Green Mountain
Chapter 213 - 168, all killed

Chapter 213: 168, all killed

In the courtyard, Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin walked back and forth under the persimmon tree, while Old Yao moved a chair to rest with his eyes closed, not lifting his eyelids once.

At this moment, Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin caught sight of Mr. Feng’s followers, Chen Wenzong, Chen Wenxiao, and Zhang Xia, their eyes practically bursting with rage.

Beside Zhang Zhuo, a young man, driven mad, rushed forward, "You beasts, let go of my sister! If you have issues, take it out on the men of the Zhang Family, why bully a woman?"

Mr. Feng watched the young man approach without any intention of avoiding him, and slowly raised his hand, ready to strike.

At a critical moment, Chen Ji stepped in front of Mr. Feng and punched the young man in the stomach.

The young man doubled over abruptly, vomiting uncontrollably.

Chen Ji said coldly, "How dare you be disrespectful to Mr. Feng? You’re seeking death."

Mr. Feng patted Chen Ji on the shoulder, appreciating, "You do have a sharp eye. Move aside, I’d like to have a talk with these two officials."

After that, his gaze swept across the faces of Zhang Zhuo, Chen Liqin, and Old Yao, eventually settling back on Zhang Zhuo, "Lord Zhang, I’ve always heard of your unparalleled talent in chess, care for a game? I’m afraid after today, there might not be a chance to play chess with you again."

Zhang Zhuo, helping his continuously vomiting son, retorted irritably, "At a time like this, you still want to play chess? What you should be doing now is protecting your mother!"

Mr. Feng froze, then burst into loud laughter, "Ah, you civil servants, always so indirect when insulting people, not quite satisfying."

He then nonchalantly sat down at a stone table in the courtyard and, looking up at She Dengke with a smile, said, "Young man, would you mind pouring me a cup of tea? I’ve been so busy all day that I haven’t had a sip of water."

She Dengke readily responded and hurriedly went to fetch water from the Covered Building at Feiyun Garden.

Zhang Zhuo steered his son to one side and settled down boldly opposite Mr. Feng, challenging him, "I’ve heard you’re a scholar as well. Why waste ten years of arduous study to take on such a risky job incognito?"

Chen Liqin added coldly from the side, "Back in our Donglin Academy days, the masters often praised you, so why sink so low now, becoming a house slave for the Liu Family?"

Mr. Feng sighed, "The Donglin Academy... I was envious of you all back in those days."

"Envious of what?"

Mr. Feng reminisced, "You could go out for spring outings, drink wine and recite poetry, indulge in drunken stupors at brothels and still return as the masters’ treasured students."

Chen Liqin frowned, "Those are common occurrences, what’s there to envy?"

Mr. Feng began counting on his fingers, "For a spring outing, you’d need to hire a horse carriage; for a poor one, it would cost thirty coins for a trip, while a better carriage could cost hundreds. At the taverns, the wine you all like to drink easily costs hundreds of coins. I made it to Donglin Academy only after selling family land to gather tuition fee. How could I afford to squander money on such things?"

Zhang Zhuo countered, "I come from a similarly humble background, but that’s not a reason to serve others like a house slave."

Mr. Feng sneered, "Could you have achieved your status today without marrying the Xu Family’s daughter? Even when you were the top scholar, didn’t Official Xu keep you buried in books serving as an Academy Secretary for years? Enough of these past grievances, let’s get to the matter at hand."

Zhang Zhuo asked gravely, "What exactly do you plan to do with us imprisoned?"

Mr. Feng replied indifferently, "I would like to request that you two write a proclamation calling for the extermination of a rebel."

"Which rebel?"

"Xu Wenhe, Wu Xiu, Ritual Supervision, Eunuch Party!"

Zhang Zhuo, no fool, took a deep breath, "Are you looking to enter the capital under the guise of purging the emperor’s side?"

Mr. Feng just smiled without a word.

She Dengke brought over the tea and Mr. Feng guzzled a cup before handing it back, "Indeed, I’m thirsty; pour me some more."

Zhang Zhuo, watching Mr. Feng’s composed manner, grew slightly angry, "Do you realize that if I write this proclamation against the rebels, I would become a rebel myself? If your cause fails, I too would lose my head."

Mr. Feng admitted calmly, "I am aware."

Zhang Zhuo sat up straight, "If you want to enlist our support, we should talk terms. We can’t just write at your command."

Mr. Feng earnestly proposed, "Lord Zhang, if you write the proclamation for me, I will spare your entire family; how about that?"

The atmosphere in Feiyun Garden turned abruptly quiet, a chilling wind circling in the courtyard as the mood grew tense.

Then Zhang Zhuo scoffed, "The Liu Family starting a rebellion in haste will surely fail. What difference does it make whether my family is executed sooner or later?"

Mr. Feng shook his head, "The Ning Dynasty may seem prosperous, but in truth, it’s decaying. This vast empire is like a candle in the wind, easily extinguished with a single breath, it’s just a matter of who breathes on it."

Zhang Zhuo stood up, straightening his crimson official robe, "It’s not wise to make enemies before securing victory. If you slaughter my family, you make an enemy of the Xu Family. When caught between enemies, how can you purify the imperial side?"

Mr. Feng, curious, "Do you really think the Xu Family would oppose us for your sake? A family is a family, they don’t care about one person’s gains or losses, only about what is beneficial, that’s how they thrive. The Liu Family plans to share power with the Xu and Chen families, and I’m sure Officials Xu and Chen would be interested."

Zhang Zhuo coldly encouraged, "By all means, give it a try."

Disappointed, Mr. Feng shook his head and turned to Chen Liqin, "Mr. Chen, what do you say?"

Official Chen Liqin solemnly said, "My Chen family has passed down the traditions of literature and propriety for generations. How can we possibly defile ourselves by associating with the likes of you?"

Mr. Feng oh’d and said, "It seems that no one will shed tears until they see the coffin... Mr. Chen, your son Chen Ji is in my hands. At my command, his head will hit the ground. I will give you time for ten breaths to think it over. After ten breaths, you will be one son short."

Chen Ji was slightly startled, before he realized Mr. Feng was trying to deceive Chen Liqin.

Mr. Feng counted down, "Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one."

Chen Liqin’s face darkened, and he remained silent.

Mr. Feng sighed, "A bastard truly is a bastard. Everyone says our Ning Dynasty doesn’t differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate children. Even if there is a distinction, there should be paternal kindness and filial piety, brotherly friendship and fraternal respect. But the great scholars always have one set of ideals in their mouths and another in their hearts, one face in front and another behind. Only when it comes down to it do you really know if there’s a difference."

He then turned to Chen Ji and said, "Zhang Yuan, go and kill Mr. Chen’s bastard son."

Chen Ji bowed and said solemnly, "Yes."

Before Chen Ji could leave, Zhang Zhuo suddenly spoke up, "Hold on!"

Mr. Feng turned around in surprise, "Oh? Does Lord Zhang have something to say?"

Zhang Zhuo thought for a moment and said, "That Chen Ji has long severed ties with the Chen family and has been staying at Taiping Medical Hall for many years, never returning home. What does this matter have to do with him? If you claim to be righteous and purify the monarch’s side, why involve an innocent in such a cruel and unjust act? Doctor Yao, isn’t that so?"

Old Yao, who had been sitting in a chair in the courtyard, finally opened his eyes and said slowly, "Mr. Feng, why don’t I write that decree for you instead?"

Mr. Feng was speechless.

After a long while, he said with a wry smile, "You all are confusing me. Why haven’t the fathers pleaded for mercy yet, while you two are more concerned than they are? Doctor Yao, a decree from an Imperial Physician is of no use; please stay out of this."

Old Yao glanced at him, "At least I am of the Seventh Rank."

Mr. Feng laughed, "If I use a decree from an Imperial Physician to execute rebels and wave the big banner, I’m afraid I would become the laughing stock of everyone. Even the storytellers in the teahouses would mock me: ’Feng Wenzheng isn’t too bright.’"

Zhang Zhuo raised an eyebrow, "Then don’t trouble a mere apprentice from a small medical hall. That would be the act of a petty man."

"Indeed," Mr. Feng’s gaze shifted and he instructed Chen Ji, "Bring Mr. Chen’s legitimate son over."

"Yes," Chen Ji brought Chen Wenxiao over to the stone table and asked, "My lord, what shall we do?"

Mr. Feng sniffed his nose and said, "Wait, what is that smell?"

Looking down, he saw Chen Wenxiao’s pants were dripping with urine.

Mr. Feng waved his hand in front of his nose in distaste, "Move him farther away and cut off one of his fingers."

Chen Wenxiao cried out as if struck by lightning, "Father, save me!"

Chen Ji pulled Chen Wenxiao under a persimmon tree, and pressed his fingers down to the ground one by one, pinning them with his foot.

He drew his dagger from his waist and raised it to chop.

Suddenly, Chen Liqin stepped forward, "Wait!"

Mr. Feng’s eyes lit up, "What say you?"

Chen Liqin was silent for a long time before saying, "I can write the decree, but I will only call for the elimination of the Eunuch Party. I will not take part in anything else."

Mr. Feng clapped his hands, "Good, good, good! The Eunuch Party has misled the country for a long time, and all righteous people should exterminate them! Compared to Lord Zhang, Mr. Chen is indeed a truly enlightened scholar!"

Zhang Zhuo said coldly from the side, "Chen Liqin, have you thought this through? If you bow down today, you will never lift your head again for the rest of your life. You’ve always cherished your reputation more than I, what’s happening now?"

Chen Liqin turned his head away without saying a word.

Mr. Feng smiled at Zhang Zhuo, "Lord Zhang, everyone has their own aspirations. If we successfully purify the emperor’s side this time, won’t Mr. Chen also be remembered in history? What do you think, are you willing to write the decree?"

Zhang Zhuo turned his head to look at his son, "Should I write it?"

Zhang Zheng angrily said, "Write my ass!"

Zhang Zhuo then turned his head to look at his daughter, "Girl, what do you think?"

Zhang Xia pursed her lips, "We cannot write it."

Zhang Zhuo laughed out loud, "At least my son and daughter can still make me proud. They’re much better than Mr. Chen’s!"

Mr. Feng got up to leave, "No matter, Mr. Chen’s decree is enough. Take Mr. Chen and his family away."

An armored soldier asked quietly, "What about the others..."

Mr. Feng indifferently replied, "Kill them all."