Chapter 41: What More Could He Have?

Watching Qian Baoshan run off with two empty baskets, Meng Changqing said to Bafang, "Go find the guard for his group, especially the one who hit him just now. Give him a word: as long as he works hard, he is not to be intentionally made difficult."

Bafang didn't understand. "A slacker like that deserves more discipline. I've never heard of anyone using having no descendants as an excuse for mercy; this man only thinks of his own family."

"People naturally think of their own families first," Meng Changqing said. "Go quickly. If you can't figure it out, I'll explain it to you later."

Bafang handed the parcel in his hands to Meng Changqing. "Then I'll go first."

Meng Changqing took the parcel back to the yamen. Upon opening it, he found some dried goods and a letter.

Before he could even open the letter, Bafang came rushing in breathlessly. "Young Master, I'm back. I still don't understand, please explain it to me."

While opening the letter, Meng Changqing asked, "Between the two characters for 'country'—*guo* (state) and *guo* (nation/family)—which one is more important?"

"Naturally, *guo* (state)," Bafang said. "Is it not like the words for 'skin' and 'fur'? If the skin does not exist, where can the fur attach?"

Meng Changqing nodded. "That is correct. But let me ask you: is the *guo* (state) the same as the *guo* (nation/family) of a single household?"

"Of course not."

"If one must sacrifice the interests of a certain group of people to maintain the state, what should be done?"

Bafang did not dare to answer this question rashly.

"If the one being sacrificed steps forward voluntarily, abandoning their home and livelihood to serve the country with all their heart, then they should be called a hero.

But heroes in this world are always a minority; the majority are ordinary people.

But being an ordinary person is the most natural thing in the world, isn't it? Who dictates that a person must be born morally lofty and self-sacrificing?

As long as one does not harm the interests of others, looking out for oneself is a perfectly normal thing.

This Qian Baoshan is just an ordinary man. His heart and eyes are entirely filled with his own family and descendants; that should not be a reason for us to criticize him.

By using fallen soldiers to argue against his viewpoint, I was actually using a fallacy to place him on a pedestal, making him feel that his own values were lowly and ridiculous.

Only by doing this could I prevent him from using private interests to wave a grand banner and incite discontent among the other laborers."

Bafang was stunned.

Meng Changqing continued, "But as the presiding official, I must clearly know that they are the ones who pay the price.

It is because of a single official document of mine that he left his home and his newlywed wife to come here to earn two months' worth of hard labor.

When this wall is built, the prefecture will gain Beishan County, and I, your young master, will gain a record of merit. What does he gain?

We cannot enjoy the fruits of their labor while simultaneously criticizing them for not having sufficiently lofty ideals. That would be inhuman."

Meng Changqing unfolded the letter.

The main content of the letter concerned recent changes in the situation in the capital.

It aligned with what Wei Fangyun had said previously.

Two branches of the Xiao family had been sued in the Court of Judicial Review, even alarming the Emperor.

The Emperor had summoned the head of the Xiao family to the palace for a reprimand. This incident had also caused the Crown Prince to lose face in court. The Xiao family had been much more subdued lately, and they had even canceled their usual plum blossom banquet.

Meng Changqing took the letter to find Lady Wen, and Bafang, clutching the dried goods, immediately followed.

"Mother." Meng Changqing arrived at the earth dwelling where Lady Wen and the others lived. His mother and Liang Jiuqiu were sitting by a charcoal brazier in the corner, boiling soup. "Nanny."

Liang Jiuqiu said, "Just in time, the soup is almost ready. Have some before you leave."

"Alright." Meng Changqing crouched beside Lady Wen. "Mother, look at this letter; it was written by Uncle Dongwen."

After taking and reading the letter, Lady Wen analyzed, "The Xiao family has become increasingly arrogant over the years. The Emperor is in the prime of his life; it is only natural that the Xiao family would face such a setback."

"Do you think this matter is related to the Emperor?"

Lady Wen said to Meng Changqing, "Do you not have the same suspicion?"

"Exactly." Meng Changqing sat on the small stool Bafang pushed toward him. "The Crown Prince is growing older and is at the age where he should be entering court for training, yet this incident occurred. It is clearly an attempt to suppress him."

Lady Wen asked, "Are you worried for the Crown Prince?"

"I am worried for myself," Meng Changqing said. "Since I entered the palace as the Crown Prince's study companion at the age of six, in the eyes of anyone, I am part of the Crown Prince's faction.

Pushing you before His Majesty back then was truly a desperate move. After you suffered several assassination attempts following your birth, I knew deep down that with my abilities, I could not truly protect you."

"Mother," Meng Changqing pressed her hand, "I know. To hold onto power and status, one must naturally be able to withstand the risks.

Back then, His Majesty merely showed grace by allowing me to study in the palace; it was I who insisted on becoming the Crown Prince's study companion."

Lady Wen said, "You need not worry too much. The Crown Prince is, after all, the eldest son. As long as he does not lose his virtue, he will naturally receive the support of the court officials."

"But Mother, as you said, the Emperor is in the prime of his life."

Lady Wen squeezed Meng Changqing's hand. "Whether the Emperor intends to abandon the Crown Prince, you can see it through yourself.

If your letters can still reach the imperial presence, then the Emperor has never entertained such a thought.

Though you are quite a brilliant talent, there are countless capable men in the world; the Emperor does not strictly need only you. The reason he employs you heavily and cherishes you is precisely because you are the Crown Prince's person. Any merit you achieve is the Crown Prince's merit."

Meng Changqing understood this well himself.

"Why worry so much? Drink some soup." Liang Jiuqiu served the soup to everyone. "Sit down and drink, Bafang.

We are far away in Liangzhou. Even if there is a change in the capital, what can we do? Since we have no power to influence it, we might as well worry less and just do the work at hand."

"Your mother is right." Lady Wen handed a bowl of soup to Meng Changqing. "Drink, Changqing. I taught you that when the mind is cluttered, the path becomes cluttered."

"Mother and Nanny are right." Meng Changqing pulled his thoughts back. "In that case, let us watch the changes unfold. However, Mother, I must trouble you to write a family letter to Uncle Dongwen to let him know we are all well here. Oh, and remember to give the last sheet of stationery to Brother Dai."

Bafang waited until everyone had finished speaking before adding, "Madam, could you ask Uncle Dongwen to send some dried meat next time?"

Lady Wen nodded. "I will tell him to send more."

***

Qian Baoshan never expected that the official would actually have someone speak to the guard.

And the guard truly did not make things difficult for him.

As Zeng the Third had said, they didn't have to worry about food or hunger.

However, the daily labor was extremely strenuous. After a few days, he had grown thin from exhaustion.

But others were different from him; many in his group seemed to gain more energy the more they worked. "This place is great! If I had known we could eat like this, why would I have let the soldiers catch me? I would have come on my own."

"Who could have guessed?" someone lamented. "I've served many times, but I've never seen a construction site like this. We only work four hours a day; we sleep more here than we do at home."

"Sigh, looking at it now, weren't the words written on the conscription notice actually true? No need to bring tools, no need to bring food, and no need to bring blankets."

Someone shouted, "If you put it that way, I remember—the notice also said women could come too!"

"What woman would come to such a chaotic place?"