Zhang Qing was aware that, although these military generals might look like brutes, anyone who reached the rank of attending court sessions in person was actually thick-skinned and black-hearted. They were extremely precise in their ruthlessness: they would beat someone until their body was covered in bruises — painful and humiliating, yet the injuries were minor enough to heal within ten days to half a month. Even if a complaint was filed, at most they would be detained for a few days — nothing more than a slight inconvenience.
Of course, they also knew whom they could afford to offend. This group of generals wouldn't dare provoke Minister Fan, who was quite advanced in years; otherwise, if Minister Fan were to simply fall to the ground, they wouldn't be able to endure the consequences.
