Taiheiki

Chapter 126 Gan County
Wu Ze returned to the hall, bowed to the crowd, and said, "Everyone, I have invited you all here today because of a great event. A while ago, bandits in Jing and Yang provinces rose up in rebellion, reportedly numbering hundreds of thousands. The imperial army was unable to defeat them, and the Yuzhang prefect was besieged in Nanchang, his life hanging by a thread. Communication between the north and the south has been completely cut off. These turbulent times are a perfect time for a true man to establish his reputation and achieve wealth and honor!"

"That's right!" Someone responded, "Brother Wu, take us with you! We only have one life left anyway, so instead of living like this, we might as well give it a try!"

"Yes, Brother Wu, just tell us what you want us to do, and we'll obey!"

"Anyway, I have already sold my life to Brother Wu!" The speaker drew his sword and looked around viciously: "If anyone retreats in the face of battle, he will be killed like this!" After saying that, he turned around and chopped off half of the pillar used to tie the animals next to him.

"Right! I've had enough of this world. I don't seek fame or fortune. I just want to live happily for a few days!"

Guo Kui sat beside the wooden pillar in the hall, observing everyone carefully. He found that among the many men who were either indignant or ecstatic, only Song Feihu, who arrived last, could remain calm. He looked at the people around him with a smile, as if he was bystander and watching a good show.

"Everyone!" Wu Ze said, the atmosphere slightly relaxed. "I went to the county a few days ago and heard that the new county magistrate, Liu Wu, was organizing a wedding banquet. He married his daughter to a subordinate of Wei Xiaowei, who had just taken over the county. I thought at the time that Liu Wu was able to become the county magistrate only because he plotted to murder the old magistrate and gave the county to Wei Xiaowei. If we brothers do the same and take over Gan County as well, wouldn't we also be able to become the county magistrate of Gan County?
So I borrowed 10,000 coins from the moneylender Wang Er, used it as a gift, attended the wedding banquet, met with the captain Wei, and told him my intentions. The captain Wei was also a straightforward man. He said that if I could capture Gan County, he would let me become the county magistrate of Gan County, just like Liu Wu!

This time, the atmosphere in the room grew colder. People exchanged glances, clearly distrusting this unfamiliar Wei Captain, though no one dared to voice their doubts directly. Seeing this, Guo Kui stood up, walked over to the crowd, and bowed, "I'm Guo Kui, serving under the Captain of the Rebellion Suppression Team. My Captain was originally appointed to this position by General Feng Gun, who ordered him to lead a separate army to garrison Yuzhang County and suppress the bandits. My Captain intends to march south first, then north, to gather troops from Xingan and Luling counties, and then to lift the siege of Nanchang. My Captain ordered me to accompany Brother Wu, saying that he can fill any gaps!"

Guo Kui, originally a close aide to Nie Zheng, had seen far more of the world than anyone else. He rattled off a barrage of words, alleging things like "Suppressing Rebellion Captain" and "General of Chariots and Cavalry," which immediately stunned everyone. Song Feihu, however, remained relatively calm. "You said if there's anything missing, I'll fill it. So, if it's bows, crossbows, or armor, you can give them to me, too?"

"Of course!" Guo Kui nodded. "If you go to take Gan County, you will be serving my captain. If you are short of weapons, armor, and bows and crossbows, we can naturally provide them. I just don't know how much armor you need. Could you please make a list first?"

Song Feihu's earlier request for bows, crossbows, and armor was nothing but an exorbitant price. He hadn't expected Guo Kui to agree, so he simply paid back and asked for something less important. Unexpectedly, Guo Kui agreed so readily that he faltered, stumbling over what to ask for. Guo Kui smiled and said, "Since you're all still unsure, how about asking for twenty crossbows, thirty ring-handled swords, thirty round shields, thirty spears, and thirty pieces of leather armor?"

"So many—and armor and crossbows!" Song Feihu exclaimed subconsciously, but realized he had said the wrong thing the moment he said it. He quickly cast an apologetic look at Wu Ze beside him. However, Wu Ze was not much better than him, and replied with a look of surprise: "Thank you very much, Brother Guo!"

"Okay, Brother Wu, pick a few trustworthy brothers and go with me to get them. If there is anything missing, we can talk about it later!" Guo Kui said with a smile.

Guo Kui's generous act immediately shattered all doubts. Ring-handled swords, shields, spears and the like were fine, but crossbows and armor were definitely not controlled weapons that ordinary people could have. Wei Cong's generosity in giving them away fully demonstrated his sincerity.

"Feihu, please take a few people with you for this trip!" Wu Ze said to Song Feihu.

"No problem!" Song Feihu agreed, picked a few people from the crowd, and followed Guo Kui out. As soon as Guo Kui left, the yard became lively. Wu Ze picked up the wine jar, jumped onto the corridor fence, and took a big gulp: "Fame and fortune, only today--!"

"Fame and fortune only come today--!" Everyone responded in unison, and the noisy voices almost blew off the roof of this somewhat simple house.

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Yuzhang County, Gan County.

Outside the city gate was a wasteland with only mud, ashes and abandoned garbage. The county magistrate Liu Fen was standing on the city gate tower. A few days ago, after learning that Luling County had changed hands, he immediately ordered all obstacles within the shooting range outside the city gate to be removed. Everyone could smell the stench of the beast of war.

The refugees brought mixed reports: some said the city was breached by bandits, others by thieves from the mountains outside, still others by an unfamiliar army, even mountain barbarians. These conflicting reports troubled the county magistrate, but he worried most about the fate of the Luling magistrate. It was rumored that his head was hung on the city gate, which made him even more restless.

As the county magistrate of Gan County, Liu Fen received a very certain piece of information from a fugitive merchant - the direct reason for the rapid fall of Luling City was a failed marriage of the Luling County magistrate. He had planned to marry his eldest son to the daughter of a local tyrant named Liu Wu, but changed his mind temporarily.

Liu Wu, deeply humiliated and enraged, chose to become an accomplice to the invaders. This betrayal at a crucial moment led to the fall of the county. It is said that Liu Wu personally beheaded the Luling County Magistrate and his eldest son, hanging them from the city gate. Thinking of the scene, Liu Fen shuddered; he couldn't imagine what it would be like to have his own head dangling from the city gate. Having served as magistrate in Gan County for three years, he had already offended countless people there. No one knew if anyone would follow Liu Wu's example and stab him in the back. Without the support of local powerful figures, he was powerless to defend Gan County, leaving him in a difficult position.

"Uncle, someone's disobeying your orders again and setting up a tent outside the city!" Liu An excitedly said to Liu Fen. He was the son of Liu Fen's eldest brother who had died long ago, and a hot-tempered young man. He pointed at a dozen ragged men kneeling on the ground below the city and said, "These bastards are as annoying as rats. I burned down their tents, and they still don't learn their lesson. I might as well kill them all and hang their heads on the city gate. That way, no one will dare to come again!"

"What did you just say?" Liu Fen frowned. His thoughts were so preoccupied that he didn't hear clearly what his nephew said.

"I say kill all these guys and hang their heads on the city gate, so that no one will dare to violate the ban and build things outside the city!" Liu Fen stared at his nephew. For a moment he wanted to curse, but in the end he didn't say a word - although his nephew acted rudely, he was undoubtedly one of the few people in the county he could rely on. It would be bad to dampen his enthusiasm for doing things at this time. As for the way to do things, he would just patiently explain a few more words.

"Forget it. Killing them is endless and will only shake people's hearts. Let them go... But no matter what, as long as these messy things appear near the city wall, take them down immediately. No matter what these idiots think, the thieves may attack at any time." Liu Fen turned and walked down the city wall: "That's all for today. In the afternoon, gather all the families to come to the county government office to discuss the sharing of the cost of repairing the city wall." He sighed. As the county magistrate, he would definitely not be able to avoid the troubles that would come. He had to use his brain more.

Many of these matters were originally beyond the purview of a mere county magistrate. However, with the rising tide of bandits, the prefect was trapped within Nanchang, cut off from the north and south. Many matters were now left to him. Who were the enemies? How many troops did they have? What were their intentions? Soldiers, armor, weapons, how to repair the walls, and raise food and money for the soldiers? He had no idea. Should he abandon the city and flee?
If I could really make it through this and save Gan County, would the prefect recommend me to the court? No, he'd pat me on the shoulder and say all the nice things, but the list of recommendations would only include those from Nanyang, Yingchuan, and Runan. Damn it! This bastard will never give me any benefits, only use sweet talk to fudge me. Haven't I encountered enough of that in the past three years? Liu An led the way, while Liu Fen pondered quietly.

The county streets were as filthy and chaotic as usual, littered with all sorts of garbage. The roads were thronged with people, fleeing the war and swelled the county's population. Liu An directed his guards to push back the crowds, clearing a path for Liu Fen. People with sunken eyes stood by the roadside, some begging, but many remaining silent. It seemed these people hadn't yet grasped their dire predicament! Liu Fen scoffed inwardly. Although it was late autumn, with the new grain just arriving, the county's grain prices were still ridiculously high. A dou of millet cost 180 wen, a chicken 300 wen, and a fish 120 wen—it was pure robbery. Despite this, buyers continued to flock in droves. Haggard men and women crowded around every stall, shop, and vehicle, while those without money stood by the roadside, observing everything with a terrifying, gloomy look.

"I need to get back to the county office!" Liu Fen felt she couldn't stand it any longer and shouted at her nephew. Liu An responded and cracked his whip hard: "Get out of the way! Make way for the county magistrate! Get out of the way!"

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"Is that guy the county magistrate?" In the crowd, Wu Ze stared at the man on horseback surrounded by guards.

"Yes, it's him. His name is Liu Fen, and he's from Zhuo County, Youzhou! The man in front who was cracking the whip to clear the way for him was his nephew Liu An, who was also the county's thief Cao. He was in charge of the county's archers and military officials!" Song Feihu wore a conical hat that covered most of his face, leaving only his chin exposed.

"How many people are there in the county?" Wu Ze asked.

"There are over 300 archers and officers, and over 2,000 newly recruited soldiers!"

"Okay!" Wu Ze laughed. "This county magistrate is a foreigner and has no roots in this town. If he can find an opportunity to kill Liu Fen and his nephew, the people will be dispersed, and the rest will be easy!"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple!" Song Feihu lowered his voice. "It's said that Liu Fen was a well-known knight-errant leader in his hometown. When he first became the county magistrate, he brought with him over a hundred followers, all of whom were famous local knights-errant. They all changed their clothes and ate at the government office. It wouldn't be that easy to fight him!"

"Zhuo County is a border county. The knights-errant there have dealt with the Hu people many times, so they are probably quite capable!" Wu Ze snorted coldly: "Then wait for now, and go back to discuss it with Mr. Guo first!"

Wu Ze and Song Feihu walked into a small alley, turned a corner, then another, and passed a group of women cleaning feces buckets by the water. They walked into a narrow alley with short, crowded buildings and entered a low courtyard. Several men in the courtyard stood up and saluted Wu Ze: "Brother, you're back!"

"Yeah!" Wu Ze nodded. He walked into a low, damp room, lit the oil lamp, and said to Guo Kui, who was dozing on the bed, "Mr. Guo, I'm back!"

Guo Kui woke up, wiped his face quickly, and asked, "Oh, what happened?"

"I went outside to inquire about the situation!" Wu Ze sat cross-legged on the bed. "On the way back, I happened to meet the county magistrate. He had already dismantled and burned the sheds outside the city wall, obviously preparing to defend the city. I heard that he was from Zhuo County, Youzhou. Before becoming the county magistrate, he was a famous local knight-errant. The guards around him are all local heroes. He seems to be a big shot!"

"So what are your plans?" Wu Ze asked.

"The simplest way is to kill the county magistrate. A snake cannot survive without a head. His trusted subordinates are all outsiders. Without a leader, they will naturally be unable to hold on."

"Kill the county magistrate? What are your plans?"

"This won't be easy. When we saw him on the road just now, he was heavily guarded. We only have about twenty brothers entering the city. Armor and spears are too conspicuous to bring in, so it won't be easy to fight him."

"What about using a bow and arrow? Just hide on the street and shoot him when he goes out?" Guo Kui asked.

"That guy is wearing armor, so it might be hard to shoot him to death!" Wu Ze replied in embarrassment.

(End of this chapter)