Chapter 93: Deliverance for the People from This Fierce Wolf

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“Ye Chang is still indulging in wine and revelry.”
“Ye Chang is watching the female entertainers, exchanging jokes with the performers.”
“Ye Chang, sated with food and wine, is now taking his afternoon nap…”

Each of Ye Chang’s actions was reported to Yuan Zai, and hearing of Ye Chang’s leisurely attitude, Yuan Zai clenched his teeth in anger. Not only was he enjoying the entertainers, but he even had the leisure to nap, and as for the items he took, not a single one had been examined. This was clearly a sign that Ye Chang did not regard him at all, forcing Yuan Zai to consider whether he had any way to deal with Ye Chang.

Although Yuan Zai showed no respect to Yuan Gonglu, he knew that as long as Yuan Gonglu was around, and without solid evidence of Ye Chang’s wrongdoing, Yuan Zai could make things difficult for Ye Chang but could not kill him. Making things difficult would not affect his career, but killing Ye Chang without cause would severely damage his future prospects.

Besides, there was Wang Yunxiu’s counsel, so Yuan Zai had to endure.

Around the first hour of the afternoon, Ye Chang finished his nap and finally began to work. It was merely calculating some data—what could be difficult about that? Moreover, Ye Chang had even sent someone back to fetch his sharp tool: the abacus.

Though the original abacus appeared long ago, the truly mature version would only come centuries later.

In another life, thanks to old-fashioned compulsory education, Ye Chang learned abacus arithmetic in elementary school. During his time teaching in the countryside, he was often made the unofficial accountant, a skill he had not forgotten.

In this era without calculators, the abacus was likely the fastest computing tool.

Yuan Gonglu watched Ye Chang’s fingers fluttering up and down. At first, they were clumsy, but after about half an hour, they became extremely smooth. Under his fingers, the beads on the abacus—actually Buddhist prayer beads Ye Chang had obtained from Shifang Temple, which felt quite good to use—danced up and down.

The only person summoned to assist Ye Chang was a steward under Yuan Gonglu, who merely reported the numbers. What would have taken three senior clerks several days to calculate was completed by Ye Chang and the steward in just over an hour.

At the first hour of the night, Ye Chang put down his pen, picked up a teacup, and had the results sent to Yuan Zai.

“So… it’s done?” Yuan Gonglu asked, dumbfounded.

“Done.”

“I noticed that the numbers you used for your calculations differ from the current shorthand?”

“These are Indian numerals. I find them convenient, so I use them.”

“Indian numerals! I never expected the Eleventh Young Master to be familiar with Indian script. Tsk tsk, are you like a Tripitaka Master?”

“I only remember those numbers; I don’t understand the rest of the Sanskrit,” Ye Chang smiled, fearing he might really be sent to translate some Buddhist sutras.

“I saw you calculate with ease. Why didn’t you finish earlier?”

Ye Chang naturally would not answer that if he had finished earlier, he wouldn’t have had an excuse to linger in the county town instead of returning to Wolong Valley to deal with a flock of frivolous women. So he smiled and said, “I have always been narrow-minded. Since Yuan Gongfu wishes to humiliate me, I must return the favor.”

“A subject should not contend with an official.”

“Thanks for your wise counsel, Your Honor. But besides humiliating me, Yuan Gongfu has another purpose—to test whether I can protect myself,” Ye Chang said earnestly, “If I cannot protect myself, disaster is near. But if I fight back effectively, Yuan Gongfu will not dare act rashly.”

Yuan Gonglu knew Ye Chang was right. Yuan Zai’s vendetta was so deep that if Ye Chang truly lacked self-defense ability, death and extinction would be inevitable.

Their hatred was profound—if one triumphed, the other would suffer.

“Alas, I told you before, your wisdom might bring you trouble. It seems my words were sadly true,” Yuan Gonglu sighed and ceased his persuasion. “Take care of yourself.”

Just as he finished speaking, a commotion arose outside.

Yuan Zai arrived quickly, his face dark, followed by a crowd of clerks.

Earlier, Ye Chang had sent Yuan Gonglu’s family to invite Yuan Zai, who had just dismissed a banquet, allowing the officials who had been grinning to finally breathe easy. Yuan Zai had investigated and knew Ye Chang had been calculating for nearly two hours, so in his mind, Ye Chang was not yet finished.

“Did the Bright Prefect summon me here to plead for this licentious and unworthy fellow?” Yuan Zai arrogantly declared, backed by Wang Zhongsi, showing no respect to Yuan Gonglu.

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Yuan Gonglu had wanted to help but now grew angry: If Yuan Zai wanted to embarrass himself and have Ye Chang slap his face, why should I interfere?

He waved dismissively. “Young Prefect, why say such things? The reason you’ve been called here is because Young Master Ye has finished.”

“I would have respected the Prefect’s dignity, but I’ve heard the people of Xiuwu are unruly, and this Ye Chang is…” Yuan Zai rambled on until he realized Yuan Gonglu was not pleading for Ye Chang.

He looked at Yuan Gonglu in surprise, then at Ye Chang, and finally at the ledgers piled on the table. “What did the Prefect just say?”

“I said that Ye the Eleventh has finished calculating and is just waiting for your inspection,” Yuan Gonglu replied slowly. “Young Prefect, are you hard of hearing? I spoke clearly. Why do you still misunderstand?”

From Yuan Gonglu’s position, this was tantamount to calling Yuan Zai “deaf.” But Yuan Zai could only endure; he might not respect Yuan Gonglu, but Yuan Gonglu equally need not respect him—he was the first to be rude!

Moreover, Yuan Zai’s focus was not on this matter!

“This is impossible!” he blurted.

“Do you think I would deceive you?”

“He couldn’t have finished the calculations…”

“So the task you gave me was impossible to complete? Young Prefect, you truly have a talent for setting traps!” Ye Chang chuckled and then added, “When I was in Chang’an, I said you lacked scholarly depth and talent. Just because you can’t do something doesn’t mean I can’t!”

The clerks were stunned by Ye Chang’s words. They had thought that with Yuan Gonglu’s departure, Ye Chang would lose his greatest support and fall into decline. Yet here, in front of so many, Ye Chang was boldly pressuring the newly appointed Young Prefect!

Where did Ye Chang’s confidence come from?

Yuan Zai’s face turned pale and flushed. By dredging up old grievances, Ye Chang was openly showing that Yuan Zai’s troublemaking was purely personal, while also revealing Yuan Zai’s humiliations in Chang’an to undermine his authority.

If Yuan Zai failed to suppress Ye Chang and teach him a lesson this time, his prestige in the county would be ruined, and future decrees would be difficult to enforce.

Yet he could not take extreme measures, like ordering Ye Chang’s execution—this was the height of the Tang dynasty, where death sentences required approval from the Chancellor and Emperor. Unless Yuan Zai was willing to risk his career for Ye Chang’s life, he could not act rashly.

More importantly, Ye Chang had powerful backing.

Yuan Zai knew Ye Chang enjoyed the favor of Princess Yuzhen, and Han Chaozong had tried repeatedly to recommend him for office. Even Emperor Li Longji was aware of Ye Chang. These were the “forces” Ye Chang could rely on.

If Yuan Zai could legally deal with Ye Chang, these forces might balance out his own. But if he ruled arbitrarily, these forces would surely retaliate.

“Stop talking nonsense! I will investigate!” Yuan Zai’s only hope now was that Ye Chang hadn’t completed the calculations and merely presented random data.

He ordered the clerks around him, shooting them a menacing glance. “Go check the calculations!”

The clerks looked reluctant. With their methods, using counting rods, it would take at least a day to finish a detailed audit.

But Yuan Zai had given orders, so no one dared disobey. They took the ledgers and pretended to examine them.

To their surprise, the method Ye Chang used differed from theirs but was truly concise and clear at a glance.

In fact, these ledgers were broken down by year. The office kept a general ledger as well, which contained the data Yuan Zai wanted.

Among them was a cunning clerk who didn’t look carefully but went straight to the final numbers and exclaimed, “Young Prefect, these are exactly the same as in the general ledger.”

Yuan Zai felt his temples throb. He glared at the crafty clerk, who merely pursed his lips and subtly gestured toward Yuan Gonglu.

Yuan Zai immediately understood the clerk was hinting that Yuan Gonglu had already compiled the totals and told Ye Chang, which is how Ye Chang got the numbers.

This man was actually signaling allegiance to him.

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This made Yuan Zai feel somewhat better. He sneered at Yuan Gonglu and coughed, “The Prefect truly has a remarkable memory, recalling the county’s tax figures so clearly.”

Yuan Gonglu also sneered. “That has nothing to do with me. It’s the Eleventh Young Master Ye who is a calculating genius. I’ve heard even Han Jingzhao desperately recommended him to the Sage.”

“What? Young Prefect, you think these results are not my calculations?” Ye Chang leisurely said, “Look at this paper.”

On it were recorded each step of Ye Chang’s calculations. Even if Yuan Gonglu remembered the general ledger, he couldn’t possibly recall the numbers for every year over thirty years, nor how Ye Chang added them, averaged them, and summarized them all.

“Too bad, Young Prefect, you probably don’t understand my process.” Seeing Yuan Zai’s baffled look, Ye Chang clicked his tongue. “It’s like showing pretty things to a blind man. For a county officer assisting the Bright Prefect in governing the people, this arithmetic is essential. If you’re willing, come to my Wolong Valley, and I’ll teach you.”

Yuan Zai was nearly driven mad. His first step to trouble Ye Chang had backfired!

Then Ye Chang struck again: “Today’s matter is concluded. I take my leave. Bright Prefect, since you travel tomorrow, I won’t see you off.”

Yuan Gonglu nodded and smiled, “No need to see him off. Today’s matter was merely to test your talents. You two should have more exchanges in the future.”

Trying to mediate their reconciliation, but before Ye Chang could respond, Yuan Zai’s face twisted and he turned away.

The accompanying clerks awkwardly smiled and bowed to Yuan Gonglu before leaving.

“The Prefect means well, but some people just don’t appreciate it,” Ye Chang chuckled. “I take my leave.”

“Farewell, no seeing off…”

Yuan Gonglu shook his head. Fortunately, he was to leave office the next day; how Ye Chang and Yuan Zai battled thereafter was no longer his concern.

It was strange—Ye Chang was still a commoner, yet Yuan Gonglu felt that in his struggle against Yuan Zai, not only would Ye Chang not fall behind, but he might even win.

Yuan Zai stormed back to his temporary residence, furious.

The fire earlier in the year had left only the main hall of the County Magistrate’s Office intact; the rear was uninhabitable. Upon arriving in Xiuwu, he had chosen a nearby private residence as his home.

Now newly moved in, the place lacked everything, which was why his wife Wang Yunxiu had gone shopping in the city and encountered Ye Chang.

Back home, Yuan Zai kicked over the banquet table, smashing bowls, chopsticks, and counting rods on the floor.

His furious outburst was immediately reported to Wang Yunxiu. She raised an eyebrow and, upon seeing him, softened her voice, “Husband, why are you angry?”

“I was insulted by that brat, and today’s matter went awry!”

“You mean you haven’t dealt with Ye the Eleventh yet?”

“That brat is sly and treacherous. I was the one humiliated!”

“You are too impatient. You are the county’s Young Prefect, and he is a subordinate under you. Don’t worry; you will have your chance.”

“I know that, but my wife does not understand official matters,” Yuan Zai sighed.

He had targeted Ye Chang not only due to their old grudges but for deeper reasons. His appointment as County Magistrate had been heavily supported by the Yue family, which made him feel subordinate to them. Therefore, he was determined to make a name for himself in the county.

To achieve this, he needed the cooperation of clerks and servants. Having himself once fallen into despair, he knew well that if these subordinates were insincere, the magistrate and county magistrate would become mere puppets.

Hence, the first thing he did upon arrival was to establish authority.

He wanted the clerks and servants to recognize his power.

Ye Chang was the scapegoat, the “chicken” to warn the “monkeys.” Yuan Zai had investigated Ye Chang and knew he was a well-known figure in Xiuwu County. If he could suppress Ye Chang, the clerks and servants would at least dare not fool him too much.

But things went contrary to his wishes. Being humiliated by Ye Chang, especially with Ye Chang exposing his incompetence in arithmetic, Yuan Zai could foresee that the clerks would likely tamper with the accounts in the future.

He had just dug a pit for himself, waiting to fall in soon.

Hearing all this, Wang Yunxiu involuntarily took a cold breath. “Such a vicious heart, such a cunning scoundrel!”

“Exactly. Such treacherous villains, if left unchecked, harm both the court above and the people below. I am not merely acting out of private grudges but for the well-being of the entire county!” Yuan Zai said angrily.