Read Online The Chinese Maze Murders by Robert van Gulik - Free Book Online
Authors: Robert van Gulik
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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 ingroups 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.
Ma Joong forced his horse up the four steps that led to the second courtyard, followed by the judge and Chiao Tai.
Corporal Ling was supervising about thirty men who were busily engaged in polishing swords and spears and oiling leather jackets.
Without stopping Ma Joong called out to the corporal:
“Follow with ten privates!”
The third courtyard was deserted but for a few servants who scurried away when they saw the three horsemen.
Ma Joong rode up to the large building at the back, the hoofs of his horse clattering on the flagstones. The beautifully carved, red-lacquered doors indicated that this was the main hall of the mansion.
They dismounted and threw the reins to three of the corporal’s men.
Ma Joong kicked open the central door with his iron boot and stepped inside followed by his two companions.
Evidently they interrupted an urgent conference. Three men were sitting close together in the centre of the hall. In the middle, a tall broad-shouldered man sat in a large armchair covered with a tiger skin. He had a heavy-jowled, imperious face, with a thin moustache and a short black beard. He seemed to have just left his bed; he still wore a night robe of white silk, and over it a loose house robe of purple brocade. His head was covered with a small black cap. The two others, both elderly men, were sitting opposite him on footstools of carved ebony. They also apparently had dressed in a hurry.
The hall had a most warlike appearance, it resembled an armoury rather than a reception hall. The walls were decorated with spears, pikes and shields, the floor was covered with the skins of wild animals.
The three men looked up at the intruders in speechless amazement. Judge Dee did not say a word. He walked straight to an empty armchair and sat down. Ma Joong and Chiao Tai planted themselves right in front of Chi en Mow and gave him a baleful look.
Chien’s two counsellors hastily left their footstools and retreated behind their master’s armchair.
The judge addressed Ma Joong in a casual voice:
“Captain, the town is under martial law. So I leave it to you to deal with these rascals!”
Ma Joong turned round.
“Corporal Ling!” he bellowed.
The corporal hurriedly stepped over the threshold, followed by four of his men. Ma Joong asked:
“Which of these criminals is the traitor Chien Mow?”
The corporal pointed to the man in the armchair.
Ma Joong snapped:
“Chien Mow, you are arrested on the charge of sedition!”
Chien jumped up. He stood in front of Ma Joong and shouted in a voice that yielded nothing to Ma Joong’s in harshness:
“Who is giving orders in my own house? Guards, cut them down!”
As he
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 ingroups 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.
Ma Joong forced his horse up the four steps that led to the second courtyard, followed by the judge and Chiao Tai.
Corporal Ling was supervising about thirty men who were busily engaged in polishing swords and spears and oiling leather jackets.
Without stopping Ma Joong called out to the corporal:
“Follow with ten privates!”
The third courtyard was deserted but for a few servants who scurried away when they saw the three horsemen.
Ma Joong rode up to the large building at the back, the hoofs of his horse clattering on the flagstones. The beautifully carved, red-lacquered doors indicated that this was the main hall of the mansion.
They dismounted and threw the reins to three of the corporal’s men.
Ma Joong kicked open the central door with his iron boot and stepped inside followed by his two companions.
Evidently they interrupted an urgent conference. Three men were sitting close together in the centre of the hall. In the middle, a tall broad-shouldered man sat in a large armchair covered with a tiger skin. He had a heavy-jowled, imperious face, with a thin moustache and a short black beard. He seemed to have just left his bed; he still wore a night robe of white silk, and over it a loose house robe of purple brocade. His head was covered with a small black cap. The two others, both elderly men, were sitting opposite him on footstools of carved ebony. They also apparently had dressed in a hurry.
The hall had a most warlike appearance, it resembled an armoury rather than a reception hall. The walls were decorated with spears, pikes and shields, the floor was covered with the skins of wild animals.
The three men looked up at the intruders in speechless amazement. Judge Dee did not say a word. He walked straight to an empty armchair and sat down. Ma Joong and Chiao Tai planted themselves right in front of Chi en Mow and gave him a baleful look.
Chien’s two counsellors hastily left their footstools and retreated behind their master’s armchair.
The judge addressed Ma Joong in a casual voice:
“Captain, the town is under martial law. So I leave it to you to deal with these rascals!”
Ma Joong turned round.
“Corporal Ling!” he bellowed.
The corporal hurriedly stepped over the threshold, followed by four of his men. Ma Joong asked:
“Which of these criminals is the traitor Chien Mow?”
The corporal pointed to the man in the armchair.
Ma Joong snapped:
“Chien Mow, you are arrested on the charge of sedition!”
Chien jumped up. He stood in front of Ma Joong and shouted in a voice that yielded nothing to Ma Joong’s in harshness:
“Who is giving orders in my own house? Guards, cut them down!”
As he
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