Han Ji

Chapter 117 Under Control

Wang Chun looked up, hope igniting in his eyes: "Guan... Commander Guan... can he live?"

"Write down everything Zhao Lü instructed you to do, and sign it," Guan Yu said. "I can guarantee the lives of your family."

"I'll write! I'll write!"

Paper and pen were brought over, and Wang Chun lay on the ground writing his confession. His hand trembled violently, and the characters were crooked and messy.

After writing and signing his name, Guan Yu put it away.

"Wang Chun, today I will only execute the bandit leader Du Laosi. You... were deceived, so I will not pursue the matter for now." Guan Yu looked at Zhang Fei, "Yide, release him."

Zhang Fei glared: "Release?"

"Release," Guan Yu repeated.

Zhang Fei gritted his teeth and waved his hand. The soldiers released Wang Chun.

Wang Chun kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Commander Guan! Thank you, Commander Zhang!"

"But my army will be temporarily stationed at your estate," Guan Yu said. "The guards will be disbanded, and the smuggled salt will be confiscated. Do you agree?"

"I'm impressed! I'm impressed!"

Guan Yu ordered Zhang Wu to take over the manor and inventory the supplies.

Zhang Fei pulled Guan Yu aside: "Yun Chang, are we really going to let him go? Those letters..."

"Keep the letter, release the man," Guan Yu said in a low voice. "If we move against Wang Chun now, Su Gu might fight to the death. If we release him, Su Gu will become suspicious and dare not act rashly."

Zhang Fei suddenly realized: "That's Old Fourth Du?"

"Execute him in public, and hang his head at the gate of the manor." Guan Yu paused, "to show Su Gu."

Du Laosi was dragged outside the manor gate.

The knife fell, and the head rolled.

The blood seeped into the soil, turning a dark red under the torchlight.

Wang Chun watched from inside the door, his crotch soaked.

Guan Yu mounted his horse and said to Zhang Fei, "You continue to guard the salt well. I'll leave fifty men at Wangjiazhuang, ostensibly to protect the village from bandits. If Su Gu asks, just say that Lord Wang volunteered for the troops."

"Got it." Zhang Fei grinned. "I'll scare him out of his wits."

Guan Yu led his troops away.

Zhang Fei turned around and saw Wang Chun still lying on the ground.

He walked over and squatted down.

"Princes and nobles".

Wang Chun trembled.

"I'm sparing you today because of the Commandant's benevolence," Zhang Fei said, staring at him. "But if you collude with the bandits again, or inform Su Gu..."

He pointed to the severed head outside the door.

"That's what will happen to you."

Wang Chun nodded vigorously.

That night, Zhang Fei returned to Yanjing.

Guan Yu left fifty of his two hundred soldiers at Wangjiazhuang, and the rest returned to Nanzheng.

When Guan Yu returned to Nanzheng with the letter, it was just dawn.

The guards at the camp gate saw it was him and let him pass. Guan Yu did not dismount but went straight to the central command tent.

Liu Bei had already risen and was practicing his swordplay in front of his tent. Upon seeing Guan Yu arrive, he sheathed his sword.

"Yun Chang, why are you back?"

"Yide broke through Wangjiazhuang and found a secret letter. The letter is here." Guan Yu dismounted and handed over the wooden box. "Wang Chun's confession has also been written."

Liu Bei took the box, his mind somewhat fuzzy, and muttered, "Yide... is he that clever?"

Xun Cai brought over hot soup noodles, which Guan Yu thanked, and he sat down to eat heartily. He had been traveling all night without having eaten a single grain of rice.

Liu Bei opened the letter and read it.

Under the candlelight, the words were clearly visible: In a certain month of a certain year, Wang Chun gave Su Gu two hundred gold ingots; on a certain day of a certain month, Zhao Lü divided the profits from salt into one and a half million coins; in a certain case, Chen Lun accepted three million coins and had his sentence changed.

The last page is Wang Chun's confession, which details how Zhao Lu instructed him to burn the salt carts.

After reading the letter, Liu Bei pushed it to Jian Yong.

Jian Yong's expression grew increasingly grim as he read: "Brother, if these letters are made public, Su Gu will surely fall."

"We won't make it public yet," Liu Bei said.

Everyone inside the tent was looking at him.

"Why?" Qian Zhao couldn't help but ask.

"You don't understand." Liu Bei put the letter back into the box. "He has been managing Hanzhong for six years, and most of the county's troops are under his command. If they really turn against each other and the two sides start fighting, we can't take over Hanzhong peacefully either; it will only result in mutual destruction."

Guan Yu nodded: "Brother is right. That's why I released Wang Chun at Wangjiazhuang."

"Release them?" Jian Yong frowned. "Isn't that like letting a tiger return to the mountains?"

"It was to scare the tiger," Guan Yu said. "I beheaded Du Laosi in front of Wang Chun, and he was terrified. I also left fifty soldiers to guard the manor, ostensibly to keep watch. He dared not make any rash moves."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment: "Yun Chang did the right thing. If we keep evidence against a powerful figure like Wang Chun, we'll have leverage over him. We're currently engaged in a power struggle with Su Gu. If we target powerful figures, other powerful figures will flock to Su Gu's side."

He looked at Jian Yong: "Xianhe, make a copy, and keep the original confidential. Keep Wang Chun's confession separately."

"clear."

"Furthermore," Liu Bei added, "spread the word: that Wangjiazhuang was attacked by bandits, our army came to the rescue in time, killed the bandit leader, and Wang Gong was grateful and took the initiative to ask for troops to protect the village."

Jian Yong understood: "This is giving Su Gu a way out."

"Yes." Liu Bei stood up. "If Su Gu is smart, he'll back down and restrain himself for now. But if he continues to cause trouble..."

He didn't finish speaking.

Footsteps could be heard outside the tent.

Qian Zhao came in: "Brother, someone from the prefectural government has arrived. It's Chen Lun again."

Liu Bei and Guan Yu looked at each other.

"You've come quickly." Liu Bei straightened his robes. "Let him in."

When Chen Lun entered the tent, he had a smile on his face, but his eyes hid surprise and doubt.

"Liu, the Commandant; Guan, the Military Advisor," he said, bowing. "The Prefect was greatly pleased to hear that Wangjiazhuang had been attacked by bandits and that you had sent troops to its aid. You have specially ordered me to send fifty shi of rice and twenty bolts of silk to reward the troops."

Liu Bei returned the greeting: "Your Excellency is too kind. With bandits rampant, protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people is my duty."

Chen Lun probed, "I heard... the bandit leader has been killed?"

"Yes," Guan Yu replied. "The bandit leader, Du Laosi, led fifty bandits to attack Wangjiazhuang, intending to rob and kill. Our troops arrived in time, beheaded the bandit leader, and the remaining bandits scattered."

"Fifty bandits..." Chen Lun chuckled dryly. "Wang Gongzhuang has plenty of guards; how could they be trapped by fifty bandits?"

"The bandits are fierce and brave, and they are equipped with bows and crossbows." Liu Bei continued, "If our army had not arrived in time, the prince would likely have met with misfortune."

Chen Lun lowered his head to drink his tea, his eyes darting around.

He clearly didn't believe this explanation. But Wang Chun wasn't dead, Du Laosi was dead, and the manor was occupied by Liu Bei's troops—he couldn't understand this situation.

"How is Your Highness...?" he asked cautiously.

"I was frightened, but I am alright," Liu Bei said. "We left fifty soldiers to guard the village to prevent the bandits from attacking again. Your Highness is very grateful."

Chen Lun's lips twitched.

Gratitude? Did they turn to Liu Bei for refuge?

He exchanged a few more pleasantries, then took his leave.

After leaving the camp, Chen Lun did not return to the prefectural government, but went straight to Zhao Lü's residence in the east of the city.

Zhao Luzheng and others received the news.

"how?"

"Wang Chun isn't dead, but Du Laosi is. Liu Bei's soldiers are guarding the village." Chen Lun took a sip of tea. "Liu Bei said bandits attacked the village, and he came to its rescue. Do you believe him?"

Zhao Lu's face turned pale.

Du Laosi was his man, but he's dead now. Wang Chun is alive, but his estate has been seized, which means that Wang Chun may have sided with Liu Bei, or at least dares not help him anymore.

"Those letters..." he stammered.

"No mention of a letter," Chen Lun said. "Liu Bei didn't mention it at all."

"Didn't you find anything?"

"Impossible." Zhao Lu shook his head. "Wang Chun knows where the letter is; Liu Bei must have found it."

"Then why doesn't he make it public?"

The two looked at each other and saw the fear in each other's eyes.

Not making it public is more terrifying than making it public.

Going public means a complete breakdown in relations, a fight to the death. Keeping it private means holding leverage over you, someone who can take your life at any moment.