Han Ji

Chapter 135 I'm not pretending anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table.

There were only two people in the tent, the candlelight flickering. Liu Bei sat behind the table, while Yang Song knelt before it, his legs trembling.

"Lord Yang," Liu Bei said calmly, "you've worked hard regarding the rumors."

Yang Song touched his forehead to the ground: "Commander, please understand! I was confused for a moment and was coerced by Su Gu..."

"I don't blame you." Liu Bei took out a scroll of silk from under the table, unfolded it, and said, "This is the confession of your retainer, Hu, which is signed. He said that you instructed him to spread rumors and promised him a hundred gold pieces."

Yang Song collapsed.

"And another thing," Liu Bei said, taking out another scroll, "is a copy of your accounts from last year for smuggling government salt. The people involved, the amounts, and the distribution of the spoils are all clearly written down. According to the law, you should be executed."

Yang Song kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Captain, spare my life! Captain, spare my life!"

Liu Bei leaned down, his voice low and cold: "I won't kill you."

Yang Song looked up, tears streaming down his face.

"But from now on," Liu Bei stared at him, "your ears will listen to the officials in the prefecture, and your mouth... will say what I tell you to say. Whatever Su Gu tells you to do, you will do it, but after you've done it, report back to me without missing a single word. Understand?"

"Understood! Understood!"

"If even a single word is false, or if it is secretly reported to Su Gu..." Liu Bei pointed to the two scrolls of silk, "these will appear on Xi Jian's desk, and in the Censorate of Chang'an. Will your entire Yang family, nine generations, be enough to atone for that?"

Yang Song prostrated himself on the ground: "This humble official swears to serve the Commandant to the death!"

Liu Bei stood up: "Go. Remember, you weren't here tonight."

Yang Song staggered out. The curtain fell, and Liu Bei sat alone before the candle, locking the two scrolls of silk into an iron box.

Xun Cai emerged from behind the screen and whispered, "Husband, this man is fickle; can he be trusted?"

"He's not trustworthy," Liu Bei said. "But he's afraid of death. People who are afraid of death are the best to use."

He blew out the candle: "Go to sleep..."

Outside the tent, the July night wind was hot and dry.

In Nanzheng City, Yang Song jogged all the way back to his residence, closed the door, bolted it, and collapsed into a chair, panting.

When the butler came to ask, he waved his hand and said, "Get out! I won't see anyone!"

He sat alone in the darkness, his clothes soaked with sweat.

"Liu Xuande..." he murmured, "You're more ruthless than Su Gu. Su Gu wanted money, you wanted your life."

He suddenly laughed, and tears streamed down his face.

"Forget it, forget it... What difference does it make who I follow? At least you... are much better than Su Gu."

Outside the window, the night watchman's clapper sounded.

It's past midnight.

That night, Liu Bei summoned Li Hui for a private talk.

Under the candlelight, Li Hui presented three scrolls of silk.

"This is a copy of the secret ledgers that the clerk has copied over the years. It contains evidence of Su Gu's crimes, such as embezzling grain taxes, selling official salt privately, and altering criminal cases." He pointed to the first volume, "This volume specifically records Su Gu's bribes: 800 catties of gold, 200 bolts of Shu brocade, and 30 pieces of antique jade, which were delivered in five installments."

Liu Bei unfolded it and examined it closely. The time, the people involved, and the handover location were all clearly listed.

"And another thing," Li Hui pushed the second volume forward, "is the account book of the salt bandits' dealings with the prefectural government. Bandit leaders like Zhao Heihu and Scarface Wolf paid fixed tributes to Su every year in exchange for his leniency. Wang Chun was the middleman."

Volume Three contains Wang Chun's confession, which is signed and details how Chen Lu instructed the salt-burning carts.

Three volumes of evidence, irrefutable proof.

Liu Bei closed the silk scroll: "Li Hui, if these are handed over, Su Gu and his entire clan will be executed."

Li Hui knelt down: "This humble official only begs the Commandant to rid Hanzhong of this parasite!"

"It's easy to remove him," Liu Bei helped him up. "But if we do, Hanzhong will be in chaos. Most of the officials in the prefecture were promoted by Su Gu, and many powerful families have ties to him. If we touch him, everyone will be in danger and fear something untoward will happen."

"That..."

Liu Bei looked towards the prefect's residence, "Let him... give it up himself."

On September 12th, Liu Bei, carrying three scrolls of silk, entered the governor's mansion alone.

Su Gu was practicing calligraphy in his study, writing a line from the Book of Songs: "Nothing is without a beginning, but few things have an end." His strokes were still vigorous, but his hand trembled slightly.

"Xuande has arrived?" He put down his pen. "Sit."

Liu Bei did not sit down, but placed the three scrolls of silk on the table.

"Lord Su, please take a look."

Su Gu opened the first volume, scanned a few lines, and his expression changed. He flipped through it quickly, his hands trembling more and more as he read, and when he turned to the page about bribery, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"This...this is a frame-up!"

"Volume Two," Liu Bei said calmly.

Su Gu opened the book; it was the salt bandits' ledger. He stared at Wang Chun's name, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Volume Three.

Wang Chun's confession was signed with his bright red seal.

The study was deathly silent. Only Su Gu's heavy breathing could be heard.

After a long silence, he looked up, his eyes bloodshot: "What do you want?"

"Two paths," Liu Bei said, his voice low but each word clear. "One: I will send these directly to Luoyang. The evidence against Su Gong is not enough to warrant the extermination of his entire clan."

Su Gu leaned on the table, his knuckles turning white.

"Second: Lord Su will claim illness and take a leave of absence, and I will take over the administration of the prefecture. Twenty percent of the salt profits will remain with Lord Su, and his land holdings will remain untouched. I will ensure his wealth, safety, and peaceful death in Hanzhong."

"You..." Su Gu gritted his teeth, "You're forcing me!"

"It's a deal." Liu Bei looked directly at him. "I'll exchange Su Gong's power and position for the lives of Su Gong's entire family, and for a peaceful transition in Hanzhong."

He paused for a moment: "Lord Su managed Hanzhong for eight years. Even if he didn't achieve great things, he still made contributions. When the Yellow Turbans were being suppressed, you stabilized the rear and supplied provisions. I remember your contributions. If I hadn't been forced to, I wouldn't have chosen the first route."

Su Gu slumped into his chair, staring at the three scrolls of silk, and suddenly laughed, laughing until tears streamed down his face.

"Good... good indeed, Liu Bei. I should have known sooner that Li Hui was one of your men... and Wang Chun had already sided with you long ago."

He wiped his face: "What do you want me to do?"

"Three days later, at the prefectural council, Lord Su will publicly announce that his health is failing and request Commandant Liu to assist in managing the prefectural affairs. I will draft a list of personnel adjustments for your review," Liu Bei said. "After this, Lord Su will recuperate quietly in his residence. All his living expenses will continue to be provided according to the regulations for a prefect."

Su Gu remained silent for a long time before waving his hand: "Three days... Let me think about it."

"I hereby take my leave."

When Liu Bei left his study, the sun was setting. The afterglow shone through the pillars and cast a long shadow on his back.

Su Gu sat alone in the dim light, looking at the three scrolls of silk on the table.

He reached out, intending to tear it, but then stopped.

"Liu Xuande..." he murmured, "You're more ruthless than Xi Jian. Xi Jian wanted money, but you want... the entire Hanzhong."

The evening drum sounds outside the window.

Boom, boom, boom.

Like a death knell, yet also like a new beginning.

After Liu Bei left, Su Gu sat in his study until late at night.

Three scrolls of silk lay spread out on the table, the candlelight flickering, casting the words on and off. He stared at the page about accepting bribes for a long time, then suddenly reached out to tear it, but stopped when his fingertips touched the silk.

What's the point of tearing it up? If Liu Bei dared to take it, he must have a copy.

He leaned back, the chair back icy cold. Outside the window, the autumn wind swept through the trees, the leaves rustling like countless people whispering secrets.

"Chen Lun," he called.

Chen Lun entered from outside and stood with his hands at his sides. In the candlelight, his face was ashen, and his eyes darted around.

"Those three scrolls," Su Gu pointed to the table, "have you looked at them?"

Chen Lun's legs went weak, and he knelt down: "Prefect... this humble official... this humble official dares not..."

"You dare not?" Su Gu laughed. "Is it that you dare not look, or that you've already seen it?"

Chen Lun touched his forehead to the ground: "Your Excellency is wise! I am utterly loyal to you..."