Chapter 233 Traitors in Turbulent Times (Part 9): How to Become a Super Strategist...
After a night's rain, the sky cleared, revealing a pristine blue expanse, and the mountains were filled with the fresh scent of grass and earth. Wei Shaosu ordered his men to tidy up the camp, and then, without pausing, directed the army to continue its march towards the imperial city.
The army traveled day and night for seven or eight days and finally caught sight of the city walls of Shiguan County in the distance.
Wei Shaosu pulled hard on the reins and said to Song Ce, "Sir, we are about to reach Shiguan County. It is still a few days' journey from here to the capital. I will take my personal guards ahead. Once we return to the capital, the appointment and dismissal documents, along with the secret guards, will be delivered to you by fast horse."
Song Ce nodded and smiled, "Yes, General."
Wei Shaosu paused, then dismounted and took out a money pouch from his sleeve, handing it over. "Take these travel expenses first. If you need anything, send a message back immediately."
Upon hearing this, Song Ce did not refuse, and thanked him again after accepting the money bag.
Seeing that he did not refuse his kindness out of a sense of superiority, Wei Shaosu felt a little relieved. He patted the man on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Sir, before my men arrive in Shiguan County, you must be careful in everything you do."
Song Ce smiled and replied, "General, you need not worry. I know what I'm doing."
"That's good then." Wei Shaosu nodded slightly, mounted his horse nimbly, waved to Song Ce, and headed straight north.
"Yuanshan, pass down the order to have the troops speed up their journey and reach the capital within three days!"
"Yes, General!"
Watching Wei Shaosu and his group disappear into the distance, Song Ce's expression grew increasingly indifferent. He carried his old cloth bundle on his back and slowly walked towards the city gate not far away.
The entrance gate to Shiguan County was much more dilapidated than I had imagined. Several bricks and stones on the city wall had fallen off and looked precarious.
At this moment, the soldiers guarding the city were leaning against the wall, dozing off. When they saw Song Ce coming alone, they just lazily raised their eyelids.
"Stop right there, what are you doing?"
A weary-looking soldier, leaning on a spear, blocked the road, his gaze sweeping back and forth over Song Ce's coarse clothes and bundle.
Song Ce smiled gently, took out a pre-prepared identity document from his pocket, and handed it over. "I am Song Ce, a scholar. I have come to Shiguan County to..."
Before he could finish speaking, the soldier sneered and interrupted, "A scholar? You're as weak as a chick, and you dare to come to our Shiguan County? Don't you want to die?"
Song Ce didn't want to get entangled with him any longer. Without changing his expression, he took out a piece of silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into the soldier's hand. "These days, the heat has been intense, and the autumn air is slightly chilly. Young man, you've been working so hard guarding the city. Why don't you go and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up?"
The soldier quietly weighed the silver in his hand, and a smile immediately appeared on his face. He stopped making things difficult for Song Ce: "You scholar are quite sensible and polite. Alright, alright, hurry up and go in!" With that, he waved his hand and let Song Ce enter the city.
Upon entering Shiguan County, the scene before him made Song Ce frown.
Most of the houses on both sides of the street were dilapidated, and the dirt road was full of potholes and puddles of rainwater. There were very few pedestrians passing by, and those who did were all emaciated and had numb eyes.
"Young master, would you like to buy a cake?"
Just as Song Ce was in a daze, a timid and ingratiating voice slowly came from the roadside.
He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a dirty little girl squatting in the corner. In front of her was a bamboo basket containing several hard-looking wild vegetable cakes.
"Child, how much is one of these pancakes?" Song Ce asked as he walked over.
"One copper coin." The girl looked up at him, a glint of light in her eyes. "Young master, I made this cake myself today, and the wild vegetables were just picked from the mountain this morning. They're not dirty."
Song Ce sighed, took out a piece of silver from his sleeve and handed it to the girl, "Alright, I'll take it all."
"Young master, this is too much. I only have six cakes; I can't sell them for that much money!"
The girl suddenly stood up, intending to return the silver coins, but the handsome young man in front of her waved his hand and said gently, "Take them, consider it as selling this basket to me as well."
"But...but..." An old bamboo basket isn't worth that much money!
Song Ce smiled, picked up the bamboo basket from the ground, and continued walking forward. Just then, a commotion came from the street corner next to him. Several tall servants dressed in short clothes were chasing and beating a ragged boy with long sticks.
Upon seeing this, the surrounding people hurriedly avoided the area, and some even rushed into the shops behind them without packing up their stalls.
The boy desperately tried to dodge, but he slipped and fell into the mud. Before he could get up and continue running, the tall henchmen had caught up and surrounded him.
The head steward spat on the ground and cursed, "You little bastard, let's see where you run now!"
Song Ce paused, his gaze naturally falling on the boy who was being chased.
The boy was about thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing a tattered blouse covered in mud. His face was ashen, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, yet he still glared fiercely at the servants who had surrounded him, his eyes filled with resentment and hatred.
Seeing this, the steward became enraged and suddenly raised his long stick. Just as the stick was about to strike the boy, Song Ce made his move.
He pulled the boy behind him and grabbed the end of the stick the butler was swinging at him.
The butler felt a numbness in his wrist, and the long stick he had swung out couldn't move at all. His eyes widened in anger, and he roared, "Where did this poor wretch come from! Daring to meddle in our affairs?"
Upon seeing this, several servants nearby raised their sticks and surrounded them.
Song Ce did not let go, but calmly asked, "Gentlemen, why are you so angry at a child?"
The steward snorted coldly, his fat face twitching, and said viciously, "This little bastard stole Master Li's grain! According to the rules, Master Li wouldn't be wrong to break his legs! Who do you think you are, daring to stop someone from the Li family?"
"You're talking nonsense!" the boy roared, his face flushed red. "You're framing me! Master Li's wheat field has already been harvested, and I've already paid the compensation for the fallen ears of wheat. I just wanted to go in and pick up some fallen ears, but they accused me of stealing grain!"
Enraged by the boy's shout, the butler raised his foot to kick him: "You little thief, you dare to argue! Even if the wheat field has been harvested, it still belongs to Master Li!"
With a sudden burst of strength, Song Ce caused the steward to lose his balance and fall to the ground.
"Even if Master Li wants to convict him, it should be handled by the county government. Aren't you afraid of the laws of Dali if you resort to violence on your own?"
"The law?" The steward laughed as if he had heard the funniest joke. "Boy, in Shiguan County, Master Li's word is law! If you know what's good for you, get out of here right now, or don't blame us for being impolite!"
A low gasp escaped the surrounding crowd upon hearing this. Song Ce understood immediately; clearly, this Master Li wielded considerable power in the area. It seemed that the situation in Shiguan County was indeed as Wei Shaosu had described: powerful local bullies ran rampant, and the people suffered terribly.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, two constables dressed in red and black armor strode across the street, swords in hand. One of the taller constables shouted impatiently, "What are you all doing here? Trying to cause trouble?"
Upon seeing this, the steward's face lit up with joy, and he immediately stepped forward with a smile, saying to the tall constable, "Officer Wang, you've finally arrived! I don't know where this kid came from, not only did he speak up to protect this grain thief, but he also attacked me in public!" As he spoke, he covered his buttocks, putting on a pained expression.
Officer Wang was used to this kind of thing. He snorted heavily and frowned at Song Ce, "Who are you? You dare to cause trouble on my turf. You've got some nerve."
Song Ce handed the bamboo basket in his hand to the boy behind him and said calmly, "Officer Wang, you didn't even ask before you assumed that I was causing trouble? That doesn't seem right. According to the laws of the Dali era, even if there was theft as they say, it should be decided by the government, not by violence in the street."
"Laws?" The other constable, who was slightly shorter, scoffed, "When did it become your place, an outsider, to interfere in our investigations? I think you're deliberately causing trouble; you're clearly an accomplice of this grain thief!"
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Song Ce's arm, but Song Ce gently turned aside to avoid him, and he didn't even touch a corner of Song Ce's clothes.
The short constable was taken aback at first, then became furious and said, "What an arrogant brat, daring to refuse to be arrested!"
Seeing his companion get the short end of the stick, Constable Wang's face instantly darkened. He swiftly drew most of the sword from his waist and roared, "Insolence! How dare you openly attack an official within the territory of Shiguan County! Do you know what crime this is?"
Song Ce smiled faintly, calmly meeting Constable Wang's gloomy gaze, and said calmly, "Constable Wang, I merely stepped aside and did not make a move. It is this officer who is arresting people without even knowing the facts. Is there no law in Shiguan County?"
"The law? Bah! You too..."
Before the short constable could finish speaking, Chief Constable Wang raised his hand to interrupt him, then looked Song Ce up and down in his coarse cloth clothes. The man had a clean face and fair skin, and although his clothes were not very presentable, they exuded an extraordinary air about him.
Ordinary people would never have the audacity to challenge these officials, unless...
Thinking of this, Constable Wang's expression changed slightly. He coughed lightly, glanced at the steward beside him, and softened his tone: "Li Er, tell me, what exactly is going on?"
Li Er was taken aback. What did this Wang guy mean? Did he intend to uphold justice for this kid? No, that's not right. Even if Wang had two times the courage, he wouldn't dare offend the master... He didn't have time to think it through and quickly embellished the whole story on the spot.
After listening, Constable Wang grunted and waved his hand, saying, "So it seems this fellow is just a petty thief who stole grain. Let's take him back first! As for you..." He looked at Song Ce and said in an ambiguous tone, "Come back to the county office with us and let's clarify this matter."
The young man panicked upon hearing this. He stepped out from behind Song Ce and blocked his way, saying, "This matter has nothing to do with this young master. You can take me away by yourself!"
Song Ce was taken aback, then patted him on the back and said gently, "It's alright, don't be afraid, right and wrong will be judged by public opinion."
Chief Constable Wang didn't want to say much, so he winked at the short constable, signaling him to take the boy and Song Ce away together. Seeing this, Steward Li quickly approached Chief Constable Wang and whispered a few words, secretly slipping him a money pouch.
"These are all gifts for you, and we hope you can do us a favor..."
Officer Wang nodded almost imperceptibly, then casually hefted the money pouch in his hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
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Author's Note: [Shrugs]
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