Chapter 14: A Conversation in the Early Hours

“Uncle!” Meng Changqing followed the bailiffs quickly inside, only to find Wei Fangyun already waiting in the study.

“Changqing, sit.” Wei Fangyun gestured to the two people behind Meng Changqing. “You two, sit as well.”

Meng Changqing rested half of her backside on the stool. “I do not know why you have called me here at this hour, Uncle?”

“You have been in Liangzhou Prefecture for two days now, but because I have been busy with military affairs, I haven't had the time to have a proper chat with you.”

“As an official of the imperial court, Uncle should naturally prioritize state affairs.”

Wei Fangyun grabbed a handful of peanuts for her. “I have to head to the military camp in an hour, so I had someone call you here; there are some matters I need to instruct you on.”

“Please, Uncle, speak.”

“Tomorrow is New Year's Eve,” Wei Fangyun said. “I suspect you will be setting off for Beishan County today.”

“Yes.”

“You returned to the city from the camp today, so you must have seen those refugees at the city gates.” Wei Fangyun continued, “Those are the people of Beishan County. Beishan County lies just beyond the Yan army's defensive line. Unlike the neighboring Weishan County, there is no cover in front of it. One slight mistake and it could be invaded by the Yan army, so no commoners are willing to stay there.”

Meng Changqing asked, “Since Beishan County is our territory, why haven't walls been built or troops stationed there?”

Wei Fangyun looked at Meng Changqing, hesitating to speak.

“Uncle, you might as well speak plainly.”

“Before the Meng Family Army pushed the Yan people back, that place was a constant battlefield. The walls and garrison you speak of are located just behind Beishan County.”

The hand hidden in Meng Changqing's sleeve clenched into a fist. She wished she could throw another punch at the Crown Prince; otherwise, it wouldn't be fair given her current predicament.

“Since it was a former battlefield and lacks military defenses, why would any commoners be willing to relocate there?” She managed to keep her emotions relatively stable.

“Who would go there voluntarily? They are all criminals who were exiled there. The original intention was to have them build walls, but after many years, they have never been completed. Changqing, the first thing you must do when you arrive is to build those walls.”

There was still one thing Meng Changqing couldn't wrap her head around.

If they were criminals being exiled, and there were walls blocking the rear, how did those people reach Liangzhou City? If a group of people so thin they were nothing but skin and bones could pass through the rear walls, wouldn't that make it even easier for the Yan army?

“Uncle, if I may ask one more thing, how did those people walk to the outskirts of Liangzhou City?”

“I allowed it,” Wei Fangyun said. “It is currently winter. The Yan people, like us, are busy dealing with the Jie-wan barbarians and generally do not launch attacks against us. Those people in Beishan County may be criminals or the descendants of criminals, but it would be truly pitiful to let them freeze and starve to death. I instructed the city guards that if too many people gather at the gates, they should let the elderly and the weak in to beg their way through. Once they reach the outskirts of Liangzhou Prefecture, we provide them with relief grain and then send them back.”

“Why not distribute the relief grain directly in Beishan County? That would save the trouble of causing issues for the people in other counties.”

“My dear niece, to tell you the truth, this move is not for the purpose of providing relief to the people of Beishan County.”

A lamp wick popped, and the flickering light cast shadows across Wei Fangyun's face.

Meng Changqing understood.

It wasn't for relief; it was to drag them out into a slow death.

And what about her, Meng Changqing? Was sending her to Beishan County also intended to drag her to a slow death?

The Emperor shouldn't harbor such hatred toward her; there must be another motive.

“Changqing, once you arrive, that place will truly be called Beishan County. The Emperor has high expectations for you. Whether those people are saved or punished depends entirely on you.” Wei Fangyun patted Meng Changqing's arm. “A Vice Prefect named Sun is waiting for you outside. I have instructed him to transport some stored grain and salt from the treasury for you.”

Meng Changqing stood up and bowed to Wei Fangyun. “Thank you, Uncle.”

“Go on.”

After bowing, Meng Changqing withdrew, but as she reached the door, Wei Fangyun called out to her again. “Changqing.”

“Does Uncle have any other instructions?”

“Stay safe, and keep more people by your side,” Wei Fangyun said. “The Emperor hopes you will achieve great things in Beishan County. Do not disgrace your father's name.”

On the surface, Meng Changqing appeared calm, nodding and withdrawing without a hint of impropriety, but in her heart, she was already cursing him.

The Emperor was a lunatic. Hoping she would achieve something by throwing her outside the walls to be locked up with a group of exiles—what a plan! What a brilliant plan!

As she stepped out, she happened to brush past a bailiff delivering breakfast; a large, fragrant bowl of noodles passed right in front of her.

This Uncle was truly stingy; he called her here at three in the morning and didn't even give her breakfast.

She hadn't walked far from the study when she heard someone calling from behind, “Lord Meng!”

Meng Changqing turned to see a young man with two red marks on his face. “My apologies, Lord Meng. I accidentally fell asleep while waiting outside. I am Sun Xiang, a Vice Prefect, acting on the Prefect's orders to open the warehouse and allocate grain to you.”

“I must trouble you, Vice Prefect Sun.”

“Please follow me, My Lord.”

Leading the bailiffs, Sun Xiang moved thirty piculs of grain and one picul of salt from the warehouse. After completing the registration in the ledger, he handed Meng Changqing a grain tally. “Please inspect the grain, My Lord.”

Meng Changqing inspected every single picul, checking from different angles to ensure the grain was not moldy and the kernels were full before signing and stamping the ledger.

By the time Lady Wen and Liang Jiuqiu woke up, the grain had already been loaded onto carts in the backyard of the post house.

Feeling uneasy, Lady Wen instructed the young attendant, “Go find some large oilcloths to cover them.”

“Mother, Mother, let's go eat breakfast,” Meng Changqing said. “We have to set off right after breakfast.”

The breakfast was noodles, which Meng Changqing had specifically ordered the post house attendants to make after she returned from the prefectural office.

She had also drizzled a few drops of fragrant sesame oil on hers, making it delicious.

“That child you brought back yesterday, I wonder how he is doing?” Lady Wen said. “He still needs medicine. It might be inconvenient to take him to Beishan County; perhaps it would be better to ask Doctor Hu to look after him for a few days.”

“I had the same thought. I'll go speak to Doctor Hu in a moment.”

By the time they finished breakfast, the horses, carriages, and accompanying personnel were ready.

Twelve Imperial Guards, thirty soldiers brought back yesterday, plus the people Meng Changqing had brought from her own household, along with the carriages and fodder, were too many to fit in the backyard. They had no choice but to move them out to the street ahead of time.

Meng Changqing went to see Doctor Hu and inevitably endured a few insults from him. Knowing he was soft-hearted despite his harsh words, Meng Changqing never took his unpleasant remarks to heart.

Before leaving, she spoke a few words to the child.

The child still showed no reaction, merely biting his finger and staring toward the kitchen.

At the beginning of the Chen hour, Meng Changqing led her people off toward Beishan County.

The convoy exited through the East Gate, but today, not a single one of those refugees could be seen outside the gate.

“The Prefect sent those people back to Beishan County last night.”

The speaker was Li Ting, the constable sent to escort them.

“Follow this road forward, and you will reach Yangmen County. Once you pass the walls of Yangmen County, you will be in the territory of Beishan County.”

Because they had many people and were transporting grain and fodder, they moved slowly. By the time they reached the gates of Yangmen County, it was already the Shen hour—three in the afternoon.

“Lord Meng.” Constable Li approached Meng Changqing's carriage. “Once you pass through this gate, you are in Beishan County. I shall escort you no further.”