Chapter 51: Corrupt Official, Get Lost

“Exactly! Exactly! Brother Li Chen’s salt was all bought from the salt shops in Pingyang County City. We only processed it a second time. How can that be called illegally refining private salt? This is clearly a fabricated charge. If someone wants to frame him, they’ll always find an excuse!”

“That’s right! That old bastard is obviously trying to set up Brother Li Chen and falsely accuse him.”

“You filthy old dog, you rotten scoundrel! If you’ve got any guts, stop playing dirty tricks. Come down here if you dare. See if I don’t scratch your face to pieces!”

At that moment, Liu Jincui led a group of village women over and blocked the constables from Pingyang County. One after another, they angrily questioned and rebuked them. Some of the fiercest women even rushed toward Wu Changqing, trying to drag him off his horse and claw his face bloody.

Wu Chuang instantly flew into a rage and waved his hand, “Refining private salt is refining private salt. Stop your nonsense and sophistry. No matter who it is, anyone who dares to obstruct official business, arrest them!”

A dozen constables pushed forward. The village women’s tempers flared as well. Risking everything, they grabbed at the red-tasseled spears and shoved them back, determined not to let them seize Li Chen.

The scene moved Li Chen. He was just about to reach into his clothes and end the chaos when, from afar, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted.

“You corrupt official! On what grounds are you arresting our Brother Li Chen?”

Dozens of farmhands charged out from the woods, waving firewood cleavers, their faces flushed with fury as they surrounded the constables.

News had already spread through Muer Village. Men and women, young and old, all grabbed whatever weapons they could find and rushed over.

In the blink of an eye, more than three hundred villagers poured in without exception, completely encircling the constables so tightly that not even water could leak through.

“You bunch of mud-legged peasants! How dare you surround an imperial official? I am an appointed officer of the court… This is rebellion, outright rebellion!” Wu Chuang shouted from atop his horse, both shocked and furious.

Yet his face had turned pale. He was genuinely frightened. In all his years as the County Lieutenant of Pingyang County, he had always strutted about arrogantly, bullying others wherever he went. Never had he seen an entire village dare to collectively confront him for the sake of one man.

At that moment, Xu Jiang pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. Folding his hands respectfully, he said, “County Lieutenant Wu, I am Xu Jiang, the village head of Muer Village. May I ask what crime Brother Li Chen has committed to warrant such a large mobilization, even prompting you to come personally to arrest him?”

“You’re the village head? Good. I was looking for you,” Wu Chuang snapped. “This morning I received a report that Li Chen of Muer Village was privately refining salt. I caught him red-handed. What more is there to say? Have your villagers disperse immediately. If you continue to gather here and interfere with official duties, I will charge you all with obstructing justice, arrest every one of you, throw you in prison, and bring calamity upon your entire village!”

He roared fiercely, though there was a trace of bluster in his tone. With only a dozen constables facing more than three hundred enraged villagers, he felt utterly unsure of himself.

“County Lieutenant Wu, you heard it just now,” Xu Jiang replied calmly. “All of Brother Li Chen’s salt was purchased from salt shops in Pingyang County City. We merely processed it and resold it to the shops. There was no private production and no illegal sales. It was all legitimate commerce. What crime has been committed?”

Li Chen had already slipped his hand into his clothes, intending to take out the red deed. Seeing how events were unfolding, he paused, thought for a moment, and withdrew his hand. There was no need to hurry. He would observe a little longer.

“Whether there is a crime cannot be decided by your one-sided claims,” Wu Chuang said craftily, softening his tone. “How about this? Disperse first. Let this young man come back with us for investigation. Once we confirm there’s no issue, we will naturally release him.”

No matter what, he intended to placate the villagers and take Li Chen away first. Once Li Chen was in custody, he could do whatever he pleased without wasting words on a crowd of foolish peasants.

Xu Jiang shook his head. “County Lieutenant Wu, the situation is already clear. Why must you take him away? If you want evidence, you may investigate freely. If the facts are proven, then come and arrest him. If nothing can be proven, then naturally there is no crime. Taking him away is unnecessary.”

“And if I insist on taking him?” Wu Chuang’s eyes turned cold as he fixed Xu Jiang with a hostile stare.

“Then you may ask these three hundred villagers of Muer Village whether they will allow it,” Xu Jiang replied, lifting his chin, his gaze unwavering.

“Anyone who dares to take him will have to step over my corpse first!” Zhao the blacksmith strode forward, gripping a heavy iron hammer and glaring at Wu Chuang.

“Who doesn’t know that once you enter the county yamen, even a good man loses a layer of skin?” Zhou Dahai limped forward with a firewood cleaver, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhao the blacksmith. “I weigh over 65 kilograms, and I’ll lay it down right here today before letting you take him!”

Other villagers surged forward as well, raising all kinds of weapons.

In the distance, Hou Xiaobai tossed a Hand Crossbow to Liu Chenxu. The two climbed to higher ground, concealed themselves carefully, and prepared to shoot.

Zhao Dashi picked up the long blade he had forged the day before. His hands trembled, not from fear but from excitement. Whenever a fight was about to break out, he always trembled like this. Yet once the fighting began, his hands would steady as stone.

“County Lieutenant Wu,” Xu Jiang said slowly, “with the people’s will as it stands, if you persist, you may truly incite a civil uprising. And if that happens, I’m afraid the responsibility would be more than you can bear.”

Li Chen looked at Xu Jiang intently. Such eloquence and composure made him reassess the man entirely. Uncle Xu was truly capable. No wonder that in ancient times, some grassroots leaders could rise from a single village or county to conquer the world. Talent was not lacking among the common people. Often, they simply had no chance to shine.

Wu Chuang’s face went pale.

It was already a turbulent time. Fighting at Beiyan Pass was ongoing, and pressure was immense. What Beiyan Pass feared most was internal unrest, especially civil uprisings. Officials at every level were on edge, scrambling just to maintain stability.

If unrest truly broke out here and angered higher authorities, forget a mere County Lieutenant of Pingyang County. Even the County Magistrate would be crushed by the consequences. At best, dismissal. At worst, imprisonment.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Chuang turned to Wu Changqing and said in a low voice, “Third Uncle, taking him today will be difficult. Let’s wait until he leaves the village alone or enters Pingyang County City. Then we’ll arrest him.”

“It can only be so,” Wu Changqing muttered through clenched teeth. He shot Li Chen a venomous look, pointed at him with his riding crop, then turned his horse and rode off.

When the constables finally withdrew from Muer Village, cheers erupted like thunder, shaking the air.

Hearing the jubilant roar behind him, Wu Chuang felt humiliated to the core. Grinding his teeth, he muttered, “Li Chen, you filthy maggot. I won’t forget this.”