Chapter 25: The Deception of the Heart and Mind

Han Gang's questions hit the two guards like waves, continuously battering the defenses in their hearts. Even in the faint moonlight and lamplight, it was clear to see the pallor spreading over Wang Wu and Wang Jiu's faces.

Wang Wu and Wang Jiu opened their mouths, wanting to say something, but they didn't know what to say.

'Success!' Han Gang saw the expressions on their faces. Taking advantage of their fear, he didn't wait for them to recover. He changed his tone and said, "However, if Liu San and the others climbed over the wall, you two would only be guilty of negligence. And now that the three are dead, and the fire didn't start, what is there to worry about?"

"Climbed over the wall?" The two guards were drawn in by Han Gang's words. In the endless darkness, it seemed as if a door to light had been opened.

A commotion arose on the nearby street. Han Gang glanced in that direction, "Ah, reinforcements have arrived!" He turned back and urged the two, "Hey, think quickly, how did these three bandits get in?"

"Ah?" The two were still somewhat afraid of Chen Ju's influence, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"How did they get in?" Han Gang didn't wait for them, his voice stern and pressing. The noise from outside grew closer, like the tolling of a death knell, making the two guards tremble with fear.

Wang Jiu was still hesitant, unable to decide, but Wang Wu, being younger and less cautious, quickly said, "They climbed over the wall..."

One person speaking wasn't enough for Han Gang. He stared at Wang Jiu, raised his voice, and repeated, "How did they get in?"

This time, Wang Jiu looked at Wang Wu, gritted his teeth, and joined in, "They climbed over the wall!"

"How did they get in?"

"Climbed over the wall!"

"How did they get in?"

"Climbed! Climbed!"

Han Gang's relentless questioning, like a modern-day cult or pyramid scheme, used repetitive questioning and answering to condition reflexes and brainwash. Though the time was short, in an emergency, it was easier to fall into the trap and harder to escape. Han Gang was extremely skilled at such tactics, and in a few words, he had completely won Wang Wu and Wang Jiu to his side.

The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard from the alley outside the armory. Han Gang pointed at the three bodies one last time, "How did these bandits get in?"

Wang Wu and Wang Jiu spoke in unison, "We were just guarding the gate, and we didn't let anyone in. Liu San and the others must have climbed over the wall with ill intent! Damn! Damn! Truly damn!"

"You're right! This has nothing to do with you two. Even if there is blame, it won't fall on you." Han Gang clapped his hands in approval. But then he sighed, "Unfortunately, there's no credit in this..."

When Han Gang said this, Wang Jiu's eyes lit up. He was shrewd and understood the implications. He drew his saber with a metallic sound, stepped on Liu San's body, and slashed at his vital points several times.

Wang Wu, initially stunned, quickly understood. He imitated Wang Jiu, stabbing the bailiff lying on the other side and then dragging the blade to create a large wound.

These few cuts had a name: a pledge of allegiance. Once the blades were bloodied, they were now part of Han Gang's group, and it would be too late to retract their words.

Just as everything was settled, a loud crash came from the gate, the sound of a door being rammed. The rescue team, alerted by the alarm, had finally arrived at the De Xian Fang armory.

Wang Wu and Wang Jiu hurried over with their bloodied sabers, moving the stones blocking the door to let the people outside in. Han Gang followed behind, calling out, "Wait a moment!"

The two guards now followed Han Gang's lead and stopped. Han Gang walked to the back of the gate and shouted loudly, "Who is ramming the door?"

A rough, hoarse voice responded from outside, "It's the city patrol! Open the door quickly!"

"Do you have any credentials?"

"Credentials? Open the damn door!" After a moment of hesitation, a roar came from outside, followed by another heavy blow to the door, causing the lime on the door frame to crumble.

Wang Wu and Wang Jiu hesitated and looked back at Han Gang. Han Gang shook his head, "It's not time to open yet." He continued shouting through the door, "This is a military armory. No one can enter without permission. Without credentials, how can we open?"

"Open it or I'll break it down!" The voice outside grew angrier, and the order was given to start ramming the door.

Wang Wu and Wang Jiu were panicked, but Han Gang remained calm, "We can't open it!"

"Wait!" A clear, refined voice came from outside, "Can I serve as a credential?"

Wang Jiu recognized the voice and peered through the door crack, turning back to Han Gang nervously, "It's Wu Jiepan from the state!"

"From the state?" Hearing that the person was not from Cheng Ji County, Han Gang nodded, "Open the door!"

With a creak, the door of the De Xian Fang armory was unlatched and opened a crack, only to be kicked wide open from the outside. Wang Wu, caught off guard, tumbled to the ground. A group of soldiers rushed in, weapons drawn, surrounding the three men.

"Who sounded the alarm?" A middle-aged official in official attire stepped over the threshold and asked Han Gang and the others. The voice belonged to Wu Jiepan.

In the Song Dynasty, important prefectures had three names: the prefecture name, the commandery name, and the military governor's title. For example, Qin Prefecture had the prefecture name Qin, the commandery name Tianshui, and the military governor's title Xiongwu Army. The prefecture name was the most commonly used administrative name, the commandery name was an ancient name often used for titles, and the military governor's title was inherited from the late Tang and Five Dynasties periods. Although the position of military governor had lost its practical significance after Emperor Taizu's "cup of wine to dismiss the military," it remained a high-ranking military title. The staff of the military governor's office were still important officials in the prefecture.

Wu Yan was the Xiongwu Army's military governor's judge, not directly affiliated with Cheng Ji County, but he was nearby, so he arrived first. As a military governor's judge, he had the authority to oversee military affairs in the prefecture.

Currently, the main forces of the Western Xia were attacking Yuan Prefecture, which was adjacent to Qin Prefecture and belonged to the Jingyuan Route, while a smaller force was attacking Gangu City. Although this was a routine annual raid, earlier in the year, Qin Prefecture had been attacked by a hundred thousand Western Xia troops, with several fortresses breached and fierce battles. The former governor of Qin Prefecture was dismissed, and Han Gang's two elder brothers died in this battle. Therefore, no one dared to be negligent this time. The governor of Qin Prefecture and the military commissioner of the Qin-Feng Route, Li Shizhong, had sent an army to guard Longgan City, a key point between the Qin-Feng and Jingyuan Routes, to provide direct support to the Jingyuan Route. He himself went to Longcheng County, the logistics hub of Qin Prefecture, to inspect the city defenses and supply lines.

With Li Shizhong out of the city and the deputy governor recently transferred, Wu Yan took over his duties, overseeing military affairs. Wu Yan was diligent and knew that with the governor absent and power divided, there could be no mistakes. Every night, he, along with the military governor's assistant, the recorder, and the two military assistants, took turns on duty at the prefectural office.

Tonight, it was Wu Yan's turn to be on duty. When he heard the alarm, he immediately left the prefectural office with a patrol of armored cavalry. On the way, he was uneasy, worrying about a major incident at the armory. But when he entered the armory, he saw nothing out of the ordinary and felt a slight anger, wanting to find the person who sounded the alarm and punish them.

Han Gang, unaware of Wu Yan's thoughts, was about to report. Suddenly, a soldier who had rushed into the courtyard to search shouted, "Judge! There are dead people here!"

Wu Yan looked in the direction of the shout and, with the help of the torchlight, saw three bodies lying on the ground thirty paces away. He quickly changed his tone, "What happened?"

This time, even Han Gang didn't need to step forward. Wang Jiu dropped his bloodied saber and reported the rehearsed lie to Wu Yan, "Report to the judge, tonight three bandits, with ill intent, climbed over the wall and broke into the armory. Fortunately, Scholar Han San was alert, and they didn't succeed!"

Han Gang lowered his head, hiding his expression in the shadows, and chuckled to himself. A thousand years of progress had not only advanced natural sciences but also social sciences... he wondered if brainwashing was considered a natural science or a social science.

Wang Jiu mentioned Han Gang's name, and after learning the general situation from him, Wu Yan immediately asked, "Where is Scholar Han San?" His eyes were already on Han Gang. Although he was tall like a warrior, he wore the scholar's robe, and his face and demeanor were distinctly those of a scholar, making him easily distinguishable from the soldiers.

Han Gang stepped forward and bowed, "Report to the judge, Han Gang is here!"

As Han Gang approached, Wu Yan looked him over more carefully in the torchlight. The young man before him was tall but somewhat frail, with sharp features, yet he spoke politely, indeed like a scholar, which made Wu Yan feel a liking for him. "Who are you? What is your current position?"

"Report to the judge, I am Han Gang, currently serving as the supervisor of the Cheng Ji armory."

"Are you a scholar?" Wu Yan asked, knowing the answer.

Han Gang respectfully replied, "I have indeed studied for a few years."

Wu Yan frowned, "If you are a scholar, why did you take such a lowly position? Isn't that a disgrace to your education?"

Han Gang sighed, "The county issued a call, and it was a duty of the yamen. My father is nearly fifty, and as a son, how can I let him do such hard work?"

Wu Yan nodded, his gaze softening. Filial piety was the foremost virtue, and filial sons were often considered loyal officials. Han Gang's willingness to take on the duty to free his father from hardship was indeed filial. "You are filial! Was it you who sounded the alarm?"

"It was me."

"Tell me the whole story of tonight..."

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