Chapter 39: A Kind Connection

After Magistrate Ding had several members of the local gentry thrown into prison on charges of "colluding with bandits," the local elite finally realized that he was playing for keeps. These fierce-looking but spineless men immediately wilted; while cursing the Magistrate under their breath for his cruelty toward the people, they dutifully paid their full quotas of the "bandit-suppression levy." As for what schemes they might be concocting in secret, or how they might use their influence in the imperial court to "discipline" this rule-breaking menace, that remained to be seen. Regardless, the third round of the levy had been collected.

With ample funds secured, Magistrate Ding wasted no time. He began commissioning craftsmen to forge weapons and craft bows and arrows, while simultaneously petitioning the imperial court for reinforcements. His justification was that the rebel Li Gui had seized Yushan Stronghold, was plundering the countryside, and had slaughtered countless members of the gentry, severely threatening the collection of the autumn grain tax. He was certain that, for the sake of protecting the autumn harvest, the prefecture would send elite troops and battle-hardened commanders. As long as they were not useless wretches like the previous Inspector Liang, pacifying Yushan should not be difficult.

For the past few days, Captain Li Yun had been running back and forth with his deputies, organizing the craftsmen and taking the opportunity to skim a little off the top from the procurement of materials. He was busier than ever.

One day, Li Yun dragged his exhausted body home after his shift at the yamen. No sooner had he arrived than a servant reported that a guest was waiting in the parlor, sipping tea. Li Yun hurriedly changed into casual robes and entered the room. To his shock, he saw a man sitting leisurely, drinking tea—it was none other than Zhu Fu, who had defected to the Yushan bandits. His face changed instantly, and he barked, "You brazen thief! You actually have the nerve to come and see me!"

Zhu Fu stood up unhurriedly, offered a polite, exaggerated bow, and smiled. "Master, please do not lose your temper. Everyone on Yushan is a man of honor; we are not to be compared to common brigands. If others don't know this, surely you, Master, must know?"

"I am here to thank you, Master. If you hadn't let something slip to me, I never would have known that such a fine place existed here in Yishui County."

"Once Elder Liu completes his great undertaking, Yushan Stronghold will surely be offered amnesty. By then, who knows? I might even secure a position as a captain and sit as an equal to you, Master!"

Li Yun’s face went through a kaleidoscope of expressions. After a long moment of stunned silence, he heaved a deep sigh. "Enough, enough. It was my loose tongue that caused this, and I cannot blame you."

"But your pipe dream is bound to fail. You have killed far too many. The Magistrate has already requested aid from the prefecture, and a large army will arrive soon. The men coming this time won't be trash like Inspector Liang, but true, seasoned warriors who have bathed in the blood of real battle."

"For the sake of the friendship we shared, listen to my advice: leave Yushan early and find a place to hide!"

Zhu Fu was startled and hurriedly asked, "Do you know who the commander is, how many troops they have, and when they will arrive?"

"I do not know," Li Yun replied, shaking his head. It was unclear whether he truly didn't know or if a rift had formed that made him unwilling to divulge the truth. Seeing Li Yun sit in the seat of honor and begin to drink his tea in silence, Zhu Fu composed himself, memorized the information, and shook his head.

"My brother is the Star of Heavenly Slaughter incarnate. His martial prowess is peerless—he possesses the courage of the Overlord or Wen Hou of old. He is a man of great ambition and long-term vision, beyond the reach of ordinary commanders."

"The current Yushan Stronghold is not what it used to be. The walls are high, the forests are dense, and there are over a thousand elite soldiers within, with no shortage of grain or armaments. Even if ten thousand imperial troops besieged us for a year, they might not be able to break through."

"Besides, if I were to flee just because the stronghold was in trouble, it would be an act of utter cowardice. I would be a laughingstock, unworthy of facing my brothers in the martial arts world again."

Seeing Zhu Fu hold Li Gui in such high regard, Li Yun sneered, "That Li Gui is nothing but a pawn crossing the river. While he has helped the Liu family reap great profits, he lacks the sense to know his limits; he has no path left for retreat."

"Even if he could withstand the siege, when the day of amnesty comes, there will be no place for him in Yishui County. He has slaughtered too many of the gentry. Even after the Liu family succeeds, they will undoubtedly cast him aside to appease the rage of the other families."

Zhu Fu chuckled, a hint of something bloody seeming to linger between his lips. "That is only if there are still any gentry left alive by then..."

Reading between the lines, Li Yun suddenly realized the implication of Zhu Fu’s words. After a moment of careful thought, he was struck with terror. He sprang to his feet, his face pale, and cried out, "You intend to attack the county seat?"

The thought was so shocking that Li Yun became flustered, dropping his teacup. Zhu Fu hurriedly reached out to catch it, placed it back on the table, and refilled it. "Master, do not panic. We do not intend to attack—for now."

"With the strength of our stronghold, taking the county seat would be as easy as flipping a hand—it would cost us no effort at all."

"It is simply that my brother has no interest in holding the city. If we take it now, we cannot occupy it, nor can we collect taxes. It is meaningless."

"In my brother's own words: 'That bird-cage of a city is drafty on all four sides, and I have no money to repair it. Why go inside? To throw my life away?'"

"However, Master, you know the situation here. This city cannot be defended. Sooner or later, it will belong to Yushan Stronghold. It is only a matter of when my brother decides he wants it."

"Think about it, Master: if our brothers were to enter the city, how many of those gentry would survive?"

Cold sweat trickled down Li Yun’s back, soaking his clothes and leaving him feeling clammy and miserable. Zhu Fu continued to persuade him.

"Master, you have been a captain for many years and have always been a sharp man. Have you not heard of the 'cunning rabbit with three burrows'?"

"You and our stronghold have no feud, and you have the bond of our brotherhood. Why not come up to the mountain and take a chair of your own?"

"I am lacking in talent and virtue, and I would gladly yield my position to you, Master, and take the lowest seat myself."

Li Yun shook his head repeatedly, crying out, "I cannot! Absolutely not!"

"The Li family has been captains for generations, clean and untarnished. I cannot let that reputation be ruined in my hands."

Zhu Fu sighed inwardly and changed his approach. "The rules my brother has set have always been never to force anyone. If you are unwilling to come up to the mountain, I will not insist."

"However, to avoid any unpleasant clashes when the city eventually falls, why not build a friendly relationship with Yushan now? It will make things easier when we meet again."

After hesitating for a long time, Li Yun asked tentatively, "What is it that Chief Li wants me to do?"

Zhu Fu knew immediately that Li Yun’s resolve had wavered. He offered reassurance, "Master, rest assured. My brother never forces anyone; he only asks for a small convenience."

Once Zhu Fu had finished detailing the plan, Li Yun pondered it for a long time. He determined that he would not need to show his face; he could act from the shadows, and it would be difficult for anyone to trace it back to him later. He realized that as long as he was careful, there would be no real danger, and even if he were pointed out, he could always deflect the blame.

Having thought it through, he finally nodded slowly and agreed. He knew in his heart that once he opened this door, he would eventually be dragged into the mud. Yet, circumstances left him no choice; Yushan’s power was vast, and with a family to feed, he could not afford to offend them. Just like Zhu Fu—everyone knew he was a Yushan bandit, but he simply used a stranger to operate his tavern outside the city. Everyone knew it was a front for gathering intelligence, but they all played the fool, and no one dared to provoke him.

With the matter settled, Li Yun put his worries aside. He ordered food and wine to entertain Zhu Fu properly before personally seeing him out of the city.