Chapter 108: History and Petty Men

As the garrison soldiers reported to Zhang Xutuo, Li Dong learned the general circumstances surrounding Dou Jiande after he had escorted Yan Ruyu home.

Following the issuance of the conscription order in Qi Commandery, the various counties had cooperated actively, promoting the mandate with great fervor and successfully recruiting a number of soldiers.

Sun Anzu, a man from Zhangnan, was originally slated for military service. However, his wife had fallen ill and required constant care. Unable to leave her side, Sun Anzu pleaded with the recruiting officers, offering a thousand words of entreaty in hopes of being spared, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Desperate due to his unique circumstances, Sun Anzu petitioned the county magistrate to be exempted from the draft. Not only did the magistrate refuse, but he also forbade Sun from returning home to see his wife again. Enraged, Sun Anzu killed the Zhangnan magistrate, fought his way out of the county office, and fled, hiding in the shadows, not daring to return home.

After much deliberation, Sun remembered that the townsfolk spoke of Dou Jiande as a man of chivalry and hospitality, possessing the spirit of Mengchang. Though the two had never met, Sun felt that Dou was the only one who could save his life.

Just as Dou Jiande and Yan Ruyu arrived home, they were startled to find a blood-stained, panicked Sun Anzu bursting through their doors. After learning the truth, Dou did not turn him away. Instead, he hid Sun in the cellar, skillfully navigated through the arriving search parties, and used a generous amount of wealth to bribe the soldiers into leaving.

To avoid bringing disaster upon his household, Dou Jiande and Sun Anzu fled under the cover of night, hoping to lose themselves within General Lai Hu'er’s massive army as it marched toward Liaodong, far away from their home.

However, upon reaching Qi Commandery, they were apprehended by the city guards. Under the laws of the Great Sui, no one was permitted to walk the streets after sunset. Upon interrogation, the truth of their crimes in Zhangnan was revealed.

This matter should have been referred to Ye Jishan for handling, but Li Dong had already turned Ye’s life upside down. With his own house in turmoil, Ye was like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river—barely able to save himself—and had no time to deal with the affair, thus ordering the soldiers to hand the men over to Zhang Xutuo.

Had Ye Jishan handled it, Sun Anzu would undoubtedly have been beheaded as a public warning, and Dou Jiande would have been exiled to some desolate wasteland. Given Dou Jiande’s immense popularity in the region and his loyal following of desperate men, it was not impossible that this could have sparked an uprising.

But with the case in the hands of Zhang Xutuo—and specifically with Li Dong knowing Dou Jiande—the situation changed entirely. Li Dong’s intercession could at least save Dou Jiande, preventing him from following his historical path into banditry.

Often, history rests in the hands of heroes, while heroes rest in the hands of petty men; a mere flick of a petty man's wrist can alter the trajectory of history.

Consider the great hero Yue Fei, who died tragically at Fengbo Pavilion; his fate was controlled by Qin Hui. Had Qin Hui spared him, and had Yue Fei led the Yue family army to victory, the formidable Yuan Dynasty might never have existed. Who can predict the direction in which the great wheel of history will turn?

After the soldiers clarified the situation, they requested that Zhang Xutuo act according to the law. Zhang rose indignantly and declared, "Behead the rebel Sun Anzu for all to see. As for Dou Jiande..."

Li Dong hurriedly rose from his seat, bowed deeply to Zhang Xutuo, and interrupted, "Commandery Vice-Governor, please, hold your judgment. May I offer a word, if it be appropriate?"

"Oh?" Zhang Xutuo paused, leaving the rest of his sentence unsaid. "What do you have to say?"

"Vice-Governor Zhang, this Dou Jiande is a dear brother of mine. He did not participate in the killing of the Zhangnan magistrate; he merely hid Sun Anzu out of a sense of righteousness. I beg you to spare him. He is already under the command of General Lai Hu'er and will soon be heading to the front lines in Liaodong. Let him atone for his sins through meritorious service, fighting bravely to serve the imperial court."

"In that case, is Qin Qiong also serving under the General?" Zhang Xutuo asked.

"Indeed. I beseech you, Vice-Governor, to grant this favor!" Li Dong bowed again.

Zhang Xutuo paced the hall in silence, clearly torn and conflicted. As the Vice-Governor of Qi, the county magistrate was his subordinate. Since the official had been killed by unruly subjects while executing a draft order, the law demanded strict enforcement to deter others. Otherwise, if everyone evaded the draft and killed the officers, wouldn't the world fall into chaos?

Yet, with Li Dong intervening for Dou Jiande, the situation shifted. Zhang Xutuo did not want to lose face with Li Dong. Furthermore, Li Dong’s argument held merit; the front lines in Liaodong were in desperate need of men. If he spared Dou, the man would surely be grateful and fight with all his might.

Zhang Qianyu, standing to the side, had remained silent until now. Seeing her father’s hesitation, she bowed and said, "Father, I believe Dou Jiande should not be killed."

"And why is that?" Zhang Xutuo asked, surprised.

"I believe that the fact Sun Anzu sought refuge with Dou Jiande proves that Dou’s reputation for virtue is well-earned. Who does not have friends or kin? Must one be guilty of breaking the law simply for knowing Sun Anzu? That makes no sense!"

Li Dong felt a surge of joy, thinking: Zhang Qianyu is truly like her father, a woman of great spirit. Such unique insight is not something one finds in ordinary women.

"According to you, how should we handle Dou Jiande?" Zhang Xutuo asked.

"My opinion is to punish Sun Anzu according to the law, but release Dou Jiande. Let him be grateful for the court’s mercy, and let him fight on the front lines to repay that kindness!" Zhang Qianyu’s expression was solemn, her voice ringing out with a boldness that made her seem less like a lady and more like a chivalrous wanderer, radiating an admirable, heroic spirit.

Zhang Xutuo nodded, very satisfied with his daughter’s words. He had been thinking the same thing. Now that she had voiced his own thoughts, it was clear she possessed a spirit that did not bow to men. It was a pity she was born a woman; otherwise, she would have been a renowned warrior on the battlefield.

Li Dong was deeply moved. To think a woman could possess such heroic insight—she truly carried the spirit of Zhang Xutuo. She was a different kind of woman entirely from the gentle, water-like Lu Rou. If the Vice-Governor were to suggest a union between them, would he agree?

After a moment of thought, Zhang Xutuo ordered, "You and your mother should step aside for a moment. I have words for Li Dong."

Li Dong had been dreading this, but having the daughter and the wife leave actually eased his embarrassment, sparing him from having to address the matter of marriage for now. Lady Zhang had been watching Li Dong with a smile throughout the encounter. As she left, she nodded at him with great satisfaction.

Li Dong knew that neither Zhang Xutuo nor his wife had any objections to him; everything now depended on Zhang Qianyu’s attitude. She seemed to have more to say, but given her father’s order, she remained silent. Before stepping out, she looked back and cast a meaningful, lingering glance at Li Dong. How could Li Dong not understand what that meant? His heart skipped a beat.

Once they were gone, Zhang Xutuo said sternly, "I can spare Dou Jiande, but Sun Anzu must be punished to uphold the law, or I will have no way to answer to the world!"

Li Dong cupped his hands in gratitude. "On behalf of Dou Jiande, I thank you, Vice-Governor!"

Zhang Xutuo summoned a soldier and gave instructions to bring Dou Jiande in. The soldier obeyed and left. After the time it takes to eat a meal, Dou Jiande was brought into the hall and tossed to the ground before Li Dong.

Li Dong hurried forward, helped him up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and comforted him, "Brother Jiande, you have suffered!"

Seeing Li Dong, Dou Jiande was both moved and astonished. He realized he had been saved solely because Li Dong had interceded on his behalf. He was amazed that someone as high-ranking as Li Dong would see him here, and as a prisoner at that.

"Where is Sun Anzu? Where is he?" Dou Jiande asked as soon as he stood up.

Li Dong replied with a heavy heart, "He... according to the law, he must be beheaded as a public warning..."

"Foolish!" Dou Jiande exclaimed with deep dissatisfaction. "He trusted me, which is why he came to me. If I am saved but he is to be executed, what difference does it make that he sought my help? I, Dou Jiande, would willingly trade my own life to save Sun Anzu!"

Zhang Xutuo and Li Dong were both utterly stunned.