Volume One: Menial Servant of Changshui County Chapter Thirty-Two: The Zhang Family Tyrant

This ordeal must be overcome—and swiftly, lest hidden troubles breed.

Lu Jiuzhang stood with his blade in hand, his voice thunderous as he rebuked the advisor. “Though we of the Demon-Slaying Bureau may be mere menial workers, we are still official agents who have shed blood and sweat for the peace of Changshui County. Even putting myself aside, just days ago, when we eradicated demons outside the city, our bureau lost nearly ten brothers. Lord Zhou Cheng, a ninth-rank Demon-Slaying Guard, even lost an arm!”

“Yet now, when we are bullied, is this how the county office chooses to dismiss us?”

Alone, Lu Jiuzhang sounded as if he spoke for a hundred men.

When the advisor appeared moments before, Wang Yunshan and the others had already begun to waver. The advisor, though without an official rank, was a favorite of the county magistrate, whose authority surpassed even that of the Demon-Slaying Bureau’s director. It was akin to Lu Jiuzhang raising his voice to the director’s most trusted confidant.

How could Wang Yunshan and his fellows dare such a thing?

But with Lu Jiuzhang’s words ringing in their ears, the menial workers of the Demon-Slaying Bureau could not bring themselves to retreat. They could only straighten their backs.

Upon reflection, his argument was sound. The Demon-Slaying Bureau had indeed made tremendous sacrifices for the county’s safety.

“It is not that I wish to dismiss you, but—” the advisor began to defend himself, only for Lu Jiuzhang to cut him off. “If you are not brushing us aside, then what is this? We, the menials of the Demon-Slaying Bureau, are we versed in drafting petitions?”

“If you will not stand up for us, and instead hinder us, is this the role of an advisor?”

After this barrage, the advisor was left speechless.

“Wait here a while. I shall inform the county magistrate.”

Though the advisor was displeased at being berated, he swallowed his annoyance and headed inside to report.

What was said between him and the county magistrate no one knew, but after roughly the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, a servant emerged to announce that the magistrate would hold court.

Lu Jiuzhang strode in at the fore, with Wang Yunshan and the rest following close behind.

Entering the main hall of the county office, they found Magistrate Wang already seated on the grand armchair. He was tall and thin, his features sparse and severe. Before him lay a pearwood desk, with a wooden gavel on the left, several brushes and an inkstone on the right.

“Court is in session!” Magistrate Wang’s voice rang out.

The menials lining the hall stood with staves in hand, murmuring “All hail the law.”

With a sharp crack, Magistrate Wang struck the gavel.

“Who stands below?”

“Lu Jiuzhang, menial of the Demon-Slaying Bureau!”

“What grievance do you bring?”

“Your honor, I was at Rouge Pavilion with my younger sister, purchasing rouge. Having paid, a local bully snatched it away. Worse, he then dared to insult my sister’s honor.”

“And who is this bully?” Magistrate Wang’s impatience was already apparent.

He had expected a weighty matter, only to find it was merely a case of a bully harassing a young woman. Such cases were easily resolved—an opportunity to do the Demon-Slaying Bureau a favor by giving the bully a lesson and moving on.

“Your honor, this bully’s status is somewhat unique; he has connections in Changshui County—” Lu Jiuzhang began, laying his trap for the magistrate.

“Connections? In my county, the law is sovereign. Speak his name—I will see justice done!” Magistrate Wang declared.

With dozens, nearly a hundred menials of the Demon-Slaying Bureau present as witnesses, the magistrate’s promise would not be easily retracted.

“Your honor, the culprit is none other than the young master of the Zhang family to the north of the city.”

As soon as Lu Jiuzhang spoke, the menials behind him fell into panic and whispered among themselves.

“Good heavens, Brother Lu has crossed the Zhang family’s young master?”

“Is he out of his mind? That young master calls Magistrate Wang uncle! To accuse him in court is courting death!”

“Brother Lu, you’ve doomed us. Who knows if the Zhang young master will hold a grudge and seek revenge after this!”

Regret gnawed at the Demon-Slaying Bureau’s menials for joining this ruckus.

Lu Jiuzhang, however, remained calm. He had foreseen this. Yet he had no choice—he needed the weight of these men to force Magistrate Wang to make his nephew admit his guilt and accept punishment.

With another resounding crack of the gavel, Magistrate Wang roared, “Silence!”

The hall fell quiet once more.

“Are you certain it was the Zhang family’s young master from the north of the city?” he pressed.

“Absolutely certain.”

“Guards! Summon Zhang Taihe of the northern Zhang family!” Magistrate Wang ordered.

“Yes, sir!” A menial hurried off to fetch the infamous bully.

This was the first time Lu Jiuzhang learned the full name of the Zhang family’s notorious scoundrel: Zhang Taihe.

What a fine name, wasted on such a man.

…

After a while, outside the county office.

A menial led the way, followed by two servants in coarse hemp robes. The two servants carried a stretcher between them, upon which lay none other than Zhang Taihe, the infamous bully.

Lu Jiuzhang had indeed struck hard earlier, but not this hard. Apparently, Zhang Taihe was so pampered and unused to hardship that a couple of punches had reduced him to this pitiful state.

“Uncle, you must do something for me!” Zhang Taihe wailed as soon as he entered.

“Uncle, my mother has only me. If I am crippled, our family line ends with me!”

“Uncle, I’m suffering…”

On and on he bawled, a spectacle none present had ever witnessed. The infamous scoundrel, who had long tyrannized the county, now reduced to tears before them. The menials of the Demon-Slaying Bureau could not help but snicker.

“Silence!” Magistrate Wang banged his gavel, glaring at the menials before turning his gaze to Zhang Taihe. “In this court, there are no uncles—address me as Magistrate Wang!”

“Uncle—” Zhang Taihe began pitifully, but at a stern look from the magistrate, he changed his plea at once. “Magistrate Wang, you must seek justice for your humble subject!”

“Zhang Taihe, you stand accused by Lu Jiuzhang, menial of the Demon-Slaying Bureau, of insulting his younger sister’s honor. How do you answer?” Magistrate Wang inquired.

“Innocent, Magistrate Wang! I did no such thing—I merely went to take something, and he beat me for it. I am the victim here!” Zhang Taihe protested.

“Lu Jiuzhang, Zhang Taihe denies the charge. Do you have evidence?” the magistrate asked.

“Does this even require evidence? Who in Changshui County does not know the young master’s character?” Lu Jiuzhang sneered. “Does Magistrate Wang know that there are three scourges in Changshui County: the tiger demon at the watershed beyond the city, the great flood-dragon in the Qianyou River, and within the city, the Zhang family’s infamous young master.”

“Magistrate Wang, you are known for your integrity and have rendered great service to this county, handling countless cases year after year,” Lu Jiuzhang began, first offering a word of praise, then suddenly shifting his tone. “But have you ever considered that you might be deceived by your own nephew?”