Chapter 37: Strange Occurrences in the Capital

“Can we really eat until we are full?” someone asked, emboldened by a sudden surge of courage.

“Yes. As long as your group does the most and the best work, you will be the first to eat. Eating first naturally means you can eat until you are full.”

With those words, they would have to work themselves to exhaustion tomorrow.

“Take the bowls and chopsticks issued today back and keep them safe. If you lose them in the future, find your own way to replace them.”

On their first day, having eaten a full meal and received a bowl, none of the laborers could hide their joy.

“From here, it is forty li to the east. Right now, you have only dug three li of wall foundations.” Wei Fangyun looked at the man beside him. “Changqing, can you truly do this?”

“Uncle, the approval has been granted; it is too late for regrets now,” Meng Changqing said. “Moreover, whether I can succeed depends on you. If the various supplies and laborers arrive in time, it can be built.”

Wei Fangyun sighed, his white breath drifting away with the wind. “To tell you the truth, in such a short time, it is almost impossible to gather forty thousand laborers. As you have seen, in two days, the various counties have only recruited a total of five thousand people. Calling it 'recruitment' is a stretch; nearly half were captured.”

Meng Changqing clasped his hands in front of him. “Then does Uncle have an estimate of how many people might be sent to me?”

Wei Fangyun did not answer, and Meng Changqing knew immediately that he had no idea himself.

Meng Changqing continued, “If the construction is delayed because of insufficient laborers, then it will be a choice between the wall being destroyed and lives being lost, or the soldiers using their own bodies as the wall. In your opinion, Excellency, what will His Majesty choose?”

“We will wait three more days,” Wei Fangyun decided. “If the discrepancy in the number of laborers is too great, we will mobilize all the soldiers from Hongjia County who are not on duty.”

“This is too risky,” Meng Changqing said. “If the Yan people have spies in Hongjia County, they might ignore the Jie Wan raids and insist on attacking our Great Liang. If we make such a move, Hongjia County will be in grave danger.”

Wei Fangyun replied, “Tell me your thoughts.”

“If it reaches the point where troops must be moved, we can mobilize the garrison from Weishan County.

The warriors at Weishan Pass are currently holding back the Jie Wan, and the garrison there must be ready to rotate to the front at any time. However, our current position is very close to Weishan County—we are separated only by that city wall.

Once my section of the wall is started, the soldiers can move directly from the wall to the foot of Weishan Pass.

If Weishan Pass requires reinforcements, the soldiers will be able to come and go in time.”

Wei Fangyun added, “The garrison numbers for each county are fixed; they cannot be moved unless it is absolutely necessary. If I report without authorization and cause any pass to fall, I will be a sinner for all eternity.”

“How would Changqing dare let Uncle take such a great risk? If it truly comes to necessity, it must be after Uncle has petitioned the Imperial Court.”

Meng Changqing bowed to Wei Fangyun. “Uncle, please come to my county office to sit for a while.”

“Lead the way.”

Meng Changqing led him along the path. “These holes covered by the cloth tents—are these the pits you dug?”

“Yes. Uncle, watch your step.”

Meng Changqing took the lantern from Xi Bei’s hands and walked ahead to lead the way. He stepped down the stairs, lifted the door curtain, and quickly lit the candles inside.

The candlelight illuminated the small underground pit.

To the right of the entrance was a hanging curtain; in the corner to the left was a nearly extinguished charcoal brazier; in the center was a desk made of joined wooden crates. Many items were laid out on the desk, though it was far from tidy; besides a large amount of ink, brushes, and books, there was also an abacus.

On the wall behind the desk hung a piece of paper.

The paper was marked with dozens of small grids, containing patterns that Meng Changqing could not decipher.

Meng Changqing first went to the corner to add a few pieces of charcoal.

Wei Fangyun stood by the door curtain for a moment. “This is your county office?”

“As long as there is a place to settle for now, it will suffice.” Meng Changqing wiped the stool behind the desk with a cloth. “Please, Uncle, have a seat.”

Wei Fangyun removed his cloak and sat down. “What is this?” he asked, pointing to the paper on the wall.

“It is my countdown. Starting tomorrow, I will cross out one grid for every day that passes.”

Wei Fangyun nodded. “You have a plan, and you are willing to endure hardship.

Before you arrived in Liangzhou, I worried you might not get used to life here, but you are, after all, the son of General Meng.”

Wei Fangyan looked at Meng Changqing. “Your willingness to live in this wilderness and your desire to build a true Beishan County for Great Liang shows good intentions. I hope you have enough luck to see this through.”

Meng Changqing took the teapot from the brazier and poured a cup of water for Wei Fangyun.

Wei Fangyun took a sip and said to the soldier by the curtain, “Go see if the goods outside have been unloaded.”

As the soldier went out to obey, Wei Fangyun turned to Xi Bei on the other side of the curtain. “Brother Xi, come and sit as well.”

Xi Bei stepped forward with a smile. “Since Excellency Wei has asked, I shall not be impolite.”

“There is no need for such formality between brothers.” Wei Fangyan set down his cup and said to Meng Changqing, “I received a letter from home from the capital today.”

“A letter from home?” Meng Changqing couldn't help but ask.

“A letter from my wife,” Wei Fangyun continued. “The letter mentioned that since you left the capital, the Xiao family has sent successive invitations to our residence, asking my wife and daughter to view the plum blossoms.

I am merely a fifth-rank official on an external posting; which of the capital's nobility could possibly take notice of my household?

I have never received invitations to banquets before, yet now the Xiao family is coming to my door.

You should know better than I that the Xiao family is the family of the Noble Consort. Since the Empress passed away years ago, the Noble Consort has held the highest status in the inner palace. In recent years, many court officials have speculated that the Emperor intends to name the Noble Consort as Empress. If so, the head of the Xiao family would become a legitimate Imperial Uncle.

How could such a family take notice of a household like mine?”

Meng Changqing stood up to apologize. “Changqing has caused you trouble.”

“Sit and talk.” Wei Fangyan pressed his palms against the table. “My wife has always been frail, and our children are filial and must attend to her illness at her bedside. Therefore, she declined the previous invitations. Unexpectedly, the Xiao family sent many medicinal herbs. If my family continues to refuse, we will offend them.”

Meng Changqing looked at Wei Fangyan; she could not discern his true meaning.

Having said this, it was difficult to judge which side he stood on.

“My wife found it difficult to decide, so she intended to write to me. But on the very day she was writing, the Xiao family, who had been visiting daily, suddenly stopped coming. She sent someone to inquire and learned that the plum blossom banquet the Xiao family had prepared for many days was canceled.” Wei Fangyan asked Meng Changqing, “Do you know why?”

“I do not know.”

Wei Fangyan inhaled sharply. “You do not know, and neither do I. The situation in the capital is unpredictable. If a mere fifth-rank official like me were to meddle recklessly, I fear I would be torn to pieces. But the Emperor has issued a secret decree, and I am indebted to your father. Even though the Xiao family knows they cannot be offended, I have no choice but to offend them.”

“Changqing is under Uncle's protection, and this debt is truly difficult to repay. If there is ever a time in the future when Uncle can make use of me, Changqing will certainly not refuse.”

“Forget about repaying debts; I am simply repaying your father’s kindness,” Wei Fangyan said. “There are many officials in court like me today. They remember how your father and brother gave their lives for the country, and they remember that you are the son of the General who stabilized the North. But how long they will remember that depends on you, Changqing.”