After several rounds of drinks, Secretary Zhou had become quite familiar with Meng Jianqing and tactfully explained his purpose for coming.

It concerned the matter of pig dragons (note: alligators) in the Qiantang River harming people and livestock. Over the past year or two, for unknown reasons, pig dragons in the Qiantang River had become extremely rampant, even appearing in broad daylight. Zhejiang Province had petitioned the throne to dispatch troops to hunt and kill them, but due to the Hongwu Emperor’s taboos, they dared not call them “pig dragons” and instead referred to them as “soft-shelled turtles.” When the Ministry of War issued orders, they deployed garrison troops from Hangzhou to eliminate all the soft-shelled turtles in the Qiantang River. Yet the pig dragons continued to run wild. Every few days, people along the river would surge to the Hangzhou prefectural office and the Zhejiang Provincial Governor’s office to beat drums and file complaints. The people of Zhejiang were naturally litigious, and a group of legal manipulators stirred up trouble among them, seemingly determined not to rest until they brought down both the prefect and the provincial governor.

Secretary Zhou sighed, “Speaking from the heart, how could the Provincial Governor not cherish the people under his jurisdiction? How could he bear to watch these good common folk suffer death and injury for no reason? It’s just that—” He sighed again. “Brother Meng serves in the Imperial Guard, close to the Dragon’s countenance. Could you perhaps advise us on a plan that benefits all parties? One that allows the Provincial Governor to avoid triggering the sovereign’s anger as a subject, while still fulfilling his duties as a father-mother official?”

Hu Jinyong said resentfully from the side, “Does Senior Meng know why I was late today? Just as I was about to leave the camp, soldiers came to report that two soldiers washing vegetables by the river had their hands and feet bitten off by pig dragons!”

Yan Fuping slammed the table, “There’s something even more infuriating and ridiculous! A few days ago, one of my soldiers was relieving himself by the river and had a chunk of his buttocks bitten off by a young pig dragon!”

Meng Jianqing and the others truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Secretary Zhou continued, “Though Brother Meng belongs to the military register, you’re still a son of Zhejiang after all. If you could resolve this matter, it would show some care for the elders of Zhejiang. The people along the river wouldn’t know how to express their gratitude. Everyone says that within government offices, one can cultivate good karma. What do you say, Brother Meng? Ha ha ha!”

Hearing Secretary Zhou’s tone, Meng Jianqing realized he wasn’t hoping to establish connections with Shen Guangli through him, but rather hoped that he would resolve this extremely troublesome matter. Such high expectations both surprised and gave him pause, wondering whether this was due to the Zhejiang official circles exaggerating his position within the Imperial Guard, or because of strong advocacy from Yan Fuping and Hu Jinyong.

But Secretary Zhou’s phrase about “cultivating good karma within government offices” truly stirred something in his heart.

During five years at Tiantai Temple, what he daily practiced and witnessed were all Buddhist teachings about karma and retribution. Whether one believed or not, over time, that shadow couldn’t be shaken from one’s heart.

One general’s success is built on ten thousand bones. Within the Imperial Guard, wasn’t it just the same?

If one truly followed Buddhist teachings about karma, then in hell, who knew how many headless vengeful spirits were waiting for people like them?

A self-mocking smile faintly appeared at the corner of Meng Jianqing’s mouth.

Secretary Zhou watched the hesitant, contemplative Meng Jianqing, silently wondering whether this young Lieutenant truly lived up to his reputation.

Hu Jinyong and Yan Fuping calmly awaited Meng Jianqing’s answer, clearly having deep confidence in him in Secretary Zhou’s view.

After a long while, Meng Jianqing finally said, “I wonder if the Provincial Governor has already submitted orders to the Ministry of War to withdraw the troops?”

Hearing this question, Secretary Zhou knew there was significant meaning behind it and immediately perked up, answering, “Not yet. His Excellency considers this matter quite troublesome, so he’s hesitated and hasn’t submitted the orders.”

Meng Jianqing let out a breath. “That’s good, then.”

He looked out the window. It was afternoon, with gentle wind and warm sun, precisely when pig dragons emerged from the water to hunt for food. He stood up, “Very well, let’s go to the riverside now.”

Under the Ming system, civilian officials commanded troops, while the Zhejiang Regional Military Commission only had responsibility for training soldiers. The Provincial Governor, holding the Ministry of War’s troop deployment order, first deployed garrison troops from Hangzhou to the Qiantang River bank. When people on both sides of the river heard they were going to kill soft-shelled turtles again, they covered their mouths and laughed. Those who had suffered harm from pig dragons both laughed and cursed. Even so, they still called their children and summoned their wives, surging to the riverside to see how the Provincial Governor would kill soft-shelled turtles this time.

Hu Jinyong whispered to Meng Jianqing, “With such a crowd, what if the pig dragons don’t come out?”

Meng Jianqing studied the river surface and replied, “Though pig dragons have been causing trouble these past few years, no one has dared to kill dragons, right?”

Hu Jinyong blurted out, “Of course not.”

Meng Jianqing smiled slightly, “Then do you think those pig dragons would still fear humans?”

Hu Jinyong scratched his head, truly unable to answer.

Meng Jianqing added, “Besides, having many people makes for good witnesses.”

Under the warm winter sun, the river water flowed turbulently. A squad of soldiers cut several wounds on three pigs and threw them into the river near the shore. Pig blood spread through the water, and immediately, over ten pig dragons surfaced to compete for the food.

Meng Jianqing cried out in apparent surprise, “What enormous soft-shelled turtles!”

This exclamation was made with his full breath power, so officials and commoners on the shore heard it. Just as they were wondering about this, Meng Jianqing had already taken the divine arm crossbow held by a guard behind him, stepped forward several paces, drew the bow and nocked arrows, shooting one after another at those dozen or so pig dragons. Their archery had all been personally taught by Instructor Kong—truly drawing the bow like a full moon, arrows flying like shooting stars. Though pig dragons were covered in hard armor, they couldn’t withstand these steel armor-piercing cones with five-inch points and three-foot shafts piercing through their armor. In the blink of an eye, five pig dragons fled with arrows in them, and two of those couldn’t swim more than a few zhang before sinking into the water.

Only then did everyone come to their senses. Hu Jinyong’s soldiers were the first to follow orders, shooting arrows after Meng Jianqing while shouting, “Kill the giant soft-shelled turtles!” The spectators on shore were dumbfounded, then burst into laughter, joining in the shouting of “Kill the giant soft-shelled turtles!”

Hu Jinyong laughed while patting Meng Jianqing’s shoulder, “Brother Meng, how did you ever come up with such an idea!” But as he laughed, he suddenly felt something wasn’t quite right, “Wait a moment—if someone investigates this, Senior Meng, you were the first to shoot arrows. I’m afraid—”

Meng Jianqing gazed at the river surface and said flatly, “On this mission, I don’t even know if I’ll have a life to return with—why worry about this? If someone investigates, remember, you can all push it onto me. Commander Shen will naturally find a way to handle the aftermath.”

Let Shen Guangli worry about it.

Hu Jinyong looked at him with confusion, “What mission is so dangerous that even you think you might not return alive?”

Meng Jianqing smiled without answering.

Hu Jinyong didn’t feel it appropriate to ask further, only saying, “If there’s anywhere you can use us, just speak up.”

Meng Jianqing was silent for a while before saying, “You know something about my family affairs. If I truly don’t return, you and Yan Fuping are close to Ninghai—please help look after my mother.”

His birth mother was merely a kitchen servant who could only maintain her position in the Meng household by having such a son.

Though Hu Jinyong agreed, he felt uncomfortable and changed the subject, “But speaking of it, Brother Meng, I think you’ll have good fortune and protection—you won’t fail to return.”

Meng Jianqing smiled, “I’m not Gongsun Yi after all.”

Hu Jinyong also smiled wryly.

Gongsun Yi’s good luck was famous throughout Jiangwu Hall. Most recently, he and Meng Jianchen had been ordered to patrol the borders. After traveling five hundred li beyond the Great Wall, they got lost. When their water and provisions were exhausted, they incredibly stumbled right into the tent of a Wuliangha tribal princess. Fighting their way through, they captured the princess and brought her back to Beiping. The Wuliangha Mongols broke arrows in oath, swearing not to raid the borders for ten years before welcoming back their princess. Though Prince Yan said nothing openly, privately, he probably couldn’t help but regard Gongsun Yi as a “blessed general.”