The 327 corrupt officials and bureaucrats were executed over the course of three days.
The executioner’s steel blades were blunted after churning through more than twenty bodies.
The carts that carried the bodies flowed out of the city without ceasing.
The thick stench of blood fused with the wind and swiftly spread far and wide along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
Wherever it reached, it set the corrupt officials scurrying like rats in every direction.
Wherever it reached, it sparked jubilant cheers from the sons and daughters of China.
That stone known as Yang Erlang, as foul and as hard as it was, when thrown into West Lake, the ripples reached across the entire land of China.
On the fourth day, Yangzhou, which had been clear for a good half month, suddenly encountered heavy rain.
The downpour, as if trying to wash away its own filth, eagerly awaited the return of the bright sunshine.
Wei Heng, who had left and now returned, entered the city in the rain!
...
Upon hearing the news, Deputy Commander Qin led his men to greet Wei outside the office.
As Deputy Commander Qin hurried along the long street in the heavy rain, he saw dozens of riders breaking through the curtain of rain, galloping towards him.
He rushed to meet them, bending over with a smile plastered on his face and bowing as he said, "Eunuch Wei..."
"Out of my way!"
A whip, lashing through the rain curtain like a writhing python, struck Deputy Commander Qin, the immense force making him stagger to the side of the road.
The dozens of horsemen never slowed down, carrying a chilling air as they sped past Qin and headed straight for the office building.
"My lord!"
A few brocaded guards rushed to hold up Deputy Commander Qin, "Are you all right?"
Deputy Commander Qin steadied himself, furiously shrugging them off, "Out of my way!"
The brocaded guards retreated sheepishly.
Deputy Commander Qin straightened the embroidered garment he wore, his old face ashen as he watched the retreating riders.
...
Wei Heng, leading a group of palace guards, charged into the office building with an aggressive air.
The embroidered guards at the gate reached out to stop him, smiling obsequiously as they bowed and said, "Eunuch Wei, please hold on, allow me to report your arrival!"
Wei Heng replied, "Out of my way!"
"Clang."
Amid the uniform sound of swords being drawn, the previously subservient voice suddenly hardened, "This place is where the imperial envoy is accommodated, please don’t make it difficult for me to do my duty, Eunuch Wei!"
Trembling with rage, Wei Heng faced the bare steel blades and forcefully prodded the chest of the young embroidered guard in front of him, "Very well, very well! You all are doing so well!"
At that moment, Yang Ge’s calm voice floated from inside the main hall, "Little Liu, let Eunuch Wei in."
The young embroidered guard sheathed his sword, stepped aside from blocking the gate, and made a welcoming gesture inside, "Eunuch Wei, please come in!"
Wei Heng shot him a fierce glare and hissed, "I will remember you!"
The young brocade-clad guard grinned and saluted with fists clasped, "Eunuch Wei flatters me too much."
"Humph!"
Wei Heng snorted coldly and strode past the government office gate.
The multitude of palace guards trailing behind him were about to follow suit when the young brocade-clad guard once again extended his hand, still grinning, "Brothers, you’ve all had a long journey, our lord has prepared ginger tea to warm you up. Please, fellows, come this way."
Inside the gate, Wei Heng halted in his tracks, turning his head to take another look at that jovial young man, then his gaze swept across the many brocade-clad guards on either side, all of whom had expressionless faces, firmly holding their oxtail sabers, their stares fixed intently on the several dozen palace guards in his company…
He had never seen guards like these before.
After hesitating for a moment, Wei Heng waved his hand, "We’re home now, go rest."
Having said that, he strode off toward the main hall of the government office, rolling up his sleeves as he walked, "That son of a turtle, dares to play games with me..."
He walked into the government office hall, about to bellow out loud.
But Yang Ge, who was bending over his desk, writing furiously, preempted him, "Eunuch Wei, you must be tired from the journey, please have a seat. I have a few documents left to finish; I’ll be done shortly!"
His demeanor was very amiable, like the casual chat between old friends.
Of course, Wei Heng wasn’t going to fall for this act; he stormed up to the hall, reaching out to tear apart the documents Yang Ge was writing.
Yang Ge looked up at him.
A look so bland and insignificant...
But it was like a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped on Wei Heng, causing his every pore to stand on end.
Yang Ge gently put down his writing brush, slowly leaning back in the Taishi Chair, and asked with a smile, "Eunuch Wei, what are you doing?"
With that smile, the dangerous aura that reminded one of a predator sizing up its prey vanished instantly.
Wei Heng’s tension eased, and he immediately knew... trying to pull rank with a genuine martial master and palace guards wasn’t going to intimidate this tiger let loose from its cage!
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He didn’t plan to waste more words and reached directly into his chest, looking to pull something out.
Yang Ge on the Taishi Chair narrowed his eyes slightly.
A sense of danger, chillier and more threatening than before, once again enveloped Wei Heng.
This time Wei Heng truly exploded, his local dialect slipping out in his anger, "Son of a turtle shell, are you trying to rebel?"
"Eunuch Wei, we may be familiar, but if you speak nonsense, I can still accuse you of defamation!"
Yang Ge opened his eyes, calmly shaking his head, "I am an imperial envoy personally appointed by His Majesty; even if you were to rebel, I would not!"
"Bang."
Wei Heng slammed his palm on the table, rising up, his eyes seemingly about to shoot flames, "Then what in blazes are you doing? Eh?"
Yang Ge spread his hands, "Aren’t you seeing it all for yourself?"
Wei Heng again made to reach for something inside his robe, cursing angrily, "What the hell sort of imperial envoy talks like this? Come back to the capital with me and confess your guilt; if you confess, you might still have a way out…"
"Tap, tap, tap."
Yang Ge gently tapped on the table, interrupting his action once more, "Give me a few more days, once I’ve settled the affairs at hand, I will follow you back to the capital without fuss..."
"Bang."