Free Web NovelChapter 38: Chapter 36: Alliance of Four
「At that time.」
A Martial Scholar who performed meritorious service could return to Shannan Dao, receive several promotions, and earn Governor Wangg’s favor. At that point, his status would be far beyond that of a mere Martial Scholar.
It would be no loss for him to marry off his daughter.
Under a heavy reward, there are always brave men.
「Soon.」
Three or four Martial Artists stepped forward, expressing their willingness to accept the Government Office’s mission and go undercover in Wuyun Tower.
Just then, Wei Tu looked over at Fu Zhizhou, the Martial Artist who had first spoken up to refuse. Seeing that Fu Zhizhou remained unmoved by the offer, Wei Tu felt his own worries ease.
A reward of a Hundred Gold Coins.
The hand of the Prefect’s legitimate daughter in marriage...
Even these two additional rewards offered by Hex Prefecture were not enough to sway Wei Tu.
He still remembered the warning he had given himself while practicing Martial Arts with the Shan Family.
’It’s acceptable to use Martial Arts to pass the examinations and improve my station, but I must remember to avoid conflict and fighting, and to preserve my own life.’
’I have a promising future ahead of me. There’s no need to risk my life in a deathmatch over such things.’
「At this moment.」
The Government Office’s reward.
Although the reward was substantial in Wei Tu’s eyes, to throw away his life for it would be utterly foolish.
Wei Tu recognized all of the dozen or so Martial Artists in the hall. They were all well-known figures participating in the Daoist Examination for the Military Examination.
Fu Zhizhou, in particular, was the favorite to win this year’s Military Examination.
Seeing that no one was paying him any mind, Wei Tu walked over to Fu Zhizhou’s side. Using the same method Weii Fei had used on him earlier, he nudged the Martial Artist’s elbow and asked, "Martial Artist Fu, do you still stand by what you said earlier? I feel the same way..."
Hex Prefecture had upped the ante on the rewards. If any Martial Artists were still tactless enough to refuse the mission...
Well, the consequences were easy to imagine.
It meant offending the highest official in the prefecture, a man who governed a thousand-li territory.
Therefore, if Wei Tu was going to refuse, he needed to find a few others to join him. By applying pressure together, they could lessen the resentment Hex Prefecture would surely hold against him.
Fu Zhizhou’s reaction was similar to Wei Tu’s had been. His brows furrowed slightly at the gesture from someone he didn’t know well.
However, after hearing what Wei Tu had to say, his expression immediately softened, and he looked at Wei Tu with a newfound warmth.
"I share your thoughts, Martial Artist Wei. I am refusing this mission."
"First, with more than ten people involved, the risk of a leak is too great. Even if we assume that you and I, with our clean backgrounds, promising futures, and local families, would never dare to leak the secret... the risk is still there..."
"Second, I am not interested in the reward."
"And third... Hex Prefecture only has one year left in his post at Qingfeng Prefecture."
After a moment of thought, Fu Zhizhou pulled Wei Tu to a corner of the hall and spoke in a low voice.
"My thoughts are the same as yours, Brother Fu." Seeing they were of one mind and that Fu Zhizhou had shared his thoughts so openly, Wei Tu changed how he addressed him, calling him "Brother Fu."
Hearing Wei Tu call him "Brother Fu," a faint smile appeared on Fu Zhizhou’s face, and he, in turn, changed his address to "Brother Wei."
The two now addressed each other as brothers.
By joining forces to defy Hex Prefecture and stand against the pressure, they had essentially become comrades in the same trench.
Furthermore, the two men held the same rank. Both were Martial Scholars from the current year’s examinations, so they already shared the bond of being Classmates.
"Let’s get a few more people to join us. It would be best if we can gather four or five," Fu Zhizhou said.
Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded without hesitation.
The more people who refused, the less danger and pressure he and Fu Zhizhou would face.
"Martial Artist Weii..." Wei Tu scanned the hall and saw that Weii Fei was one of the few Martial Artists not clustered around Hex Prefecture. He walked over to Weii Fei’s side and explained what he and Fu Zhizhou had discussed.
"Alright."
"Count me in."
Weii Fei agreed with a nod, without much hesitation.
A short while later, Fu Zhizhou also brought over a good friend from his own county, and they walked toward Wei Tu and Weii Fei.
This Martial Artist’s name was Kou Liang, and he was another formidable contender in this year’s Military Examination.
’Four people. That’s a third of the Martial Artists here.’
Wei Tu’s eyes glinted; he now felt confident enough to refuse Hex Prefecture.
Their official titles backed them.
(The Government Office could hardly interfere with the results of the Daoist Examination.)
Even if Hex Prefecture held a grudge, it would be difficult for him to do anything to them as Martial Scholars. At most, when they were appointed as Military Officers, he could pull some strings and have them assigned to a remote post.
And compared to the danger of infiltrating Wuyun Tower, that was a trivial risk.
"If the four of us refuse Hex Prefecture together, we’re bound to earn his resentment..."
"After we leave the Government Office, let’s become sworn brothers."
"Then, if any one of us is in trouble, we’ll all help each other out!"
As the Martial Artist who had first spoken up to refuse Hex Prefecture, and also having the best results in the Military Examination, Fu Zhizhou naturally became the leader of the group of four.
Fu Zhizhou swept his gaze over Wei Tu and the other two, his expression solemn as he spoke in a deep voice.
"Agreed!"
"Once we’re out of here, we’ll become sworn brothers!"
Wei Tu and the others were stirred by the proposal. After a moment’s thought, they all nodded in agreement.
Classmates from the same examination year, people from the same hometown, and disciples of the same master were the groups most likely to form cliques for personal gain.
In this moment, with friends from the same county among them and all being Martial Scholars of the current year, it was only natural for them to "form a clique for personal gain" in the face of Hex Prefecture’s pressure.
...
「The Government Office.」
「The Rear Hall.」
’Martial Artists are driven by profit. The ancients certainly weren’t wrong about that.’ Glancing at the crowd of Martial Artists gathered around him, Hex Prefecture smiled faintly, thinking to himself that the matter was already settled.
As long as one person was tempted enough to agree, the others would follow suit. This was a lesson he had learned from his many years as an official.
As for one or two troublemakers, he could deal with them later. A mix of bribes and veiled threats would make them fall in line.
However—
Just as Hex Prefecture was feeling rather pleased with himself, four Martial Artists strode forward in unison, heads held high. They cupped their fists in salute and said something that greatly displeased him.
"Lord Prefect, we four are simple and clumsy by nature. We are not suited for undercover work in Wuyun Tower. We ask that you grant our request to be excused."
The four of them, including Wei Tu, said in unison.
Instantly, the entire hall fell silent.
The gazes of everyone in the hall—Hex Prefecture, the crowd of Martial Artists, and even the servants and maids—all converged on Wei Tu and the other three...
Aside from Hex Prefecture’s astonishment, the others stared in disbelief.
Hex Prefecture’s expression darkened, and he stared coldly at Wei Tu and the other three.
If one person had refused, that would have been one thing.
’When herding sheep, there’s always one beast that runs off and won’t obey.’
’Let alone people.’
But—
for four men to speak up together, their words identical, was an entirely different matter.
’It was obvious they had colluded beforehand!’
"The ancients had a saying: a ruler who is not discreet loses his subjects; a subject who is not discreet loses his life..."
"Lord Prefect, you have gathered us Martial Artists here, but more than ten people is simply too many. What if... there is a risk of the plan being leaked..."
"As this is a matter that could cost us our lives, please forgive us, but we must respectfully decline."
Fu Zhizhou said, taking the lead.
"Fu Zhizhou?" Hex Prefecture clearly recognized him. He scrutinized Fu Zhizhou for a few moments. Though he said nothing, everyone present could feel his fury.
The might of an official was like a mountain!
’Did he think I was unaware of the risk of leaks when a dozen Martial Artists were discussing it together?’
’But this was precisely how he could ensure he wouldn’t be ’at fault’ for the matter.’
’If the operation failed or the secret was leaked in the future, the blame would fall on the other Martial Scholars who had been present. It wouldn’t trace back to him, the Prefect.’
’At worst, he would be accused of carelessness.’
’In one year’s time,
he would be leaving his post for a new assignment anyway.’
’Who would care about the mess with Wuyun Tower then?’
