IDWBE -Chapter 236 Impersonation

Then the two hundred cavalry, tightening their reins and urging their horses forward, followed closely behind. The hooves striking the bluestone pavement made a loud clatter, startling the few pedestrians along the road, who hurriedly moved aside.

Zhu Ruorong sighed. “I never imagined a girl could have such grandeur. Truly, with the prince here, nothing seems impossible.”

Rather than envying Jiang Zhen herself, he envied her father, Jiang Tuhou. How could such a scatterbrained man have such a clever and capable daughter? Truly, comparing yourself to others could make one frustrated.

This time, Jiang Tuhou showed no pride, frowning as he said, “Grand? Don’t be ridiculous. These are all the soldiers of the garrison. She has no one under her command herself. If something really happens, would these troops listen to her? Thinking about it worries me.”

Zhu Ruorong laughed. “I saw Duo Mazi too. He’s behind your daughter, fifth rank—who could possibly threaten him? You’ve been here a few days; you know Qinyuan City isn’t Baiyun City. Finding someone with internal strength isn’t easy. Don’t worry so much.”

“Duo Mazi?”

Jiang Tuhou looked surprised. “I didn’t see him. Shouldn’t he have said hello to me?”

Duo Mazi had once been an apprentice in his butcher shop. Later, he joined the militia, and due to his skills, he entered the garrison directly.

As an apprentice, he was often scolded or beaten, but that didn’t mean their relationship was bad. Unlike Liu Duo dealing with Wei Yishan, Jiang Tuhou treated Duo Mazi like a son. Their bond was like that of father and son.

Zhu Ruorong rolled his eyes. “Say hello? What would happen then? Do you think military discipline is a joke?”

The Sanhe military was strict. Leaving formation without permission meant either the cane or confinement, neither pleasant. The worst part was writing self-criticisms.

Most older men couldn’t even write a word. Even copying sentences was torturous, taking a whole day for a dozen characters. It was worse than death.

“That’s true,” Jiang Tuhou admitted. Zhu Ruorong had a point, so he relaxed a bit. “Earlier, the soldiers wore helmets. I didn’t look closely. Who else was there?”

Zhu Ruorong smiled. “There were plenty. Do you still not recognize a few from the garrison? Just now, I saw Qin Zong, Yue Shan, Jin Ping, Tao Yingyi—several capable people. All of them are skilled, more so than your daughter.”

Jiang Tuhou said, “It’ll be hard to impress them. If anything goes wrong, they’ll run faster than her.”

They didn’t need to beat the opponents—just stay faster than her.

Zhu Ruorong grumbled, “Can’t you think positively? According to regulations, constables train for three months. By then, your daughter will have her own team.”

Jiang Tuhou still worried, “By then, four to five hundred constables, none with internal strength… If she leads them, isn’t that more dangerous for her?”

“Anyway, you’ll always have concerns,” Zhu Ruorong said, speechless.

Jiang Tuhou said, “I’m just worried.”

Zhu Ruorong said, “I’ll leave tomorrow. You should stay here, so you won’t keep worrying.”

“No,” Jiang Tuhou sighed, “I won’t help much staying here anyway.”

Jiang Zhen, leading her soldiers on patrol, reached the South City Gate, where two groups of civilian workers were facing off, knives in hand, cursing each other as if ready to fight.

Jiang Zhen walked over. “Wang Xiaoshuan, what’s going on? Forgotten the law?”

Wang Xiaoshuan turned and saw her. Grinning, he said, “Chief Constable, you’re just in time. Otherwise, I’d have reported it. Someone is impersonating our Sanhe laborers.”

“Impersonating?”

Jiang Zhen looked at the group across from them. They wore gray jackets and led a long line of carts with mules, oxen, and horses—almost indistinguishable from ordinary Sanhe laborers.

A middle-aged man stepped forward. “Chief Constable, don’t believe him. He’s deliberately causing trouble. How am I not Sanhe personnel?”

“Bah!”

Wang Xiaoshuan spat and shouted, “You’re Sanhe? I’ve never seen you!”

The man raised his voice. “Sanhe has so many people, do you know everyone?”

Jiang Zhen nodded. “Exactly. Wang Xiaoshuan, with so many in Sanhe, how can you know each person?”

“Chief Constable, why ask me? Ask him—what supplier is he from? Cloth, meat, or grain?”

Wang Xiaoshuan snapped, “I don’t know everyone in Sanhe, but I recognize people from each supplier for sure.”

Jiang Zhen asked the man, “What’s in your cart?”

The man calmly replied, “Chief Constable, wine.”

Wang Xiaoshuan said, “Sanhe soldiers are forbidden from drinking. Who doesn’t know that? You’re delivering wine? Think I’m an idiot?”

The man flushed. “Can’t I sell privately?”

Jiang Zhen asked, “Who’s your boss?”

As her words fell, soldiers behind her drew their blades, glinting in the sun.

The man quickly explained, “We just got together to earn some pocket money for our families! I never claimed to be a supplier, just independent.”

Jiang Zhen continued, “Tiān wáng gài dì hǔ.”

“…?”

The man and his companions looked at each other, bewildered.

“Are you still claiming to be Sanhe people? ‘Tiān wáng gài dì hǔ, xiǎo jī dùn mógu’—everyone in Sanhe knows that!”

Wang Xiaoshuan laughed loudly.

“Seize them!”

At Jiang Zhen’s command, soldiers charged. Though the impostors were brave, they couldn’t withstand cavalry; the hundred or so men were immediately scattered.

The middle-aged man and a few others scrambled onto rooftops.

“Trying to run?”

Wang Xiaoshuan crossed his arms, laughing, and said to Wei Yishan, “These people are crazy—impersonate anyone, but why laborers? Being refugees would have been easier.”

Wei Yishan shook his head. “If they pretended to be refugees, they wouldn’t have been allowed into the city. All returning refugees are held outside the gates until verified.”

Wang Xiaoshuan laughed. “True. So who are these people? Rebels?”

“No,” Wei Yishan shook his head. “Facing strong enemies, even retreats are orderly. They’re clearly trained.”