Chapter 34: Feeling Doubly Unjust

Two thousand guards would be enough, provided they were diligent and responsible, because it would be impossible to have a full complement of laborers.

Scouring all of Liangzhou, gathering thirty thousand people would be about as much as one could hope for.

Meng Changqing calculated based on thirty thousand people. With groups of fifty, thirty thousand would be divided into six hundred groups. Each group would have three guards assigned to them in three shifts, leaving two hundred guards remaining.

These two hundred would be responsible for substitutions, patrols, and cooking.

She told Yang Zheng the grouping rules: "Once they are divided into groups, let them handle it. When the laborers arrive, the corresponding guards will take direct responsibility; there is no need for us to arrange it further."

Yang Zheng nodded. "But all thirty thousand laborers won't arrive at once. What should the idle guards do?"

"Have them build the kitchens. We are still short at least six kitchens here; we need to hurry."

"Yes, ma'am."

Just as Meng Changqing returned to the cave and sat down, Bafang entered carrying water. He added the water to a copper kettle and placed it on a charcoal brazier to heat.

"Young Master," Bafang said, sitting by the corner of Meng Changqing's table. "Fortunately, I listened to you and took Captain Zhang with me."

"What happened?" Meng Changqing looked up. "Did something occur on the road?"

"It wasn't anything major, just that the soldiers we took were unwilling to work," Bafang said. "I brought four horse carriages from home, but there weren't enough horses and carriages, so I had to go to the county to borrow more. I told them to start loading the wagons first, but by the time I returned with the borrowed vehicles, those four wagons still weren't loaded.

When I looked, I saw that the local officials and soldiers from Yangmen County were the ones doing the loading, while the men I brought were all just standing by the side watching."

"And then? What did you do?"

"I remembered your words. I only asked Captain Zhang, 'Why are your men not working? Is it dissatisfaction with Lord Meng, or dissatisfaction with the Emperor's decree?'"

Meng Changqing used a fire poker to toss two pieces of coal into the brazier.

Bafang continued, "Captain Zhang immediately gave those twenty-odd men a harsh scolding, and only then did they start working properly."

"Mhm. However, they were already dissatisfied with me to begin with. Don't ask like that next time; don't give them an opening to talk," Meng Changqing said, praising him. "Bafang, you did well to bring the goods back safely. From now on, I will leave the matter of collecting goods entirely to you."

"Rest assured, Young Master!"

Meng Changqing added, "Pay attention to maintaining a good relationship with the officials and soldiers of Yangmen County. Don't hold yourself too high, but don't get too close to them either."

"How should I handle them then?"

"Figure it out for yourself."

The mixed mud was poured into the molds. The soldiers nearby leveled it and stepped it down firmly, followed by someone holding a pestle to tamp the mud down.

With cracked palms gripping the pestle, the man repeatedly performed the lifting and pounding motion until his arms felt heavy and aching.

The mud for this layer was almost finished, and just as he was about to take a break, the next basin of mud was poured in. The dust rising before his eyes sent him into a rage.

"On what grounds!" The man threw down the pestle and jumped straight off the wall.

"What are you doing?"

"On what grounds do they just stand there guarding while we work ourselves to death?"

Seeing the commotion, Zhang Yuan walked over quickly. "What is the trouble now?"

"Captain, it's not that I want to cause trouble, but don't you think this is unfair?" The man pointed to the several guards standing by the city wall. "Look at them—they just hold a whip and watch others work. We are the same kind of personal guards; we only arrived a few days later, so why is all the heavy and dirty work left to us?

And look at Captain Yang. You are both captains, and the soldiers from Hongjia County should, in theory, be under your joint responsibility. But now, he is the only one calling the shots. Don't you feel wronged?"

"We are all serving the Imperial Court; what is there to feel wronged about?" Zhang Yuan cursed. "If you feel wronged, you shouldn't have joined the army in the first place. You should have stayed home and let your mother lull you to sleep."

Zhang Yuan paced before them. "I know this is what you are all thinking. You want to instigate me to go and make a scene with the County Magistrate. But what good will come of it?

Our presence here is not the whim of the Magistrate or the Prefect; it is an imperial decree from the Emperor himself. Do you wish to defy the Emperor?

If that heavy crime is pinned on you, do you still expect a future or official rank? You'll be lucky if you don't drag your families down to die with you."

Zhang Yuan said irritably, "Get back to work!"

Only after Zhang Yuan had intimidated the soldiers into submission did he walk toward Yang Zheng. He had intended to discuss the current situation, but the moment he saw the other man's gaze turn toward him, he immediately changed direction and headed straight for the underground magistrate's office.

"Is Lord Meng inside?"

"Come in."

Zhang Yuan had thought the Magistrate was alone, but inside, besides the Magistrate, there was a middle-aged man squatting, carefully wiping a blade with a cloth.

"Captain Zhang, do you have business with me?" Meng Changqing had a table with a sixty-day countdown chart drawn on it.

"Yes," Zhang Yuan said. "I have something I wish to discuss with you privately."

Meng Changqing gestured for him to sit down and introduced him: "This is Mr. Xi, the legal advisor for this county. He is famous for his discretion; he will never let the contents of our conversation reach a fourth party.

Speak freely."

Zhang Yuan cleared his throat. "Before I came to Beishan County, the General told me that our seventy men and Captain Yang's thirty men are all personal guards assigned to you by the Emperor."

Meng Changqing nodded. "That is correct."

"We have been here for many days, and I can feel that Lord Meng places more importance on Captain Yang and his men."

"That is natural, as I have spent more time with Captain Yang and his men," Meng Changqing said with a smile. "I know what you want to say, Captain Zhang.

As I passed the kitchens, I occasionally heard the working soldiers complaining.

However, on your first day here, I told you: if anyone did not want to stay, they must tell me. Not a single person has come to me to say anything; instead, they all whisper and gossip behind my back.

Captain Zhang, we have only known each other a short time, so you do not truly understand me. I find such behavior extremely loathsome.

The tasks I have assigned are not yet complete, yet they have the energy to engage in idle gossip. This is precisely what is most taboo for those in the military.

They violated my principles first; am I still expected to give them important roles?

Captain, if you were in my position, what would you do? Knowing they harbor dissatisfaction toward me, should I go out of my way to please them?" Meng Changqing's tone grew heavier. "The fact that I have not reported this to the Prefect is already out of respect for you.

If I were to submit an official report, do you think you would have any future left?

Why did I not do so? And why did I save your face? Captain Zhang, you should understand; you are a smart man.

On your first day here, you specifically came to me and promised that you would manage these men.

I have been giving you opportunities."

Zhang Yuan's face turned bright red. "It was my failure in duty. I will ensure you never hear such gossip again."

As he finished speaking, he prepared to leave, but Meng Changqing called him back.

"Does the Lord have any further instructions?"

"Tell them that the hardship is only temporary. If they can endure these next two months, good days will surely lie ahead. Why fret over immediate gains and losses?"