My master was greatly vexed because he knew that people would say that he was responsible for this murder.
He hurriedly drew up a false report to the prefect stating that Judge Pan and six militia had ventured over the river to apprehend a rebel Uigur chieftain, and that the judge was slain in the ensuing fight. Six of Chien's men signed as witnesses, and…' Judge Dee hit his gavel on the bench. 'I have never', he exclaimed angrily, 'heard such a string of outrageous lies! Give that dogshead twentyfive lashes with the whip!'
Liu started to protest but the headman promptly hit him in his face. The constables tore Liu's robe from his back, threw him on the floor, and the whip swished through the air.
The thin thong cut deeply in the flesh. Liu screamed desperately that he was telling the truth.
After the fifteenth blow the judge raised his hand. He knew that there was no reason for Liu to shield his fallen master and that Liu would realize that the testimony of the other prisoners would soon expose him if he tried to lie. Judge Dee wished to confuse him so that he would tell all he knew, reflecting that fifteen lashes with the whip was probably but a fraction of the punishment that this scoundrel deserved.
The headman gave Liu a cup of bitter tea. Then Judge Dee continued the interrogation.
'If what you say is true, why then did Chien Mow not try to discover the real murderer?'
'That', Liu replied, 'was unnecessary since my master knew who had committed that foul deed.' Judge Dee raised his eyebrows.
'Your tale', he remarked dryly, 'becomes increasingly absurd. If your master knew the murderer's identity, why did he not arrest him and forward him to the prefect? That would have gained Chien the confidence of the authorities.'
Liu shook his head dejectedly.
'That question, Your Honour, can only be answered by Chien himself. Although my master consulted us in minor matters he never told us one word about things of real importance. I know that in all major issues my master let himself be directed by a man whose identity we have never been able to guess.'
'I thought', Judge Dee observed, 'that Chien was perfectly capable to conduct his affairs himself. Why should he need to employ some mysterious adviser?'
'My master', Liu replied, 'is a clever and brave man, expert in all martial arts. But after all, he was born and brought up in this small border town. What do we of Lan-fang know about the handling of a prefect and how to deal with the central authorities? It was always after a visit of the stranger that my master made one of the many clever moves that prevented the prefect from intervening in affairs here.'
Judge Dee leaned forward in his chair. He asked curtly:
'Who was that secret adviser?'
'For the last four years', Liu said, 'my master used to receive regularly secret visits from that man. Late at night my master would send me to the side gate of our mansion and inform the guards that he expected a guest who was to be conveyed immediately to his library. This visitor always came on foot clad in a monk's cloak with a black scarf wrapped round his head. None of us ever saw his face. My master used to be closeted with him for hours on end. Then he would depart as silently as he had come. My master never gave us any explanation of these visits. But they were always the prelude to some major undertaking.
I am convinced that this man had Judge Pan murdered without my master's previous knowledge. He came that same night. He must have had a violent quarrel with my master; outside in the corridor we heard them shout at each other although we could not distinguish any words. After that interview my master was in a bad temper for several days.'
The judge said impatiently:
'I have heard enough of this mysterious tale. What about Chien's kidnapping the son and the eldest daughter of the blacksmith Fang?'
'It is about affairs such as these', Liu said, 'that I and my colleagues can give Your Honour full particulars. Fang's son was indeed taken by Chien's men. The mansion was short of coolies and Chien sent out his henchmen to collect a few strong young men in the street. They brought in four. Three were later returned when their parents paid ransom. The blacksmith made trouble with the guards so Chien decided to keep his son to teach the blacksmith a lesson.
As to the girl, I know that my master happened to see her when he passed her father's shop in his palanquin. He took a fancy to her and made an offer to buy her. When the blacksmith refused my master soon forgot all about it. Then the blacksmith came to our mansion and accused us of having kidnapped her. My master was angry and sent his men to burn the blacksmith's house.'
Judge Dee leaned back in his chair and slowly stroked his long beard. He reflected that Liu was evidently speaking the truth. His master had had nothing to do with the disappearance of Fang's eldest daughter. Quick measures should be taken to arrest Chien's secret adviser. If at least it was not too late for that already.
Then he ordered:
'Tell me what happened after my arrival here two days ago!'
'One week ago', Liu replied, 'Magistrate Kwang reported to my master Your Honour's scheduled arrival. He asked leave to depart early in the morning since he thought it awkward to meet Your Honour. My master agreed. He ordered that no one should take the slightest notice of Your Honour's arrival in order 'to show the new magistrate his place', as he put it.
My master then waited for the old jail warden to report. He failed to show up on the first day. He came the next evening and told my master that Your Honour was determined to attack him. He added that there were only three or four men in the tribunal but he described them as exceedingly fierce and rough men.'
Here Tao Gan smiled proudly. It was not often that he heard such a flattering description of himself.
'My master', Liu continued, 'ordered twenty of his men to enter the tribunal that very night, capture the magistrate and give all others a thorough beating. When Ling and five men came back with the alarming news that a regiment of the regular army had quietly occupied the city, my master was asleep and nobody dared to disturb him. Early yesterday morning I myself brought Ling to my master's bedroom. He ordered a small black flag to be hoisted immediately over the main gate and then rushed to the main hall. When we were consulting about what to do, Your Honour came with the officers and arrested us.'
'What was the meaning of that black flag?', the judge inquired.
'We understand that that was the summons for the mysterious visitor. Every time the flag was hoisted, he used to come that same night.'
Judge Dee gave a sign to the headman. Liu Wan-fang was led away.
Then the judge filled out another slip for the warden of the jail and handed it to the headman.
After a while Chien Mow was brought in and led before the dais.
A murmur rose from the crowd as they saw the man who
had ruled them with an iron hand for the past eight years.
Chien certainly was an imposing figure. He was well
over six feet tall. His broad shoulders and his thick neck
showed his great strength.
He made no move to kneel. First Chien looked haughtily at the judge, then turned round and surveyed with a sneer the gaping crowd.
'Kneel before your magistrate, you insolent dog!', the headman barked.
Chien Mow grew purple with rage. Thick veins stood out like whipcords on his forehead. He opened his mouth to speak. Then suddenly a stream of blood gushed from his broken nose. He tottered on his feet for a moment, then collapsed on the floor in a heap.
On a sign of the judge the headman stooped down and wiped the blood of Chien's face. He was unconscious.
The headman sent a constable for a bucket of cold water. They loosened Chien's robe and bathed his forehead and breast. But all was in vain. Chien did not regain consciousness.
Judge Dee was greatly annoyed. He ordered the headman to recall Liu Wan-fang.
As soon as he was kneeling before the bench the judge asked:
'Was your master suffering from any disease?' Liu looked in consternation at the prone figure of Chien. The constables were still trying to revive him. Liu shook his head.
'Although my master has an extraordinarily strong body', he said, 'he suffers from a chronic disease of the
