Chapter Fifteen: Clues

Within the county yamen of Qiantang, Magistrate Zhang, a man of fifty, stood drenched in sweat, anxiously attending to a young man clad in black martial garb. This man bore a Spring-Embroidered Saber at his waist, a scar across his face, and his eyes were half-closed, half-open, his tone cold and ambiguous: "Magistrate Zhang, you are truly a skillful schemer. In your memorial, the havoc wreaked by hundreds of mounted bandits was but a trifling matter. If it weren’t for the traveling merchants who beat the Sky-Drumming Bell, I would still be kept in the dark!"

“Lord Ma, please quell your anger! I never anticipated such vicious outlaws would appear near Qiantang County. As soon as I was informed, I immediately notified General Jiao of the Divine Machine Battalion to dispatch troops for suppression. Who could have foreseen the bandits’ ferocity? An entire battalion was wiped out, this—this—”

Bang! A teapot was swept to the ground, splashing his official robes, but Magistrate Zhang dared not move an inch. “Zhang De! Still trying to defend yourself at this point? According to the Six Gates’ informants, the bandits began their misdeeds in the middle of last month, yet you only reported to the prefecture at the start of this month. Withholding information—you have some nerve! If not for your delays and evasions, how would the bandits have been forewarned of General Jiao’s actions? Three hundred soldiers dead—who knows if you, the county magistrate, have colluded with the bandits! Even sentencing you to death would be lenient!”

“Mercy, Lord Ma!” Zhang De wailed, throwing himself to his knees. “I confess, I was selfish. My three-year term is nearly over, and if the bandits ran amok during my tenure, a mediocre evaluation would be unavoidable. I only sought a smooth official career, never expecting the bandits to be so ruthless. The county’s constables were powerless; I had no choice but to report to General Jiao. I truly knew nothing of the ambush at Rooster’s Cry Ridge, nor did I know when General Jiao was to arrive. I swear I have no connection to the bandits!”

“Heh! Then why, Magistrate Zhang, did you pack your belongings and attempt to flee the very night you heard of General Jiao’s demise? If I hadn’t rushed here with utmost haste, you’d be long gone by now!” Ma Cai sneered.

“I—”

“Silence!” Ma Cai barked. “Don’t think you can escape punishment just because you have a Minister of Revenue to lean on. Do you really believe I can’t execute you?” With that, he drew a jade token from his sleeve and slapped it onto the table. “See what this is?”

On the token were four bold characters: ‘Imperial Inspector by Heaven’s Decree’. In the lower right, eight smaller words: ‘Commanding all officials, execution before report!’

“The Golden Guard’s Order! Has His Majesty…” Zhang De’s face was ashen.

Ma Cai’s demeanor softened. He helped Zhang De to his feet and whispered in his ear, “You’ve truly erred, Magistrate Zhang. What lies beyond Qiantang County? Luodu—the imperial secondary capital. It’s full of imperial kin and nobility. With the bandits causing chaos, how can those princes and dukes not be terrified? No one can intercede for you in this matter. You must rely on your own fortune.”

“Guards! Take the criminal Zhang De to the dungeon, to await further orders!” Two constables in peaked hats and blue uniforms, sabers at their waists, obeyed, dragging Zhang De away like a lifeless corpse.

“Until the imperial directive arrives, I will act as provisional magistrate of Qiantang. You must all redeem yourselves by meritorious service—do not risk your own lives!” Ma Cai’s gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s, and the constables and bailiffs responded with fear and respect.

“My lord! There are three people outside requesting an audience,” a constable murmured in Ma Cai’s ear. “They bear the old master’s jade token!”

Ma Cai glanced at the token, inhaled sharply, and immediately said, “Invite the three inside to the rear hall.”

In the rear hall, Ma Cai hurried in to find three youths awaiting him. Though perplexed, he kept his composure and saluted, “May I ask what relation you have to Master Zhou Xun? Why do you carry the Lantian Twin Fish Jade Pendant?”

Zhou Qian scratched his head. “I’m his disciple! This is my eldest brother, Wang Hu, and my second brother, Li Sanshan. Our master sent us to assist you in capturing the bandits, telling us to follow your every instruction.”

“May I ask where Master Zhou is? I would like to pay my respects,” Ma Cai asked, frowning at the three, inwardly puzzled by the old master’s unusual choice to send these youths.

“This is a letter my master asked me to give you.” Zhou Qian produced a letter from his breast.

After reading it, Ma Cai’s expression shifted, and he immediately said, “Since it is Master Zhou’s request, I shall comply. My Six Gates agents have tracked bandit movements to the river mouth. I trouble you three young heroes to investigate.” He then ordered a constable to guide them there.

Ma Cai watched the trio depart, silent for a long while. Behind him, a bold constable ventured, “My lord, Zhou Xun may be a respected figure in the martial world, but you are an imperial guard, a Brocade-Clad Chief Constable. Is it not frivolous to have these three youths undertake such a task?”

“What do you know?” Ma Cai rebuked him. “That Lantian Twin Fish Jade was a gift from His Majesty himself—seeing the token is as seeing the man. Besides, the martial world is filled with extraordinary individuals, each with unpredictable skills. Our Six Gates have suffered heavy losses in this case. We have no choice but to enlist their help. Never speak of this again. How many of the martial artists I summoned have arrived?”

“Ghost-Leg Zhao San, Chief Escort Qian of the Four Seas Escort Agency with twenty Silver Order escorts, the Golden Sword siblings of the Wang family, the monk Fa Kong, Swift Blade A’Fei, Coin Dagger Liu Shou, as well as the local Qiantang Sword Sect’s leader Liu Yifan and three elders, and Beggar Hua Feng Bulin. My lord, isn’t this an overreaction?”

“This is no simple matter. No bandits in their right mind would stir up trouble beneath the capital. And why are there disciples of the Evil Valley and the Serial Stronghold among them? Clearly, their aims are not mere petty loot!” Ma Cai declared with certainty.

Zhou Qian and his companions, led by the constable, soon arrived at the river mouth downstream of Qiantang Lake. The river mouth was shaped like a gourd, flanked by dense forests. When the Qiantang tide surged, the river water rushed back in, overwhelming the dike. Their trouser legs were already soaked by the lake. Li Sanshan complained bitterly, “Isn’t Master Zhou getting senile? Why send us to investigate a case for no reason? Is this the work of commoners like us? And that official! He caved in with just one letter! Aren’t officials supposed to be haughty? Why is he so obedient to the old man?”

“Third brother, enough!” Wang Hu snapped. “Master has his reasons. As juniors, we should not speculate.”

“Even you, eldest brother, are so obedient?” Li Sanshan muttered.

The constable led them to a secluded spot, produced an oddly shaped whistle, and blew three short notes followed by a long one. Soon, three men in straw raincoats emerged from the forest.

“What is it?” the sullen leader asked.

The constable stepped forward, whispered in his ear, and after a long, suspicious look at the three youths, the man finally said, “It is most welcome if you’re willing to help! I am Gong Yi of Six Gates. Please, follow me.”

After dismissing the constable, Gong Yi explained as they walked, “When the Divine Machine Battalion was ambushed at Rooster’s Cry Valley, I led men to investigate. Who knew the bandits were so depraved? Three hundred soldiers—dead or alive—all impaled on man-horse stakes…”

“What are man-horse stakes?” Zhou Qian asked curiously.

“They sharpen the tip of a wooden stake, insert it from the base into the body, then drive it through the mouth, nailing the victim to the ground. The arms and legs are cut off so the victim cannot live, nor die quickly!” Gong Yi cast Zhou Qian a displeased look and spoke coldly.

A chill ran down the three young men’s spines. What utter depravity!

“I set spies to investigate the area and discovered four men in black lurking outside Rooster’s Cry Valley. When we gave chase, they fled into the riverside forest. We managed to wound them, but suddenly, one of them shot a signal rocket. Within moments, reinforcements arrived. After a fierce fight, the men in black escaped with their comrade’s corpse; we couldn’t catch up.”

At the scene of the battle, chaos reigned. The grass and trees were trampled, and dozens of Six Gates constables were scattered around—sixteen dead, a dozen more tending wounds. It was clear that, as Gong Yi had said, Six Gates had suffered a bitter loss.

Gong Yi, apparently unimpressed by Zhou Qian and his friends, gave a brief order and turned to command his men, leaving the trio awkwardly standing by.

Indeed, the reputation of Six Gates as the imperial intelligence service was well-earned. They were highly efficient and well-organized—some mapping the terrain, some examining corpses, some standing guard, others investigating the scene. The three youths felt decidedly superfluous.

Zhou Qian sidled up to an investigator, who was muttering to himself as he scrutinized knife marks on a tree, jotting notes on a piece of parchment—

“The blade is one zhang seven cun long, penetrated the wood three cun deep. The assailant wielded the weapon in his right hand; the technique is ruthless and forceful. This was a horizontal slash, so the attacker was about six chi four cun tall, with long arms…”

“Amazing!” Zhou Qian blurted out.

The man frowned at him, and Zhou Qian, realizing his interruption, quickly slipped away.

Nearby, a coroner was examining a corpse. Zhou Qian, unafraid of the dead, came closer.

The coroner, wearing gloves, inspected the wounds carefully, then took out a small black vial, dripped two drops of colorless liquid onto the wound. The flesh turned black instantly, and a foul stench wafted forth. The coroner stood up, face grave, and reported to Gong Yi, “The enemy’s blades were poisoned!”

“Despicable!” Gong Yi cursed. “Can you make an antidote?”

“The poison appears to be from wolf’s tooth herb. The toxicity isn’t strong. If we prepare an antidote within the hour, there should be no danger. However—” The coroner hesitated.

“Speak plainly!” Gong Yi demanded impatiently.

“All six victims were stabbed in the throat or heart, wounds half a foot deep—each killed with a single blow! The attacker’s skill was formidable. Given this, why bother poisoning the blades? In other words, for someone of such prowess, wouldn’t using such a crude poison be beneath them?”

“So…” Gong Yi frowned in thought. “You mean these people are concealing their identities, unwilling to use their own weapons?”

“I dare not presume,” the coroner replied humbly. “But the enemy led us here, then quickly rallied reinforcements, and after the battle, withdrew without leaving any trace. Unless they can fly or vanish into the earth, they must have escaped by boat onto Qiantang Lake. However, the lake’s mouth has been sealed by the navy. Which means—” At this, the coroner fell silent.

“You suspect a traitor within the navy?” Gong Yi’s eyes flashed, stabbing at the coroner.

“I do not know, sir. But I heard the Qiantang Navy’s Deputy Commander Ma San was once called ‘One Slash to the Throat’ in the martial world. The leader of the men in black fought with speed, precision, and ferocity—just like the old Commander Ma.”

“That’s enough! To slander an imperial officer is a capital crime!” Gong Yi barked. “Never mention this again!”

Suddenly, Li Sanshan’s voice shrieked from nearby, “Why are you grabbing me? What have I done?”