Volume Two: The Lord and His Grandson Chapter 48: Killing the Official

Outside the city, the scouts from the Fufeng Army noticed someone on the battlements waving their arms. They immediately hurried back to report the advance. The vanguard was eighty strong men from Shangzhou, who separated from the Fufeng Army and approached the east city gate.

Lu Tao ordered the lowering of the drawbridge and opening of the city gates, for dusk was approaching and the gates had already been shut not long before. The drawbridge was lowered by the robust militiamen atop the city walls, and the guards in the gatehouse, thinking the gate officer had given the command, opened the city gate, allowing the eighty Shangzhou men to enter the barbican and pass through toward the county office.

Thirty prison guards sent to the east city gate for defense crossed paths with the eighty strong men on the main street. They merely glanced at each other with curiosity, each minding their own business as they passed. When the prison guards arrived, Lu Tao dismissed them, saying they were reserves and should return if needed. Unwilling to be stationed at the gate, the guards quickly left to find places to rest, some still unfed.

After sending away the prison guards, Lu Tao dismissed several dozen of the original garrison, claiming they needed to rest and would take over the watch later that night. The old garrison was not so easily deceived, questioning why the gate officer had not issued a command. Without hesitation, Lu Tao told those who questioned him to go up to the gate tower and ask the officer themselves.

No one volunteered to go; many of the militia sensed something was amiss, but their numbers were insufficient to challenge the situation and risk trouble. Watching as dozens of the old garrison left behind their weapons and departed, Lu Tao ordered the gates opened again, allowing four hundred Fufeng soldiers to enter through the east gate.

Yet some of the old garrison, suspicious, covertly observed the incoming troops and immediately ran to report to the Duke’s mansion. “Halt! Don’t you know the ward gates are locked? You shouldn’t be wandering outside,” the two guards rushing to report encountered a group of soldiers clad in shining armor.

“Sir, there’s trouble at the east city gate. Someone inside let in a large unknown force,” one of the messengers explained hurriedly.

“Is that so? Seize them,” the lead soldier commanded, and immediately a dozen men lunged forward, slashing down the two messengers.

“How did this happen? There are messengers!” one soldier grumbled.

“Don’t talk nonsense. We have few men at the east gate; letting in the troops is already the best outcome,” the leader retorted.

Moments later, four hundred Fufeng soldiers joined nearly two hundred shield-and-blade troops, and under the guidance of their lead, rushed toward the Duke’s mansion.

...

Inside the county office, Wei Fufeng and his father had been sitting for half an hour when Wei Fufeng suggested his father take a walk. The two, along with their subordinates, moved to the main entrance of the county office, where the gate was tightly shut. Flanking the entrance were offices with four guards on duty.

“Oh, Deputy Magistrate, what brings you here?” a bailiff stepped out to ask.

“My father is unwell; we’re going out to see the physician,” Wei Fufeng replied.

“Oh, will you be returning?” the bailiff asked.

“No, we’re going back to the inn,” Wei Fufeng answered.

The bailiff nodded, understanding that sending the deputy magistrate away would not incur blame from the magistrate, so there was no need to hinder his superior. He turned and called for the gate to be opened.

Two guards emerged and began to open the heavy doors. As soon as a crack appeared, the doors were suddenly thrust open with tremendous force, sending the unsuspecting guards crashing to the ground with cries of pain.

The doors swung wide, and a horde of robust men stormed in like ravenous wolves upon the guards.

Wei Xuan let out a startled cry and retreated, only to be steadied by his son, as the rush of men split into two lines, bypassing the father and son. They stood amid the doorway like pillars in a current, watching the crowd surge past.

“Fufeng, who are these?” Wei Xuan finally recognized the men.

“They’re rabble, nothing to do with us,” Wei Fufeng responded quietly.

Wei Xuan drew a sharp breath, listening to the screams of the guards, the chaotic running, until the so-called rabble had gone. He whispered urgently, “Fufeng, is this rebellion?”

“The officials of Jinzhou deserve death; they only oppress the people, refuse to build irrigation, and benefit the region,” Wei Fufeng replied softly.

Wei Xuan smiled bitterly and shook his head, asking, “Did your grandfather order this?”

“Yes. Why else would he bring so many strong men? He wants to seize Jinzhou,” Wei Fufeng answered.

Wei Xuan was shocked, “Will it work?”

“I have already taken control of the county office and now we’re attacking the Duke’s mansion,” Wei Fufeng answered.

“What? The Duke’s mansion belongs to the imperial clan; how dare you commit such treason?” Wei Xuan cried.

“Father, the Duke’s mansion is imperial, but they are traitors to the country and deserve punishment,” Wei Fufeng replied.

“Traitors? What nonsense?” Wei Xuan was bewildered.

“Father, as imperial kin, their first duty is to worry about the nation’s survival. The Duke’s mansion in Jinzhou has thousands of troops and stores of grain, yet they watch the Tang dynasty crumble, refusing to send troops or supplies to the emperor. Thus, they are traitors,” Wei Fufeng explained.

Wei Xuan was speechless. Wei Fufeng continued, “When the nest falls, how can any eggs remain intact? Many of the Li clan occupy vast lands and wealth, but are selfish. During the disaster of Huang Chao, if the imperial clan and nobles had contributed to the country, how could Huang Chao have taken Chang’an? When calamity struck, they only cared for themselves and fled.”

Wei Xuan waved his hand in resignation, “By your reasoning, too many deserve death. Enough.”

Wei Fufeng smiled, “Father, let’s return to the deputy magistrate’s quarters and hide beneath the desk together.”

Wei Xuan paused, “Why hide?”

Wei Fufeng whispered, “Father, better not to be known as rebels.”

Wei Xuan understood and again smiled bitterly, joining his son in hiding beneath the desk. In truth, the desk offered no cover and could not conceal them; it was merely self-deception.

The two sat beneath the desk, listening to the chaos outside, while four strong men guarded the door. They did not understand the officials’ strange behavior but dared not speak.

The leaders of the Shangzhou men followed Wei Fufeng’s orders, storming the county office with violence, though not killing indiscriminately. Slaves and guards who could beg for mercy were spared, but the four guards at the main entrance were killed.

The leaders slew the magistrate, his wife and children, and Chang, the chief clerk who was with him. They then fought their way through the jail, defeating the remaining guards and prison wardens. They offered a deal to the prisoners: only those willing to join the attack on the Duke’s mansion would be released.

Most inmates were rabble and bandits, so the response was overwhelming. Thus, over four hundred prisoners were freed, most joining the attack on the Duke’s mansion, while a minority slipped away.

Those who slipped away could not have expected that their cautious escape would lead instead to their deaths, becoming the scapegoats for the downfall of Jinzhou’s Duke’s mansion.

...

The Duke’s mansion occupied an entire ward in the eastern city, its walls rising three meters, making it a fortress.

---

Nearly six hundred Fufeng soldiers arrived at the Duke’s mansion as lanterns began to glow, launching a surprise attack upon the gates. The household troops within the mansion, usually five hundred rotating every three days, were fewer than usual. Because some members used the soldiers for their own purposes, only about three hundred truly guarded the mansion. Wei Fufeng had cleverly drawn away five hundred household troops, most of whom were on rotation.

Those on rotation were not resting; they trained in the mansion’s drill grounds during the day and returned to their quarters at night. The mansion had purpose-built rows of houses in the northeast corner, giving a thousand household troops private space, thus their fighting spirit and loyalty were strong.

The absence of rotating troops left the mansion’s military strength greatly reduced. After dinner, with vigilance lowered, no one expected a large force to attack within the city.

The fall of the gates meant the mansion’s first line of defense failed completely.

As the Fufeng Army stormed in, the Shangzhou strongmen arrived with the prisoners close behind. The two forces had a time gap: the Shangzhou men who entered first attacked the county office, while the Fufeng Army, entering later, headed straight for the Duke’s mansion.

Most prisoners had been coerced by the promise of freedom; if they saw the situation was unfavorable, they would surely scatter. But seeing the overwhelming force attacking the mansion, their spirits soared. Many hated the Duke’s mansion and, driven by greed, rushed forward, each striving to be first.

The leaders shouted loudly, warning the Fufeng soldiers inside not to mistake the prisoners for enemies. Seeing the flood of reinforcements, morale among the Fufeng Army soared.

Blade-and-shield troops charged in front, spear-men followed, and archers loosed arrows like a swarm of locusts.

The household soldiers, rushing to resist, were slaughtered amid screams. Many archers among them were shot down immediately by crossbow bolts.

Unable to organize effectively and outnumbered, the defenders were easily overwhelmed.

The Fufeng Army quickly seized the main hall, engaging the household soldiers in close combat.

The household soldiers fought valiantly, many fully armored, but with only a hundred against a thousand mixed troops, their defeat was inevitable.

The deadliest weapon against the household soldiers was the military crossbow. Outnumbered and under a hail of bolts, many brave defenders fell, struck in the face.

The Fufeng Army’s successive victories emboldened the prisoners, who snatched up weapons and charged forward. In their chaotic rush, some even ran ahead of the Fufeng Army.

Where there are leaders, there are followers; the prisoners crowded forward, driven by hatred and greed, intent on pillaging.

Blood soaked the luxurious home, turning the Duke’s mansion into an irretrievable slaughterhouse. The only place spared was the northeast corner, where nearly a hundred household soldiers and many slaves escaped.

The Fufeng Army and the strongmen’s leaders strictly forbade any attack on that area, allowing the household soldiers to flee without pursuit. Any who disobeyed were slain on the spot.

...

Three carriages hurriedly fled from the rear gate of the Duke’s mansion, escorted by a dozen armored soldiers. They rushed along the main street toward the east gate, where they were immediately halted by the guards.

The door of the leading carriage opened, and a middle-aged man leaned out, angrily shouting, “Yu Tong, open the gate quickly!”

“What are you shouting for? The officer is resting,” the guard replied bluntly.

“Fool! I am the Duke of the West City!” the man bellowed.

“The Duke?” the guard was startled, stepping forward with his spear. Suddenly, the spear thrust viciously into the middle-aged man’s throat.