Trouble

"I noticed a few sneaky-looking people who seemed to be spying on us and following us," Qiao Xiao said.

"That's strange. Why would they spy on us? I've been here in Yanling with my men for a while now, but I haven't made enemies with anyone," Bu Feng said.

"Could someone have set their sights on Master Tang? Think about it-a patron who can put up three hundred thousand taels is a wealthy man. Could those people be bandits? They might be casing us first, then waiting until we're on the road to rob us," Ge Ziyun said.

"Surely not. This is Yanling City. There are constables and yamen guards here. They wouldn't dare run wild.

"Besides, there are plenty of people in Yanling City richer than our master.

"Take the owners of those money houses, or the great lineages. Which of them doesn't have hundreds of thousands, even millions of taels to their name?" Bu Feng said, shaking his head.

"Look, I came here to buy the Thousand-Leaf Workshop.

"An asking price of three hundred thousand taels really isn't high, but in times like these, the lower the price, the better.

"And the Thousand-Leaf Workshop is close to a bustling district. It's a good location, so there must be other people interested in buying it.

"But everyone wants to drive the price down, which makes the workshop difficult to sell for the moment," Tang Wen said.

"Master, are you saying the people spying on us are our business rivals?" Ge Ziyun asked.

"It's possible! They want it too, but they've been trying to force the price down.

"If we buy it, their plans will fall through. Naturally, they'd want to keep an eye on us first.

"As for bandits, I don't think that's very likely.

"After all, this is Yanling City, not some deserted wilderness," Tang Wen said.

"Then you'll have to be careful, Master. This is their territory," Bu Feng said with some concern.

"What's there to fear? If they dare come at us, I'll break whatever foot or hand they reach out with," Qiao Xiao declared fiercely.

"We'll pay Constable Yang a visit this afternoon," Tang Wen said.

"Yes, exactly. We need to show them we have backing too. Even if they want to make a move, they'll have to weigh the consequences," Bu Feng said, nodding.

"That might not work. They're powerful lineages born and bred in Yanling City.

"When it comes to connections with the yamen, we certainly can't compare with them.

"Constable Yang might even be closer to them. Besides, even if we secure his backing, there are plenty of officials in the Commandery Governor's Office who outrank him.

"The Vice Prefect, Assistant Prefect, Commandery Chancellor, Hundred-Household Commander, Garrison Commander, and so on.

"Constable Yang is only a minor Eighth-Rank official. He doesn't even rank as high as a Criminal Clerk in the Commandery Governor's Office," Ge Ziyun said.

Every prefecture and county under the Chu Kingdom's provinces had six offices: personnel, revenue, rites, military affairs, criminal affairs, and public works, corresponding to the six central ministries.

For example, the authority overseeing constables was called the Criminal Affairs Office at the county level, the Criminal Affairs Officer at the commandery or prefectural level, and the Judicial Commissioner at the provincial level.

In Sea Saint City, which administered the six southern provinces, it was called the Criminal Affairs Directorate. At the national level, it became the Ministry of Justice.

Constable Yang Yun's superior was the Criminal Affairs Officer, a minor Seventh-Rank official, but still above Yang Yun's Eighth Rank. Above the Criminal Affairs Officer was the Assistant Prefect.

A prefecture's Assistant Prefect was a Sixth-Rank official. The Vice Prefect ranked a little higher, at Fifth Rank. Above them stood the Commandery Governor or Prefect, both Fourth-Rank officials.

Of course, the Jiangzhou Prefect in the provincial capital stood another half-step higher, as a Subordinate Third Rank official.

"We'll take it one step at a time, starting with Constable Yang," Tang Wen said, waving a hand.

"Master, I'll just grab one of them and question him," Qiao Xiao said.

"Mm, that works too. But go easy on him. Don't beat him to death," Tang Wen said, nodding.

"Understood." Qiao Xiao nodded and hurried away.

After lunch, Bu Feng came over looking rather anxious. "Master, Qiao Xiao still hasn't come back. Could something have happened to him?"

"Surely not. He's highly skilled. There aren't many people in Yanling City who could take him down," Ge Ziyun said, shaking his head.

"We mustn't become arrogant. Many experts in this world dislike the limelight. Hidden dragons and crouching tigers abound. Bu Feng, hurry and send people out to look for him. Just have them ask around near the Thousand-Leaf Workshop," Tang Wen said, shaking his head.

Not long after leaving, Bu Feng returned. "Master, Constable Liu is here. He says Constable Yang sent him to get in touch with you. Since you happen to be in the city, I brought him straight over."

"Show him in," Tang Wen said. Soon, Constable Liu was brought inside.

"Have a seat, Constable Liu," Tang Wen said, pointing to a chair.

"Master Tang, Constable Yang says he has something to discuss with you and asks that you come over immediately," Constable Liu said. He had visited Su Mei Island before, so Tang Wen had met him.

Constable Liu knew that Tang Wen was a Baron. Moreover, he was wealthy and generous, and seemed to be on good terms with Constable Yang.

Naturally, he did not dare sit down, and even dropped to one knee in salute. Tang Wen then hurried to the Commandery Governor's Office.

"Is Qiao Xiao one of your men?" Yang Yun asked as soon as he saw Tang Wen.

"Yes, he's my personal bodyguard. Didn't you meet him last time?" Tang Wen said, nodding.

"We're in trouble now." Yang Yun's brow furrowed.

"Something happened to him?" Taken aback, Tang Wen hurriedly asked.

"He got into a fight and was arrested by someone from the Six Fan Gate. He's being held in our cells, but I have no authority to release him. That's why I sent Constable Liu to notify your people at once. I didn't expect you to be in the city," Yang Yun said.

"The Six Fan Gate handles petty matters like fights too?" Tang Wen was dumbfounded.

"He happened to run into it," Yang Yun replied.

"What exactly happened?" Tang Wen asked.

"I'm not sure either. The man from the Six Fan Gate is called Kang Qingfeng. He's a Deputy Director at the Provincial Hall.

"He arrested Qiao Xiao and threw him straight into a cell, then ordered that no one be allowed near him.

"Even I can't approach him, so there's no way for me to ask him anything," Yang Yun said.

"You're a constable and a Martial Jinshi. He's only a Deputy Director of the Six Fan Gate. Won't he even show you that much courtesy?" Tang Wen asked.

"It's no use! My words carry some weight here in Yanling City.

"But the Six Fan Gate is above us constables.

"They have enormous power. Whenever a case is involved-a major case, of course-they can interfere even in military affairs.

"What does a lowly constable like me count for?

"If I were the Chief Constable of the Provincial Criminal Office, that might help a little," Yang Yun said bitterly.

"Would the Commandery Governor's words carry weight?" Tang Wen asked.

"Lord Zhang's words would certainly carry some weight. Do you know him?" Yang Yun asked.

"No!" Tang Wen shook his head.

"Then we're in serious trouble. Those people from the Six Fan Gate are ruthless. Even if you've done nothing, once they interrogate you, they'll wring trouble out of you.

"Even if they release you, you'll probably spend a year or more in bed. If you're unlucky, they'll cripple your arms or legs, or even take your life.

"Never mind ordinary civilians-even minor officials like us would die for nothing if they beat us to death. It would be no different from killing a chicken.

"Years ago, the Hongchuan Prefect was arrested because he was implicated in a case.

"Someone eventually proved his innocence, and he was released.

"But they had beaten him into a cripple. He could only spend the rest of his life in bed.

"They bore no responsibility whatsoever for that incident. It was simply left unresolved.

"So in their eyes, only the imperial court matters. Nothing else counts.

"To be honest, my lord, although you hold a noble title, your rank is too low.

"And since you have no real power, they don't think much of you," Yang Yun said.

Damn it! Isn't this just like the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern and Western Depots?

"What if I could raise my title to Count?" Tang Wen asked.

"That would certainly help. After all, Qiao Xiao is your subordinate. As the head of a Count's personal guards, he would receive slightly better treatment.

"Only slightly better, though.

"If the Count wielded real power, that would be another matter," Yang Yun said. "Oh, speaking of this, I ought to congratulate you."

"Congratulate me? On what?" Tang Wen was rather confused.

"Didn't you wipe out seventy-two pirates last time? That counted as seventy-two military merits.

"I reported it to Lord Zhang, and he applied for the reward on your behalf.

"As a result, your military merits have already earned you promotion to Second-Rank Baron.

"I had planned to visit Su Mei Island in a few days to deliver the official document confirming the change in your title.

"There's also a Command Token.

"Since you're here now, all the better. I'll take you to Lord Zhang to collect them first."

As he spoke, Yang Yun frowned again. "But even as a Second-Rank Baron, you won't receive any consideration from Kang Qingfeng.

"Unless you rise to Count... Alas, this is troublesome.

"However, Lord Zhang has also been plagued by the Northwestern War lately.

"He still hasn't raised enough money. If you ask him to intervene, I doubt he'll have the time."

"Then please introduce me to Lord Zhang, Constable Yang. I'd like to claim them immediately," Tang Wen said, cupping his hands. The two headed straight to Zhang Hongjiang.

Zhang Hongjiang was handling official documents, and Tang Wen was able to see him directly.

Zhang Hongjiang was a lean, middle-aged man who looked quite upright and dignified, not one of those plump, greasy officials with a bulging belly.

In the past, a Commandery Governor also oversaw military affairs. Even the commandery's troops were under his control.

Thus, a Commandery Governor of that era could also be called a Frontier Governor, while a provincial governor was known as a Grand Frontier Governor.

Later, a Commandery Governor rebelled. From then on, Commandery Governors were stripped of military authority, naturally weakening their power considerably.