Chapter Thirteen: No Negotiation When It Comes to Deception

A quarter of an hour later, Zhang Chen walked into the Ma Family Medical Clinic and saw his classmate Ma Tingyu.

“Leading over eight hundred ragtag men from Zhang Village to repel a thousand fierce bandits led by Wu Datou, the head of the Cishan Bald Strong bandit gang—Zhang Chen, you’re incredible!”

Ma Tingyu gave a thumbs-up and patted Zhang Chen on the shoulder. “You even beheaded Wu Datou, the chief of that bandit gang—Old Zhang, you’re amazing! How come I never knew you were this formidable before?”

Last night, Wu Datou, the notorious leader of the Cishan Bald Strong bandits, led over a thousand bandits in a night raid on Liuzhuang, wiping out its people and burning the village to the ground.

That same night, Wu Datou also led a thousand bandits to attack Zhang Village, but they were repelled.

Zhang Chen, the sole landlord of Zhang Village, rallied the village’s able-bodied men to fight back fiercely. In the brutal battle, after killing two bandits, with the help of his attendant Feiniu, he beheaded Wu Datou, scaring the remaining bandits into retreat.

In that fierce battle, over eight hundred villagers of Zhang Village killed nearly three hundred bandits, including Wu Datou himself, dealing a heavy blow to the Cishan Bald Strong gang.

News of this shook the people of Fushan County. Many doubted the story, believing it impossible that Zhang Village’s people could have killed the notorious bandit Wu Datou.

The Zhang family had married Zhang Chen into the Tian family as a son-in-law, but they treated him like a worn-out shoe.

Tian Yachun, the Tian family’s daughter, refused to consummate the marriage, and they sent Zhang Chen back to Zhang Village.

Many regarded Zhang Chen as a despised, defeated dog.

Having only just returned to Zhang Village a few days ago, this defeated dog should be grieving and lost; there was no way he could have killed Wu Datou.

Especially Tian Xuewen and his second daughter Tian Yachun—they would never believe Zhang Chen could have slain Wu Datou.

But this morning, Wang Shumeng, the captain of the Zhang Village militia, along with several militiamen, brought nearly three hundred bandit heads, including that of Wu Datou, to Fushan County to claim the bounty.

Wang Shumeng and his men all unanimously declared that it was Zhang Chen who beheaded Wu Datou.

The Ming Dynasty had many secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, some of whom served faithfully until the dynasty’s fall.

Dengzhou Prefecture certainly had such agents, as did Fushan County.

Just now, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, acting on official business, visited Tian Xuewen, the county magistrate of Fushan, and confirmed that Zhang Chen was indeed the one who beheaded Wu Datou.

“The detailed report of the Battle of Zhang Village has already been sent to the capital through special channels. Zhang Chen, who beheaded the notorious bandit Wu Datou, is sure to be rewarded by His Majesty.”

At last, Tian Xuewen and Tian Yachun believed that Zhang Chen had killed Wu Datou.

After the secret agent left, Tian Xuewen turned to his second daughter, Tian Yachun.

“Yachun, what are your plans regarding your marriage to Zhang Chen? Or rather, how do you intend to get along with him? By next February, Zhang Chen should pass the county-level imperial exam and become a xiucI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.