Chapter 44: Bloodshed on the Long Street (Part I)

"Yes, yes, this subordinate obeys!" Zhang Qian repeatedly agreed, quickening his pace to follow. His heart felt as warm as if he were carrying a small brazier.

It felt truly wonderful to have someone powerful shielding you!

He had racked his brains all morning, maneuvering and playing dumb with the officials of the Jingzhao Prefecture, all just to establish contact with the outside world, yet he could never achieve his wish. But the moment Minister of the Directorate for Military Armaments, Zhang Shuo, arrived, without another word, he grabbed him and pulled him away, leaving the entire Jingzhao Prefecture utterly helpless and staring in bewilderment...

Just as he was basking in this warm glow, he saw the Vice Administrator, Xin Ti, chasing after them again with his neck stuck out, shouting loudly, "Senior Official Zhang, wait! He is only of the fifth rank; he properly belongs under the jurisdiction of the Jingzhao Prefecture..."

"When was his post of Grand Councilor revoked? Since when can the Jingzhao Prefecture jurisdiction reach the Ministry of Personnel?" Zhang Shuo did not even bother to turn his head, interrupting with a cold sneer.

This was somewhat unreasonable. It was true that the Jingzhao Prefecture had no jurisdiction over cases involving officials of the fourth rank and above, but the title of Grand Councilor was merely an honorary sinecure—it carried the rank and emoluments of the junior fourth rank, but no actual duties of that rank. According to official conventions, Zhang Qian could only be regarded as a proper fifth-rank official, placing him right at the upper limit of the Jingzhao Prefecture's jurisdiction.

However, before Vice Administrator Xin Ti could ready his arguments and catch up to dispute the matter on grounds of reason, Zhang Shuo, the Minister of the Directorate for Military Armaments, suddenly turned his head back, glared fiercely at the man, and added coldly, "Stop constantly scheming for power and measure your own weight first. Last night's affair involved at least three factions of unknown origin, and they even used sabers, horn bows, and heavy crossbows! Do you think this matter still falls within the jurisdiction of the Jingzhao Prefecture? If I were you, I would hurry up and figure out why, after the curfew, so many armed men charged straight toward Qujiang Pond?! Lest the Emperor inquires and your Prefect of Jingzhao has nothing to say in response!"

"Th-th-this, yes! Thank you, Senior Official Zhang, for the guidance!" As the words fell, the chest and shoulders of Vice Administrator Xin Ti instantly collapsed like a deflated pig-bladder. He bowed with cupped hands and retreated to the side, no longer daring to raise any obstruction.

Zhang Qian, however, listened in a state of utter confusion. He turned to look at his icy-faced superior and cautiously inquired, "Minister, what on earth happened last night? Why..."

"Fool! Do you think that with your little cleverness you can handle this pack of tigers and wolves?" Zhang Shuo refused to answer his question. Pulling him along to continue walking quickly, he lashed out with a severe reprimand: "Even if your words showed the slightest needle-tip of suspicion, they would turn it into a flag-pole for you! It's thanks to me arriving early; otherwise, you would have long since become a stepping stone for someone else to claim meritorious service!"

"Ah—" Zhang Qian, who had previously felt his own coping skills weren't too shabby, was shocked into a blank stare, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.

"Young man, where did that haughty, overbearing demeanor go when I first met you? You've only been in official service for a few days, and you've already become so careless and daring?" Zhang Shuo, still unsatisfied, kept his cold face and lectured loudly, "When we get back, hole yourself up inside the Directorate for Military Armaments and work honestly. Stop idling about and acting as the tallest reed that catches the wind!"

"Yes, your instruction is well-taken, sir! This junior knows his mistake! Truly, I know my mistake!" Berated to the point where cold sweat was breaking out across his forehead, Zhang Qian quickly stopped walking, cupped his hands, and accepted the lesson.

"Let's go, while the Prefect is not here." Zhang Shuo quickly darted his eyes and lowered his voice until it could only be heard by the two of them. "What I said just now about the crossbow arrows was just a bluff. Hurry up and leave; if we don't go now and get cornered by Yuan Congzhi, the Prefect of Jingzhao, it will inevitably turn into another troublesome affair."

"Ah—" Taken completely by surprise, Zhang Qian was so astonished his jaw nearly dropped. He quickly quickened his pace, matching the speed of a race-walker from another time and space, and rushed toward the side gate of the prefecture office alongside Zhang Shuo.

"Speak! Last night, where did you go last night, you rascal?" Not until the path ahead was completely clear of obstacles and no pursuers were in sight behind them did Zhang Shuo, Minister of the Directorate for Military Armaments and Vice Minister of Military Records, slightly slow his pace. Breathing heavily, he lowered his voice and pressed for answers.

"This junior was sleeping at home last night and went nowhere. The servants at home can all testify to it!" Zhang Qian responded in a low voice, looking completely bewildered with a pair of innocent eyes.

***

"Nowhere at all?" Zhang Shuo refused to believe it. Walking along, he turned his head to look him up and down, continuing to dig for the root cause, "Right at home? You're a young man; would you honestly just sleep at home?"

"My home is so remote; if I'm not sleeping, where else could I go?" Zhang Qian muttered in a low voice, frowning as he felt his scalp tingle under that gaze.

"Hmm—" Hearing this, Zhang Shuo finally relaxed inwardly, then nodded with a hearty laugh. "Alright! From now on, if anyone asks you where you went last night, just answer them with those exact words you just said!"

"Yes, senior!" Still trapped as if in a thick fog, Zhang Qian gave a dazed acknowledgment, then softly asked once more, "What on earth has happened? Early this morning I was dragged to the prefecture office by the people of Jingzhao Prefecture, and they just dragged me along in endless idle chatter without ever revealing a single hint of the truth."

"They really didn't tell you anything? Weren't you just asking a question when you already knew the answer?" This time, it was Zhang Shuo's turn to be stunned. Then, he broke out into furious curses, "This pack of man-eating mad dogs, ready to stop at nothing just to claim credit! Thank goodness I arrived in time; otherwise, you would have been torn to pieces alive by them!"

After cursing, he led Zhang Shuo a few steps further out and added concisely, "The monks of White Horse Temple were exterminated last night. The suspected murderers are split into at least three factions, and the Hundred Riders have yet to sort out the connections between them. Among those monks, there was one called Hui'an, who happened to go and try to extort you the day before yesterday. Therefore, some suspect that you harbored a grudge and led your household retainers to carry out a bloody revenge!"

"I am wronged!" The cold sweat on Zhang Qian's forehead, which had just dried, popped out once more. Before Zhang Shuo's voice had even faded, he cried out in grievance, "That day I was the one who beat monk Hui'an black and blue; if anyone harbored a grudge, it should be him hating me! Besides, I have already submitted a memorial detailing the harms of the proliferating Buddhist clergy?! If His Majesty approves my memorial, it would surely be far more gratifying than letting that Hui'an die; why would I be in such a rush to wipe out his entire temple?"

"Nonsense! If I hadn't read that memorial of yours, I wouldn't have rushed over to save you!" Zhang Shuo glared at him fiercely and sighed, shaking his head. "'The bricks and stones consumed in building monasteries could construct a hundred border cities. The money and grain consumed in supporting monks could maintain a hundred thousand troops. Yet whenever disaster strikes, the clergy only knows their doctrine, not their country!' Zhang Yongzhao, what am I to make of you?! Are you the only one who understands these principles? Or do you think everyone else turns a blind eye to the bald-pated men filling the streets? I think you must feel your official career has been too smooth sailing lately, and you're just itching to be exiled to some remote place to experience the hardships of the common folk!"

Without waiting for Zhang Qian to explain, he paused and continued shaking his head, "If it were truly a matter of fighting over a romantic rival, that would be one thing—you're a young man, trapped by romance, and acting somewhat extreme would be understandable! But you had no intention of becoming an imperial son-in-law!"

"Minister, was that memorial of mine submitted far too rashly?" Although he lacked official experience, Zhang Qian roughly understood what Zhang Shuo was trying to convey, and asked in a low voice with a hint of shame.

"If it had been yesterday, it would indeed have been far too rash. In the past, whenever Censor-in-Chief submitted successive memorials, they simply sat in the palace and were never acted upon. Now you, a mere Junior Administrator of the Directorate of Palace Buildings, rudely thrust yourself into the mix—wasn't that like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot?" Zhang Shuo thought for a moment, first nodding, then gently shaking his head. "But viewed from today, it can be considered a lucky hit. Since you have already openly made an enemy of the clergy under heaven, why would you need to personally kill those flower-monks of White Horse Temple?"

While they were speaking, the two had already stepped out of the main gate of the Jingzhao Prefecture office. In the distance, Guo Nu and Ren Cong could be seen, each leading more than ten household retainers and carrying water kettles, cloth bags, gongs, and other items, hurrying over to welcome them. Further away, Wang Maobo was mounted on an old horse, standing by the street like a statue.

"As for you young men's affairs, this old man won't meddle in them. Once you go back, just focus wholeheartedly on building your Fire Dragon Cart! Both the matters mentioned in the memorial and what happened last night—leave them to me!" True to his future status as a renowned Kaiyuan statesman, Zhang Shuo handled affairs with utmost propriety. He immediately released Zhang Qian's wrist and instructed him with a smile.

"Yes, senior!" Zhang Qian's heart grew warm to the point of burning; he resolutely bowed deeply with cupped hands.

Zhang Shuo did not stand on ceremony with him either, returning a half-bow with a smile. He turned around, mounted his carriage in two or three strides, and drifted away, leaving only his bold laughter and one earnest admonition: "A young man should not actively provoke trouble. But when others bully their way to your doorstep, never constantly endure it. Bear in mind that if you bow your head for too long, you will inevitably turn into a hunchback!"

"This subordinate respectfully sees off the Minister!" Guo Nu and Ren Cong, leading their respective retainers, cupped their fists in salute toward the carriage. Then, without even waiting for Zhang Shuo to get far, they smilingly surrounded Zhang Qian.

"Eldest Senior Brother, wash your hands! Cast away the bad luck and rise step by step!"

***

"Eldest Senior Brother, once you've washed your hands, lower your head, and I'll scatter rice over your hair! From now on, misfortune will stay far away, and your official career will soar smoothly!"

"Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang..." The gongs were beaten by the retainers, creating a lively atmosphere as if someone had placed first in the imperial examinations. Passing pedestrians, long since accustomed to such sights, merely quickened their paces and smiled while shaking their heads.

There was no telling how many lucky individuals were brought into the Jingzhao Prefecture office each year, only to be cleared of their grievances and walk out through the vigorous rescue efforts of their families. Almost every fortunate person, upon coming out, would have their first priority be surrounded by family and friends to wash their hands and faces and have rice scattered over their heads to dispel bad luck.

Although Zhang Qian did not know where this ritual originated, nor did he believe that clear water and millet could truly play any role, he could not bear to dampen the enthusiasm of his two junior martial brothers, so he simply smiled and let everyone give it their all.

Only after the clean water in the kettles and the millet in the bags had been completely wasted did he walk toward the carriage surrounded by the group, asking with a smile, "Why are all of you here? I was just wondering how to get Ren Quan to pass a message to you!"

"Did we need him? Before you even stepped foot into the Jingzhao Prefecture office, the news had already spread throughout the entire city of Chang'an!" Guo Nu immediately took over the conversation, responding with a triumphant expression, "Everyone is saying that Eldest Senior Brother, for the sake of Princess Anle, flew into a rage and washed White Horse Temple in blood! It scared the wits right out of the two of us; we didn't even bother to wash our faces before rushing off to beg the Minister to step in and save you."

"Eldest Senior Brother, you're amazing!" Ren Cong gave a thumbs-up, his eyes filled with total adoration as he looked at Zhang Qian. "Regardless of whether last night's deed was your doing or not, it's amazing! Right now, goodness knows how many maidens behind boudoir curtains are dreaming of becoming Princess Anle, so that you would draw your sword in a rage for them too!"

"Scram, are your skin and flesh itching for a beating again?!" Zhang Qian was left between laughter and tears by these remarks, and reached out to grab Ren Cong by the neck. "What do you mean by 'regardless of whether it was my doing or not'? I was sleeping at home last night and went nowhere!"

"I was wrong, I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Eldest Senior Brother, go easy, go easy, it hurts, it really hurts!" Ren Cong immediately bared his teeth and pleaded repeatedly, "Eldest Senior Brother certainly slept at home last night, and we all know this affair wasn't your doing. But we couldn't help it when someone took the initiative to stand up for you! Over twenty monks in White Horse Temple, not a single one left alive! After this incident, let's see who still has the guts to lay a finger on that water well of ours!"

"After all, those are more than twenty human lives!" Even though he knew Ren Cong was right, Zhang Qian still felt a heavy and deeply uncomfortable weight in his heart. Ceasing his playful scuffle with the other, he sighed and shook his head, "Don't make jokes like this in the future. I'm not that ruthless, and the monks didn't deserve death. Sigh—"

He could guarantee that the killer wasn't himself, but he couldn't guarantee that the bloody case at White Horse Temple had truly nothing to do with him whatsoever.

If this case really was tied to his personal grudge against little monk Hui'an, then the identity of the person who stood up for him—or rather, deliberately dragged him into the murky waters—was already practically transparent.

Just as he was preparing to give Guo Nu and Ren Cong a few more instructions, warning them to watch their words and actions carefully lately so as not to be exploited by others, a sudden rush of urgent hoofbeats resounded beside his ears— *thud-thud-thud, thud-thud-thud, thud-thud-thud...* In the blink of an eye, they were already right upon them!