Chapter 29: The First Level of Mastery
“Do you know the jailer of the county prison?” Li Yi asked directly.
The tall, thin yamen runner glanced at the saber at Li Yi’s waist and answered honestly, “I do. The jailer’s name is Gao Yigong, from Northern Hulu Mountain.”
Gao Yigong?
Li Yi felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing the name. He didn’t pause to think further and said, “Go invite Gao Yigong to the tavern next door for a private talk, and don’t let anyone else know.”
The two yamen runners exchanged hesitant looks.
“We only wish to ask Gao Yigong for a favor. There will be no trouble. You just go and invite him,” Li Yi finished, then sat down on a stone nearby, his expression cold as he swept his gaze over the two.
The yamen runners nodded quickly and hoped to leave as soon as possible.
“If I don’t see him, don’t blame me for waiting for you at your homes,” Li Yi warned, causing their steps to falter.
The tall runner replied fearfully, “We will see it done. Please wait a moment, Brother Li.”
Li Yi nodded, unconcerned that they might try anything against him. People as greedy as them valued their lives; so long as they valued their lives, they wouldn’t dare defy him.
Sure enough, Li Yi and Li Zicheng went to the dilapidated tavern next door, and before long, the two runners returned, escorting a man inside.
This man was tall and sturdy, with thick brows and big eyes, wearing a black cap without a veil. Though he looked to be about twenty, his full beard made him appear much older.
Inside the private room, the man slapped his saber on the table and fixed his eyes on Li Yi and Li Zicheng.
“What do you two want with me?”
Li Zicheng, accustomed to dealing with people, cupped his fist and smiled, “Are you Gao Yigong, jailer of the county prison, Master Gao?”
Gao Yigong snorted impatiently, “Yes.”
Li Zicheng did not take offense, but smiled, “We’ve long heard of Master Gao’s generosity and courage, and skill in martial arts. We brothers have wanted to meet you for some time. Today is finally the day.”
Gao Yigong’s expression softened at these words.
“Who are you?”
Li Zicheng replied, “I am Li Zicheng, from Lijiazhuang in Ganquan County, formerly a post courier at Yinchuan Station, now the headman of Ganquanli.”
“Li Zicheng?”
Gao Yigong straightened, nodding, “I know you. Many brothers say you’re loyal, a good man.”
“That’s thanks to their kindness.”
Li Zicheng poured wine for Gao Yigong and gestured to Li Yi. “This is my brother Li Yi. We came today to ask for your help.”
“Li Yi?” Gao Yigong asked in surprise. “Is this the Li Yi who cursed the county magistrate and forced Ai Yingjia to reduce rents and apologize?”
Li Yi hadn’t expected his reputation to have reached the county town.
“It was only a minor trick, nothing worth mentioning,” Li Yi replied calmly.
“That minor trick brought great satisfaction to many,” Gao Yigong laughed, being naturally forthright and fond of befriending heroic men. Now meeting the renowned Li Yi, he was delighted. “Especially that line—‘The Ai family’s dog only barks at common folk; no wonder it’s a dog official’—has spread throughout Mizhi County.”
Gao Yigong, in high spirits, raised his cup. “That dog official is usually arrogant and greedy. At last, someone has curbed his rampant ways. Brother, I toast you.”
Li Yi raised his cup to clink with Gao Yigong, draining it in one gulp.
He then glanced at the two yamen runners, “Go to the main hall and order food and wine. Put it all on my tab.”
The runners obeyed and left.
Gao Yigong was a bit surprised. Li Yi could command these runners—he truly had some means.
“So, what brings you two here today…?”
Li Yi smiled faintly, “Brother Gao, do you know Liu Zongmin?”
Gao Yigong nodded, “Of course. He’s been in prison for seven or eight days, hanging in a cell now.”
Li Yi said, “He’s an old acquaintance of my second brother. Now that he’s in trouble, we wish to rescue him.”
Hearing this, Gao Yigong looked troubled.
“It’s not that I’m unwilling, but Liu Zongmin was arrested on the county magistrate’s orders. The secretary is overseeing it—who dares release him?”
The clerks had already shirked responsibility before; Li Yi and Li Zicheng knew this would be difficult.
Li Zicheng sighed, “Looks like there’s no way.”
Li Yi refused to give up. “Though I’ve never met Liu Zongmin, I’ve heard he stands up to officials and calls for justice. If such a hero is wrongfully persecuted and killed by a corrupt official like Yan Zibin, won’t it chill the hearts of all good men? Who will dare stand up for justice in the future?”
Li Zicheng was moved, surprised by Li Yi’s depth of thought, and began to respect him more.
Gao Yigong also sighed, “You’re right, Brother Li Yi, but it’s a hard matter.”
Li Yi grew solemn. “Please, Brother Gao, think of a way. Those officials are greedy; perhaps it’s just a matter of not enough silver. I’m willing to bear all expenses.”
Hearing this, Gao Yigong stood up decisively. “Since you’ve said so much, Brother Li, I’ll go ask the secretary.”
He left at once.
After about a quarter hour, Gao Yigong returned, leading a middle-aged scholar in a grey cotton robe with a short beard.
The scholar sat down heavily, giving Li Yi and Li Zicheng a sidelong, contemptuous glance at their shabby clothes.
“You two want to rescue Liu Zongmin?”
Gao Yigong smiled obsequiously, “Secretary Zheng, these are the men.”
“That troublemaker insulted the magistrate, refused to pay taxes, and defied the government—utter audacity,” Secretary Zheng snorted coldly. He glanced at the basket nearby, “If you want to save him, it won’t be easy.”
Li Yi didn’t waste words. He picked up the basket beside him and poured out the copper coins onto the floor.
The coins clattered across the ground, making Secretary Zheng stand up in excitement, his face greedy as he stared at the pile.
“Secretary Zheng, let’s be direct. There are about six thousand copper coins here. Is that enough to release Liu Zongmin?”
The northwest was poor, and since Yan Zibin’s arrival, there hadn’t been much to profit from—least of all for Secretary Zheng. Seeing so many coins, his heart raced, and he grabbed at them, sizing up Li Yi.
He hadn’t expected this ragged youth to produce so much money at once. Converted to silver, it would be five or six taels.
He had thought two or three taels squeezed out of these commoners would be plenty. This far exceeded his expectations, but his greed drove him to want more.
Secretary Zheng stood up and sneered, “Just this? Far from enough.”
Gao Yigong smiled apologetically, “Secretary Zheng, Liu Zongmin merely resisted taxes and spoke rashly. By the rules, this is already a generous sum.”
Secretary Zheng scolded Gao Yigong, then mocked, “Is the magistrate’s dignity worth so little?”
Li Zicheng glared coldly, “Secretary Zheng, fortune changes like the wind and rain. Take what’s offered and you’ll live long.”
Secretary Zheng shuddered inwardly, but greed overcame his fear.
“I am the magistrate’s secretary. If anyone dares get out of line, I have ways to make them wish for death.”
Li Zicheng’s anger surged—the man was shameless and greedy.
Secretary Zheng sneered, his tone sinister, “Prison is no easy ordeal. If you want to save him, you’d best try harder. In a few days, you may only be rescuing a corpse.”
Now, not only Li Zicheng, but Gao Yigong too was furious, wishing to beat this petty man.
Li Yi had expected as much.
He looked at Secretary Zheng. “Brother Gao likely told you, we are old acquaintances of Liu Zongmin, acting in the name of brotherhood. If you won’t oblige us, we won’t force you.”
He scooped a plateful of coins back into the basket.
Secretary Zheng’s eyelids twitched, his face tense.
Li Yi continued, unconcerned, “They say life is cheap, but Liu Zongmin’s life means nothing to Secretary Zheng. Money, however, is dear to everyone. If you refuse money offered freely, I must admire you.”
“So much money—enough to buy a small house, set up a mistress, wouldn’t that be enjoyable?”
“The northwest is bitterly cold. If not, buy a few servant girls outside the city for comfort, that’s a good thing too.”
As Li Yi spoke, he continued scooping coins back into the basket. With each scoop, Secretary Zheng hesitated, feeling the loss keenly.