Falling leaves drifted, the north wind howled, General Wang stood with one hand on his hip, oblivious to the concept of an opponent. Two hundred meters away, Zhu Ping’an wasn’t even a blip in his eyes, just a defeated foe with no power to fight back!
At this moment, General Wang, standing at five feet seven, exuded an aura taller than the city walls, undeniably the center of attention.
On the wall, Prefect Shang, under General Wang’s pressure, had no choice but to step forward to uphold fairness and justice.
“Zihou, I’ll ask you one more time, do you have any documentary or physical evidence of General Wang surrendering to the pirates?”
Prefect Shang repeated the question General Wang had just asked, seeking to confirm once more whether Zhu Ping’an had evidence, checking if Zhu Ping’an had been too impulsive earlier and deliberately avoided answering General Wang.
Under Prefect Shang’s expectant gaze, Zhu Ping’an shook his head decisively.
Prefect Shang frowned in disappointment, then asked again, “Then do you have witness testimony proving General Wang surrendered to the pirates?!”
Zhu Ping’an still shook his head decisively!
“Lord Prefect, I never surrendered to the pirates, it’s perfectly normal that he has no evidence of me doing so. No need to waste time, it’s freezing out here, the boys are nearly stiff with cold. We’re not unreasonable people, at this critical moment for Suzhou’s survival, as long as Zhu Ping’an and the Zhejiang troops apologize to us, clear our names, this matter can be put to rest.”
At this point, General Wang stepped forward, putting on a magnanimous air, as if he could steer a ship with his broad-mindedness.
Hearing General Wang’s words, Prefect Shang couldn’t help but nod in approval, thinking, look at this, this is a mature man, experienced, knowing when to advance or retreat, reliable, not something a young man like Zhu Ping’an could match.
“Zihou, you’re an expert in handling cases, you know that judgments require both witness testimony and physical evidence, neither can be missing. Now, you have neither witnesses nor evidence, yet you baselessly tarnish General Wang’s reputation by saying he surrendered to the pirates, that’s not right, is it?! General Wang is generous, a true gentleman, you heard him, as long as you apologize to him, and your troops apologize to his, this can be settled. With pirates besieging the city, unity is paramount, we must stand together, united as one to resist the pirates. I believe Zihou can prioritize the greater good.”
Prefect Shang took a step back to advance, gently persuading Zhu Ping’an to apologize to General Wang.
“I’m a gentleman, naturally magnanimous, not like some people, no hair on their lips, unreliable in their actions! Rash and reckless! As long as you apologize to me, and your troops apologize to the soldiers behind me, this matter is over.”
Seeing Prefect Shang take his side, General Wang grew cocky, looking at Zhu Ping’an with smug satisfaction, speaking leisurely.
Heh, I surrendered to the pirates, I’m shameless, I’m scum, but what can you do about it? Don’t you still have to apologize to me?
This feeling was like drinking a jar of fine nectar, simply too wonderful, indescribably delightful.
This sensation surpassed even the achievement of his wedding night, when he’d conquered his 280-pound wife from a prominent clan.
General Wang strutted with the steps of a victor, smugly watching Zhu Ping’an, waiting for his apology.
“Apologize? Impossible, and letting this matter pass is even less likely.” Zhu Ping’an smiled at General Wang.
General Wang was basking in his triumph, expecting Zhu Ping’an to cave and apologize, when he heard this unexpected retort. It was so shocking that he stumbled, nearly falling flat on his face, instantly turning furious with embarrassment, “Zhu Ping’an, I’ve been magnanimous enough, you can be young and brash, but don’t push it when I’m giving you face!”
“Zihou, the ancients said knowing your mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue. You’ve slandered General Wang with no proof, saying he surrendered to the pirates, your troops accused his of being pirates… since the mistake is made, it needs to be set right, it’s just an apology.”
Prefect Shang shook his head repeatedly, lecturing Zhu Ping’an, his dissatisfaction with him growing. You’ve wrongly accused General Wang of surrendering to the pirates, and he’s gracious enough to let it go with just an apology, something so simple, yet you won’t do it, you’re too headstrong for your age.
“Zhu Ping’an, you’ve slandered me without evidence, if you don’t give me an explanation today, I’m not done with you!”
General Wang seized the chance to act enraged, shouting at Zhu Ping’an, threatening and pressuring him to apologize.
“Haha, who says I have no evidence? I, Zhu Ping’an, always act with evidence, whether it’s Zhao Daying’s case of killing innocents for merit, the Taicang deficit case, or any lawsuit I’ve handled since taking office, every one has been clear in facts and solid in proof!” Zhu Ping’an looked at the blustering General Wang, smiling as he spoke.
Thump!
General Wang’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly calmed himself, Zhu Ping’an has no evidence, he can’t possibly have any, he’s just bluffing. No documentary evidence, no physical evidence, no witnesses, what proof could he have?!
Prefect Shang was also taken aback, recalling Zhu Ping’an’s record since passing the imperial exams and entering office. The major cases he’d handled, Zhao Daying’s case of killing innocents for merit, the Taicang deficit case, were indeed clear in facts and backed by solid evidence, especially the Taicang case, where Zhu Ping’an famously stripped naked to enter the silver vault, uncovered the shortfall, and became renowned overnight.
From these cases, Zhu Ping’an wasn’t someone who acted recklessly or slandered others without basis.
So, his claim that General Wang surrendered to the pirates wasn’t baseless?! But without documentary evidence, physical evidence, or witnesses, what proof could Zhu Ping’an have?!
Thinking this, Prefect Shang couldn’t help but carefully reexamine Zhu Ping’an and General Wang, his gaze sweeping between them…
“Zhu Ping’an, surnamed Zhu, you have no documentary or physical evidence, no witnesses, what proof could you possibly have?! If you do, bring it out and let’s see?! Stop dawdling and stalling!”
General Wang shouted hysterically again, refusing to believe Zhu Ping’an had any evidence.
“Yes, Zihou, if you have any proof, bring it out for us to see,” Prefect Shang said from the wall.
“Sure, let’s take a look then.” Zhu Ping’an nodded with a smile.
Seeing the confident, calm smile on Zhu Ping’an’s face, General Wang’s heart skipped another beat, could this bastard actually have evidence?!
“What evidence do you have, documentary, physical, or witnesses?!” General Wang shouted, his bluster masking his unease.
“I have no documentary evidence, physical evidence, or witnesses, but I can prove it to you.” Zhu Ping’an smiled.
“Utter nonsense, you have no documentary evidence, physical evidence, or witnesses, how can you prove anything?!” General Wang laughed uproariously.
“Who says you can’t prove something without documentary evidence, physical evidence, or witnesses? I’ll show you.”
Zhu Ping’an smiled with absolute confidence.
