Chapter 80: Duke Zhang's Invitation |
Zhou An, who had been beaten nearly to death, was sent to the Zhang Estate by several county officials after Song Shi'an gave the order.
As soon as they arrived at the entrance, Zhang Ting, the second son of the Zhang Estate who had already learned of the matter through word-of-mouth among the common people, immediately grabbed the collar of the leading Chief Clerk—this Rank 9 prison supervisor. Then, he immediately cursed furiously: "Bastard! You dare to beat someone from the Zhang Estate? Do you not value your life?!"
"Young Master... Young Master." The Chief Clerk hurriedly explained, "It was Laoye who ordered the beating... and it wasn't the county office's people who did it, it was the military. This really has nothing to do with this lowly one."
"Yet you still dared to come here—shouldn't I also beat you into a cripple before sending you back?" Zhang Ting was already beside himself with rage. "Speak!"
In Shuofeng, no matter which county magistrate, if they didn't come to pay respects to Duke Zhang on their first day in office, they wouldn't be able to stay there.
Even if you were a jinshi-ranked young master from an aristocratic family, you still had to watch your tone.
Otherwise, who do you think supports the government offices?
"Young Master, please calm your anger... Young Master, please calm your anger..."
Because the other party really could do it, the Chief Clerk could only hurriedly beg for mercy.
At this moment, an aged voice suddenly came from behind.
Then, an old man leaning on a walking stick slowly emerged.
"Father, this new county magistrate truly doesn't know the height of heaven or the depth of earth!" Zhang Ting couldn't hold back and complained.
"Let go."
Duke Zhang said calmly, his expression unchanging.
"..." Clenching his fists, Zhang Ting had no choice but to shove the Chief Clerk away.
"This official... this official pays respects to Duke Zhang."
The Chief Clerk hurriedly knelt on both knees before Duke Zhang, trembling with fear, extremely reverent.
"Go back."
Duke Zhang said lightly.
"Then we... shall take our leave first."
The Chief Clerk led several county officials and hurriedly left, afraid that if they were detained, they really would receive a beating.
"Father!" Zhang Ting was indignant, finding this truly unbearable.
"Close the gate."
But Duke Zhang still showed no change in expression.
Having no choice, he could only return inside the estate.
The gate servants also closed the main gate as evening approached.
With a maidservant supporting him, Duke Zhang stepped forward to Zhou An's side, who was being carried on a stretcher by servants from the Zhang Estate.
Zhou An weakly raised his eyes, opening his mouth with difficulty: "Duke Zhang..."
Duke Zhang stroked his head with his rough hand. Then, with some grief, he said: "This beating, you took it in place of our Zhang family. I will not treat you unfairly. I will do my utmost to heal you. If you can still serve, you shall continue as the chief steward of this Zhang Estate. If not, if you're left with lingering ailments, I will grant you a hundred mu of land and several servants, and you can return to your hometown to live out your twilight years in comfort. Also, your two sons—I'll have them serve as clerks in the county."
Hearing these words, Zhou An's face streamed with tears as he trembled with gratitude: "Thank you, Duke Zhang..."
Duke Zhang nodded slightly.
Then Zhou An was carried away.
Duke Zhang glanced at Zhang Ting, then turned back: "Come."
The still-angry Zhang Ting followed Duke Zhang together into the main hall.
Sitting in the seat of honor at the head, Duke Zhang said to the maidservant beside him: "Give it to him."
Then, the maidservant took a stack of papers and presented them to Zhang Ting with both hands.
Seeing the densely packed characters on them, the already agitated Zhang Ting felt dazzled. He raised his head and said: "Father, if it's studying, your son will certainly apply himself, but the situation is urgent right now."
"You read it first." Duke Zhang said with slight displeasure.
Having no choice, Zhang Ting could only sit down and force himself to read through the stack of papers in his hands.
But as he read, he became completely absorbed.
These were this year's examination questions.
One was a lyrical composition for the Lyrical Composition subject, one was a policy essay for the Policy Essay subject.
Both pieces were exceptionally outstanding.
"This is that Song Jieyuan's writing. Many scholars in Southern Liang have already read it. Shuofeng was sealed off, so it never spread here. Do you understand? Except in Shuofeng, that Song Shi'an is already famous throughout the realm."
After saying these words, Duke Zhang looked at Zhang Ting, his tone carrying disappointment: "Twenty years old—this is what he wrote at twenty years old."
Zhang Ting lowered his head, speechless: "Yes."
"If you were like your elder brother and could pass the juren examination early, I would have already sent you off to be an official." Duke Zhang said helplessly.
Lowering his head, Zhang Ting mumbled quietly: "Liangzhou's examination is held in Yongcheng. Even if there's no bribery, if we just have a word with that Grand Secretary at the Liangzhou Examination Compound who grades the papers, having your son barely pass as a juren wouldn't be difficult..."
"Can't you pass it yourself?"
Tapping his walking stick on the ground, Duke Zhang felt this son was beyond hope.
He wasn't wrong—he indeed could facilitate things.
The capital was different from commanderies and counties; there the scholarly atmosphere was stronger.
But in the localities, things relied more on personal relationships and connections.
If Zhang Ting kept failing the exam, he would eventually pull strings.
The reason he hadn't was first because his eldest son was already in office, so there was no rush, and second, to let this son immerse himself more in study and cultivate his character and abilities.
Otherwise, even if he became an official, he'd just be an incompetent fool.
"Father, after this I will certainly study diligently. But right now, we can't even leave the city." Zhang Ting said anxiously. "That Ji Yuan has arrived, and who knows what will happen."
Moreover, the Zhang family absolutely did not want to defect to the enemy.
Defection was an option.
But absolutely a backup option when there was no alternative.
If he defected, his nephew who was the Regional Inspector would have a difficult path ahead.
Without this Regional Inspector as backing, his days wouldn't be as comfortable as before.
"Let me tell you one more thing."
After laying the groundwork, Duke Zhang said: "On the Chishui River outside the city, dozens of ships have arrived, bringing five thousand soldiers. The ships are all loaded with military equipment and supplies."
"No, wasn't it only one thousand men?" Zhang Ting stared wide-eyed in shock.
"His Highness seized military authority from Langya."
"What?!"
Zhang Ting was stunned.
Then, Duke Zhang told him something even more shocking: "Most likely, it was that Song Shi'an who instigated it."
"He doesn't care about his nine generations of kin?!"
Zhang Ting was shocked once again.
"What his relationship with his nine generations of kin is like, I'm not clear. But your nine generations of kin, you'd better consider carefully."
Duke Zhang stared at him and said.
"... Such a madman."
While Zhang Ting felt shocked, he also felt some fear: "He's completely insane, and now he has troops in his hands. Beating our estate's steward—could it be he wants to kill us?"
"He's a madman, not an idiot."
Seeing his second son say such spineless words, Duke Zhang's tone gradually became more agitated: "If having troops and killing all opponents could solve problems, then in this world, there would be no fallen dynasties."
"If every time a battle is fought, we border region magnates would be slaughtered by those generals, then in this realm, the concept of aristocratic families wouldn't exist."
"If you think killing one to warn a hundred, using the head of the chief culprit to intimidate the entire city's populace and achieve absolute obedience—then there would be no riots or city surrenders."
"If even the Regional Inspector's uncle-by-marriage could be killed just like that, without giving the Regional Inspector any explanation, without offering several important heads as compensation—then who in this Great Yu would the emperor expect to lay down their lives for him?"
"..." After this series of rebukes, Zhang Ting lowered his head. "It is your son who is foolish."
"Also, this is only in Shuofeng. The Sixth Prince must defend the city—he cannot rely only on Shuofeng alone. He needs this greater half of Shuo Commandery to unite against Qi. How he treats us, the aristocratic families outside are all watching. If he recklessly kills magnates within the city, the aristocratic families outside will immediately flee north to defect to Qi."
Duke Zhang was quite clear that his situation had not reached a desperate state.
"Since this Scholar Song won't easily move against us, can we tolerate him beating our estate's steward?" Zhang Ting asked.
Regarding this question, Duke Zhang showed a profound look: "He beat our estate's steward, but he also used the reason of a commoner refusing to bow before an official and offending a court official. So, if he truly wants to teach us a lesson, he will certainly have proper justification."
There was a truth in this world—to do anything, one needs proper justification.
Whether strong or weak.
Killing people to achieve a goal without any cause—that makes one a terrorist.
Moreover, this cause must be proportionally strong according to the severity of the matter.
Only this way can it 'settle people's hearts.'
"Are we just going to let him bully us like this?"
"In Northern Liang, there is still no one who can bully this old man."
After calming down, Duke Zhang said directly: "He doesn't value his life, but we do value ours. So, no matter what, we must first avoid his edge."
"Please, Father, instruct me clearly." Zhang Ting didn't quite understand.
"Right now, our pressing priority is to leave the city." Duke Zhang explained. "Moreover, we must bring all the magnates out of the city together."
"How do we get out?" Zhang Ting asked.
"Shuofeng is ten li from the Chishui River, and the soldiers still need to construct city defenses. With so many supplies, relying on civilian laborers from the city to transport them back and forth will take at least two days and nights. During this period, the city gates will remain wide open."
Duke Zhang looked at Zhang Ting and said flatly: "Whatever Scholar Song wants, we'll give him everything. Once we give it to him, we'll all be able to leave."
"That means surrendering wealth and grain in exchange for the opportunity to leave the city..."
Zhang Ting still felt this approach meant the Zhang family was being bullied.
Facing Zhang Ting's confusion, Duke Zhang said lightly: "After leaving the city, we'll find a way to kill him."
After hearing his father say this, Zhang Ting finally felt at ease.
Because once he said these words, he had never failed to deliver.
Those he wanted dead—all died.
Without exception.
"Then Father." Zhang Ting asked, "Currently, what should we do?"
Duke Zhang gazed straight ahead, saying calmly: "Respectfully invite Laoye Song here."
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