Chapter 83

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In the evening, the old messenger entered the alley with a bundle, saw that the courtyard gate was still locked, and took out the key to open it.

Upon entering, he saw that in the group of four, the monk was sitting cross-legged in meditation; the black giant was lifting the millstone in the courtyard to exercise his arms, and at that moment, he was glaring at him.

"Where are the other two?" Before the old messenger finished speaking, he heard a door creak behind him. Turning his head, he saw the third person, Chen Ke. Chen Ke was a full head taller than him, giving a strong sense of pressure.

"There's another brother, born in the Year of the Monkey, who can't stay at home," Chen Ke said, "Old sir, don't worry about him."

"You are really cautious," the old messenger said with a heavy Hunan accent, muttering as he entered the house. Having lived for many years, how could he not see that Chen Ke and the others were guarding against being betrayed by him?

"Old sir, please forgive us, we have no other intentions, we are just like birds that have been startled," Chen Ke apologized with a bow, "We came to visit our relatives happily, but unexpectedly, such an incident occurred."

"Ah, it's no wonder. Who wouldn't be shocked by such a disaster?" The old messenger was over fifty, with a yellow and emaciated face. He took off his headwrap, placed the bundle on the table, and picked up the teapot to drink a bellyful of cold tea.

After he finished drinking, Chen Ke asked, "I haven't had the pleasure of knowing your esteemed name, old sir."

"My name is Wang Jingu, but I'm not at all precious," the old messenger smiled, "Are you Chen Dalin's third son?"

"How did you know?"

"Ha ha, Dalin talks about you four brothers all the time," Wang Jingu stroked his beard and smiled, "Though I haven't met you, your appearances are vivid in my mind. The black giant outside must be Wulang, right?"

"That's right..." Chen Ke's face darkened, "Old sir, what exactly did my father do wrong?"

"Ah, it's a matter of losing one's head," Wang Jingu also looked gloomy, "Ten days ago, a military convoy bound for Shaoguan was robbed by bandits. Among the officials escorting it, only Dalin, the chief, returned."

"Shortly after departure, Dalin was struck by malaria. Everyone was afraid he would be in danger in the mountains, so they left him to rest at a post station. As a result, Dalin escaped with his life and was carried back to Hengyang by the fleeing civilians and soldiers."

"As soon as he arrived in Hengyang, Dalin was thrown into prison by the judicial officials, who suspected him of colluding with the bandits and giving them information," Wang Jingu sighed, "It's said that the Inspectorate has already drafted a death sentence and is sending it to the capital for approval."

"..." Chen Ke was silent for a long time, never expecting that Chen Xiliang would be in such trouble. After a while, he raised his head and said, "My father would never do such a thing!"

"Of course I believe you, otherwise I wouldn't have let you come to my house," Wang Jingu sighed, "Not only do I not believe it, but everyone in the county who knows Dalin knows it's nonsense. Unfortunately, we are just commoners, and the Inspectorate doesn't listen to us." He added, somewhat ashamed, "They even say that anyone who pleads for him is an accomplice..."

"Ridiculous!" Chen Ke slammed his hand on the already wobbly table, breaking it apart, "I will go to the government office tomorrow and ask them what evidence they have to convict my father!"

"Oh, young master, you really have a short temper," Wang Jingu, though old, moved quickly, catching the teapot with one hand and the bundle with the other before the table collapsed, "In these chaotic times, who cares about evidence?" He placed the items on an empty chair and continued, "Although our Song Dynasty doesn't practice collective punishment, if the government interrogates you for a few days, you'll end up neither human nor ghost."

"You're right, if I rush in blindly, it won't help at all and will only make me completely passive," Chen Ke frowned, pacing around the room, "I need to understand the whole situation first."

As he pondered and paced, Wang Jingu almost got dizzy. Finally, Chen Ke stopped and asked, "How many people were in that convoy?"

"More than seven hundred civilians and more than four hundred soldiers," Wang Jingu replied.

"Such a large group could still be robbed?" Chen Ke frowned, "Are the bandits in this area very bold?"

"No, the road from Hengyang to Chenzhou and then to Shaoguan is the official road to Guangnan East. Although there are many mountain paths, in recent years, only a few travelers have been robbed, but no one has dared to rob the government," Wang Jingu shook his head, "But times have changed. In these chaotic times, it's possible that bandits are taking advantage of the situation."

"Was there any well-known bandit gang before?" Chen Ke asked again.

"No, I haven't heard of any," Wang Jingu shook his head, "Why do you ask, Third Son?"

"This kind of operation isn't something a small bandit gang could pull off," Chen Ke said solemnly, "It would take a gang of over a thousand people to dare to do this."

"Right," Wang Jingu nodded, "The civilians who returned said that the mountains were full of bandits, which scared them into dropping the supplies and running away."

"From the fall of Yongzhou to now, it's only been two months. Even if a new bandit gang formed in these two months, it wouldn't have the strength."

"You have a point," Wang Jingu stroked his beard, "This powerful bandit gang seems to have appeared out of nowhere."

"There's another question," Chen Ke said, "What about the losses of the civilians and soldiers?"

"Just a few were shot dead at the beginning, most of them ran away unharmed," Wang Jingu sighed, "They fled at the first sign of trouble, which is how the two Guang regions were lost."

"How many officials were escorting the convoy?" Chen Ke asked.

"Besides Dalin, there were five others, none of whom returned," Wang Jingu sighed, "But that's normal. The officials were in carriages. When the bandits rolled down the rocks, the carriages were blocked on the mountain road. When the arrows started flying, the civilians and soldiers scattered, leaving the officials behind."

"But they shouldn't have all failed to return," Chen Ke shook his head, "It doesn't make sense."

"What do you think happened?" Wang Jingu scratched his head.

"I don't know..." Chen Ke shook his head.

"Seems like I wasted my breath," Wang Jingu deflated, "Let's eat, the rice I bought is getting cold." He spread out the bundle, revealing six lotus leaf-wrapped meals, "In these times, I can't treat you to a big feast, just enough to fill your stomachs."

"Thank you, old sir," Chen Ke took out a piece of silver from his sleeve, "I can't let you pay for it."

Although prices in the city were high, a piece of silver could still buy dozens of such meals. Wang Jingu quickly shook his head, "It's my duty to treat the son of Dalin."

"I never take back money once I've taken it out," Chen Ke shook his head, "Take it."

"Ah," Wang Jingu readily took it and smiled, "Dalin was right, Third Son is generous."

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Wang Jingu left one lotus leaf-wrapped meal, and Chen Ke took the rest to the courtyard. It was already dark outside. Chen Ke waved at Xuan Yu, the monk, and asked, "Still observing the noon fast?" The little monk hadn't eaten anything since noon the previous day.

Although he was starving and dizzy, Xuan Yu still firmly shook his head, "Amitabha, brother, I won't eat."

Chen Ke still threw him a lotus leaf-wrapped meal, "Take it for breakfast tomorrow." He gave one to Wulang, "Go give it to your Monkey brother."

Wulang nodded and left the courtyard.

Chen Ke squatted on a stone bench in the courtyard, unfolded a lotus leaf, and while eating the rice, he fell into deep thought.

The current situation was extremely difficult. How could they, a few young men with no power or support, save their father, Chen Xiliang? How could they prove his innocence and make the officials believe it? It was like a tiger trying to eat the sky, with no idea where to start.

"Troublesome..." Chen Ke threw the half-eaten lotus leaf-wrapped meal far away, holding his head in frustration, "Who can give me a solution!"

After a moment, he heard a voice, "Amitabha, the one who tied the bell must untie it..."

Chen Ke looked up in surprise at the little monk Xuan Yu, "What did you say?"

"Brother, I said the one who tied the bell must untie it," Xuan Yu repeated, and to make sure he understood, he explained, "One day, Master Fayan asked the assembly, 'Who can untie the golden bell on the tiger's neck?' No one could answer. Master Taiqin happened to be there, and when Master Fayan repeated the question, Master Taiqin said, 'The one who tied it can untie it.'"

"Ah, little monk!" Chen Ke immediately understood, wanting to kiss the little monk's bald head, "You really don't show your true self!"

"Brother is too focused on the situation," Xuan Yu humbly said, "I am just an observer."

"Too humble..." Chen Ke suddenly paused, "Wait, I didn't say anything, how do you know everything?"

"Since I was young, I have practiced," Xuan Yu honestly said, "My hearing is sharper than that of ordinary people."

"So everything we said in the house," Chen Ke opened his mouth wide, "You heard it all?"

"Most of it," Xuan Yu said.

"Amazing!" He and Wang Jingu had spoken in low voices, yet the little monk could still hear the gist of it. Chen Ke was amazed and suspicious, "So, everything I said to your Monkey brother on the boat, you heard it all?" Including the talk about luring the little monk to 'return to secular life'.

"Amitabha," Xuan Yu put his hands together, "I heard what I should hear, and didn't hear what I shouldn't."

"Hey..." Chen Ke couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You monks are also seemingly loyal and honest!"

"It's all learned from you, brother," Xuan Yu smiled, putting on his hat.

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