Chapter 0008: Boiling

Fei Yinghuan glanced at Zhao Han with some curiosity and asked, "Which old friend's son are you?"

The chief clerk, Li Xing, upon receiving the news, hurriedly got up from the bed of his concubine and quickly made his way to the scene in a sedan chair

Zhao Han knelt down immediately upon hearing this, sincerely expressing his gratitude

Wang Yongshi laughed and said, "Brother Dazhao, you have come at the right time. Tonight, let us brothers join forces to properly punish the corrupt merchants and officials!"

Kill

"My lord, run quickly, the rioters are about to break in!"

Wang Yongshi, unwilling to take the examination again, sought the assistance of his elder relatives to secure the position of county magistrate in the examination city through financial means. During his tenure, he punished the wicked and eliminated evil, gaining considerable support from the people. After observing three years of filial mourning for his father, he was transferred last year to the position of county magistrate in Jinghai.

In the presence of Wei Jianxiong, Zhao Han performed a deep bow and remained silent

After waiting for approximately a quarter of an hour, County Magistrate Wang Yongshi of Jinghai finally appeared on the city tower

Fei Yinghuan rubbed his wrist and said, "Virtuous younger brother, you have endured for a year, and now with the great disaster affecting the entire county, it is time to gather the net, isn't it?"

Seeing that the other party was still unwilling to speak and help, Zhao Han suddenly knelt down and knocked his head on the ground, saying, "Please, sir, take my brother and me into the city"

Zhao Han pointed at his half-conscious younger sister and raised the spear in his hand, saying: "I have been begging in Tianjin with my younger sister, often bullied by other beggars. Fortunately, I practiced martial arts with my father. On our way south, my younger sister fell seriously ill, and we wanted to enter the county town to seek medical treatment, but unfortunately, the city gates were tightly closed, preventing us from entering."

Li Xing, in a fit of anger, rebuked, "Nonsense, this is the residence of respectable citizens and gentry, where could there be any rebels?"

Wang Yongshi displayed a look of surprise and sarcastically remarked, "Li Zhu Bu, seeing you so flustered and angry, could it be that you are in collusion with the rebels?"

Suddenly, Wei Jianxiong emerged from the inner chamber, threw two sets of armor onto the ground, and cupped his hands in salute, saying: "County Lord, two sets of armor have been found in the residence."

"County Magistrate Wang, stop at once!" Li Xing shouted

Wang Yongshi explained: "The governance of Jinghai County is entirely in the hands of the chief clerk. My foolish brother has been in office for a year, yet he has not been able to intervene in any matters regarding grain and horses, tax collection, household registration, or patrol duties! Even the county magistrate is no different from me; it seems that the chief clerk is indeed the true head of the county!"

Wang Yongshi wore a stern expression and said irritably, "Fei Dazhao, I heard that you intend to return to Jiangxi and ruin my reputation?"

Before nightfall, the apprentice at the medical clinic delivered the medicine, and the maid immediately took it to prepare.

The value of something is relative to the person considering it; this copper hairpin, if it were brand new, would at least be worth three to four hundred wen.

Fei Yinghuan smiled and said, "How could I dare? My foolish brother has come to Jinghai merely because his funds have been exhausted, and he wishes to borrow a few taels of silver from Brother Qizhao for travel expenses"

Wang Yongshi walked over and said in a low voice, "Li Zhu Bu, among the six offices of the county government, two are already under my control, and Zhang County Deputy has also taken one. Can you still cover the sky with one hand? By the way, the newly appointed governor has already assumed office; he is an old friend from my days at the imperial examination. Be sensible and obedient, as I do not wish to break relations during this time of great disaster"

"Shut up!" Li Xing was instantly infuriated to the point of feeling pain in his liver

"In this case, I must trouble the doctor." What else could Zhao Han say? The physician invited by the county magistrate is at least more reliable than the one he found himself

Wang Yongshi laughed heartily at that moment, saying, "Brother Wei, you are still as valiant as ever; tonight, you shall serve as the vanguard general!"

Speaking in coarse and vulgar language, lacking the demeanor of a gentleman

Having reached the heavens and finding no way to breach, he shouted: "Everyone, step back, ignite the door!"

The gate of the courtyard, engulfed in flames, was pushed down with a resounding crash

If it cannot be obtained, then think of another way

Zhao Han arrived at the city tower and bowed in gratitude to the county magistrate, while Wang Yongshi merely nodded slightly to indicate his acceptance

Wang Yongshi smiled sinisterly and said, "May I ask, Master Li, according to the Great Ming Code, what punishment is prescribed for the private possession of armor?"

Wei Jianxiong shouted loudly, brandishing a wrought iron rod, and said to the starving people, "Whoever dares to take another step forward will have their head split open!"

......

Then let's buy it for two days first, and wait until tomorrow to see County Magistrate Wang, to see if we can shamelessly ask for some.

Wang Yongshi smiled wryly and said, "Those petty officials were not sent by me. Do you believe me, brother?"

There is a Wang clan in Jiangxi, which is a branch of the Yangcheng Wang clan

To be precise, it is a zombie tide

"The cold evil is externally constrained, the five energies are out of balance, leading to stagnation and resulting in heat, which is why there is a fever," the doctor said as he released Zhao Zhengfang's arm and addressed Zhao Han, "I will prescribe a formula; if taken in the morning and evening, it may lead to recovery"

Thank you very much, sister Zhao Han said as he stood up

The doctor has left, and Zhao Han is alone by the bedside, waiting for the apprentice from the medical clinic to bring the medicine

After the two siblings left, Wei Jianxiong was also brought up. Fei Yinghuan suddenly turned around and said with a serious expression: "In Jinghai County, the land is filled with starving corpses. Why does my virtuous brother still send the officials to the countryside to collect land taxes? Are you not afraid of inciting a rebellion among the people?"

"You, you... you are framing me!" Li Xing said furiously, directly threatening, "Wang, do not be ungrateful; this Jinghai County is not for you to dictate!"

Several guards, facing the powerless disaster victims, suddenly turned around and raised their knives: "Kill them, slaughter Zhang Bangchen and distribute the grain!"

Fei Yinghuan smiled and clasped his fists in greeting, saying, "Brother Qizhao, it has been several years since we last met, and I have missed you greatly"

"Hehe," Fei Yinghuan continued to smile, "If my younger brother truly does not allow me to enter the city, then why must he personally ascend the city to meet me"

Zhao Han quickly stood up and said, "Thank you, sister"

"Has the new governor arrived? Which gentleman is it?" Li Xing was immediately taken aback, and suddenly clutching his stomach said, "Oh dear, my stomach is upset, quickly help me back home to use the toilet"

County government office

Kill

Two days later, the peasant army surged to more than 6,000, bringing their families as they marched towards Jinghai County

......

From their brief interaction just now, Zhao Han has already realized that the seemingly kind and approachable Fei Yinghuan is actually quite difficult to deal with. In contrast, the rude and fierce Wei Jianxiong is, surprisingly, a warm-hearted person

"Second brother is here." Zhao Han quickly held the little sister's hand

That night

The doctor opened his palm and said, "In consideration of the county magistrate, I will only charge five coins of silver"

Wang Yongshi, feeling too lazy to ask further, directly instructed his attendant: "Take them to the county office and ask the doctor to examine them."

Alright, County Magistrate Wang only instructed to invite the doctor, but did not instruct his subordinates to provide the medical fees

The maid smiled and said, "Young master truly knows how to speak; I am merely a servant attending to the master"

Fei Yinghuan lay lazily on the parapet, looking utterly indifferent. He gazed down at the tragic scene outside the city, seemingly unconcerned, and casually remarked: "These two children are the descendants of an old friend of mine. Alas, their entire family has met a tragic end, leaving only them to rely on each other. I trouble you, my dear brother, to help find a good doctor."

The water had cooled a bit; Zhao Han helped his younger sister sit up, fed her a small sip, and then stayed by her bedside, talking to her.

Fei Yinghuan nodded and said, "If it were someone else, I would definitely not believe it"

Wang Yongshi let out a cold snort and then said to the gatekeeper, "Put down the willow basket and hang this son of a dog up!"

Zhao Han said, "You can rest assured to take your medicine and recuperate at your father's friend's home."

Wang Yongshi turned around and smiled, "Is Master Li also here to assist in capturing the rebellious faction?"

Zhao Zhenfang asked, "Where is this?"

Stepping forward with a torch, he shouted: "Everyone listen, this Zhang family in the village has forced us to sell our sons and daughters. Today, those with grievances shall take revenge, and those wronged shall seek justice. Let us kill the entire Zhang family and throw this scoundrel into the pot to make soup! Follow me to kill!"

Fei Yinghuan glared at her servant and then said, "Get up and wait with me."

This fellow has a fierce appearance, instantly frightening everyone away

"Young Master, the water has arrived." The maid entered the room carrying hot water; she was the maid of County Magistrate Wang.

Zhao Han was very tempted to strike out, as this was merely the consultation fee, excluding the cost of medicine, yet they dared to demand half a tael of silver.

The other servants also came to their senses; since they could not win, they chose to join in and actively led the starving people to charge in.

"Those who understand me are Fei Dazhao of Qianshan!"

As news of the uprising spread, disaster victims from the countryside flocked in, willingly following to rise against the heavens

......

Fei Yinghuan rubbed his hands together and said to his servant Wei Jianxiong, "Old Wei, it's your turn to show your skills."

Beneath the city wall

My father was a juren from Wuqing County in Bazhou, with the surname Zhao and the given name Shilang. Zhao Han was spouting nonsense, yet he remained unfazed, directly misrepresenting his scholar father as a juren.

"Sister, you are beautiful and virtuous, and surely you will be wealthy in the future. I, your younger brother, am unable to prepare the medicine; could you kindly assist me once more? This is a small token of my appreciation, and I hope you will accept it." Zhao Han, fearing that the maidservant would not be diligent, immediately took out a hairpin. He had seen it at a pawnshop in Tianjin; it was made of copper, inlaid with medicinal jade (colored glass), and not worth much.

Zhao Han wore a face of deep sorrow and said, half-truthfully, "My father is upright and honest. Although he was once a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, he remains as poor as water. This year, due to a severe drought in the county, my father took the whole family to escape the famine, but we encountered bandits north of Tianjin. My father, mother, and elder brother all perished, and only my younger sister and I managed to survive by a stroke of luck"

Thank you very much, both benefactors

Zhao Han held his younger sister and sat together in the willow basket

The courtyard gate was not only secured with multiple bolts, but also blocked with various heavy objects. The starving people pressed against the door, unable to push it open, yet they shoved one another, piling up heavily, causing the door hinges to creak as if they might collapse at any moment

After a while, the maid came in and said, "Young Master, the medicine has been brewed and I have placed it on the table to cool."

The doctor stroked his beard and explained, "It is merely a common case of typhoid fever, but the patient is weak and has been suffering from depression for a long time. This is not an illness that has developed overnight; it is the result of long-term accumulation. Alas, it is hard to say; we shall see what fate has in store." He then changed the subject, saying, "So, who will pay for this consultation fee?"

Watching Li Xing leave, Wang Yongshi spat on the ground and stomped, saying, "A dog-like creature, not even a juren, yet daring to be arrogant in front of me. Once the disaster victims return home, I will make your head move!"

The medical expenses are insufficient; Zhao Han's entire possessions can only purchase a two-day supply of medication

"Zhao Shilang?" Fei Yinghuan pondered deeply, then shook her head, "I have not heard of your esteemed father's name."

A large quantity of withered grass and dry branches was brought in and piled up in front of the door, which was set ablaze. After a quarter of an hour, the main door began to catch fire

The person next to him, Wei Jianxiong, suddenly chimed in: "Young master, it is merely a small effort."

Zhao Han did not wait for Wei Jianxiong to enter the basket, but stepped forward to block the center.

......

The team, which had grown to over 4,000, surrounded the estate of Zhang Jichen, the town chief of Yangliuqing, located twenty miles away.

Fei Yinghuan strolled over leisurely and teased, "My dear brother, that new governor from Hejian indeed participated in the joint examination with us. However, he is not an old friend; you were so jealous back then that you beat him up, leaving him with a bruised face and swollen nose."

The doctor accepted the small silver coins and instructed his apprentice to take out a small scale. After weighing, he returned a few copper coins to Zhao Han. He then said, "My clinic also sells medicine; I can have my apprentice fetch some medicine."

The two individuals have been long-time friends, having taken the imperial examination together three times, and both have failed each time.

The guards of the courtyard were sprawled over the walls, each one drenched in sweat.

Fei Yinghuan was somewhat moved upon hearing this, and during his stay in Tianjin, he was also aware of the emergence of horse bandits outside the city, which coincided with what Zhao Han had mentioned. He could not help but sigh, saying, "Alas, in this corrupt world, even scholars find themselves in such a tragic situation"

Thank you

Another fifteen minutes have passed

Wang Yongshi, styled Qizhao, was a native of Yangcheng, Shanxi, and belonged to the Sanhuai Wang clan. He was selected as a juren in the thirty-seventh year of the Wanli era.

Taking out the broken silver from his pocket, Zhao Han felt a sense of unease, as his money was nearly depleted, leaving only some jewelry that he had not yet dared to touch

Wang Yongshi let out a cold laugh and self-mockingly said, "Alas, who would have thought that the daughter of the registrar is the concubine of the magistrate of Hejian? Here we are, scholars toiling away in our studies, yet we cannot compete with the pillow talk of a lowly concubine"

Bang

More than ten years ago, the Wang family in Jiangxi established a clan temple and sought to revise their genealogy, sending someone to Shanxi to contact the main clan. Wang Yongshi, as the representative of the main clan, went to Jiangxi to assist in the revision of the genealogy, during which he became acquainted with and formed a friendship with Fei Yinghuan

The cost of medical treatment is high, both in ancient and modern times

Kill upon seeing a person, rob upon seeing an object

Wang Yongshi remarked to the toothpick maker, "How could a mere clerk of scholar background know about such private matters? There is nothing to fear."

Many people are unable to lift the sticks in their hands, merely propping them against the ground as they stumble along, resembling the clumsy movements of zombies in a science fiction film

Zhao Han asked, "How much does it cost?"

All of this is grandiloquent nonsense; this person is a master of Tai Chi.

"Is there any hope for recovery?" Zhao Han exclaimed, "Doctor, is my sister's illness very serious?"

The frail disaster victims, who were originally the victims, have now become exceedingly ferocious, having completely lost their reason and humanity

Wei Jianxiong disdainfully said, "A few petty criminals, easily captured."

Not a single chicken or dog is left, women and children alike perish, and even the innocent and the weak are not spared

Master, someone has climbed over the wall and entered!

Two willow baskets were lowered from the city tower. Fei Yinghuan stepped into the basket, sitting gracefully and leisurely as if riding in a palanquin, while waving a folding fan and commanding, "Go!"

The maid, filled with joy, accepted the copper hairpin and said, "It's just boiling medicine, leave it to me"

Suddenly, cries of killing echoed through Jinghai County, and the county magistrate Wang Yongshi personally led a team to apprehend the most powerful local tyrant in the city. The charges were: collusion with bandits, harboring wanted criminals, illegally possessing weapons and armor, and intent to rebel

"Is there really such a thing? Haha, my dear brother, you are truly a mediocre official!" Fei Yinghuan unexpectedly laughed heartily.

The time is pulled back to that afternoon

Fei Yinghuan glanced at Zhao Zhenfang and said sympathetically, "It must not have been easy for you and your brother to come this far at such a young age"

Indeed, in response to Zhao Han's deep bow, Wei Jianxiong chose not to step into the willow basket. He drew out a wrought iron rod with a reverse grip, turned to face the encroaching hungry crowd, and said to Zhao Han, "You sit in there yourself"

Nonsense, a failed scholar; it would be strange if you had ever heard of him

"Oh." Zhao Zhenfang remained confused

Before the medicine was ready, Zhao Zhenfang woke up and, in a daze, looked at the top of the mosquito net and said, "Second Brother?"

"My lord, there are also unruly people at the back door, we cannot pass!"

Wang Yongshi suddenly burst into a tirade, shouting: "Fei Dazhao, you scoundrel, I am from the Wang family of Yangcheng, Shanxi, and have nothing to do with the Wang family of Jiangxi. You can go back to Jiangxi and spread your rumors, but today I truly will not let you enter the city"

Kill