Chapter 28: A Reliable Person

"In that case, return to the yamen immediately and prepare the official documents and instructions. Once tomorrow's morning court session concludes, dispatch them to Liangzhou along with my reply.

Everyone else, you are dismissed. Grand Tutor, please stay."

After the six ministers departed, the Emperor asked the Grand Tutor, "Why did you remain silent, sir?"

"Your Majesty already has his own calculations in mind; there is no need for this old official to say more."

The Emperor asked again, "Do you believe Changqing can accomplish this task?"

"I do not know." The Grand Tutor held up what Meng Changqing had written. "I wish for the two Princes to see this."

The Emperor instructed Eunuch Qian, "Summon the Crown Prince and the Third Prince."

Since they resided within the palace, the two princes arrived relatively quickly. "Your sons pay respects to Imperial Father and the Grand Tutor."

"Go to the Grand Tutor's side and look at two things." The Emperor refused to say even a single extra word to his sons.

Seeing that the documents were written by Meng Changqing, the Crown Prince appeared agitated, but he was quickly captivated by the contents of the memorial. Seeing the harsh environment of Beishan County, he could not help but feel sympathy for the people there; he had never imagined that in this day and age, people still lived such difficult lives.

After reading both items, the Crown Prince's first instinct was to look at the maps, and the Third Prince followed suit.

"Have you discovered anything?" the Emperor asked.

Before the Crown Prince could speak, the Third Prince interjected, "If this wall is built, the territory of our Great Liang will expand, and the people there will be able to live better lives."

The Emperor looked toward the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince said, "The location of Beishan County was originally our territory. Changqing's intention is to seek a way for the people of Beishan to survive, but at the same time, this move will benefit the three neighboring counties.

Although this matter was proposed by Changqing, it has already received the approval of the Prefect of Liangzhou. I wonder if Imperial Father will ultimately agree?"

"What do you think?"

"Your son believes Imperial Father should agree," the Crown Prince said. "When Grandfather was alive, tens of thousands of soldiers sacrificed their lives to reclaim Liangzhou City from the Yan army. Now, all Changqing requires is these resources to secure Beishan County for Great Liang; there is no more profitable bargain in the world.

Imperial Father should trust Changqing. He is a reliable man; if he were not certain, he would never have proposed it."

The Emperor asked the Crown Prince, "In your view, can he build forty miles of city wall within two months?"

"Changqing once led me to dig soil in the Imperial Garden during winter. The capital is not as frigid as Liangzhou, yet even in the first month, the frozen earth was over a foot deep. I dug it myself and know how much effort it takes to break such ground.

Changqing understands this better than I do.

Furthermore, the construction time for long-distance city walls is typically measured in years. I have never heard anyone say such a wall could be completed in a month.

However, Changqing did not specify how high or wide the wall would be, nor what material it would be made of.

Therefore, I believe Changqing must have his own method."

Though the Crown Prince stood in the Imperial Study, he seemed to see Meng Changqing before his eyes. He saw the forty miles of city wall already erected in Beishan County, and he saw the wind and sand blowing against his face—different worlds existing upon the same piece of land.

***

Bafang came rushing into the dugout yamen, carrying water.

As the door curtain was lifted, the candle on Meng Changqing's desk was nearly blown out. "Young Master, this is bad! A lot of people have arrived outside!"

Meng Changqing set down his rice bowl, threw on his cloak, and prepared to head out. "What kind of people?"

"They look like they're from the military camp." Bafang set the water down where he stood and followed Meng Changqing out. "The leader is Constable Li from the Prefect's office. It couldn't be because of those people you killed, could it?"

Meng Changqing walked briskly forward.

"Constable Li," Meng Changqing said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Li Ting immediately returned the gesture. "Lord Meng, I have already reported the matter of you killing the bandits to the Prefect. The Prefect said that in urgent matters, discretion is permitted and you are not at fault. However, the Prefect is concerned that your numbers are too low to be safe, so he has selected seventy men from the military camp to come here."

"My thanks to the Prefect," Meng Changqing said, bowing toward the direction of Liangzhou City.

This time, Meng Changqing was not polite; she kept all the men sent to her, as they would all be useful in a few days.

However, she could not let them sit idle during these few days; if they were to eat her grain, they had to work for her.

There were only two hundred commoners digging the wall foundations, so there was no need for over a hundred guards.

It was also inappropriate to have all seventy men join the foundation digging; she did not yet know their character and was not comfortable mixing them with the commoners for labor just yet.

Meng Changqing thought to herself that it was time to build a proper kitchen.

The snow fell continuously for five days. The previously constructed sheds had been collapsed by the weight of the snow. Sitting under them was not only unsafe but offered no protection from the wind; if one ate their porridge too slowly, the last mouthful would be cold.

Previously, there was no extra manpower, so they had to make do with the sheds. Now that they had the hands, she needed to get it done quickly.

After Li Ting and the others took their leave, Meng Changqing discussed her plan with Yang Zheng.

She told Yang Zheng to lead them in digging their own sleeping pits first, and then to start building the kitchen tomorrow.

The strength of these seventy men was incomparable to the refugees they had dealt with before.

Although they were not provided with many tools, they still managed to finish digging the pits before dark.

Ten men shared one pit. Beside the pits where the original soldiers stayed, they dug seven more.

Zhang Yuan sat by the fire, holding a bowl of millet rice but having no appetite to eat. "Brother Yang, is the County Magistrate very busy? Why is he never around?"

"Does Brother Zhang have something to say to Lord Meng?"

"It's not that I have business, it's just that since I've come to work under the Lord, I should at least see him."

Yang Zheng finished his meal in a few bites and stood up. "Keep eating. I'll go check. If Lord Meng is free, I'll bring you over."

"Much obliged."

Yang Zheng arrived at the front of the dugout yamen. "Is Lord Meng in?"

"Come in."

Yang Zheng lifted the curtain and entered, seeing Meng Changqing buried in rapid writing. A bowl of untouched white rice sat at the corner of the table, and Bafang was sitting on a small stool, grinding ink for her.

Meng Changqing set down her brush and asked, "Is there something, Captain Yang?"

"Among the seventy who arrived today, there is an infantry captain named Zhang Yuan. He wishes to see you."

"Have you told him about the construction of the kitchen tomorrow?"

Yang Zheng replied, "I haven't mentioned that yet."

"Then bring him in."

While Yang Zheng went to fetch him, Meng Changqing hurriedly ate a few bites of rice.

The two captains arrived quickly. Meng Changqing rose to greet them. "Please, sit. Bafang, serve tea."

"There is no need for such formality, Magistrate. I heard from Brother Yang that you are busy with official duties, so I did not wish to disturb you too much," Zhang Yuan said. "I only came this time to meet you and introduce myself. In the future, if there is anything to be done, you need only command."

"Captain Zhang is too kind. I will have work for you to do as early as tomorrow." Meng Changqing explained the matter of building the kitchen. "Working here will be even harder than being in the military camp.

The food is poor, the work is heavy, and besides that, you must guard against the Yan army from the outside and bandits from within.

If any of you do not wish to stay in Beishan County and want to return to the camp, please just tell me."

"Rest assured, Lord. I will certainly discipline my men. Having joined the army, what is there to fear regarding hard work?"

Meng Changqing cupped her hands to him. "Both Captains may return to rest. I still have accounts to settle; I will have my attendant see you out."

"No need for such formality, Lord."

After seeing the two men out, Bafang immediately rushed back. "Young Master, didn't you say these people arrived at the perfect time? Why did you tell them to go back?"

Meng Changqing looked at him. "When did I say they should go back? I only said they should tell me; I never said I was letting them leave."