The Follower

Inside the room, Di Renjie rose to his feet and began pacing back and forth unconsciously. "The Governor of Youzhou, a high-ranking regional official, instead of carrying out Tian Zi's grace in nurturing the people, commits acts of bullying the weak and elderly and treating human lives like grass. No wonder the state knows no peace and foreign invaders breach our borders."

Hu Jinghui stood and said, "My lord, we came here for a major case of the court. Perhaps we should set these minor matters aside for now and deal with them after the case is solved."

Di Renjie turned around. "Minor matters? Emperor Taizong once said: the people are water, and the ruler is a boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.

"The people's livelihood is the foremost concern of the court. As the Commander-in-Chief of Youzhou, how can I stand idly by when I encounter such injustice?"

Hu Jinghui hurriedly said, "Jinghui was ignorant. Please forgive me, my lord."

Di Renjie said softly, "Jinghui, you have served in the army and never entered officialdom, so it is only natural that you do not understand such things. I cannot blame you for it."

Di Renjie continued, "Here is what we shall do. Tomorrow, the three of you will accompany me through the nearby countryside. I want to see what Governor Fang Qian has turned Youzhou into."

That night, at a Youzhou inn, Di Renjie was sound asleep in bed.

Suddenly, faint footsteps came from outside the window. Li Xiao and Li Yuanfang, who had remained vigilant, immediately opened their eyes and quietly left the room. Hu Jinghui soon heard the movement as well and came out.

At that moment, a figure climbed in through the window. Wearing a large bamboo hat, the