Inside the brightly lit Yingxian Tower, Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zhuo with some surprise. The Directorate of Ceremonial and the civil officials had been at odds for a long time, irreconcilable. He had thought that without a royal decree or token, persuading Zhang Zhuo to leave would require considerable effort. To his surprise, as soon as Zhang Zhuo heard about the refugees’ plight, he immediately stood up, willing to go with him.

“Why?” Chen Ji wondered.

Zhang Zhuo looked at Chen Ji with a slight smile. “What’s wrong? I’m willing to go with you, but you’re afraid to take me?”

The chatter at the banquet gradually grew louder. A newly successful imperial examination candidate stood up and, emboldened by wine, loudly declared, “Your Excellency, you must not leave with these eunuchs! What if they use this opportunity to seize you and throw you into the imperial prison?”

“Your Excellency, don’t fall for their trick!”

However, Zhang Zhuo suddenly raised his hand, and the room instantly fell silent. He smiled at Chen Ji and said, “Please, let’s go. Urgent matters await.” With that, the prefect himself led the way out of Yingxian Tower.

Stepping out of Yingxian Tower, Zhang Zhuo stood on the flagstone path of Baiyi Lane, turned to look at Chen Ji behind him, and said casually, “Alright, tell me, what does this official need to do?”

Chen Ji quickly explained, “Please, Master Zhang, open the granary immediately and dispatch a batch of grain to outside the West Gate.”

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard. “Open the granary? Young man, Luocheng’s granary is a vital military stronghold. This is a serious matter. Why didn’t you go to Master Chen, but came to me instead?”

Chen Ji calmly replied, “Master Chen is rigid and pedantic. In Luocheng right now, only Master Zhang has the capability and courage to do this.”

Zhang Zhuo scoffed good-naturedly, “Stop flattering me. If you had said that in front of Master Chen, I might have been more pleased.” He then dropped his smile and said, “I need to confirm one more time: do you know what you are doing right now, and can you bear the consequences?”

Chen Ji, dressed in gray with a bamboo hat, and Zhang Zhuo, in his crimson official robe, stood facing each other.

After a long silence, Chen Ji said with conviction, “Master Zhang, I know what I’m doing.”

Zhang Zhuo no longer pressed. “As long as you know.”

Chen Ji turned and called loudly into the alley next to Yingxian Tower, “Xifeng, prepare the carriage. You are to escort Master Zhang to retrieve the grain. The faster, the better.”

Xifeng led a carriage out of the alley, with several secret agents on horseback guarding it.

“Master Zhang, please get in,” Chen Ji said.

But Zhang Zhuo did not get into the carriage. Instead, he deftly untied the lead rope from one of the horses and swung himself onto its back. He laughed heartily, “A carriage is too slow. I’ll see you in the west of the city later. If I find out you’re playing tricks, even Xu Wenhe won’t be able to protect you.”

With that, Zhang Zhuo spurred his horse, and it galloped away at full speed.

Chen Ji watched the crimson robe turn out of Baiyi Lane and disappear. He found himself thinking that if a precious sword were to be hung from Zhang Zhuo’s official belt, it might look even more fitting.

Just as he was pondering this, Jin Zhu ran out of Yingxian Tower, muttering, “Madness, sheer madness!”

“Master, what’s wrong?” Chen Ji asked, puzzled.

Jin Zhu complained, “While our Secret Service is arrogant and overbearing, and we’ve arrested many civil officials, we’ve never before taken a fifth-rank imperial official from a Deer Cry Banquet. This is taboo!”

“But we’re not arresting Master Zhang; we’re saving him,” Chen Ji explained.

Jin Zhu sighed helplessly. “Those civil officials won’t see it that way. You should have at least discussed it with me before doing something like this.”

“If I had asked, would you have let me do it?” Chen Ji asked.

Jin Zhu snapped, “Of course I wouldn’t have agreed!”

“Forget it, forget it. Do whatever you want. Where are we going now?”

“West of the city!”

“Chen Ji!”

“Hmm?”

Jin Zhu, on horseback, looked at the calm-faced medical apprentice beside him and suddenly remarked, “You’re naturally suited for this line of work. You once said you wanted to resign from the Secret Service, but it’s truly the most fitting place for you.”

“Why do you say that, Master?”

Jin Zhu looked towards the end of the long street. “You’re too fond of taking risks. Sooner or later, you’ll stumble.”

Chen Ji changed the subject. “Master, Master Zhang just said, ‘Even Xu Wenhe won’t be able to protect you.’ Who is Xu Wenhe?”

Jin Zhu chuckled. “That’s the Inner Prime Minister’s name. But these days, everyone either calls him ‘Poisonous Prime Minister’ or ‘Inner Prime Minister,’ so people have almost forgotten his actual name. Zhang Zhuo has quite the nerve, a fifth-rank official daring to call the Inner Prime Minister by his given name.”

Chen Ji said curiously, “I always feel that Master Zhang isn’t much like the other civil officials. He’s more like a wandering knight-errant.”

Jin Zhu chuckled, “You’ve actually hit the nail on the head. After his first wife passed away, Zhang Zhuo really did spend a year as a wandering knight-errant, mingling with martial artists and neglecting his duties.”

“Then why did he return later and marry Grand Secretary Xu’s niece?”

Jin Zhu scoffed, “Having mastered both scholarly arts and martial skills, one offers them to the imperial court. Isn’t that what all civil officials think? Why ask why? Oh, right, what’s this about him wanting to marry his daughter to you? If that really happens, it could save you thirty years of detours. The Inner Prime Minister once said that Master Zhang has the makings of a grand councilor.”

Chen Ji didn’t answer; he couldn’t.

Just then, a secret agent exclaimed, “Master, there’s a fire!”

Baiyi Lane was in the east of the city. By the time Chen Ji and the others galloped to the west side, it was already midnight. Even before they left the city, Jin Zhu and the others could see a towering blaze burning outside the city walls, sparks dancing in the night sky.

Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji in shock. “You actually predicted it? How did you know something major would happen in the west of the city?”

Chen Ji’s expression was as still as water.

Jin Zhu urgently asked, “What could be burning outside the city to create such a massive fire?”

“I’m afraid it’s the Luocheng Prefecture’s granary, used for disaster relief,” Chen Ji replied.

Jin Zhu’s face turned serious. He wasn’t foolish; he immediately grasped the crucial point. “There are over ten thousand refugees from Western Yu gathered outside the city, starving and ill-clad. If the granary is burned, and someone incites the refugees, they will likely immediately turn into bandits and storm Luocheng, looting and killing. If a civilian uprising occurs, both Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin’s careers will be ruined.”

A secret agent asked in confusion, “Master, the Luocheng Military Command isn’t useless. If there’s an uprising, they’ll immediately close the city gates and wait for official troops to suppress it. Failing to close the gates in time is a capital offense. No amount of money from the Liu family would matter then.”

“I suspect the West Gate has already been opened by the Liu family,” Jin Zhu said coldly.

No sooner had he spoken than several people, turning a corner on horseback, saw the West Gate standing wide open. The soldiers guarding the gate had all had their throats slit, their bodies sprawled on the ground. From a distance, Chen Ji could already see through the open gate throngs of refugees holding torches high, armed with rakes and wooden clubs, charging furiously towards Luocheng.

“Master, what do we do now?” a secret agent urgently asked.

Jin Zhu felt a surge of retreat. Whether Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin lost their posts, what did that have to do with him? What did it matter to him if these refugees stormed Luocheng to loot and kill? He wasn’t the local official responsible for the people.

Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji. “You and I have done our best today. It’s their civil officials’ infighting that has led to this huge mistake, and it has nothing to do with us. Anyway, your father doesn’t like you much, so his losing his post would just relieve your anger.”

Chen Ji reined in his horse and stood, his gaze beneath the bamboo hat silently fixed on the flames outside the city gate. An uneasy unrest seemed to stir outside the gate, as the torch flames flickered.

“If the refugees storm into the city, how many people will die?” Chen Ji asked.

Jin Zhu, seeing the flickering light in Chen Ji’s eyes, exclaimed in alarm, “What do you care how many die? These refugees can’t possibly harm Anxi Street. Chen Ji, tonight, let’s just pretend we were never here. As long as we don’t interfere, this matter has nothing to do with us. If we do interfere, even if it’s not our fault, those civil officials will blame us.”

No sooner had he spoken than Chen Ji crouched low in his saddle and galloped straight for the city gate. “Close the gate! Don’t let the refugees get in!”

The secret agents were startled and turned to look at Jin Zhu.

Jin Zhu watched Chen Ji’s retreating back and gritted his teeth. “Don’t mind him, let him die on his own.” But after several moments of agonizing hesitation, he sharply whipped his horse’s flank and snarled, “Damn it! Follow me to close the gate! I’ve had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to be stuck with someone like him!”

The group galloped to the city gate, seeing the refugees just a hundred paces away. The secret agents worked together to push the two massive red-lacquered city gates, slowly closing them. Only after securing the gates with the inner wooden beams did they finally breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Chen Ji and Jin Zhu walked up to the watchtower, looking down at the refugees below. Chen Ji held up a torch and shouted loudly, “Who dares trespass upon the city?”

From the dense crowd of torches below, someone roared, “The imperial court burned the granary for relief porridge! They don’t want us to live! Open the gate! We want to come in and beg for food!”

Jin Zhu frowned. “How can anyone believe such an outrageous rumor? Why would the imperial court burn your granary?”

“This matter must be instigated by treacherous villains! Do not believe the rumors!” Chen Ji yelled.

As his words fell, someone among the refugees shouted, “Don’t listen to what these dog officials say! They’re well-fed in the city and can talk all they want. Break down the gate!”

The next moment, Chen Ji narrowed his eyes and saw over thirty refugees in the darkness, carrying thick ropes on their shoulders, lifting a heavy wooden battering ram, and charging towards the city gate. They had come prepared.

With a thunderous crash, Chen Ji and Jin Zhu, standing on the watchtower, felt the earth shake. The entire city walls trembled, sending down a shower of rubble and dust.

“How long can the gate hold?” Chen Ji asked.

Jin Zhu’s scalp tingled. “I don’t know! I’ve never been to a border town; I’ve never seen a siege!”

Chen Ji observed for a moment. “This is bad. The city gate is old and in disrepair; it will probably be battered open soon.”

Jin Zhu glanced back at the dark, sprawling Luocheng behind him. “This time, the uprising will likely devastate tens of thousands of people.”

With that, after a moment of hesitation, he pulled a golden command arrow from his sleeve and held it high above his head. “By royal decree and token, it is as if His Majesty himself is present! I, Song Qian, am the Imperial Commissioner appointed by His Majesty, sent to tour the realm, to pacify the military and reassure the people. I am fully aware of the disaster in Western Yu and have already instructed Luocheng Prefect Master Zhang to open the granaries and distribute grain. Relief provisions will arrive momentarily!”

The refugees gradually stopped their shouts, looking up at the glittering golden royal token, momentarily wavering.

Chen Ji gave Jin Zhu a complicated look. Not a single truthful word came from the mouth of this Zodiac.

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, “It’s definitely fake! I’ve seen a real royal token, and it doesn’t look like that at all!”

Jin Zhu was so enraged he stamped his foot and cursed, “Bullshit! His Majesty personally handed this to me! How dare you call it fake? Who among you is inciting this uprising? The grain will be here momentarily. If it’s not here before dawn, I’ll open the gates myself and let you wreak havoc in the city!”

Another voice provoked, “Don’t trust him! He’s surely called for imperial troops to suppress us! I don’t believe the court will truly open the granaries!”

The refugees wavered between the provocations and the royal token, and Jin Zhu broke out in a frantic sweat. “Damn it, I’ve never handled anything like this! What do we do now?”

On the watchtower, the secret agents exchanged nervous glances, their hands tightly gripping their sword hilts, unsure of what to do.

Just as the refugees were about to resume battering the gate, Chen Ji suddenly shouted down to them, “I will come down and wait with you for Master Zhang to open the granaries and distribute food. If the grain isn’t here before dawn, you can kill me with a single strike!”

With that, he found a hemp rope from inside the watchtower and handed it to Jin Zhu. “Master, hold this end of the rope and lower me out of the city.”

Jin Zhu was horrified. “Are you out of your mind? Is it worth risking your life like this? There must be people from the Liu family down there inciting this uprising. What if they incite the refugees to kill you?”

Chen Ji thought for a moment. “The common people, as I know them, aren’t that bold, unless they’re starving to death. Otherwise, they wouldn’t rebel. Besides, Master Tianma has arrived.”

Jin Zhu whirled around and saw Tianma, clad in white, standing on the eaves of the watchtower, having appeared at some unknown moment. His heart suddenly felt much calmer.

Chen Ji solemnly instructed, “If anyone tries to kill me, they must be Liu family spies. Please, Master Tianma, shoot them down.”

“Wait, what if the grain doesn’t arrive?” Jin Zhu interjected. “Tianma can’t stop that many refugees.”

Chen Ji said calmly, “I’m betting Master Zhang can deliver the grain in time.”

Jin Zhu peered over the battlement and saw that the refugees did not swarm Chen Ji to kill him. Instead, they slowly retreated a few steps. The shouts and cries of battle abruptly ceased.

It was three quarters past midnight. On Guangji Street, over a dozen fast horses galloped, their hooves clattering sharply and clearly on the flagstone street. On horseback, the wind whipped Zhang Zhuo’s hair. He gripped the reins in his right hand, leaned low, and turned to Xifeng beside him. “Hey, who was that young man earlier?”

Xifeng replied cautiously, “Master Zhang, why do you ask?”

“None of you were masked, only he was. This official is just curious,” Zhang Zhuo said casually.

Xifeng explained, “His identity is special, and he fears retaliation from Jing Dynasty villains, which is why he has never shown his true face. Please do not ask any further, Master. This is classified information.”

Zhang Zhuo’s eyes glinted, and he changed the subject. “So, that young man offended the Jing Dynasty?”

Xifeng chuckled. “Offended them terribly. Because of him, the Jing Dynasty has lost many troops and generals.”

Zhang Zhuo looked thoughtful. After a moment, he asked again, “Is he your superior?”

Xifeng grumbled, “Not yet, but he should be soon. Master, why are you so curious about him?”

Zhang Zhuo gave a wry chuckle but said nothing.

An incense stick’s time later, the group arrived at the gate of the granary camp and reined in their horses. Soldiers in the camp, holding long iron halberds, came out to meet them. “Who comes here in the middle of the night?”

Zhang Zhuo dismounted. “I am Zhang Zhuo, Prefect of Luocheng. I need to requisition three hundred *dan* of grain from the granary for urgent relief. Stand aside quickly!”

However, the soldiers at the camp gate did not back down. They glanced back at the captain behind them, who remained expressionless, neither nodding, shaking his head, nor speaking a single word. The soldier stood with his halberd planted and turned to Zhang Zhuo. “Just because you wear a red official robe doesn’t mean you are Master Zhang. You could be a spy from the Jing Dynasty. Do you carry the official seal of the prefecture?”

Zhang Zhuo frowned. He was going to the Deer Cry Banquet tonight; how could he possibly have the prefectural seal with him? His gaze passed over the soldier to the captain behind him. Calmly, he said, “I have seen you, and you must have seen me. Step forward and speak.”

The captain placed his hand on his waist-saber and said blandly, “We are under the jurisdiction of the Luocheng Military Command. The granary is a vital military stronghold. To requisition from us, you need not only the prefect’s official seal but also General Liu’s personal tally.”

Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes. “What if I don’t have it?”

The captain replied calmly, “Then please return.”

Zhang Zhuo remained silent. What the other party said was standard procedure. In normal times, he could wait patiently, but not now. He turned his head and asked Xifeng in a low voice, “Is this grain absolutely necessary? Chen… does that young man have any other plans we can choose?”

“No,” Xifeng replied.

“Did he say what the consequences would be if we couldn’t get the grain?” Zhang Zhuo asked again.

Xifeng thought for a moment and replied, “He said the Liu family intends to drive both you and Master Chen out of Luocheng. If you can’t secure the grain, your official post will likely be jeopardized.”

“Damn it! I climbed all the way to this position with great difficulty,” Zhang Zhuo muttered. “The Liu family dares to mess with my official post?”

“The Liu family seems to have known someone would come for grain tonight. Even a petty captain dares to defy the prefect. But the more this happens, the more it proves that young man’s judgment was correct.”

The next moment, Zhang Zhuo walked straight towards the captain, commanding with an inherent authority despite his lack of anger, “Step aside.”

The captain raised an eyebrow, not taking him seriously, and stood firm like an iron tower, refusing to budge. Zhang Zhuo did not stop. When he reached the captain, he suddenly drew the saber from the captain’s waist and, with a backhand stroke, slit the captain’s throat. In an instant, blood from the captain’s neck spurted onto Zhang Zhuo’s crimson official robe, blooming into dark red spots.

Zhang Zhuo leaned on the saber and snarled, “I am Zhang Zhuo, Prefect of Luocheng. Due to the urgency of the situation, I am here to requisition grain by extraordinary means. Any who disobey will be treated as traitors!”

Xifeng’s eyes widened. It was the first time he had ever seen a civil official draw a knife and kill someone. Once he recovered from his shock, he immediately roared, “Protect Master Zhang!”