The sky gradually darkened.
Inside the Drum and Bell Alley embroidered guard station, Yang Ge changed into his embroidered uniform, picked up his side-sword, and slowly walked out of the room.
Fang Ke stepped forward and presented the black iron half-face mask to Yang Ge with both hands.
Yang Ge took the mask and fastened it onto his face, covering his eyes and cheeks.
"What time is it now?"
he asked.
Fang Ke, "Reporting to the chief banner, it’s past the third quarter of the hour of You."
One traditional Chinese hour equals two hours, divided into eight quarters, hence one quarter is fifteen minutes.
Past the third quarter of the hour of You means it’s almost six o’clock.
Yang Ge calculated the time and nodded, "The captain should be about to take action."
Fang Ke, with a worried look, whispered, "Chief banner, for such a major operation, should we really not go to support?"
Yang Ge understood the hidden meaning in his words, but still shook his head, "The situation in the city is unclear, it’s not appropriate for us to act rashly. We’re the secret post in Lu Ting; as long as we stabilize Luting County, we will contribute to the captain’s successful operation. If the captain’s operation goes awry, we also bear no responsibility."
"On the contrary, once there’s trouble inside the city, whether we join the battle or not, whether the captain’s operation succeeds or fails, we cannot escape blame!"
After a pause, he continued, "Furthermore, the captain’s letter only mentioned the transit of Tartar experts and did not contain orders for mobilizing our forces to support outside the city. We must fully trust the captain!"
It was at this moment that he suddenly realized that Shen Fa seemed never to have issued any mandatory orders to him.
Whether it was previously tricking him into joining the embroidered guards’ raid on the Xie Family’s merchant ships or later morally coercing him into being the chief banner of the embroidered guards...
A single decree would have left him without any choice.
Yet, Shen Fa had never deprived him of the right to say "no."
Including this time’s ambush on the Tartar experts, from the information Shen Fa passed on, it was clear he hoped Yang Ge would lead his men to join the battle.
But still, he left the choice in his hands...
Shen Fa had said before that he wanted to befriend him.
Previously, Yang Ge didn’t believe it, always feeling that the man was just toadying up to him.
But at this moment, he somewhat believed it.
He never underestimated himself.
Yet, at this moment, he also felt unworthy of such regard...
It wasn’t that he revered Shen Fa’s official position.
He merely had the self-awareness to know that whether in another time or in Wei, he was just a common folk. His ultimate life goal had always been financial freedom and a warm family.
Shen Fa, on the other hand, despite his conventional and outdated thoughts, was genuinely striving for the Wei state and the people of Wei.
Great people do not become less great due to the constraints of their time.
And the mediocre do not become less mediocre due to the advantages of their era.
...
Fang Ke, unaware of Yang Ge’s thoughts, hurriedly explained after hearing his words, "Naturally, the captain always acts meticulously and strategically. Since he has decided to close the net, he surely knows those Tartar experts, even to the extent that they haven’t changed their underpants for days... ah, what I mean is, if we don’t go, the other brothers in our guard might have objections!"
Yang Ge gently patted his shoulder, speaking warmly, "We just need to do our own work well; we don’t need to worry about how others view us. People can say whatever they want—you can’t control it even if you want to!"
Fang Ke nodded his agreement.
Yang Ge then inquired again about the arrangements in various parts of the city, contemplating whether or not to visit the West City Gate, when suddenly a strong man reported, "Chief banner, there’s trouble at the county government office. A strong man is slaughtering rampantly inside..."
Yang Ge suddenly furrowed his brows, "Where was the leak?"
The reporting strongman answered with trepidation, "It should be the brothers tailing them; they were discovered by folks from the county office..."
"Command the brothers tailing at the four city gates to immediately take control of the gates. Before dawn, no matter who knocks, do not open."
Yang Ge, hand pressing on his saber, strode out, "The rest of you, hurry to the county office!"
"Yes!"
...
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By the time Yang Ge arrived at the county office, a large group of strongmen had already rallied two to three hundred county soldiers, holding torches and setting up strong bows and crossbows, completely surrounding the county office.
Seeing this eased Yang Ge’s mind slightly. He stepped forward, showed his waist badge, and demanded, "Who is in charge here? Come forth and answer!"
An officer stepped forward with a bow, "Subordinate Gu Tong, greets the chief banner!"
Yang Ge turned and looked toward the wide-open gate of the county office, inquiring, "What’s the situation?"
An officer replied, "A quarter hour ago, screams were heard from within the county office. I took a look inside and saw more than ten masked assailants, brandishing sharp blades and slaughtering the county officials’ relatives..."
Fang Ke stepped forward, whispering into Yang Ge’s ear, "Chief banner, they are killing to silence witnesses!"
Yang Ge thought to himself, ’Such decisive action, such ruthless hearts.’
"Where are the assailants?"
Gu Tong replied, "Chief banner, a quarter hour ago, these assailants made a break for it. Due to my incompetence, three escaped. The others were pushed back by me and should still be inside the county office."
"You have done very well."
Yang Ge patted his shoulder, comforting him, "It was my oversight."
Gu Tong hastened to say, "I dare not!"
Yang Ge shook his head, took his saber from his waist and held it in hand, "You continue to command the county soldiers to surround this place, let none escape... Fang Ke!"
Fang Ke responded loudly, "Subordinate here!"
Yang Ge waved his hand, "Gather thirty brothers, follow me inside!"
Fang Ke, "Yes!"
Shortly after, thirty burly imperial guards, under the protection of several half-man-tall shields, each holding a torch in one hand and a gleaming machete in the other, surged into the county office.
Yang Ge clutched his saber closely behind a shield. By the flickering torchlight, he saw bodies strewn all over inside the county office—green-robed county clerks, black-robed constables, as well as maids, servants in floral blue attire, and women and children wearing pearl and gold accessories...
Puddles of crimson blood under the firelight reflected a luster like ink. Stepping on it felt slick and sticky as if one were stepping on moss.
Yang Ge clenched his teeth, forcing himself not to look at those ashen faces, and bellowed loudly, "Those inside, listen up! I am the chief official of the imperial guards in Lu Ting, you are surrounded and there’s no escape, lay down your arms and surrender immediately—it’s your only way to live!"
Before he finished speaking, the corner of his eye suddenly caught a calf-sized black shadow pouncing toward him. Without time to think, he instinctively drew his machete and forcefully cleaved downward.
"Clang!"
A grating sound of metal striking metal resounded, and a shimmering broken blade flew out. The black shadow thudded heavily at Yang Ge’s feet, bouncing out a round object.
Yang Ge glanced down, immediately diverting his gaze as his stomach churned.
"Brothers, watch the bodies!"
"Brothers, kill!"
Fang Ke’s shout mingled with other unfamiliar cries.
The next second, several figures leaped down from the roof surrounding the courtyard, converging on Yang Ge from all directions.