The Chinese Maze Murders (7 page)

Sergeant Hoong was busy swallowing the last of his soup, lifting his moustache with his left hand. He quietly put the bowl down. Then he said with a smile:

“In all these years I have learned but one thing about understanding our judge. That is, to give up trying to!”

All laughed. They rose and went back to the judge’s private office.

As Sergeant Hoong was assisting Judge Dee in changing into his ceremonial robes he said curtly:

“Since I lack all the court personnel, today the four of you must take their places.”

So speaking Judge Dee pulled aside the screen that separated his office from the court hall, and ascended the dais.

When he was seated behind the bench the judge ordered Sergeant Hoong and Tao Gan to stand by his side and act as scribes, taking notes of the proceedings. Ma Joong and Chiao Tai were to stand below, in front of the dais, as constables.

As he took up his position Ma Joong shot Chiao Tai a bewildered look. They wondered why the judge insisted on keeping up the semblance of a real session of the tribunal. Looking at the empty court hall Chiao Tai thought to himself that it rather reminded him of a theatrical performance.

Judge Dee hit his gavel on the bench. He said solemnly:

“I, the magistrate, open the first session of this tribunal. Chiao Tai, bring the prisoners before me!”‘

Soon Chiao Tai came back leading the six robbers and the girl; he had shackled them together on a long chain.

As they approached the dais the prisoners looked amazed at the judge sitting in full ceremonial dress behind the shabby bench in the deserted court hall.

With an impassive face Judge Dee ordered Tao Gan to note down the full name and former profession of each of the prisoners.

Then Judge Dee spoke:

“You men have committed the crime of assault with murderous intent on the public road. The law prescribes for you death by decapitation, confiscation of all your property, and your heads exposed for three days, nailed to the city gate, as a warning to others.

“However, in view of the fact that none of your victims was killed and none suffered grievous bodily harm, and because of the special reasons that drove you to this desperate deed, I, the magistrate, decide that in this particular case mercy shall prevail over justice. I shall let you go free on one condition.

“This condition is that all of you shall serve for an indefinite time as constables of this tribunal under Fang as your headman, binding yourselves loyally to serve the state and the people until I shall release you.”

The prisoners looked dumbfounded.

“Your Honour,” Fang spoke up, “these persons are
profoundly grateful for the leniency shown to us. Yet this only means that our death sentence is deferred for a few days. Your Honour does not yet know Chien Mow’s vindictive spirit, and …”

The judge hit his gavel on the table. He called out in a thunderous voice:

“Look up at your magistrate! Observe carefully these insignia of the power that has been vested in me. Know that on this very day, this very hour all over the Empire thousands of men wearing these same insignia are dispensing justice in the name of the state and the people. Since time immemorial they stand as a symbol of the social order decided upon in the wise counsels of your ancestors, and perpetuated by the mandate of Heaven and the free will of the uncounted millions of our black-haired people.

“Have you not seen sometimes people trying to plant a stick in a gushing mountain stream? It will stand for a moment or so, then it is carried away by the mighty stream that flows on for ever. Thus occasionally wicked or ignorant men will rise and endeavour to disrupt the sacred pattern of our society. Is it not crystal clear that such attempts can never end in anything but miserable failure?

“Let us never lose faith in these tokens, lest we lose faith in ourselves.

“Stand up, and be freed of your chains!”

The prisoners had not followed all the implications of Judge Dee’s words. But they were deeply impressed by his utter sincerity and carried away by his supreme confidence. Judge Dee’s lieutenants, however, had fully understood and they knew that his words had been meant as much for them as for the prisoners. Ma Joong and Chiao Tai bent their heads and hurriedly loosened the chains.

Judge Dee then addressed the robbers:

“Afterwards each of you will report to Tao Gan and
Sergeant Hoong what wrongs he suffered at the hands of Chien Mow. In due time each single case shall be heard in this tribunal. At present, however, there are more pressing affairs. The six of you will go immediately to the main courtyard and clean the weapons and the old uniforms of the constables. My two lieutenants Ma Joong and Chiao Tai shall instruct you in military drill. Fang’s daughter shall report to my house steward for work as a maid in my mansion.

“The first session of the tribunal is closed!”

The judge rose and returned to his private office.

He changed into a comfortable informal robe. Just as he was going to sort out some more documents, Headman Fang came in. After he had bowed he said respectfully:

“Your Honour, beyond the valley where the attack took place there live more than thirty other men in an improvised camp. They had to flee the city because of Chien Mow’s iniquities. I know them all. Five or six are scoundrels, the rest are honest people whom I’ll answer for. It occurred to me that one of these days I might go out there and enlist the best of them for service in the tribunal.”

“An excellent idea!” the judge exclaimed. “You will take a horse and go there at once. Select those men you deem suitable. Let them come back to the city at dusk, in groups of two or three and by different routes!”

Headman Fang hurriedly took his leave.

Late that afternoon the main courtyard of the tribunal resembled a military encampment.

Ten men wearing the black lacquered helmets and the leather jackets with red sash that are the regular uniform of constables, were engaged in a drill led by Headman Fang. Ten others clad in light mail coats and decked with shining helmets were practising pike fencing under the supervision of Ma Joong. Chiao Tai was instructing ten more in the secrets of sword fighting.

The gate of the tribunal was closed. Sergeant Hoong and Tao Gan stood on guard.

Later on that night, Judge Dee ordered all the men to assemble in the court hall.

By the light of a single candle the judge issued his instructions. When he had finished he cautioned them all to guard complete silence for a while. Then he snuffed out the candle.

Tao Gan left the court hall. He closed the door carefully behind him and walked through the dark corridors, lighting his way with a small paper lantern.

He went to the jail and unlocked the warden’s cell.

Tao Gan loosened the chain with which the warden had been attached to a ring in the wall. He said in a surly voice:

“The judge has decided to dismiss you from his service because of gross negligence. You failed to take proper care of the seals of the tribunal that were entrusted to you. In the coming days our judge shall recruit new personnel of the tribunal, and the first criminal to be kneeling in chains before his dais will be that self-styled tyrant Chien Mow!”

The warden only scowled.

Tao Gan led him through the dark, empty corridors and across the deserted main courtyard. They passed the empty quarters of the guards. Everything was dark and silent.

Tao Gan opened the gate. He gave the warden a push.

“Get out!” he growled. “Never show your ugly face here again!”

The warden looked contemptuously at Tao Gan. He said with a sneer:

“I shall be back sooner than you think, you dogshead!”

Then he disappeared into the dark street.

Fifth Chapter

TWENTY RUFFIANS ATTACK IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT; JUDGE DEE SETS OUT ON A DANGEROUS EXCURSION

S
HORTLY
after midnight loud sounds shattered the silence in the dark tribunal.

Hoarse voices shouted orders, weapons clattered. A ram was applied to the main gate; its dull thuds reverberated in the still night air.

But inside the tribunal nothing stirred.

The wood of the gate splintered, heavy wooden boards crashed to the ground. Twenty ruffians swinging clubs and brandishing spears and swords rushed inside. A huge fellow with a lighted torch led the way.

They poured into the first courtyard, shouting:

“Where is that dog-official? Where is that wretched magistrate?”

The big fellow kicked open the gate of the main courtyard and stood aside to let the others pass while he drew his sword.

The ruffians halted inside, for the place was pitch dark.

Suddenly all six doors of the large reception hall swung open. The courtyard was brilliantly lighted by dozens of large candles and lanterns that stood arranged in double rows inside.

The invaders, their eyes blinking from this sudden change from dark to light, vaguely saw soldiers lined up on left and right. The light shone on their helmets and the long points of their pikes, leveled for action. At the bottom of
the stairs they saw a row of constables with drawn swords.

On top of the stairs there stood an imposing figure clad in full ceremonial dress of shimmering brocade, the winged judge’s cap on his head.

By his side there stood two tall men in the uniform of cavalry captains. Their breast and armplates glittered and coloured pennants fluttered from their pointed helmets. One held a heavy bow ready with an arrow on the string.

The judge called out in a thunderous voice:

“Here is the magistrate of Lan-fang! Surrender your arms!”

The huge ruffian with the naked sword was the first to recover from his surprise.

“Fight your way out!” he yelled to the others.

As he lifted his word he fell backwards with a horrible gasp. Chiao Tai’s arrow had pierced his throat.

At the same time a hoarse command rang out from the hall.

“Right about… turn!”

Immediately there was a loud clanking of iron and the tramping of heavy feet.

The ruffians looked at each other in consternation. One of them leaped forward. He shouted at the others:

“Brothers, we are done for! The army is here!”

So speaking he threw down his pike in front of the stairs. As he unbuckled his sword belt he said:

“Well, it took me six years to become a corporal. I suppose I shall have to start as private again!”

Ma Joong barked:

“Who calls himself a corporal here?”

The man stood automatically at attention.

“Corporal Ling, sixth detachment foot soldiers, thirty-third army of the Left Wing. At yours orders, Captain!”

“All deserters out in front!” Ma Joong shouted.

Five men lined themselves up behind the corporal and awkwardly stood at attention.

Ma Joong said curtly:

“You men shall appear before the military tribunal.” In the meantime the other ruffians had handed their arms to the constables. They bound each man’s hands behind his back.

The judge spoke:

“Captain, ask how many other deserters there are around in this town.”

Ma Joong bellowed the question at the ex-corporal.

“About forty, Sir!”

Judge Dee stroked his beard.

“When you people have gone on to inspect the other border districts,” he said to Ma Joong, “I would like to have some soldiers here on guard duty. You will propose to the Commander, Captain, that those deserters are re-enlisted.”

Ma Joong barked immediately:

“Corporal Ling and five privates, go back wherever you came from, get rid of those civilian rags, present yourselves here tomorrow at noon sharp, uniform and equipment as per regulation!”

The six men shouted “We obey!” and marched off.

Judge Dee gave a sign. The constables led the prisoners to the jail where Tao Gan was waiting for them.

Tao Gan noted down their names. The fifteenth and last was none other than the dismissed warden. Tao Gan’s face lit up in a broad grin.

“You were quite right, you bastard! You are indeed back here earlier than I thought!”

So speaking Tao Gan turned him round and send him back into his former cell with an accurately placed kick.

In the main courtyard, the newly-made soldiers recruited
by Fang had shouldered their pikes, and marched off to the quarters of the guards.

Judge Dee saw that they marched in good order. He said with a smile to Ma Joong:

“That is not bad for one afternoon’s drill!”

The judge came down the steps. Two constables closed the doors of the reception hall. Sergeant Hoong emerged loaded with old pans, kettles and rusty chains.

Judge Dee remarked:

“You have a fine commanding voice, Sergeant!”

Early next morning when the sun had just risen, three men left the tribunal on horseback.

Judge Dee rode in the middle clad in hunting dress. Ma Joong and Chiao Tai, resplendent in their uniforms of cavalry captains rode by his side.

As they headed west the judge turned round in his saddle and looked at the large yellow banner that was waving from the roof of the tribunal. It bore an inscription in red letters: “Military Headquarters”.

“My ladies worked on that banner till deep in the night!” Judge Dee said with a smile to his companions.

They rode straight to Chien Mow’s mansion.

Four stalwart figures armed with halberds stood in front of the gate.

Ma Joong reined in his horse right in front of them. He pointed with his riding whip at the door, and ordered:

“Open up!”

Evidently the deserters who had been sent back the night before had spread the news about the arrival of the soldiers. The guards hesitated but for one moment. Then they threw open the gate and Judge Dee and his leutenants rode through.

In the first courtyard a few dozen men stood about in
groups talking excitedly. They immediately fell silent and cast an apprehensive glance at the three horsemen. Those who carried swords hurriedly tried to conceal these weapons in the folds of their robes.

The three rode on without looking right or left.