IDWBE -Chapter 209 Law

Zhou Jiuling of the Yuezhou Provincial Administration had now settled in Sanhe. For the first three days, he observed Shan Qi and Shi Quan handling cases while also studying Sanhe’s laws.

By the fourth day, he began sitting in court to adjudicate cases himself.

Occasionally, he accompanied the constables on arrests, learning Sanhe’s procedures for capturing criminals.

Everything was entirely new to him, unheard of and unseen in his life. Even something as minor as improperly disposing of garbage could result in a fine.

Many rules were unconventional. Women were even allowed to divorce on their own initiative!

Where was the husbandly authority?

It seemed completely unorthodox!

He wanted to reason with Shan Qi, but Shan Qi gave him only one answer: in Sanhe, the prince’s word was law.

It finally dawned on him: the prince was Sanhe’s ultimate authority. Whatever the prince decreed became the law.

It was like the Derong Emperor—whatever the emperor said was the law of Liang, right or wrong mattered little.

Currently, Zhou Jiuling lived in a residence assigned by the Provincial Administration. It had reportedly once been an orphanage. While there were no pavilions or towers, at least it was a safe place to stay. Next door was the prince’s mansion, ensuring that his family would be secure here.

As soon as he arrived home, his son Zhou Cuo knelt before him, sobbing: “Father… about that woman… I really don’t want this.”

Thinking of that strong woman, solid as a small hill, he shivered all over.

“You child,” Zhou Jiuling sighed. “Why don’t you understand? Our family’s circumstances have changed; what is there to be picky about? The most important thing now is to continue our family line. How else could I face our ancestors? This woman was carefully chosen for her ability to bear children. Whether you agree or not, this is settled.”

At his age, prospects no longer mattered. The most urgent concern was the continuation of the Zhou family’s line.

Zhou Cuo protested, “Father, there are countless women suitable for marriage. Why must I marry this one?”

“You fool!”

Zhou Jiuling slammed the table in anger. “Do you think you can still pick a lady from the Chunxiang House? Look at yourself now! Shan Qi only gave one hundred taels to set up the household! For an entire family, feeding and living costs alone are a huge expense. How could that suffice?”

Thinking back, he felt a pang of sorrow—once, he hadn’t even counted a sum of ten thousand taels.

“Father…”

“Enough, stop acting like a child,”

Seeing his son weep, Zhou Jiuling softened. No matter his age, he was still his son. “If nothing happens, I won’t have much time left. My only worry is for you. You and your brother must memorize Sanhe’s laws; otherwise, even I cannot save you.”

Sanhe’s laws applied equally to rich and poor. Whoever broke them faced severe punishment.

“Yes.”

The two kneeling brothers spoke in unison.

They had grown up pampered, marrying women from noble families. They had never imagined that now they would have to marry a commoner—and one who was unattractive.

Yet they had no choice but to obey their father.

“When Yuezhou is stable and I have more resources,” Zhou Jiuling sighed, “there will be time to improve things. For now, the priority is to have a child. The older I get, the riskier it becomes. Once a child is born, you may live as you wish—even if the child is foolish, I will accept it.”

“Yes, Father.”

The brothers exchanged a helpless glance and nodded, silently agreeing. No matter what, the Zhou family’s lineage must continue.

Under the moon, they longed for their hometown.

Even the Sanhe soldiers, who had already captured Xunyang City, felt a pang of homesickness.

Winter in Sanhe was warmer; in Hongzhou, it could kill a person.

Many wore only thin jackets, shivering outside the homes.

Wang Xiaoshuan told Wei Yishan, “Add more firewood. I’m freezing to death.”

“Yes, yes, more firewood,” Kang Bao, the low-ranking commander, shivered. “I swear I won’t come again. My Sanhe is best.”

“Yes, yes, never again,” Wang Xiaoshuan gritted his teeth in agreement.

Wei Yishan added firewood disdainfully. “You lot can’t endure a little cold? My mother said it’s even colder up north. Will you never go there?”

“No way,” Wang Xiaoshuan curled up, shaking his head violently. “Those godforsaken places, whoever wants to go, let them. I’m not going.”

Wei Yishan’s eyes gleamed. “Do you remember Master Xie Zan’s poem? ‘Smoke willows, painted bridges, wind curtains and emerald drapes, tens of thousands of homes staggered, clouds and trees wrap the embankment sand, raging waves sweep frost and snow, boundless rivers, markets lined with jewels, homes filled with luxury.’ That describes Jiangnan, the wealthiest region in the north. Are you sure you won’t go?”

Wang Xiaoshuan paused, then ground his teeth. “Damn it, not going would be foolish. Tonight, I watch snow drift in the cold night, heart chilled, drifting far away.”

He began to sing, first with a plaintive tone that made others want to laugh.

Slowly, others joined in. Within moments, laborers and soldiers within several miles began singing together.

“Forgive me for a life unrestrained, loving freedom, Abandoning ideals, anyone may do so.”

The song echoed through Xunyang City.

The local Hongzhou residents hiding indoors couldn’t understand the Sanhe dialect—it all sounded strange.

At Xunyang City’s government office, lights blazed.

Zhang Mian sat at the main seat, coldly eyeing the kneeling bandit leaders like Huang Sifang.

“Mercy, sir!”

Huang Sifang’s head struck the stone floor, already bleeding slightly.

Zhang Mian smiled. “I thought you were a hero. Now… I am disappointed.”

He had expected Xunyang’s twenty thousand rebels to resist. Instead, it was so easy to capture the city.

As the bandit leaders attempted to flee from the west gate, Ye Qiu and the fortune teller intercepted them.

More than half the rebels surrendered.

“Sir, I’m innocent!”

Huang Sifang shouted. “I was forced by Han Hui! Otherwise, he would have beheaded me!”

Zhang Mian snorted coldly. “Massacres in Baiyang City, Daxi City, Xunyang City—also forced by Han Hui?”

Before Huang Sifang could reply, Zhang Mian ordered, “Take him away!”

These crimes were unforgivable; Zhang Mian wanted to execute them on the spot. Yet he restrained himself, planning to bring them back to Baiyun City for public execution.

“Sir, do not lose your temper,” said Wang Dahai, Zhang Mian’s personal guard, offering a cup of tea. “It’s not worth it for these people.”

Zhang Mian sipped the tea, then looked at a pale scholar kneeling below. “You are Lu Xiaolou?”

Lu Xiaolou hurriedly replied, “Yes! I come from a good family—”

“Everyone says you’re the poisonous scholar?”

Zhang Mian didn’t give him a chance. “Take him away for execution!”

“Ah!”

Two soldiers dragged Lu Xiaolou away. Terrified, he shouted, “I’m innocent!”

The officials dragged him from the office without debate.

He couldn’t understand. He wasn’t the ringleader—why would he be the first to die?

Soon, a scream echoed from the office.

The remaining bandit leaders trembled, some even wetting themselves.

Zhang Mian disdainfully commanded, “Take them all away.”

“Yes!”

The soldiers obeyed with a roar.

Looking at the suddenly quiet camp, Zhang Mian felt a surge of pride he had never felt in Ankang City.

In Sanhe, he didn’t need to curry favor or suppress himself. He could act freely.

Revenge and justice—it was exhilarating!

“Bring the Provincial Administration officer up here.”

Then he remembered: Yuan Busheng of the Hongzhou Provincial Administration was still imprisoned.

As Wang Dahai stepped out, Zhang Mian called after him, “Take him to the back office. Don’t bring him here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Wang Dahai was puzzled.

“Go. Wait for Lord He to arrive.”

Zhang Mian waved.

Although Yuan Busheng was trapped, he had once been a second-rank court official.

Lord He, though a low-ranking officer, was experienced. Their conversation would be most appropriate.

Being a military man himself, Yuan Busheng would only feign respect, never taking him seriously.

The next day, Zhang Mian ordered his forces to disperse and eliminate bandits across the region, restoring peace to Hongzhou.

Hongzhou’s largest remaining force, besides Huang Sifang, was Zhao Lichun, numbering only a few thousand, stationed at Raocheng near the southern border.

Zhang Mian remained to guard Xunyang.

A month later, Xunyang was blanketed in snow, and the long-awaited He Jixiang and Shen Chu finally arrived.

Upon entering the city, He Jixiang broke military protocol for the first time, allowing Sanhe soldiers to lodge in civilian homes.

For many of these soldiers, it was the first time seeing snow. Their initial curiosity and excitement gradually turned to complaints and cursing.

Even martial artists found their hands and feet swollen from the cold; some could barely walk.

The happiest was Li Sanniang, who collected cotton clothes and silk from the soldiers and laborers, then sold them back at double the price.

“How is it this cold?”

He leaned against a chair, wrapped in blankets. “I want to go home.”

“Do you punks still want to go to Ankang City?”

Zhu Ruorong laughed heartily. “This is nothing. In Ankang, even your urine freezes into icicles.”

“Gentlemen, here’s some hot water. Wash your face,”

An elderly man carefully brought a basin, face pale.

Zhu Ruorong laughed. “Don’t worry, sir. We’re not bandits—just staying two nights. Anything to eat, bring it on.”

He slipped two pieces of silver into the old man’s hand.