Ting Zhang Xiao Wu

Author: Shi Jiepeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: A 70s youth scholar, rewriting the Book of Han through fiction – China Reading News promoted a nearly 10,000-word special feature. Imperial records of emperors have become history. Thus, the people, those without history, are destined to live forever. History will ultimately be buried, while those without history are fated to eternal life. – Professor and writer Kong Qingdong from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Peking University. If Shi Jiepeng continues to craft stories based on the meticulous laws of Han bamboo slips, he could fully create a series of legal romance novels. – Former editor-in-chief of Novel Selection and literary critic He Shaojun. A master of historical and literary studies, truly a genius of great talent. This work should be on par with Liu Erhe’s Kangxi Emperor, and it is hoped that it will one day air in CCTV’s prime time slot. – Netizen gzwilliam.
The story takes place in the fourth year of the Taishi era during Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty. That summer, a robbery and murder case occurred in Youzhou County, Youzhou Commandery, located in the Jiangnan region. The victim was a maid from the influential Wei family. Relying on their status as a local elite, the Wei family constantly pressured the county court to solve the case swiftly. Youzhou County Magistrate Wang De faced immense pressure and organized many experienced officials to investigate, but they yielded no results. Desperate, Wang De sought help from the retired official Li Shun, who recommended his student, Xiao Wu, as the Youqing Pavilion Pavilion Head. Xiao Wu did not disappoint expectations and, through meticulous investigation, successfully cracked the case. It turned out that the case had connections with the Wei family and the Prince of Guangling. However, since the Prince of Guangling was Emperor Wu’s own son, Emperor Wu issued an imperial decree to pardon him. Undeterred, the Prince of Guangling conspired with the , planning to kidnap the Youzhou Commandery Commander and seize the four thousand strong crossbows of Youzhou Commandery, aiming to seize the opportunity of a future upheaval to rebel. However, this plot was thwarted by Xiao Wu and the Prince of Guangling was captured. Subsequently, hundreds of bandits from Meiling ambushed the county court to rescue Zhu Anshi. Xiao Wu then issued a forged imperial decree, mobilizing commandery troops to crush the bandits. Unbeknownst to him, this action alarmed the current Prime Minister Gongsun He, as his son Gongsun Jingsheng had previously been involved with Zhu Anshi in several capital offenses. Fearing Xiao Wu had interrogated Zhu Anshi and obtained evidence, Gongsun He ordered his men to arrest and kill Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu, learning of this, fled in haste. However, he was intercepted by Gongsun He’s forces. With his life hanging by a thread, the Prince of Guangling’s daughter-in-law, Liu Lide, arrived suddenly and rescued Xiao Wu. On the way, they used crossbows to shoot down Gongsun Chang and his men into a cliff and captured Zhang Chong, a decoy envoy impersonating the Son of Heaven from the Prince of Changyi. They also recovered Gongsun Pohe and other commandery troops of Youzhou.
In Guangling County, Xiao Wu and Liu Lide grew increasingly fond of each other, much to the jealousy of Zhao Heqi, the envoy from the Prince of Chu, who was infatuated with Liu Lide’s beauty. Zhao Heqi incited the Prince of Guangling to kill Xiao Wu, but Xiao Wu, leveraging his familiarity with Han law, successfully persuaded Zhao Heqi to speak in his favor before the Prince of Guangling. Zhao Heqi, holding the confession of Zhu Anshi given by Xiao Wu, went to Chang’an to accuse Gongsun He of rebellion, hoping to earn a fief. However, he was sentenced to castration by the Grand Censor Yan Yannian under Han law, and thus harbored deep hatred for Xiao Wu. Emperor Wu, however, summoned Xiao Wu to Chang’an, appointing him to assist the new Prime Minister in handling Gongsun He’s case, which led to the execution of Gongsun He, along with two princesses and several marquesses involved.
Recognized for his competence, Xiao Wu was promoted to the position of Youzhou Commandery Magistrate and the Embroidered Robe Envoy, tasked with inspecting the five commanderies in the Jiangnan region, allowing him to return home in glory. On his way home, he passed through the Prince of Guangling’s domain and married Liu Lide, returning together to Guangling. Just as he was basking in triumph, he discovered that his parents had been murdered. Overcome with grief and fury, Xiao Wu severely tortured the captured bandits but never uncovered the true. As a result, he arrested and executed hundreds of unruly youths and powerful clan members in Youzhou, instilling fear throughout the commandery. His iron-fisted governance earned him a recommendation from Yan Yannian, who appointed him as the Capital Prefect.
Upon his return to the capital, Xiao Wu witnessed the arrogance and lawlessness of Jiang Chong’s younger brother, Jiang Zhi, who led officers and soldiers into the Jiangtang Palace in the Shanglin Garden, shooting him to death. However, the Jiangtang Palace had been visited by Emperor Wu, and any unauthorized entry was punishable by decapitation. While Xiao Wu killed Jiang Zhi, he also shot the palace gate, making him legally liable for execution. Emperor Wu, admiring Xiao Wu’s talent, wanted to pardon him but could not do so directly. He sent an envoy, Zhao Heqi, to hint at a lenient judgment to the officials deliberating the case. However, Zhao Heqi, acting in malice, coerced Xiao Wu’s wife, Liu Lide, into suicide. Upon his release, Xiao Wu was heartbroken and, seeking revenge, feigned reconciliation with Jiang Chong before killing Zhao Heqi. Yet, he still harbored a desire to kill Jiang Chong to achieve complete vengeance.
Jiang Chong, having offended the Crown Prince, feared that he would be executed along with his family after Emperor Wu’s death. Taking advantage of Emperor Wu’s illness, he spread rumors of witchcraft cursing the emperor. Trusting him, Emperor Wu appointed Jiang Chong to investigate the witchcraft, granting him the authority to arrest anyone. Jiang Chong then targeted the Crown Prince. Xiao Wu, seeking revenge, incited the Crown Prince to launch a preemptive strike against Jiang Chong, finally avenging his wife. The Crown Prince killed Jiang Chong, enraging Emperor Wu, who summoned troops from the Sanfu Commanderies under the new Prime Minister Liu Quemo to crush the Crown Prince’s forces. Xiao Wu had previously suggested the Crown Prince forge an imperial decree to seize the Northern Army, but the suggestion was rejected. The Crown Prince’s forces were defeated and trapped in the city. Xiao Wu was rescued by Jin Moru, a former noblewoman who had once been infatuated with him, and helped the Crown Prince escape the city to Hu County. They sought refuge at Du Shaoweng’s home but were betrayed by Xiao Wu’s subordinate Tan Chongguo, leading to a raid by county officials. In the chaos, the Crown Prince, unable to escape, took his own life. Xiao Wu, protected by his subordinates Gu Pohe and Yingqi, fled to the mountain but reached the edge of a cliff. Refusing to be captured and humiliated, and longing for Liu Lide, he took his own life. County officials arrived, claiming they had just received an imperial decree pardoning the Crown Prince.