Chapter 12: Come On, Take Twenty Lashes

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Yun Liwan arrived, his large belly protruding, his face coarse and fierce, exuding a menacing aura. Accompanied by seven or eight soldiers, he strode directly into the main hall of the government office. Ximen Qing followed closely behind.

Su Wu merely smiled and said, “It seems, Master Ximen, that this business has taken quite a turn…”

But Ximen Qing no longer wore the earlier timid expression. He held his head high, chest out, with a folded fan pressed to his chest, declaring, “With Commander Yun here, everything will be properly addressed.”

Yun Liwan turned to look at Su Wu. “Captain Su, I always thought you were a straightforward man, but now you’re so aggressive. Looks like I misjudged you.”

Though Su Wu and Yun Liwan were not subordinate to one another, they were no strangers. Su Wu calmly replied, “Commander Yun, you’d better keep your younger brother close by. Serving in the army is one thing, but if he continues to drift in the streets, he will regret it deeply someday.”

Yun Liwan had expected his earlier words to intimidate Su Wu, but instead, Su Wu turned the tables and lectured him. Yun Liwan was genuinely surprised—had Su Wu really changed after dealing with the tiger?

“Go and send a message: tell them that I have come to pay respects to County Magistrate Meng,” Yun Liwan commanded, as was his usual manner of ordering Su Wu.

The implication was clear: Yun Liwan wanted to speak with Su Wu’s superior, unwilling to waste time arguing with Su Wu.

Although in the Song Dynasty military and civil officials were no longer on equal footing, officially Commander Yun Liwan and Magistrate Meng Yi were peers, and Su Wu, a minor clerk, was hardly worthy of attention.

Su Wu responded calmly, “Commander Yun, please proceed to the rear office to pay your respects. There, the gate attendants will inform you.”

Yun Liwan frowned. What was this about?

Ximen Qing stepped forward, scolding, “Su Wu, you’re quite bold to think yourself someone important.”

Wu Song stepped up as well. “And who are you to play big in front of my brother?”

Noticing Wu Song’s clenched fist, Ximen Qing instinctively stepped back and looked to Yun Liwan.

Yun Liwan hesitated, unwilling to cause a brawl in the county office. He stepped forward and muttered, “It’s easy to see the magistrate, but dealing with this brat is troublesome…”

With that, the group headed towards the rear office.

At this moment, Dong Jian grew worried. “Captain, if they go on like that, the magistrate might believe their side and blame us…”

Su Wu was unperturbed. “There’s a divide within this office. For matters inside, Magistrate Yi relies on us…”

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Dong Jian nodded. “True. Captain, you just achieved great merit; the magistrate shouldn’t be unfair.”

Before long, Magistrate Meng Yi and Commander Yun Liwan arrived at the front hall. Meng Yi took his seat and raised his voice, “What exactly is going on here?”

Dong Jian was quick to step forward and explain the situation.

Meng Yi looked over the group and turned to Ximen Qing. “Is this true?”

Ximen Qing glanced at Yun Liwan, who stepped forward to speak. “My brother was handing out some promissory notes in the market, which is not unreasonable. The customary rules of nine out, thirteen back were not broken. Debtors refusing to repay or being pressured isn’t unusual. Your Honor has clear insight…”

“Did he force anyone to sell their wife?” Meng Yi asked sharply.

“Absolutely not,” Ximen Qing answered confidently.

Su Wu calmly added, “The debtor, Cheng San, is still in the county jail. There are many onlookers outside who witnessed the events firsthand. Shall we summon them for questioning?”

Meng Yi listened to Su Wu, then glanced at Yun Liwan, awaiting his response.

Yun Liwan’s face darkened as he looked to Ximen Qing, clearly aware of the truth. He said to the magistrate, “Your Honor, perhaps my brother did go too far this time, but it’s nothing serious. Gamblers like him are hardly respectable. I beg you to show mercy this once for my sake. He won’t dare offend again.”

Meng Yi looked at Su Wu, who nodded in agreement.

Raising his hand, Meng Yi struck the gavel with a sharp sound. “Street quarrels are minor matters. A small punishment is sufficient. Release the man; that is the judgment.”

With that, Meng Yi rose and left.

Yun Liwan bowed respectfully to see Meng Yi off, then shot a fierce glare at Su Wu before storming out, truly carrying the air of an important man.

Ximen Qing did not leave, for he awaited the release, but a smile now played on his lips as he opened his fan. “It seems, Captain Su, your power is limited after all…”

Su Wu smiled but remained silent, only saying, “Someone, go fetch Yun Lishou…”

Dong Jian reluctantly went to bring the man, taking some time.

Yun Lishou was delighted upon seeing Su Wu and immediately said, “Su Wu, remember this grudge between us—I will never let it go.”

But Su Wu suddenly declared, “Come on, twenty strokes of the rod, then send him on his way.”

Wu Song was first to step forward and pin Yun Lishou down, while Dong Jian quickly fetched the water and fire punishment rod.

Ximen Qing was shocked. “How dare you? The magistrate ordered the release!”

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“Where’s my brother? Where’s my brother?” Yun Lishou panicked, frantically searching left and right.

Meanwhile, Dong Jian struck with the water and fire rod.

With each blow, Yun Lishou howled, “Ah, my dear mother…”

Ximen Qing dashed out of the office, looking around but failing to find Commander Yun. Hearing the continued screams from inside, he hurried back into the office and rushed to the rear chamber to request an audience with the magistrate.

But the gate attendant said the magistrate was resting and could not be disturbed.

Hearing the screams, Ximen Qing ran back to the front hall and shouted at Su Wu, “How dare you! Stop this at once! The magistrate has ordered the release!”

Su Wu smiled and said, “Didn’t the magistrate say a light punishment would suffice? This is the punishment.”

“You—you—you… The magistrate didn’t mean this! He said the punishment had already been carried out in the streets!”

Ximen Qing was desperate. If those twenty strokes were really delivered, Yun Lishou might be bedridden for months. Yet suddenly, a thought struck him: what was going on with this magistrate?

“Oh? That’s what it means? Why don’t you go ask the magistrate again?” Su Wu smiled.

“You—you—you…”

“Master Ximen, don’t be anxious. The deal was settled, but you went back on your word. Isn’t this troublesome?” Su Wu knew how to negotiate business.

“All right, all right. No more beating. I’ll go get the money now.” Ximen Qing’s only concern was to rescue Yun Lishou first—after all, he was not only his partner but also a key investor.

“Ten strokes are done. Here’s the deal: if you don’t arrive within half an hour, the remaining ten strokes will be dealt all at once,” Su Wu said.

Ximen Qing took off running…

Meanwhile, Yun Lishou had already fainted on the spot.