Mirage

23. Commander Yao triumphs in a single night | Iron Mouth Lei reads faces and predicts lives

After Du Chong in Chaozhou heard that the daughter of Academy student Tao had died as a result of Mola’s savage debauchery, he seethed with hatred. On the evening when he learned that Mola had been defeated and three of his generals killed, he gave out that he had to conduct a street inspection, then went alone and by a circuitous route to the assistant salt comptroller’s office and called at Tao’s house next door. Tao invited him in and asked his name. “Don’t be too shocked when I tell you. I’m Du Chong, on the staff of Prince Daguang, in charge of the palace gates. I’ve come here specially to talk to you about something.” Tao was quick to bow. “So you’re Master Du. I didn’t realize—please forgive me.” He went on, “Master Du, what instructions do you have for me, coming here so late at night?” “I’m under secret orders from His Majesty. Because the army’s rations are running low, he has set seventy thousand as the contribution for each rich household and big property owner in the city, fifty thousand for each affluent household, and thirty thousand for each well-off one. You are on our list as affluent, so you will need to contribute fifty thousand. I know you’re a good man, and I was afraid you might not be able to lay your hands on that much money at short notice. I’ve come to warn you in advance, so that you can get your contribution ready in good time and be sure to send it in.” Tao Zhuo was aghast. “But His Majesty has it all wrong, sir! I’m solely 23 CommandeR yao tRiumphs in a single night iRon mouth lei Reads faCes and pRediCts lives Mirage-FA02_13Jan2014.indd 345 15/1/14 11:31 AM 346 | Mirage dependent for a living on the rent from some three thousand mu of barren land. These last few years there’s been constant fighting, and my tenants haven’t had a grain of rice to bring to town—all of it went in taxes. Not only do I not have fifty thousand in the house, my own life is not worth half that amount! I beseech you to plead poverty in my case. My whole family will be grateful.” “That would be a mistake. Once His Majesty has issued a military order, no one dares to try and get it revoked. If you’re short by as little as a single cash, I’m afraid your whole family will be executed.” “But I’ve never had any feud with His Majesty,” said Tao, shedding tears. “Why does he feel it necessary to take my life away bit by bit?” “His Majesty has never forced you to pay any levies before. How can you say such a thing?” “He may not have made me pay any levies, but he did take my daughter ’s life.” “How did that happen? Tell me the truth, and I’ll try to help you.” “It’s a tragic story.” He proceeded to tell how his daughter had gone out to look at the lanterns and how she had then been brought to her death. “In that case, I suppose the Second Defender’s death in battle yesterday was retribution for what happened to your daughter.” “But he’s not the one that I blame!” “Who is, then?” “I’m sorry, that was just a slip of the tongue. It is Defender Heng.” “Look, you needn’t try to deceive me. I have the same enemy as you. Because he abducted four concubines, I pretended to offer him my allegiance in the hope of carrying out my own vengeance. If you have something in mind, you might as well tell me about it.” Tao still refused to trust him. Not until Du Chong had stabbed his own arm and sworn an oath did he finally say: “There’s no evil that baldheaded bandit won’t stoop to. The whole city is seething with hatred for him. We’re planning to get a crowd together and then, when General Yao’s army arrives, we’ll throw open the gates and surrender. My only fear is that the bandit is so powerful that they won’t be able to capture him.” “You mustn’t be too hasty, though. Wait until he’s beaten back inside the city, and then we’ll...