Chapter 76: Confrontation

"Hmph, you're all too shortsighted. He is an imperial commissioner, an envoy from the heavens. When the time comes, all he needs to do is claim that the gentry and officials of Zhengzhou are conspiring to rebel, and the one in Chang'an will surely applaud and say, 'Well executed.' Enough talk. Go quickly and send word everywhere—the entire city's officials and gentry are to gather and welcome the commissioner."

The army of five thousand marched in a long, unbroken line, so vast that neither the head nor the tail could be seen. Gongsun Neng, Prefect of Zhengzhou, and Zheng Wenfu, accompanied by their retinues, rode out ten miles from the city to greet the arrival. Upon seeing Cai Cong's carriage, Gongsun Neng led the officials in a loud proclamation, "This humble official greets the imperial commissioner!"

The local gentry, however, bowed casually with cupped fists, saying, "We greet the envoy."

Cai Cong lifted the carriage curtain and cast a cold glance at them. He turned to the man standing at the front and asked, "Are you Gongsun Neng?"

Zheng Wenfu smiled and replied with a fist salute, "To answer the envoy, I am not Prefect Gongsun; I am of the Zheng family—"

"If you are not Gongsun Neng, then get to the back. Do you not understand respect and rank?" Cai Cong immediately glared and rebuked him, pointing to the rear. A flash of anger crossed Zheng Wenfu's eyes, but he quickly nodded with a smile, unhurriedly moving behind the officials.

"This humble official, Gongsun Neng, greets the imperial commissioner. The officials and gentry of Zhengzhou have prepared a banquet in your honor. Please, grace us with your presence," Gongsun Neng stepped forward anxiously. He had not expected this young commissioner to wield such authority, making him feel as if he were facing an old superior.

"Very well, a meal won't take long. Old Meng!" Cai Cong pondered a moment and nodded, agreeing.

"At your service!" Old Meng stepped out from beside the carriage, head held high.

"Take men to the Prefect's office and bring all case files from the past three months. Also, send riders at top speed to gather the case files from all county offices under Zhengzhou. If anyone obstructs you, execute them!"

"Imperial commissioner, that cannot be done!" Gongsun Neng's face turned white with anxiety, but Cai Cong only smiled. "Since Prefect Gongsun is honoring me with a banquet, let us proceed. Any further delay and do not expect my favor."

"This way, my lord, please," Gongsun Neng ground his teeth in frustration. Life and death in a single word! Emperor, why entrust such power to one so brash?

Seeing the Zheng family remain silent, the other officials and gentry dared not protest either, and all followed toward the city's largest inn, the Guest Pavilion.

Along the way, Cai Cong listened cheerfully as the others pointed out scenic spots and recounted local tales, showing not the slightest impatience. It was Gongsun Neng and his entourage who wore distracted, forced smiles.

"Master Zheng, Prefect Gongsun, and all honored guests—your presence brings such splendor to my humble establishment! Please, come in. The banquet is ready," the innkeeper of the Guest Pavilion greeted them at the door, beaming as he ushered Zheng Wenfu and Gongsun Neng inside.

As Cai Cong walked at the front, his smile vanished instantly. He shot Gongsun Neng a cold look before sneering at Zheng Wenfu, "So, Master Zheng truly rules Zhengzhou! Please, after you."

"Envoy, you flatter me. In your presence, how could I presume to take precedence? Merely being allowed to follow and partake in the banquet is honor enough. I dare not walk before you," Zheng Wenfu replied, extending his hand to invite others in. Even the emperor's favored courtiers could not make the Zheng family bow.

"Hmph!"

Cai Cong snorted, swept his sleeves, and strode into the inn. The others hurried after, each casting a fierce glare at the innkeeper, who trembled in terror and was already considering fleeing Zhengzhou for a new life elsewhere.

"The customs of Zhengzhou are indeed unique! Here, courtesy is shown to the gentry before the officials. Is this because Prefect Gongsun has failed in his duty, or has Master Zheng simply done too well?" As soon as he sat down, Cai Cong asked with a smile.

"This... this... since the commissioner is aware of Zhengzhou’s circumstances, why trouble this humble official with the question?" Gongsun Neng replied awkwardly, remembering how ambitious he had been upon first arriving in Zhengzhou.

Unfortunately, after a series of setbacks, he had realized that without the local gentry, he could accomplish nothing. The Zheng family's influence stretched from the highest offices to the lowest echelons, and his ambitions were powerless against it. In the end, he had become little more than the Zhengs’ mouthpiece.

"Hmph! The people do not fear officials; the officials do not know their duty. Yet you dare use such an excuse to fob me off! Or do you think my sword is not sharp enough?" Cai Cong slammed the table and barked harshly. At once, his attendants drew their swords, the cold gleam so fierce that no one in the room could keep their eyes open.

"This humble official does not dare! Please, my lord, forgive me!" Gongsun Neng fell to his knees, trembling and begging for mercy. He had already resolved that if he survived this ordeal, he would resign and retire. The humiliation and danger of this post were more than he could bear.

"Whether you are guilty or not is yet to be determined. There’s no need to kneel just yet—once I have looked into the matter, the verdict will be clear," Cai Cong said coolly, casting a contemptuous sidelong glance at Zheng Wenfu.

To his surprise, Zheng Wenfu bowed and confessed, claiming that the Zheng family had done so many good deeds that more people in Zhengzhou knew him than the prefect, which was his own failing. He promised that henceforth, the Zhengs would cease their charitable acts.

He spoke with such aggrieved sincerity that Cai Cong found no opportunity to vent his authority. He could only smile and say, "The Zheng family is a house of virtue—that is a blessing. It would be wrong to dismiss your family's contributions simply because the people are unfamiliar with their prefect. That must not happen."

On hearing this, everyone relaxed and smiled, except for Zheng Wenfu, who became all the more humble and deferential. "It is only our duty, following our ancestors’ teachings, hardly worthy of the envoy’s praise."

Witnessing this, the other members of the Zheng family frowned in displeasure at Zheng Wenfu. When had the Zhengs ever stooped so low? What had become of the dignity of a family with a thousand-year legacy?

"Oh? But tell me, does your family code include permitting servants to become mountain bandits, killing and looting?" Cai Cong raised an eyebrow and asked unhurriedly.

"The Zheng family would never stoop to such deeds. Such a teaching could never exist—my lord, you must be jesting." At these words, all the Zhengs’ faces tightened, their breathing quickening, except for Zheng Wenfu, who stood tall and answered with righteous indignation.

"Is that so? Then it is most curious. For on my way here, I wiped out some bandits and captured several ringleaders, all of whom claimed to be servants of the Zheng family. How do you explain that?"

Cai Cong watched Zheng Wenfu with a mocking smile, eager to see his reaction. But Zheng Wenfu replied calmly, "Those villains must have borne a grudge against the Zhengs for chastisement they once received from heroes hired at our expense, and so now seek to frame us. If my lord doubts this, we are willing to confront the bandit leaders face to face."

At these words, Cai Cong’s heart skipped a beat—he sensed trouble. Outwardly, he only smiled and said, "If that is so, then it must be mere slander by the bandits. There is no need to pursue it further. Come, let us all be seated. Let the banquet begin—I am rather hungry."

"Thank you for your discernment, my lord. Innkeeper, bring the food at once!" Zheng Wenfu replied gratefully, treating Cai Cong with unwavering respect throughout the meal, giving him not the slightest chance to assert his authority.

In the midst of the feast, a guard entered, leaned close to Cai Cong, and whispered, "My lord, something has happened. Just now, a furious crowd of commoners stormed the prison cart escorting the mountain bandits, demanding vengeance for their slain loved ones. Our men tried to hold them back, but the crowd was too agitated; for fear of greater unrest, our men showed restraint. Amidst the chaos, several bandit leaders were killed—their throats crushed by strangulation."