Chapter Twenty: Beating the Drum to Cry Out Against Injustice

  Zhang's steward, Zhang Jin, was startled and quickly went to fetch some incense, which he placed under Old Master Zhang's nose. After taking a deep breath of the fragrance, Old Master Zhang regained his senses. However, what replaced it was intense anger. He fiercely pounded the ground with his cane and growled: "Who, who is so bold as to ride roughshod over my Zhang family?"

  The gatekeeper was so frightened that he didn't dare breathe a word. Manager Zhang comforted him, saying: "Don't be afraid, tell everything you know."

  "It's County Chief Xu Chang and his son."

  "It's them again!" Zhang Tai Gong was thoroughly enraged. In the past, only the Zhang family had bullied others, but never had anyone dared to bully them on their own turf in Qiantang. This Xu father and son were originally going to be dealt with by the Zhang family, but unexpectedly they came knocking on their door.

  "What are you all still stunned for? Quick, quick, gather people, immediately smash that whatever righteous hall of theirs! As for those two Xu father and son, give them a good beating from me, beat them to death! They're just two lowly officials, if we really get into trouble with the law, I naturally have ways to deal with it."

  When Zhang Tai Gong said this, he also had the confidence to do so. The Zhang family was deeply rooted and was the leader of the wealthy and noble families, representing the interests of all the scholars and officials in Qiantang. Now that someone has bullied them, if they don't give a severe counterattack, where would they put their face?

  The gatekeeper didn't even move, and Manager Zhang felt that things had gone too far. However, he didn't dare to speak out under Taigong's furious gaze.

  "What's wrong? Are you going to turn the sky upside down? Go quickly."

  Menzi said: "I'm afraid there aren't enough people in the mansion, unless we ask the tenant farmers from various places to lend a hand. The righteous village outside has many people who have been won over by Xu's father and son, and... moreover, even Wang Gonggong had someone send a plaque with the inscription 'Virtuous and Benevolent, Bringing Salvation to the World'."

  Old Master Zhang took in a breath of cold air upon hearing this.

  If it's seen this way, then Wang Gonggong and Xu Jia's father-son relationship is indeed not shallow.

  Just now he had already given his word, but now he wanted to save face and take it back, so Zhang Taigong just coldly snorted repeatedly.

  Zhang Jin took the opportunity to say: "Sir, actually, it's not necessary to go through so much trouble to capture these two. Some time ago, the county magistrate wanted the gentry to donate money to rebuild the county school, but you didn't agree. Now that the county magistrate is asking for your help, why don't you take this opportunity to go to the county government office and ask the parents of the county to make a fair decision?"

  Zhang Tai Gong also thought it was reasonable to have a step down, he is a local tyrant, the county government will definitely be biased towards this side, and Xu's father and son opened the righteous house at their own door, the reason is on Zhang's side.

  With his mind made up, Zhang Taigong said in a deep voice: "Prepare the sedan chair."

  A sedan chair quietly emerged from the Zhang family home. Mr. Zhang, sitting inside, saw the crowds of people gathered in front of the gate and clearly heard the mournful music. He felt a surge of annoyance and pulled down the curtain, leaning back against the soft cushion at the rear of the sedan chair. He calmed himself, sneering inwardly: "Let's see how long these petty clowns can keep up their arrogant act." Then he closed his eyes, pretending to doze off, but in reality, his heart remained unsettled for a long time.

  A lowly character, unexpectedly also wants to step on the Zhang family's head. Now even if the Zhang family can slap them to death, it's likely that this side won't look too good either. He even felt a bit regretful in his heart, knowing that he should have dealt with these two father and son earlier. In the end, it was still because of his own excessive caution.

  The sedan chair fell in front of the county government office after a stick of incense had been lit.

  Today is not the day for Chen's petition, and if you want to file a complaint, it's not as simple as just handing it over whenever you feel like it. The government offices have rules and regulations, with specific times when you can come and times when you cannot.

  Obviously, Zhang Tai Gong was not very clever today. However, since the Zhang family had come to file a complaint, they didn't need to follow etiquette. Zhang Tai Gong got out of his sedan chair and glanced at the county government office with its eight-character inscription. He simply nodded coldly at the attendants and slowly said, "Beat the drum."

  Beating drums to proclaim grievances, however, is not a trivial matter. According to the clear laws and regulations, unless it involves an astonishing injustice or a case of homicide, ordinary people are not allowed to beat drums to proclaim grievances; otherwise, they will be punished with at least a few blows from a wooden board.

  But since Zhang Taigong had spoken, the people naturally didn't stand on ceremony either, and without hesitation walked to the front of the yamen and started banging away at the drum for reporting grievances.

  The county government was shaken.

  Qiantang County Magistrate Su, with a single surname and a single character name, had not been in office for long. Today was not a day for hearing cases, so he was currently in the flower hall of the rear courtyard drinking tea and cultivating his nature. Suddenly, he heard this drumbeat, and his face immediately fell.

  It should be known that whenever someone beats the drum, it means there is a huge injustice. The officials naturally do not want any shocking injustices to occur under their rule, otherwise wouldn't it just prove that they had been neglectful in their governance? So whether the case is solved or not, it's still considered a stain. The Ming Code is very strict regarding drumming for justice, and ordinary people don't dare to take such actions lightly. County Magistrate Su has been in office for over five months, and there hasn't been any incident of drumming for justice until today when he unexpectedly encountered one.

  His complexion was not good-looking, but he couldn't be slow, so he quickly tidied up his clothes and ordered someone to ascend the hall.

  A loud shout was heard, and two lines of attendants holding water-fire clubs gave a warning to the people. The magistrate of Suzhou County, sitting high above the mirror and under the signboard, remained unmoved and expressionless. He struck the wooden block with a bang: "Bring the man up for questioning."

  Originally thought the object of this injustice would be a rustic foolish woman, but unexpectedly, it was Zhang Taigong, wearing a round-collared silk satin robe, who came in boldly. Zhang Taigong entered with his staff, slightly trembling as he paid respects to County Magistrate Su, saying: "Zhang Zheng, the governor of the lower people, has seen your esteemed father and mother."

  Magistrate Su looked closely, but did not recognize Old Man Zhang. However, Huang Shiye, who was standing on the side, recognized him and quickly reminded Magistrate Su in a low voice. Magistrate Su suddenly came to his senses, forced a smile, and said warmly to Old Man Zhang: "So it's Old Zhang. This county has long heard of your great name. Come, I'll have you take a seat."

  This is the difference between commoners and gentry, although they are all subjects of governance, but the gentry have the privilege of speaking with officials on an equal footing, not to mention that the Zhang family is influential in Qiantang County, and the county magistrate wants to implement policies and avoid any trouble in his own jurisdiction, he must rely heavily on people like them.

  Even if it is the Son of Heaven, it is also declared to the outside world that it will govern the world together with the scholars and officials. This scholar-official does not necessarily refer to government officials alone, but also includes wealthy and powerful individuals like Zhang Taigong.

  Zhang Taigong nodded slightly and bowed his head slightly to Su County Magistrate before taking his seat.

  The county magistrate was actually dissatisfied with Zhang Taigong in his heart. What grievances could a scholar-official like you have? You even came to beat the drum, which is somewhat embarrassing for me, but at this time he couldn't care about it and smiled: "Zhang Gong beats the drum to complain, I don't know who to tell, what's the matter?"

  "Your humble servant, Zhang Taigong, states that he is lodging a complaint against Xu Chang, the leader of the county's public works, and his son Xu Qian. These two men have no regard for the law or social norms, and they have been bullying the common people in our village for some time. Recently, my young son had a run-in with Xu Qian, who beat him so badly that he nearly lost his life. Today, seeing that I am an easy target, Xu Chang is playing mourning music outside my house and setting up a coffin, trying to intimidate me. I have come to lodge this complaint against them, and I beg of you, honorable parents, to uphold justice for me and the good people of Qiantang."

  Zhang Taigong is going to sue anyway, so he might as well make it a serious case.

  The county magistrate's eyes flashed, but he didn't reveal his expression. In fact, he couldn't see that this matter was necessarily as bad as Zhang Tai Gong said. After all, with Zhang Tai Gong's family background, ordinary people wouldn't dare to provoke him. If one had to determine who the villain was, it was more likely to be the Zhang family.

  However, Zhang Tai openly said that if he had any doubts, he would have to lose face in front of the Zhang family, and in order to keep his position safe, he couldn't afford to offend the Zhang family.

  There was also Huang Shiyeh, who stood by listening to the verdict. As soon as he heard that Zhang Taigong was going to sue Xu's father and son, he immediately remembered the dinner invitation from Xu's father and son a few days ago. Although eating is just eating, Huang Shiyeh was "clearly distinguishing between public and private matters". He didn't necessarily have the intention of adding insult to injury, but it was absolutely impossible for him to speak up for Xu's father and son. Huang Shiyeh even thought darkly in his heart: "This pair of father and son are indeed not good people, today they deserve their bad luck."

  The county magistrate 'was furious', of course, this fury was for Zhang Tai Gong to see. He slammed the shock-absorbing wood in his hand and shouted loudly: "Is there such a reason? The county has come up with such a pair of madmen, do they think that under my jurisdiction it is a place where law does not exist? Come on, immediately arrest Xu's father and son, no mistake."

  After finishing speaking, he threw away the arrest warrant, and a duty officer hastily picked it up and quickly left.