Ting Zhang Xiao Wu

Author: Shi Jiepeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The story takes place in the fourth year of the Taishi era during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty. That summer, a robbery and murder case occurred in Youzhang County, Youzhang Prefecture, located in the Jiangnan region. The victim was a maid from the powerful Wei family in the city. Relying on their status as a prominent local family, the Wei family constantly pressured the county court to solve the case quickly. Youzhang 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, the head of Qingyun Pavilion in Youzhang County, to Wang De. Xiao Wu did not disappoint his expectations and, through meticulous investigation, successfully solved the case. It turned out that the case was connected to a conspiracy between 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. But the Prince of Guangling did not give up and conspired with the rogue Jiang Anshi, the from Jingfu, to kidnap the Youzhang Prefect and seize the 40,000 strong crossbows of Youzhang Prefecture, hoping to seize the opportunity for rebellion when chaos erupted in the empire. However, this kidnapping attempt was also thwarted by Xiao Wu, who captured Jiang Anshi. Subsequently, Jiang Anshi arranged for hundreds of bandits from Meiling to besiege the county court to rescue him. Xiao Wu then issued a forged imperial decree, mobilizing the prefecture's 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 in crimes with Jiang Anshi, which could have led to his execution. Fearing that Xiao Wu had interrogated Jiang Anshi and obtained evidence, Gongsun He had Xiao Wu arrested on the grounds of issuing a forged decree to mobilize troops. Xiao Wu, upon learning of this, fled in a panic. However, he was intercepted by Gongsun He's men. With his life in danger, the Prince of Guangling's daughter-in-law Liu Lidian suddenly arrived 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 subordinate of the Prince of Changyi who had posed as an imperial envoy. They also rescued Gongsun Pohe and other Youzhang Prefecture troops. In Guangling County, Xiao Wu and Liu Lidian grew to love each other, which aroused the jealousy of Zhao Heqi, the envoy from the Prince of Chu, who was infatuated with Liu Lidian's beauty. Zhao Heqi incited the Prince of Guangling to kill Xiao Wu, but Xiao Wu, using his knowledge of Han law, successfully persuaded Zhao Heqi to speak in his favor before the Prince of Guangling. Zhao Heqi then used the confession of Jiang Anshi, which Xiao Wu had given him, to report Gongsun He's rebellion in Chang'an, hoping to receive a fief as a reward. However, he was sentenced to castration by the Minister of Justice Yan Yan, who cited Han law. Zhao Heqi thus harbored deep hatred for Xiao Wu. As a result, Emperor Wu summoned Xiao Wu to Chang'an to assist the new Prime Minister in handling Gongsun He's case, leading to the execution of Gongsun He, as well as two princesses and several marquesses involved. Due to his competence, Xiao Wu was promoted by Emperor Wu to the position of Youzhang Prefect and the Embroidered Robe Envoy, tasked with inspecting the five southern prefectures, allowing him to return home in glory. On his way home, Xiao Wu passed through the Prince of Guangling's domain and married Liu Lidian, returning to Guangling together. Just as he was basking in success, he discovered that his parents had been murdered. Overcome with grief and anger, Xiao Wu severely tortured the captured bandits but never found the real. Therefore, he arrested all unruly young men and powerful families in Youzhang Prefecture, executing 500 people a day, causing terror in the prefecture. Xiao Wu's iron-fisted governance also earned him a recommendation from Yan Yan to become the Governor of Jingzhao. Upon his return to the capital, Xiao Wu witnessed the arrogance and lawlessness of Jiang Chong, the younger brother of Emperor Wu's favorite minister Jiang Feng. He led his officers and soldiers into the Jiangtang Palace in the Shanglin Garden and shot Jiang Chong to death. However, the Jiangtang Palace had been visited by Emperor Wu, and anyone entering without an imperial decree was to be executed. While shooting Jiang Chong, Xiao Wu also shot the palace gate, which, according to the law, should have resulted in his execution. Emperor Wu, admiring Xiao Wu's talent, wanted to pardon him but did not dare to say it directly. He sent an envoy, Zhao Heqi, to hint to the ministers in the court. However, Zhao Heqi, acting in collusion, seized the opportunity to pressure Liu Lidian, Xiao Wu's wife, to commit suicide. Upon his release from prison, Xiao Wu was heartbroken and, seeking revenge, pretended to reconcile with Jiang Chong and eventually killed Zhao Heqi. But Xiao Wu was not satisfied and wanted to kill Jiang Chong to achieve complete revenge. 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 that someone had used witchcraft to curse the emperor. Emperor Wu trusted him and appointed him to handle the witchcraft case, giving him the authority to arrest anyone. Jiang Chong then sought to target the Crown Prince. Xiao Wu, driven by revenge, incited the Crown Prince to launch an attack first to eliminate Jiang Chong, finally avenging his wife. The Crown Prince killed Jiang Chong, and Emperor Wu, furious, summoned troops from the Sanfu region under the command of the new Prime Minister Liu Quemo to crush the Crown Prince's army. Xiao Wu had previously suggested that the Crown Prince issue a forged decree to seize the Northern Army to resist Liu Quemo, but the suggestion was not adopted. The Crown Prince's army was defeated and fled the city, unable to escape. Xiao Wu, however, was rescued by Jin Moru, a former court maiden who had once been infatuated with him, and used the opportunity to help the Crown Prince escape the city and flee to Hu County. They sought refuge in the home of Du Shao'ong, introduced by Jin Moru, but Xiao Wu's subordinate Tan Chongguo betrayed them. The county officials surrounded Du Shao'ong's home, and in the chaos, the Crown Prince, unable to escape, took his own life. Xiao Wu, protected by his subordinates Guo Pohe and Yingqi, fled to the mountain, but ended up at the edge of a cliff. Refusing to be captured and humiliated, and filled with longing for Liu Lidian, Xiao Wu committed suicide. The county officials caught up and claimed they had just received an imperial decree to pardon the Crown Prince. The grand curtain of a vast empire and the distant prefectures and counties, the legendary life of an ordinary petty official and commoner. Two thousand years ago, under the vast sky and boundless land, every blade of grass and tree became a part of history. Who among us knows the Han Dynasty? A possible chapter of history that might have unfolded.