Chapter 23: The Iron Lady

Chapter 23: The Iron Lady

No one expected her to be so bold and resolute.

Military Commandant Xu stood beside her, his face ashen, frozen in shock.

In that crucial moment, only Ma Chun kept her composure. She produced a dagger from somewhere and handed it over.

Chen Jiao took the dagger, weighed it in her hand, and looked at Xu Zhao, saying, "I might not hold back my strength. If they bleed out, Military Commandant Xu, don’t hold me responsible for being harsh with your men."

Xu Zhao hesitated, still wanting to plead for leniency.

Chen Jiao coldly said, "Today, they dared to flout the law and assault innocent women. If not for my father’s influence, would they dare to lay eyes on me, Chen Jiuniang?"

Xu Zhao didn’t dare to answer.

Chen Jiao threw the dagger at his feet and said mercilessly, "Either follow my orders, or take your rabble and leave Huizhou."

Her words were cutting and humiliating. Hu Yan moved to protest, but Xu Zhao held him back.

Chen Jiao sneered, "A pack of scoundrels worse than animals. When you trampled on the people, did you ever imagine you’d be brought low by me, Chen Jiuniang?

"The taxes of Huizhou’s people fund soldiers who defend them, not thugs who prey on them!

"You’re fed by the Chen family, but I never authorized you to terrorize the weak and vulnerable.

"If you’ve got the courage, face the non-Han tribes in the north. What kind of bravery is it to torment women and children here?!"

She lashed out with fiery words, each one cutting deep.

The soldiers seethed with anger, fists clenched, but none dared to confront her.

Xu Zhao, knowing he was cornered, gritted his teeth and ordered Hu Yan to haul the four men off for punishment.

Ma Chun, at Chen Jiao’s side, was on edge, beads of sweat forming.

A heavy silence fell over the crowd.

Chen Jiao stood beneath a green parasol, her posture erect, a figure of authority.

"Hear me now. I don’t care about your past. If anyone breaks the law, I, Chen Jiuniang, will show no quarter!"

She then looked at Xu Zhao and asked, "Military Commandant Xu, is that clear?"

Xu Zhao coldly replied, "I understand, ma’am."

Chen Jiao pointed at the soldiers below and shouted, "If anyone steps out of line again, it’s on you!"

Xu Zhao said, "I obey your orders."

Only then did Chen Jiao seem satisfied. She looked at Wu Yingzhong and instructed, "Tomorrow, march those four through the streets. Let Wei County’s people see that their soldiers are defenders, not oppressors."

Wu Yingzhong twitched his lips and hesitated, "This might be…"

Chen Jiao sharply asked, "What? Are you, a grown man, lacking the courage to take responsibility?"

Wu Yingzhong didn’t dare to provoke her and remained silent.

Ignoring the soldiers’ discomfort, Chen Jiao put her hands behind her back and swaggered away.

Ma Chun followed behind, completely in awe of this delicate but tough old lady.

Even Wu Yingzhong was impressed by her audacity. Chen Jiuniang really had guts!

The Zhang family had encountered an unexpected calamity and indeed could no longer stay in Wei County. Chen Jiao gave them money to start over and instructed Wu Yingzhong to arrange their departure.

During the day, Military Commandant Xu had suffered humiliation, drowning his frustrations in booze.

Hu Yan was also discontented, complaining to him, "A tiger brought low is at the mercy of dogs. That woman is way out of line!"

Xu Zhao sneered.

Hu Yan cursed, "If we’d known, our boss should’ve taken her out back in Tongzhou. Why endure such humiliation now?"

Xu Zhao didn't want to hear his grumbling, "Cut it out."

Hu Yan shut up, chugging some cheap wine. If it weren't for Mr. Cui's persuasion, they would have fled long ago, why stick around Huizhou and take this crap?

While both were brooding, they suddenly heard Ma Chun calling from outside.

Hu Yan sobered up in an instant.

Xu Zhao's mind also cleared considerably, frowning as he asked, "What’s Ma Chun doing here?"

Ma Chun was outside holding a lantern to light the way. Chen Jiao said, "Military Commandant Xu, I crossed you earlier today. I have something to discuss with you."

Hearing Chen Jiao's voice, the two inside panicked like mice spotting a cat.

Even though Xu Zhao had killed countless people on the battlefield, he now felt a weird unease around Chen Jiao.

It wasn’t fear, just a deep discomfort.

Soon, Hu Yan opened the door and came out. Just a moment ago, he was full of foul language, now he was as meek as a lamb. Even if he was dissatisfied, he dared not show it.

"Ninth Lady."

He bowed his head in salute, the courtyard was too dark to see his face.

Chen Jiao smelled the alcohol and frowned, saying, "Chief Hu, you’ll join tomorrow’s parade and see how the folks are doing, right?"

Hu Yan twitched his mouth but remained silent.

Chen Jiao tilted her head, "What, scared to face it?"

Hu Yan stayed silent, knowing he was in the wrong.

Chen Jiao entered the room while saying, "Since you're here, come in and talk."

Hu Yan muttered, "Not much to say."

Chen Jiao paused, turned her head, and said, "I have something to say because you guys don’t get it."

Hu Yan: "..."

After getting chewed out for no reason, he was filled with resentment and decided to return to the room, curious to see what she’d come up with.

Ma Chun stood guard outside, while Xu Zhao and Hu Yan stood there, heads down, like a couple of bears.

Chen Jiao knelt on the couch by herself and said, "Take a seat, gentlemen."

Both men sat down in silence, brooding.

Chen Jiao, who couldn’t drink alcohol, spotted some cold tea in the room. Using it as a substitute for wine, she raised her teacup and said, "I may have offended you earlier today. Please forgive me, Military Commandant Xu."

Xu Zhao replied coldly, "This humble official wouldn’t dare hold a grudge. Ninth Lady holds the Lord’s token; we wouldn’t dare complain."

Seeing that he was not receptive, Chen Jiao was not annoyed and continued, "As a woman, how can I navigate among you warriors without some authority?"

Xu Zhao, clearly annoyed, turned his face away, refusing to look at her.

Chen Jiao put down her teacup and asked, "Do you know why my father doesn’t trust you?"

Xu Zhao was stunned, unprepared for such a pointed question, and momentarily speechless.

Chen Jiao then posed a second question, "Given the current state of affairs, how long do you think Huizhou can last? Have you considered that?"

Hu Yan, who was listening on the side, was confused and couldn’t help but interject, "Ninth Lady, what are you getting at?"

Chen Jiao looked directly into their eyes and said bluntly, "I know a thing or two about Military Commandant Xu and Mr. Cui’s backgrounds. I don’t believe you’re content to stay in a backwater like Huizhou while the nonHan tribes wreak havoc in the north.

"Besides, any man with guts would dream of reclaiming the Central Plains and restoring the Han dynasty.

"I refuse to believe you’re lacking in that military spirit."

Her words swiftly quelled their resentment.

Xu Zhao calmed down and said gloomily, "I assume Ninth Lady didn’t come here tonight to discuss this."

Chen Jiao raised an eyebrow, "You still haven’t answered me. With things as they are, can Huizhou hold its ground in the south?"

Xu Zhao remained silent for a while before saying, "I don’t know."

Chen Jiao retorted sharply, "No, you know perfectly well. Huizhou is torn apart by infighting, and the seven southern states are carved up by warlords. Regardless of the court’s troubles, you know better than anyone if Huizhou can hold out before the nation collapses.

"But to you, Huizhou doesn’t matter. You can always run away like before and find somewhere else to hole up.

"As long as the south remains untouched by the nonHan tribes, you lot can keep on surviving. Isn’t that so, Military Commandant Xu?"

Xu Zhao bowed his head in silence. After a long while, he finally asked, "What’s the point of telling me all this?"

Chen Jiao said slowly, "Huizhou must hold its ground in the south and become a true powerhouse, biding its time to vie for the Central Plains."

Her tone was firm, with an undeniable force, and she looked at Xu Zhao word by word, "Starting with reforming the military."

Xu Zhao was stunned.

Hu Yan was equally taken aback. Previously disinterested, he now sat up straight.

Chen Jiao slowly stood up, the candlelight stretching her shadow long. She stood with her hands behind her back, confident and composed, saying:

"Mr. Cui has brains and strategy, you’ve got military skills and political know-how, and I, Chen Jiuniang, excel at winning over the people. Why not try to shake up the current state of Huizhou?"

These words instantly stirred Xu Zhao’s blood, and he eagerly asked, "How do we break the situation?"

Chen Jiao looked down at him and said, "To win the hearts of the people is to win the world.

"I want the hearts of the people across the land to converge on Huizhou, and for all the talented individuals in the world to gather here, striving for the northern expedition.

"This should be the belief held by all Han people."

Xu Zhao was overwhelmed with emotion and stayed silent for a while.

Hu Yan looked at him, his eyes shining.

Chen Jiao said calmly, "You need to help me get a solid standing with the Prince of Huai'an and make a mark in Huizhou.

"Tomorrow’s parade will show the people of Wei County that our Huizhou soldiers aren’t like the rest.

"We’re not thugs who bully them—we’re their protectors, their family, their hope.

"Only when the military and people stand together, defending each other, will Huizhou grow strong and draw others to join us, becoming a true power.

"Tell me, is it really that hard to keep the troops in line?"

Both men looked down, silent.

Chen Jiao: "Think it over. If you’ve got a problem with it, let’s hash it out."

Xu Zhao suddenly asked, "Ninth Lady, what makes you think you can fix Huizhou?"

Chen Jiao snorted arrogantly, "Because I’ve got the Prince of Huai'an’s ear—and his jade token."

Xu Zhao fell silent.

Chen Jiao: "It’s late. Get some rest. Once you get it, you’ll know what to do next."

With that, she walked out without a backward glance.

Ma Chun saw her and hurried over with a lantern to light the way.

The room fell silent, and the two men, earlier resentful, now seemed calmer.

After a long while, Hu Yan finally said, "Boss, is Chen Jiuniang really that capable?"

Xu Zhao sipped his drink and stayed quiet.

It hit him why Cui Jue kept letting Chen Jiuniang walk all over him.

She was undeniably odd—brave and ambitious.

Hu Yan, seeing that he hadn’t spoken for a while, frowned and said, "You okay, boss?"

Xu Zhao snapped out of his thoughts and looked at him, saying, "Let’s see what mess she’s going to make in Wei County."

Hu Yan was silent for a moment, then grumbled, "She’s a real piece of work. Why would the Prince of Huai'an hand her the jade token? What’s he up to?"

Xu Zhao couldn’t figure it out either. If Cui Jue were here, he might have some answers.

The next morning, the four punished men wore confession signs on their chests and were carted through the streets.

The townsfolk, never having seen anything like it, flocked to watch the show.

Some, clueless, asked around.

A young guy whispered, "I heard a lady from Qigang Lane was attacked by soldiers, and the yamen stepped in."

"Don’t be ridiculous. What’s the yamen gonna do?"

"Right? If they’re not bullying us, it’s a win. Who’s gonna fight for justice?"

People were talking all at once, none of them buying it.

As the crowd of onlookers grew, the four offenders dared not raise their heads, their hearts in torment.

They endured both physical pain and the humiliation to their dignity, feeling utterly disgraced.

Some folks who knew what had happened threw small stones at them, cursing, "Beasts! Assaulting innocent women and oppressing us common folk, you deserve to die!"

"Exactly! Picking on the vulnerable, women, and kids, such beasts should be killed!"

"Kill them! Kill them!"

The crowd started to get riled up, with people hurling objects to express their outrage.

The common folk had always feared the soldiers, but now that they saw them being punished, they cheered and clapped.

If it weren’t for the soldiers guarding them, the crowd would have surely rushed forward to beat the offenders.

The curses and the hurled objects clearly showed their resentment towards the soldiers.

Chen Jiao stood on the pavilion, quietly watching the chaos below, seemingly deep in thought, and asked, "Master Wu, aren’t soldiers and citizens like these terrifying?"

Wu Yingzhong, also deeply moved, remained silent for a long time before saying, "Not terrifying, just tragic."

Chen Jiao, with her hands behind her back, remarked calmly, "Indeed, soldiers come from the people, they should be one family. Why do they provoke such resentment?"

Wu Yingzhong did not answer.

Chen Jiao gazed into the distance, muttering to herself, "Huizhou is bound to go the way of Minzhou’s rebellion, it's truly worrying."

At the mention of Minzhou, Wu Yingzhong’s face grew stern.

Last year, a rebel army rose up there, suppressed by the court, leaving the place in shambles. Fortunately, Huizhou had the Prince of Huai'an to keep the peace, and the region remained relatively peaceful. But how long this peace would last, no one could say.

In these turbulent times, with the dynasty on the brink of collapse, no one could see what the future held.

The crowd surrounded the carriage, hurling insults and curses, venting their dissatisfaction with the oppression by the powerful. Meanwhile, a notice was plastered on the wall at the yamen gate.

The notice stated that any citizen who found soldiers oppressing the people and breaking the law could report to Master Wu at the official residence, and there would be a substantial reward.

False accusations would be dealt with harshly.

The crowd was skeptical, and a woman curiously asked, "Can common people really report officials?"

A young man who could read carefully read the notice aloud, saying, "The notice says that as long as the common people report to Master Wu at the official residence, and after the reasons are investigated, Ninth Lady will see that justice is done for the people, and will not tolerate soldiers bullying others."

"Is it true or false?"

"It's written in black and white, it can't be fake."

"Let me see, let me see!"

"Li Laoer, you can't read, why are you pushing?"

The wall was crowded with people, some initially disbelieving, but upon hearing about the parade on the next street, they rushed over to catch the show.

The notice and the parade conveyed to the city's citizens the determination to enforce military discipline, earning their unanimous approval.

Everyone praised Ninth Lady, saying she had the heart of a bodhisattva, willing to do real work for the common folk.

Magistrate Zheng, inside the yamen, listened to the noise outside with disdain and said to the assistant magistrate, "It’s all for show, anyone could do that."

The assistant magistrate replied, "She’s just a woman looking for attention."

Magistrate Zheng picked up his teacup and said disdainfully, "Let’s see what kind of trouble she can cause in Wei County."

He had no respect for women, especially someone unknown.

After all, politics in the official world isn’t as simple as finding Aged Mustard Brine.

Meanwhile, Chen Jiao, up in the pavilion, saw a spectacle: the people on the street below cleared the way for a sedan chair.

The servant leading the way was well-dressed and shouted loudly to clear the path, making quite a show. If you didn’t know better, you’d think it was some big shot.

Chen Jiao got curious and went downstairs with Wu Yingzhong, casually asking a woman nearby who was in the sedan.

The woman didn’t recognize her and, judging by her clothes, assumed she was a wealthy merchant, and replied, "That’s Mr. Xue’s sedan chair."

Chen Jiao asked, "Who is Mr. Xue?"

The woman praised, "He’s a big philanthropist in our Wei County. I heard he’s planning to build roads in two villages, starting later this year."

Then she looked Chen Jiao up and down and asked, "You’re not from around here, are you? If you were local, you would know Mr. Xue."

Chen Jiao nodded, "I’m from Fanyang, visiting relatives. I saw the commotion on the street and came out to see what was going on."

The woman said proudly, "Pretty much everyone in the county knows Mr. Xue.

"He has a good heart. During tough times, he sets up soup kitchens and builds roads for the people. Last year, during the epidemic, he gave a lot of money and saved many lives."

Chen Jiao murmured, "Oh," thinking that someone who actually helps the people is truly a great philanthropist.

Mr. Xue’s reputation was solid, and he was deeply loved by the people. This time, he was heading to the yamen to talk about road construction.

Chen Jiao also went to see what the fuss was about.

However, Ma Chun beside her held a different view. She had heard strange rumors from the prison the other day and had a biased impression of Wei County. She whispered:

"This place is full of weird stuff. Bandits are everywhere, do-gooders are all over the place, and the yamen is full of shady business."

Her summary was quite accurate, and Chen Jiao couldn’t help but laugh, curious, "Tell me, what’s so strange?"

Ma Chun said seriously, "Wei County is such a small place, not as well-connected as Fanyang. If it’s not a wealthy merchant, where does the money come from to do good deeds?"

This made a lot of sense.

Ma Chun mocked, "The yamen is so corrupt, the local merchants and gentry are probably colluding to make a fortune."

Chen Jiao was speechless for a moment, unable to refute.

Ma Chun looked at Wu Yingzhong and asked, "Master Wu, does what I say make sense?"

Wu Yingzhong quickly waved his hand, "Don’t ask me, I don’t know."

Ma Chun spoke bluntly, "Most of you officials are dirty."

Wu Yingzhong hurriedly defended himself, "You can’t say that. I’m just a clerk, how could I have any means to embezzle or take bribes?"

That’s the honest truth.

Previously, Wu Yingzhong hadn’t given it much thought, but after hearing Ma Chun’s remarks, he couldn’t help but harbor some suspicions about Xue Liangyue.

To show off good deeds so openly, he must have substantial financial backing behind him.

They’d already heard some things about how the yamen operates, where there are numerous ways to make money. For Xue Liangyue to get a foothold in Wei County, he must have some serious government connections.

Wu Yingzhong, with decades in the official circles, had seen it all. Collusion between merchants, gentry, and the yamen was the norm, and mutual protection among officials was even more so.

Ma Chun’s suspicions were clearly on point.

As it turned out, that very afternoon, Chen Jiao sent someone to inquire about the Xue family’s background in the area.

Not looking into it was one thing, but digging deeper turned up some shocking details.

Xue Liangyue ran a bunch of businesses in Wei County, including a pharmacy, a money house, a pawnshop, and inns and taverns, making him a big deal in Wei County.

They say he started with an inn, had a sharp business mind, was generous, and a devout Buddhist, carrying a lot of weight with the locals.

This guy definitely got Chen Jiao and the others curious.

Wu Yingzhong had figured out she wanted to go after the local gentry, worried she’d stir up a mess that’d be hard to clean up, so he nudged her to target Xue Liangyue, a prime target.

It was simple; he was just a merchant. No matter how sharp he was, he only had ties to the local yamen. He wasn’t tied to the local gentry’s interests, so they wouldn’t band together against him.

Before, Xu Zhao couldn’t figure out what Chen Jiao was up to in Wei County, but after hearing Wu Yingzhong’s take, he was blown away.

Going after the gentry would definitely stir things up, and if it blew up, it might even reach the Prince of Huai'an, making it a total mess.

You’ve got to understand that the gentry had a lot of pull locally. They themselves were intertwined with the officialdom.

Some were retired officials, some had family backgrounds, and others were highly respected in the area.

This group could deal with the yamen and speak up for the people, even using them to their advantage.

This was the local situation, but on a larger scale, it was about the aristocratic families.

In the Prince of Huai'an’s household, the Zheng family was practically royalty, with their people all over Huizhou, filling key spots in the prefecture.

Higher up, the aristocratic families were rock solid, while the princes and marquises came and went.

Emperors might change, but the aristocratic families stayed put, holding onto all the top spots in court.

For Chen Jiao to go after these people was like asking for trouble.

Wu Yingzhong knew he couldn’t stop her, so he encouraged her to pick a soft target, starting with Xue Liangyue.

Chen Jiao agreed and had Xu Zhao find someone to dig up this person’s background.

Xu Zhao was worried sick and privately asked her if she intended to target the gentry of Wei County.

Chen Jiao did not deny it.

Xu Zhao anxiously said, "Has Ninth Lady gone mad?!"

Chen Jiao was extremely calm, "I’m not mad."

Xu Zhao was frantic, exclaiming, "Even as a mere warrior, I understand the gravity of this. If you dare to target the local gentry, I fear the gentry of the entire Huizhou will unite in protest, and by then, Huizhou will surely be in chaos."

Chen Jiao retorted, "Military Commandant Xu, have you ever wondered why you can’t break into the top positions in the prefecture government?"

Xu Zhao was stunned.

Chen Jiao said bluntly, "Have you ever wondered why, despite your excellent martial skills, knowledge of military and political affairs, and battlefield experience, you are still underutilized, stuck here with me in the middle of nowhere?"

Xu Zhao: "..."

Chen Jiao pointed upwards, "Are they the ones blocking your path? No matter how hard you try, you still can't climb up, is that it?"

Faced with this barrage of questions, Xu Zhao couldn't answer.

Chen Jiao spoke earnestly, "You see, a place like Huizhou can’t hold onto its talent. People come and go, isn’t it doomed to fail eventually?"

Xu Zhao was instantly disheartened. He stayed here only because Cui Jue had fed him a bunch of promises.

Now, Chen Jiao painted an even bigger picture for him. She stood up, walked over, patted his shoulder, and said solemnly:

"I’m going after the gentry to create an opening for people like you, to get you in, keep you here, and work together on Huizhou’s future. Do you understand?"

Xu Zhao was deeply moved, his throat tight, "This path isn’t an easy one."

Chen Jiao smiled slightly, "I know it’s not easy, but it doesn’t matter. Someone’s got to take that road, and I, Chen Jiuniang, am ready to bleed or even die for it."

Xu Zhao looked at her, silent for a long time.

Chen Jiao slowly extended her hand and asked, "Military Commandant Xu, are you willing to let bygones be bygones and help me out to change Huizhou and uphold the dignity of the Han family?"

Xu Zhao looked at her hand.

Her hand bore the marks of a tough life, or perhaps the struggles of the lower class, which fueled her hunger for change.

Xu Zhao was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Over the years in Huizhou, his rough edges had been smoothed out, but this young girl before him, with her soft face but unyielding spirit, seemed to stir the warrior’s blood in his veins.

Looking into those eyes, Xu Zhao couldn't help but doubt himself, because he realized that Chen Jiuniang had a magnetic presence.

That mix of righteousness and ruthlessness, ambition and determination, made him involuntarily re-examine.

But he also understood that this person was fundamentally corrupt, even vile.

Xu Zhao gazed for a long time before finally reaching out and bumped fists with her.

Chen Jiao laughed and suddenly said, "Do you know what it means to play dirty with the dirty?"

Xu Zhao: "..."

See, she’s rotten to the core.