Chapter 25: Encountering Bandits on a Snowy Night

As the bailiffs moved the grain, Meng Changqing inspected it.

Neither her uncle nor Sun Xiang had cheated her; they had provided the new millet harvested this year.

Even though the harvests had been good these past two years, how much could the common people actually keep for themselves after paying their grain taxes? Holding the millet poured from the grain tester in her hand, Meng Changqing knew that once this grain was consumed, they would ultimately have to build the city walls.

She was confident that her petition would be approved, because as an Emperor, he would find this deal worthwhile.

One hundred piculs of grain were loaded into seven horse carriages, with two shifts of bailiffs guarding them on both sides.

Meng Changqing and Bafang walked in front, while Chu Mufeng led the three other Imperial Guards at the rear.

A horse pulling grain moves slowly, and Meng Changqing feared being ambushed on the road. Traveling through the deep night, she dared not let even a hint of drowsiness take hold.

The convoy reached the eastern gate of Liangzhou City. During the first round of inspection, the city guards had to verify not only Meng Changqing’s official seal, the constable Li Ting’s token, and the Prefect’s signed document, but also weigh every picul of grain to confirm it matched the amount on the document.

Meng Changqing offered some flatbreads to the busy soldiers. "I apologize for making you all work so hard in the middle of the night."

"Don't say such things, Milady," the soldiers replied as they accepted the bread. "This is our duty. Please do not mind our tediousness; we do not wish to delay you."

"Squad Leader, it's weighed. The amount is correct."

"Hurry and load it onto the carriage for the Milady."

It was only when the grain had been re-bundled and Meng Changqing mounted her horse that she noticed something white clinging to the horse's hair.

She rubbed it with her finger, and it dissolved into water at her fingertips. "Is it snowing?"

The people around her looked up one after another. "It is snowing."

The squad leader hunched his shoulders. "I knew it felt unusually cold today; it was bound to snow. I wonder how long this snow will last."

Meng Changqing wrapped her face in a scarf, leaving only a slit for her eyes to see the road. "What time is it?"

The squad leader had specifically checked the water clock in the duty room and replied, "Milady Meng, the second watch has passed. It is now the third quarter of the hour of Hai."

The third quarter of the hour of Hai was approximately eleven o'clock at night.

She had to hurry. She didn't know if the snow would be light or heavy; if it became heavy and covered the road, there was a risk of the carriages getting stuck.

Fortunately, from the moment they left Liangzhou City until they reached the walls of Yangmen County, the snow did not fall heavily, and only a thin layer accumulated on the road.

Though she knew the snow waited for no one and they had to return before the roads were buried, the necessary inspections still had to be performed.

The same procedure was repeated by the soldiers of Yangmen County.

This could not be skipped, as this was a border county.

Meng Changqing borrowed three shovels from the Yangmen guards, fearing that if the snow intensified, they would be helpless on the road.

Sure enough, once they passed the walls of Yangmen County, the snow grew heavier and the accumulation on the road grew thicker.

In such conditions, it was difficult for humans to walk, and the horses were unwilling to move.

"What should we do?" Li Ting pulled at the most temperamental horse and shouted toward the front of the convoy, "Milady Meng, should we find a place to rest for a while?"

The oncoming wind and snow tore Li Ting's words into fragments.

Meng Changqing stopped and looked around. As luck would have it, they had arrived near the site of the old city walls.

Meng Changqing rode to Li Ting's side. "We must keep moving; we cannot rest here. Please, brothers, help push this carriage to save the horse some strength."

Horses are intuitive animals; knowing that people were helping them exert effort, the horse stopped acting up and obediently pulled the carriage forward.

Further ahead, the snow grew deeper, so they began using the shovels Meng Changqing had borrowed.

Only by shoveling some of the snow away could the carriages pass.

Wang Xun had never walked such a difficult road in his life. Not only did the wind and snow feel like demons trying to devour them, but they also had to shovel snow all the way to clear a path for the carriages.

After walking through the snow for an unknown amount of time, they finally saw the walls of Weishan County and the flickering lights on the plain.

But before they could even breathe a sigh of relief, the alert sentries heard unrestful sounds amidst the wind and snow.

"Someone is attempting to hijack the grain under the cover of night!" Meng Changqing shouted. "Everyone, extinguish your torches and stand close to the grain! If there is any movement on the grain carriages, strike them immediately with your blades!"

After giving her orders, Meng Changqing galloped quickly toward the camp.

Xi Bei recognized the sound of hoofbeats. "It sounds like Changqing is back."

Meng Changqing followed the sound and saw her master and the members of the Meng household shielding her mother and her wet nurse in the center.

"Master! Mother! Who is it?"

"Bandits," Xi Bei said. "Fortunately, we have been on guard day and night, so they didn't find an opening. Changqing, come down and stand in the middle. We're afraid there might be bandits hiding in pits. Captain Yang has taken men to check."

Meng Changqing obeyed, promptly dismounting and squeezing into the crowd.

"Changqing." Liang Jiuqiu grabbed her arm tightly. "You scared me to death. I was truly afraid something happened to you on the road."

Xi Bei added, "Don't worry, Auntie. As long as Changqing is on horseback, no one in the Kingdom of Liang can catch him."

"Was the journey smooth?" Lady Wen asked.

"Everything went smoothly, Mother. Do not worry."

At this moment, the snow had not stopped, but the wind had died down.

Meng Changqing heard Zuo Datou's voice: "Captain, none of the pits contain hidden people, and no extra people were found among the commoners."

"Good, then they are all here," Yang Zheng said sternly. "Keep them guarded. We will deal with them once the Milady returns."

"Captain Yang!" Meng Changqing walked toward him. "I am back."

"Young Master Meng." Yang Zheng, holding his blade, explained the situation. "Look at these people—twenty-one in total. They came to rob us. Judging by the direction the guards saw them coming from, they must have come down from the mountains."

"Were any of our people injured?" Meng Changqing asked.

Yang Zheng gestured with his sword. "We are not easy targets. They are fewer than us and lack proper weapons; they were no match for us. The commoners were not injured either."

"The goods are fine, too. Only one picul of grain was spilled on the ground, but it can still be swept up and eaten."

Meng Changqing nodded. "Good." She turned to the armed soldiers and the Imperial Guards, bowing and clasping her hands in thanks. "Thank you, brothers, for keeping my family and the people of Liangzhou safe."

Zhou Qiwen sheathed his sword and replied, "There is no need for thanks, Milady Meng."

"Young Master Meng," Yang Zheng asked, "how should we deal with these people?"

Meng Changqing looked at the group, bound by ropes and forced to kneel in a cluster. "You came down from the mountains, didn't you?"

"Dog official!" someone looked up and cursed at Meng Changqing. "Is there something wrong with us looking for things to survive the winter! You, a lapdog of the imperial court, are driving us to our deaths!"

"Fine. As long as I know where you came from." Meng Changqing turned to Yang Zheng. "Captain Yang, please find a few brothers who are quick with their blades and heavy-hearted. Execute them all."

Yang Zheng was startled. "Execute them all?"

"Yes. And please, brothers, dig a pit and bury them after you are done."

"Dog official! You will die a horrible death!" Hearing that they would not live, the bound men immediately began cursing everything in sight.

Some were cleverer; knowing that cursing Meng Changqing alone was useless, they turned to the commoners standing in nearby squads. "You are willing to be driven by this dog official! Don't you know how to resist!"

"How dare you expect them to move!" Meng Changqing shouted back even louder. "What you were trying to steal was their winter grain—their very chance at survival! You expect them to help you? Keep dreaming!"