Volume Two: Grandfather and Grandson, Lord of the Domain Chapter 89: A Shocking Tale of Crisis

After pondering for a moment, Wei Fufeng suddenly thought of a workaround: he could ask his eldest uncle to preside over the wedding.

With his fifth uncle and a few officers lending their presence, the marriage could be celebrated with proper grandeur, and no other relatives would dare speak ill of it afterward.

Having found a solution, Wei Fufeng felt much better. His right hand slipped beneath the little snow-white robe, stroking over the smooth, icy jade of her body. Lowering his head, he breathed in and kissed the little beauty’s hair, her cheek, her cherry lips, with tender ardor.

The next morning, Han Rui came with fourteen skilled craftsmen to pay a visit.

Wei Fufeng received them in the main hall. The fourteen middle-aged men, all dressed in shabby clothes, entered as if treading on thin ice, and fell to their knees together, addressing him as “My lord.”

Wei Fufeng ordered seats brought, and the guards carried over low stools so the craftsmen could sit in two rows.

Left Cavalry Commandant Han Rui, by contrast, could only stand by the doorway. Yet even after sitting down, the group still looked visibly ill at ease.

Wei Fufeng spoke to the craftsmen warmly and kindly. After a general understanding of their skills, he looked at one carpenter and asked, “Cao Three, you know how to build waterwheels?”

Cao Three hurriedly answered with respect, “Yes, my lord, I know how to build waterwheels.”

“Our army plans to build embankments on the Han River. In the course of that work, we will construct many enormous waterwheels to draw water for irrigation. Can you do it?” Wei Fufeng asked gently.

Cao Three hesitated, then quickly replied, “I can make huge waterwheels, but they will require great trees from deep in the mountains, along with stone embankments to support them.”

“Good. If the waterwheels are built, the fields along both banks of the Han River will benefit greatly. Your name may be carved in stone for posterity. For now, I appoint you as a supervising official, eighth rank from the bottom. You will receive a salary in due course, and if you truly build a waterwheel that proves useful, I will ensure your office is handed down through your family.”

Cao Three stared blankly, then suddenly rose and prostrated himself on the ground. “I thank you for your gracious gift, my lord.”

Wei Fufeng nodded, had Cao Three return to his seat, then looked at the brick-maker, Li Erdog. “As I said before, I dreamed of the Dark Warrior in the mountains and wished to build a Daoist temple to fulfill my vow. You will be in charge of firing bricks, and I will also appoint you as a supervising official. Would it be all right if you changed your name to Li Wu?”

“Thank you for your gracious gift, my lord. Thank you for your gracious gift.” Li Wu knelt and bowed his thanks.

After having Li Wu rise and return to his seat, Wei Fufeng said again, “All of you, work with all your hearts. In the future, if you achieve results, I will grant you offices as well. For now, your rewards will certainly not be lacking.”

“Thank you, my lord.” All the craftsmen replied on their knees.

After the craftsmen left, Wei Fufeng gave Han Rui detailed instructions. He ordered Han Rui to arrange porters and militia to carry two bricks up the mountain in shifts, and then to fell large trees on the mountain and bring them back.

Anyone willing to carry bricks up the mountain would be regarded as performing an act of reverence to the gods, and would receive one blessing coin with each trip. There would be no escort required. Porters and militia would be compelled to do this once a month, while those willing to go more often would not be limited, still receiving one copper coin for every two bricks.

In addition, Wei Fufeng told Han Rui to be certain to explain to the militia who cut the timber that they were hauling wood down the mountain to build waterwheels and water channels for long-distance irrigation of their fields. Han Rui agreed respectfully.

Satisfied with Han Rui’s work, Wei Fufeng smiled and said, “If our army can stand firm for the long term, then in the future I can at least secure you a hereditary military post, with wealth and honor enduring through the generations.”

“My lord works for the benefit of the people; this subordinate should do his utmost.” Han Rui answered respectfully, though in his heart he was overjoyed. He knew that military offices in the South Sichuan Army could be hereditary.

Wei Fufeng smiled and sent Han Rui away to handle matters. Then he went to see his eldest uncle, told him about the construction plans, and asked him to preside over the wedding.

His eldest uncle voiced support for the project and agreed to officiate at the marriage.

The next matter was to go see his fifth uncle. He only had to wait for Lin Qingxue to return to Yanzeng City, but in the afternoon an unexpected event suddenly disrupted Wei Fufeng’s arrangements.

Han Rui brought a messenger to see Wei Fufeng. The messenger was from Fang Prefecture and had been sent by Left Cavalry Commandant Wang Lin, who had come to Yanzeng City seeking the Jincheng Army commander.

The Jincheng Army commander Wei Liang was not present, and after learning the situation, Han Rui brought the man to see Wei Fufeng.

After hearing the messenger’s report, Wei Fufeng’s expression immediately darkened with anger. It turned out that his eighth uncle, Wei Kang, after arriving in Fang Prefecture to serve as governor, had actually altered the distribution of military pay without authorization and pocketed the difference for himself.

Wei Kang’s actions withheld forty percent of the ordinary soldiers’ pay, while giving the officers extra based on rank, and he himself greedily siphoned off a private fortune.

Left Cavalry Commandant Wang Lin had also taken more military pay than he should have, but Wang Lin feared investigation by the lord in Jinzhou, because when he left Jinzhou that lord had spoken murderous words.

Wei Fufeng burned with fury and cursed Wei Kang for utter stupidity.

Fang Prefecture and Jun Prefecture had both only recently been secured, and they urgently needed fair treatment to pacify the army and win loyalty. Their footing was not yet firm, and yet he had recklessly laid greedy hands on the soldiers’ pay.

This was an extremely grave blunder. If handled badly, ambitious men could exploit it to incite a mutiny among surrendered troops and spark rebellion.

Wei Fufeng hurried to see his eldest uncle and explained how serious the matter was.

Wei Xun was also unexpectedly shocked after hearing it, and he believed Wei Fufeng’s warning about the possibility of mutiny. There had been many precedents for soldiers and officers rising in revolt; what left the people of Chang'an most unable to forget was the Jingyuan mutiny.

The Jingyuan mutiny occurred during the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang. At that time, Li Xilie of Huaixi had rebelled, and the court dispatched five thousand Jingyuan troops stationed north of the Wei River to suppress him.

As the Jingyuan troops passed through Chang'an, they expected fine food and generous rewards, but the court dismissed them with coarse rice and no rewards at all.

Thus, under the instigation of men with ambition, the Jingyuan troops rose in rebellion, seized Chang'an, and caused widespread devastation.

Emperor Dezong fled in terror. Though the Jingyuan troops were later put down, they left Chang'an with an unforgettable nightmare.

After explaining the matter to his eldest uncle, Wei Fufeng also sent a letter to his fifth uncle by messenger. Then he led a hundred guards and set out in haste. Night fell before they could finish the journey, and they made camp at the mouth where the Du River flowed into the Han River.

The next morning they followed the Du River south. In the afternoon they entered Zhushan County, then turned east. They rested again when night fell, and on the following day they continued east until they reached the county seat of Fangling at midday.

Outside the west gate, Wei Fufeng sent for Wang Lin. The defenders hurried to report.

Wang Lin came to the foot of the west gate tower and, seeing that it was the army commander, quickly ordered the city gates opened and allowed them through.

Wei Fufeng and his men entered Fangling County. Left Cavalry Commandant Wang Lin respectfully came out to greet him at the city gate, though inwardly he was uneasy, having someone report to the Jincheng Army commander and wondering why this great commander had come in person.

Wei Fufeng knew Wang Lin, and Wang Lin had once led militia up onto the city walls to fight.

After the formal greetings, Wei Fufeng said mildly, “My fifth uncle is not in Yanzeng City. Han Rui had the messenger come to see me.”

Wang Lin nodded in understanding.

Wei Fufeng went on, “You did well. Otherwise, you would either have died in Fang Prefecture or ended up as a scapegoat and been executed.”

Wang Lin looked solemn. He had indeed feared becoming a scapegoat. The lord of Jinzhou would find it hard to kill his own son, but he could certainly take Wang Lin and punish him in his stead. At once, Wang Lin said respectfully, “Now that the army commander has come, this subordinate can be at ease.”

“You address me as army commander, but do you know what office I truly hold?” Wei Fufeng asked.

Wang Lin was slightly taken aback. “This subordinate does not know.”

“I am the South Sichuan Military Governor, titled Marquis of Fufeng, and also the Fufeng Army Commander, one of the Divine Strategy Army commands,” Wei Fufeng said.

“You are the Military Governor?” Wang Lin exclaimed in surprise. To common people, the office of Military Governor was the very symbol of dignity and authority, carrying power over life and death.

“As South Sichuan Military Governor, and concurrently Military Governor of Qianzhong, I command the South Sichuan region on the upper reaches of the great river, including Yuzhou, Luzhou, Changzhou, and Rongzhou. I also oversee Qianzhou, Fuzhou, Nanzhou, and Zhenzhou in the Qianzhong Circuit. Under my rule are hundreds of thousands of people and an army of one hundred forty thousand.” This was Wei Fufeng’s self-introduction, for he needed Wang Lin to obey his orders.

Wang Lin nodded in astonishment.

Wei Fufeng continued, “You should understand how much strength my grandfather has. I mobilized troops from South Sichuan to seize Jinzhou, and it was also from South Sichuan that I sent vast quantities of grain and soldiers to support the defense of Jinzhou and the capture of Jun Prefecture. Even much of the armament of my fifth uncle’s Jincheng Army was supplied by me.”

Wang Lin nodded. “This subordinate understands.”

Wei Fufeng nodded. “Good that you understand. I came here in haste, day and night, because I feared a mutiny among the surrendered officers and soldiers. Unfair provision of supplies can easily trigger unrest. Similar things have happened many times before.”

Wang Lin nodded. “That is my own fear as well.”

Wei Fufeng said, “You must keep my official rank secret. Do not speak of it to anyone.”

Wang Lin was slightly startled, then hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Wei Fufeng explained further, “Jinzhou is not easy to hold. Keeping the secrets of the South Sichuan army can allow us to destroy invading enemies by surprise. For example, if the Righteous Army were to dispatch twenty thousand men to strike Fang Prefecture, I could transport thirty thousand troops by the great river.”

Wang Lin nodded in understanding.

Then Wei Fufeng said coldly, “My eighth uncle is far too foolish. He is not fit to remain in Fang Prefecture as governor. I will send him to Jinzhou and ask Grandfather to appoint someone more capable.”

Wang Lin hurriedly and tactfully said, “This subordinate will follow only the orders of Your Excellency.”

Wei Fufeng nodded. “Let us go.”

Wang Lin led the way, and Wei Fufeng’s party reached the prefectural yamen. They entered straight through the gate and in the rear hall saw his eighth uncle, Wei Kang.

Wei Fufeng had only met his eighth uncle during ancestral sacrifices. His impression was of a man with a kindly face. He had never spoken with him, nor had he ever had the standing to make his uncle notice him.

Facing the sudden intrusion of so many armored soldiers, Wei Kang, dressed in a bright red official robe and with a cultured, refined face, changed color dramatically. Alarmed, he rose and stepped back, but quickly spotted Wang Lin. Raising a trembling hand, he pointed and cried in fear, “Wang Lin, you...?”

“My lord, this is Commander of the Fufeng Army, Your Excellency,” Wang Lin replied respectfully.

Wei Kang turned and looked at Wei Fufeng, who wore fine scale armor. Wei Fufeng spoke indifferently, “Your nephew Wei Fufeng pays respects to his eighth uncle.”

“Wei Fufeng? You are that man’s son. Why have you broken in here?” Wei Kang asked in panic, still not knowing which of his brothers Wei Fufeng descended from.

The more Wei Fufeng heard, the more he disliked him. He had originally intended to speak with some measure of respect, but now he no longer wished to waste words. In a cold voice he said, “Eighth uncle has unauthorizedly withheld military pay and violated military law. Please come with me to Jinzhou and confess your crime.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Where did you come from?” Wei Kang said in rage and embarrassment. Then he turned and shouted at Wang Lin, “Commander Wang, I order you to drive them out!”

Wang Lin lowered his head and remained silent.

Wei Fufeng said coldly, “You are not the governor here. Please go to Jinzhou.”

“Impudent! I am the governor of Fang Prefecture!” Wei Kang roared, his courage flaring up all at once.

“Someone come. Escort Governor Wei to Jinzhou and hand him over to my grandfather.”

Ignoring the display of authority, Wei Fufeng turned his head slightly and gave a calm order.

The armored soldiers obeyed, stepped forward, seized Wei Kang, and stripped off his official robe, placing it on the chair.