Chapter 370: A Plea

After Magistrate Tian finished speaking, he lifted his long robe and slowly knelt.

Yan Huaiwen also followed him to his knees.

Yan Lao’er certainly could not remain standing, and dropped to his knees briskly.

The young general from Gufeng shot up to his feet as if scalded.

The people from the Prefectural City were a bit slower to react.

The Heir to Prince Ying hurried forward, wanting to help them up.

Moved, he said, “My lord, there is no need for this!”

“Crouching Tiger has fallen, we cannot escape responsibility. We beg His Highness to allow us to atone for our crimes through meritorious service, to settle the common folk and get them through this winter!

We beg the Heir Apparent… for mercy!”

Magistrate Tian’s eyes were brimming with tears. At this moment, he could not care about dignity or propriety anymore.

To plead with the Heir Apparent, newly married and not yet twenty, was truly a last resort.

He had seen that the Heir Apparent was kind-hearted and was taking advantage of his reluctance to be harsh.

He hoped the Heir Apparent would open his golden mouth and let the entire Government Office be spared punishment for the time being, so they could remain in their posts.

He did have selfish motives, but they were selfish motives for the public good.

There had been a sudden upheaval in Crouching Tiger, the people were panicked, hearts were shaken, this was not a time for constant change.

At such a moment, stability had to come first.

Stabilize the people’s hearts, stabilize Crouching Tiger.

The Government Office could still function, could still administer properly. This really was not a good time to change the tune and swap everyone out.

If someone else came in and suddenly had to take over this mess, they would not do better than these men.

It was not that he was being petty and suspicious of those who would follow.

It was simply that Crouching Tiger could no longer withstand the slightest bit of turmoil.

The Heir to Prince Ying’s expression shifted, then quickly settled. In a deep voice he said, “I have heard your request. In view of the fact that you reported in time and made contributions in resisting the enemy, I order that you temporarily remain in your original posts, calm the people under your rule, and atone for your sins through meritorious service.”

“Thank you for your great grace, Heir Apparent.” Magistrate Tian bowed in gratitude.

This time, when the Heir Apparent helped him up again, Magistrate Tian rose to his feet.

“Huaiwen, have we the final numbers on the casualties among the city’s people?” Magistrate Tian asked in front of the Heir Apparent.

Yan Huaiwen had also stood up when Magistrate Tian rose, and he took the chance to pull his younger brother up as well.

“Reporting to my lord and the Heir Apparent, among the commoners in the city who died in this battle… the elderly… able-bodied men… women who were violated and killed… young children…

Those gravely wounded… lightly wounded…

Missing women and children… commoners still unaccounted for…”

Yan Huaiwen recited the tallied figures one by one and presented the written report.

“In addition, here is the list of those among Crouching Tiger’s city defense troops who were wounded or killed.”

“The bodies of the Northern Rong have also been checked, there are no mistakes. Later I ask the Heir Apparent and the generals to send people to count the heads and see if there are any discrepancies.”

…

“Teacher, there are a few things I do not understand. I would like to ask you.” Supporting Magistrate Tian, Yan Lao’er slowly shuffled with him toward the back courtyard.

“I told you before we came, listen first; if there is something you do not understand, ask me afterward. Since you have questions, then ask.” Magistrate Tian said gently.

“Teacher, if they decide to punish us, what will happen to everyone in our Government Office?” That was what Yan Lao’er was most concerned about.

“Failing to defend our land is no small matter. If they are to hold us criminally responsible, they will need solid evidence.

The city fell, and we have no way to argue that away. But the frontier garrison was breached too quickly and did not send word in time, which gives the Government Office a reason for not having known sooner.

Crouching Tiger lit the Wolf-Smoke Signal and reported in time, so no great irreparable mistake was made. That can be counted as a point of merit.

Our officers and soldiers in Crouching Tiger fought with one heart. The city is filled with the dead, a shocking and heartbreaking sight, truly pitiable.

On top of that, Lords Xiao and Zhang gave up their lives for righteousness, their loyalty plain to see.

With these points in Crouching Tiger’s favor… there should be no major punishment.”

Yan Lao’er asked doubtfully, “If there is to be no trouble, then why…”

“The fall of the city to the Northern Rong is no small matter. The court will certainly send people to take over administration, keep us under watch, and investigate from all sides.” Magistrate Tian sighed. “I put on a pitiful act to stir the Heir Apparent’s compassion and get him to allow us to stay on. In doing so, the Heir Apparent took responsibility upon himself. Do not think that just because he agreed lightly, the matter ends there. When he returns, who knows what attitude Prince Ying will take, whether he will scold him. Although Guanzhou is Prince Ying’s fief, all of us officials are appointed by the imperial court. For the Heir Apparent to shoulder this in person truly puts him in a difficult position. It was my selfishness, using him in my calculations…” Magistrate Tian let out a deep sigh.

Yan Lao’er had not thought it would be so complicated.

He remarked with feeling, “Then the Heir Apparent really is a good one.”

Magistrate Tian glanced at him and added, “Your elder brother’s contributions in all this are not small. In a short time, he has sorted out everything inside and outside Crouching Tiger, the administration is clear, the people have someone to rely on and are turning from grief back toward living. Only then did the people from the Prefectural City look at us with any regard. Otherwise, the Heir Apparent’s compassion alone would not be enough. If anyone had chosen to obstruct him, even your teacher would not have had his way today.

And the people from Gufeng did not say a word, but what they did cannot be faked. They stood on our side, mostly for your brother’s sake.

I am only thankful your brother will not be sitting the examinations^[1] until next year. At such a critical time, we really cannot spare him!”

At the mention of his brother, a smile appeared on Yan Lao’er’s face. “My brother really is something. He is smart and capable, does not panic when things happen, and he can handle both the pen and the sword. Magistrate… no, Teacher, you have a good eye. The moment you met him, you saw right through…

Oh, I just remembered, I have not even told my brother that you have taken me as a student. That will not do. I have to go and speak to him, ask him what the proper rules are for taking a teacher. Do not worry, all the proper courtesies^[2] will be observed, I guarantee we will not slight you!”

Listening to him, Magistrate Tian’s eyes crinkled with laughter.

To be honest, once you got used to this disciple’s blunt, plain way of talking, it was actually quite pleasant to the ear.

…

“Big Brother, Big Brother!” Yan Lao’er had been squatting off to the side for quite a while. At long last, when his brother had no one around him, he hurriedly called out and pulled Yan Huaiwen aside.

“What is it?” Yan Huaiwen asked coolly.

“Well, um, Brother, Magistrate Tian wants to take me as a student, and I agreed.” Yan Lao’er said in a low voice.

Yan Huaiwen gave him a glance and said coolly, “Got it.”

He thought to himself: You already agreed, so what are you telling me for.

Yan Lao’er could read his brother like taking his pulse. One look and he knew his brother was not pleased.

He hurried to explain, “Brother, you do not know how pitiful the Magistrate looked at the time. He still had not recovered from the blow of Second Lord and Third Lord’s deaths. He said I was good, said I was kind-hearted, praised me so much I was downright embarrassed.

I know he was just grateful that I kept dragging him along the whole way, so he did not end up like Second Lord and Third Lord…

I do not want to claim any so called life-saving grace. It is just, well, he is getting on in years and still has no sons or daughters. He wants to take a student, and it is not that he expects me to suddenly shine and pass the exams to become an official and bring him honor. He just wants someone to lean on.

At first I did not respond, but the look in the old man’s eyes was just too… anyway, it was hard to bear. Like he was about to cry but not crying, it made me uncomfortable to look at him. I thought I might as well accept. Whether I call him teacher or something else, I will treat him well. In the future I will regard him like a relative elder of our own family, respect him, look after him, visit him often. Would that not do.

Otherwise, what else could I do? Even before the city was breached, the old man was shouting that he would defend the city to the death. After the city fell, he was still straightening his clothes this way and that, looking all set on killing himself…”

Yan Lao’er gestured as he spoke, his voice gradually lowering.

He had thought of those scenes he did not want to remember. His eyes were starting to redden.

Yan Huaiwen had already come to terms with it.

Magistrate Tian’s eye for people was sharp indeed.

His Tianyou had the kindest heart.

Just look at Magistrate Tian’s performance in the hall today, all that pleading, lamenting, and acting. How could his Tianyou possibly resist? Other than acknowledging this teacher, what else could he do?

Author Note:

In the setting of this story, civil officials have backbone and basically do not kneel easily.

They do not kneel unless there is something serious, and if they kneel, it must be for a major matter, ahem.

Teacher Tian is not a simple person either.

Yan Lao’er is not some clueless fool. I remember someone once commented that I had written Yan Lao’er as a big idiot… cough, cough, cough, I nearly laughed myself to death. He understands things in his heart, he just does not fuss over them. He lives simply, and being happy is what matters most.

To those who comment on Yan Lao’er like that, well, your author advises you to be more optimistic!

(End of chapter)