Chen San was due to be executed tomorrow.
But today, the county office suddenly released him.
The reason was simple. There were actually forty-one people in the prison, but the register listed only thirty-seven. The inspector was due to arrive the next day, so the four extra prisoners had to disappear first.
Chen San thought something was wrong.
But the county office was in an even bigger hurry. That night, an official report was sent out from Baishi County: Four serious criminals had violently broken out of prison, possibly aided by accomplices.
Chen San had no idea. He was outside the city, trying to figure out where his next meal would come from.
The next day.
Reports said Chen San had gathered dozens of followers.
Later.
Reports said the bandit Chen had opened the granaries and distributed the grain, with thousands following him.
Reports said the bandit Chen had set up his own government office, complete with civil and military officials.
Reports said the bandit Chen had colluded with the border army and was plotting to seize the prefecture.
Reports said the bandit Chen had ambitions to become emperor.
Each time Chen San read a wanted notice, he could only wonder: Where were the soldiers? The grain? The officials? The territory?
Later, he really did have all those things.
Many years later, an urgent dispatch traveled eight hundred li to the capital. The emperor opened the memorial and found a single devastating sentence.
Reports say the rebels number one hundred thousand.
And this time, it was true.
