Chapter 94: Rest and Speak of Virtue to Enemies

Because he returned late, Ye Chang found the sky already dark upon arriving at Wolong Valley. From a distance, he saw torches held high at the valley entrance, clearly someone was waiting for him there. Approaching closer, he saw Madam Fang standing solemnly beneath a tree at the valley’s mouth.

Ye Chang hurriedly dismounted and said, “The wind is strong outside; even if you wished to wait for me, Sister-in-law, you should have stayed inside the house.”

“How could I dare to stay in your room? Your methods grow ever more cunning. If I were in your room, I might be sold out without knowing it,” Madam Fang replied coldly.

Ye Chang instantly understood that Sister-in-law was displeased, and that the consequences would be severe.

His mind raced, guessing the cause of her displeasure. Today was originally his day for matchmaking. Sister-in-law had prepared no fewer than six or seven young ladies for him to choose from, yet he had found an excuse to sneak away—missing the match, and moreover, embarrassing her.

“Sister-in-law, whatever you say, I would never harm you. If I did, wouldn’t my nephew and niece have had me for dinner already?” Ye Chang said, referring to his young relatives.

This was Madam Fang’s weakness. Considering her two children would still need Ye Chang’s support in the future, her expression softened a little, though she still shot him a sharp glare. “You went too far today. Even if you didn’t find anyone suitable, you could have told me. Was it necessary to put on such a show?”

“It’s not an act—I really ran into trouble,” Ye Chang said with a wry smile. “Sister-in-law may not know, but the newly appointed county magistrate is an old rival I met in Chang’an. From the moment he arrived, he came looking to cause me trouble.”

“What? Such a thing has happened? Tell me all about it.”

“This isn’t the place to talk; the wind and cold bite tonight. Sister-in-law, please come into the valley with me.”

Madam Fang hesitated, then said, “Let’s speak here.”

To avoid suspicion, they stayed outside, but the chill forced Ye Chang to have a fire lit. By its warmth, he explained his grudge against Yuan Zai.

“That man is utterly unreasonable. Clearly, he provoked you first!” After hearing the whole story, Madam Fang exclaimed angrily.

“Some people just cannot be reasoned with,” Ye Chang shook his head.

“He won’t give up so easily, Eleventh Brother. I suspect his next move will come soon.”

According to Madam Fang’s judgment, even if the new magistrate merely wanted to assert authority, he would need to inflict a heavy blow on Ye Chang as soon as possible—to restore his own face.

Ye Chang was somewhat helpless. “We can only respond move by move. Luckily, today I scared him off—he only dared face me head-on, avoiding underhanded tactics. This world, I only wish for a peaceful life, yet troubles never cease!”

Madam Fang furrowed her elegant brows, pondering. “There’s nothing wrong with responding move by move, but Eleventh Brother, one can be a thief for a thousand days, but never guard against a thief for a thousand days. If you only respond, there will be a day you slip.”

“What do you suggest, Sister-in-law?”

“Drive him out.” Madam Fang glanced around at their trusted company and lowered her voice. “His reputation is already poor. If heavy-handed pressure provokes a rebellion, even if he isn’t punished, he will have no choice but to leave his post.”

This was more radical than Ye Chang had imagined. He looked at his usually gentle sister-in-law, surprised she harbored such a fierce side.

“This matter requires long-term planning; we cannot rush it.” After a long pause, Ye Chang said, “Driving out a county magistrate is not easy with just us. We must unite with the powerful families in the county. They are no fools; they won’t rise just because of my personal feud with Yuan Zai.”

“I’ve thought of several strategies for you,” Madam Fang said. “You have ties with both the Daoist and Buddhist families. With their help, at least a third of the county’s powerful families would support you. Offering handsome rewards might sway another third... If you marry into one family, it will be even easier.”

After all, she hoped Ye Chang would marry soon. Ye Chang scratched his head, trying to decline, but Madam Fang scrutinized him suspiciously. “Eleventh Brother, be honest. When you went to Chang’an, was there a particular lady you favored?”

“Absolutely not. No matter how good my eye, how could it compare to Sister-in-law’s?” Ye Chang shook his head repeatedly. “This is a turbulent time. Marriage matters should be postponed a bit.”

Seeing his firm stance, Madam Fang relented. Moreover, the ladies she had seen today were indeed not suitable matches for Ye Chang. It seemed they needed another plan.

Right now, their most pressing concern was dealing with Yuan Zai.

“Yuan Zai is Wang Zhongsi’s son-in-law?” Madam Fang mused. “That complicates matters. Wang Zhongsi is highly trusted by the emperor, having served as military governor of Hedong and Shuofang. As long as he remains in power, Yuan Zai will always have a chance to return.”

She smiled again. “But great men have great opponents. Taking down Wang Zhongsi isn’t impossible. We only need to spread rumors in Chang’an that Wang Zhongsi seeks to become prime minister. Li Linfu would never allow that!”

Ye Chang broke out in a sweat. While he was still pondering how to deal with Yuan Zai, Madam Fang had already proposed driving him out, and now she was thinking of removing Yuan Zai’s powerful patron altogether.

Her strategic mind was truly formidable.

“That’s going too far. Wang Zhongsi is a pillar of the state, serving loyally...” Ye Chang hesitated. Wang Zhongsi was one of the Tang Dynasty’s top generals, having defeated the Turpan and Khitan forces. Thinking of this, Ye Chang felt reluctant.

“Tang would collapse without him? I am but a woman, knowing nothing of state affairs. All I know is that if not for him, that villain Yuan Zai wouldn’t have come to serve as county magistrate here, and our family wouldn’t be in such danger! Anyone who threatens my nephew and niece, I would give my life to fight against!” Madam Fang shot Ye Chang a half-mocking glance. “Besides, Eleventh Brother, even if Wang Zhongsi is an indispensable general, do you plan to just stand there and wait for him to chop off your head?”

Ye Chang was speechless.

He knew he was just an ordinary man, with ordinary morals. He could not commit great acts of righteousness by sacrificing family or himself—unless forced. No matter how important Wang Zhongsi was to the Tang, if his life was threatened, he had to fight back.

At worst, if Wang Zhongsi was removed, he would find a way to fill the vacuum left behind.

Their plan to scheme against Wang Zhongsi was no overnight matter. They needed trustworthy people to spread rumors in the capital. This was another complication, as they had no reliable agents nearby. Even if Jiao Sui returned, his temperament might not allow him to do something so clearly slanderous against a loyal official.

“Let’s not rush that matter. By the way, three renowned doctors have arrived today, along with a midwife,” Madam Fang mentioned. This was part of Ye Chang’s plan made months ago: hiring famous doctors and midwives at high pay to discuss emergency care for pregnant women.

At this, Madam Fang clasped her hands and, with rare reverence, looked at Ye Chang. “This is a truly meritorious endeavor, Eleventh Brother. Is there any way I can assist?”

“I’m afraid I’ll be busy dealing with Yuan Zai for some time, and may not have much energy for this. I don’t want to trouble Sister-in-law,” Ye Chang said.

“Doing good deeds and accumulating virtue is my duty,” she replied.

Seeing that night had fallen, Ye Chang urged Madam Fang to return, and she agreed. He arranged for some to escort her.

While Ye Chang prepared in Wolong Valley to increase maternal and infant survival rates, Yuan Zai paced restlessly in the county magistrate’s office like a trapped beast.

Though he was magistrate, he was subordinate to the county chief, and the clerks and officers below him, having seen him lose face on his first day, were disobedient. This left him feeling constrained in all his actions. Once proud and ambitious, he now found himself in a difficult predicament.

Adding to his troubles, he suffered frequent diarrhea due to the unfamiliar environment. One day, squatting in the latrine, he overheard faint voices outside and strained to listen.

“Our new young magistrate truly is incompetent!”

“Yes. I heard he hasn’t even mastered his own Taoist classics and was humiliated in Chang’an by Ye Eleventh Brother...”

“What a useless fellow. Rumor has it he only got this position through connections; his young mistress’s family is influential!”

“So he lives off his wife...”

The low voices enraged Yuan Zai. Losing his temper, he shouted loudly, kicked open the latrine door, pulled up his trousers, and charged out.

“Who dares insult me?”

But at the door, he saw two figures sprinting away. One shouted, “Run! He doesn’t recognize us!”

“Don’t run! Stop!” Yuan Zai yelled.

But fools don’t run. Before he finished speaking, the two had vanished. Yuan Zai took a few steps, tripped over his trousers, nearly fell, and a cold wind blew against his bare waist, making him shiver. Then he caught a foul smell.

“Damn it...”

In his haste, he had not wiped properly, so his trousers were fouled.

He rushed back to clean up, cursing Ye Chang all the while, blaming him for his misfortunes.

“Magistrate.”

While cursing in the latrine, he suddenly heard a cough outside, followed by a deep voice. A hand reached through the latrine’s upper opening, holding a roll of paper.

It was what they called “toilet paper.”

Since arriving in Xiuwu, this was the only thing Yuan Zai liked. With this toilet paper, the old bamboo latrine seats were obsolete. He had just run out and was worrying about how to manage the cleanup when this person’s gesture was truly timely.

Yet, after his gratitude, Yuan Zai realized that his earlier embarrassment had likely been witnessed.

He opened the door and saw a clerk bowing and scraping before him. “Magistrate.”

Yuan Zai replied coolly, “Mm, thank you,” then walked straight past without a glance. The clerk, who had come to flatter him, was stunned by this outcome. Once Yuan Zai passed, he snapped back to his senses. This wouldn’t do.

“Magistrate, I have a plan to deal with Ye Chang!”

Yuan Zai stopped, turned around, and gave the clerk a bright smile.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is Lu Yan.”

This clerk had previously conspired with Liu Fengyin, exploiting the locals. After Liu’s downfall, his fortunes declined and he feared being implicated. Now that the new magistrate was at odds with Ye Chang, he saw a chance to clear his troubles and gain favor by assisting him.

“You say you have a plan to control Ye Chang?”

“Ye Chang, relying on the former magistrate’s favor, has become arrogant and lawless, spreading rumors and secretly stirring trouble!” Lu Yan spoke with some skill, “I have long disliked him but lacked opportunity. Now, with you taking office to eliminate corruption and reform, I am willing to lend a hand!”

“Oh?”

Yuan Zai was skeptical. Most clerks and officers either respected or feared Ye Chang; this one dared openly oppose him. How could he be sure Lu Yan wasn’t Ye Chang’s spy?

“How is this toilet paper?” Lu Yan, sensing Yuan Zai’s doubt, asked.

Yuan Zai’s face flushed, his gaze sharpening. Was this man mocking his earlier mishap?

“Speak plainly. Don’t beat around the bush.”

“You may not know, but this toilet paper is produced by Ye Chang’s family workshop,” Lu Yan whispered. “It brings in thousands of coins daily!”

Thousands daily meant hundreds of thousands yearly—a substantial fortune. Yuan Zai was poor; though Wang Zhongsi helped him secure his post, he had no funds and no face to ask for any. This was one reason he was hamstrung in Xiuwu.

Hearing this, his eyes brightened.

“He also runs a printing house, carving woodblocks for illustrated stories. They are currently working on Romance of the Three Kingdoms, up to the battle of the three heroes against Lü Bu...” Lu Yan continued.

Ye Chang had been rushing the printing since the previous year; the New Year’s edition was well received. The craftsmen, well rewarded, only rested five days before returning to work. This income gave Ye Chang the confidence to recruit famous doctors.

“He’s really that wealthy?” Yuan Zai exhaled, trying to restrain himself, but his words still dripped with envy and resentment.

“Ye Eleventh Brother excels at business, but his foundation lies in Wolong Valley. Both the papermaking and printing are there,” Lu Yan said, encouraged by Yuan Zai’s interest. “If you can seize Wolong Valley, you cut off his finances and cripple him!”

Not only would it cripple Ye Chang, but those assets could become Yuan Zai’s support.

With money, he needn’t bow so low before the Wang family, and his life would improve.

At the thought, Yuan Zai’s heart burned with desire. If it weren’t for Ye Chang’s powerful backers, he would have taken the valley by force.

“How do we strike at Wolong Valley?” he asked urgently, losing all composure.