Chapter 7

Liu Yu pushed through the crowd and walked towards the governor's residence. Some of the onlookers instinctively wanted to turn and curse, but seeing the burly man Liu Yu barging in, whether they knew him or not, they all stepped aside.

The entrance to the county seat, which had been blocked solid, naturally parted to form a path, allowing Liu Yu to squeeze through. It was only when his tall and upright figure disappeared inside that the path closed again, and the onlookers began to murmur.

"Who is this guy? He looks like a brave warrior. What does he want to do inside?"

"Hey, Old Li, you don't even recognize him? This is the famous village head of Garlic Mountain, Liu Yu."

"What? Is he the Liu Da from Jingkou, known for his powerful fists and legs? The one who won three consecutive martial arts championships?"

"Yes, that's him! Last year, I saw him leading the villagers in a fight with the people from Jiulip slope. He single-handedly took down over a dozen strong men. He's really something."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I've heard of Liu Jinnu's name, but is he really that strong? I don't believe it."

"Shh, be careful, don't call him by his nickname, or you might get beaten up. Last time, Bai Lao San from Bai Family Gully called him that behind his back and got knocked out, almost losing his eyes!"

Liu Yu didn't have the time to listen to these comments. His face was as calm as water, his fists tightly clenched, as he walked straight into the courtyard. Outside the main hall of the governor's residence was a spacious courtyard, about a hundred paces wide, with offices on both sides and a large open area in the center.

In this open area, which could be used for horse riding and archery, over a dozen archery targets had been moved to the corner, and the center was crowded with Northern refugees.

Over a hundred clerks and Diao family guards were pushing these people around, shouting at them to maintain order. Liu Yi, whom Liu Yu had met in the morning, was directing his subordinates to maintain order. Wei Yongzhi, Tan Pingzhi, and Meng Chang were standing at the front, along with a dozen other Northern refugees, arguing heatedly with Liu Yi.

On the main hall, Diao Gongzi, his face painted white and looking cold, was seated in the governor's position, coldly observing everything happening in the courtyard. Diao Mao was fanning him with a fan, and as the sound of footsteps approached, Diao Gongzi lifted his head. Seeing Liu Yu walk straight into the courtyard, his expression changed slightly, and a wicked smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Liu Yi shouted loudly, "You Northern refugees, you are being unreasonable. It's already a great kindness for the court to accept you. Do you want to haggle with the court? Let me tell you, if you don't become Diao family servants, you will be left to fend for yourselves."

Liu Yu's face changed. He saw the Northern refugees, who were malnourished and barely clothed, being pushed around by the soldiers. A few children were crying, and he felt a pang of sorrow. He shouted loudly, "Stop it!"

Liu Yi turned his head and saw Liu Yu, surprised. "Liu Yu, what are you doing here?"

Liu Yu looked at Liu Yi, pointed to Diao Gongzi sitting on the dais, and said loudly, "Liu Yi, as a state official, you are helping a man who is not even a governor to bully Northern refugees, violating the court's policies. What do you mean by this?"

As Liu Yu's loud voice echoed, the arguments gradually subsided. The Northern refugees, led by the three families they had met today, looked at Liu Yu with gratitude and expectation. Only Meng Chang stood on the side, expressionless and silent.

Liu Yi's lips curled into a cold smile. "Liu Yu, I advise you to mind your own business. This is not something a village head can interfere with! Besides, how are we bullying these Northern refugees?"

Tan Pingzhi looked at Liu Yu, agitated. "Village Head Liu, you must stand up for us! We have endured great hardships and risked our lives to come from the North to Jiangdong. Our loyalty is as clear as the sun and the moon! Don't bully us just because we are far from home and have no power, forcing us to become servants and slaves!"

Wei Yongzhi's three rabbit lips kept moving. "Yes, didn't the court say they would provide land for the refugees? Didn't they say there are large tracts of unclaimed land in Jiangnan that can be given to us? Why aren't they giving it now?"

Liu Yu's brows furrowed as he looked at Liu Yi and said solemnly, "Are these people not telling the truth? If you followed the regulations, would there be such a commotion?"

"Jingkou is a relocated state, with plenty of land to distribute. Why can't you provide it now?"

Liu Yu then looked at Diao Gongzi, who was coldly observing from the dais, and said solemnly, "And this Diao Gongzi, you clearly know he is not the governor, just a member of the governor's family. Why is he sitting in the governor's position? Liu Yi, you can't openly violate the law just to curry favor with the powerful."

A few light claps echoed from the dais. Liu Yu looked up and saw Diao Gongzi clapping and slowly rising from his seat (in the Han and Jin dynasties, there were no high-legged furniture, and people knelt on mats), walking out of the hall and saying slowly, "Listen well, in this place, I am the law!"

Liu Yu's eyes widened, and he shouted, "Who gave you the power to surpass the law?"

The young noble laughed and touched his nose. "Do you recognize this?"

He pointed to something held by Diao Mao, who walked out of the hall with a smug look. Liu Yu carefully examined it and saw it was a ceremonial staff, a bamboo rod with a series of yak tails. He counted and saw there were three tails. Although he was not highly educated, as a village head, he knew some basic regulations. He drew a sharp breath and said, "A ceremonial staff?"

Diao Mao laughed smugly, his sharp and piercing voice echoing throughout the courtyard. "Boy, do you see clearly? This is a ceremonial staff! Those who hold it are called 'holders of the staff.' Understand? Seeing the staff is like seeing the emperor. You country bumpkins, seeing the staff, you should kneel. Do you want to rebel?"

Liu Yu gritted his teeth and knelt down. Everyone around him, whether Northern refugees or clerks and guards in the courtyard, also knelt, shouting in unison, "Long live the emperor, long live, long live!"

The young noble smiled coldly. "Liu Yu, I know you are a local hero and a descendant of scholars. I will be lenient with you! Don't think I am afraid of you. I know you, but do you know me?"

Liu Yu stood up and looked at the young noble, saying solemnly, "I know you are the brother of Governor Diao, but I don't know your name. Moreover, you are not the governor. Why do you have the emperor's ceremonial staff? Can you give an explanation to the people of Jingkou?"

The young noble looked at Liu Yu, his face painted white shining in the sunset. "Listen well, I am Diao Hong, and my brother is the new governor of this state, Diao Kui."

"The Qin invaders intend to invade, and this Jingkou is the key to defending the capital. Therefore, the emperor specially decreed that my brother hold the staff and oversee all military affairs in Jingkou. My brother still has official duties to hand over, so he specially ordered me to take the staff and manage the state's affairs, understand the people's conditions, and act as needed. If anyone commits crimes or disobeys orders, I can execute them with the staff. Do you understand?"