “There is no need to persuade me. I will impeach Li Kaiyang for turning his troops into bandits and allowing them to plunder the local people.”

Secretary Qian awkwardly set down the cup. “You need not fear Li Guangyi, my lord. But what if Li Kaiyang has the Donglin Party behind him?”

“The Donglin Party?” Zhu Jiuchang’s brows drew together. “Wasn’t Li Guangyi a member of the Jin Party? When did he become one of the Donglin men?”

Since the death of Zhang Siwei, the Jin Party had gradually declined, and Zhu Jiuchang had no reason to fear it. The Donglin Party, however, was a powerful force newly risen at court, with tangled roots and extensive influence. It was far beyond the reach of a minor frontier magistrate like himself.

“There are some things even I cannot say with certainty,” Secretary Qian replied. “But Li Guangyi was a Presented Scholar in the twenty-third year of the Wanli reign. Liu Yuanzhen, one of the central figures of the Donglin Party, passed the examinations in that same year.”

Zhu Jiuchang’s brows furrowed deeply. “Are you saying Li Guangyi has thrown in his lot with the Donglin Party?”

The Donglin Party was no longer merely a handful of academies founded by Gu Xiancheng. It now possessed considerable power at court. As the Jin Party and the other factions weakened, anyone with eyes could see the Donglin Party rising.

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Secretary Qian continued, “I cannot say for certain whether Li Guangyi has truly joined them. But the post of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Datong has remained vacant for more than half a year. I have heard that every candidate was impeached by censors associated with the Donglin Party. Later, when the Li family spoke, it became clear that the post had already caught their eye. Only someone newly arrived in Yangyuan County, my lord, would be unaware of these matters.”

Zhu Jiuchang’s frown deepened.

Secretary Qian went on, “Li Kaiyang wants heads to add to his military record. We can simply pretend not to see it. A few ordinary peasants will die, but the Li family is hardly going to attack the county town in earnest. So long as you remain here, my lord, you will be as secure as Mount Tai.”

Zhu Jiuchang tapped his fingers several times against the desk. “With so many people dead outside the town, the matter cannot possibly be concealed. How am I to answer to my superiors?”

Secretary Qian smiled. “That is even simpler. Wasn’t a band of roaming bandits recently reported within our county? We can place the blame entirely on them. The other officials will help keep the matter hidden.”

“So you and those officials have already settled everything among yourselves?” Zhu Jiuchang asked, his tone unreadable.

The smile on Secretary Qian’s face faltered. Then he gave a slight nod.

“Then why summon me at all?” Zhu Jiuchang slammed his palm onto the table. “Do you people even remember that I am the magistrate here—the people’s father and mother?”

Secretary Qian flinched and hurriedly bent at the waist. “Please calm yourself, my lord. This matter may actually benefit you.”

“What benefit could I possibly gain? Nothing more than being pushed forward to curry favor with the Li family.” Zhu Jiuchang snorted coldly.

“Please rest assured, my lord. With the evidence of the troops’ plunder, together with Li Kaiyang’s previous letter, you can write back and demand an explanation for what has happened in Yangyuan County. I am certain the Li family will offer you some compensation. Perhaps you might even use this opportunity to establish ties with the Donglin Party. In time, you may have the chance to serve as a magistrate or prefect in Jiangnan.”

He finished and cautiously glanced at Zhu Jiuchang, seated in the grand armchair.

Zhu Jiuchang said nothing. He looked deep in thought, his fingers turning restlessly against one another.

Seeing a flicker of interest in his expression, Secretary Qian continued, “Our frontier post is poor enough as it is, and we must also guard against the northern barbarians crossing the border. Every day carries the risk of death. Serving in Jiangnan would be entirely different. You could spend your days composing poetry, while silver flowed into your pockets of its own accord.”

Those words reached Zhu Jiuchang’s ears and finally settled the matter for him.

“You will write the letter to Li Kaiyang. I am tired and shall retire to the rear hall.” Zhu Jiuchang rose and walked toward the doorway.

“Your servant respectfully sees you off, my lord.” Secretary Qian bowed toward Zhu Jiuchang’s departing figure.