Chapter 190 Ringside Witness (2/2)
That, at least, was the gist of what was happening around me. That would also mean the death of Yuan Chonghuan would not be far ahead; according to history, he would be sentenced by Chongzhen Emperor to death by lingchi—a method of torture and execution so excruciating and tormenting by slicing the flesh off the sentenced offender slowly and systematically to exact the most pain. And right after that, the pillars that once held the foundations of the Ming Empire would collapse complete, if they had not already. Then I remembered what I read in history books depicting how the Jurchens ravaged the farmlands and pillaged the villages as they passed by. Bian Dashou's earlier words to Father returned to me and I finally understood as I pieced the information together. The Magistrate and the people of Wu Zhong had decided to desert the city because they were utterly disappointed in the Ming armies. Sometime after this, according to history, the Jurchens would eventually be repelled and they would withdraw while pillaging the districts of Tongzhou, Qian'an, Zunhua, and Luanzhou. From the way things were progressing, doubtless to say, Wu Zhong also hardly be spared. Before long, the Jurchens would come knocking and find the house empty without a fight.
Last but not least, I must not forget about Li Zicheng's rebel army. The books I had read about the Jisi Incident had also noted that this was also when the rebel army began to make good progress on their conquests. I slowly glided up into the sky and flew away from Wu Zhong.
As I swam among the clouds in the sky, my thoughts wandered somewhere else. I should have long guessed that Father knew Bian Dashou since he was the one charged to watch the Dragon-slaying Blade. This was further insinuated by Bian Dashou's deference and respect when he spoke to Father. Preoccupied with my thoughts, I began to look around. But what I saw sent me into a shock!
The sun came and gone and so did the moon overhead! The passing of Time around me was suddenly accelerated at a breathtaking rate! The sudden spike in the pace of Time began as soon as I took off into the air and even so, I found myself as if being steered like a ship as I flew. I was not in control of myself as if an invisible hand was guiding me! I had merely thought about Li Zicheng, and before I knew it, I was already in the air and I did not even know where I was going to.
When I finally landed, I was at a complete lost at the days and nights that had fleeted by as if I had passed through a wormhole. But from the thick accent in the chatter of the people around me, I should be somewhere near Shaanxi.
I began looking around. But before long, I came to a building that looked odd to me. But when my head slanted up for me to glance at the plaque board hanging from the eave of the building, I saw the two words that said ”County Magistrate.” ”Heavens,” I shrugged helplessly, ”I should have known... A person from the future now trapped in medieval times.” It should have been no wonder that I find ancient architecture strange.
I smirked at my own ignorance as I began to walk away. But in just a few paces, I stopped. Something had flashed through my mind, although I do not know what it was. But I knew only one thing: it was urging me, drawing me back to the building of the County Magistrate.
With the confusion driving me to the point of becoming mad, my fingers dug frantically for my pack of cigarettes. So there I was, an invisible soul from the future now cross-legged and sipping on his cigarettes on the steps at the doors of the magistrate building, thinking about that momentary vision that flashed through my mind. But I burned through my cigarettes with great alacrity as I failed to make any sense of it. But somehow the repeating echoes of the nearby hawkers hooting and plying their wares reverberated in my mind and the word ”Shaanxi” kept on ringing in my mind like the tolling of bells.
But just when I was still drowning in the disconcerting apprehension still gripping me, a man walked past me and up the steps. He banged at the doors of the magistrate building loudly and I looked up. He was wearing the same outfit as magistrate constables as I had oft-times saw in movies and dramas and a bundle wrapped in a large piece of lotus leaf nestling in his arms.
The large timber doors of the magistrate office cracked opened with the clatter of somebody removing the drop bar from the other side. A head then popped out of the opened doors and the man looked at the constable carrying the lotus-leafed bundle. A loud cackle rang amidst the hubbub of the markets nearby before the man continued, ”Heh heh heh! Zhang Zixiang! The Magistrate has been expecting you for some time! Come on in!”
But I was however frozen with my hairs standing when I heard him and sweat began breaking down my back!