Chapter Nineteenth: Gathering In

  "The man below is a juggler who was kidnapped by thieves and has never killed anyone. It's really unjust!"

  "Pah! Who believes you? There's no water, drink your own piss!" The scoundrel sneered coldly and began to undo his pants to urinate.

  Just as Zhou Ping was about to step forward and stop him, a woman came forward, holding a bowl of water in her hand, which she placed beside Yang Wu. The onlookers couldn't help but murmur in surprise. However, the woman acted as if she hadn't heard them and loudly said to Yang Wu: "Although you are a thief, you also saved my life, Du Erniang. Now that you're in trouble, this bowl of water will serve as repayment for your kindness!"

  Zhou Ping listened clearly from the side, and he had also heard from the thief's mouth that Yang Wu had stopped the killing of women who were being robbed. He thought to himself that the leader of the thieves had done a good deed that day, and today he had received his reward. Although according to the law, he was bound to die, but at least he had suffered less.

  Zhou Ping was deep in thought when he suddenly heard a shout from behind: "Aping, the inspector is looking all over for you, but you're here watching the excitement. Hurry up and follow me back!"

  "Looking for me?" Zhou Ping turned his head and saw that it was a fellow villager: "Do you know what's going on?"

  "Han's family is inviting people for dinner tonight, hurry back!" His companion urged: "The patrol officer is urging us to hurry, it's like the beam is on fire!"

  Zhou Ping had to rush back to his post, and only then did he learn that someone from the Han family had come to invite people to a banquet. They only said it was in response to the capture of the thieves, but the signature on the invitation was that of Han Xiaoqi. Xue Liangchen was just a minor official, and when he received the invitation, he hastily called over his brothers to discuss it. After a brief discussion, they decided not only would several members of the Xue family attend, but also Zhou Ping, who had shot and wounded the leader of the thieves. If Lord Han were to ask about him and he was not there, it would be awkward. So, they first sent someone to call Zhou Ping back, then each person prepared a new set of clothes for the evening's banquet.

  It was already time for dinner, and Xue Liangchen's group changed into new clothes and arrived at the Dayu Hall to request an audience. The Han family opened a side door to welcome them. Under the guidance of the house servants, they passed through several courtyards and came to a bright hall outside, where the four Xue brothers went up to the hall, while Zhou Ping could only sit down in a small room on the side, with only a pot of cold tea waiting for him.

  Zhou Ping sat down with a huff, although he had mentally prepared himself for the treatment he would receive at the Han residence, but being treated so harshly was still beyond his expectations. Hadn't he just helped the Han family eliminate the bandits? Yet he was treated like this, not even given a cup of hot tea, and thrown into the ear house, he wasn't even as good as their household slaves.

  Zhou Pingzheng was sitting with a sullen face, when he suddenly heard the door creak open and saw someone walking in with a crutch. He looked up to see that it was Yue Fei.

  Yue Fei saw Zhou Ping, with a smile all over his face, put away his crutch and walked over to say: "Brother Zhou, I heard that the East House is hosting a banquet for the heroes who captured the thieves, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect you to be here too!"

  "Brother-in-law, please sit down. How's the wound on your leg?" Zhou Ping hurriedly helped Yue Fei sit down and bitterly smiled: "What heroes, it was just a coincidence. In the eyes of the nobles, we are nothing but falcons and hounds!"

  "It's already four or five points!" Yue Fei looked around at the setup and his expression changed slightly, saying: "It's really too much, Brother Zhou, wait a moment, I'll go out and come back right away!" After speaking, Yue Fei went out the door, and when he came back in a few minutes later, he had a tray in his hand with two sets of bowls and chopsticks, a large jug of wine, a plate of meat, and a plate of tofu. Yue Fei set out the bowls and chopsticks, smiling apologetically: "Brother Zhou, the person who let you in didn't know any better, treating you like a subordinate from the same profession - I've already scolded him, don't blame him!"

  "How dare I blame him, besides I was originally a tenant of the Xue family!" Zhou Ping smiled and picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, saying: "But it seems that Brother Yue is doing quite well in the Han family?"

  "Brother Zhou, what are you talking about!" Yue Fei's face turned slightly red. He poured a cup of wine for Zhou Ping and drank a full cup himself, saying: "It's just that after this incident, the master felt that the family's defenses were too weak, so he asked me to become an archery instructor and teach the servants in the household how to shoot arrows."

  "That's Instructor Yue!" Zhou Ping raised his wine cup and laughed: "Come on, kid, let's toast to Instructor Yue with a cup!"

  "Brother Zhou is indeed eloquent!" Yue Fei drained the cup of wine in one gulp: "If we talk about archery skills, you're not bad either? I heard that the bandit leader Yang Wu was injured by your arrow."

  "It just so happens!" Zhou Ping took a sip, looked at the young man in front of him who was already slightly flushed, and found it hard to imagine that this young peasant would become the revered Wu Mu Wang of later generations. He stirred in his heart and asked: "Brother Yue, what are your plans for the future?"

  "What's the plan from now on?" Yue Fei was taken aback, he had been poor since childhood and although he liked to drink, he rarely had the chance to do so. At this moment, after having a few cups, he was already feeling somewhat dizzy and subconsciously replied: "What else can I plan for? If only my mother and wife could also come here, our whole family living together in harmony would be great."

  "Ah-ha!" Zhou Ping nodded, already thinking of a plan in his mind. Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the door and loudly asked: "Is Zhou Xiaolao from Xuejiazhuang's Zhou family present?

  "Ah!" Zhou Ping stood up, pushed open the door, and saw a servant in green clothes glance at him and say: "My master wants to see you!" Without waiting for Zhou Ping's response, he turned around and walked towards the main hall. Zhou Ping gritted his teeth and followed after him.

  Two men went up to the hall, and saw a man in his thirties sitting at the top, with a relaxed smile on his plump and fair face, and three long beards under his chin, as was the custom of scholars at that time. A pair of bright and spirited eyes were looking over towards Zhou Ping. Zhou Ping guessed that this person should be the host of this banquet, Han Xiaochu, so he lifted up the front of his long gown according to etiquette, and bowed down to say: "Your humble servant pays respects to Lord Han!"

  "Hero, no need to bow!" Han Xiaoqu didn't show the usual arrogance of a scholar at this time. He stretched out his hand and supported himself slightly, waiting for Zhou Ping to stand up. With an appreciative gaze, he looked Zhou Ping up and down, admiring his tall stature and handsome appearance. Smiling, he said: "Indeed, you are a good fellow! If not, you wouldn't have been able to shoot the bandit leader! Someone, bring wine! I want to toast Zhou hero with a cup!"

  "Thank you, Minister Han!" Zhou Ping hastily took the wine cup and, after a polite bow, downed it in one gulp. Although he didn't know why this powerful and prestigious official was being so generous, he had made up his mind from the start: all the sugary cannonballs that came over would be eaten as sweets, and the cannonballs would be thrown back.

  "Good!" Han Xiao saw Zhou Ping had finished the cup of wine, made a gesture to let him sit down, and turned to Shen Heng, the county magistrate on his right: "Old parents, it seems that these brave men, except for Xue Xun, are all unranked officials, I wonder if there is any reward this time."

  Shen Heng was taken aback by the words, but soon reacted to the other's meaning. He was being asked if there were any official positions available in the county for the others. He couldn't help but feel annoyed, as these men were just ordinary martial artists who had only killed a few bandits. As the county magistrate, he might praise them in his report to the imperial court, but it was unclear how the higher-ups would respond. You, surnamed Han, are a prestigious official in charge of the Imperial Diary and a key figure in the Ministry of War, yet you ask me these questions in front of these martial artists - aren't you trying to embarrass me? Although he felt this way, Shen Heng didn't dare openly refute him, so he just smiled and said: "Please rest assured, Right Censor. I will certainly report the merits of these brave warriors in my memorial to the imperial court!"

  "That's great!" Han Xiao said with a smile: "This official has a fellow who is in the Ministry of Personnel, and he can say a few words about the selection of officials below the eighth rank. After this official returns to the capital, it will be easy to mention a word or two for several strong men, I think it's not difficult for Chengxin Lang and Baoyi Lang!"

  Han Xiaoqu's words came out, and the several brothers of the Xue family in the hall were suddenly filled with hot tears, kneeling on the ground. Zhou Ping hurriedly followed suit and knelt down as well. Xue Liangchen knocked his head twice and trembled with voice, saying: "Your Excellency is so generous to us, we really can't repay it even if we die!"

  Originally, during the Song Dynasty, there were accumulated problems from the Five Dynasties, and the official system was complicated and messy. Specifically, it was divided into Ben Guan (officials with salaries), Zhí Shì Guān ( officials with specific duties) and Chāi Qiǎn (temporary officials). The so-called Ben Guan refers to the official rank of an official, which determines the amount of salary the official receives.

  Zhí Shì Guān and Chāi Qiǎn refer to the specific duties and work of the official. After the Yuanfeng reform, military officials were divided into 52 ranks from Taī Wèi (General-in-Chief) to Chéng Xìn Láng (Chancellor), with Chéng Xìn Láng being a ninth-grade official and Bǎo Yì Láng being a regular ninth-grade official.

  These people were originally just archers in the countryside, not even A-level or Gongju (military officials during the Song Dynasty). Suddenly, they could be listed among the low-ranking officials, which can be said to be a meteoric rise. At that time, the Northern Song military officials had not yet been promiscuously appointed, and for these people, it was extremely attractive.

  "Get up, you are all talented and familiar with bows and horses. I recommend you to the country, it's a good thing! " Han Xiaoqu made a gesture, indicating that they should get up, pointing to Shen Heng who had a few embarrassed expressions on his face, and smiled: "You don't have to thank me, if my father hadn't recommended you in the imperial examination, I wouldn't be able to pass it either!"

  The Xue brothers finally realized that they had just neglected the county magistrate, and hurriedly turned around to kowtow to Shen Heng again. Zhou Ping followed behind, bowing his head and thinking to himself: "This Han Xiaoqi is clearly trying to buy people's hearts with his actions. Although the Xue brothers helped him clean up those bandits, he is a high-ranking official in charge of personnel matters, a noble person at the center of power. With such a huge difference in status, it would be enough for him to just have a clansman offer them a few cups of wine at a banquet. Why did he have to go to so much trouble? Could it be that this guy is also a time-traveler like me, knowing that the Song Dynasty will face war and disaster in a few years, and trying to buy off the Xue brothers who are skilled archers?" This was just too far-fetched.

  Zhou Ping was lost in thought when he heard Han Xiao's laughter: "I received a letter from Bianliang two days ago, and it said that I would be part of the delegation to Liao State this time. I've heard that the border has been quite unstable these past few years, so I wanted to bring two skilled archers as guards. Originally, Tian Kui in my household is good at shooting a bow, but unfortunately, his arrow wound hasn't healed yet..." Han Xiao sighed and looked troubled.