Walking Heaven Street (11)

Once the midsummer rain began, it was not so easily stopped.

The same seemed true of the Eastern Capital... Zhang Xing had keenly sensed that the geography of this world could easily undergo certain "shifts" because of some powerful beings.

Of course, to the people of this world, this was simply the natural order of things.

Among the seven Supreme Ones were the Three Luminaries, deities born of nature's evolution. True Dragons churning rivers and overturning seas, splitting the earth and opening mountains, were normal enough too.

And when Lord White Emperor had risen from Shu and swept across the Central Plains, his opening a few passages through the Qinling Mountains and clearing and expanding the Han River basin along the way hardly seemed worth dwelling on.

Yet clearly, it was also a fact that, ever since then, the Central Plains region where the Eastern Capital stood had received somewhat more rain in midsummer.

The rain drizzled on and off for several days, and the bloody purge of Jiaqing and Jiajing Wards finally concluded successfully on the fifth day.

The last two days of operations, however, had little to do with Zhang Xing. Ever since he had been "valiantly wounded" while pursuing the leader of the Great Righteousness Gang, he had done only two things. One was to improvise and fill out all manner of confusing forms as circumstances demanded-some of whose uses even he did not understand-and hand them to Xue Liang, who came at a fixed time every evening. The other was to assign logistical support and distribute rewards to all the various military personnel diligently slaughtering on the front lines, while also preparing chilled sour plum soup for everyone's flesh-and-blood bodies.

The chilled sour plum soup, in particular, won widespread acclaim.

"That's not how the accounts work, Xu Da. You nearly had me fooled."

The rain had rarely paused, dusk had barely shown itself, and the great moon had revealed half its face beside the clouds. Beneath the brightly lit covered walkway along Heaven Street, Zhang Xing was politely but earnestly wrangling with Xu Wei, the City Defense Army commander seated opposite him. "Your men on the walls did help, but not everyone who helped counts the same. Just as combatants' shares and support personnel's shares are entirely different..."

"Zhang Sanlang, I never said our men on the walls should receive combatants' shares. But all the weapons came through us. Surely transporting weapons counts as logistical support?" Xu Da seized on his wording and hastily reiterated his demand.

"Are all kinds of logistical support exactly the same?" Zhang Xing pointed at the spotless Heaven Street and asked gravely. "The men who worked through the night collecting corpses here, who spent entire days carrying rice, flour, firewood, and fodder through the wards, who burned bones to ash in the wards' brick kilns-should they receive the same money as someone who carried two bundles of crossbow bolts down from the wall?"

"Then what do you propose?" Xu Da faltered.

"Seventy strings of cash." Zhang Xing finally produced the proposal he had prepared. "Transporting weapons is real work, and work that requires care. We'll give you an extra seventy strings. I've asked around: you have thirty-five men left on the wall. Two strings each... Have them come down and collect it themselves, signing or making their marks."

Xu Da was delighted at first. He had thought there would be nothing, only to find there were still seventy strings to be had. But the final sentence deflated him again.

Put plainly, if his subordinates collected the money themselves, what was in it for him?

After a moment's thought, Xu Da glanced around and lowered his voice. "Zhang Sanlang... Do me a favor. I'll take just fifty strings, and you can keep twenty."

Zhang Xing sighed, rose, and walked down the covered walkway. Several dozen paces away, Bai Yousi, Qian Tang, Qin Bao, Li Qingchen, and several other young members of the Brocade-clad Patrol Cavalry were sitting in a casual row beneath the walkway, holding chilled sour plum soup and admiring the moon.

Seeing that Zhang Xing apparently refused to let him have even fifty strings as a little windfall, and was actually going to report him, Xu Da felt his teeth ache. But the intimidating display these brocade-clad dogs had put on over the past few days was still fresh in his mind, and he dared not run.

To his surprise, however, when Zhang Sanlang reached them, he said nothing to the young noblewoman of the Bai family. He merely asked one man to rise briefly, took a heavy pair of saddlebags from the chest beneath him, and quietly returned.

"Seventy taels of silver." Zhang Xing tossed the bulging saddlebags to him and explained earnestly. "Your subordinates transported the weapons, Xu Da. However much or little they receive has nothing to do with you. But opening the tower's arsenal, lending us weapons, and accounting for wear and tear-all that responsibility fell on you... In fact, the allocations I handle already include a share for each commander. Naturally, there's a personal benefit for you on the wall too. Even this benefit is greater than the others': they each get fifty taels... Why fight your own men for food?"

Halfway through, Xu Da whisked the saddlebags he had been hefting into his bosom. By the end, he was nodding repeatedly. "I knew you were a man of real caliber, Zhang Sanlang. The way you divide these shares, even the chief ministers in the Southern Office aren't as fair as you... Don't worry. I'll have them come collect their money tomorrow."

"Oh, one more thing." After a moment's thought, Zhang Xing added another reminder. "They've lit fires at all four ward gates and boiled plenty of water. When you return, Xu Da, you might have the brothers on the walls find basins and towels and come down in turns for hot baths... It's rained for days, and everyone's filthy. A bath and a foot soak, then a clean night's sleep-it'll feel refreshing."

Xu Da nodded all the more eagerly and rose to leave. But after two steps, he seemed to remember something, hurried back to the table, and asked in a low voice:

"Should I go salute Inspector Bai and introduce myself?"

Zhang Xing hastily waved him off. "We're under the emperor's very feet. Don't bring trouble down on her."

"That's what I thought." Xu Da immediately pointed at his heart. "But please, Zhang Sanlang, you must convey this for me: I revere Inspector Bai just as I do the Supreme Ones, the Three Radiances and Four Sovereigns... My feelings are right here, and they've never changed."

Enough already!

Zhang Xing was finally nearing the end of his patience... Revering her like the Three Radiances and Four Sovereigns? Why not say the great moon, one of the Three Luminaries, represented his heart? If he passed that along, those patrol cavalrymen admiring the moon with their lady inspector might secretly bash the man's head in!

Besides, did he really think Inspector Bai could not hear him from this distance?

Of course, despite these thoughts, Zhang Xing wore an utterly earnest expression. "I understand, I understand. I'll certainly pass it on. Certainly!"

Sure enough, Bai Yousi cast a light, impassive glance their way from afar, then continued looking up at the moon.

And Xu Da finally rose again.

Then he came back once more.

"Zhang Sanlang," Xu Da said sincerely. "I don't know whether you've made arrangements of your own... But since you've given me seventy taels of silver, I can't fail to do the proper thing. You're sitting here on Heaven Street, so it's inconvenient. Just give me an address, and I'll have someone deliver ten taels to your home in a few days."

Bai Yousi remained utterly motionless in the distance, but Zhang Xing's scalp prickled at these words. All he could do was heave a long sigh and point toward her:

"Xu Da, do you know why Inspector Bai has been so utterly selfless this time? Seeking neither profit nor credit, nor even your gratitude?"

"I do." Xu Da glanced at the cluster of people in the distance and chuckled quietly. "A young noblewoman of the Bai family lacks nothing, and she has martial skills like those. At a juncture like this, if she goes beyond her duties to do good deeds, she has to worry about people accusing her of buying hearts."

"Exactly," Zhang Xing answered earnestly. "A young noblewoman of the Bai family lacks nothing. If she lacks anything, it's simply 'no faults, no omissions' at this moment... Meaning no blunders, a clear conscience before heaven and earth, and doing right by those above and below. That's enough... That's why she's so selfless, deciding what to do with the confiscated money here on Heaven Street, before everyone's eyes, and deliberately refusing even to handle the reward money given to you."

At this, Zhang Xing pointed at himself. "Right now, I need 'no faults' too! I just want this matter handled properly. I've never thought of getting rich."

Xu Da froze briefly, nodded, and stood up. At last, he delivered his final words. "Zhang Sanlang, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart... Some people are beyond your reach. If you insist on trying, that's fine-you're young... But have a plan in mind. If it doesn't work after a few years, turn back early and make yourself some wealth and standing, so you have something to show for yourself. When I said you divided the spoils better than the gentlemen of the Southern Office, I meant every word. You really do handle things beautifully. This one affair has established you in the Eastern Capital. At the very least, here in the Southern City, everyone recognizes the name Zhang Sanlang now."

With that, Xu Da felt the saddlebags in his bosom, gripped his saber, and sped south along Heaven Street.

Zhang Xing stood stunned for some time before realizing the man had misunderstood him, but could not be bothered to address it... For no other reason than that, in this Brocade-Clad Patrol Unit ranked second within the Jing'an Directorate's Central Pacification Office, almost every unmarried man entertained certain perfectly natural notions. The misunderstanding was only natural, and one more person sharing it made little difference.

Who could blame them, when that damned woman really did have lofty family connections, formidable martial skills, and passable looks?

At this thought, Zhang Xing wanted only to bathe inside the ward and retire early. He took several ledgers from beneath the table, hastily checked them, then turned toward Bai Yousi, who was still admiring the moon nearby.

"Inspector, official business." Under the young cavalrymen's gazes, Zhang Xing openly handed over the ledgers. "The accounts are finished... Three ledgers: one set of open accounts for the Directorate, and two sets of hidden accounts, one recording our own brothers' shares and one leaving them out... If there are no errors, we'll distribute all the movable wealth according to the hidden accounts first thing tomorrow, and prepare the open accounts as documents to submit."

Bai Yousi nodded and accepted them with a rare smile. "Thank you for your hard work, Sanlang. Without you, this could never have begun and ended so smoothly."

That single remark made the stares of several colleagues feel like thorns in Zhang Xing's back.

Yet although he plainly knew she was teasing him, Zhang Xing could only steel himself and wave it off. "It was no hardship. Nothing compared with the brothers fighting in the wards. I was just slacking off."

"I know how things stand." Bai Yousi arranged the three ledgers and asked as she leafed through them, "Did you know the Intendant's commendation came down yesterday?"

"Yes."

"Then did you know that, last night, all the Vermilion Sashes in the capital were summoned by the Intendant, and that, starting this morning, all the Southern City wards under the Jing'an Directorate's jurisdiction were to use our two wards as a model for a coordinated purge of the Southern City?"

"Yes. I also know the Intendant thought we killed too many people, and said ten deaths per ten thousand people would suffice in the other wards."

"Correct." Bai Yousi did not look up from the ledgers, but her smile was unmistakable. "Then did you know the Intendant once asked me to distribute our team's patrol cavalrymen among the other teams to assist and instruct them, but I refused?"

"No." Zhang Xing stood with his hands at his sides and thought briefly. He decided flattery was best until the situation became clear; her smile was far too unnerving. "But you were absolutely right, Inspector... What sense is there in making us help everyone else just because we finished our own work, and did it well and quickly? Besides, we've worked hard for days: drawing up plans, organizing men and supplies, commanding, fighting, distributing materials, dealing with corpses and wounded men, and handling the aftermath. Not all our people have cultivation as profound as yours, Inspector. They need rest. And if we went to instruct other teams, never mind getting no money or credit, or suffering grievances and dirty, exhausting work-what I fear is running into another Ma Kui, another 'Soaring Cloud Sword,' without you to shelter us."

These words were both sincere and flattering. They prompted Qian Tang and the others to size Zhang Xing up repeatedly, each feeling that Zhang Sanlang truly was a formidable rival.

"Yes." Bai Yousi looked at the ledgers, actually savoring the flattery. "Ultimately, storms are raging at court, and all we did was protect ourselves... There's no need to compete over that."

"Yes." Zhang Xing nodded earnestly, thinking only that the flattery had pleased her and he had cleared today's hurdle.

"So it was precisely because I feared you'd be swept into some great trouble that I specifically refused the Intendant's request to transfer you to the Black Tower to teach those forms." Bai Yousi set down the ledger and fixed him with an earnest gaze. "Transfer to the Black Tower, finish that work, and by precedent you could receive a White Ribbon in three months... You won't resent me, will you?"

Zhang Xing did not immediately understand. Only after a moment did the meaning dawn on him, and he waved his hands repeatedly, answering sincerely, "How could I? I can't thank you enough, Inspector... Here in the Eastern Capital, winds rise and waters surge. A nobody like me needs your shelter. Without you, I couldn't even keep my life."

Bai Yousi and the cavalrymen all wore different expressions, but every one of them stared at Zhang Xing, seemingly trying to verify his words.

Yet after watching him for a long time, Bai Yousi still detected no sign of hypocrisy or pretense, and felt somewhat reassured. "Rest assured. Although your manners leave something to be desired, your cultivation, literary talents, worldly understanding, and character are all excellent. Sooner or later, you'll earn wealth and standing."

At this, how could Zhang Xing fail to understand? That damned woman must have heard Xu Da's remarks just now. Aware that she had driven him mercilessly these past days, she felt a little embarrassed and was offering some reassurance.

"Rest assured, Inspector." Having figured this out, Zhang Xing relaxed as well. He cupped his hands proudly. "I truly have no desire to seek wealth and standing. I only fear that if I work conscientiously and in good conscience, wealth and standing will force themselves on me... But I've always been narrow-minded, unable to bear injustice. I fear that, should my temper flare, I'll meet blades before I meet riches... When that happens, I'll still need the great house behind you and the long sword at your waist to offer me a little shelter."

With that, he cupped his hands again and walked straight off, apparently heading through the ward gate to bathe and sleep, leaving the others to admire the moon on their own.

Bai Yousi stared at his retreating figure for a while, then carefully savored his words again. Astonishingly, she still detected no hint of hypocrisy or pretense in his delivery, and was momentarily stunned.

In that bewildered daze, the air suddenly grew oppressive. Dark clouds rolled across the bright moon again, and the helplessly persistent summer drizzle returned.

It was midsummer, and rain was falling over the Eastern Capital.

The following day, the rain continued. At noon, explosive news suddenly arrived. On only the second day after the Southern City wards under the Jing'an Directorate had begun trying the new program centered on suppressing local gangs and providing disaster relief, large-scale civil unrest had erupted in Zhengping Ward. Clearly among the instigators were large bands of wanted criminals involved in the earlier prison raid and escape, along with their core organizing forces. The various government troops in Zhengping Ward had consequently been ambushed and suffered heavy casualties.

For a time, mounted messengers raced in every direction. With the ban temporarily lifted in the Eastern Capital, streaks of light even occasionally flew past overhead. Every contingent received military orders: leave only a few men to control Heaven Street; all other elite forces were to proceed immediately and unconditionally to reinforce Zhengping Ward.

Having just finished distributing the money and been preparing to rest in Jiajing and Jiaqing until their half-month term expired, the Second Patrol Team had no choice but to divide immediately. One group remained behind under Deputy Patrol Inspector Hu Yan, a Black Sash; the other swiftly advanced along Heaven Street under Bai Yousi to provide reinforcements.

Zhang Xing was assigned to Bai Yousi's group.

P.S. Thanks to Asakura, No Martial Virtue, and Head Odd-Jobber for becoming alliance leaders... I'm endlessly grateful... Happy New Year, everyone.