Chapter Eighty-Nine: Slippery as an Eel

Yes.

The county magistrate quickly agreed. “My lord, you truly worry for the state and for the people. In our eyes, this matter is commonplace, yet you have been able to see the hidden signs in it and are willing to act in advance to prevent disaster. I admire you greatly.”

Hearing this, Zhang Jian could only sigh.

“This official is not well versed in the law and can only resort to such a clumsy method, placing hope in stopping trouble before it takes shape. I ask that you all bear a little more labor.”

“It is no hardship, no hardship at all.”

The magistrate hurriedly declined the praise with both hands waving.

At that moment, someone came to report, “Deputy Chief of the Supreme Court, Lord Di Ying, has arrived.”

On hearing that a superior had come, Zhang Jian rose at once and told the magistrate to summon the rest of the officials within the yamen, while he himself strode out quickly to make preparations for the reception.

But as soon as he opened the door, he saw a young man of about twenty, broad-faced and broad-browed, with thick eyebrows and phoenix eyes, wearing the official robes of a fourth-rank lower official, and accompanied by several guards, approaching with long strides.

Though young, the man with phoenix eyes already carried an air of authority that brooked no offense, leaving no room for the slightest contempt.

Zhang Jian hurried forward to greet him.

After the formal exchange of courtesies expected in official circles, Zhang Jian invited him into the main hall.

Di Ying took the seat of honor, lifted his teacup, and took a slow sip before speaking. “Lord Zhang, there is no need to be so tense. I have come to Ping’an County for one old, unresolved case only.

“Do you still remember the murder case of Han Lixing?”

“I do.”

Sitting upright and proper, Zhang Jian nodded at once. “I investigated that case carefully, but could find no clue or evidence, so I had no choice but to submit it to the Ministry of Justice.

“The ministry sent back only a brief reply saying it had been noted. There was nothing further. The case file was neither returned nor were investigators dispatched to this county.

“When my waiting proved fruitless, I had no choice but to set the matter aside. Now that Lord Di has come in person to guide and investigate the case, I am deeply grateful.”

Hearing this, Di Ying glanced at Zhang Jian.

He thought to himself: what a masterful way of shifting everything away, clean and neat.

“Lord Zhang, do you know what the people under your rule say about you?”

Di Ying withdrew his gaze, lowered his head for another sip of tea, and asked slowly.

A look of guilt appeared on Zhang Jian’s face.

He rubbed his leg twice with one hand and shook his head. “Though this official is not skilled in the law, I come from a farming family and am therefore rather familiar with matters such as land yields and the grain and fruit of the fields.

“For that reason, it is only natural that the people, who care most about food and drink, might praise me a little.”

When he finished, Zhang Jian even gave an embarrassed smile.

He appeared both modest and cautious;
both acknowledging his shortcomings and suggesting his achievements.

To Di Ying, he felt like a slippery eel.

Di Ying continued drinking tea.

It was ordinary tea, the sort specially prepared in local offices for the reception of high officials.

In common speech: hospitality tea.

Its grade was slightly higher than that of the highest local official.

At that point, the magistrate spoke up of his own accord. “Our Lord Zhang is exceedingly diligent. By day he travels throughout the county, and by night he still wears himself down over official papers and registers.

“The people see it with their own eyes and hear it with their own ears, and they praise Lord Zhang without end.”

“Yes, yes. Every year Ping’an County enjoys abundant harvests, and the people have enough to eat and be full. Everyone praises Lord Zhang endlessly,” the county lieutenant added.

The clerk also raised both thumbs and nodded emphatically.

He went on, “There are very few displaced people in Ping’an County. When the people of other counties hear how well off we are here, they rush to move in and even cry out to come here.

“This is all thanks to Lord Zhang, and it shows how deeply he is loved and esteemed by the people.”

As soon as the clerk finished, the other junior officials also hurried to pile on the praise, one flattering word after another.

Hearing this, Zhang Jian waved his hands repeatedly and said modestly, “Everyone flatters me too much. The people praise me beyond reason. This official still has many shortcomings in governance and must constantly learn together with you all.”

“Not at all, not at all. Lord Zhang, you are simply too modest.”

“Exactly, exactly. Lord Zhang, you deserve great credit without ever growing arrogant. You are truly a model for us all.”

“…”

Watching and listening, Di Ying suddenly felt as if the entire hall below had bloomed into a riot of flowers, dazzling him with their brilliance.

He lifted his hand, braced his elbow on the edge of the square table, supported his temple with two fingers, and closed his eyes.

He did not interrupt them, only listened as they continued their extravagant praise.

Until Zhang Jian coughed twice.

The hall finally fell silent.

Feeling the gaze of everyone in the room, Di Ying kept his posture unchanged and did not open his eyes.

He only asked in a cool voice, “If the law is unclear, how can there be order?”

The officials: …

It was like a bucket of icy water dumped over their heads, jolting everyone present.

The magistrate could not hold back first. He rose and said, “Life exists, and with life comes order. Life comes before order and is the foremost concern of all. Once life is stable, order will naturally endure. Why, Lord Di, do you seize upon the lesser and neglect the greater, placing order above life?”

As soon as those words were spoken, Zhang Jian’s expression changed before Di Ying even opened his mouth.

He immediately rebuked the magistrate. “Deputy Magistrate Yin, mind your words! Lord Di is an official of the court charged with the law. If he does not inquire about the law, then what should he inquire about? Do you expect Lord Di to discuss soil acidity and alkalinity with us? Wheat and rice planting and harvest?”

After reprimanding Deputy Magistrate Yin, Zhang Jian changed his expression again.

He bowed toward Di Ying in fear and trepidation and apologized, “This official has always been lenient toward others, which has indulged their youthful recklessness a little and led to these presumptuous words. I ask that Lord Di show us leniency.”

“Ha, ha, ha.”

Di Ying laughed.

He laughed until his teeth showed, yet the corners of his brows did not move at all.

There was not the slightest trace of amusement in his eyes.

“Lord Zhang, with such eloquence, it is truly a pity you are not serving as the chief minister of the realm. As for me, I am not up to the task; I am still young, and I cannot turn my words with so many twists and bends.

“You are already past forty and only now a county magistrate. It is clear that this was not without reason.”

At that, Di Ying sat up straight, both hands resting on his legs, and first had Peng Liang open a wooden chest that they had brought along when they set out.

Then he said to Zhang Jian, “You have served as magistrate of Ping’an County for one year and two months. During that time, you submitted thirty-eight unresolved cases to the Ministry of Justice, involving a total of four hundred and nineteen people.”

Seeing that Zhang Jian seemed eager to explain, Di Ying raised a hand to stop him.

From the chest opened by Peng Liang, he took out a wooden case five inches thick.

He said to Zhang Jian again, “You recognize these cases, do you not? They are all the dossiers you submitted, along with the related physical evidence and so on.

“Before becoming magistrate, you were deputy magistrate of Fufeng County. At that time, your superior, County Magistrate Chen, was dismissed for accomplishing nothing, and you were promoted and transferred here to serve as magistrate of Ping’an County, correct?

“So do not tell me that you do not understand the law or that you are incapable of handling cases.”

As he spoke, Di Ying opened the wooden case and stood it upright for all the officials to see.

Then he continued, “Lord Zhang’s case files are organized with clear logic and a plain source, and the collection and preservation of the physical evidence have been handled with great care.

“For that reason, I do not believe Lord Zhang is a muddleheaded man, nor do I believe that an official who can attend to the livelihood of the people would fail to understand that law is the foundation of the state.”