Chapter 201: Utmost Loyalty

Wang San felt some fear upon hearing Mou Bin’s questioning and instinctively stopped his crying, glancing at Fang Jifan.

Fang Jifan gave him a slight smile and said gently, “Speak freely, do not be afraid. I will protect you.”

Wang San felt as if he had taken a reassurance pill. He raised his eyes to look at Mou Bin and spoke without fear or dread.

“The Beggar Sect was originally an organization formed by beggars to protect themselves and avoid being bullied by outsiders. Although I was said to have three thousand followers, none of them were born beggars. These followers came to the Western Hills, worked here, had food to eat and clothes to wear. Here, no one bullies us. So who still cares about the Beggar Sect? I am called the branch leader because they supported me. But if everyone felt I was in the way and I didn’t act according to their wishes, forcing them to take dangerous risks, would they still follow me as their branch leader?”

“Besides, even as a branch leader, I was just the head of beggars. Though slightly better off than ordinary beggars, I still worried every day, still wore tattered clothes. Do you think I treasured this position? If I had just a small place to settle down and make a living, I wouldn’t care about being branch leader. Here at the Western Hills, my son and I don’t suffer scorn, don’t worry about dealing with officials tomorrow, and don’t fear cold or heat. Such a good life—even the sect leader couldn’t trade for it.”

At this point, Wang San’s eyes moistened again, and he was very emotional.

“Moreover, everyone in their hearts is grateful to our two Benefactors. If our Benefactors just said they wanted to suppress the Beggar Sect here at the mine, even if I refused to reveal my identity, the many Beggar Sect followers at the mine would rush to expose me. They might not know where the sect leader is, but they know I am the branch leader. I couldn’t bear to flee the Western Hills Coal Mine, so I preferred to confess to our Benefactors rather than leave. This place is my home. If I am a rebel, I would die here and be buried here. But my son has not been involved in anything. My only hope is that he won’t be affected, that he can live a peaceful life.”

Wang San spoke and then started kowtowing loudly, pleading for mercy.

“If someone must be beheaded, kill me! The others are just ordinary followers and know nothing!”

Hoo…

Emperor Hongzhi was moved, his bright eyes glistening with faint tears.

Mou Bin’s old face flushed red, as if slapped, burning with heat. He had been looked down upon by an old beggar.

But Wang San was not wrong at all.

Ever since Fang Jifan and the Crown Prince began recruiting refugees here, the Capital branch of the Beggar Sect had effectively dissolved.

And Branch Leader Wang San had long been a leader in name only.

On the surface, he still seemed to be the branch leader, and superficially, many former followers still recognized him.

But he no longer had the power to assign begging territories or command followers to risk their lives.

Because… the vast majority of former beggars, the capable members of the Capital branch, were now at the Western Hills. They happily mined coal, built greenhouses, or burned coal in the glass workshops.

Here, they lived happy lives, no longer beggars or refugees struggling for daily meals. The so-called Capital branch of the Beggar Sect existed in name only.

Wang San could rely on his past prestige to help resolve disputes among his old comrades, but if he told the followers to stop working at the Western Hills and follow the sect leader in rebellion—

Then, the moment he spoke those words, he would be the first one tied up and delivered to Fang Jifan by his own followers.

Even… once the imperial court started arresting the Beggar Sect imperial criminals.

Wang San had no way out.

When all the followers learned that the sect leader intended to rebel, if Wang San didn’t confess to Fang Jifan himself, the followers would eagerly expose him.

This wasn’t about loyalty anymore.

They just wanted to live here without want, with food and clothing, without begging or wandering displaced with their families.

That so-called sect leader became an obstacle to all beggars and refugees longing for a stable life.

Wang San glared angrily at Mou Bin, who stood high and interrogated him, and retorted through gritted teeth.

“If there were more people like our Benefactors in the world, giving everyone food, work, and clothes so we don’t starve or freeze, who would want to be a beggar, join the Beggar Sect, or become a rebel? Do you think I, Wang San, wanted this?”

Wang San’s eyes grew redder, and his voice turned cold and hard.

“You live in luxury, wear official robes, enjoy endless wealth. You can boldly claim loyalty to the imperial court, easily speak of your devotion to the Emperor—because you’ve never gone hungry or suffered cold. If I were you, I would be even more loyal!”

“……” Mou Bin’s entire face fell upon hearing this.

This was in front of His Majesty!

To be insulted so bluntly in front of the Emperor—this old beggar was truly audacious.

But just when he wanted to refute, he found his pitiful mind held not a single counterargument.

He was completely powerless to retort.

Even though facing just an old beggar.

Wang San grew more agitated. While he was grateful to his Benefactor, he held no favorable impression of pampered officials like Mou Bin.

Since he had already thrown caution to the wind, he let himself go, disregarding status, and continued to rebut Mou Bin.

“If it weren’t for you corrupt officials, with your heavy taxes and collusion with local gentry, how would we have fallen to this state? You are the ones who bullied us, you claim loyalty, you accuse us of being rebels, and you want to behead us for credit. If not for you, we wouldn’t have sunk so low; if not for you, we wouldn’t have joined the Beggar Sect; if not for you, how would we have become rebels? In the end, you take our heads for merit, then rise high as great loyal subjects, reaching the highest ranks…”

It had to be said—becoming a Beggar Sect branch leader was no small feat. Though Wang San might not be literate, his argumentative skills were quite high.

His retorts left even Mou Bin speechless, with no reply.

But who was Mou Bin? Having worked in the Brocade Guard for so many years, he was no pushover. He quickly recovered, raised his thick eyebrows, and scolded Wang San angrily.

“Silence!”

Wang San refused to stop. At this point, it was just death—when he confessed to Fang Jifan, he hadn’t planned to live anyway. He was about to retort again.

Fang Jifan quickly smiled and intervened.

“Old Wang, enough. Commander Mou, you must have misunderstood him. He is not a local official. If you accuse him of heavy taxation, that’s unfair. He is the Commander of the Imperial Guards. Killing you for credit—maybe, but don’t throw all the blame on him. There’s a source for every grievance; you can’t generalize.”

Although this was mediation, it sounded sharp, almost sarcastic.

Mou Bin really wished he could tear Fang Jifan apart with his hands.

But he couldn’t show any temper.

Fang Jifan was indeed mediating…

Fang Jifan glanced at Wang San and waved his hand.

“Step back for now, Wang San. You are a Beggar Sect follower and a branch leader. Though you’ve reformed, whether you live or die isn’t up to me. Go reflect on your actions. Later, life or death will be decided by His Majesty’s judgment.”

Wang San was obedient and deferential to Fang Jifan, saying meekly, “Yes, thank you, Benefactor.”

Once Wang San left.

The school returned to deathly silence.

“Now…” Fang Jifan’s clear, water-like eyes gazed at Mou Bin.

“Commander Mou, do you have any more questions? If so, that’s fine. Wang San is just one witness. If you think that’s insufficient, I have ten, a hundred, even a thousand witnesses here. Each can prove Wang San is the branch leader. Even among the captured accomplices—those around the Beggar Sect leader—they can also confirm the identity of Beggar Sect Leader Wu Zhixin. If you’re still unsatisfied, the imperial criminal Wu Zhixin will soon be transferred to the Imperial Prison. Whether it’s true or false, you can verify it yourself!”

Actually… by now, everyone was deeply convinced of the imperial criminal’s identity.

Emperor Hongzhi’s expression changed sharply. He stared deeply at Fang Jifan, his brows furrowing tightly. His heart was in turmoil.

Mou Bin’s face turned pale and green. He realized the Brocade Guard had suffered a major setback this time—unable to capture the rebel leader for over half a month, while Fang Jifan caught him in just half a day.

How shameful! Before the Emperor, what were they but gluttons and idiots?

“Slap…” The ferule struck the lectern harshly.

Instantly, everyone’s attention focused on Fang Jifan.

Fang Jifan looked serious, his face unusually stern, not playful as before but with a solemn expression.

He glanced around at everyone, then spoke, “This is the Investigation of Things and Extension of Knowledge. What is the Investigation of Things?”

Wang Shouren’s eyes began to shine.

This rhetorical question was met with continued silence.

Emperor Hongzhi focused intently, realizing this was only the beginning.

Zhu Houzhao was somewhat annoyed, feeling it unfair to his Benefactor.

Fang Jifan didn’t care what everyone was thinking. He lifted his head and spoke gravely.

“I heard there was an idiot who read the so-called Classics of the Sages and went to investigate things. What did he investigate? He investigated bamboo! Stared at bamboo for three days and three nights, and gained nothing! Clearly, such a person studied dead books. The Investigation of Things should be like this…”

Wang Shouren’s face reddened… as if it were about him.