Chapter 24: Can Be Presented Before the Emperor

Meng Changqing knew that these things were not something one could simply ask the Prefect for; even if one asked the Emperor, he would not part with them easily.

To name just one thing: the forty thousand laborers alone would be enough to kill Wei Fangyun.

"Bishan County has a total population of only fifty thousand. The elderly, the weak, women, and children make up the vast majority. Once you subtract those who have already performed labor service this year, fewer than three thousand can be mobilized. Even the entirety of Liangzhou cannot muster forty thousand laborers."

"Uncle, please help your niece find a way!"

Wei Fangyun scratched his head. "Changqing, even if I gave you forty thousand people, how could you possibly manage them?"

Hierarchical management, with each level bearing its own responsibility.

If she decentralized authority while maintaining constant supervision, with sufficient energy and reliable assistants, it might be possible to manage them well.

"And how many guards and overseers would forty thousand laborers require?" Wei Fangyun felt no trace of his previous excitement; instead, he felt a mounting headache. "Furthermore, the things you are asking for are exactly what Liangzhou lacks. I don't even have enough for myself; how could I possibly spare so much for you?"

Meng Changqing repeated her plea: "Uncle, please help your niece find a way!"

Wei Fangyun walked behind his desk and sat down. "You want me to submit a memorial to the Imperial Court."

Meng Changqing said, "If the city walls are built, they will weaken the threat posed by the Yan army to the three counties of Liangzhou. It would be of great benefit to the state; surely the Court will not be stingy."

"Fine, I shall write the memorial and submit it immediately." As Wei Fangyun reached for paper and brush, Meng Changqing stepped forward to grind the ink for him.

But the ink-stained brush hovered over the paper for a long time without descending. "Changqing, once this matter is submitted to the Court, we are gambling both of our political futures on it. If it goes poorly..."

Meng Changqing finished his sentence: "If it goes poorly, losing our official positions would be the least of it; we might not even be able to keep our heads."

"I believe in you this time." Wei Fangyun set brush to paper, writing the matter in one continuous flow, though he added extra quantities to the lines requesting supplies. "When the Court discusses this, the Ministry of Revenue will inevitably try to reduce the requested amount, so we must ask for more."

The figures Meng Changqing had provided were already inflated, yet he remarked, "I see. I have learned much, Changqing."

Watching Wei Fangyun transcribe and seal the document, Meng Changqing finally set down the ink stick. "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle."

Wei Fangyun looked at her. "Writing a few words is not hard work, but once this matter passes through the Court, whether or not our heads stay on our shoulders depends entirely on you."

"Thank you for your trust, Uncle!"

Wei Fangyun said, "I will have the courier deliver this memorial to the capital via express route immediately. But Changqing, aren't you going to write yours?"

Meng Changqing was momentarily confused, but she quickly realized his intent. "As a county official, I only take instructions from you. How could I bypass you to petition the Emperor directly? That would be an act of overstepping my station."

"Child, do not misunderstand. I am not testing you. In the secret decree His Majesty gave me earlier, it was clearly stated that in case of an emergency, your letters may be attached to the personal correspondence of the Imperial Guards and sent directly to the Emperor's presence."

"Ah?" Meng Changqing lost her composure for a rare moment.

But she quickly composed herself. "Since your memorial will be submitted first, Uncle, I shall not be redundant."

"It is not about being redundant," Wei Fangyun explained. "Even if my memorial is sent via express, it must still pass through the Secretariat. Yours is different. If our two petitions arrive in the capital together, the Emperor can see your letter first and make preparations. By the time my memorial is presented at the morning court, the matter can be discussed immediately without further delay. We only have two months; we truly cannot afford to wait."

Meng Changqing said, "I will write it now. May I borrow your paper and brush, sir?"

As she reached for the tools on the desk, Wei Fangyun said, "You don't need to write from scratch. Simply provide a brief explanation of the situation and attach this official document to it. Oh, and remember to list the missing supplies. Here..." He spread out his memorial. "Copy the quantities from mine."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Meng Changqing wrote rapidly while Wei Fangyun watched with his hands behind his back. In the lamp shade at the corner of the desk, the candle made a faint crackling sound as it burned through impurities.

"Done."

"Put it in an envelope and find the Imperial Guard following you." Seeing Meng Changqing grab her things and run, Wei Fangyun reminded her, "Take the ink and brush; have him write the address on the envelope."

Clutching the letter in one hand and the ink and brush in the other, Meng Changqing hurried back to the room where she had been waiting.

The two men who had followed her into the room were still there, and Bafang had even managed to take a nap. "Young Master, are you finished?"

"Lord Bai." Meng Changqing walked to Chu Mufeng's side and laid out her items one by one. "I have a personal letter I need you to deliver."

Bafang approached with a yawn. "What personal letter? I'll deliver it for you; I've got nothing better to do anyway."

Chu Mufeng understood what she meant. He straightened the blank envelope on the small table and immediately began to write

*To the Bai Family Tea Shop, Shisheng Street, East Market, Capital. To be received by Mother, Lady Wei. From Bai Mufeng of Liangzhou.*

He finished and applied his seal.

As she handed him the candle, Meng Changqing wondered: *Who is Mother, Lady Wei?*

She knew his biological mother's surname was Bai, and the Princess Consort of Rui did not go by Lady Wei, so this woman must be someone close to the Emperor.

There was no time for deep thought. Once Chu Mufeng sealed the envelope, she took the letter and headed out.

Opening the door, she found Wei Fangyun standing there with a bailiff. "Are you ready? Write it quickly so it can be sent to the courier station along with mine."

"It is finished." She handed the letter to the bailiff.

As soon as the bailiff took it, Wei Fangyun urged him, "Go! Five hundred miles, express delivery!"

"Yes, sir!"

Watching the bailiff's retreating figure, Wei Fangyun said, "Now, we wait for the Emperor's imperial will."

"Uncle, don't just wait. Please allocate some supplies to me first. Whether this wall is built or not, my people still need to survive," Meng Changqing said. "The thirty piculs of grain you gave me before were simply not enough to eat."

Wei Fangyun asked, "Did you give those thirty piculs to the refugees?"

Watching his expression, Meng Changqing had a sudden realization. "It couldn't be... my salary grain, could it?"

"What do you think, silly child? In all of Liangzhou, only Luojiang County grows rice. This isn't the capital; ordinary people can't get their hands on rice at all. His Majesty mentioned you weren't used to eating millet, so I specifically had it exchanged for you."

At that moment, Meng Changqing felt like flying back just to pinch the mouths of those refugees shut.

"How about this: I will give you another hundred piculs of grain, but this time it won't be rice."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Wei Fangyun called out loudly to the bailiff, "Go call Vice-Prefect Sun over. Tell him Beishan County needs grain."

Meng Changqing asked, "Uncle, is there cotton in the granary?"

Wei Fangyun patted her shoulder. "Niece, grain is squeezed out of every crack and crevice. We shall see the Emperor's reply. Even if His Majesty does not favor building the wall, he won't let you just freeze through the winter."

She had asked for food and nearly lost what she already had. Meng Changqing decided to take her winnings and run.

Vice-Prefect Sun arrived quickly, his padded coat not even properly tied. "My Lord, I am here."

Wei Fangyun commanded, "Take the bailiffs and fetch one hundred piculs of millet for Lady Meng."

"Right now?"

Meng Changqing stepped forward and bowed. "I must trouble you, Vice-Prefect Sun."

"Not at all." Sun Xiang held his coat closed against the wind. "I will go call for men and borrow some carts immediately."

After Sun Xiang left, Wei Fangyun said, "Changqing, it is getting late. Stay the night in the manor; it won't be too late to head back tomorrow morning."

"I have been away for a long time; I fear my mother will worry. It is better if I return tonight."

"True. However, I won't feel at ease with you traveling with so much grain." He unfastened the token from his waist. "Take this token to Li Ting and tell him I am assigning two shifts of bailiffs to escort you back."

Seeing Meng Changqing's posture, Wei Fangyun waved his hand. "Alright, alright, no need for thanks. I have official business to attend to. I'm returning to my study."