Volume One: The Hidden Dragon Chapter Fifteen: The Night Banquet at Gaoling

A few days later, in the main hall of the Left Fengyi Prefecture, lacquered tables were arranged along both sides, already set with wine cups, bowls, and dishes. Several seasonal vegetables and sliced cured meats, passable in appearance, adorned the spread.

County officials from various districts had come to Gao Ling City to pay respects to Liu Heng. They were seated according to rank, grouping with those familiar, speaking in hushed tones while their eyes frequently drifted to the vacant place of honor hanging above the hall.

Time passed slowly, yet the main seat remained empty. An uneasy tension began to stir among the waiting officials: some perspired at their temples; some glanced disdainfully or mockingly at their nervous colleagues; others shifted restlessly as their kneeling legs grew numb; a few maintained a composed demeanor, lifting their wine cups to drink alone.

“His Lordship has arrived!”

A loud call outside shattered the heavy atmosphere inside.

All conversation ceased abruptly. Everyone straightened hurriedly, holding their breath, their gazes fixed on the doorway.

Today, Liu Heng wore no formal official robes, only a dark, simple garment suited for ease of movement, his waist bound with a leather belt. He strolled in leisurely.

Behind him walked four men. On his left, the stooped Jing Bo and the composed Zheng Hun, who carried a thick scroll of bamboo slips, eyes unwavering; on his right, standing with knives ready, were Xu Huang and Chen Shuzhi, both bearing fierce, tiger-like gazes sweeping the room.

Liu Heng proceeded directly to the main seat and sat down. Jing Bo stood behind him, while the other three took their places.

He did not speak immediately. Instead, he picked up a wine cup from the lacquered table, raised his hand to stop Jing Bo—who was about to pour wine—and took the wine jug from him, slowly filling his cup.

“Gentlemen,” he finally spoke, his tone even, revealing no joy or anger, “thank you for coming from afar. Left Fengyi has recently suffered from Qiang incursions, leaving many things in disarray. From now on, many affairs will rely on your united efforts.”

He raised his cup: “This first cup is offered in honor of your arduous journey.”

With that, he tilted his head back and drained the cup.

The officials below, as if granted a pardon, quickly raised their cups in response, murmuring modest refusals and praises, then followed suit in drinking it down.

With the first cup consumed, the atmosphere softened slightly. Some bolder county magistrates began to test the waters with flattering words: “Your Lordship’s divine might has repelled the Qiang barbarians and secured the borders,” “We, your humble servants, follow your lead without question,” and the like.

Liu Heng merely listened, nodding faintly, his expression inscrutable—neither warm nor displeased. He signaled for the attendants to refill everyone’s cups.

At that moment, Zheng Hun rose, placing the thick scroll on the corner of Liu Heng’s table. This action caused several officials who had been discreetly observing Liu Heng to tense sharply.

Liu Heng’s gaze swept across the hall again, a slight smile playing at his lips. He did not touch the bamboo slips Zheng Hun had set down but instead raised his wine cup once more.

“Gentlemen, today’s banquet serves both to welcome you and to discuss affairs. The primary difficulty in Left Fengyi lies in grain and forage. Yet the county granaries have been emptied by the collusion of the Yang bandits and corrupt former officials. I trust all present are aware of this?”

His sudden shift in tone caused the officials’ faces to change dramatically. The atmosphere, which had just eased, stiffened once more.

As if ignoring their reactions, Liu Heng took another sip: “The granaries are empty, yet taxes owed to the court cannot cease. There is no grain in the granaries, but the county soldiers require rations, and the displaced people need relief—everyone awaits the rice to be cooked!”

His voice rose sharply: “I have come from Luoyang under imperial command, bestowed with troops and authority to guard this land and pacify the people—not to clean up the mess left by predecessors or bear the blame for others!”

“Your Lordship! Please calm your anger!”

An elderly county magistrate with graying hair trembled as he rose from his seat and knelt, voice quivering: “The loss of the granaries stems truly from the overwhelming power of the Yang bandits and the negligence of previous officials… Alas, we too share in the fault and accept punishment! However… Your Lordship must understand, the grain reserves across the counties are nearly depleted—it is truly like a skilled housewife trying to cook without rice!”

His lead prompted several other county magistrates and assistants to stand and kneel in turn, voicing complaints and pleas. The hall soon echoed with cries of “Your Lordship’s wisdom,” “It is truly difficult,” and “The granaries are empty,” as if Left Fengyi was already at its last gasp.

Liu Heng sat upright, coldly watching the officials collapse before him without a trace of emotion. When their pleas subsided somewhat, he spoke slowly:

“Oh? A skilled housewife cannot cook without rice? A ‘granary empty’ indeed! And a ‘skilled housewife’ you call yourselves!”

He struck the lacquered table sharply, then rose abruptly to tower over the officials, who displayed a range of expressions. With a harsh snort, he bent to seize the thick bamboo slip Zheng Hun had placed earlier.

“Empty granaries? Hmph!”

He continued, “Do you take me for blind or deaf? How many acres of land are under your governance? How many hidden households? What was the actual harvest last autumn? What do your ledgers record? And among all families, landlords, and merchants, how many hoard and speculate? Hmm?”

With each question, the officials bowed their heads lower.

“Some personal ledgers, every last detail, are right here!”

“Zheng Wen Gong has thoroughly investigated your jurisdictions, uncovering every deceit! Throughout the fourteen counties of Left Fengyi, how much filth and corruption? Xiayang County inflated its land and hid its population; Magistrate Cheng Zhi colluded with landlords to seize good fields; County Captain Zhao Leng forcibly took a woman, driving a family of seven to ruin. Linjin County inflated land reports; Assistant Magistrate Han Yi conspired with unscrupulous merchants to raise grain prices. Zhongquan County Magistrate Zheng Pu embezzled funds and connived with local landlords to plunder the official granary… The evidence is overwhelming!”

His words shattered any last hope among the officials.

“Your Lordship, have mercy! Have mercy!”

A desperate wail suddenly rang out. On the left side near the front, a middle-aged county magistrate wept profusely, crawling forward on his knees to wildly kowtow to Liu Heng, the thuds echoing heavily.

Like the first domino toppled, one after another, seven officials named by Liu Heng collapsed, their cries of despair, pleas for mercy, and excuses melding into a cacophony.

The remaining officials, though still seated, were all inwardly shaken; some turned pale, while only a few maintained composure.

Within the vast hall, aside from the heart-wrenching cries and kowtowing of those seven, only suppressed breathing filled the air.

Liu Heng regarded the pitiful scene with cold eyes, showing no mercy. He said nothing further, letting the despairing cries echo through the chamber.

Finally, when the voices grew hoarse, he slowly set down the bamboo slips.

“Crying? Wailing? Now you are afraid? You should have expected this the moment you reached out your hands!”

His gaze slowly swept over the seven collapsed figures.

“You seven, as imperial officials, failed to serve the state and instead became parasites! Embezzling the treasury, exploiting the people, colluding with landlords, leaving your jurisdictions desolate and granaries empty! Do you think I will spare you? If I do, how can I face the people? How can I be worthy of the emperor’s favor?”

The seven collapsed completely, babbling pleas for mercy.

“Guards!”

Liu Heng’s sharp command rang out.

“Yes, sir!”

Soldiers, who had stood at attention outside, stormed in.

“Strip these seven of their official robes and seals! Imprison them with Wang Xian, Li Bi, and the others. Confiscate their properties. After I report their crimes to the court, we will decide their punishment!”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldiers moved like wolves, roughly dragging the officials from the floor.

Pleading and sobbing grew faint beneath the harsh commands, and soon the seven were removed from the hall.

The remaining officials bowed their heads lower still, not daring to breathe. They knew this was far from over.

Sure enough, Liu Heng’s gaze swept over each of them once more.

“As for the rest of you…”

He paused deliberately, watching their bodies tense.

“You have so far managed to maintain your positions, avoiding disasters as severe as those seven.”

His tone softened slightly.

“However, many have been negligent! Concealing land, failing inspections, allowing merchants to hoard goods, knowing of the granary losses but remaining silent or complicit—these offenses are widespread!”

He picked up the scroll Zheng Hun had organized and flipped to a page, eyes fixed on a name.

“Wang Hu, magistrate of Wannian County!”

The named magistrate shuddered violently, lifting his head in terror.

“Last year, Wannian County reported land nearly thirty percent less than what Zheng Wen Gong found hidden. Explain yourself!”

“I... I... overlooked it! I am guilty! Your Lordship, please show mercy!”

Wang Hu trembled, banging his head on the ground.

“Overlooked? Such a convenient excuse!”

Liu Heng snorted coldly. “Since no major crimes have yet occurred in your county, you may keep your post for now, but your salary is suspended for one year. Within one month, you must register all hidden land and pay back all overdue taxes. Any delay or fraud…”

He trailed off, but his icy glare spoke volumes.

“Thank you, Your Lordship! I will do my utmost, no mistakes!” Wang Hu kowtowed fervently.

Liu Heng turned away, eyes scanning the scroll again.

“Yin Yi, magistrate of Chiyang County!”

A middle-aged official sitting at the back shuddered violently and hastily rose, prostrating himself.

“I am here, Your Lordship!”

“Since last winter, grain prices in Chiyang have soared more than threefold! Merchants hoard goods, raising prices, stirring public outrage! You, as county magistrate, not only failed to stabilize prices but allowed your brother-in-law to profit from this! Is this true?”

Yin Yi was struck dumb, lips trembling. The evidence was undeniable; he had no chance to defend himself.

“Immediately dismiss him!”

Liu Heng decreed without hesitation.

“Imprison him pending trial!”

Soldiers quickly seized the limp magistrate and dragged him away.

One by one, Liu Heng dealt with the officials according to Zheng Hun’s records—naming, reprimanding, ordering reforms, or promoting those meriting it.

Each time a name was called, the remaining officials’ hearts pounded wildly. This process lasted nearly half an hour, the vast hall filled only with Liu Heng’s cold voice, Zheng Hun’s occasional quiet remarks, and the officials’ responses.

When the last official, rewarded for his efforts in epidemic control and maintaining peace, received his orders, silence returned.

Liu Heng slowly sat back in the main seat. The remaining officials wore grave expressions, their eyes a mixture of relief and deep respect for the young lord above them.

For the first time, they clearly understood that Lord Yangwu, the newly appointed Left Fengyi governor, was no pampered noble advancing on family ties alone. He was a true sharp blade of the imperial clan. From this day forward, Liu Heng’s will would be an iron law none in Left Fengyi dared defy.

“As for those who have reached into the county and prefectural granaries,” Liu Heng said solemnly, “I have my own measures. The immediate task for each county is to stabilize the people and restore agriculture! At the same time, all counties shall post notices: throughout Left Fengyi, all land shall be surveyed, displaced people resettled and pacified!”

He looked to Zheng Hun, who had stood silently nearby.

“I appoint you acting prefect, overseeing finances and provisions.”

Liu Heng’s eyes swept the officials below.

“From now on, all documents and records concerning land, taxes, granaries, and the resettlement of displaced persons must be submitted to Zheng Wen Gong for inspection! Anyone hiding, delaying, or neglecting will meet the same fate as those seven!”

“Yes, sir!”

Zheng Hun accepted the order solemnly.

“Yes, Your Lordship, we obey your commands!”

The officials echoed in unison.

The banquet ended somewhat uncomfortably, but with its close, the fearsome reputation of Lord Yangwu Liu Heng spread throughout Left Fengyi.

Thereafter, Zheng Hun’s temporary “Finance Office” became the busiest place in the prefectural government. Documents and ledgers from all counties arrived by swift couriers in piles.

Zheng Hun, with a few shrewd clerks temporarily assigned to him, worked tirelessly. County clerks sent by various magistrates waited anxiously outside his office, prepared at any moment to face questioning or reprimand.

Under this pressure, the land, population, and granary data of Left Fengyi were rapidly clarified. The once chaotic fiscal system was forcibly brought under control.

Liu Heng skimmed the documents, focusing only on the broad strokes. As such tedious matters were not his strength, he entrusted Zheng Hun with the details—a trust that deepened Zheng Hun’s loyalty to his young lord.

Since Zheng Hun took charge of the bureau’s paperwork, Liu Heng spent his days wandering inside and outside the city with Jing Bo.

On one such day, Liu Heng wore a fine linen dark robe with a modest blue outer garment, a simple leather belt at his waist, and a jade pendant of decent quality hanging from it. His cloth shoes completed the image of a well-to-do young man out for a spring outing.

Jing Bo followed closely behind, likewise dressed in clean coarse cloth, slightly stooped, holding a small bundle containing water and dry provisions, his gaze alertly scanning their surroundings.

“Lord,” Jing Bo whispered once more, “the outskirts are desolate and recently ravaged by war. The displaced may not all be peaceful. It would be safer to return to the city sooner.”

Since Liu Heng had been wandering farther from Gao Ling City, aimlessly along the fields, the old man’s brow had not once relaxed.