Chapter 253
Chapter 253
Prefect Zhang Chong received three royal edicts. The first praised Zhang Chong for his merits in subjugating the pirate Qiu Tianwei. Hearing rumors that his son, Zhang Jin, had died in battle, the King was deeply grieved and posthumously appointed Zhang Jin as General Yingyang. It also stated that since Zhang Chong was suffering from an eye ailment, the King would specially bestow medicine upon him. The second was an edict appointing Zhang Chong's mother as a Noble Dame of the Third Rank. The third edict stated that due to Zhang Chong's outstanding political achievements in Nujiang Commandery and his immense contributions to implementing the new policies, his position as Prefect of Nujiang was revoked, and he was to be transferred to the position of Grand Master of the Right in the Censorate. The contents of the edicts grew more significant with each one.
On the surface, Zhang Chong appeared to be a rising star in the political world, poised to become the envy of countless people. Typically, the Censorate was led by a single Grand Master of the third rank. However, when a meritorious official needed to be rewarded but no suitable position was available, the post of Grand Master of the Right in the Censorate was sometimes created as a transitional role.
It was an official post of the junior third rank. Since Zhang Chong had held a junior fourth-rank post, he was promoted to the third rank in a single leap, becoming a high-ranking official at the core of the State of Yue. Zhang Chong had obtained immense power. In an instant, so many people flocked to his residence that his gates were crowded with visitors.
***
Inside the study of the Count of Jinhai's Estate, only Zhang Chong and Tang Lun remained.
Tang Lun said.
“Lord Zhang, you now enjoy immense power, while I, Tang Lun, face the annihilation of my clan. It is truly impossible to fathom the twists and turns of a person's life.”
Zhang Chong only gave a desolate laugh and said nothing. Tang Lun asked.
“May I take my own life?”
Zhang Chong shook his head.
“You may not.”
“I'm not even allowed to kill myself?”
“You are not!”
Of course, he couldn't. It was the King's prerogative to unleash his fury; how could Tang Lun be allowed to commit suicide? If you killed yourself, wouldn't it seem as if you died with great injustice and resentment? Of course, if you were sentenced to death by law, you had to die acknowledging your guilt.
“Lord Zhang, my son Tang Yun has no one to rely on now. For the sake of the camaraderie we shared in past battles, please look after my son a little.”
Zhang Chong merely gave a bitter smile and did not reply.
“Lord Tang, it is time for you to depart.”
As Zhang Chong finished speaking, warriors from the Blackwater Terrace entered, changed Tang Lun into prisoner's garb, bound him in a cangue and shackles, and placed him in a prison cart.
Two hours later.
Over a thousand warriors from the Blackwater Terrace and a thousand soldiers from the Supreme Court escorted a procession of more than seven hundred prison carts, heading majestically toward the capital. Every member of the Tang Clan—man or woman, young or old, legitimate or illegitimate, close or distant relative—was rounded up. In an instant, cries of mourning shook the heavens. Along the roadside, countless commoners had gathered to watch the procession.
“Serves them right!”
“A good catch! The Tang Clan committed countless evil deeds; they should have been arrested long ago.”
“His Majesty is wise and brilliant!”
Countless heaps of filth and rotten vegetables were thrown at the prison carts. All sorts of vile things were hurled at the Count of Jinhai, Tang Lun, including cloths used to catch women's menstrual blood. But he remained motionless, enduring the full brunt of the people's wrath.
***
Atop a building, Zhang Chunhua watched the scene and asked in a trembling voice.
“Father, did Tang Lun do something to provoke such immense public anger?”
Zhang Chong shook his head.
“He couldn't be said to have loved the people as his own children, but he didn't harshly exploit the citizens of Jinhai City either. With the enormous annual profits from Gold Mountain Island, the Tang Clan didn't even levy high taxes on their fiefdom.”
“Then why do those people resent him so much?”
“The human heart is like water; its depths cannot be fathomed. Public sentiment is like smoke; its chaos knows no bounds. Since ancient times, the human heart has been the most unreliable thing of all.”
“Seeing the fall of the Tang Clan, I can't help but sigh! Fortunately, His Majesty the King has a discerning eye and recognizes your great merits, Father. He even sent three consecutive edicts to praise you.”
Zhang Chong smiled but said nothing.
“Everyone says you'll secure the position of Governor-General of Yan Province, Father, though you must first serve as the Grand Master of the Right in the Censorate. I offer my congratulations on your promotion to a high office.”
Zhang Chong looked at his daughter with a loving gaze and suddenly asked.
“Chunhua, have you been reading lately?”
“More or less. Aside from throwing *Boundless Wind and Moon* into the privy, I've been reading quite a few other books.”
“I wish to use my connection with Governor-General Zhu Rong to send you to the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion. You would serve as a scholar's attendant and study there for about a year and a half. What do you think?”
Zhang Chunhua's expression changed as she asked.
“Father, why? Is something about to happen?”
“Go, just go! Since you were a child, you've disobeyed me in small matters, but you've never defied your father's wishes in important ones. This is one of those important matters!”
Zhang Chunhua shed tears.
“I don't want to leave your side, Father.”
“Go. Leave at once!”
***
Dozens of warriors from the Blackwater Terrace rushed into the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. The Countess, Su Peipei, received the Blackwater Terrace's Chiliarch. The Blackwater Terrace's Chiliarch said.
“My Lady Countess, we've heard that the Count of Jinhai's third son, Tang Yan, is here. The Tang Clan has committed treason, colluding with pirates to seize the Jin Clan's Gold Mountain Island. The King is furious and has ordered the arrest of all Tang Clan members.”
“We are grateful for His Majesty's boundless grace. Tang Yan did indeed visit the Jin Clan before, but as you know, my lord, our families hold a great grudge against each other. Furthermore, Tang Yan once fought with our daughter, Jin Mulan, so we drove him away.”
The Blackwater Terrace's Chiliarch frowned and asked.
“Is that true?”
“Of course, it is. How could I possibly harbor an enemy?”
At her words, the Blackwater Terrace's Chiliarch had nothing more to say.
“It has been over twenty days since the Spring Festival, but as the first month is not yet over, it can still be considered the New Year. Please accept these red envelopes. Think of it as money for a cup of tea. You all work so hard, running about for the country even during the New Year.”
As she finished speaking, a servant stepped forward with a plate of gold coins. The Blackwater Terrace's Chiliarch quickly stood up and said repeatedly.
“No, we cannot accept this!”
In the end, they did not take the gold coins and promptly withdrew.
***
Inside the library of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate.
Shen Lang was writing furiously with a brush, while the martial arts fanatic Tang Yan stood beside him in a daze. Occasionally, he would use his fingers as a sword, thrusting forcefully into the air, then recalling the sword move and contemplating how to adjust his stance. Shen Lang had finally finished deciphering the ancient secret manual sent by the Sword King, Li Qianqiu. It amounted to over two hundred pages. The name of the sword art was *Snowfall Over the World*.
Shen Lang was so busy deciphering the jade fragments and transcribing them onto paper that he hadn't had time to understand it deeply. However, judging by the name alone, it didn't seem like a particularly remarkable sword art. In truth, one could never know how formidable any secret manual was until after it was deciphered, or even until one had finished training in it. For example, the Meteor Sword Art from Beyond the Heavens only became famous and regarded as a great sword art after the first Sword King mastered it and became number one in the world.
Moreover, these were all ancient secret manuals that no one had ever practiced. Therefore, it was hard to say whether the martial arts described in the manual were formidable or not. It was like gambling on jade stones, where one only knows whether the stone is priceless or worthless after it has been cut open.
However, the Sword King, Li Qianqiu, was extraordinarily skilled and seemed to have grasped some method to discern whether a secret manual was formidable or not. Since Li Qianqiu had his eye on this manual, it was likely a relatively formidable martial art.
“Here, I've deciphered it all. Take it!”
Tang Yan took it and immediately left the estate. He offered no farewell, no thanks. Even when he had saved the Countess, Su Peipei, he hadn't sought anyone's gratitude. Even now, he was unaware of the disaster that had befallen the Count of Jinhai's Estate.
“Wait. I have a set of clothes to give you as a gift.”
At Shen Lang's words, Tang Yan was surprised but nodded.
“Alright!”
A moment later, Tang Yan was wearing the clothes Shen Lang had given him.
'These clothes are rather strange. Why do they cover my face as well?'
And with that, Tang Yan left. Su Peipei asked Shen Lang.
“The experts from the Blackwater Terrace will find him. Won't they arrest him?”
Shen Lang shook his head.
“No. Those warriors would have a hard time dealing with Tang Yan. If they tried to capture him, he'd likely mistake them for robbers, and wouldn't that lead to a regrettable situation?”
“Why didn't you tell him to go to the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion?”
“He wouldn't have gone even if I had told him. He won't listen to anyone but Li Qianqiu and would just return to his swordsmanship. That's why I sent a letter to the Sword King, asking him to send Tang Yan to the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion to escape the disaster.”
Watching Tang Yan's retreating figure, the Countess, Su Peipei, said.
“I don't know why, but seeing Tang Yan's back makes me suddenly miss Jin Mucong terribly.”
Shen Lang was also surprised and said.
“I feel the same way.”
“In the past month, I nearly forgot about him.”
'Oof!'
“Lang'er, what does the King mean by this? No matter how I look at it, I can't figure out what he's thinking.”
Shen Lang also sighed. The King was truly fickle and adept at malicious schemes.
“When on earth will he issue the edict for our family? When will he finally enfeoff Raging Tide City to us? Only then can we say we've achieved great success and reaped the rewards!”
“He will issue it soon!”
But this King's mind was truly difficult to fathom.
***
The old residence of the Zhang family.
Zhang Chong had been dismissed from his post as Prefect and was soon to enter the capital to assume the role of Grand Master of the Right in the Censorate. Nearly all the well-known officials in Nujiang Commandery came to see him off. Every official wept, expressing their reluctance to see him go. Countless flatteries were exchanged, and Zhang Chong's authority and prestige seemed even greater and more imposing than before. Before him lay what appeared to be a golden path to success.
Many officials had already started addressing him by his new title. Those with integrity called him Grand Master Zhang, while the unscrupulous called him Governor-General Zhang. This was because, in their eyes, the position of Grand Master of the Right in the Censorate was merely a temporary stop, and it seemed nine-tenths certain that he would secure the post of Governor-General of Yan Province. Zhang Chong laughed heartily, accepting everyone's flattery.
When he was Prefect, he was a cold and ruthless official, rarely seen smiling and never accepting invitations to banquets. Now, however, he was uncharacteristically warm and affectionate, exchanging pleasantries with everyone. Eventually, many officials became so moved that they even uttered the term 'Zhang Faction'. This meant that from this day forward, they were all one political group, officials of the Zhang Faction, and would follow only Lord Zhang's commands. Zhang Chong smiled and did not refute it.
Late at night, the banquet ended, and everyone departed. Zhang Chong went to the rear garden and stood before the memorial tablet of his beloved son, Zhang Jin. His entire back was slumped, and all traces of his smile had vanished. After a long while, Zhang Chong let out a scream like the roar of a wild beast.
“Why do you treat me this way? I, Zhang Chong, have dedicated my entire life to loyalty, yet why do you cast me aside like this?”
***
The next day, Zhang Chong set off for the capital to assume his post as Grand Master of the Right. Before he even arrived, someone submitted a memorial to the Censorate. It accused Zhang Chong of greed and accepting massive bribes during his tenure as Prefect. The King ordered a thorough investigation, which revealed that Zhang Chong had indeed accepted tens of thousands of taels of gold in bribes while serving as the Prefect of Nujiang. The King was enraged, and before Zhang Chong could even take office at the Censorate, he was arrested by officials from the Supreme Court and escorted to the capital.