Chapter 111: Accountability
Jin Sui said in a low voice, “Before, I was worried about him discovering my identity. Now that you’re here, what if he does?”
“Since I came to Yandi, the Yan Clan has helped me a lot. Yan Jiulang is a good person.”
Gu Changxiao recalled that when they first met, he had also commented on himself in the same way: you are a good person.
He couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his eye, “Your standards for ‘good people’ are really low!”
He had wanted to earnestly advise her a few words, that the gentry of Yandi could not be trusted. They only bowed their heads because they saw your strength; otherwise, they would be no different from the Zheng family.
But now was not the time to discuss this. Gu Changxiao had come to tell him that Zheng Pengpeng had brought the Zheng family members.
They were kneeling before the spirit hall, begging the Li King for forgiveness.
Jin Sui thought of Zheng Yun and discussed with Gu Changxiao:
“I only want the lives of Zheng Yun and the cattle and horses of the Zheng family who caused trouble that night, to mourn the fallen soldiers. The Li King will magnify his generosity and not pursue others. What do you think?”
Gu Changxiao nodded in agreement, stating that a combination of soft and hard tactics would better achieve the objective.
Erasing the Zheng family was not the most important thing; what was important was to deter the gentry and, at the same time, use the Zheng family to divide the gentry’s influence.
He looked at Jin Sui with increasing admiration. Daoist Ji’s abilities were far greater than he had imagined. Being a Taoist was too much of a waste; he should be this King’s strategist!
“Also, how do you plan to deal with Huo Zi’an? Do you absolutely need his life?”
Gu Changxiao’s heart stirred, and he retorted, “Now you are the Li King, how do you plan to deal with him? If a living person is more useful than a dead one, it wouldn’t hurt to spare his life.”
Jin Sui had a plan in mind. She was worried that Gu Changxiao would insist on Huo Zi’an’s life, as Huo Zi’an had led people to pursue and kill him all the way, making Gu Changxiao suffer greatly.
If she couldn’t negotiate life and death with Huo Zi’an, it would be detrimental to her subsequent plan.
She had someone summon Huo Zi’an. He looked much haggard, appearing utterly disheartened.
He cupped his hands to salute, but he didn’t know who to address this ‘Li King’ as. He looked at Gu Changxiao, then at Jin Sui, and finally said:
“If Your Highness wishes to kill me, please ensure that my military merit is recorded under Niu Da’s children.”
Military merit could be inherited by descendants. Like Niu Da, who died in battle, his eldest son, upon reaching adulthood, could directly join the Border Army.
However, his second son could not. Huo Zi’an’s statement about giving his military merit to Niu Da’s son meant that the second son could use his military merit for inheritance.
Jin Sui pointed out mercilessly, “You are a major criminal who attempted to assassinate the Li King. Inheriting your military merit would mean Niu Da’s son would be imprisoned in your stead?”
Huo Zi’an was stunned and suddenly looked up at Jin Sui, but he dared not argue. He finally gritted his teeth and said, “Then all my bounty will go to the Niu family.”
Jin Sui didn’t know what had happened between them when he was a dung collector under Niu Da, which caused Huo Zi’an to feel such deep guilt towards Niu Da.
This was a camaraderie between men that she would never understand. The military was indeed the place where life-and-death bonds were most easily forged.
Who would believe that “life and death are bound, a promise made to you; holding your hand, growing old with you” could describe camaraderie between comrades-in-arms?
“I will give you an opportunity, not only to clear your name but also to have your military merit recorded honorably.”
Huo Zi’an’s first reaction was to glance at Gu Changxiao. Seeing his noncommittal expression, he couldn’t help but sigh, resigned to being at the mercy of this fake Li King.
He cupped his hands and said, “Your subordinate awaits Your Highness’s command.”
It was effortless to talk to intelligent people. If he had to explain this to Yan Shiyi, he would have to spell everything out clearly for him to understand.
Jin Sui handed him a slip of paper and said, “Go find Zheng Yun and tell him that I am an imposter…”
As soon as she said this, Gu Changxiao and Huo Zi’an both looked at her.
“You are here on Prince Yu’s orders to investigate me, the fake Li King. Now that I have established myself in the border city, you alone cannot bring me down.”
“But now an opportunity has presented itself: the Imperial Commissioner from the Imperial Court. The Imperial Commissioner knows the Li King. If you join forces with the Imperial Commissioner, you will surely be able to eliminate me, this imposter!”
“Also, tell him about Zheng Pengpeng’s actions, offer the ten thousand mu of fertile land, and from then on, the Zheng family will be at the fake Li King’s command.”
“Zheng Yun will definitely join forces with you. You will personally escort him to meet the Imperial Commissioner Group.”
Huo Zi’an’s expression shifted from initial confusion to admiration, along with sympathy for Zheng Yun.
This plan could be described as poisonous! He would openly dig a fiery pit, Zheng Yun would willingly jump in, and then be consumed by flames.
The Li King could lure Zheng Yun back and kill him without expending a single soldier.
The Li King was indeed fake, and the Imperial Commissioner Group would surely investigate. But who would have thought that the real Li King was not only not the fake Li King’s enemy but also his companion!
Moreover, from what was visible, this real Li King was acting as a bodyguard for the fake Li King!
Huo Zi’an once again felt fortunate that he hadn’t fled in the chaos that night, otherwise, his fate would have been even worse than Zheng Yun’s.
“This is the first task. The second task is that there are people from Prince Yu within the Imperial Commissioner Group. You are responsible for finding them.”
“If you complete these two tasks, I will not pursue your crime of assassination, and I will also submit a memorial to the Imperial Court. From then on, you will serve under me.”
Huo Zi’an really wanted to ask, if you don’t pursue my crime, can you let me leave?
But then he thought that he had completely offended Prince Yu. Where could he go if he left? It was likely a dead end once he left Yandi.
Moreover, he wanted to watch over Niu Da’s children as they grew up. The conditions in the border city were so harsh; could three children without a father grow up safely?
Therefore, he cupped his hands and saluted, “Your subordinate accepts the order!”
After Huo Zi’an left, Jin Sui and Gu Changxiao went to the spirit hall to publicly meet Zheng Pengpeng.
Zheng Pengpeng struggled to kneel from his wheelchair and kowt heavily. He even pulled his youngest son, who was only three years old, to kowtow:
“I beg Your Highness to spare the entire Zheng family.”
The scene became extremely silent. All the gentry present held their breath, with only the sound of yellow paper burning in the brazier.
It was as if the Li King was about to announce not the life or death of the Zheng family, but their own.
Jin Sui stepped forward first and offered incense to the spirit hall. She did not answer Zheng Pengpeng but instead asked Li Heng:
“Have you brought what this King asked for?”
Li Heng’s attitude was unprecedentedly respectful. He almost ran forward and handed over an item, saying, “Reporting to Your Highness, here is the registry of three thousand soldiers of the Yan Prefecture Army.”
Jin Sui took it and held the registry high, saying to the gentry present, “To this King’s knowledge, half of the Yan Prefecture Army comes from your respective clans.”
“In the battle at the border city, the Yan Prefecture Army disobeyed military orders, fled from the battlefield, and were as timid as sheep facing wolves when they saw the Tartars, resulting in heavy casualties among my border soldiers.”
“This King will not pursue the crime of cowardice for the Yan Prefecture Army soldiers who died on the battlefield, but any who fled will be executed according to military regulations!”
“These deserters will be escorted to the border city by you. This King gives you three days. If the deserters are not delivered to the border city within three days, this King can only hold their clans accountable!”
“Do not blame this King for accusing you of harboring fugitives!”
The gentry all looked troubled upon hearing this, fearing the Li King’s power yet hating his strictness.
They then looked at the high-spirited border soldiers beside them. If they refused today, they might not even be able to leave the border city.
The crowd first looked at Prefect Li. Li Heng kept his head down the entire time, pretending not to notice the burning gazes of the family heads.
