Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 259 - 250: Go Upstream, Straight to the Capital!

Chapter 259: Chapter 250: Go Upstream, Straight to the Capital!

After Zhang San entered the city, he had all the escorted officials locked up in prison.

As Hu Feipan had died, the prison guards who were watching the cells were reluctant to mistreat these wrongfully accused prisoners, so they secretly released them, telling their superiors that they had died of illness.

After all, those above did not care about the survival of those below.

Thus, the cells in Fuling City were now very empty, providing ample space for these officials to reside comfortably.

"The fourteen Governors and thirty-nine County Magistrates ordered for capture by Kaihuang’s edict, except for Governor Chen Fei and County Magistrate Chen Yue who assembled Martial Artists to arrest and resist, are now all locked up here."

After Zhang San had completed the handover, he smiled at the people in the cell and said,

"During the journey hereafter, I hope none of you gentlemen have thoughts of running away or resisting. After all, capturing you was the emperor’s will. If you do not follow the imperial edict, we will have to disregard your lives."

Half a month ago, only Martial Artists in Chuan-Yu Road were fearful when they heard the name Zhang San.

But now, all the officials in Chuan-Yu Road couldn’t help trembling at the mention of his name.

At that moment, a young voice emerged from the cell.

"Military Chief Zhang, such statements can be seen as threatening the suspects. Although they were captured under Kaihuang’s orders, they have not been convicted; hence, they are not death row inmates. Even if they were, you can’t just dispose of them at will before the execution."

Then, a fair-skinned young official accompanied by several experts from the Ministry of Punishment approached.

The man bowed to Zhang San and said, "I am Shang Bufa from the Ministry of Punishment. The Ministry has specifically assigned me to assist the Town Martial Office in escorting these officials to the Capital."

The Ministry of Punishment was the stronghold of Legalism.

In theory, this man should have been an ally.

But his immediate confrontation made Zhang San doubtful that this fair-faced man was on his side.

"Shang Bufa? That name sounds rather illegal."

Shang Bufa’s name was a family joke during his childhood, but once outside the home, no one dared to mock the name of a member of the Merchant Clan.

Yet, to his astonishment, upon meeting the famous Zhang San of Chuan-Yu Road, his name was immediately mocked.

"In ’The Book of Lord Shang,’ it is said: ’Governance is not tied to a single doctrine, and the state does not necessarily follow ancient laws.’ Thus, my name, Bufa, means there is no need to imitate the ancient laws, but we must learn to progress with the times and promote the advancement of legalism."

Zhang San did not expect that such a ridiculous name could have a rationale.

"Then why not call yourself ’Shang Yidao’? No, this ’Bu’ character is significant; why not call yourself ’Shang Budao’ instead?"

Seeing the other’s fair face turning somewhat ashen, Zhang San nudged Big Head Wang beside him and asked, "Fifth brother, do you know why his name isn’t ’Shang Budao’?"

Big Head Wang instantly grasped Zhang San’s joke and quickly responded while deliberately muffling the sound of the word ’know’: "’Budao’—wow!"

Shang Bufa’s expression was very unpleasant.

As they all walked out of the cell and were at a distance from it, Shang Bufa came closer to Zhang San and whispered, "Military Chief Zhang, although it is disrespectful to joke about my name, I know you are unrefined. Still, there are some words of wisdom I must share with you."

Zhang San glanced at Shang Bufa; even after such insults, he still maintained an appearance of returning kindness for offense.

Was he truly from the Legalist Merchant Clan or from Confucianism?

"Military Chief Zhang might not be familiar with the Capital, let alone the intricate interpersonal relationships within it. Since the emperor has only ordered the escort of these people back to the Capital, it’s highly likely they won’t die. They might just be interrogated and could either be reassigned elsewhere or reinstated after some time. Essentially, nothing much would happen. But by offending them like this, you might easily face retaliation in the future."

Zhang San smiled and asked, "As officials, using public office for private gain and taking revenge on others, doesn’t the Ministry of Punishment manage this?"

With a single statement, Zhang San had stumped Shang Bufa.

"Although, well, um... Our Ministry of Punishment naturally tries its best to protect everyone from unlawful harm, but Military Chief Zhang, I think you need to be careful as well."

Zhang San nodded and said, "Okay, I will be careful. Additionally, I’m curious, is your Merchant Clan descended from Shang Yang?"

Shang Bufa’s face showed difficulty.

"Military Chief Zhang, remember, never bring up this issue in front of people from the Merchant Clan. I don’t like to lie, and to be frank, Shang Yang had no descendants, but there were already people using Shang as the surname in Shang Yu, Shang Yang’s fief. Hence, later on, a major Shang-surnamed clan emerged in the lands of Shang Yu and claimed to be descendants of Shang Yang, calling themselves the Shang Clan. Perhaps they felt that such a base lie was too clumsy, so they styled themselves as the Merchant Clan. Therefore, while the Merchant Clan nominally carries on what Shang Yang taught and transmitted, in reality, the connection with Shang Yang is merely nominal." [Annotation 78]

"I see, you’re just adding lustre to your own face. Understood, I’ll be careful with my words in the future."

After speaking, Zhang San left with Big Head Wang and Wang Ziteng.

Meanwhile, Shang Bufa watched Zhang San’s departing figure and couldn’t help feeling that this man seemed to be the troublemaker type.

You really pick the most unpleasant things to say!

Shang Bufa instructed the skilled personnel from the Ministry of Punishment to guard near the prison to prevent anyone from attempting a jailbreak or committing murder to silence others.

Just as Shang Bufa had turned a corner at a wall, suddenly, a sack was thrown over his head, and he was thrown to the ground and brutally beaten.

At the same time, in the countryside outside the town, Long Xutuo finally saw his disciple, Young Pei, return in high spirits.

"Xi Fu, I’m so awesome! I just defeated one hundred and twenty-three Dirty Three by myself! Am I awesome or what?"

"Amazing, amazing, go and pack up your things, we’re setting out tonight to escort these officials to the Capital."

By late afternoon, Third Miss Gan had gathered all the key people together.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Commander Wei from Sword South Path has already secured us a boat. Along the way, many have likely faced assassination attempts—clearly, someone does not wish for these officials to arrive alive in the Capital. Thus, we will take the waterway. Now, everyone go and pack immediately, we leave in an hour, no delays allowed!"

"Yes!"

After everyone responded, they all dispersed.

Third Miss Gan noticed that the young and pretty-faced Shang Bufa, whom she had just met yesterday, had a face bruised purple and blue, probably from being beaten.

Considering that he was from the Ministry of Punishment and a member of the Merchant Clan.

It must have been Zhang San who did this!

Except for this fellow, no one else would dare strike a member of Legalism.

She just hoped they wouldn’t have any friction on the way, since, after all, when the time came for them to travel by water, the real officials might not take the water route.

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[Annotation 78] A Brief Introduction to Legalism

Shang Yang assisted Duke Xiao of Qin in implementing reforms that greatly improved the state’s legal system in Qin, to such an extent that after the death of Duke Xiao, Shang Yang realized his life was in danger. While trying to flee and seeking shelter in an inn, he couldn’t stay because of the laws he himself had established that required identification, leading to his arrest and brutal execution by being torn apart by chariots for trumped-up charges of treason.

This is the origin of the idiom "to be hoisted by one’s own petard."

Of course, it wasn’t just Shang Yang who was killed; his entire family was executed, leaving no surviving relatives.