Chapter 59: The Clash at the Patrol Office

In truth, Li Yi had not gone far. He stood at the entrance of the alley, holding the horse’s reins, watching as Hong Yuying boarded her carriage and returned all the way to the Hong residence before finally turning to leave.

Beyond the city, the undulating hills were already blanketed in white snow. The howling wind swept up snowflakes, shrouding the world in a vast, boundless whiteness. Li Yi mounted his horse, bracing himself against the biting wind as he headed north.

He paused twice along the way, and before nightfall, he arrived at Sui Jin Town.

Sui Jin Town lay about thirty li north of Mizhi County, bordered on the west by the Wuding River, and to the east by rolling hills and deep ravines. As it sat on the main road from Yulin Garrison to Xi’an Prefecture, many merchant caravans bound for Mongolia passed this way. The town was dotted with inns, taverns, courier agencies, and carriage stables.

After asking the locals, Li Yi found the location of the Inspectorate. He passed through a cluster of brick houses and located the office. In truth, it was nothing more than a few brick-and-tile rooms, their roofs patched with straw, icicles hanging from the eaves, the walls badly weathered and mottled. The muddy courtyard was empty but for a few wooden racks; rusty spears lay haphazardly beneath the eaves, and not a person was in sight.

The Inspectorate was responsible for investigating bandits and traitors—its role not unlike a border checkpoint—yet there was no one on duty, no guards, nor any patrols.

Frowning, Li Yi led his horse to the stable, brushed the snow and water from its coat, covered it with a sheepskin, and fed it a handful of beans. Livestock, like people, could fall ill and needed care.

Having finished, he still saw no trace of anyone. Slinging his bundle onto his back and picking up his Tiger Fang spear, Li Yi walked along the eaves to the western building. From inside came the raucous sounds of revelry.

He pushed open the door. Inside, a dozen archers crowded around a table, gambling heatedly. They shouted and slapped the table, eyes glued to the dice cup. As the points were revealed, some cheered in excitement, others cursed in fury.

“Who left the damned door open? Close it tight!” shouted an archer who had just lost money. Surrounded by others, he was livid. Feeling the cold wind rush in, he turned and cursed, glaring at Li Yi with a murderous scowl.

One of the winners grinned, “Tiger Gai, a bet’s a bet. Don’t give us reason to look down on you.”

“Damn you! It’s this wretch’s fault—he’s ruined my luck,” Tiger Gai spat, not wanting to pay, as he strode over and crossed his arms before Li Yi. “Kid, you made me lose. If you don’t explain yourself, I’ll skin you alive.”

Li Yi looked at him coldly, then glanced at the table littered with silver shards and copper coins, and at these archers who resembled street ruffians more than soldiers. He understood the Inspectorate’s situation: a bunch of bullies, living off vice and indulgence.

“I’m talking to you!” Tiger Gai bared his chest, menace in his gaze.

The other archers looked on sympathetically at Li Yi but dared not intervene.

Li Yi, already in a foul mood, ignored him.

Tiger Gai, shamed to anger, waved his massive fist before Li Yi’s face. “Bastard, kneel and kowtow now, or you’ll taste my fist.”

A nearby archer joked, “Kid, just give in and you’ll live.”

“Are you going to fight or not? Stop wasting our time!”

“Tiger Gai, don’t kill him.”

“Shut your traps, all of you!” Tiger Gai roared, then swung a heavy fist at Li Yi’s face—no restraint, a blow to maim if not kill.

The archers shrank back in fright, craning their necks to watch the scene.

Li Yi stood motionless.

“Is the kid frozen in fear?”

“So much for a good show…”

Just as they thought the youth would be flattened, Li Yi raised his hand and caught Tiger Gai’s fist in his palm.

Tiger Gai felt as though he had punched an iron plate and his expression changed.

“What’s wrong, Tiger Gai? Gone soft?” others jeered, seeing Li Yi unharmed.

Tiger Gai’s face turned ashen. He cursed, kicking at Li Yi’s chest, but before his foot could rise, he felt his fist gripped as if by iron. A surge of force twisted viciously. Pain shot through him, and with a scream, his wrist was broken.

Before anyone could react, Li Yi kicked Tiger Gai in the chest, sending him crashing into tables and chairs before collapsing to the ground.

The archers stared, dumbfounded, unable to process what had happened.

Li Yi looked at them coldly. “Is this not a gambling den? I’d like to place a bet.”

“Gamble? Hah! What right do you have to gamble with us?” one archer sneered.

With a thud, a waist token landed on the table. The archer picked it up, and his face instantly changed.

“My apologies, sir! I didn’t realize you were the new Inspector. Please forgive us.”

The others looked at Li Yi in shock, never expecting this youth to be their new superior.

But most of them were retainers of powerful families; a mere Inspector was not enough to cow them.

Tiger Gai scrambled up, glaring venomously at Li Yi. “Inspector? I’m from the Ai family. You dare hurt me? I won’t let you off.”

Li Yi snorted, “The Ai family? I hit you precisely because you’re from the Ai family.”

“Damn you! How dare you disrespect the Ai family?” Tiger Gai hurled a wooden plank at him.

Li Yi batted it aside, then stepped forward and stomped, shattering Tiger Gai’s thigh bone.

His shrill scream made the other archers’ skin crawl.

Without mercy, Li Yi grabbed Tiger Gai by the hair and dragged him to the door, tossing him out. “This man defies his superior and gambles in public. String him up!”

The archers exchanged uneasy glances.

“Didn’t you hear my order?” Li Yi’s voice was icy.

“Who cares about a superior? We’re not to be bullied. Hurt him and Master Ai will stand up for us!” Several Ai retainers urged each other on and charged at Li Yi.

Li Yi seized his Tiger Fang spear and swept the shaft, landing a heavy blow on an archer’s leg. A scream rang out as the man’s shin snapped grotesquely in two.

These Ai retainers were skilled fighters, much like Liu Mazi’s men before. But before Li Yi, they stood no chance. His overwhelming strength, coupled with the weight of the Tiger Fang spear, made him unstoppable—a tiger among sheep.

The spear swept, roaring like a beast, and in a flash, two more archers lay on the ground, howling in pain, their legs brutally broken.

The remaining three Ai retainers turned to flee in terror, but Li Yi gave them no chance. Soon, they too were disabled, left writhing in agony.

The other archers had never seen such ruthlessness from a superior. They went pale with fear.

“Hang these men up. From now on, they are no longer part of the Inspectorate.”

None dared disobey. They dragged the Ai retainers out and hung them up.

Li Yi walked into the courtyard and looked down at Tiger Gai’s hate-filled face. “Have the Ai family come if they like. I, Li Yi, will be waiting.”

Tiger Gai’s face changed. “So you’re Li Yi from Ganquan?”

Li Yi ignored him and returned inside. The other archers stood trembling.

Li Yi gathered the money from the gambling table and declared, “From now on, the Inspectorate will be split into two shifts—one on patrol, one guarding the post, rotating every three days. No one is to accept bribes, exploit merchants, or harm civilians.”

The archers looked glum. Used to their idleness, they could hardly stand such discipline.

“If you’re unwilling, you may leave and receive compensation,” Li Yi continued.

At this, three archers and seven or eight militiamen opted to go. Li Yi gave each archer two taels of silver, and each militiaman one—a gesture that earned him their grateful thanks.

Of course, the money came from the gambling table.

Li Yi ordered the remaining men to clean the Inspectorate, planning to spend the night there.

An archer led him to a room in the back, furnished with all the basics, left by the previous Inspector. Soon, someone brought a brazier, and Li Yi cooked some mutton in the kitchen.

As night fell and the snow ceased, Li Yi extinguished the lamp and lay down, contemplating the current situation.

At present, the main rebel forces under Wang Jiayin and Gao Yingxiang were fighting government troops near Fugu County. Hong Chengchou was in Mizhi County, raising provisions and forming a new battalion—the risk of rebellion was too high with him around.

Thanks to Shi Kefa’s favor, Li Yi had obtained this Inspector post. Now, he could transform his militia into the Inspectorate, giving them legitimate status and a chance to replace the current riffraff.

Moreover, as the Inspectorate collected taxes, there was plenty of profit—a good source of income.

As long as he kept a low profile and relied on Hong Chengchou and Shi Kefa, he needn’t fear the Ai family’s revenge and could gain more advantages.

With these thoughts, Li Yi soon drifted into sleep.

No sooner had Li Yi put out the light than Tiger Gai and the others were released and taken back to the Ai family to recover.

When Ai Wanhua heard the news, he was furious.

“This Li Yi—he’s like a lingering ghost, determined to oppose our Ai family!”

Tiger Gai, still weeping, pleaded, “Second Young Master, I told him we’re from the Ai family, but Li Yi didn’t care at all. He even said he’d hit anyone from the Ai family.”

Enraged, Ai Wanhua smashed his teacup to pieces. “Unforgivable! How did Yan Zibin let him become Inspector?”

Tiger Gai, eager to show loyalty, said, “Just say the word, Second Young Master, and I’ll take some men and break that bastard’s arm for you.”

Ai Wanhua sat down with a sigh. “You’re no match for him.”

Tiger Gai thought for a moment. “Then I’ll persuade everyone at the Inspectorate to go home. With no one left to follow orders, let’s see what Li Yi can do.”

Ai Wanhua brightened. “A good plan! The Inspectorate is under local officials. If the archers and militia all leave, I’ll have Yan Zibin hold Li Yi accountable for causing public outrage with his reckless actions.”

Early the next morning, Li Yi took his horse and Tiger Fang spear out to practice. He found an open space, sat tall in the saddle, controlling the horse while wielding the spear.

His tireless training had made him increasingly skilled in mounted combat. The Tiger Fang spear whistled through the air, fierce and murderous. As the horse galloped, Li Yi gripped its flanks with his legs, the spear sweeping like the wind. But his strength was too great—the horse’s legs gave way, its hooves faltered, and Li Yi nearly lost his balance.

He reined in the startled animal, dismounted, and stroked its head to calm it. His strength was simply too much for this ordinary horse, which wasn’t even a proper warhorse. Clearly, he needed to find a true warhorse soon.

Still, he took care to wipe the sweat from its coat, cover it with sheepskin, and ordered the archers to find the best fodder for it.

Li Yi then inspected the checkpoint at Sui Jin Town. The archers lounged about, barely acknowledging him with a wave, clearly unimpressed.

Li Yi smiled coldly and asked to see the account books. With merchant caravans passing daily, the records should have been clear and detailed. Instead, what he saw was utter chaos, the books a meaningless mess.

“From now on,” Li Yi ordered sternly, “the records must follow a fixed format, every transaction logged. No more excuses.”

An archer replied indifferently, “We’ve always done it like this.”

“I don’t care about the past. From now on, do as I say.”

Li Yi set the book down, his warning serious and firm. He could pay them to leave, or work alongside them, but he would not tolerate their lawlessness.

The archers sneered, unconcerned by his words.

Ignoring them, Li Yi walked to a nearby hillside and quietly observed.

The merchant caravans of the great families were easy to spot: wide wagons decorated with banners, carrying lucrative goods, stretching for miles. The archers dared not stop them, instead bowing and moving the barricades aside.

The guild and gentry caravans were smaller, a dozen carts or so, drawn by horses or mules, mostly from Xi’an Prefecture and somewhat connected. The archers were more neutral with them, stopping them, negotiating, and taking a few taels before letting them pass.

The worst off were the private merchant teams, just four or five carts pulled by horses, mules, or donkeys, with no connections or protection. They were the most numerous, and prime targets for the archers’ extortion. The archers would ransack their goods, force them to beg and flatter, collect bribes, and only then allow them through.

A middle-aged, portly man in a dark blue robe and a black hat stood nearby, anxious. His cargo was brown sugar, and the archers had already taken a sack, their grubby hands rummaging through his goods. He could only smile and hand over a money pouch.

The archers looked at Li Yi provocatively as they accepted the bribe.

Just as they were about to let the merchant go, Li Yi stepped forward.

The archer who had taken the bribe sneered.

Li Yi walked up and took the money pouch from him. “Did you forget what I said yesterday?”

The archer wasn’t afraid. “Sir, the government’s been behind on our salaries for half a year. If we don’t take bribes, how are we supposed to feed our families? Will you pay us yourself?”

The Ming government’s finances were tight, and delayed wages were a root of corruption.

Li Yi saw through them—they were provoking him deliberately.

“I’ll demand the back pay from the accounts office. If you’re really in need, I’ll see that you get a monthly stipend, enough to get by,” Li Yi replied.

The archer snorted, “I came in through Secretary Zheng’s connections, not to scrape by, but to get rich.”

He turned to the others. “If the Inspector won’t let us take bribes, are we supposed to starve? The Ai family’s shop needs staff. Anyone who wants to come, follow me.”

With a final mocking glance at Li Yi, the archer left. The others followed.

They had joined the Inspectorate through connections, seeking an easy, profitable post—not to serve the country or uphold the law.