Chapter 77: Zhang's Hardness, Magistrate Song's Superiority |
It seemed Luo Ting also had a comprehensive plan.
Just like himself, he was no 'ordinary person' either.
But there was no helping it.
"General Luo believes he can win, and I also believe His Highness can win." Gazing into Wang Dalong's eyes, Song Shi'an said calmly, "It appears we have irreconcilable differences."
"Yes." Wang Dalong had absolutely no intention of compromising. "Since His Highness can win, then he doesn't need the support of those who oppose him. If you release me, I will definitely lead my subordinates out of the city."
"Then that would be far too troublesome."
Although he said this, there wasn't the slightest hint of difficulty in Song Shi'an's tone.
Neither man's emotions were particularly good.
On this matter, they were diametrically opposed.
After issuing the order, the jailer opened the cell door.
Wang Dalong walked straight in and sat down on the pile of straw, composed and self-possessed.
Even in prison, his principles would not change.
"General Wang Dalong will not perform corvée labor, will not dig defensive works, and unlike the women in the city, will not cook or wash clothes for our army, so provide him with the minimum rations." Song Shi'an gave another instruction.
Wang Dalong knew he was trying to provoke him, so he continued staring straight ahead, unmoved.
Looking at the man sitting in the cell, Song Shi'an's tone seemed barbed, and he deliberately raised his voice: "General Wang, since you think His Highness will lose, then just wait. Sit in this prison doing nothing—wait for the city to fall, wait to be slaughtered, wait for the blood of the Yu people to run dry, and when Ji Yuan finds this place, you can excitedly tell him, 'I was right, the Sixth Prince was wrong!'"
"..."
These words made it impossible for Wang Dalong to maintain his façade of composure.
He lowered his head, silent, refusing to meet Song Shi'an's gaze.
But his pupils trembled with wavering resolve.
Song Shi'an had deliberately chosen these words to strike at his heart.
They made everything he insisted upon—his loyalty to the court, to Luo Ting, to himself—appear to be nothing but the greatest selfishness.
"Laoye, the steward from Zhang-gong's household requests an audience," a chief clerk from the county yamen announced at that moment.
"Make him wait!"
After throwing out this vented statement, Song Shi'an turned on his heel and returned to his office chamber.
Leaving only Wang Dalong sitting in the cell.
Raising his head to look at the young scholar's retreating back, he found himself wavering for a moment.
If His Highness firmly controlled this city, implemented scorched earth tactics, built defensive fortifications, and held out until Ji Yuan came to besiege them, then at that time, would he still be sitting here doing nothing, just waiting for Shuofeng to fall...
---
After returning to his office chamber, Song Shi'an, who had just finished venting, instantly changed his expression, returning to calm composure.
Many things needed to be said differently depending on the person.
For someone like Wang Dalong who wasn't greedy for life or afraid of death, who didn't curry favor with the powerful, but purely disagreed with him—such a dissident required an appeal to values.
After all, when it came to things that hadn't yet happened, one mouth could never convince another mouth.
He certainly thought the Sixth Prince was an idiot who, in order to hold the city, had completely disrupted the empire's plans and caused Luo Ting's long-prepared ultimate battle with Ji Yuan to fall apart.
Regarding this coup, he must hate the decision-makers to death.
Including me.
But let me ask you—are you a person of Great Yu or not?
When the Qi bandits come, do you have a hunting rifle?
They kill our compatriots, defile our sisters—will you fight shoulder to shoulder or not?
Of course he would, because Wang Dalong was an iron-blooded Great Yu war wolf.
And war wolves were the easiest to use.
Just wait for that moment—when it truly came, he would inevitably pledge his loyalty to the Sixth Prince.
And then...
Wait, who just came?
---
"Is Laoye occupied with something?"
At the entrance to the jail, Zhou An, the chief steward of the Zhang estate, inquired of the county clerk after waiting for quite some time.
"This is Laoye's first day here, and there are too many handover matters to deal with," the clerk said with a beaming smile. "You should wait a bit longer."
"Did you mention it was someone from the Zhang estate?" he asked.
"I did, of course I did," the clerk said with a smile. "Once Laoye finishes his business, he'll naturally see you."
Pressing his lips together, Zhou An inhaled through his nose, looking somewhat impatient as he turned to one side to continue waiting. With a slightly sarcastic tone, he said, "Magistrate Jiang before would see anyone from the Zhang estate immediately, no matter when they came. It's already been a quarter-hour. Does Laoye perhaps not quite understand the customs and practices of Shuofeng?"
"I wouldn't know about that."
The clerk didn't take the blame, smiling as he said, "Laoye specifically said to have you wait."
Displeased, Zhou An produced a small ingot of silver and placed it in the clerk's palm, waving his hand dismissively as he urged, "Go ask again when he can see me."
"Ah yes, of course. Please wait a moment." After taking the money, the clerk scurried back into the jail compound.
Hurrying to the office chamber, he reported, "The person from the Zhang estate is asking Laoye when he can see him."
Song Shi'an stopped what he was doing, looked at him, and asked with interest, "Is he impatient now?"
Hearing this, the shrewd clerk immediately explained, "From his appearance, it seems he truly has urgent business with Laoye."
To serve as a clerk in a county full of powerful clans, one had to be smooth in handling affairs, offending neither side.
Even if it was just a steward from a great estate, you had to treat him like a master.
After all, county clerks were different from prefecture clerks and important commandery clerks—they had much less prestige.
The capital clerks, prefecture clerks, and certain important commandery clerks with promotion prospects in Great Yu all had to be at least juren to hold those positions.
But these minor county clerks, especially these 'prison guards' in the jail, were basically small fry.
Of course, they privately looked down on stewards like Zhou An too.
Just a servant putting on airs—who the fuck is afraid of you? Aren't we all just wary of the person behind you?
"How is this Zhang clan in Shuofeng?" Song Shi'an asked curiously. "Are they quite domineering?"
Speaking of this, as the magistrate's lackey, the clerk said quietly, "That Zhang clan is considered a great family throughout all of Liang Prefecture. This branch of Zhang-gong is quite powerful. His son serves as a commandant in another commandery, and his actual nephew is even more impressive..."
"The regional inspector, right?" Song Shi'an said.
The clerk nodded. "That's right."
That was indeed remarkable.
If your nephew was a high official, weren't you impressive?
Moreover, Great Yu only had six prefectures, and his nephew was the inspector of one of them—the prestige was truly maxed out.
This time with the loss of Tongmen Pass, he couldn't escape responsibility. At minimum, he'd be demoted two ranks.
Even so, he'd still be on par with old Song.
At this moment, Song Shi'an raised a finger as if gossiping with a subordinate and said quietly, "He's going to be demoted."
Hearing this, the clerk covered his mouth in surprise, then nodded.
The inspector was going to be demoted?
Could Zhang-gong of Shuofeng still continue throwing his weight around?
"Then let him come in."
Having made him wait long enough, Song Shi'an said casually.
"Yes, Laoye, I'll go call him right away."
The clerk left the office chamber.
Song Shi'an leaned back in his chair, and with a thunk, propped his feet up on the desk.
After a while, a middle-aged man who looked quite amiable, around forty years old, walked in. Noticing his relaxed attitude and concluding he was a reckless young master, the man smiled and said, "Laoye, Zhang-gong would like to ask when the city gates will be opened?"
Song Shi'an tilted his head slightly and asked quite perfunctorily, "Your name?"
This discourteous attitude made Zhou An pause, and the smile on his face turned to mere civility. "I am called Zhou An, Laoye."
"What is your official position?"
"I hold no office."
"Then are you a juren?" Song Shi'an asked again.
"Laoye jests. I am merely a servant in the Zhang estate."
Zhou An deliberately emphasized the words "Zhang estate."
"Oh." Song Shi'an put his feet down, leaned forward, and said with a smile, "Then you must have at least passed the xiucai examination, right?"
Looking at Song Shi'an, Zhou An's tone lost all its warmth. "I have not."
Hearing this, Song Shi'an's smiling face immediately turned grim. "Then why aren't you kneeling before this official?"
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