Chapter Forty-One: Most Wanted Criminal

This street confrontation ultimately ended with Wu Da and the other two men escorting Old Wu into the county yamen. Just as Jiang Chen had previously predicted, the three men, each with a straight sword at their waist, came from the Great Qian military camp—the mere mention of their ranks was enough to scare the county magistrate out of his wits, even if he were awakened from a deep sleep.

When had such high-ranking military officers ever visited a remote town like this? The small county yamen was instantly thrown into unprecedented tension. Half an hour later, the yamen runners began to post wanted notices all over town. The face on the portrait was none other than Han Yuyang, the man who had recently crossed paths with Jiang Chen.

The proclamation beside the image stated that Han Yuyang had attempted to assassinate a commanding general, plunging the army into chaos at their station. The enemy forces, seizing the opportunity, invaded unopposed; the Great Qian army collapsed without a fight, losing seven cities in three days, with countless casualties.

In short, according to this account, Han Yuyang was the chief culprit of all these calamities.

If any of it were true, even if Han Yuyang were executed by a thousand cuts hundreds of times, it would hardly quench the hatred burning in the hearts of the Great Qian people. Assassinating a general and inciting internal strife—every inch of lost territory was soaked in the blood of soldiers. There was no room for negotiation, and it was no exaggeration to say that “all are justified in wishing him dead.”

But then again, could Wu Da and his companions' news be taken as absolute truth? Was it real? Jiang Chen now leaned toward doubting it. Though he had no evidence to prove Han Yuyang’s innocence, this was a time he preferred to trust his instincts.

Moreover, he knew Old Wu felt the same.

“What should we do now? We can’t just sit here and wait. Who knows what those bastards will do to my father?” Wu Qingshan paced anxiously in front of the yamen, unable to calm himself with his father trapped inside.

Jiang Chen said, “Don’t panic. The more critical the moment, the more you must keep your composure.”

“But Jiang Chen, those bastards have swords—how am I supposed to stay calm?” Wu Qingshan’s agitation only grew, a sign that his inner turmoil had reached its peak. Jiang Chen, however, could not let himself be swayed by such emotions. For now, he was the only one who could devise a way to help Old Wu.

“Are you planning to storm the yamen right now?”

Jiang Chen shot Wu Qingshan a stern look. In his younger brother-in-law’s eyes, Jiang Chen still commanded enough authority to prevent him from doing anything truly reckless.

After a moment, Tang Yong exited the yamen and brought Jiang Chen the latest news.

“That Wu Da fellow is a Yellow Gate Captain of the Border Garrison; the other two are Captains from the Inspectorate. All of them are big shots. They’re saying Old Wu is suspected of harboring a wanted criminal and are about to subject him to severe torture!”

“What! That’s outrageous—my father is nearly seventy, how could he withstand such cruelty? Besides, he never harbored any fugitive!” Wu Qingshan was beside himself with anxiety, and Tang Yong could only sympathize.

They had all lived together in this small town for years. Old Wu had always been known as an honest, law-abiding man. He ran his butcher’s shop with integrity, never cheating anyone, and never quibbled over trivial sums of money.

To accuse such a man of sheltering a wanted criminal was utterly absurd.

But when someone with authority makes such an accusation, it becomes fact. Even the county magistrate dared not breathe a word in protest before them. Tang Yong could only express his regrets.

“Qingshan, Jiang Chen, I think the key is whether that wanted criminal ever came to Shanguan Town. If we can convince these three officers that we have nothing to do with the fugitive, they should let Old Wu go.”

Though Tang Yong spoke with hope, Jiang Chen knew the truth was not so simple.

Han Yuyang had indeed been here, and Old Wu had indeed sheltered him, however briefly. These were undeniable facts.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Chen asked, “Is there a way for me to see Old Wu?”

Tang Yong replied, “The county magistrate is about to host a banquet for the three officers. I might be able to sneak you in while they’re distracted. But I can only get one person inside, and you’ll need to be quick.”

Jiang Chen nodded his agreement.

Soon after, Tang Yong led Jiang Chen into the county jail, gave him a few brief instructions, and then left to wait outside.

“I saw it all that day, in the thatched hut…”

Upon seeing Old Wu, Jiang Chen spoke candidly. He knew this was no time for secrets—both he and Old Wu had to be completely honest if they hoped to find a way out.

“So that’s how it is. But how did those three scoundrels trace it here?”

Old Wu wore a gentle, indifferent smile, as if what was happening to him was of no consequence.

Jiang Chen asked, perplexed, “What is your connection to Han Yuyang? Why would you risk so much for him?”

“It’s better if you don’t know. There’s no need for you to be dragged into an old man’s obsession, and ruin Yue’er’s happiness for life.”

Only when mentioning his daughter did Old Wu’s eyes reveal a fleeting trace of reluctance, but the emotion vanished almost instantly, as if he considered such weakness something to be quickly erased.

“That day, I gave Han Yuyang fifty taels of silver. He said he would cross Ziyang and head to Longjiang. I was already implicated, so it’s best you tell me the truth. In fact, I’m the one who helped a fugitive escape.”

Old Wu looked at Jiang Chen in surprise. The frail scholar of the past had vanished, replaced by a courageous and resourceful young man.

“Tell me, why did you help him?” Old Wu’s gaze was piercing; the answer clearly mattered deeply to him.

Jiang Chen replied, “He once saved me from a bandit’s blade. Whether or not he’s committed those crimes, I trust only what I’ve seen with my own eyes, not the proclamations of officials.”

At this, Old Wu’s expression softened, a relieved and almost joyful smile lighting his face. Jiang Chen’s answer had set his mind at ease.

Then, he began to answer Jiang Chen’s first question. “Though you grew up in this remote little town, you must have heard of the Iron Cavalry of Qishan?”

Jiang Chen answered solemnly, “At the founding of Great Qian, it was the Iron Cavalry of Qishan who swept the land with unmatched might, their fierce valor forging the peace and prosperity that has lasted nearly a century.”

“You could say the Iron Cavalry is the very symbol of Great Qian’s military strength, the pride of every citizen.”

At this, Old Wu’s eyes filled with tears, and his gaze seemed to drift far away, toward the distant Qishan.