'For the time being we shall leave him where he is', the judge replied. 'It was a lucky inspiration that made me lock up that rascal. Evidently he is one of Chien's men. He would have run immediately to his master to tell him all about us.'
Ma Joong opened his mouth to ask something but Judge Dee raised his hand. He continued:
'Tao Gan, you will now go out and collect all information you can get about Chien and his men. At the same time you will make inquiries about a wealthy citizen called Yoo Kee. He is the son of the famous Governor Yoo Shou-chien who about eight years ago died here in Lan-fang.
I myself shall now go out with Ma Joong to obtain a general impression of this town. Sergeant Hoong shall supervise affairs here in the tribunal together with Chiao Tai. The gates shall remain locked and no one is to leave or enter during my absence except for my house steward. He will go out alone to buy food.
Let us meet here again at noon!'
The judge rose and put on a small black cap. In his simple blue robe he looked like a scholarly gentleman of leisure.
He left the tribunal with Ma Joong walking by his side.
First they strolled south and had a look at the famous pagoda of Lan-fang. It stood on a small island in the middle of a lotus lake. The willow trees along its banks were waving in the morning breeze. Then they walked north and mingled with the crowd.
There was the usual coming and going of an early morning and the shops along the main street did a fair amount of business. But one heard little laughter and people often talked in a low voice, quickly looking right and left before they spoke.
When they had reached the double arch north of the tribunal Judge Dee and Ma Joong turned left and strolled to the market place in front of the Drum Tower. This market presented an interesting scene. Vendors from over the border clad in quaint gaudy costumes praised their wares in raucous voices, and here and there an Indian monk lifted up his almsbowl.
A group of idlers had gathered round a fish dealer who was having a violent quarrel with a neatly dressed young man. The latter apparently was being overcharged. Finally he threw a handful of coppers into the fishmonger's basket, shouting angrily:
'If this were a decently administered town you would not dare thus to deceive people in broad daylight!'
Suddenly a broad-shouldered man stepped forward. He jerked the young man round and hit him in his mouth.
'That will teach you to slander the Honourable Chien!', he growled.
Ma Joong was going to intervene but the judge laid a restraining hand on his arm.
The spectators hurriedly dispersed. The young man did not say a word. He wiped the blood from his mouth and went his way.
Judge Dee gave Ma Joong a sign. Together they followed the young man.
When he had entered a quiet side alley, the judge overtook him. He said:
'Excuse my intrusion. I happened to see that ruffian maltreat you. Why don't you report him to the tribunal?'
The young man stood still. He gave Judge Dee and his stalwart companion a suspicious look.
'If you are agents of Chien,' he said coldly, 'you can wait long before I incriminate myself!'
Judge Dee looked up and down the alley. They were alone.
'You are greatly mistaken, young man', he said quietly, 'I am Dee Jen-djieh, the new magistrate of this district.'
The young man's face turned ashen, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. Then he passed his hand over his forehead and mastered his emotion. He heaved a deep sigh and his face lit up in a broad smile. He bowed deeply saying respectfully:
'This person is the Junior Candidate Ding, the son of General Ding Hoo-gwo, from the capital. Your Honour's name is quite familiar to me. At long last this district has got a real magistrate!'
The judge inclined his head slightly to acknowledge the compliment.
He vaguely remembered that many years ago something untoward had happened to General Ding. He had fought a victorious battle against the barbarians across the northern border. But when he had returned to the capital the general had been unexpectedly compelled to resign. Judge Dee wondered how the general's son came to be in this distant place. He said to the young man:
'There is something very wrong in this town. I would like you to tell me more about the situation here.'
Candidate Ding did not answer immediately. He remained in thought for a few moments. Then he spoke:
'These things had better not be discussed in public. Might I have the honour of offering the gentlemen a cup of tea?'
Judge Dee assented. They went to the tea house on the corner of the alley and sat down at a table somewhat apart from the other guests.
When the waiter had brought the tea young Ding said in a whisper:
'A ruthless man called Chien Mow has all the power in his hands. There is nobody here who dares to oppose him. Chien keeps about one hundred ruffians in his mansion. They have nothing to do but loaf about this town and intimidate the people.'
'How are they armed?', Ma Joong asked.
'Out in the street these rascals have only clubs and swords with them, but I would not be astonished if in Chien's mansion they kept quite an arsenal.'
Judge Dee asked:
'Do you often see barbarians from over the border in this town?'
Candidate Ding shook his head emphatically.
'I have never seen a single Uigur here', he replied.
'Those attacks Chien reported about to the government', Judge Dee observed to Ma Joong, 'are evidently but an invention of his, to convince the authorities that he and his men are indispensable here.'
Ma Joong asked:
'Have you ever been inside Chien's mansion?'
'Heaven forbid!', the young man exclaimed, 'I always avoid that entire neighbourhood. Chien has surrounded his mansion with a double wall, with watchtowers on the four corners.'
'How did he seize power here?', Judge Dee inquired.
'He inherited great wealth from his father', young Ding replied, 'but none of his eminent qualities. His father was a native of this town, an honest and diligent man who became rich as a tea merchant. Until a few years ago the main route to Khotan and the other tributary kingdoms of the west ran through Lan-fang and this town was quite an important emporium. Then three oases along the desert route dried up and it shifted a hundred miles to the north. Chien then collected a band of ruffians around him and one day proclaimed himself master of this city.
He is a clever and determined man who could easily have been successful in an official military career. But he will obey no one, he prefers to govern this district as the undisputed ruler, responsible to no one in the Empire.'
'A most unfortunate situation', Judge Dee commented. He emptied his tea cup and rose to go.
Candidate Ding hurriedly leaned forward and begged the judge to stay a little longer.
The judge hesitated but the young man looked so unhappy that at last he sat down again. Candidate Ding busied himself with refilling the tea cups. He seemed at a loss how to begin.
'If there is anything on your mind, young man', Judge Dee said, 'don't hesitate to speak!'
'To tell Your Honour the truth', young Ding finally said, 'there is a matter that weighs heavily on my mind. It has nothing to do with the tyrant Chien. It concerns my own family.'
Here he paused. Ma Joong shifted impatiently on his chair.
Candidate Ding made an effort and continued:
'Your Honour, my old father is going to be murdered!'
Judge Dee raised his eyebrows.
'If you know that in advance', he observed, 'it should not be difficult to prevent this crime!'
The young man shook his head.
