Chapter 247: Disaster (IV)

A brawl that erupted at Xiaoyingzhou didn't last long.

When news of the commotion reached the main boat, Governor Lu was still discussing the situation around Hangzhou with a group of scholar friends. At forty-seven, he was in the prime of his life and career, at the golden age for officialdom. Now serving as governor of a prosperous region like Hangzhou, his future would be limitless as long as he made no major mistakes during this tenure.

Currently, Fang La's rebellion was causing trouble in the southwestern part of Hangzhou Prefecture, but for Lu Tuizhi, it wasn't a significant problem. Hangzhou was a major trade hub, and its water transport routes were specifically guarded by the Wude Army, ensuring that even severe banditry would be kept outside their gates.

However, for those who had not left Hangzhou Prefecture for a long time and had never encountered danger, the Fang La rebellion was not as calm as they imagined. Many prefectures and counties in southwestern Hangzhou had already been swept up, with slogans of "equalizing wealth and land" and "killing officials and revolting," leading to widespread famine and countless corpses due to the collapse of order. These were things unimaginable to those comfortably residing in Hangzhou. While Lu Tuizhi and a few others present certainly had some information, they naturally didn't need to elaborate too much to the others.

At this time, concerning the Fang La uprising in the Jiangnan region, the Wuwei Army commanded by Chen Shisheng was in the south, and Kang Fangting's Wuzhou Army was in the north, while the Wude Army blocked their eastern path in Hangzhou. At least, in the view of most people, the spread of banditry was under control. The most important matter now was the impending war with the Jin and Liao states, and a prevailing sentiment of eager readiness for war domestically. As long as Lu Tuizhi secured the water transport of grain after July, ensuring no domestic worries, then the eternal legacy of deciding the fate of Yan and Yun in a single battle on a future day would surely include his contribution.

"...Therefore, when Kang Fangting deployed troops at the beginning of the year, Fang La and his ilk fled at the mere sight of them. Although this problem is not insignificant, there are indeed few real concerns. However, for important matters around the autumn harvest, I will need all of your assistance..." As Lu Tuizhi spoke, a soldier entered and reported the commotion that had occurred below. This initial report was simple: a live-in son-in-law, caught flirting with a maid, had then assaulted and injured people, injuring more than ten scholars. The most important piece of news was that the Lou family's second son, Lou Shuheng, had also been beaten and thrown into the lake.

"Such a madman exists?" Lu Tuizhi, a calm and steady person, slapped the nearby tea table and furrowed his brow. "Who is he affiliated with?"

"Unclear. He doesn't seem to be from Hangzhou, but a merchant from Jiangning."

After the messenger finished speaking, everyone in the hall angrily stood up for a moment: "How could such a thing happen?"

"Are they mocking Hangzhou, thinking we have no one?!"

"A mere live-in son-in-law dares to act so wildly! Governor Lu, I'll go out and see!"

These individuals were filled with righteous indignation, and Lu Tuizhi had also risen, frowning: "Where is this person now? Could it be that the soldiers stationed below couldn't stop him?"

At his position, he rarely trusted one-sided accounts driven by momentary indignation. The reporting soldier had come over when he saw trouble and the situation looked bad, so he was unaware of further developments. He could only say, "Someone has already gone to stop him." By then, some in the hall had already angrily left to investigate, and Lu Tuizhi strode purposefully, also intending to go outside. Just then, another middle-aged man entered and bowed to him. This man was his aide, Zhuo Qingran, who had likely witnessed the events outside. Lu Tuizhi asked, "Qingran, what happened to that madman? Has he been apprehended?"

Zhuo Qingran recounted how someone had drawn a sword and was then restrained. Then, he slightly lowered his voice: "...After that, Vice-General Yuan arrived and exchanged blows with him. After a brief standoff, that person finally..."

"That person actually exchanged blows and faced off with Yuan Dingqi?" Lu Tuizhi frowned, interrupting him. Yuan Dingqi was a Vice-General in the Wude Army, rumored to be highly skilled in martial arts, and Lu Tuizhi knew him. Zhuo Qingran paused, then nodded.

"It was only a single strike, with no clear victor. After a moment's standoff, the scholar finally dropped his sword. This was also because his wife arrived, and Lou Shuwan also came out from the crowd to stop both sides. She seemed to know the couple. I saw that there might be something fishy about this matter, so I came to report to you, Your Excellency; it should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, the person was holding an invitation from Elder Qian."

"Elder Qian or Supervisor Qian?"

"Elder Qian."

"I understand. Let's go take a look."

Lu Tuizhi nodded. Among the prominent families in Hangzhou—Qian, Mu, Tang, and Chang—the Qian family currently had the highest reputation.

However, Qian Xiwen cultivated his reputation; he usually visited and lectured, was approachable, but did not interfere in trivial matters involving interests. Several years ago, during the great drought in Hangzhou, the gathering after autumn began was initiated by Qian Xiwen because of the larger situation. It was also because of the renown of him, Mu Bochuan, Chang Yuan, and others that Xiong Ruming, then serving as governor, was able to successfully hold that gathering, which became Xiong Ruming's greatest political achievement for his later promotion.

After that major event, Qian Xiwen no longer concerned himself with the various trivialities of the following year. The Qian family's interests were naturally maintained by members of the Qian clan.

Under such circumstances, an invitation personally issued by Qian Xiwen naturally held a different meaning than one issued by the Qian household.

Before Lu Tuizhi could approach, the main hall was already filled with clamor, as everyone was rushing onto the main boat. If they were still below the boat, Lu Tuizhi might have gone down, but there was no need to rush to appear now. He waited in a side hall for a moment, listening to the developments of the situation there.

At this point, everyone's anger seemed to be directed at people from Jiangning acting wildly in Hangzhou. However, presumably, the assailant and the injured were already on the boat, and with the recent fight, no one was impulsive anymore. Within the crowd, the sentiment was not entirely skewed towards this regional conflict; a few young people were still arguing with the crowd, seemingly trying to defend the assailant. Lu Tuizhi knew these individuals were junior members of the Qian family. He figured that after the person produced the invitation, these Qian family members, though unaware of the full story, had already begun to actively take sides.

Qian Xiwen, or the Qian family's reputation, was extremely high in Hangzhou. However, in Lu Tuizhi's view, the stance taken by these young Qian family members would probably be useless this time. Given the regional divide, that person had, after all, incurred public wrath, and he could only side with Hangzhou. Even with Qian Xiwen's invitation, it wasn't certain that they had a truly deep relationship. Given Qian Xiwen's character as a renowned scholar, it wasn't unimaginable for him to issue a calling card or invitation on a whim if he met someone of slightly higher comprehension while lecturing in the countryside. To suggest a truly significant vested interest, the possibility was small.

He was now, first, puzzled by Qian Xiwen's attitude, and second, found the matter unusual. Someone who had beaten more than ten people and could face off with Yuan Dingqi should be a big, burly fellow, yet he heard it was only a scholar. Initially described as a live-in son-in-law, later information suggested he might be a famous talented scholar from Jiangning. For a moment, he was quite curious to see what this person outside looked like.

With a spectacle to behold, people gathered onto the boat very quickly. Soon, Zhuo Qingran entered and reported that the situation was almost settled. Lu Tuizhi stood up to leave. As he passed the boat railing, he saw the Qian family's chief steward, Qian Yu, being led over. Lu Tuizhi did not neglect this elder: "Elder, have you heard about Fang Shisheng's matter? What is Elder Qian's intention?"

"My master will arrive shortly. I feared Your Excellency might have doubts, so I rushed here first. That Ning Liheng, he is..."

He spoke quietly with Lu Tuizhi for a few moments, and only then did Lu Tuizhi furrow his brow deeply: "This matter... it's a bit difficult to handle." "...Just proceed impartially, Your Excellency. I have met that Ning Liheng once; this man has considerable presence and is not a reckless or impulsive person. Perhaps there is inside information. Of course, if he truly used his strength to commit violence and incurred public wrath, my master will certainly not condone him..."

Lu Tuizhi nodded, having a slight idea about the Qian family's attitude, but felt it was even harder to manage the situation. He proceeded into the main hall, where the crowd quieted down somewhat. A few individuals suddenly rushed forward, demanding that he, as governor, severely punish the assailant. Among them were clearly injured victims of the beating.

Sweeping his gaze across, Lu Tuizhi took in the situation in the hall.

At this time, the dozens of round tables arranged in six rows and seven columns in the hall were mostly full. Originally, there were assigned seats here, but now it was naturally free seating. Near the front few round tables were those involved: the injured scholars and those who participated and clearly sided with the Lou family occupied more than four tables. Doctors were applying medicine and treating them, amidst groans of pain, but they forced themselves to endure it upon seeing the governor.

The assailant seemed to be part of a family of four at a front-row table in the third column. The young scholar standing with a composed demeanor made it hard to imagine someone so young having such an aura. He had likely taken a few punches to the face, the corner of his mouth was slightly bruised, and the skin was broken with some blood oozing out, but it had been wiped away. His blue gown was a bit disheveled, but compared to those who were beaten, his injuries were much lighter.

Next to him, a calm-faced woman sat, holding his hand. In her other hand, she held a handkerchief, wiping the broken skin on his fist from hitting people. Compared to the scene of doctors with medicine chests and bandages on the other side, on this table, only a basin of clear water was placed. One could surmise that after something like this, no doctor would dare to treat the scholar on this side; his wife probably couldn't get medicine or bandages, so she could only use a handkerchief dipped in clear water to wipe him down first.

Next to them was a girl dressed as a maid, who had cried; she must be the maid involved in the incident. Another man, also around twenty, was not beaten; he must be a relative who came with this family. It was said the wife had two younger cousins accompanying her; this must be one of them. Though there were only four of them, they sat at the front of the third column, not discreetly shrinking to the side. This demeanor was quite intriguing.

At the front of the hall, Tang Xiuxuan of the Tang family had already arrived. Lu Tuizhi went over to greet him, and the elder said, "Your Excellency, please feel free to preside over this matter impartially. If this person truly acted improperly, I believe Elder Qian would certainly not shield a madman."

"Of course."

Lou Jinlin had also arrived by this time. Regarding the pig-like injuries on his second son's face, the Lou family head was clearly extremely angry, and his gaze appeared grim. At the front of the hall, he was actually confronting the live-in son-in-law who caused the injuries. The situation... was extremely peculiar.

The demeanor of both sides seemed roughly equal.

Lou Jinlin was known in Hangzhou as a ruthless person, not with the ruthlessness of a petty gangster, but rather a domineering approach given that the Lou family did not have the deep heritage of the Qian, Mu, and Tang families. His family had reached this point through his methods, which were seen by outsiders as quite formidable. If evaluated, giving him the label of a ruthless hero would not be an exaggeration. Sometimes he rarely showed his emotions, but if he acted, he rarely left an escape route for others. This man, now in his fifties with a half-white beard, once angered, exerted a pressure that ordinary people found it hard to bear.

And at this moment, almost everyone in the hall stood behind him. When he approached with a grim face, even the young members of the Qian family had stopped talking for a moment.

The young man named Ning Liheng stood there, smilingly looking at him. His wife stood up and quietly bowed to Lou Jinlin, perhaps greeting him, then remained silent. She stood slightly behind her husband, holding his hand where the skin was broken. The couple's demeanor showed no sign of backing down.

When it comes to confrontation, it's always hard to say who has the upper hand. Ordinary young people might claim they wouldn't back down even when facing someone, but that's just gritting their teeth and enduring. True aura never determines victory by whether one backs down or bows their head. With the power Lou Jinlin now wielded, in a situation where he was pointed at by a thousand people in the hall, even those of similar age and reputation would inevitably feel weakened. Young people would inevitably feel guilty, or become hysterical, or forcefully hold their heads high. Even daring to curse in front of Lou Jinlin would, in others' eyes, appear like a childish act, their spirit captured. But there was no such thing now; the scholar's demeanor was natural, and his smile showed no hint of forced endurance.

Honestly, when Lou Jinlin spoke, in the eyes of the crowd, the other side still seemed somewhat weaker; they were just a young couple in their early twenties, and no matter what, today's situation was very difficult to handle. Lu Tuizhi hadn't approached yet, and Lou Jinlin could be vaguely heard saying: "...I am acquainted with Boyong, and you and Shuheng should have been like siblings. And Liheng, you two should also address each other as brothers. I don't know what Shuheng did, that you would strike him so severely..."

His accusation was stern. He addressed the woman named Su Tan'er first, and toward the live-in scholar, there was naturally a degree of contempt and anger. Su Tan'er raised her eyes to speak, but the scholar beside her raised his hand and patted her shoulder. This action was light and without effort, but after this subtle gesture, the scholar almost naturally took on the entire pressure emanating from Lou Jinlin, as if turning the grim atmosphere caused by Lou Jinlin's anger into a trivial matter.

His reply was simple and sincere: "Regarding this matter, perhaps you should ask Cousin Lou. Not just you, Uncle Lou, I'm also a little curious."

Lou Shuheng had turned into that state, and he found it curious, yet he himself seemed to take it as perfectly natural. Lou Jinlin stared at him. Ning Yi looked back, his gaze gradually changing. After a long while, Lou Jinlin laughed furiously, showing both rows of teeth, accusingly: "You... very good."

Ning Yi still just looked at him. Lou Jinlin's gaze had been ruthless, treating him like a junior, but Ning Yi's gaze was like that of someone looking at a junior, frowning slightly, calm, with a hint of boredom. Lou Jinlin had never encountered such a response when facing a twenty-year-old; his heart was filled with rage.

It was at this moment that Lu Tuizhi also approached.