Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 373 Do you know what it means to peel the skin and stuff the grass?

"Something happened to the Hundred Riders?"

Seeing Huang Chun hurrying into the imperial garden, Li Shimin gently handed the kite spool in his hand to Li Lizhi beside him.

The moment the little girl's fingertips touched the spool, her eyebrows instantly curved into crescent moons. She reached out to grab Wen He's sleeve, but when she turned her head, she saw that Wen He had already followed her father toward Huang Chun. She pursed her lips quietly, but in the end, she still stood there, clutching the spool, her eyes following the two figures, but she didn't dare to go forward.

Huang Chun quickly stepped forward, holding a green bamboo tube in both hands, and bowed as he spoke.

"Your Majesty, an urgent secret report has been sent from Liaodong. It was personally delivered to the capital by a hundred local cavalrymen, without using the postal relay system. There may be delays, so this report is being submitted urgently."

Liaodong?

Wen He raised an eyebrow slightly and subconsciously replied.

"Could it be related to Goguryeo?"

Before Li Shimin could respond, he took the bamboo tube and then gave Gao Yue a look.

Gao Yue understood immediately and called out to the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs, "His Majesty is discussing matters with the Prince of Gaoyang. You shall all retreat a hundred paces away and await his orders. Do not approach!"

Everyone responded and withdrew, leaving only Li Shimin, Wen He, and Huang Chun in the imperial garden. Even Li Lizhi sensibly moved to the crabapple tree, peeking out curiously but always keeping her distance.

Li Shimin flicked open the copper seal on the bamboo tube with his fingertips, pulled out the secret letter wrapped in hemp paper, and after quickly scanning only a few lines, his brows, which had been slightly furrowed due to government affairs, relaxed, and a knowing smile flashed in his eyes.

Seeing his expression, Wen He felt a sense of relief.

If it were truly a sudden and disastrous event, Your Majesty would not appear so relaxed.

As expected, Li Shimin handed the secret letter to Wen He, his tone carrying a hint of approval.

"It seems that the bait you threw to Goguryeo earlier has worked."

Wen He took the secret letter with both hands, her gaze falling on the vigorous classical Chinese characters, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

The secret letter read:

King Goguryeo Go Geonmu has sent his senior ministers to establish friendly relations with Silla and Baekje. The three states met in Pyongyang and swore an oath to jointly conquer the East Sea.

Upon closer inspection, it was found that Goguryeo was mobilizing soldiers and rushing to build warships, Silla was supplying 10,000 shi of grain, and Baekje was offering 100 shipbuilding craftsmen. All the tribes were preparing for war, working day and night without rest.

The three nations agreed that a month later, they would lead thousands of ships in a night raid on Japan, their target being the Iwami Silver Mine, intending to seize its mines to fund their military operations.

However, Japan was unaware of this plan, which was a closely guarded secret among the three nations.

Furthermore, the rumors we previously spread that "Japan intends to seize Liaodong" have convinced Goguryeo of them, thus strengthening their resolve to attack Japan.

I hereby present the details for Your Majesty's consideration.

At the end of the secret letter, the two characters "Su Wu" were placed on the corner of the paper.

Wen He glanced at the signature and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Zheng Yuanzhu was quite adept at self-aggrandizement, even comparing himself to Su Wu, who had served as a shepherd for nineteen years.

Su Wu was a loyal minister who was captured by the Xiongnu and refused to surrender even at the cost of his life. Zheng Yuanzhu was merely demoted to Liaodong for his crimes. He could hardly be considered to have been forced to uphold his principles.

Such self-comparison is truly shameless.

He suppressed his thoughts, handed the secret letter back to Li Shimin, and reminded him with a smile.

"Your Majesty, there are still several Japanese envoys to Tang China remaining in the Honglu Guest House, who have not yet returned home."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin pondered for a moment and immediately understood Wen He's intention.

Previously, he deliberately had 100 cavalrymen spread the news that "there is a silver mine in Iwami, Japan" to Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje, not to give up this mine.

Rather, the intention was to use this benefit to incite the three peninsula states and Japan to fight each other, causing them to weaken their strength in the East China Sea, so that the Tang Dynasty could reap the benefits.

Now that the three nations have formed an alliance and are preparing for war, we cannot allow Japan to remain uninvolved; we must ignite this conflict completely.

How many days would it take to send a message from Chang'an to Japan?

Li Shimin asked, his gaze sweeping over the locust branches swaying in the wind in the imperial garden, as if he were secretly calculating the time.

"If we take the sea route by express, and then change horses at the post stations along the way, if everything goes smoothly, it will take about twenty days to reach the port of Japan."

Wen He replied.

"The intelligence that the Hundred Riders sent back from Japan was around this time, but the capital of Japan is far away in Nara, and it will take several days for the message to be delivered from the port to Asuka Castle."

It's important to know that there weren't even post stations in Japan during that era.

Li Shimin chuckled upon hearing this.

"If we consider this, even if we send a message now, Japan will only have a few days to prepare. Given this haste, the defenses they can set up must be very limited."

Wen He immediately understood Li Shimin's concerns.

He was afraid that if the news spread too early, Japan would have enough time to deploy its troops and defenses. In that case, the three nations' navies would not be able to penetrate the Japanese coast, and this "dog-eat-dog" drama would end as soon as it began. The Tang Dynasty would then be unable to use their protracted fighting to buy time for domestic reorganization.

Only by allowing the three nations to successfully land in Japan and spread the flames of war to Japanese territory can both sides be completely entangled and unable to extricate themselves in a short period of time.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, even if the news reaches Japan, they may not believe it, or at least not entirely."

Wen He spoke with certainty.

“Japan and the three kingdoms of the peninsula have a long history of animosity, but they also have mutual fears. If they suddenly hear that the three kingdoms are going to join forces to attack Japan, their first reaction will probably be to question them, and they may even send people to Goguryeo to question them in person. This would only provoke Yeon Gaesomun.”

He paused and continued.

"Yeon Gaesomun is a man of ruthless and decisive nature, never hesitant or indecisive. Now that the three-nation alliance has been established, the navy and soldiers have been mobilized, and most of the food and equipment have been prepared, even if the news is leaked, he will never give up halfway. Otherwise, he will not only miss out on the important military supply base of Seokmi Eumsan, but also lose faith with Silla and Baekje, and lose face for Goguryeo."

"Given his temperament, he might even send troops ahead of schedule to prevent any unforeseen complications."

This statement is not based on mere conjecture.

Later, Yeon Gaesomun dared to assassinate King Go Geonmu in front of the entire Goguryeo court, and dared to decisively sever diplomatic relations with the Tang Dynasty after the Tang refused to accept his envoy. He also built large-scale defensive fortifications on the border and repeatedly provoked the Tang Dynasty's territory, which shows his decisiveness.

This plan to raid the Japanese and seize silver is not only about real interests, but also about the prestige of the three-nation alliance. Yeon Gaesomun will not easily give up because of some changes.

Li Shimin nodded slowly upon hearing this, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"You seem to have a thorough understanding of Yeon Gaesomun's temperament. In that case, immediately arrange for someone to inform the Japanese envoy to Tang China of the news of the three states' preparations for war. Don't be too explicit; just hint at it and let them speculate and panic on their own."

"The minister obeys the order."

Wen He bowed and accepted the order.

"You can take charge of supervising this matter. Right now, the most important thing is the imperial examination."

Li Shimin reminded him.

Wen He was taken aback, and couldn't help feeling a little helpless.

I want to go home and sleep!
Do you believe I'll report you for child abuse?

He sighed helplessly to himself.

He would be happy to go and deal with the Japanese devils, but the mere mention of the imperial examinations gave him a headache.

Aren't all the things that have happened these past two days caused by this imperial examination?

The imperial examinations haven't even officially started yet, and the Hongwen Academy incident has already caused a stir. Who knows what other trouble those people will cause in the next month?
He was just about to try to negotiate with Li Shimin again, hoping to get less of the trivial matters of the imperial examinations, when he finally spoke.

"Your Majesty..."

Li Shimin abruptly interrupted him, saying, "That's settled then. No need for further discussion. You will stay in the palace for lunch."

Wen He swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and looked up to meet Li Shimin's ambiguous smile, which seemed to say, "Don't think that I don't know what you're thinking."

He had no choice but to resign himself to his fate and shut his mouth.

The imperial lunch was served in a side hall of the Lizheng Hall. The dishes were not luxurious, but they were exquisite.

Wen He, however, ate without any appetite, his mind preoccupied with planning the procedures for the imperial examinations, how to prevent the nobles from cheating, and how to appease the scholars.

Even when Li Shimin occasionally inquired about the recent situation of the Hundred Cavalry, he seemed somewhat absent-minded.

In contrast, Li Lizhi, who was standing to the side, seemed to be enjoying her meal very much.

The little girl held a piece of honey cake in her left hand and scooped up some sweet soup with a silver spoon in her right. Every now and then, she would pick up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks and put it into Wen He's bowl, saying softly, "Ah He, this is delicious, you should try it."

Perhaps because she had enjoyed flying kites so much that morning, she didn't pester Wen He to take her out of the palace anymore. She would just occasionally tilt her head and ask Wen He curiously when she would come back to the palace to play with her again.

Wen He was touched by the little girl's enthusiasm, and her irritability dissipated a bit. She smiled and patted the girl's head.

"After the imperial examinations are over, Ahe will take you out of the palace to fly kites. We'll make new kites and draw your favorite little rabbits, okay?"

Li Lizhi's eyes lit up, and she immediately put down the silver spoon and extended her little finger.

"Pinky promise! No lying!"

Wen He hooked her little finger with hers and said earnestly.

"No lying, pinky promise, never to change for a hundred years."

The little girl then released her grip with satisfaction, finding Wen He's explanation quite amusing, and nodded repeatedly, smiling.

"Yes, yes, it can't change for a hundred years."

After the meal, Wen He bid farewell to Li Shimin. Just as he reached the entrance of the Lizheng Hall, Li Lizhi grabbed his sleeve.

The little girl looked up, her eyes filled with reluctance: "Ahe, you must come and pick me up from the palace soon."

Standing not far away, Li Shimin saw this scene and for some reason suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

It feels like my daughter is about to leave.

There are still several years to go.

"must."

Wen He smiled and nodded, watching the palace maid lead Li Lizhi away before turning and leaving the palace, galloping back to the Hundred Cavalry Camp.

As soon as they entered the gate of the Hundred Cavalry Camp, they bumped into Zhang Wenxiao, dressed in a black outfit. He was clutching a patrol roster and walking hurriedly as if he were on his way to arrange the afternoon duty. Upon seeing Wen He, he immediately stopped and bowed, saying, "Your subordinate greets the magistrate!"

Wen He gestured to dismiss his formalities and asked directly, "Little Zhang, where are those suspicious people who were mixed in with the scholars that we caught at the Vermilion Bird Gate this morning being placed?"

Zhang Wenxiao quickly replied.

"Young Master, they are all locked in the innermost cells of the camp, far away from the other prisoners. Fan Biao is leading two teams of brothers to take turns guarding them. They have not only thoroughly searched them, but also added two locks to the cell doors to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"well done."

Wen He nodded, then, remembering how the Hundred Riders had been on duty at the Vermilion Bird Gate under the scorching sun that morning, busy with chores without a break, he added.

"Go and call Fan Biao over first. I have something important to tell him."

"Yes!"

Zhang Wenxiao turned around in response and ran briskly toward the barracks on the west side.

Everyone in the Hundred Cavalry Battalion knew that Wen Xianzi was always generous to his subordinates. He never hesitated to reward his brothers for their merits or hard work. The fact that Fan Biao had been summoned meant that something good was about to happen.

Before long, Fan Biao strode over, still wearing his armor, the plates clanging softly against each other.

He ran up to Wen He, bowed sharply, and grinned.

"Fan Biao, pays his respects to the young master!"

Wen He looked at the beads of sweat on his forehead, smiled, and pointed to the stone bench next to him.

"Don't rush to bow. You've worked hard on duty this morning. Just sit down and talk."

Then, he changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat solemn.

"Today's events at the Vermilion Bird Gate were largely due to the proper handling of the Hundred Riders, who have rendered meritorious service."

Upon hearing this, Fan Biao's face lit up with a hint of joy, but he remained modest.

"These are all our duties, and we dare not talk about 'making merits'. Besides, with the county magistrate in charge at Zhuque Gate, we feel more at ease."

"Those who do their duty should also be rewarded."

Wen He waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Go tell the accountant that all the 100 cavalrymen who went on duty today, regardless of their rank, should be rewarded with one string of cash as compensation for their hard work this morning. Also, tell the kitchen to add two meat dishes tonight so that the brothers can have something to eat.”

"One string of cash per person?"

Fan Biao was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up instantly, and he could no longer hide the smile on his face.

It should be noted that the monthly salary of a hundred cavalrymen is only a little over two strings of cash. Now, they are rewarded with one string of cash for each duty shift, plus extra food. This reward is truly generous.

He quickly bowed again, his voice several decibels louder than before.
"On behalf of the brothers who went on duty today, I thank the magistrate! The brothers stood under the scorching sun for two hours this morning, and after returning, they were busy guarding the prisoners. They didn't even have time to drink a bowl of hot soup. If they knew that the magistrate would give such a generous reward, they would be overjoyed!"

Wen He smiled and reached out his hand. Fan Biao consciously squatted down so that he could pat his shoulder.

This sensible demeanor made Wen He feel a little embarrassed.

"Brothers, you've worked hard; this reward is well deserved. By the way, where are Meng Zhou, Wu Sheng, and Zhao Lei now?"

"Back in the county, the three of them are resting in the camp's guest rooms now."

Fan Biao quickly replied.

"In the morning, they followed the scholars in their petition. Later, the magistrate ordered me to take them back to the camp for resettlement. I was worried that they might not be used to it, so I specially had tea and snacks prepared for them. If the magistrate wants to see them, I will go and fetch them now."

"Okay, go and call them here. I'll wait for them in the study."

After Wen He finished speaking, she turned and walked towards the study.

Wen He had barely sat down when she heard soft footsteps outside the door, followed by Meng Zhou's voice.

"Student Meng Zhou (Wu Sheng, Zhao Lei) pays his respects to the magistrate of Gaoyang County."

"come in."

Wen He raised his voice.

The three of them pushed open the door and entered. After bowing, they stood awkwardly in front of the desk, their eyes filled with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

It's impossible for them not to have expectations after parting ways with Zheng County.

Unexpectedly, I encountered the magistrate of Gaoyang County, and also His Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty.

But after that, they continued to live a poor life as always.

So everyone felt like they were having a dream.

After arriving in Chang'an, they did consider looking for Wen Hexing.

But I've been hesitating.

Unexpectedly, the son of Gaoyang County took the initiative to contact them.

They were given such an important task.

Seeing the three of them looking awkward, Wen He smiled and pointed to the chair next to her: "Sit down, don't be so reserved."

After thanking them, the three carefully sat down, their bottoms barely touching the corner of the chair, their bodies leaning slightly forward, looking as if they were listening attentively.

Wen He shook her head with a chuckle and slowly spoke.

"You did a great job at the Vermilion Bird Gate today. You stood up and fought for fairness for scholars from poor families. This courage and sense of responsibility are rare."

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhou immediately stood up and solemnly said, "Your Excellency flatters me. This matter concerns the fairness of the imperial examinations and the future of scholars from humble backgrounds throughout the land. Even if Your Excellency had not instructed us, we students would never have stood idly by if we had known that nobles intended to manipulate things behind the scenes. All we scholars seek is fairness. If even the imperial examinations cannot be fair, what is the point of studying?"

He spoke with righteous indignation and his eyes were full of determination. Wu Sheng and Zhao Lei, who were standing next to him, also stood up and echoed his words.

“Brother Meng is absolutely right! Although we come from humble backgrounds, we know that justice resides in the hearts of the people, and we must not let the nobility ruin the imperial examination system!”

He smiled and waved his hand, gesturing for the three of them to sit down.

"It's good that you have this intention. However, courage and responsibility alone are not enough. If you want to establish yourself in the court in the future, you also need to have real talent and the ability to govern the country. I ask you, what are your ambitions?"

Meng Zhou spoke first, his eyes full of longing: "I want to be a minister who speaks frankly and remonstrates, like Wei Zhongcheng, daring to point out the mistakes of the monarch and do my part for the long-term stability of the Tang Dynasty!"

Wen He nodded. Wei Zheng was a famous remonstrating official during the Zhenguan era. Meng Zhou took him as his role model, which shows that he had a heart to serve the country.

He then looked at Zhao Lei and asked, "And you?"

Zhao Lei hesitated for a moment before slowly saying,

"I have always studied in the countryside and know little about the affairs of the court. If I can enter the court through the imperial examination in the future, I will definitely learn from the sages, perform my duties diligently, benefit the people, and live up to His Majesty's trust and the cultivation of the county magistrate."

Upon hearing this, Wen He's heart stirred slightly.

Zhao Lei's words sounded grand and dignified, but they were somewhat empty.

Being an official is different from studying. Studying only requires delving into classic texts, while being an official requires handling complex government affairs, dealing with various interpersonal relationships, and weighing pros and cons. It is not enough to just have the idea of ​​benefiting the people to do a good job.

He remained expressionless, simply smiling and nodding, then looked at Wu Sheng: "What are your ambitions?"

Wu Sheng remained silent for a moment before speaking softly.

"I do not have the lofty ambitions of Brother Meng, nor the noble pursuits of Brother Zhao. I only wish to go to the local area for a few years to gain experience, learn how to govern, and how to handle the affairs of the people. If I can become a county magistrate and manage the local security so that the people can live and work in peace, I will be satisfied."

A hint of approval flashed in Wen He's eyes.

Wu Sheng is indeed pragmatic.

Although the county magistrate is only a minor official of the ninth rank, even a superior county is only of the eighth rank.

However, the county constable is in charge of the security of the county and is the official position closest to the people. Making achievements in this position is far more practical than just shouting slogans.

However, he wasn't sure if Wu Sheng meant it sincerely or was just saying it to him on purpose.

After all, in officialdom, pragmatism is a rare quality that easily wins the favor of superiors.

He didn't press further, but instead asked a question.

"There's less than a month until the spring imperial examinations. What subjects are you planning to take?"

Meng Zhou and Zhao Lei exchanged a glance and said in unison.

"The students are preparing for the Ming Suan (calculation) exam."

Wen He was somewhat surprised.

The Ming Suan Ke (明算科) mainly tests knowledge of arithmetic, calendar systems, and engineering. It is quite difficult, and the number of students admitted is limited. Generally, only scholars with a strong interest in arithmetic and outstanding talent will choose this subject.

Moreover, graduates of the Ming Suan Ke (a branch of the Imperial Academy of Mathematics) typically went on to become officials in the Ministry of Revenue or to become mathematics professors at the Imperial Academy. It was extremely difficult for them to rise to prominence.

He looked at Wu Sheng and asked, "Wu Sheng, what about you?"

"The student applied for the Mingjing major."

Wu Sheng said in a low voice.

"Students are fairly familiar with Confucian classics, so the Mingjing exam is relatively safer."

He hesitated, seemingly lacking confidence.

Wen He knew that they felt they came from a humble background and might not be as good as the sons of aristocratic families.

Since these three people have helped me so much this time...

Why don't you help them too...

He hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"There is still a month left. If you are willing, you can move into my residence. During this time, I can help you review your lessons and answer your questions, which may give you more confidence."

Upon hearing this, all three were stunned, and then their eyes lit up with disbelief.

It is important to know that in the Tang Dynasty, before participating in the imperial examinations, scholars would present their poems and essays to high-ranking officials in the hope of gaining their appreciation. This was known as "presenting one's work."

Even submitting a petition might not win the favor of high-ranking officials, let alone allow one to stay in their residence and receive one-on-one guidance.

As a fifth-rank official from Gaoyang County and a minister highly regarded by His Majesty, Wen He's initiative to help them review their lessons is an incredible stroke of good luck!
The three of them completely forgot that Wen He was only eleven years old.

Meng Zhou reacted the fastest, immediately standing up and bowing deeply to Wen He.

"I am very grateful for your kindness, sir! If I can receive your guidance, I will do my best and live up to your expectations!"

Wu Sheng and Zhao Lei also quickly stood up and bowed in greeting.

"Thank you very much, sir!"

"No need to be polite."

Wen He smiled and waved her hand.

“You are all people with potential. It was just a small favor for me. You can go and rest now. I will have someone come and pick you up to take you to my residence first thing tomorrow morning.”

"Yes!"

After thanking them again, the three carefully left the study, their steps much lighter than when they came in, clearly overwhelmed by the good news.

Wen He watched the three figures disappear into the distance, a smile playing on her lips.

Meng Zhou has integrity, Wu Sheng is pragmatic, and Zhao Lei, though somewhat naive, is not beyond redemption. If properly nurtured, he might be able to help Li Chengqian in the future.

Wen He raised his hand to stretch his muscles and bones, and most of the pent-up frustration in his chest dissipated with the movement.

Now that the decision has been made to train and assist Li Chengqian, the trouble of the imperial examination will not have been in vain.

As he stretched to his limit, his gaze suddenly darkened, all traces of gentleness vanishing, leaving only coldness.

"Let's go to the prison. I want to see who dares to provoke me under the guise of scholars' petitions!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he took the first step, his black robe sweeping across the threshold, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Zhang Wenxiao and Fan Biao, who were following behind, exchanged a glance, both seeing apprehension in each other's eyes.

The sight sent shivers down their spines, and they quickly quickened their pace to catch up.

The Hundred Cavalry Battalion's prison was located on the westernmost side of the camp, built against a high wall with sharp iron spikes stuck on top of it.

The two guards at the gate, clad in heavy armor and with their hands on the swords at their waists, immediately saluted when they saw Wen He approaching.

The heavy iron door was pushed open by the two of them with a loud creaking sound.

Most of the cells on both sides of the prison corridor were empty, except for the last cell at the very end, where seven figures were huddled together.

Wen He stood outside the cell door, scanning the inside of the cell with the faint light coming through the small window above her head.

All seven of them were dressed in coarse cloth clothes that had been starched until they were faded, and their hair was a mess, like a chicken coop.

The bruises on his face from when he was subdued by the Hundred Knights that morning were still visible.

He was huddled in a corner, watching the door warily, his eyes filled with panic, yet he still forced a tough stance.

“Young master, these people have been very stubborn since they were locked up this morning. No matter how we ask them, they insist that they are scholars who came to petition, and they won’t even drink a drop of water.”

Fan Biao leaned close to Wen He's ear and whispered his report, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"The brothers were afraid that using torture would hurt someone and break the young master's rules, so they never dared to use force."

Wen He didn't reply, but simply gestured for Zhang Wenxiao to come forward. Zhang Wenxiao immediately drew his riding whip from his waist, lightly twirled the tip in his palm, and stepped into the cell.

The whip cracked against the ground with a sharp "snap," the crisp sound echoing in the cramped cell, startling the inmates who simultaneously flinched.

"I'll ask one last time, who exactly are you people? Who sent you to infiltrate the scholars and cause trouble?"

Zhang Wenxiao's voice was as deep as iron. His gaze swept over the group of people, finally landing on a tall, muscular man with a face full of scars.

This man was the one who shouted the loudest in the crowd that morning. After he was captured by the 100 cavalry, it was discovered that he was carrying a dagger.

The tall, burly man stiffened his neck, spitting everywhere.

"We are scholars who came to petition! Why are you arresting us? The magistrate of Gaoyang County is a minister whom His Majesty values. Do you think you can force a confession out of us?"

"Scholars?"

Zhang Wenxiao sneered, stepped forward, grabbed the man by the collar, and lifted him up from the ground. His arm veins bulged, and his tone was full of mockery.

“True scholars petition for fairness in the imperial examinations and to urge His Majesty to recruit more talented individuals. What about you? You run around the Vermilion Bird Gate, shouting at the top of your lungs, ‘Abolish the Hongwen Academy!’ Is that what scholars should say?!”

These words struck the men like a hammer blow, and the cell fell silent instantly.

The tall, burly man's eyes gleamed, and he stubbornly retorted, "The Hongwen Academy is controlled by nobles, and scholars from humble backgrounds can't get in. What's wrong with abolishing it?"

"Whether it's right or wrong is none of your business!"

Zhang Wenxiao increased the force in his hands, almost lifting the man off the ground.

"Not to mention that you weren't even doing this for the poor. This morning, the Hundred Cavalry brothers saw it clearly: you deliberately spread rumors in the crowd that 'His Majesty is favoring the nobles, and the poor have no chance of advancement.' Is this what scholars should do?!"

The man was lifted off the ground, his face flushed red, and his breathing became rapid, yet he still tried to argue.

"We...we were just too hasty, trying to get His Majesty to take our demands seriously!"

"urgent?"

Wen He's voice suddenly came from the doorway, calm and without a ripple, yet it instantly chilled the air in the cell.

He slowly walked into the cell, his boots making a soft sound as they stepped on the damp floor, each step feeling like a blow to the hearts of the men.

He stopped in front of the tall, burly man and asked coldly, "If it's just for a request, why hide a dagger at your waist?"

These words struck a nerve with the group. The man fell silent, and the others lowered their heads, not daring to meet Wen He's gaze.

The only sounds in the cell were heavy breathing and the involuntary trembling of a few people.

Seeing this, Zhang Wenxiao raised his hand to lash the man with his riding whip: "It seems you won't tell the truth unless I teach you a lesson!"

"Wait a minute."

Wen He raised her hand to stop Zhang Wenxiao, her gaze slowly sweeping over the seven people in the cell, a cold smile curving her lips.

"A whipping hurts for a while, but it's nothing serious. I do know a few ways to get you to talk properly."

He walked to the center of the cell, his back to the others, and spoke in a low voice, yet every word was clearly audible to everyone.

"The first type is called the tiger bench. A person is tied to a bench and bricks are placed under their calves. With each brick, the kneecap feels like it's being torn apart. If three bricks are placed under it, the bone might even break. Even if the person can walk in the future, they'll be lame for the rest of their life."

As soon as he finished speaking, several gasps of cold air came from inside the cell.

A thin, small man subconsciously touched his knee, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

He had seen gamblers with broken legs in gambling dens outside the city before, and the sight still terrified him.

Wen He shook her head and smiled, "This is just the first method. There are more to come. Don't worry, as long as you don't ask, I will make sure you have a good time."

He smiled kindly, but in the eyes of those in front of him...

It was like a demon.

"A hundred-horse-riding demon, a hundred-horse-riding demon!" many people muttered under their breath.

Wen He seemed not to hear her and continued speaking.

"The second method is called 'bamboo skewer finger piercing.' You sharpen a thin bamboo skewer and insert it between the nail and the flesh. The pain is worse than having your flesh cut off. Then you sprinkle some salt on it."

"Tsk tsk, this feels exceptionally good."

He described it so vividly that it was as if bamboo skewers were swaying right in front of him, and even Zhang Wenxiao felt his fingertips go numb.

Wen He continued, "However, I prefer the third one. Do you know what it is?"

Stared at like that by him, the men in the cell shook their heads in terror.

We don't want to know.

"As for this last one, do you know what it means to peel the skin and stuff the grass?"

"It's like burying people in the ground, then peeling off their scalps and pouring mercury in. Their skin and flesh will be torn apart, and the pain will make them crawl right out of the ground. Ouch~ the pain at that moment must be a pleasure worse than death."

As Wen He spoke, she deliberately put on an expectant look.

"Tsk tsk, just talking about it makes me amused. How about I stop asking and start with the third option? Some of you are willing. I think your skins are all quite nice. How about we peel them off and display them here for the prisoners who come in later to have a good look?"

The people inside the cell were trembling all over, and their teeth began to chatter uncontrollably.

The tall, burly man's forehead was covered in cold sweat, which streamed down his cheeks.

The thinnest man suddenly found his trouser leg soaked with urine, which flowed down to the ground and emitted a pungent odor.

He could no longer hold back and fell to his knees with a thud, crying and begging for mercy.

"No, no, no, don't skin me! Spare me, spare me!"

“I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you everything! We’re not scholars! We’re just hooligans from outside Chang’an! We’ve been hired!”

This cry seemed to break a dam, and the others also collapsed. A thin-faced man covered his face and cried.

“That’s right! We’re regulars at the gambling dens outside the city, and we’re drowning in debt. Someone paid us to do this!”

Wen He's eyes narrowed, and she walked up to the skinny man and squatted down.

"Who hired you? How much did they pay you?"

The man trembled like a leaf, not daring to look Wen He in the eye, and spoke haltingly.

“We…we don’t know who the employer is. We only know that he is a man wearing a blue long gown who speaks with a Hebei accent. He found us three days ago at the ‘gambling den’ outside the city.”

"He said... that as long as we mingle among the scholars today, shout for the abolition of the Hongwen Academy, and then seize a weapon to create chaos and get the situation out of control, everyone will get twenty strings of cash afterwards!"

"Twenty strings of cash?"

Zhang Wenxiao frowned. Twenty strings of cash were enough for an ordinary family to live on for several years.

No wonder these young scoundrels dared to take such a risk!
"Didn't you ask him why he was targeting Hongwen Hall? Didn't you see what he looked like?"

Wen He pressed on, her tone tinged with urgency.

"I asked him, but he wouldn't tell!"

The thin-faced man quickly added.

“He wore a veiled hat with the brim pulled low, so we couldn’t see his face at all. We only knew that he was of medium build and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, as if he was deliberately lowering his voice. At first, we were afraid that something would happen, but he gave each of us a deposit of ten strings of cash and said that he would give us another ten strings of cash after the matter was done. We… we were tempted!”

Wen He stood up, her gaze sweeping over the group. Seeing their flustered expressions, which didn't seem like they were lying, her heart grew even heavier.

The employers, who spoke with a Hebei accent, specifically instructed them to advocate for the abolition of the Hongwen Academy and to create chaos; this was far more than just disrupting the imperial examinations.

This is clearly not their destination, Kobunkan.

The person who made these people carry daggers was clearly doing it on purpose to create chaos.

If anything happens to these scholars gathered today, then all the blame will be directed at him.

So this person is targeting himself.

"interesting."

It's that Hebei accent again.

I didn't have time to deal with Cui Wei before, but I didn't expect him to resurface.

Wen He's lips curled up slightly.

Upon seeing this, the people in the prison immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

"We've said everything we need to say, magistrate, please spare our lives! We don't want to be skinned alive!"

"Sir, I have elderly parents and young children to support. Please spare my life! I will never dare to do it again."

Zhang Wenxiao, standing to the side, looked on in astonishment.

The young man didn't say anything, he just smiled, and that scared these people so much?
But were the tortures that the young man just mentioned true?

He wouldn't really do that, would he?

I wonder where the young man learned that from.

This nickname, "Hundred-Rider Little Demon," is truly accurate.

In other words, Wen He didn't know Zhang Wenxiao's thoughts, otherwise she would definitely have let him try.

"Zhang Wenxiao, examine them carefully again and see if they can recall any more details."

Wen He turned and gave the instructions.

"Fan Biao, you come with me and lead men to the gambling den outside the city. We'll raid the place and bring everyone back to the Hundred Cavalry Camp for interrogation!"

Wen He's tone was resolute, and her eyes revealed a fierce glint.

The laws of the Tang Dynasty explicitly prohibit gambling in public. Although this matter was not under his direct jurisdiction, since he already knew the clues, it was only right that he take the opportunity to clean up the security and help reduce the burden on Chang'an County.

His main reason was that he wanted to meet the person behind the scenes.

"Yes!"

Fan Biao readily agreed and quickly turned to find someone.
In less than half an incense stick's time, Wen He and Fan Biao set off with fifty hundred cavalrymen.

The black armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the sound of horses' hooves broke the tranquility of the street, causing pedestrians to scatter and wonder why this elite force of a hundred riders had suddenly acted so strangely.

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor of the Drunken Immortal Tavern in the southeast corner of Chang'an City.

Xun Jue held a celadon wine cup, his fingertips lightly turning the rim, his gaze sweeping coldly over the bowing servant in front of him.

The servant was dressed in coarse cloth shorts, with dust still clinging to his forehead, clearly having just rushed in from outside.

"Failed?"

Xun Jue's voice was calm and even, yet it carried an invisible pressure.

The servant stiffened and quickly replied.

"Just as you predicted, the Hundred Riders were well prepared. Although those people initially incited many scholars, before the situation could get out of control, they were all captured by the plainclothes officers of the Hundred Riders, and none of them escaped."

"Hmph, as expected, a piece of trash."

Xun Jue scoffed, his eyes full of disdain. He raised his hand and slammed the wine cup heavily onto the table, splashing wine that soaked the brocade cloth spread on the table.

"They couldn't even create a little chaos; all that effort wasted."

The servant was so frightened that he lowered his head even further and dared not respond.

Xun Jue took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and asked again, "Where is Mr. Mo from Hebei? Where is he now?"

"My lord, Mr. Mo is still at the Cui family residence."

The servant's voice trembled, but his words contained a hint of resentment.

"I heard that Cui Dalang did not blame him, and even kept him in the mansion to discuss matters."

"No blame?"

Xun Jue seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"I'm afraid that Mr. Mo won't live more than a few days. Wen He is so shrewd; I'm afraid she'll discover the clues in a few days."

He ran his fingertips along the rim of the glass, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He had indeed underestimated Wen He before, thinking that she was just a poor boy who had risen to power through novel ideas.

But ever since he was demoted and punished last time, he has been reflecting on it every day.

Why was Wen He, who was far away in Zheng County, able to defeat him so completely?

This boy is terrifying!

He turned to look out the window; the setting sun was casting a deep red glow over half the sky.

Just then, a rapid sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the street outside the tavern, making the window frames tremble slightly.

"It's the Hundred Riders!"

The servant's expression changed drastically. He leaned closer to the window and peeked out, immediately recognizing the armor worn by the cavalrymen, which was reserved for a hundred riders.

"My lord, they've headed out of the city!"

Xun Jue also walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain.

A hundred riders galloped past, and at the very front of the procession was a figure riding a small pony and dressed in a black robe.

It was Wen He!

(End of this chapter)