Chapter 110: Swift and Decisive, the Urge to Kill Awakens

With the other two matters temporarily set aside, Magistrate Liu took a deep breath as they reached the entrance of the county office. He turned his horse to face Du Shiyi and young Master Cui, saying, "Master Du, Master Cui, this case is of great significance. Since you are both the aggrieved parties, would you be willing to accompany me to see Magistrate Zhao?"

Had this been in the past, young Master Cui would have acted on his own impulse. But now, he stole a glance at Du Shiyi. Seeing him nod without hesitation, Cui gave a listless agreement. He then turned to his servants behind him and said, "I am going to see Magistrate Zhao with Magistrate Liu. You all return to the inn and tell my sister and Lady Du what has happened."

Magistrate Zhao of Taolin County was over sixty years old. Having stumbled through his career his entire life to reach this position, he was a staunch advocate of governing through non-interference. The sudden eruption of a major robbery case under his jurisdiction had nearly broken his spirit. When Magistrate Liu entered first to report that a scion of the Qinghe Cui clan—the nephew of Duke Zhao, Cui E, and the Imperial Secretariat Official, Cui Tai—had nearly been assassinated within Taolin's borders, the Magistrate’s scalp tingled, and he felt as if he were being driven to the brink of madness.

"Master Cui the Twenty-Fifth is waiting outside. Does the Magistrate wish to see him?"

"See him... No, better not! Just say I am ill and cannot rise from my bed!" The Magistrate gritted his teeth, then let out a groan of pain as he clutched his head. With a bitter expression, he added, "My chronic headaches have flared up these past few days. Since this is a matter you encountered, I grant you full authority to handle it. I trust Assistant Magistrate Zhang and Registrar Chen will agree. A capable man must bear the burden; Ziqi, please take care of this for the county!"

When Magistrate Liu emerged from the private quarters, he offered a knowing smile to Du Shiyi and Cui the Twenty-Fifth, whispering, "I have requested permission, and the matter has been entrusted to me. Please come with me to see Assistant Magistrate Zhang and Registrar Chen; since the event has occurred, we must inform them and see what they have to say."

Just as Magistrate Zhao had feigned illness to evade responsibility, the news that the nephew of Duke Zhao and the Minister of the Cui clan had nearly been assassinated sent the registrar, the assistant magistrate, and the other county magistrate into a panic, all eager to stay as far away as possible. When Magistrate Liu hinted that he would find a way to persuade Master Cui to settle the matter privately, they were more than happy to oblige. After all, with Prefect Guo of Shanzhou issuing repeated orders to investigate the massive robbery without success, no one wanted to add further complications. Once these arrangements were made, Magistrate Liu led the way out of the county office, bowing sincerely to Du Shiyi and young Master Cui as he mounted his horse.

"Master Du, Master Cui, though my rank is low, I have served as a county magistrate for several years. May I also handle the interrogation?"

Young Master Cui, already distracted, nodded without raising his head. Du Shiyi, mindful of Magistrate Liu’s competence, readily agreed: "In that case, we shall trouble you, Magistrate Liu."

A bucket of cold water brought Shi Wanxing back to consciousness. The stinging pain in his face and various wounds quickly made him realize his predicament. However, scanning his surroundings, he saw only Magistrate Liu. Du Shiyi, young Master Cui, and the burly giant Cui Ting—who had caught him so easily and beaten him nearly to the point of vomiting blood—were nowhere to be seen. Even bound tightly and unable to move, a glimmer of hope sparked within him.

That young man surnamed Du beside the chubby Master Cui was a troublesome character, but this Magistrate Liu might be intimidated or fooled!

"Shi Wanxing, the innkeeper and the server have already been interrogated and thrown into the county jail. Even if you don't confess, the stolen goods found on you and the attempted assassination of Master Cui are enough to condemn you under the law. I don't need to tell you what the punishment is, do I?" Seeing Shi Wanxing clench his teeth in silence, Magistrate Liu tried to persuade him patiently. "Even just that single pearl hairpin is enough to qualify as the most severe form of theft: one hundred blows of the heavy staff, ten years of penal servitude, and exile. As for the attempted murder resulting in injury to Master Cui the Twenty-Fifth, that is a capital crime punishable by strangulation. Furthermore, there were many witnesses in public view. If this blows up, even if General Wang tries to protect you, do you think the Cui family will just stand by and watch one of their own be harmed?"

"What do you want?"

Hearing this response, Du Shiyi, waiting outside the door, felt a stir of interest. He leaned in to listen as Magistrate Liu continued with his persuasive tone: "Since you claim to be a squad leader of the Left Yulin Guard, it is better to resolve a grievance than to deepen it. I have no desire to pursue this to the bitter end. This is not the prison cell, but a private room. If you tell me the full truth of what happened, I can plead with Master Du and Master Cui afterward to let you go. Think about it: Master Cui and Master Du are from prominent families; perhaps they do not fear General Wang, but I am of humble origin—why would I want to make such a scene?"

"Magistrate Liu is a clever man indeed." Seeing Magistrate Liu sit cross-legged on the filthy floor as if showing sincerity, Shi Wanxing weighed his options. He figured that if he didn't severely intimidate this seemingly timid magistrate, he would never escape. He sneered, "What is there to say? The merchants involved in the big robbery were flaunting their wealth before Captain Xiao. Captain Xiao was already fretting over what to send as a grand gift for the Duke of Huo’s fourth son's first-year birthday celebration. Why introduce them when he could offer such peerless treasures himself?"

Shi Wanxing paused, then added dismissively, "We all took a cut on the road. As for that young man we met halfway, I found someone skilled in petty theft and poisoning to handle him, and after the job was done, he was silenced for good. As for that pearl hairpin, it was my share! I tell you this so you can weigh the stakes yourself. Captain Xiao’s sister is a favored concubine of General Ge of the Ten Thousand Cavalry, and he himself has the ear of Generals Ge and Wang! As for me, I am Captain Xiao’s most trusted man! Because the profit was so great, he kept me here to see if I could repeat the trick. As for the rest of the goods, they were long ago offered to Generals Wang and Ge. Do you think you can ever get them back?"

At a time like this, one had to use powerful names as a shield. He had stayed behind under the pretense of visiting family, hoping to commit a few more crimes to secure his own wealth and promotion. Who would have thought he would hit such a hard wall!

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Liu remained calm due to his experience, but outside, young Master Cui had turned deathly pale. Seeing him unsteady on his feet, Du Shiyi gripped his arm firmly and whispered, "Listen closely!"

Inside, Magistrate Liu asked, "And what about the matter with Master Cui?"

"That chubby brat? I stayed in Taolin County just to see if there was another opportunity. Who knew he would be running through the streets near nightfall? That inn already had a bad reputation, and the owner and server were greedy. I stayed there for two days, and they didn't even know who I was. Business was bad, so when I brought my men and offered them a cut, naturally they did whatever I said. I had intended to lead that merchant caravan into a trap to find out where the rest of the good stuff was hidden, so I could repeat the job. Who knew you people would intervene halfway!"

"As for the assassination, I only wanted to take him hostage to escape! There, I’ve said everything I can. I advise you: rather than going back to consult with those two wet-behind-the-ears boys, you’d be better off making a firm decision yourself and letting me go! Even in the Eastern Capital, when I enter the homes of the powerful with Captain Xiao, those high officials treat us with courtesy! Let’s leave ourselves a way out; one day, when you are promoted, I might even be able to help you!"

Magistrate Liu was silent for a long time before asking, "You claim to be part of the Northern Gate Imperial Guard. Do you have proof?"

"I don't believe you didn't find the token on me!"

Magistrate Liu had, of course, found it. He had even gone to the post station to compare it with the token kept on record and had secretly inquired about the men around Captain Xiao, though few had noticed such details. Now, having confirmed his suspicions, he took a deep breath and clapped his hands twice. As Cui Ting pushed the door open, Shi Wanxing saw Du Shiyi and young Master Cui standing at the entrance and realized he had been thoroughly played. As Cui Ting hoisted him up like a hawk grabbing a chick and slapped him until he was dizzy, he could only blurt out a furious curse.

"Liu, you bastard! I will not let you go even if I become a ghost!"

By the time Cui Ting knocked him unconscious again, Du Shiyi was dragging the stunned Cui the Twenty-Fifth into the gloomy room. Magistrate Liu stood there, perfectly composed. The magistrate, who had just lied with such lethal effect, cleared his throat and said thoughtfully, "Since the innkeeper and his staff know nothing, this is easy to resolve. We will charge those few with harboring a criminal and lock them in the cells; when interrogated later, the matter will be settled. As for this man—it is not that I am timid, but what he has revealed is likely only a fraction of the truth. Even so, he is so prone to implicating others that if we pursue this, there will be no end to the trouble. I fear it is not wise to investigate further."

Young Master Cui gritted his teeth, ready to object, but before the words could escape, he glanced at Du Shiyi. Seeing him silent, he replied in a muffled tone, "I leave it entirely to Magistrate Liu."

With those words, and Du Shiyi remaining silent, Magistrate Liu felt a great weight lift from his heart. He took the unconscious Shi Wanxing to the side hall usually used for interrogations at the county office, went back to see Magistrate Zhao, and without any effort, obtained the necessary warrants and joint authorization for torture. He returned, satisfied. Watching his trusted subordinate pour a bowl of medicine down Shi Wanxing’s throat, he ordered the prisoner's hands to be tightly locked in shackles. He then summoned the bailiffs to line the sides, invited Du Shiyi and young Master Cui to be seated, and finally splashed another bowl of cold water to wake Shi Wanxing.

"Robbing a merchant caravan, attempting to assassinate a government official of noble standing—the evidence is irrefutable. Do you confess?"

Shi Wanxing, dazed, heard the thunderous shout and finally regained his wits. However, when he opened his mouth, he found his throat hoarse and unable to utter a single word. He was struck with terror. Before he could think of another way, he saw Magistrate Liu slam the gavel and roar, "The evidence is absolute, yet you refuse to confess! By law, you shall be interrogated under torture! The Magistrate has already authorized this. Guards, bring the interrogation staves! Sixty lashes to begin!"

Du Shiyi had not only copied the *Yonghui Code* but had also studied the law. The Great Tang had three types of staves; the light ones were for standard corporal punishment, while the heavy interrogation staves used for prisoners were much thicker—more than half again as thick at the tip. Moreover, while standard punishment was applied to the legs and buttocks, interrogation staves were also applied to the back, which was the most excruciating agony. Compared to standard office beatings, the most terrifying were the palace-style beatings where the back was targeted; surviving such an ordeal without being crippled was impossible unless the guards were heavily bribed. Of course, except during times of tyranny, such extra-legal torture instruments were strictly prohibited.

As soon as the order was given, a burly bailiff brought a heavy interrogation stave. After bowing to Magistrate Liu, the other bailiffs brought over a torture bench, strapped Shi Wanxing down, and secured his legs. With a sharp whistle through the air, the stave struck Shi Wanxing’s back with brutal force.

Young Master Cui may have scolded his servants, but he—and indeed most of the Cui family—rarely resorted to such brutal punishments. Hearing the whistling wind and seeing flesh and blood fly from Shi Wanxing’s back, buttocks, and legs after only a dozen blows, he was completely stunned. Du Shiyi, experiencing this for the first time as well, felt his own breathing grow heavy. Shi Wanxing, clearly rendered mute by the medicine, at first tried to let out gasping cries, but as the stave fell repeatedly, his face contorted in silent agony.

When the sixty lashes were finally completed, Shi Wanxing was long since unconscious. Magistrate Liu then said, "Since he will not confess, keep him under guard. We shall interrogate him again in twenty days!"

As he sent Du Shiyi and young Master Cui out, he whispered, "If he dies during the lawful interrogation, it is no matter. If you two wish to depart, feel free to leave; I will see this case through to the end. If his earlier claims were merely wild fabrications, his life might be spared, but if they were true... you two may rest easy."