Chapter 107 Poem of Resolve

Chapter 107: The Poem of Resolve

"That surnamed Wang went to Kongmo Bookshop?" Prefect Wu looked quite surprised.

A subordinate below reported, "Yes, he talked for a long time before leaving."

Prefect Wu pondered for a moment, "Did you find out what they talked about?"

"This... mostly scholarly talk, I only caught the gist." The spy was highly skilled in martial arts but not well-educated.

Prefect Wu's brow furrowed and then relaxed, "He's been to a few places these days, mostly inconsequential. Send a few men to keep an eye on Nie Er and the Song family's examination candidate. You personally watch Censor Wang."

After the subordinate acknowledged and left, he sat alone in his chair, muttering to himself, "Could it be him? But if he had the item, he wouldn't come to Changping... Could he be trying to get something from me?"

---

Guqing County Office—

Except for the men still guarding the city gate, the soldiers at the county office had been withdrawn. Just as they had come, this group didn't deem it necessary to give a minor county magistrate any reason. They came when they pleased and left without anyone daring to stop them.

Yan Changsheng and the yamen runners had returned from the most severely affected villages nearby. Prefect Wu hadn't reported to the imperial court, so there were no disaster relief grains from the court. But in years when harvests were good, he would use leftover funds to stockpile some grain as his private reserve.

Yan Changsheng had no parents, no wife, no children. His meals were simple. In the past, there was a servant boy in his private quarters who took care of him, and later he adopted Xiao Liu. After the attendant died and Xiao Liu left, his expenses became even simpler—often just a few steamed buns for the day's meals.

His clothes consisted of only two sets per season for change and a half-worn official robe.

All his salary was used to buy grain for storage, but how many households could that small amount of grain feed? It was like a drop in the bucket.

Even though many villages in Guqing County had been ordered to evacuate before the floods, saving their families and property, and even though Guqing County was the least affected county in all of Changping, it still couldn't prevent the people from becoming displaced.

To survive, refugees from other counties fought and looted. More and more people couldn't hold on and left their homes. If the court's disaster relief funds didn't arrive soon, Yan Changsheng, despite his goodwill towards the people, would be helpless.

Among the refugees from several counties, no one knew how many would die, how many parents would lose their children, and how many children would become orphans.

Looking at the ravaged villages, his expression showed helplessness and anger—helplessness at his low official rank, anger at his superior, Prefect Wu, a greedy wolf who left no way for the people to survive for the sake of his own future.

For now, he could only lead the yamen runners to start with the most severely affected villages, organizing able-bodied men to log timber from the public mountains under the county's control, to build temporary shelters so the homeless could have a place to shield from wind and rain, and not die of cold and illness in the downpour.

The sick also had to be isolated and cared for, but medicine cost money. He had to negotiate with the local country gentry, swallowing his pride to get supplies on credit.

He was dazed and exhausted, and finally today he could return to the county office to rest. After washing with cold water, Xiao Liu bought steamed buns from outside, and the two sat at the table to eat in silence.

Seeing Yan Changsheng's tired face, Xiao Liu urged him to rest, cleared the table, and then took his dirty clothes to wash in the yard.

After the soldiers left, Xiao Liu returned from the countryside to the county office. Sometimes he would go find Yan Changsheng, but Yan Changsheng was either on the mountain or in the fields. When he went, he just made trouble, so he stopped going and waited at the county office, learning how to take care of the exhausted Yan Changsheng.

There was a well in the yard. Xiao Liu drew water, threw Yan Changsheng's coarse cotton clothes into the basin, and scrubbed.

"Xiao Liu, I can wash them myself."

Yan Changsheng came over and tried to take the clothes, but Xiao Liu dodged him. "You're so tired, go rest. I can handle it. I've learned a lot over the years..."

As he spoke, a sleeve tore off the dark blue clothes in his hand.

Xiao Liu and Yan Changsheng stared at each other. Holding the torn coarse cotton clothes, he awkwardly explained, "Changsheng, listen, I really didn't mean to. I do know how to wash clothes."

Yan Changsheng's eyes softened, a hint of relief in his weary gaze. "Mm, I know. Xiao Liu has grown up and can help me with things."

Being praised like that, Xiao Liu felt embarrassed. "Not really. I can also mend clothes. Once they're dry, I'll sew them up for you."

Just stitch it with thread. Tomorrow he'd go to the fabric store and ask for advice. It couldn't be that hard!

Xiao Liu scrubbed the clothes with even more vigor, but this time he controlled his strength, trying not to damage the already battered clothes further.

Yan Changsheng shook his head with a smile and walked towards the study.

The sun was setting, its warm glow casting a golden hue over him, covering his entire body in a layer of light.

---

Twenty-fourth year of Qisheng, the eleventh day of the tenth month.

The day before, the family had celebrated Meng Wan's birthday in a lively manner. Early this morning, he and Song Tingzhou were to set off for Shengjing.

This trip to Shengjing wasn't just Song Tingzhou taking Meng Wan; Third Master Zhu was also traveling with them to see off his son. The escorts were hired as usual. They needed to take a carriage to Fengtian Prefecture first, and then take a boat south from there to the capital.

The horses were left at home. Xue Sheng moved their luggage onto the hired carriage, totaling eight wooden chests. Not too many—they could buy more things when they arrived in the capital; they just brought what was needed on the journey.

Parting was always sad, but fortunately Chang Jinhua was somewhat used to it. After all, this trip to the capital was a good thing—her son was going to prepare for the imperial metropolitan exam in early spring next year.

The weather was clear today, not a cloud in the sky. They set out at dawn, and crystal dew still hung on the roadside grass blades. As the sunlight hit them, they instantly became a riot of colors.

The carriage and horses bumped and jostled the small grass leaves, and the dew slid down the leaves to the grass's heart, nourishing the growth of new tender leaves.

Not long after leaving the southern gate of Changping Prefecture, the official road ahead was completely blocked. Third Master Zhu ordered the escorts to check ahead. After waiting a short while, the men still hadn't returned.

Third Master Zhu and Song Tingzhou got off the carriage and walked forward a little. The closer they got, the more unusual the scene seemed. There were guards on alert ahead, preventing people from passing through. If anyone suspicious was found, they would be detained by the guards. Their escorts were being held by them.

It seemed the carriage ahead belonged to someone important.

Third Master Zhu was a seasoned veteran, with sharp instincts. He made a quick decision: "Don't go over there. Let's retreat and take a side road."

The escort hesitated, "But what about Brother Hu and the others?" They were still being held by the soldiers ahead.

Third Master Zhu said sternly, "They were just scouting ahead and haven't committed any crime. They won't be harmed. Stop wasting time. Let's go! Take the eastern side road."

Song Tingzhou stopped him, "Uncle, take the western side road."

His eyes were deep, carrying a weight and emotion that Third Master Zhu couldn't read but that stirred his heart, making him involuntarily obey Song Tingzhou's words.

"Take the western side," Third Master Zhu instructed the lead escort.

The escort was puzzled, "Third Master, the west is farmland."

The path along the fields was rough, and if they damaged the crops, they'd have to pay compensation.

Third Master Zhu repeated impatiently, "I said take the west. Stop stalling!"

Just before turning back, Song Tingzhou fixed his gaze on the carriage ahead and on... the person kneeling in front of it, dressed in a county magistrate's official uniform.

---

"...Since early August when the dam of Guyang County was breached by the flood, followed by the dams of Guwen and Guqing Counties, it has been two months now. Sixty percent of the people in the three counties have become displaced."

"Your subordinate tried to join forces with the magistrates of the other two counties to report to the court, but was betrayed by the magistrates of Guyang and Guwen, who leaked the information to Prefect Wu. Prefect Wu sent garrison soldiers to surround Guqing County, forbidding me from leaving."

"Now the crops in the fields of the three counties have been destroyed by the flood. The people have no food for the winter. If the court does not provide relief, no one knows how many will die by early next year!"

"Every word I speak is true. I implore Lord Wang to report to His Majesty upon returning to the capital, requesting an investigation into the Changping Prefect, to provide shelter for the victims, distribute grain to the people, and supply food relief!"

Yan Changsheng knelt before the carriage, his words steeped in grief, his voice dripping with blood.

A calm voice came from the carriage, "What you speak of is truly shocking, but I recall that four years ago, the Changping Prefect reported to the Ministry of Revenue, requesting funds to repair several dams within Changping. How could it be that all the dams were destroyed in a single breach? Let me ask you, do you have solid evidence to accuse your superior, a third-rank court official, bypassing proper channels?"

Yan Changsheng pulled two booklets from his bosom, still kneeling, holding them up with both hands. His official robe, unchanged for years, had been washed to a faded white. His voice was impassioned, and anyone could hear the fury in his tone.

"As a County Magistrate, I was completely unaware of this matter, nor did I receive any funds allocated by the prefect for dam repairs! The people in the three counties are living in misery. If you, my lord, would travel north to see for yourself, you would know that I speak no falsehoods. Besides the hidden flood disaster in the three counties of Changping, these two account books also record how Wu Yong colluded with the imperial merchant, the Zhu family, to illegally dig salt wells, selling private salt as official salt to the people, and how he extorted this subordinate by letting tens of thousands of jin of potato seeds rot in the government granary!"

The matters he spoke of were too shocking. Lord Wang finally showed himself. He lifted the carriage curtain and said solemnly to the guards protecting him, "Bring the booklets to me."

As the guard moved, voices came from the woods to the east, and a troop of soldiers immediately surrounded the entire convoy and all the armed guards.

Lord Wang descended from the carriage, his brows deeply furrowed. "Prefect Wu, what is the meaning of this?"

"I was worried that you might encounter danger on the road, my lord, so I brought troops to escort you. Please do not misunderstand." Wu Yong spoke lightly, but he had led thousands of garrison soldiers to surround the scene.

Faced with real blades, the outnumbered guards dared not act rashly, allowing Wu Yong to step forward and snatch the booklets from their hands.

Yan Changsheng watched helplessly as the account books fell so easily into Prefect Wu's hands, trembling with rage. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his eyes were bloodshot from extreme fury. "How did you know I would come to see Lord Wang?"

Wu Yong looked at him as if he were an ant struggling under his foot. "I didn't expect a small fry like you to steal something from my study. You have some nerve."

Yan Changsheng suddenly realized something. As he stood up, two soldiers forced him back to his knees with their swords.

His voice was bleak. "So that's it. You deliberately spread the news to lure me into the trap!"

"Hmph." Wu Yong snorted coldly. "Not that stupid, but you took the wrong path."

Since he had fallen into the trap, Prefect Wu would never let him return to Guqing alive. Yan Changsheng placed all his hope on Censor Wang.

"Lord Wang, I would die ten thousand deaths without regret, but the people of Changping are innocent! They should not die in vain! Please, my lord, save them!"

Censor Wang was only three meters away. He leaned against the carriage, silent, not responding to Yan Changsheng's plea. Looking around, he saw only Wu Yong's men.

His voice carried authority without anger. "This official is on an imperial inspection tour. Lord Wu, do you mean to show disrespect to the Son of Heaven?"

Wu Yong hurriedly knelt. "I dare not, my lord. But a county magistrate under my command abandoned his post, made alarming statements, and offended you. I must take him back for punishment."

Though his words were respectful, his expression showed little reverence. Without waiting for Censor Wang to speak, he rose on his own.

"Your next stop on the northern inspection should be Anping Prefecture, my lord. The journey has been arduous. Why not let my men escort you there?"

As Censor Wang thought, Wu Yong dared not detain him or kill him within Changping's borders, but letting him return to the capital safely was impossible. So he would send him to Anping instead.

Anping Prefecture was the northernmost region. Even if Lord Wang returned to the capital, it would take at least two months. By then, without any evidence, relying only on his words, the King might not believe him. And even if he did, those two months would be enough for Wu Yong to spend hundreds of thousands of silver taels to bribe the higher-ups. He could then shift all blame onto the county magistrates and rest easy.

Wu Yong narrowed his eyes, having thought through every detail. Confident, he looked down at Yan Changsheng, still kneeling, and noticed that the fire in his eyes had somehow subsided.

Yan Changsheng looked up at the silent Censor Wang, but the latter refused to meet his gaze. What else could he understand? Censor Wang, to save himself, would not intervene.

He gave a bitter laugh and cried out in sorrow, "No grain in the fields, the people starve; the flood is merciless, officials have no justice. The lavish halls are built with red and white, all forged from the blood of the common people..."

Wu Yong grabbed him by the collar and yanked him up from the ground, his voice dripping with menace. "It seems you don't want to live another moment."

Yan Changsheng laughed uproariously, all his grief, hatred, anger, and disappointment mingling together, until he spat out a mouthful of black blood, staining most of Wu Yong's face. Before Wu Yong could lose his temper, Yan Changsheng broke free from his grip and slammed his head into the shaft of Censor Wang's carriage.

Blood splattered onto his worn official robe, adding a fresh layer of red to the faded garment. Yan Changsheng slowly fell to the ground, his wound gushing blood, staring fixedly at Wu Yong, who was wiping his face with a handkerchief, and breathed his last.

Censor Wang closed his eyes in pain, exhaled a turbid breath, and said to his guards, "Bury Lord Yan on the spot."

"That won't be necessary, Lord Wang. I'll handle it."

The blood on Wu Yong's face seeped into his skin, impossible to wipe clean. With his face still covered in blood, he drew a long sword from one of his subordinate soldiers and viciously stabbed Yan Changsheng's body. After more than a dozen thrusts, the blade was stained not only with blood but also with fragments of internal organs. Satisfied, Wu Yong withdrew the sword and tossed it aside.

"Lord Wang, please. I will personally escort you out of Changping territory, and my garrison soldiers will accompany you for the rest of the journey."

Censor Wang's carriage gradually departed, leaving only five men to dispose of Yan Changsheng's body and return to Changping.

Once the others were gone, one of the five complained, "What bad luck, stuck with this job."

Another consoled him, "Be grateful. It's better than going to Anping."

Yan Changsheng's body was nearly severed in the middle. After several failed attempts to lift it, they found a sack to put it in. Halfway through, a figure in red robes drifted over from the east.

The five became alert. "Who are you? Official business in progress. Get lost!"

Xiao Liu stared straight at the bloodstained sack in their hands, his eyes bloodshot. He clutched a crudely patched blue long gown in his arms, but the gown, which had been mended only a few days ago, was now twisted and deformed in his grip.

"Chang Sheng, you lied to me. You lied to me!"