Xie Nanxiao frowned and put on a show of having someone inspect the horses.
Before long, a soldier returned to report, “They do indeed bear brands.”
Xie Nanxiao first looked startled, then let out a long, heavy sigh.
“What a case of the floodwaters washing over the Dragon King’s temple. I never imagined the culprits would dare to rob the Zhang family.”
He stroked his chin. “Wait, that doesn’t make sense. How could your Zhang family fortress have been breached so easily? Are your retainers really that weak?”
Zhang Balang was so furious he nearly spat blood. They had robbed him, and now they were calling him weak. Was there anyone more shameless?
He suppressed his anger. “It’s enough that you admit it. Return our horses, along with the gold and silver ingots and the rest of our property.”
Xie Nanxiao gave him a strange look. “Do you not understand plain speech? I traded a medical prescription for these horses. As for the gold and silver ingots you mentioned, I know nothing about them.”
“If you want these horses back, that can be arranged. But you’ll have to pay for them—and at a price eighty percent higher than the market rate, because we urgently, desperately need horses right now.”
“You!” Zhang Balang nearly vomited blood. “You shameless bastard! These horses were clearly stolen from my Zhang family!”
Xie Nanxiao remained perfectly composed. “You keep claiming I stole them. Then produce some evidence. Otherwise, you’re slandering me.”
Zhang Balang had no evidence to offer and could only insist stubbornly, “These horses belong to me. The brands are proof.”
Xie Nanxiao had no desire to argue with him any longer. “When I traded the prescription for these horses, everyone was watching. They can all testify for me, can’t they?”
“Yes.”
The answer came from the refugees nearby, along with several of Qi Pingwei’s soldiers.
Although it had still been barely light when the trade took place, quite a few people had already been awake and had witnessed it.
Even Qi Pingwei nodded. “That is indeed what happened. I was there myself.”
Xie Nanxiao continued, “As for the gold and silver ingots you mentioned, that’s even more absurd. All our supplies are right here in plain sight. Everything is clearly accounted for.”
Zhang Balang clenched his back teeth. “You could have hidden the money and goods, or even transported them back to Fengzhou. In any case, my Zhang family was robbed by your Jinyang Army.”
The county lieutenant chimed in, “That’s right. Tao Commandery has always been peaceful. Yet within two days of your arrival, thieves appeared—and they were capable of breaking into the Zhang family fortress. How could anyone not be suspicious?”
Wen Zixin nodded. “Indeed. It’s entirely possible that this was a scheme staged by the Jinyang Army itself.”
Xie Nanxiao spread his hands. “The facts are right before your eyes, yet you insist on smearing us. I can’t help wondering whether you have some ulterior motive.”
Zhou let out a cold laugh. “Exactly. You claim that we staged the whole thing, but who knows whether you staged it yourselves—tricking us into handing over the prescription, then turning around and accusing us of stealing your Zhang family’s horses?”
The crowd erupted in an uproar, especially the common people, who all turned to stare at the Zhang family.
The more they thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. After all, this was a prescription for treating the plague—something of immeasurable value.
The Zhang family would not only obtain the prescription, but would also pay nothing for it.
Meanwhile, the Jinyang Army would lose the prescription and be saddled with the disgraceful reputation of thieves.
How vicious!
Qi Da and the others glared at the Zhang family in fury.
They had hurried over yesterday after being informed that disaster relief was being provided here.
They had never expected that the relief sent by Princess Jinyang would be genuine relief. The porridge was so thick and filling that Qi Da had nearly cried.
Many able-bodied young men from the village had even been chosen to serve as guards. His eldest son was among them, and each day they received two jin of grain—never short by even a single ounce. If they said two jin, they truly distributed two jin.
Then he remembered how they had begged the Zhang family for help, only to receive not the slightest bit of mercy and be left to fend for themselves.
On one side was the Jinyang Army, who had no connection to them yet had truly saved them.
On the other was the Zhang family, whom they had served for generations, yet who had watched them die without lifting a finger.
Compared side by side, whether in character or conduct, it was only natural that they trusted the Jinyang Army more.
Forget whether they believed the righteous Jinyang Army would commit robbery—even if they really had robbed the Zhang family, the people would only cheer them on!
“You’re talking nonsense!” Zhang Balang’s face flushed red with rage. “Dozens of our retainers died as well. Why would we go to such lengths for a single prescription?”
He snorted. “You know perfectly well what happened. For the sake of your disaster relief efforts, I’ll only demand compensation for the things my Zhang family lost. I won’t pursue anything else.”
Xie Nanxiao lifted his eyes to him. “Are you planning to seize them by force?”
Zhang Balang gave a derisive laugh. “I’m merely reclaiming what belongs to me. You killed dozens of my Zhang family’s men, and I’m not even holding that against you. I’ve already shown your Jinyang Army more than enough respect.”
Xie Nanxiao shook his head, his attitude unyielding. “I’ve already said that the Jinyang Army did not rob you. You insist on throwing mud at us simply because we’re on your territory and you think we’re easy to bully.”
He planted his saber on the ground with a loud bang.
“Unfortunately, you’ve miscalculated one thing. The Jinyang Army has never submitted to threats. If you insist on making a grab for them, then come and try!”
By now, the refugees had also seen through the Zhang family’s intentions. The guards tightened their grips on their clubs, glaring menacingly at the Zhang family.
As long as the Zhang family dared to make a move—as long as the Jinyang Army gave the order—they would rush forward with their clubs.
Many of the young men even came over carrying flat-ended shoulder poles and other makeshift “weapons,” their eyes gleaming with menace.
“This is the disaster relief grain Princess Jinyang gave us! The horses were traded for the prescription! Don’t even think about taking them!”
“That’s right! You refused to provide relief, and now you want to steal the Jinyang Army’s supplies? What despicable scoundrels!”
“Let’s stand together! We absolutely cannot let them take away the food keeping us alive!”
Zhang Balang’s face turned crimson with fury. How dare these wretched commoners speak to him like that?
But when he looked at the tens of thousands of people gathered before him, he knew very well that the Zhang family alone could never handle this. He turned toward the county lieutenant and the county magistrate.
“What do you have to say? The Zhang family was robbed clean on the territory of Xiaoxian. Shouldn’t the authorities give my family justice?”
The county lieutenant disliked his rude attitude, but still answered patiently, “Do you have any evidence?”
Zhang Balang was enraged. “What I just said is the evidence!”
The county lieutenant frowned and looked at Xie Nanxiao. “Do you admit to it?”
Xie Nanxiao was so angry that he laughed. “I didn’t do it, so of course I don’t admit it. If the officials of Sizhou insist on distorting right and wrong and pinning such a crime on the Jinyang Army, we’ll leave at once. After we return, I will report the matter to Her Highness the Princess exactly as it happened.”
“You can’t leave!” the people cried out in panic.
“That’s right! If you’re leaving, take us with you!” one of them shouted.
The crowd’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, take us with you! We can do anything. We only ask for one full meal a day!”
Wen Zixin’s heart jolted violently. He glared at the people. “Are you trying to rebel?”
He was an official, after all, and the people—long accustomed to being oppressed—were intimidated by his stern gaze. For a moment, they all lowered their heads in fear.
But then they remembered that the officials of Sizhou were forcing the Jinyang Army to leave. Once the Jinyang Army was gone, the disaster relief grain and the medicine for treating the plague would disappear as well, and they would soon be dead.
They were being forced to their deaths!
The people raised their heads once more. Their courage returned, and they glared furiously at the Zhang family, Wen Zixin, and the others.
