Chapter 47: Treating the Gentry Like Leeks

The magistrate Ding’s greatest worry was the fear of being silenced, yet once the amnesty order was issued, it meant that the plan devised by Old Master Liu had succeeded, and everything had entered its final stage.

As long as Li Gui was successfully pacified and became part of the imperial system, all past transgressions would be wiped clean, and no one would dare mention them again.

Even the gentry families who had suffered greatly at Li Gui’s hands, no matter how resentful, could only seek revenge through official channels—they dared not act recklessly.

At this point, whether or not to silence him was no longer significant.

Or rather, everyone hoped that no new troubles would arise at this stage. If someone stirred up trouble now, disrupting the peaceful pacification and forcing Li Gui into desperation, he would become the common enemy of all.

Therefore, Magistrate Ding’s life was once again spared!

He gleefully handed the letter to Counselor Song beside him to read carefully, then ordered the servant to prepare hot water for a bath and to get meals ready to satisfy their hunger.

After reading the letter, Counselor Song exhaled deeply and relaxed.

“Master Dong, finally the bitterness has turned to sweetness!”

“Haha...” Magistrate Ding laughed heartily. “Changping, I owe today’s success to your skillful planning. Once the pacification is complete, we must drink several cups together.”

“But for now, Changping, you must work hard to spread the news quickly, so it reaches Yushan at the earliest.”

“The mountain bandits may have little patience; we absolutely cannot falter at this final stage.”

Counselor Song took his orders and left, pondering how best to spread the news. Only Captain Li Yun, with his wide network of acquaintances, might be able to get the message out. He went to the front office and summoned Li Yun for a talk.

After receiving his orders from Counselor Song, Li Yun left the office in a daze, struggling to believe what he had heard.

Li Gui had done something enormous!

Nearly eighty percent of the local gentry had perished by Li Gui’s hand, yet because he had repeatedly broken through the imperial army’s sieges, he was about to transform into an official, perhaps with a rank even higher than his own.

This made Li Yun feel the world had gone mad.

Is it true that murder and arson earn golden belts, while building roads leaves no corpses?

What on earth has become of this world?

Decent and honest people suffer losses everywhere, while traitors and rebels rise swiftly.

Suddenly, he regretted not joining Zhu Fu in taking refuge in Yushan from the start. Perhaps after the pacification, even a humble captain like himself could be promoted, and his family might rise from a lineage of captains to a distinguished military family.

But it was too late to think that now. He steeled himself and headed to the tavern outside the west gate.

---

At the tavern, he left a message for Zhu Fu and waited at home. As expected, by evening Zhu Fu arrived, carrying fruit and wine, entering with a leisurely air.

After some polite greetings, they set the table and began to eat and drink.

After several cups, Li Yun opened the conversation.

“Brother, you have truly struck it rich this time. I learned from the magistrate that the prefecture has decided to grant amnesty, and news will arrive in ten or fifteen days.”

Hearing this, Zhu Fu’s face brightened with joy. He quickly raised his cup. “Ah! Master, you’ve brought me the greatest news!”

“I expected good news after the imperial army was crushed, but never imagined it would come so swiftly!”

“But do we know what official posts the court will grant us?”

Li Yun clinked cups and took a drink, then shook his head. “You put me in a difficult spot. Even the magistrate might not know such details, so how could I?”

Zhu Fu hurriedly refilled their cups and apologized, “I was just too eager!”

“I’m not greedy either. As long as I get a rank, I’m content. Whether or not there’s an official post isn’t crucial.”

“It’s just that my brother is an invincible hero. If his position is too low, I fear trouble will arise again.”

Li Yun drank and smiled. “Just take care of yourself. Your brother has Old Master Liu backing him. He certainly won’t be shortchanged.”

After speaking, Li Yun ate a bit to settle the alcohol, but saw hesitation on Zhu Fu’s face and asked curiously:

“What’s on your mind with that expression?”

Zhu Fu hesitated, leaned in, and lowered his voice.

“Master, you and I have been brothers for years; you know me well, so I won’t hide it.”

“In my opinion, my brother is no mere puppet of Old Master Liu.”

Li Yun was startled and quickly set down his chopsticks, leaning closer to whisper.

“What do you mean?”

Zhu Fu carefully chose his words and said in a low voice:

“My brother was born with divine strength—a prodigy of a mighty general, gifted and wise, loving the people like his children. He’s not someone an ordinary gentry family could cultivate, let alone be constrained by a mere local gentry.”

“To me, my brother is like a star descended to earth, sent to protect the nation and its people.”

---

“Master, you always stay in the city and don’t know the situation outside.”

“Since my brother took to the mountain these six months, the whole county has changed.”

“The gentry all moved into the city, their henchmen were all cut down. No one in the countryside dares oppress the good-hearted anymore.”

“If anyone bullies the villagers, a message to Yushan brings someone down to enforce justice.”

“Now, in our county’s countryside, it would not be an exaggeration to say that people live in peace and prosperity, with no theft or need to lock their doors at night.”

“Tell me, master, could such a hero be a mere pawn of Old Master Liu?”

“Perhaps at first my brother rose through the Liu family, but that was only a matter of interest. Sooner or later, they will part ways.”

“My brother once told me while drinking privately, ‘The gentry are like pests in the field; they must be cut down from time to time so landless peasants can have land to farm. The gentry are like chives—cut one batch, and another soon grows.’”

“At first, I thought these words were heretical and frightening, but over time, I see some truth in them.”

These thoughts had long been in Zhu Fu’s heart, but he never dared speak of them. Now, letting them out felt liberating.

After speaking, he poured himself a cup and downed it in one gulp, then asked:

“My brother’s hostility toward the gentry is clear. Master, tell me, what power does the Liu family have that makes my brother treat them with respect?”

After hearing Zhu Fu’s words, Li Yun felt cold sweat break out all over his body and found he could no longer drink.

Such words were dangerously rebellious.

As Minister Wen once said, “To govern the world, one must rely on the gentry and officials, not just the common people.”

Since the emergence of local gentry and powerful families, they have always been indispensable. Any dynasty lacking their support cannot even collect basic grain taxes; death and downfall would follow swiftly.

Li Yun’s limited imagination could not conceive what a world without gentry and powerful clans would look like.

He was stunned for a long moment and dared not pursue the topic further. Hastily, he raised his cup to change the subject.

“No matter what relationship he has with the Liu family, the pacification will happen. Once he becomes an official, his attitude will naturally change.”

Zhu Fu sighed and fell silent, only raising his cup to drink.