Shortly 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.

CHIEN MOW'S MEN INVADE THE TRIBUNAL

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.

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.