Chapter 48: Who Else, I Ask, Who Else!

Chapter 48: Who Else, I Ask, Who Else!

The green robe barely had time to react…

Not that he could have done anything anyway.

Even a legendary warrior like Cao Wenzhao might not have been able to dodge Yang Xin’s punch at such close range, let alone a frail, bookish green robe. The heavy fist slammed into his chin. It was fortunate Yang Xin did not want to kill, using only a tenth of his strength. Even so, that force made the young man snap his head back, flying backward like a kicked dead dog.

Blood, squeezed out by the instant impact, sprayed straight into the air.

Then he crashed heavily to the ground.

The entire courtyard fell silent.

The green robes who had followed behind stared wide-eyed at their companion on the ground. The poor fellow was already unconscious, and they all felt as if in a dream…

They were students of the Imperial College.

True favorites of heaven, each one eligible to become an official directly. Among them were many Provincial Scholars, who might become Jinshi in three years’ time, and also many elite Government Students recommended from across the region. Any one of them was a future pillar of the Great Ming Dynasty. There were also sons of hereditary nobles. Even those with Purchased Student Status came from prominent local families, commonly called “the talented.” Back in their hometowns, they could command wind and rain. Who dared to strike them? Even if they committed crimes and were brought before officials, the officials would not dare to apply corporal punishment! They dared to run rampant, dared to come and arrest Yang Xin, precisely because they had nothing to fear. If they ran to the Gate of Heavenly Succession and lay down in protest, even the emperor wouldn’t dare to do anything to them!

To beat them like this?

It was completely beyond their imagination!

“By the Grand Pronouncements of Taizu, those who illegally break into a private residence may be killed without consequence!”

The culprit flexed his wrists, clenching his fists, and said with a fierce grin.

“Hit him, hit him, beat this dog to death!”

The green robe closest to him stammered, his lips trembling.

The household servants snapped out of it. The one nearest Yang Xin swung a club down at his head. Behind, Wang Wang and Xiaocao immediately screamed, but then they saw the club end up in Yang Xin’s hand. Before the servant could react, Yang Xin, having seized the club, rammed it hard into the man’s chest. His heart, struck a heavy blow, stopped. The servant fell backward without a pause. Yang Xin swung the club to the other side, smashing it into the face of another servant, who screamed and staggered back. The next moment, Yang Xin roared and leaped, landing right above the green robe. The latter shrieked, and then Yang Xin’s fist connected with his left cheek. This fellow spewed blood and teeth, spinning as he fell to the side. Another servant behind Yang Xin slashed a blade down at his back. Without even turning his head, Yang Xin surged forward, grabbed a green robe who hadn’t yet recovered his wits, and hurled him backward.

This man crashed headfirst into the servant’s chest. The force of over a hundred pounds hitting at speed knocked both the servant and the green robe unconscious.

Then Yang Xin threw both fists simultaneously.

Two fists struck two green robes squarely in the chest. The unfortunate two flew backward, crashing into and toppling four others. Yang Xin stepped forward, treading over their bodies, grabbed two green robes already trying to flee, and casually tossed them backward to crash into the pile underfoot…

“Run for it!”

“Help!”

…

The remaining green robes shrieked.

Having come to their senses, they were like sheep that had run into a tiger, screaming madly as they fled toward the gate.

But it happened so suddenly; those outside had no idea what was going on.

To show their collective sense of justice, this time they gathered—Imperial College Students plus some Provincial Graduates and Government Students who had failed the exams in the Capital City—totaling five or six hundred people, many bringing their household servants. Their plan was to come, arrest Yang Xin, then deliver him to the Ministry of Justice to force Consort Zheng and Fang Congzhe to take a stance. It never occurred to them that this criminal would dare resist arrest. To them, this was a show. They’d gather at Xu Guangqi’s home, drag out this criminal under his protection—of course, not personally; they’d just fan themselves while the servants handled it.

So, at this moment, those still outside were packed in the alley, waiting for Yang Xin to be dragged out so they could spit on him a few times and righteously denounce him.

They never expected the green robes inside would start fleeing like mad.

The two groups ended up completely blocking the gate.

Behind them, Yang Xin, stepping on the green robes underfoot and flexing his fists, soon reached the backs of these crowding figures.

“Wolf smoke rises, gazing north to Jiangshan, dragon flags furl, horses neigh long, sword energy like frost…”

He howled excitedly.

Then his two fists instantly took down two more green robes. He immediately stepped on them, grabbed two others by the neck, roared, lifted them straight up, and casually tossed them to either side.

Behind, Chen Yujie covered his face, his expression one of shattered worldview, while Wang Wang and Xiaocao simply stared in stunned disbelief, eyes wide and mouths agape, utterly petrified. By now, however, the green robes’ servants outside had come to their senses and quickly climbed the courtyard walls on either side. But before they could get involved, they could not stop Yang Xin’s savage beating of the green robes.

“…Why spare a hundred deaths to repay homeland, bearing sighs, no words more, eyes filled with blood and tears…”

Yang Xin continued howling.

Amid his howls, one green-robed man with a bloody face struggled to crawl out. In truth, most of them were trying to crawl out, like insects fleeing a fire. This fellow clearly recognized Chen Yujie, reaching a hand toward him as he crawled…

“Chen Zhanyi, what do you think you’re doing?”

He shrieked.

“I should ask what you all think you’re doing? You illegally break into the Xu Mansion and intend to disrespect a guest of the Xu family. This is unjustifiable by both the law and private relations, is it not? I already said, whatever you intend, this is the Xu family. What do you mean by this? By the Grand Pronouncements of Taizu, those who illegally break into a private residence may be killed without consequence. What do you mean by disregarding the Grand Pronouncements? Xu Si, go fetch the Grand Pronouncements. Also bring a chair. I will sit right here and see who dares to continue this disrespect. Brother Yang, beat them all you like. Anyone who has stepped into the Xu family gate may be killed without consequence! Our Songjiang Xu and Chen families will not be bullied without resistance. Don’t be afraid. We have the Grand Pronouncements of Taizu on our side. Even if this goes to the Emperor himself, we are in the right!”

Chen Yujie shouted.

He was going all in!

After all, he was in the right. He wasn’t the one doing the beating. And since they had already started beating, would stopping now make everything okay? Since hostilities had already begun, he might as well see it through.

Truth be told, he felt a surge of hot-blooded impulse at this moment!

The green robe was left speechless.

Fortunately, by then the servants who had scaled the wall finally joined the fray. The first three to land charged forward with short spears. Then the unscrupulous Yang Xin casually hurled a green robe at them. The servants, who had been thrusting their spears, panicked and pulled back, only to be knocked over by the flying green robe. Several others who had climbed in hesitated, not daring to step forward to their deaths, but unwilling to climb back out either. They could only put on a show, then watch as Yang Xin continued his violence…

After all, none of their masters were among those inside.

Soon, nearly all who had forced their way into the courtyard had been savagely beaten by Yang Xin. A few quick ones managed to hide in the corners.

Around him lay a chaotic scene.

Everywhere were green robes, either bruised and swollen or bleeding, groaning continuously, crawling outward on the ground—truly like a pile of worms. Additionally, under Yang Xin’s feet were several more, including some he had knocked unconscious. These unlucky fellows were piled haphazardly like sacks of cotton, and he stood atop the highest point. Outside, it was as silent as a cicada in winter. Everyone, including the green robes, stared at him in terror. Yang Xin, still completely unharmed, brushed the dust from his clothes, proudly stepped over these noble Provincial Scholars and Imperial College Students, and walked directly under the gatehouse.

An injured Imperial College Student was still crawling out. Yang Xin unceremoniously stepped on his back, then disdainfully spat…

“The Six Arts of the Gentleman! If Confucius himself were to come back to life and see his disciples and followers turned into such useless wretches, he’d probably be so angry he’d crawl back into his grave!”

He said.

“Who else, I ask, who else? Who else dares to step over this threshold?”

He then lifted his head and shouted arrogantly.

“This isn’t against the law, is it?”

He immediately turned his head back and asked.

“It is not. According to the law, they have already been subdued. If you killed them now, that would be a crime, though the punishment would be reduced by degree according to the law. However, their injuries were inflicted before. As long as you do not inflict new wounds upon them, you are not guilty. We are all law-abiding good citizens. We do not do illegal things. But if others break the law against us, do not hold back. The Grand Pronouncements of Emperor Taizu is right here!”

Chen Yujie, sitting straight-backed in an armchair, held up a copy of the Grand Pronouncements.

Outside, there was only speechless, grief-stricken indignation.

Truth be told, by this time the Grand Pronouncements was largely ignored. Zhu Yuanzhang had placed great importance on this personal interpretation of the law, even mandating that every household in the land must have a copy. If a household had the Grand Pronouncements when a crime was committed, the punishment could be reduced. In this legal interpretation, using entirely plain language and specific cases, he made all commoners understand the Great Ming Code—meaning he taught all commoners to use the law to defend themselves. But after his death, it became largely useless. What all scholars once had to memorize, by the Jiajing era, hardly any scholars read this thing anymore. Even when an official once brought it up again, nothing came of it.

However, when specific officials adjudicated cases, they would still follow tradition and use some cases from the Grand Pronouncements as precedent. This, of course, included illegal entry into a private residence…

Even Zhu Bajie knew that by law, if Monkey King broke down his cave door, he deserved death.

Ultimately, these green robes had been careless.

To be precise, they never considered it. These fellows who dared to scold even the emperor never thought anyone would dare lay hands on them. As a result, Chen Yujie and Yang Xin immediately seized the legal high ground…

Of course, that didn’t matter much.

The Great Ming Dynasty wasn’t truly ruled by law anyway.

“Make way, all of you, make way!”

Shortly after, shouts came from outside.

Then, a large number of archers from the Five City Military Inspectorate pushed through the green robes, escorting a blue-robed civil official. The latter, probably unprepared, glanced inside once he reached the gate, instantly went weak in the legs, and steadied himself on a soldier’s shoulder.

“Ar-rest! Ar-rest him!”

He said feebly.