“Does my lord intend to kill Yuan Shu?”
Cheng Yu casually placed a stone on the board.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of tension on his face, as if he did not regard Yuan Shu as a serious threat at all.
In fact, he seemed confident that Yuan Shu could be eliminated if necessary.
“That’s not necessary.” Zhang Jing shook his head and said:
“A living Yuan Shu is more useful than a dead one.”
If he killed Yuan Shu now, Cao Cao would almost certainly be capable of inheriting Yuan Shu’s territory.
And that would be troublesome.
One was a skeleton king—a hollow figurehead.
The other was a true hero and ambitious warlord.
As for which one would make the preferable opponent, there was no need to think about it.
“It seems my lord already has a plan to repel the enemy.”
Hearing this, Cheng Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled.
“In that case, I won’t make a fool of myself. Why not let Gongda share his thoughts?”
“…?”
Xun You’s mouth twitched.
So you’re not going to embarrass yourself, and instead you’re making me do it? he thought to himself.
“What do you think, Gongda?” Zhang Jing asked.
He neither confirmed nor denied Cheng Yu’s words, instead turning his gaze toward Xun You.
“Then I’ll offer my humble opinion.”
The smile on Xun You’s face was somewhat forced as he looked at the board.
“Although Yuan Shu appears powerful at the moment, the situation is much like this chessboard before us. As long as we cut off his vital line, his army will inevitably be defeated.”
After saying that, he said no more.
In truth, he couldn’t understand how Yuan Shu’s mind worked.
The four southwestern commanderies had practically nothing of value.
Yet Yuan Shu had deliberately taken a huge detour through them.
It was as if he was merely drawing boundaries on a map.
By doing so, however, he had exposed his supply lines.
If Yuan Shu failed to capture any cities, then all it would take was a single cavalry force riding around to his rear and severing his grain route.
At that point, his entire army would be left hungry.
And the problem for Yuan Shu was that Yan Province was the Qihuo Army’s home territory.
Intercepting his supplies would be absurdly easy.
If Zhang Jing truly wanted Yuan Shu dead, Xun You was certain that Yuan Shu would soon suffer greatly.
Still, over these past days, Xun You had come to understand something.
The Qihuo Army was more than capable of defending what it had, but it lacked the ability to expand aggressively.
That realization only made him admire Zhang Jing’s decisiveness and courage even more.
“Gongda speaks the truth.”
Looking at the weakness Cheng Yu had deliberately left in his formation of black stones, Zhang Jing immediately slapped down a stone.
With that move, he cut the black stones apart, leaving their front and rear unable to support one another.
“My lord is wise!” Cheng Yu and Xun You smiled and readily played along.
“Zhongde.” Taking a sip of tea, Zhang Jing asked, “How many convicted criminals are currently being held in Wuyan City’s prison?”
“Approximately three hundred.”
Cheng Yu replied, “There are still more than thirty teams that have yet to return. By my estimate, the number of criminals apprehended during this operation may exceed fifteen hundred.”
“So far, more than two hundred have already been executed.”
“In that case…” Zhang Jing’s expression darkened.
“Within just a few months, at least two hundred innocent commoners have been murdered?”
Instead of answering, Cheng Yu immediately stood and bowed respectfully.
“This subordinate has failed in his duties. Please punish me, my lord.”
“Rise, Zhongde.” Zhang Jing’s frown eased.
“This matter is not your fault. Among the soldiers of the past, there have always been those unable to distinguish right from wrong. Besides, the followers of the Way of Great Peace have spent years surviving through plunder. Some bandit tendencies are only to be expected.”
“My lord is perceptive.” Only then did Cheng Yu stand.
In truth, both men knew exactly what the situation was.
But some things simply could not be explained directly to the common people.
“However, once the central army returns…” Zhang Jing continued, “Punishing evil civilians and corrupt officials must become a regular practice. Zhongde, do you have any suitable candidates in mind for this task?”
The four commanderies of Yan Province were under military administration.
But military rule did not mean there would never be problems, nor that everyone would automatically work together in harmony.
At best, it meant that most people would.
Moreover, the Qihuo Army’s predecessor had been the Yellow Turbans of the Way of Great Peace—a mass movement of refugees and rebels who had survived through raiding and looting.
It could not be denied that most of the soldiers desired a stable and peaceful life.
Yet there remained a significant number who had grown accustomed to lawlessness.
Once stationed in local areas, such people would inevitably prey upon the common folk.
Zhang Jing wasn’t uniquely insightful for recognizing this.
It was simply a normal and unavoidable reality.
“……”
Cheng Yu shook his head.
He did not have anyone suitable in mind.
“What about you, Gongda?”
Noticing the hesitation on Xun You’s face, Zhang Jing immediately became interested.
He knew that members of the Xun clan often had a knack for discovering talented people.
“My lord is wise.” Xun You bowed and said, “There is indeed a minor clerk in the administration who may be able to ease Your Lordship’s burden. However, this man has no intention of—”
“Does he have family in Wuyan?”
Before Xun You could finish, Cheng Yu’s expression darkened slightly.
He had not expected to overlook a capable individual, much less have Xun You discover him first.
The thought irritated him somewhat.
“…”
Xun You pursed his lips before replying,
“He does.”
“Gongda, tell me more about him.” Zhang Jing looked at Xun You with great interest.
As for someone being unwilling to serve the Qihuo Army, he considered that perfectly normal.
“If this person truly has ability, I don’t mind personally sending someone to invite him.”
“Even if he still refuses to serve… As long as he does not betray our army, I will not harm him.”
Recruiting worthy men with courtesy was something Zhang Jing understood well enough.
However, his own background had already determined that he could not afford to be overly lenient when dealing with talented individuals.
Cheng Yu also turned to look at Xun You, deep in thought.
“My lord, this man’s name is Man Chong.”
After considering his words carefully, Xun You continued:
“He is a native of Shanyang. He currently goes by the alias Man Lai. He once served the Han court as a duyou (regional inspector) and is highly skilled in judicial matters and criminal investigations.”
“He was dismissed from office after a prisoner died under interrogation.”
“Cao Cao once issued a recruitment summons for him as well.”
“…”
Cheng Yu immediately understood.
So this fellow had been thinking the same way he once had—that serving Cao Cao would be the most promising path.
There was no need to elaborate further.
Cao Cao had lost.
Now they all found themselves under the same roof.
The difference was that Cheng Yu had been personally invited by his lord and had joined willingly, without any coercion whatsoever.
As for the name Man Chong, Cheng Yu had heard of him before.
He was known as a harsh and uncompromising magistrate.
And truthfully, the Qihuo Army’s territory currently needed exactly that kind of person.
“Zhongde.” Zhang Jing turned to Cheng Yu.
“Send someone at once to invite Man Chong here.”
Some time later, A middle-aged man around thirty years old entered.
He stood over eight chi tall and wore a scholar’s robe.
His expression was calm and composed.
After arriving before the three men, he bowed.
“Man Chong greets the General, the Military Adviser, and Master Gongda.”
The moment he heard someone call him “Man Chong,” he knew his identity had been exposed.
And the moment he saw Xun You, he knew exactly who had exposed him.
“Man Chong, Man Boning.”
Looking at him, Zhang Jing smiled.
“I have long heard of your reputation.”
Man Chong merely glanced at Zhang Jing before quickly bowing again.
“I dare not accept such praise.”
Shing!
Zhang Jing suddenly drew the Wenzui Blade —the “Blade of Judgment”—from his waist and laid it upon the table.
Looking at Man Chong, he said:
“This blade is called Wenzui—the Blade of Judgment. I assume you’ve heard something about it.”
“There are 3.4 million people living under my rule.”
“Among them are countless criminals and wrongdoers.”
“Yet the Qihuo Army has only recently been established.”
“The realm is also in an age of war, with heroes rising everywhere to contend for supremacy.”
“When it comes to dealing with criminals, there are many times when I have the will, but not the means.”
“Gongda says that you are skilled in judicial affairs and exceptionally perceptive in solving cases.”
“I trust Gongda. And therefore I can trust you.”
“I can give you authority. I will not force you to swear loyalty to me.”
“I ask only that you wield this blade and cleanse the four commanderies of corruption and wickedness for the sake of the people.”
“Administer justice fairly and impartially.”
“Do not betray the learning you have spent your life acquiring.”
“And do not betray the Qihuo Army.”
Upon hearing these words, even Xun You could not help but feel moved.
The authority Zhang Jing was offering was astonishingly broad.
At the same time, he fixed his gaze firmly upon Man Chong.
Because, more than anything else, he was worried that this stubborn man might refuse.
— The end of the Chapter–
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