Chapter 40: A Thousand Miles of Rejection and Fame (Part 3)

Wang Shunchen was sweating profusely, while Zhao Long's eyes clearly read "madman" when he looked at Han Gang. But Han Gang was not mad at all, and he was not afraid of offending Xiang Bao. Because this was not the headquarters of the Qin-Feng Road Military Command, not the prefectural office of Qin Prefecture, not the Xiang residence, but Fugou City! A city on a strategic military route, with countless officials and soldiers passing through!

That arrow was deliberately missed; otherwise, at a mere three to five steps, even with a decline in archery skills, he would not have missed. But since it was shot, it would surely spread throughout Qin Prefecture in a short time! It was impossible to count how many eyes had witnessed the scene just now, but the crowd around them was growing larger and larger. When Han Gang said he would wait here, the crowd cheered loudly!

Han Gang ignored the cheers of the onlookers and the advice of Wang Shunchen and Zhao Long. He only crossed his arms behind his back and looked up at the sky, silently weighing the pros and cons in his heart.

Han Gang was forced into this situation. If Xiang Ronggui took the cart away and he was forced to carry the sedan chair, what Chen Ju would do was obvious. To expect Xiang Ronggui to speak up for him was a joke! Intercepting military supplies was a serious crime, but if it was not exposed, nothing would happen. Judging from Xiang Ronggui's brazen behavior, he had done it many times before. But once it was exposed, even Xiang Bao would not take responsibility for it. A mere household slave of a military commander could not bear the consequences. In such a situation, if Han Gang did not fight for his life, he would have no place to bury his body!

But if he thought about it from another angle, since intercepting military supplies was a crime, Xiang Bao would not dare to make it public. Even if he took local people and carts instead of military supplies, he would still face punishment once exposed. The bigger the commotion, the safer Han Gang would be. As long as he stood firm and acted steadily, Xiang Bao would be helpless against him.

Because Han Gang was a scholar, and Xiang Bao was a military official!

In the Song Dynasty, scholars and military officials were on different paths. What Han Gang said and did, Wang Shunchen could not do. One was a scholar, the other a military man, and the tolerance of officials towards them was vastly different.

Prime Minister Han Qi could laugh off the mistakes of his subordinates but could easily use a minor fault to execute a seasoned general with numerous battle achievements, just to intimidate his superior, Di Qing. When Di Qing spoke up for his subordinate Jiao Yong, calling him a capable man with achievements, Han Qi retorted, "Only those who wear flowers and parade through the East Gate are true men!" Jiao Yong was just a chicken to be killed to scare the monkeys. Once the chicken was killed, Di Qing, the monkey, was indeed scared into silence.

Even if Xiang Bao was of noble status and had the title of a military advisor, he could not dare to beat or kill a scholar with a good background. He might do it in secret, but in broad daylight, he would not dare even if he had ten lives.

Since the matter had already escalated, if Xiang Bao still dared to make things difficult for Han Gang, he would face countless impeachments! There were too many scholars who wanted to show their integrity, and even Li Shizhong would write a memorial about this if he heard about it. Otherwise, the censors would surely impeach Li Shizhong.

Scholars would protect each other, but when it came to military officials... it depended on their mood and the timing!

Moreover, in this matter, Xiang Bao had no right on his side. If the person in charge sent by Xiang Bao was smart, there was only one thing he could do. "I am Xiang An, and I greet Scholar Han!" As Han Gang had expected, a small old man of some status soon came to him, with Xiang Ronggui following behind. However, Xiang Ronggui's thin face had swollen considerably, his cheeks puffed up like a steamed bun, red and shiny.

Xiang An pointed to Xiang Ronggui's swollen face, "My household slave was ignorant and offended the scholar. I have already punished him. If the scholar still feels unsatisfied, I will give him another beating in front of you!"

Han Gang returned the bow, his expression still cold, "Sir, you are considerate. My anger was for the law of the country, not for myself. I was ordered to escort military supplies, how could I change it to personal matters? How can a military commander's private affairs take precedence over national affairs? If you think I would only focus on personal grudges, you underestimate me!"

"Scholar, you are indeed magnanimous. I judged you with a small man's heart, I am guilty, I am guilty!" Xiang An bowed, looking sincere.

Han Gang's eyebrows twitched, and he secretly cursed, 'Old fox!' He had killed Huang Daliu, tricked Chen Jusi, deceived Wu Jiepan, and frightened Xiang Ronggui. This time, he encountered a slippery opponent for the first time.

"Although so, a scholar cannot serve in such a lowly position. Why don't you return to Qin Prefecture with me? The magistrate of Chengji would not refuse my face." Xiang An sincerely advised.

As long as Han Gang lowered his head and followed him back to Qin Prefecture, Xiang Bao would be blameless in this matter. If anyone brought it up, the fault would be on Han Gang for his inconsistent behavior. But he was not worried that Han Gang would not agree. Everyone knew what a difficult job the yamen clerk was, and the storekeeper in Gangu City, who often stripped and whipped the yamen clerks, was notorious. Who would not want to escape such a miserable job, even if it meant losing face?

Han Gang took a step back and bowed deeply. If the impression he left on the crowd earlier was one of uprightness and severity, his current behavior was completely opposite, suddenly becoming humble and submissive.

'Finally, the true nature is revealed!' Xiang An narrowed his eyes, though it was as he expected, he could not help but feel disdain. Many people around him shared the same thought, Han Gang's behavior before and after was too different: 'Is this a scholar?'

Straightening up, Han Gang said to Xiang An, "I appreciate your kindness, but a man without integrity cannot stand. Since I have been given this task, I must see it through to the end. How can I abandon it halfway?"

Han Gang's response was completely unexpected by Xiang An. Was the bow just to refuse his kindness?

The crowd was also in an uproar: 'He can escape the misery but still refuses to leave, is this scholar mad?'

"Ungrateful!" Xiang Ronggui, holding his increasingly swollen cheeks, muttered.

Han Gang ignored him; the most effective contempt was indifference, and Xiang Ronggui would likely have no way out when he returned.

He interrupted Xiang An, who wanted to speak again, "The law of the country cannot be violated. I can serve as a yamen clerk for the county magistrate or the prefect, but not for you. I am grateful for your kindness in trying to save me from this misery, but I cannot put you in an unjust position. This act of violating the law and military regulations, how can I let you do it? It goes against the teachings of the sages, and I cannot do it."

After a flowery speech, Han Gang bowed deeply again, completing the etiquette. Without waiting for Xiang An's response, he turned and walked away, waving to Wang Shunchen, Zhao Long, and others, "It's fine. Let's go to the camp!"

Wang Shunchen was still in shock, and Zhao Long's mouth had not closed. Hearing Han Gang speak, they followed him in a daze. After a few steps, they realized, 'How did we become his followers?'

The civilian laborers also followed the mule carts behind, leaving Xiang An, whose expression was changing, behind. Unconsciously, Han Gang's leadership had been recognized by everyone.

Wang Shunchen was a man who prided himself on his abilities. He had taken on Wu Yan's task because he admired Han Gang's skills and courage in the military storehouse and wanted to make Chen Ju uncomfortable. But now, looking at Han Gang walking ahead, he felt more admiration. Ignoring the battle in Pei Valley for the moment, his performance against Xiang Ronggui and Xiang An was enough to make Wang Shunchen bow in respect.

Zhao Long was also amazed and sighed, staring at Han Gang's back. He was not a coward; if he faced a hundred Western bandits alone, he would still fight. But if he faced his own military officer, even a patrol officer, he would not dare to disobey, let alone a military commander, for fear of involving his family.

But a poor scholar with no background had refused temptation and threats with righteous words, leaving a military commander's trusted household slave speechless. Zhao Long, who had read a few years of books and had the courtesy name 'Zijian,' suddenly remembered a few words from Mencius: 'A man of high moral character cannot be swayed by poverty and low status, cannot be tempted by wealth and power, and cannot be intimidated by force. Such a man is a true man.'

Han Gang walked ahead with a proud and solemn expression, but his heart was already smiling. He remembered a phrase he had heard in his previous life: "A salesperson sells not just the product but also themselves." Han Gang's status had changed, but he still knew how to sell himself! An opportunity sent by heaven, how could he not seize it?

He had offended the yamen clerk, the county magistrate, and the military commander. Han Gang was now in a position where he had nothing to lose, because his situation could not get worse, and he had the confidence. For a poor scholar without official status or background, reputation was everything. With a good reputation, his position would be as solid as a rock, immune to power and wealth.

Han Gang pursued reputation! His challenge to Chen Ju had already spread throughout the city. Now, challenging Xiang Bao, would his reputation not spread throughout the Qin-Feng Road? Once his reputation for not fearing power and serving the country loyally was established, who could touch him? Chen Ju? Or Xiang Bao?

The case of the military storehouse, the battle in Pei Valley, and the arrow just now, once these three events were widely known, he, Han Gang, would be a significant figure in Qin Prefecture!