Chapter Thirty-Six: Theft and Schemes for Power

Peng Liang sighed as he approached the magistrate, unfastening his own belt as he went.

Di Ying watched him, blinking.

With his phoenix eyes, he watched Peng Liang lift him onto his back and secure him with the belt.

Then, still watching, he saw Peng Liang gather his breath, leap up, and with each tiptoe step on the city wall, vault them both over it.

Over the wall…

When Di Ying's feet touched the ground again, he turned back in disbelief, craning his neck to gaze at the thirty-foot-high city wall…

Only one thought echoed in his mind: no wonder there are laws forbidding the use of martial arts to break the law.

If everyone could soar over walls like this, many high officials and nobles would have to sleep in hidden chambers for safety.

And if such people turned to crime, how could one ever hope to catch them?

Meanwhile, Peng Liang, a little pleased with himself, retied his belt after taking it off, and seeing the magistrate so astonished by his martial skills, felt a touch of pride. Yet it never crossed his mind that his lord had not found his abilities especially extraordinary or impressive…

Instead, Di Ying was still pondering how one might capture someone like Peng Liang.

“My lord, where shall we go now?”

After basking in his own pride for a moment, Peng Liang noticed the magistrate still craning his neck at the wall and couldn't help but ask.

Di Ying snapped back to attention at the question.

He shook his head vigorously and replied, “Back to the residence. Once we've set things in order, we'll head to the morning court.”

The household was still in disarray—the family had only just arrived from the provinces the day before, nothing had been arranged. He only hoped that by the time they returned, he could have a bowl of hot porridge.

But they were near the East City Gate, while the Di residence lay closer to the West City Gate—a fair distance yet to cover.

They would run, treat it as a warmup.

…

The fifth watch bell rang out, echoing five times.

Immaculately dressed in his fourth-rank official robes, Di Ying joined officials of all sizes and ranks, braving the wind and snow as they entered the Imperial City.

The old emperor was notably diligent; regardless of whether it was a grand or minor court assembly, he would always ascend the golden dragon throne promptly after the civil and military officials had taken their places, jade tablets in hand.

After a thunderous chorus of “Long live the emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!” the morning court was officially underway.

Di Ying stood with his head bowed, eyes closed, serene as ever.

He was a proper fourth-rank upper official, his position only slightly above the middle; in front of him still stood several officials both taller and higher in rank, giving him ample cover to blend in and slack off.

In any case, there was nothing concerning him at the moment.

The matters under discussion had nothing to do with criminal cases.

So he dozed lightly and listened idly.

But as he listened, he heard someone begin to impeach the Five Cities Garrison.

The capital was divided into five sections: East City, West City, South City, North City, and the Imperial City.

The Five Cities Garrison was primarily responsible for the defense and patrol of the four outer districts—East, South, West, and North—as well as the ten-mile perimeter beyond the capital.

Whenever a safety issue arose in these areas, the Five Cities Garrison would be called upon.

Di Ying opened his eyes and glanced at Wu Jianhui, who was standing in the hall, holding his tablet and passionately reporting to His Majesty.

Then he retracted his gaze and continued his calm demeanor, though his ears pricked up.

He heard Wu Jianhui say, “Your Majesty, at the Chou hour this morning, this humble official's villa outside the southern suburbs was burglarized. The villa’s guards searched through the night, but only found traces of the thieves fleeing toward the capital. There were about thirty thieves in total—so many operating on the outskirts of the imperial capital, entering and exiting the city gate at dawn, is flagrant audacity! Clearly, it is the dereliction of the Five Cities Garrison, proof that their Commander-in-Chief, Huang Siyuan, is unfit for duty. I beg Your Majesty to appoint someone useful, capable, and effective!”

Di Ying's brow lifted almost imperceptibly at these words.

Wu Jianhui, Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, proper third rank, one of His Majesty’s maternal nephews—a Wu family man.

Huang Siyuan, on the other hand, came from humble origins and had attained the position of Commander-in-Chief through martial prowess and loyal service. Yet, though the post carried great and myriad responsibilities, it was only a proper sixth-rank position.

Was Wu Jianhui’s impeachment of Huang Siyuan a mere pretext for attack, or was there something more?

Huang Siyuan, upon hearing this, stepped forward and replied, “From midnight until now, none of the city gates of the capital have been opened.”

Wu Jianhui was not satisfied.

He turned to Huang Siyuan and said, “Not opened? Then did those thirty thieves fly into the sky? Their horse tracks clearly vanished outside the South City Gate—how can you be so sure your men weren’t complicit?”

Huang Siyuan replied, “May I ask, Lord Assistant Minister, how do you know these details? Since the locking of the city gates last night, they have not been opened. How did your servants at the villa inform you? This subordinate has yet to receive any unusual reports from his own men, so how—”

“Don’t tell me these things,”

Wu Jianhui waved a hand, cutting him off.

“My villa keeps messenger pigeons, of course I can receive timely intelligence. Just answer—where are those thieves now? Don’t think you can gloss this over before His Majesty just because you haven’t received a report! This is your fault for poor management. If you secretly opened the city gates, you will not survive this!”

Huang Siyuan, seeing Wu Jianhui’s aggressive stance, fell silent.

Snow had begun falling last night and had not ceased since. The incident occurred in the early morning hours, and he truly had not received any intelligence—he did not even know if anyone had dared to secretly open the gates.

With ten thousand city guards of varying ability, and four deputy commanders each with their own allegiances—especially the one in charge of the East City, also a Wu family member—who knew whether Wu Jianhui’s sudden attack was not aimed directly at unseating him from the Commander-in-Chief’s post, taking advantage of his current ignorance?

Huang Siyuan could only look to His Majesty.

Seeing Huang Siyuan’s silence, Wu Jianhui raised his chin, gave a soft nasal snort, and turned back to face the emperor.

The old emperor did not look at either of them.

Instead, he turned to Song Wen, Assistant Prefect of the Capital.

Song Wen hurriedly stepped forward.

He immediately cried out his grievance: “Your Majesty, those hot spring hills outside the southern suburbs are all private lands, beyond this humble official’s jurisdiction!”

Then, under his breath, he muttered, “The Left Assistant Minister never filed a report either.”

Song Wen truly felt aggrieved.

He was only a subordinate fourth-rank lower official; the owners of those villas were all people he could not afford to offend. How was he supposed to manage them? Even if he wanted to, would they allow it?

See, a robbery occurs and not a word is said to him; instead, it is brought up directly at court. How was he supposed to respond?

Wu Jianhui, hearing Song Wen’s muttering, cast him a sidelong glance and curled his lip.

The old emperor lightly turned the emerald bracelet on his wrist, pondering: If Wu Jianhui truly wants the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Five Cities Garrison, perhaps it would not be impossible to grant it.

Giving it to him would be tantamount to giving it to the Wu family—would that not make him feel more secure about the capital’s defense?