Chapter Seventy-Two: Protecting One’s Own

Wang Pu strode through the main doors, his voice ringing out in a harsh command, “Who dares!?”

Behind him, Big Beard led more than fifty men storming in, forming a tight ring around Zhao Santai and his twenty-odd followers. The officers and their guards who’d been preparing to go upstairs and make arrests paled at the sight, hastily laying down their weapons. Upstairs, Scarface recognized Wang Pu’s voice and hurried out of his private room, scurrying down the stairs.

Scarface approached Wang Pu with a fawning smile. “General, what brings you here? If Madam hears of this, I’ll be in real trouble.”

“Cut the nonsense,” Wang Pu growled. “Look at you, pathetic.”

“Lord Wang,” Zhao Santai interjected, “what is the meaning of this?”

“You should be the one answering that.” Wang Pu spun on him, glaring fiercely. “What are you up to?”

Zhao Santai replied, “According to my investigation, Scarface, a Qian Zong of Datong Garrison, has been secretly aiding bandits at Futuyu. By Ming law, abetting bandits is tantamount to rebellion. I was about to detain him for questioning. But rest assured, Lord Wang, I don’t believe you were aware of this—Scarface must have acted behind your back.”

“Investigation?” Wang Pu’s voice thundered. “Who investigated? Where is your evidence? And now the investigation leads to me?”

Zhao Santai stood his ground. “I wouldn’t dare make an arrest without evidence.”

“Then show it to me,” Wang Pu demanded coldly.

“Lord Wang!” Zhao Santai retorted. “Scarface is a Qian Zong of Datong Garrison, but I am its Deputy Commander, acting as Commander in Chief! Don’t forget, you’re no longer in charge of Datong—you’re now the Commander of the Capital’s Garrison, overseeing the Three Great Camps. Datong is no longer under your jurisdiction. Show some respect!”

“And if I refuse?” Wang Pu replied.

“Then I’ll have to offend you,” Zhao Santai said, cupping his fists. He turned and shouted, “Men, seize Scarface, the Qian Zong of Datong!”

But the assembled officers exchanged nervous looks; not one dared to move.

A mocking smile curled on Wang Pu’s lips. “Let’s see who among you would dare lay a hand on him.”

Zhao Santai’s face flushed an ugly purple. “Zhao Liu Jin!”

His trusted retainer stepped forward. “At your command, sir.”

“Arrest him! Seize Scarface at once!”

“Uh…” Zhao Liu Jin hesitated, bowing his head. “That might not be wise…”

Wang Pu grunted, then suddenly bellowed, “Scarface! Big Beard!”

“Here!” The two men responded in unison, snapping to attention beside their general.

Wang Pu fixed Zhao Santai with a wolfish glare, his tone deadly. “Seize Zhao Santai for me!”

“Yes, sir!” Scarface and Big Beard responded thunderously, advancing straight toward Zhao Santai.

His expression changed drastically as he barked, “How dare you!?”

But Scarface and Big Beard paid him no heed, grabbing him by the arms. Scarface kicked out the back of Zhao’s knee, forcing him to kneel before Wang Pu.

Wang Pu took the riding crop from Xiao Qi and cracked it through the air with a sharp report.

“What are you doing?” Zhao Santai cried, panic in his voice.

“What am I doing?” Wang Pu sneered. Suddenly, he lashed out, the whip landing squarely across Zhao Santai’s face, leaving a bloody welt and drawing a scream of agony.

“Wang Pu, you’re abusing your power. I’ll report you to Grand Eunuch Zhang!”

Grand Eunuch Zhang was none other than Zhang Zi’an, the Imperial Supervisor of Datong.

“Report me, then!” Wang Pu sneered. “Zhao Santai, as Deputy Commander, acting as Commander in Chief, you flout the law and spew nonsense. Banditry runs rampant in Datong, yet you waste time here in a brothel, stirring up trouble. This flogging is on behalf of Grand Eunuch Zhang!”

Without waiting for further protest, Wang Pu rained blows upon Zhao Santai. Within ten lashes, Zhao passed out from the pain. The assembled officers watched in shock and fear, thinking to themselves: Wang Pu once dared to defy imperial orders and storm an execution ground—publicly flogging a Deputy Commander is nothing for a man like him.

“Scarface,” Wang Pu ordered, “wake him up.”

“Yes, sir.” Scarface fetched a bucket of cold water from the side room and dumped it over Zhao’s head. Shivering violently, Zhao Santai came to, no longer feigning bravery. He fell to his knees, pleading, “Spare me, Lord Wang, spare me! Please forgive my foolishness.”

“Now you know your place?” Wang Pu sneered. “Listen well, Zhao Santai: even if you someday do become Commander of Datong, don’t think you’ll have any say over my men! Even if they truly break the law, it’s not for you to judge!”

“Yes, sir, never again,” Zhao Santai stammered.

Wang Pu turned to Scarface. “Now tell me, what’s all this about?”

The other officers—Vice Commanders, Assistant Generals, and the like—watched dumbfounded. Only someone as brazen as Wang Pu would first beat an opponent senseless, then ask his own man for an explanation. But remembering his exploits in the capital, their surprise faded.

Scarface quickly replied, “Nothing, sir, nothing at all.”

“Nothing?” Wang Pu glared. “You were nearly dragged off as a traitor for aiding bandits! Useless fool—how could a Qian Zong let himself get cornered in a brothel? Why didn’t you bring more men? You’ve disgraced me!”

“Yes, yes, you’re right, General,” Scarface said, forcing a smile. “I’ve shamed you.”

Wang Pu asked, “Where’s the girl you fancy? Bring her up for us to see.”

Scarface called out, “Jiao Niang, Hong Xing, come greet the general.”

The two women, well aware of Wang Pu’s infamous exploits in the capital and his defiance of imperial orders for Chen Yuanyuan, approached respectfully. “General, we greet you.”

Wang Pu nodded approvingly. “They’re good girls. Pity they ended up here. Scarface, isn’t it time you redeemed them?”

“I’ve thought of it, General, but I don’t have the silver.”

Wang Pu snapped, “Why not borrow from me? How much do you need?”

Scarface murmured, “To redeem both Jiao Niang and Hong Xing would cost eight thousand taels.”

Wang Pu frowned. “Where’s the madam?”

The brothel madam, who’d been hiding nearby, quickly stepped forward. “I’m here, sir.”

Wang Pu pointed at the two girls and at Scarface. “These two girls have caught the eye of my officer. He’s redeeming them, and they’re leaving with us today. Four thousand taels for each will be sent to you soon.”

The madam protested, “General, it’s eight thousand, not four.”

Wang Pu’s face darkened. “What did you say?”

She shivered. “F-four thousand, sir.”

“That’s better.” Wang Pu shot Scarface a stern look. “Take your women and go!”

He swept out in grand style, followed by Scarface, Big Beard, and the rest.

Only after Wang Pu’s party had left did Zhao Santai dare to let his guards help him up. He glared furiously at Zhao Liu Jin and the other officers, cursing them inwardly for being eager to curry favor when things were easy but too cowardly to lend a hand when it counted.

“Back to camp,” he muttered, limping away with his guards, ignoring the other officers.

“Unbelievable,” one of the adjutant generals remarked, watching Zhao’s retreating figure. “No one in the realm protects his own like Commander Wang. Now I believe the rumors—he really did storm the execution ground to save Big Beard.”

“What do you mean, ‘rumors’?” another adjutant said coldly. “It’s the truth.”

A staff captain added, “Crossing Commander Wang is just bad luck for Vice Commander Zhao.”

“Tell me about it,” grumbled another officer. “We risk our necks for the court and barely earn a hundred taels a year—enough for just two visits here. But look at Commander Wang’s men: even a Qian Zong can spend thousands to redeem a top courtesan, and I hear ordinary soldiers get five hundred taels a year, with compensation for the families of those killed in action reaching two thousand! Comparing yourself to others is only asking for misery.”