Chapter 197

Chapter 197

The act of "expelling" Third Cousin Han and the others from the clan had been planned by Han Zhang and the clan chief for a long time.

Because as the clan rose to prominence and their fortunes soared, external flattery and temptations of every sort also increased.

And the phrase "the human heart is fickle" was never mere lip service.

No matter how earnestly Clan Chief Han and the others lectured and strictly disciplined them, amid this growing atmosphere of ostentation, some of the clan's younger members would inevitably grow restless, seduced by worldly pleasures—wine, women, wealth, and smooth talk—gradually losing their moral compass and self-control.

Han Zhang's rebellion was a high-stakes affair that allowed no room for even the slightest error.

Rather than living in constant dread and exhausting themselves plugging every potential leak, it was better to act decisively and take a drastic "cutting out the rot" approach—just kick out anyone showing signs of trouble. Cleaner, simpler, and far more satisfying!

Of course, these people, when all was said and done, hadn't committed truly unforgivable sins; they were merely young and hot-headed, lacking sufficient willpower.

Therefore, although they were ostensibly and harshly "expelled from the clan," the family had not truly abandoned them.

After Third Cousin Han and the others, who bore this secret mission, had departed, when those who had been "set up" came crying back, desperate and with nowhere else to turn, to beg for mercy—

Clan Chief Han refused to take them back but feigned a "soft heart," arranging for them to lodge in a neighboring village, making them reflect on their actions and earn their own keep.

If these people could weather the next few years of austere living, work steadily, and settle their temperaments, they would naturally be able to return to the clan in the future;

If they couldn't hack the hardship, refused to reflect, and even came to resent the clan, then they would become discarded pieces, good for nothing...

In short, a rising clan like the Han had no use for fools who dragged them down.

...

Han Zhang's and the clan's righteous act of placing justice above kinship not only won back the hearts of the clan's husbands and wives, but when word reached the city, Jiang Wencheng and his husband were also overcome with emotion.

An Ge'er couldn't help but sigh in admiration: "Back in the capital, when Lan Ge'er told me the Han clan ran things with fairness and strict discipline, and that the elders were sensible people who sided with reason over kinship, I assumed he was just biased by his affection, offering praise beyond the truth. I never imagined it was actually so."

Jiang Wencheng set down his teacup and gave a slight nod of agreement: "As the ancients said, 'The magic fungus has no root, the sweet spring has no source'—meaning greatness can arise from nowhere. A family capable of producing someone like Brother Han must surely have its admirable qualities."

"Moreover, the path to governing a state begins with putting one's own family in order. The Han clan is now growing ever more prosperous. If they don't prune the branches and vines strictly and allow borers and pests to multiply unchecked, by the time the great mansion is on the verge of collapse, it will be too late for regrets."

"Brother Han's move may seem severe, but it's truly a long-term strategy for the family..."

As long as nothing unexpected happened along the way, with the Han clan's upright traditions and Brother Han's abilities, the family's rise was only a matter of time.

Unfortunately, Brother Han's luck had run out when he got tangled up in that affair with Chang Gongjun.

But he was equally unfortunate, having become a pawn in the Crown Prince's scheme against Brother Han—if Brother Han died, he wouldn't last long either.

The thought of this grim reality darkened Jiang Wencheng's mood.

In this life, one truly has no control over one's own fate!

However, Jiang Wencheng soon had no heart left for melancholy.

Because Han Zhang's final move to drag him into the scheme had finally been made.

A few days later, Han Zhang brought up the matter of conducting an inspection in Zelin County.

"Yunyang Prefecture, situated in the eastern part of Yanzhou, was already the prefecture with the densest miasma and the most treacherous mountain roads in all of Yanzhou. As if that weren't enough, the locals are fierce and unruly, bandits run rampant in the mountains, and the prefectures and counties have repeatedly failed to wipe them out."

"Among them, Zelin County is the worst—banditry is so deeply entangled with the people's livelihood that it's hard to tell bandits from civilians. Unless this place is purged, Yunyang will never know a day of peace."

"I intend to use an inspection as a pretext to go to Zelin County myself and covertly probe the background of those bandits. What does Brother Jiang think?"

After hearing this, Jiang Wencheng mulled it over briefly and nodded: "Brother Han's considerations are thorough. However, Zelin is a dangerous place. Going alone might be unwise. I'll go with you, so we can watch each other's backs."

It wasn't that he wanted to keep tabs on Han Zhang; rather, he felt a pang of guilt toward the people of Yunyang.

Call him hypocritical, call it crocodile tears—according to His Highness's orders, he would inevitably wrong the people of Yunyang in the future.

If he could help Brother Han govern Yunyang Prefecture well now, letting the people enjoy a few more good years, his conscience would feel a bit better.

He didn't know what kind of person he would become in the future, but at just over twenty years old, he had yet to develop a heart of stone...

And this was precisely why Han Zhang had chosen Jiang Wencheng.

A young man just starting out is never wholly good nor entirely bad—which path he ultimately takes depends entirely on the guide he encounters.

Jiang Wencheng volunteering to go along was exactly what Han Zhang had hoped for.

"Good, then we'll go together." Han Zhang smiled lightly. "Fortunately, the prefectural office affairs are now in order. Consider this trip a journey of sightseeing, a chance to stretch our limbs."

With the discussion concluded, the two returned to their residences to pack lightly.

On the third day, dressed in plain blue robes as traveling scholars, they quietly left the prefectural city and headed to Zelin County for their secret investigation.

Having witnessed Han Zhang's archery and martial skills demonstrated back at the Imperial Academy, Jiang Wencheng was full of confidence in their mission.

Under normal circumstances, with a powerhouse like Han Zhang around, nothing should go wrong.

But the problem was—things were not normal now!

Just as the two were traveling along a desolate mountain path with no village ahead or inn behind, sure enough, a band of mountain robbers blocked their way.

"This mountain was opened by me, this tree was planted by me! If you want to pass, leave your toll money!"

A hoarse shout exploded from the woods, and immediately, dozens of burly men with fierce faces and holding long blades charged out from the dense forest, surrounding the two of them in an instant.

The leader of the bandits glared with murderous intent, pointing his blade forward and barking: "You pale-faced little scholars, if you know what's good for you, hand over your silver and valuables right now, and we'll spare your lives!"

Han Zhang and Jiang Wencheng exchanged a glance, naturally having no intention of "knowing what's good for them."

Han Zhang immediately stepped forward, gently pushing Jiang Wencheng back: "Brother Jiang, go hide in those woods over there. Leave these men to me."

"Alright, Brother Han, be careful."

Jiang Wencheng knew his skills and had full confidence in him. He obediently retreated to the nearby woods, not wanting to cause trouble.

Though he had practiced martial arts, it was merely for physical fitness—at most enough to deal with street thugs and ruffians in the capital.

These dozens of murderous bandits were better left to someone like Han Zhang who could fight a hundred alone. A person should know their limits—hiding on the sidelines wasn't shameful!

Sure enough, these bandits looked fierce but were nothing more than a ragtag mob. They usually robbed travelers by relying on numbers and familiarity with the terrain. Against someone with Han Zhang's battle-hardened skills, even dozens of them could only fight like a handful.

Han Zhang moved like lightning, his strikes swift as the wind—fists, palms, or snatching blades and hurling them back. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the bandits who had been shouting threats moments before were sprawled on the ground, cries of agony rising all around.

"Brother Han, amazing!"

Jiang Wencheng watched from afar, his heart surging with excitement, unable to help shouting in admiration, filled with deep respect.

Brother Han is truly a master of both the pen and the sword!

But in the very next instant,

his smile vanished.

Just as he let out a sigh of relief, Han Zhang's expression suddenly changed, and he shouted urgently toward him: "Brother Jiang, there's a tiger behind you! Run!"

"What?"

Jiang Wencheng turned his head in terror and was instantly terrified by what he saw behind him—

Three fierce tigers with white foreheads and glaring eyes had somehow crept up behind him—and there were three of them!

Their eyes gleamed menacingly, drool dripping from their jaws, and a thick, rank stench washed over him, drowning out the fresh scent of the woods.

Jiang Wencheng felt his blood run cold, his legs going weak as he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Luckily, survival instinct kept him on his feet, and he spun around and sprinted for his life, screaming hoarsely:

"Brother Han, save me—!"

He knew his limits—he couldn't take on even one tiger, let alone three. With no other option, all he could do was run and scream for help.

Meanwhile,

after shouting that warning, Han Zhang quickly finished off the remaining bandits, then reached for his bow, nocked an arrow, his gaze sharp as a blade as he locked onto the three tigers that were relentlessly chasing Jiang Wencheng. He loosed all three arrows at once.

"Whoosh—"

"Whoosh—"

"Whoosh—"

His aim was true—all three arrows struck home.

Two tigers took arrows through the eye sockets, straight into their brains. They hit the ground with a thud, dead before they could even cry out.

But at the last instant, the third tiger jerked its head aside, and the arrow slammed into its shoulder. It wasn't a killing blow, but the pain sent it into a frenzy—it roared, shaking the forest, eyes blazing red with pure rage.

"ROAR—"

Then, ignoring its wound, the tiger leaped—a blur of gold and black—straight at Jiang Wencheng.

Jiang Wencheng scrambled back but was a heartbeat too slow. The tiger's claws slammed him to the ground.

The tiger's jaws clamped down on his left shoulder while its claws ripped open his back. His robes tore, flesh and blood gaping open.

"AH—"

Jiang Wencheng screamed in agony, nearly passing out from the pain.

"Brother Jiang!"

Han Zhang's eyes went bloodshot as he roared. He nocked another arrow and drew in one fluid motion. The arrow flew like lightning, punching clean through the tiger's neck.

The beast stiffened, let go, and collapsed.

But it was already too late.

Jiang Wencheng lay in a pool of blood, crimson streaming from his mouth and shoulder. He could feel his body growing cold, his life slipping away.

"Brother Jiang! Brother Jiang, wake up! Hang in there—I'll stop the bleeding with acupuncture now!"

Han Zhang dropped to his knees beside him, frantically tearing off his own hem to press against the wound. His silver needles fell rapidly, but his fingers wouldn't stop trembling.

But no matter how skilled he was, he couldn't raise the dead—his patient had to have at least a few breaths left to make it through the treatment.

But Jiang Wencheng felt like he had only one breath left—and it wouldn't last until the treatment was done.

Since he wasn't going to make it, he had to say his last words fast, or he'd die with regrets.

Jiang Wencheng smiled bitterly, tears mixing with blood as they ran down his face. Grasping his final moment, he forced out the words:

"Brother Han... don't bother... I'm done for... listen to me... the Crown Prince... the Crown Prince wants to destroy the Yunyang River dike, using the flood to force you to open the granaries without permission for disaster relief... then use that crime to implicate your entire clan, as a sacrifice for Princess Jiayou..."

"After I'm gone... he'll send someone else... you have to be careful... please... please... look after An Ge'er for me... and my mother..."

"I'm sorry, Brother Han... I didn't want to hurt you... but he's the Crown Prince... a subject can't defy the sovereign's order... now... now that I'm dying like this... it's... it's better this way."

With that, Jiang Wencheng—having confessed his role as a spy—passed out.