Chapter 88: The Struggle Between Military and Civil Power

As night fell, the atmosphere in East Market became somewhat eerie. Officials from the government offices, nearly a hundred constables from Wannian County, and another two hundred constables borrowed by Yang Zhao from the Jingzhao Prefecture office surrounded the entire area. Hundreds of torches were lit at the entrances, casting light as bright as day. Dozens of constables stood at the gates, searching everyone who came out carefully. Men of medium height with slightly dark skin were detained.
Every carriage was also thoroughly searched—boxes were opened, bundles untied, leaving no suspicious corner unexamined. Meanwhile, the remaining constables were divided into four groups, starting to search house by house along four main roads.
Inside Pingjiang Bronze Shop, the owner Su Yuanlun ran inside the inner courtyard. He rushed up to the second floor and knocked urgently on a door. “Third brother, open the door! Hurry!”
The door opened, revealing the dark-faced face of a middle-aged man named Su Yuankai. He was a trusted man sent by Du Bosheng, the powerful salt smuggler from Yangzhou, to file a complaint in the capital. As long as the Prince of Qing’s influence in Yangzhou persisted, Du Bosheng would never have a chance to rise.
Su Yuankai had a distant uncle, Su Ning, who served as a deputy minister in the Ministry of Agriculture. He hoped to use his connections to submit the complaint. He went to see his uncle early in the morning but learned that he had gone to Longyou to inspect water wheels and would not return for ten days, which left him very frustrated.
Unexpectedly, starting in the afternoon, the city began searching for suspicious people from Yangzhou. Su Yuankai immediately realized that he might be the one they were looking for. He didn’t dare stay on the streets any longer and hurriedly hid in his brother’s shop.
“Elder brother, has anything happened?”
“Third brother, things are bad. They’re starting to search house by house in East Market. It’s too dangerous for you to stay here. I must get you out.”
“But how can I leave East Market’s main gate?”
Su Yuankai also became anxious. “What if I hide in a well or a cellar? Maybe I can avoid their search.”
“I’ve thought of that too, but I’m worried the employees might betray us.”
Su Yuanlun walked a few steps with his head down, then suddenly looked up. “How about this: you leave through the main gate, then climb over the wall through the back door, scaling that old locust tree in the middle. I’ll leave a ladder there.”
“Okay, I’ll leave right away.”
Su Yuankai packed up a few things quickly. In front of several employees, he hurriedly left. But soon, he secretly hid in a cellar beneath a huge bronze bell covered in rust and spider webs. Su Yuanlun then scattered some loose money and items around the room.
……
“Open the door!” The door of the bronze shop was being pounded loudly.

A clerk opened the door in terror as Jiao Facao rushed in with a dozen officials.
“Is your shop owner here?”
“Yes! Yes!”
Su Yuanlun hurried out, bowing and smiling, “I am the shop owner.”
Jiao Facao sized him up from head to toe. “Where are you from?”
“I’m originally from Hailing County, Yangzhou.”
“A native of Yangzhou?” Jiao Facao snorted and asked, “Have any relatives or friends come from Yangzhou these past few days?”
Su Yuanlun glanced at the clerks and shook his head vigorously. “No, absolutely not!”
“Good. By rule, I need to check everything—hand over your staff roster.”
With a wave of his hand, the officials began searching the house. The pretense was to search for people; the real purpose was to steal valuables. Almost every official headed toward the inner courtyard.
They didn’t dare take large items, but theft was inevitable. It would be best to find women’s hairpins, silver bracelets, or similar things to take for themselves.
Soon, they found something valuable—hairpins, scattered copper coins, purse beads, and more.
“Judge, no suspicious people found!” The officials, having found what they wanted, didn’t want to stay long.
Jiao Facao nodded, tossed the staff roster onto the table, and said to everyone, “Let’s go!”
But just as he turned, he noticed one of the clerks giving him a wink.
……
The actions of the Wanian County yamen in the East Market quickly inspired the Jinwu Guard to follow suit. Nearly 500 Jinwu Guard soldiers also began searching the East Market thoroughly. At the same time, 150 cavalry from the patrol battalion appeared on the streets of the East Market.
Three groups of people appeared in the East Market: two military forces and one administrative group. The Wanian County officials naturally had the authority to arrest thieves there; the patrol battalion was responsible for maintaining order, which was also their duty; and it was only natural for the Jinwu Guard to arrest thieves while patrolling the streets.
The three groups moved back and forth among the hundreds of shops in the East Market, creating chaos. One group left while another took over, continuing until near midnight, when the bell signaling the closure of shops rang. Only then did nearly a thousand military and administrative personnel retreat like a tide, having failed to catch the so-called “Yangzhou bandit.”
Jiao Facao returned to the county yamen to sign some documents before heading home. By then, the drums signaling the closure of the districts in Chang’an City had also started to sound. People rushed back to their respective districts. After 800 beats, the district gates would close and remain shut for over a quarter of an hour.
Jiao Facao spurred his horse forward, but when he was still hundreds of steps away from Ande District, dozens of cavalry from the patrol battalion blocked his path.

Li Qing’an finally appeared. He followed Li Fei Shouyu in silence. Li Fei Shouyu stepped forward and said with a smile, “Judge Jiao, have you found anything tonight?”
Judge Jiao recognized Li Qing’an and quickly bowed to him, saying, “General Li, the county office hasn’t uncovered anything, but I know where that man from Yangzhou is hiding. I was just about to tell you.”
“Where is he hiding?” Li Qing’an asked.
“General Li, you might want to check the Pingjiang Bronze Ware Shop in the East Market. I think there’s something suspicious about that shop.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qing’an waved his hand and ordered, “Return to the East Market!”
Dozens of cavalry rushed off like a gust of wind, leaving Judge Jiao stunned.
The gates of the East Market should have been closed by now, but Li Qing’an saw a gap in the gates. Dozens of officials were blocking the entrance. Li Qing’an narrowed his eyes—this meant Yang Zhao had also received the news.
“Charge in!”
Li Qing’an drew his sword and waved it in the air, shouting sharply, “Move aside!”
With a cold glint of the sword, the officials recognized him and quickly dodged to the sides. Dozens of cavalry rushed into the East Market, the loud sound of their hooves shattering the quiet night.
The iron hooves of the warhorses pounded on the stone slabs as the cavalry charged toward the bronze ware shops in the southwest corner. Countless windows were slightly opened, with eyes watching anxiously as the cavalry rushed past their shops. When they passed by the ‘Tuozhi Township’ jewelry shop, a window was also quietly opened. An elderly Sogdian stared intently at Li Qing’an. After a long while, he nodded and turned to say, “It’s him!”
…
In front of the Pingjiang Bronze Ware Shop, dozens of officials held torches, illuminating the shop like daylight. Yang Zhao stood on the street, holding a long sword, focusing intently on what was inside the shop. Next to him stood a clerk carrying a large bag of money—his reward for reporting the shop owner.
Suddenly, shouts came from inside the shop, “We caught him!”
Yang Zhao became excited immediately and hurried toward the shop door. He saw dozens of officials dragging out a man of medium build with dark skin and a face full of anger. It was Su Yuankai, who had been found hiding in a cellar. Behind him, his brother Su Yuanlun was also captured. Su Yuankai suddenly saw the clerk, his eyes burning with hatred. The clerk was too scared to look up at him.
Yang Zhao slowly stepped forward, raised Su Yuankai’s chin with his sword, and said triumphantly, “Didn’t expect this, right? You just arrived in Chang’an yesterday, and today you’ve already been caught by this county.”

Su Yuankai shouted angrily, “Which royal law have I broken? You just arrest people at will!”
“Hehe! Indeed, a Yangzhou accent.”
Yang Zhao sneered and said, “Hand over the King of Qing’s belongings, and maybe I’ll spare your life.”
“I don’t have any of the King of Qing’s things! You’ve arrested the wrong person.”
At that moment, the sound of horse hooves echoed like thunder. Li Qingan led dozens of cavalrymen who arrived at lightning speed. They rushed around the yamen officials without pause, leaving them dizzy and anxious. Yang Zhao’s expression changed drastically as he glared fiercely at Li Qingan—was this bastard trying to ruin his plans again?
Li Qingan waved his hand, and the cavalrymen stopped. He bowed on his horse and said to Yang Zhao with a smile, “Brother Yang, it’s so late. Why not go home and rest? Be careful your wife might misunderstand again.”
“Hmph! General Li has a keen sense indeed!”
“ reciprocity! Isn’t County Magistrate Yang equally well-informed?”
Li Qingan pointed his sword at Su Yuankai. “Someone! Take this man away.”
Dozens of cavalrymen stepped forward to seize him, but Yang Zhao grew furious and stopped them, saying, “Wait!”
“What? Is County Magistrate Yang trying to interfere with military affairs?” Li Qingan asked calmly.
“Don’t try to cover me up with false accusations. I’m also carrying out official duties. I caught this bandit, so naturally it’s up to me to handle it. You patrol officers shouldn’t get involved.”
At that moment, a yamen official ran out carrying a blue burlap bundle. “County Magistrate, this is his bundle.”
Li Qingan dismounted and rushed forward. Before the official could react, he lifted the bundle with his sword and took it into his hands.
“Very good. Thank you for your effort.”
“Li Qingan!”
Yang Zhao finally roared, “Don’t go too far in bullying people.”
Li Qingan smiled slightly. “County Magistrate Yang is exaggerating. How dare I bully you? You caught a bandit, and so did I. You’re doing it for official business, and so am I. You have the right to arrest people, and I do too. Don’t worry, County Magistrate Yang. I’ll mention your merits in my report. After all, we’re both serving the emperor. Why argue over such things?”
After saying that, he gave a signal to the cavalrymen. Li Fei Shouyu shouted and charged first, pushing the yamen officials and Su Yuankai aside. Immediately afterward, dozens of cavalrymen stepped forward, forming a wall of horses. Before Yang Zhao and the others could rush over, the cavalrymen turned and headed for the gate, disappearing around the corner in an instant. Only a few yamen officials who had been holding Su Yuankai were left, beaten and bleeding, crouched on the ground with their hands on their heads, while Su Yuankai was nowhere to be seen.
“County Magistrate Yang, they’ve taken him away!”