Chapter 42: The Feud Is Sealed, Anyway

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“Silence!”

Deputy General Zhang’s furious shout cut him off, the veins at his temples bulging.

He drew a deep breath and turned to General Chen.

“General Chen, there may have been some misunderstanding. Why not first transfer the prisoner to the prefectural yamen and investigate the truth before—”

“No need.” General Chen waved a hand, his tone cold and absolute. “The evidence in this case is conclusive. The verdict must be delivered in this very hall today!”

At that moment, Minister Wang of the Ministry of Revenue suddenly rose and said ominously, “General Chen, under the military law of Great Qian, a death sentence must first be reported to the imperial court and may not be carried out until the Ministry of War gives its approval. If you dare to act on your own authority today, I, as supervising commissioner, will certainly submit a formal accusation against you!”

The atmosphere in the hall froze.

General Chen’s expression darkened. He pounded the table three times with his finger before finally saying coldly, “Very well. Since Minister Wang insists…”

His gaze swept toward Zhang Shiren.

“The death penalty may be spared, but he shall not escape punishment! Guards, cut off his weapon-wielding right hand and imprison him pending further examination!”

Zhang Shiren’s face turned ashen, and he collapsed limply onto the floor.

Two soldiers stepped forward and dragged him onto the execution bench.

The executioner’s sword flashed coldly.

“Ah—!”

His scream resounded throughout the Military Tribunal. Blood splattered across the bluestone floor, a horrifying sight.

Minister Wang’s face turned livid. With a cold snort, he flung back his sleeve and strode away.

A flicker of venom passed through Deputy General Zhang’s eyes. In the end, he dared say no more and turned to leave.

…

The following day, Ironwood Fort.

Pang Dabiao arrived with a squad of personal guards, driving a large cart.

A heavy chest sat atop it.

“Captain Pang, what is this?” Lin Chuan asked.

Pang Dabiao did not look particularly pleased. “Banner Captain Lin! The Zhang family… took silver to the main camp and paid to ransom him.”

Lin Chuan was stunned for a long while before nodding.

He had expected this outcome from the beginning.

The Zhang family wielded tremendous influence. Even Supervising Commissioner Minister Wang had spoken on their behalf, which showed just how tangled the connections behind them were.

Pang Dabiao patted the chest. “The general heard that you had suffered an injustice and specifically ordered me to deliver all two thousand taels of silver to you!”

Lin Chuan casually lifted the lid. White silver ingots gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight.

“Heh. An unexpected windfall.”

He closed the chest. “I did not particularly care whether that young master Zhang lived or died. As things turned out, I made two thousand taels for nothing.”

Pang Dabiao lowered his voice. “The general asked me to tell you this: the Zhang family will not let the matter rest. Be careful.”

Lin Chuan smiled, though his eyes were cold. “It does not matter. The grudge has already been formed.”

He looked into the distance. Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon, as though a storm were approaching.

The political purges and unchecked power of the mighty that history books recorded were now unfolding vividly before his eyes.

“Captain Pang,” he said, “please convey my thanks to the general.”

Pang Dabiao grinned. “Ah, that is simply how the general is. He cannot stand to see one of his own suffer an injustice. Not just you—even the most insignificant foot soldier in the camp would receive his protection.”

Lin Chuan gave a slight nod and said no more.

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The northern wind howled atop the city wall, whipping the hem of his robes.

Some principles did not need to be explained in full, but some responsibilities had to be shouldered.

Throughout the ages, had any upright and impartial man not advanced through storms of blood and violence?

In a world where tigers and wolves lurked on every side, only strength could serve as the foundation for survival.

For now, the most important thing was to strengthen Ironwood Fort’s foundations.

“Clang, clang, clang, clang—”

The crisp sound of metal echoed through the fort.

The cook held an iron ladle and struck the bronze gong hanging beneath the dining hall’s eaves.

Soldiers and craftsmen who had been busy in various places all stopped what they were doing and began walking in groups of two or three toward the same destination.

Pang Dabiao asked in surprise, “Captain Lin, what are you—”

“Better to arrive early than at the wrong time.” Lin Chuan smiled. “Captain Pang, you are in luck today. You have arrived just in time for the opening of Ironwood Fort’s dining hall.”

“Dining hall?” Pang Dabiao raised an eyebrow. “That is something new. But why is breakfast so late?”

Lin Chuan laughed heartily. “You misunderstand, Captain Pang. This is lunch. Ironwood Fort has now switched to three meals a day.”

“Three meals?!” Pang Dabiao’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“There is heavy work to be done in the fort, and the combat troops train hard as well.” Lin Chuan explained as they walked. “If we continued eating only twice a day, everyone would be so hungry by midafternoon that they would have no strength left. Since switching to three meals, not only do they work with greater vigor, but even illness and injuries have decreased considerably.”

Pang Dabiao nodded thoughtfully.

As an old army veteran, he naturally understood the significance of such a change.

The grain consumption alone would increase by thirty percent.

Yet a mere banner captain had considered the welfare of the soldiers under his command to such an extent…

Then he suddenly remembered something and glanced back at the personal guards behind him. “But I still have these ten brothers…”

“It is only ten extra sets of bowls and chopsticks!”

Lin Chuan laughed heartily and cast a glance at Zhang Xiaonian. “Go prepare bowls and chopsticks for Captain Pang’s guards.”

Inside the dining hall, several large iron pots steamed vigorously.

The people waiting in line had been orderly divided into three rows.

Combat troops, support troops, and laborers each formed their own line.

Pang Dabiao was startled again. “Even the laborers receive three meals a day?”

“They all work with their strength.”

Lin Chuan spoke lightly as he led Pang Dabiao to the front of the combat troops’ line.

The cook swiftly ladled out two large bowls of coarse-grain rice.

The finest millet had been mixed with polished rice and steamed until it gleamed with a lustrous sheen.

She added a heaping spoonful of richly colored stewed meat and a serving of bright green vegetables.

The fragrance of meat mingled with that of rice, making the support troops in the distance swallow repeatedly.

“This is quite a feast.”

Pang Dabiao’s hands trembled slightly as he held the bowl. “Do the combat troops eat this well every day?”

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Lin Chuan shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth and answered indistinctly, “Officers and soldiers eat the same food. Whatever the combat troops eat, we eat as well.”

Not far away, the personal guards had already gathered with Hu Dayong and the others.

These guards, accustomed to coarse grain in the border city, now held fragrant dishes in their hands, each of them grinning from ear to ear.

This treatment was far better than what they had received in the personal guard camp!

Pang Dabiao picked up a piece of stewed meat and put it into his mouth. It was rich without being greasy, melting the instant it touched his tongue.

He suddenly understood why Ironwood Fort’s soldiers always looked at Lin Chuan with such almost fanatical loyalty.

Pang Dabiao lifted another piece of stewed meat, streaked with both fat and lean, and put it into his mouth.

The meat was tender and succulent without losing its bite, its rich fragrance spreading between his lips and teeth.

He suddenly set down his chopsticks and let out a long sigh.

“Captain Lin, I used to think you were merely skilled in the art of war. Only today have I realized that your true gift lies in winning people’s hearts.”

Lin Chuan laughed when he heard this. “You flatter me, Captain Pang. I am only a rough fellow doing what lies within my duty.”

“Ah!” Pang Dabiao suddenly slapped the table, making the bowls and dishes clatter. “All this talk of captains and banner commanders is far too formal! If you think well of me, call me Big Brother!”

A sharp light flashed in Lin Chuan’s eyes. He immediately rose and clasped his fists.

“Big Brother Pang!”

“Hahahaha! Good brother!” Pang Dabiao roared with laughter.

As they chatted and laughed, a delicate fragrance of osmanthus drifted over.

Yunniang approached with a celadon wine jug in her hands, moving with graceful steps. “A-Chuan, the wine is warmed.”

“Come, come!” Lin Chuan took Yunniang’s slender hand. “Yunniang, meet Big Brother Pang.”

Yunniang bowed gracefully, a strand of dark hair falling beside her temple.

“Big Brother Pang.”

Pang Dabiao’s eyes widened like copper bells. After staring for a long moment, he slapped his thigh and burst out laughing.

“What a beautiful sister-in-law! If I had a wife like that, I would not merely cut off one of Zhang Shiren’s hands—I would twist his head right off his neck!”

The entire hall erupted in laughter.

Pang Dabiao patted his pockets. “Ah, we came in such haste today that I did not prepare a gift…”

Then he suddenly thought of something and raised his hand to untie a white-jade pendant from his waist.

The pendant was smooth and lustrous as suet, carved with an intricate knot symbolizing peace and safety.

“My wife had this safety pendant blessed. Here, sister-in-law, it is yours!”

“Oh, no, we cannot accept this!” Lin Chuan hurriedly reached out to stop his wrist.

Pang Dabiao glared with his leopard-like eyes. “Damn it! If I say you can accept it, then you can accept it!”

As he spoke, he forcibly pressed the pendant into Yunniang’s hands.

A rosy flush spread across Yunniang’s cheeks. She said softly, “Thank you, Big Brother Pang.”

The two men were drinking and enjoying themselves when a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the sky.

The lookout’s cry rang out:

“Signal smoke! Two white banners—”

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