Jianghu Qimen Lu

Gui Nan Na was astonished that Shi Qian dared to be so audacious. He gritted his teeth and growled, "What do you mean by 'blinded by a leaf'? What exactly do you mean?" Shi Qian ignored him and immediately turned to Bai Shan Dian and respectfully reported, "Your Excellency, the county magistrate's information is inaccurate! Tonight, I personally witnessed the Red Flower Society bandits gathering in the Shi Gong Ancestral Hall outside my village, numbering over a hundred!" Gui Nan Na had a sudden realization and remembered something. He pointed at Shi Qian and cursed, "You scoundrel Shi Qian! Who can believe what you say? Are the Red Flower Society members all madmen? In the dead of night, who would be so bored as to gather in that eerie and terrifying Shi Gong Ancestral Hall in the cemetery? It's truly bizarre, a complete fantasy!" He then knelt before Bai Shan Dian and explained, "Your Excellency, you are unaware of..." Actually, the county magistrate had a grudge against the Shi family, this troublesome commoner. A few days ago, the county magistrate had consulted a wandering Taoist priest who divined his fate. The priest said that his forehead was dark and his eyes were lifeless, foretelling a great calamity this year! The only way to avert this disaster was to bury his father at Plum Blossom Ridge upon his death, with flowing water in front and plum blossoms behind, ensuring safety! Initially, the county magistrate didn't believe the words of these charlatans. However, a few days later, his father, who had been in good health, suddenly fell ill and was diagnosed with an incurable disease! This was quite a shock; it seemed the charlatan's words had come true! So, the county magistrate sent people to search for the auspicious burial site for his father, and they found it at Plum Blossom Ridge within Yangzhou! Unexpectedly, it was the Shi family's ancestral hall. So, the county magistrate approached them, offering a high price to buy the land, hoping they would relocate the ancestral hall…”

Before he could speak, Shi Qian angrily interrupted him: "When did you say you would buy it at a high price? That's utter self-deception, a complete fabrication!" Turning to Bai Shandian, he respectfully said, "Your Excellency, please be wise. Every word I have said is true. The county magistrate summoned all seven of us brothers to the county office and, in a commanding tone, arrogantly ordered us to demolish the Shi Gong Ancestral Hall within three days! We brothers naturally refused outright, because the Shi Gong Ancestral Hall is the ancestral tomb of our Shi family. We, the descendants of Yan and Huang, have always valued respect for teachers and the Way, and revered propriety and righteousness. Who would have thought that this county magistrate would abuse his power and bully the weak, making such a shameless and immoral demand!" Gui Nanna, standing to the side, turned green with rage upon seeing him publicly insulted! Unfortunately, bad luck was raging today. This imperial envoy seemed to have a deep-seated prejudice against him and was deliberately trying to embarrass him at every turn. He even allowed a scoundrel to insult him at will without doing anything about it! Although he was extremely angry, he could not show it.

Shi Qian continued angrily, "Seeing our firm stance, the county magistrate actually tricked us again, saying that if we agreed to his demands, all seven of us brothers could become constables! He would then ruthlessly exploit the people of Yangzhou, increasing the number of exorbitant taxes and levies, and we seven would be tasked with leading the collection. The proceeds would be split equally between us! He also wanted us to find any auspicious location within Yangzhou to relocate the Shi Gong Temple there, making room for him!" This infuriated Bai Shandian! He couldn't believe that such a small city as Yangzhou had produced a local tyrant! So self-righteous, so lawless! He immediately shouted, "Soldiers, strip this magistrate of his official robes! Tie him up immediately! I'm going to hold court in the county yamen to hear this case!" Upon this order, two Manchu soldiers immediately jumped down from behind him, stepped forward, pinned Gui Nan Na to the ground, forcibly removed his official robes and hat, and chained him!

White Lightning jerked the reins, and the Akhal-Teke horse neighed loudly, turning around and galloping towards the county government office. Red Moon frowned slightly and had no choice but to order the main force to temporarily camp at the entrance. She and Huang Miwu led only a dozen personal guards, escorting County Magistrate Gui Nanna and Shi Qian, and urged their horses to follow closely!

In the main hall of the county government office, a plaque inscribed with "A Bright Mirror Hangs High" hung prominently, its inscription contrasting sharply with the "Keep Quiet" signs on either side, creating a sinister and terrifying atmosphere. White Lightning sat high above, flanked by Red Moon and Yellow Mist, standing like a pair of guardians. Below, a dozen or so Manchu soldiers stood in rows on either side, each with a fierce and menacing expression, which greatly frightened the prostrate Magistrate Guinan and Shi Qian, who were kneeling in the center.

Bai Shandian slammed his gavel and demanded sharply, "Ghost Hard to Catch! Do you know your crime?" Ghost Hard to Catch, still trying to defend himself with his usual eloquent words, argued, "In truth, I have always worked diligently to relieve the court's burdens! The Red Flower Society bandits are indeed currently lurking at Daming Temple. They have had dealings with me, which I witnessed firsthand. How can it be false? This scoundrel Shi Qian has fabricated lies, wantonly slandering an official of the court. He is clearly venting his personal anger and seeking revenge! According to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, what crime should he be charged with? Moreover, he has reversed right and wrong, insisting that the Red Flower Society rebels are hiding elsewhere. This is even more malicious, a deception of Your Excellency! I beg Your Excellency to judge who is right and who is wrong!" Bai Shandian smiled coldly, "So you mean I've wronged you? Bah! That's why the people of Yangzhou gave you the nickname: Ghost Hard to Catch!" Do you think I'm blind and deaf? Actually, before coming to Yangzhou, I had already learned many of your secrets and scandals! For so many years since you took office, you've oppressed the people and exploited the locals, not to mention that last year you embezzled 50,000 dan of disaster relief grain—what crime should that be? You've deceived both superiors and subordinates, misleading the court; this alone is enough to sentence you to immediate death! Yangzhou was once a paradise on earth, a land of plenty, a famously prosperous place in Jiangnan, but you've turned it into a chaotic mess in recent years! Today, I have important matters to attend to and cannot delay, so I have no choice but to hastily imprison you and thoroughly investigate your various crimes later! Take him away—" Two Manchu soldiers came over, grabbed him by the shoulder, lifted him up, and threw him directly into the temporary dark cell in the back hall of the county government office.

Bai Shandian then shot his cold, lightning-like gaze at Shi Qian, making him feel uneasy and lower his head, avoiding eye contact. Suddenly, Bai Shandian slammed his gavel, the resounding crack sending shivers down Shi Qian's spine. His body trembled involuntarily, and he instinctively touched the bundle on his back, beginning to shake violently.

Bai Shandian, observing Shi Qian's expressions, took it all in. Suddenly, he asked, "Why are you trembling so much? Could it be that you're lying, and the Red Flower Society rebels aren't actually at the Shi Gong Temple?" Shi Qian hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "No, sir, I'm not lying! The Red Flower Society rebels are indeed lurking in the Shi Gong Temple! This is absolutely true! If you don't believe me, sir, I can lead you there now!" Bai Shandian remained silent for a long time, and the hall fell silent. Shi Qian felt the air was too oppressive, almost suffocating! He slowly raised his head, wanting to observe Bai Shandian's expression, but when he looked up, he saw the other man's sharp gaze fixed on him! He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look at him again! His heart was in turmoil, and he would never find peace again!

"Sima Qian! What are you carrying on your back?" Bai Shandian's roar was like a bolt from the blue, catching him completely off guard! His head buzzed, and his whole body went limp to the ground...

"It's... some stolen goods that I just stole!" Shi Qian's willpower was completely crushed by Bai Shandian, and his mouth was no longer his own. He unknowingly admitted everything!

"What treasure is in this package that you love so much that you forgot to take it with you when you went to the county office to report him?!" Indeed, this was Shi Qian's Achilles' heel, which Bai Shandian had seized upon!

"Alas, inside is just a Japanese sword forged from gold." Sima Qian said with a helpless expression.

"What? A Japanese sword? And it's made of gold!" White Lightning was quite surprised, while Red Moon and Yellow Mist were both astonished! Red Moon hurriedly asked Shi Qian, "Where did you steal this golden Japanese sword? Tell me the truth!" Shi Qian dared not hide the truth and immediately confessed, "This afternoon, I was drinking with friends at a restaurant in Niujia Village, a neighboring village, when suddenly a Japanese samurai barged in, ordered food and drinks, and started drinking. This guy was over fifty years old, tall and burly, with a hooked nose and hawk-like eyes, very fierce, but he was very generous, ordering only the most expensive dishes and drinking only the most famous brands. He was even drinking that..." The most expensive Gu Yue Long Shan liquor in the restaurant right now! It's said that a single bottle costs a gold ingot! The Japanese samurai, in high spirits, unfastened his sword and slammed it onto the table! We turned to look and couldn't help but marvel. The hilt of that Japanese sword was entirely golden, made of pure gold! A string of precious pearls dangled from the hilt, quite beautiful. The scabbard was adorned with beautiful mother-of-pearl inlay, depicting several cats as lifelike as if they were from a painting…”