Chapter Twenty-Nine: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Night fell quickly. The commoners gathered around the yamen were finally dispersed by the city guard. A large number of yamen runners and city guards began patrolling the streets, breaking up any crowds. Although a formal curfew had not been declared, the atmosphere was effectively the same.

Just then, a few figures approached the yamen at a brisk pace. Two yamen runners were escorting the secretary, Zhang You, toward the entrance. Suddenly, two men lunged from the side of the street.

"Secretary Zhang, you’ve finally come out!"

Zhang You was startled at first, but his expression relaxed when he recognized the men as Xu Gui and Lu Tianxing. He signaled the runners, who had already reached for their blades, to stand down, and then shouted at the two: "The streets are closed tonight. Get home immediately and stop causing trouble for us."

As he turned to leave, the two men rushed to block his path. Lu Tianxing demanded, "Secretary Zhang, why has the medicine you gave us had no effect? And you promised that the magistrate would distribute medicine to the people, so why hasn't a single person received any?"

Xu Gui added, "Exactly. Everyone who took the medicine hasn't improved at all; in fact, their conditions haven't even been alleviated. Tell us clearly—have you been lying to us?"

Facing their accusations, Zhang You grew visibly impatient. He set his face in a stern scowl and said in a low voice, "With the plague upon us, it is already an act of immense grace from the yamen that you received medicine at all. As for how it is distributed, that is not for you commoners to question! That is all."

Zhang You clearly had no intention of dealing with them further, and he remained silent on the subject of the medicine's efficacy. This response did not satisfy the two men.

Lu Tianxing raged, "Zhang You! You promised us everything back then. Are you trying to go back on your word now? We want to see the magistrate! We want to demand an explanation from him directly!" As he grew more agitated, he attempted to push toward the yamen.

Zhang You raised his hand and struck him across the face.

*Slap!*

The sharp sound left Lu Tianxing dizzy and stumbling backward, saved from falling only by Xu Gui’s support. Zhang You pointed at him and cursed, "What are you, to think you’re worthy of seeing the magistrate? Do you really think this yamen belongs to your Lu family?"

Lu Tianxing clutched his swollen face, glaring at Zhang You with hatred. In that moment, even he realized that Zhang You had been playing them from the very start. Every promise and guarantee had been empty air. Zhang You’s only goal had been to make them betray the Taiping Dao and help capture the Great Worthy Teacher.

Now that the Great Worthy Teacher had been seized, Zhang You no longer felt the need to keep up the facade. Xu Gui realized the same truth and said coldly, "Zhang You, your scheme is clever indeed, but don't think you have us cornered! If you push us too far, we will go back and tell everyone in the Taiping Dao that this was all your treacherous plot! You were the one who orchestrated the arrest of the Great Worthy Teacher, leaving everyone without the sacred water to drink!"

Zhang You heard this and laughed as if he had heard a hilarious joke. After a long while, he gestured toward the direction of the Lu family village. "Go then! By all means, go and say it. You two traitors—do you really think you still have any standing within the Taiping Dao?"

This left Lu Tianxing and Xu Gui speechless. Once, they had been influential and respected members of the sect, but since their betrayal, they had become like stray dogs, reviled by everyone. The only reason they hadn't been dealt with yet was that a few patients still clung to the hope that they would return with a cure. But now, the cruel reality was laid bare: there was no cure. If they returned now, they would be utterly isolated and abandoned.

"Talking to two fools like you is a waste of my time," Zhang You said, turning to his runners. "If these two curs appear near the yamen again, beat them on sight. If they dare to return after that, throw them directly into the cells."

With that, Zhang You turned and walked into the yamen. The runners stood before Lu Tianxing and Xu Gui, ready to strike at the slightest provocation. Xu Gui wanted to argue further, but Lu Tianxing pulled him away. "Forget it, Master Xu."

Lu Tianxing knew they were destined to lose. Zhang You had the backing of the yamen, and for two commoners to challenge the authorities was like throwing eggs against a stone. Xu Gui looked up at the imposing gates of the yamen and let out a long, heavy sigh. Filled with rage, frustration, and helplessness, the two left in despair.

Inside the yamen, Zhang You walked quickly. The delay at the gate had nearly made him forget his priority. Along the way, he could hear the muffled, pained groans of the runners and clerks. Zhang You knew they were suffering from the plague. Despite the lockdown, the disease had finally breached the yamen walls. Everyone knew this day would come, which was why Zhang You had abandoned his moral qualms and led the men to Jiniu Township to capture the Great Worthy Teacher. As he had predicted, once he completed his mission and returned, the plague had already spread inside. In the days since, it had run rampant, and few had been spared.

He reached the study and knocked. "Magistrate, it is I."

"Come in," a voice replied.

Zhang You hesitated. "Magistrate, I cannot! You have not yet fallen ill, and as the father and official of this county, you cannot afford to take risks. I shall speak with you from outside."

The magistrate was the best-protected person in the yamen, which was why he remained healthy. Zhang You, who had been running everywhere, might already be infected and could pass it on.

However, the voice from within spoke again, firmer this time: "Come in! Everyone else is sick; I cannot remain safe for long. Besides, if I do not appear and take charge, it will only cause panic throughout the county."

Zhang You pushed the door open and entered. Magistrate Qiu Zhuo was still reading documents by the light of an oil lamp, his brows tightly knitted. Suddenly, he threw the papers aside in a fit of rage.

Zhang You asked in a low voice, "What troubles you, Magistrate?"

Qiu Zhuo looked at him and replied, "There was a rebellion in Yang Province, and now the imperial court is sending troops to suppress it. They have ordered all surrounding regions, including our Qing Province, to supply the army. This dispatch from the Prefect demands that Taiyang County raise men, funds, and medicinal supplies to be shipped to the provincial capital immediately."

"But the plague is raging. We are already short on hands, money, and medicine. If we send these supplies away, what will we have left to fight the disaster?"

Zhang You fell into deep thought. As the secretary, it was his duty to solve such dilemmas for the magistrate. After a moment, he said, "Magistrate, the people are already deeply resentful; it is not the time to levy heavy taxes. There is only one solution left."

"We must force the wealthy merchants in the city to donate money and grain. It is because of your wise governance, Magistrate, that they have grown so rich. It is time for them to pay their share."

Qiu Zhuo hesitated. He could certainly target the merchants to extract wealth, but they all had connections. While they might not cause him direct trouble, it would damage his reputation and hinder his future career. He was reluctant to pay that price.

Seeing this, Zhang You suggested, "Magistrate, you do not have to be the one to do this. There is someone who can handle this for you. You will lose no standing, yet you will obtain the funds and supplies to complete the Prefect's task. It is a double victory."

Qiu Zhuo’s eyes lit up. "Tell me, who is it?"

Zhang You replied, "The Great Worthy Teacher."