Chapter 36

Chapter 36

During the sixteen years of the Great Yin Dynasty, there were quite a few battles, but almost none of them affected Ji Prefecture.

Fan Changyu had only heard from the elders about how brutal war could be. After all, war not only required grain supplies but also conscripted soldiers. Aunt Zhao and Uncle Zhao’s son was taken away during conscription back then and never returned.

An old man said, “Prince Changxin has rebelled in Chongzhou. The court sent troops to suppress it, but the battle has dragged on with no end in sight. I reckon the Great Yin’s mandate is almost up; a new era is about to begin.”

“Marquis Wu’an is dead. What does Wei Yan have left to hold the northwest together?”

Someone else said, “Whoever sits on the throne doesn’t matter to me, as long as they don’t steal my money and grain or force me onto the battlefield.”

Many shook their heads with a sigh: “The officials and soldiers have already started forcibly requisitioning grain from nearby villages. In the end, those in power will have both money and authority, while we common folk end up ruined, homeless, and scattered…”

Listening to all this, Fan Changyu felt a heavy weight in her heart. She said to Xie Zheng, “If the court is fighting in Chongzhou, shouldn’t the court be supplying the army’s grain? Why are they requisitioning it from the people?”

Xie Zheng’s tone was tinged with sarcasm: “The grain routes have been cut off. Some people are just desperate and acting recklessly.”

Huizhou had once been his territory. Now, looking back, Wei Yan must have already started fearing him long ago. The court allocated military grain to his garrison every three months; the prefecture itself had no granaries.

Since it was a military outpost, the geography was not advantageous and it didn’t produce much grain.

Once the supply lines were severed, it was a fatal blow.

The rebellion in Chongzhou was just south of Huizhou, cutting off the court’s grain route to Huizhou.

When the front between Chongzhou and Huizhou stretched out, he guessed that Huizhou would eventually run out of grain. The quickest solution was naturally to requisition grain from the civilians.

After narrowly escaping assassination, he had already planned to contact his old subordinates to secretly buy up the civilian grain reserves first.

When Zhao Xun appeared, buying grain became a test of loyalty for him toward Zhao Xun. Now that the grain was secured, and Wei Xuan had suffered defeat on the Chongzhou battlefield, the court’s requisition of grain from the civilians was failing.

Knowing Wei Yan as well as he did, Wei Yan would certainly not look kindly on his son.

Letting Wei Xuan take a punishment from Wei Yan first was his way of giving his cousin a formal taste of revenge before the real payback.

With no one else in the northwest, Wei Yan had no choice but to let He Jingyuan take over the Chongzhou campaign. He Jingyuan had a reputation as a Confucian general, and he would not do the disgraceful thing of forcing soldiers to rob grain from civilians.

Moreover, given the current reputation of Wei Yan’s faction, if they were to actually allow their subordinates to seize grain from the common people, it would undoubtedly hand a weapon to Wei Yan’s political rivals.

Holding that 200,000 shi* of rice gave him plenty of time to start his next move.

Right now, the sudden forced grain requisition by the troops was most likely the brainchild of his glory-hungry cousin, who wanted to achieve something before the military command officially changed hands.

Ordinary people, unaware of all these inner workings, shared the same confusion as Fan Changyu, murmuring among themselves: “Sixteen years ago, during the battle of Jinzhou, it was that treacherous minister Meng Shuyuan’s delay in transporting grain that cost us the chance to strike. Crown Prince of Chengde and General Xie led a hundred thousand soldiers who starved for five days in Jinzhou. The troops were so weak they could barely stand on the city walls, and that’s how Beijue broke through the gates. Now, what’s wrong with the grain supply again that they have to scrape it from our very skin?”

As for the mastermind behind the defeat at Jinzhou, Meng Shuyuan’s name was universally cursed throughout the Great Yin Dynasty.

Someone immediately shouted, “That Meng Shuyuan deserved to die a thousand times over. It was thanks to General Xie’s trust in him that he was put in charge of transporting the grain. If he hadn’t delayed the supply, how could the crown prince of Chengde have died at Jinzhou, and how could the Wei faction have held power for so many years?”

“Let the Meng family be wiped out—that’s just karma!”

“Let’s just hope the grain transport officers in Chongzhou this time aren’t pulling any tricks!”

Sixteen years ago, Xie Zheng had known that the fatal flaw in the Jinzhou defeat was the late arrival of the grain.

Back then, the veteran Meng Shuyuan, under his father’s command, was responsible for escorting the grain. His father’s old subordinates once told him that anyone in the world might betray his father… except Meng Shuyuan.

Meng Shuyuan’s delay in delivering grain wasn’t treason but because he diverted midway to rescue the hundred thousand refugees trapped by Beijue in Luocheng. In the end, the refugees were not saved, and Jinzhou fell.

When Meng Shuyuan learned of his father’s death, he knelt before Jinzhou, drew his sword, and took his own life.

The tragedy at Jinzhou ended with Meng Shuyuan’s death, but even after more than a decade, the people still cursed him bitterly.

The troop detachment had already moved on. Xie Zheng withdrew his gaze and said to Fan Changyu, “Let’s go.”

But Fan Changyu seemed lost in thought, staring at the group discussing Meng Shuyuan.

He asked, “What’s wrong?”

Fan Changyu held Changning’s hand and pressed her lips together. “Meng Shuyuan delayed the grain transport to save a hundred thousand refugees. He’s not as detestable as people say, is he?”

Xie Zheng’s voice turned cold. “His orders were to transport grain. Failing to deliver the supplies to Jinzhou on time is dereliction of duty. If he had the ability, saving the refugees wouldn’t have delayed the grain delivery, and he would have been praised by all. But he neither saved the refugees nor delivered the grain on time. Because of that, Jinzhou fell and a hundred thousand soldiers died inside the city. That is an unforgivable crime.”

He looked at Fan Changyu. “You sympathize with such an incompetent man?”

Fan Changyu shook her head. She didn’t understand military strategy or regulations. She only felt that while Meng Shuyuan might indeed have been the chief culprit in the Battle of Jinzhou, he wasn’t the great villain the world claimed him to be—at most, just the incompetent man Yan Zheng called him.

As the three passed by a clothing shop, she asked Xie Zheng, “Your cloak is dirty. Want to buy a new one to change into?”

Xie Zheng had already taken off the cloak splattered with mud, folding it neatly in his arms as they walked.

He glanced at the colorful fabrics inside the shop and said, “No need. The sun’s out now, and it’s not cold anymore.”

Fan Changyu said, “Then how about a headband? The one I bought you earlier doesn’t seem to be your favorite; I hardly ever see you wear it.”

At her words, Xie Zheng stared at her with an unreadable expression.

Fan Changyu didn’t think there was anything wrong with what she said. She met his gaze with her almond-shaped eyes, their pupils reflecting each other’s image. Only hers was clear and bright, while his were deep and shadowed.

After a moment, Xie Zheng looked away first. “It’s not that I don’t like it.”

Fan Changyu found his words cryptic. If he didn’t dislike it, why didn’t he wear the headband? She said, “You bought so many things for Ningniang. You should pick out a New Year’s gift for yourself too. I’ll buy it for you!”

Xie Zheng’s mouth twitched slightly. “Didn’t you already give me a red envelope?”

Fan Changyu replied, “Red envelopes and New Year’s gifts aren’t the same thing.”

Xie Zheng stared at her for a while and said, “To me, they’re the same.”

Fan Changyu took that as a refusal to let her help buy his New Year’s gift, so she didn’t press the matter further.

She glanced at the sun. “If I go with you to the bookstore to buy paper and ink first, then visit Constable Wang’s house, it might be too late. And if we wait too long, the bookstore might close. How about this: you go to the bookstore by yourself to buy what you need, and I’ll take Ningniang to pay our New Year’s respects to Constable Wang first. When you’re done, wait for me near the bookstore. Once I’ve dropped off the gifts at Constable Wang’s, I’ll bring Ningniang over to find you.”

Xie Zheng nodded.

The two parted ways at the fork in the road. Changning walked ahead, waving vigorously at Xie Zheng. “Brother-in-law, be careful on the road. Sister and I will buy some treats for you too!”

Xie Zheng’s eyebrows lifted slightly as he looked toward Fan Changyu. “No need. You two enjoy yourselves.”

Fan Changyu thought to herself that it sounded like he suspected she was deliberately sending him away so she could take Changning to get some good food.

Xie Zheng walked off amid her conflicted gaze, and Fan Changyu crouched down to wipe the candied hawthorn residue from Changning’s mouth. She asked with a mix of helplessness and amusement, “You little glutton, what do you want to eat now?”

Changning’s soft, plump fingers pointed toward a street vendor selling brown sugar cakes.

Fan Changyu sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Alright, let’s go.”

After buying the brown sugar cakes, Fan Changyu stopped by a nearby tavern to buy a pot of good wine. She had originally planned to bring the cured meat to Constable Wang, but ended up giving a strip to the scholar instead. Carrying just one strip of cured meat to the door felt a bit awkward.

Fortunately, Constable Wang was known to enjoy his drink, so buying a pot of wine was a thoughtful gesture.

Constable Wang’s home was in the southern part of the county town. The location wasn’t prime, but the house was a two-courtyard compound, which in a small place like Qingping County was considered a respectable residence only a person of some standing could afford.

Fan Changyu knocked on the door with Changning by her side. An old woman came to open it, and upon hearing they were there to pay New Year’s respects to Constable Wang, she quickly invited them inside.

It was already afternoon, and most of the visitors who had come earlier that morning had finished their meals and left. Inside, Fan Changyu saw only Constable Wang, his wife, and Old Madam Wang sitting on the kang in the east wing.

Old Madam Wang looked to be in her eighties or nineties. Her face wasn’t wrinkled like a typical rural woman’s but had a plump, well-nourished roundness that gave her a kindly appearance.

Madam Wang had a sturdy build but didn’t look broad-shouldered or bulky. It was said her father had once been a constable too, and she knew some martial arts. Her face looked very kind, but her brows carried a trace of heroic spirit.

“So this must be Changyu, right?” Madam Wang smiled warmly when she saw Fan Changyu. “Such a good child. You can tell by her sturdy build that she’s a promising martial artist in the making.”

Fan Changyu smiled and greeted Madam Wang with a nod, as well as Old Madam Wang.

In Qingping County, there used to be a well-known courtesan called Yuniang.

Girls in the county whose names ended with the character “Yu” were never directly called Yuniang by others. Instead, people would call them by their full names. Calling someone directly “Yuniang” was like a veiled insult, implying they were a courtesan.

Changning clutched the hem of Fan Changyu’s clothes and hid behind her, shyly peering at Madam Wang with wide, doe-like eyes.

Madam Wang’s smile grew even brighter when she saw her. She grabbed a handful of candy from a lacquered dish and beckoned to Changning, “Little Ningniang, you’re quite the cutie. Come over and take some candy.”

Changning hesitated, then looked up at Fan Changyu.

Fan Changyu said, “Madam is giving you candy. Go ahead and take it.”

Only then did Changning scamper over to accept the sweets from Madam Wang’s hand. Being small, she couldn’t hold so many at once, so Madam Wang helped tuck most of the candies into the pocket of her garment.

Changning said clearly, “Thank you, Madam.”

Madam Wang and Old Madam Wang exchanged a glance and laughed heartily. Madam Wang couldn’t resist pinching Changning’s rosy cheek. “You’re so little, yet so well-behaved.”

She then looked at Fan Changyu with a smile. “Is it because your older sister taught you well?”

Fan Changyu blushed and smiled shyly. “You flatter me.”

Not one for small talk, Fan Changyu spoke honestly and straightforwardly. This candid nature made both Madam Wang and Old Madam Wang quite fond of her. Whenever Fan Changyu joined the conversation, they would laugh so hard they could barely stop smiling, while Fan Changyu herself was often puzzled by their reaction.

Madam Wang wanted to invite the two sisters to stay for a meal and the night, but Fan Changyu politely declined, explaining that Xie Zheng was still waiting for her at the bookstore.

When they took their leave, Constable Wang personally escorted her to the door. “Your parents’ case will be officially closed once the prefecture takes over. I was worried your parents might have made enemies years ago. Since it was mountain bandits searching for the treasure map, and now the map is no longer with your family, you have nothing to fear. Stay here in town with peace of mind. If you run into any trouble, don’t hesitate to come find me.”

Fan Changyu thanked them and then asked, “Do you know which official at the prefecture is reviewing this case?”

Constable Wang was just a low-ranking officer in Qingping County and really didn’t know much about that. He shook his head and asked, “Why are you asking about this?”

Fan Changyu feared that her parents’ deaths might be as complicated behind the scenes as Yan Zheng suggested, and she didn’t want to stir up trouble by telling Constable Wang too much. So she said, “It’s nothing, just asking.”

The best way to uncover the real cause of her parents’ deaths was, of course, to start with the official handling the case.

That night, the soldiers had brought back a survivor. If she could find out what that person had confessed, maybe she could unravel the mystery behind her parents’ deaths.

When Yan Zheng asked her what she would do if the authorities lied, she had already thought about secretly finding the official in charge of the case.

Isn’t that how it always goes in plays and stories? Catch the corrupt official’s weakness, sneak into their mansion on a dark and windy night, catch the official alone, and negotiate. Either get money or extract the clues you want.

Once she knew who was handling the case, she would have plenty of time to dig up dirt on them.

As Fan Changyu and Changning hurried toward the main gate, Madam Wang caught up to them carrying two red envelopes. “Keep these New Year red envelopes!”

One of the envelopes wasn’t even properly sealed. It looked like she had prepared it at the last minute.

Fan Changyu tried to refuse, but Madam Wang firmly pressed them into her arms.

After stepping out of the Wang family gate, Changning tore open one of the envelopes and excitedly showed Fan Changyu what was inside. “Big sister, it’s silver ingots!”

Fan Changyu’s red envelope also contained two silver ingots.

Holding the first red envelope she had received since her parents passed, Fan Changyu glanced back toward the Wang family. She felt a complex mix of emotions about Constable Wang and Madam Wang’s care and kindness.

Changning handed the silver ingots to Fan Changyu. “Big sister, keep these.”

Her own pockets and small purse were already stuffed full of the candies Madam Wang had given her, with no room left for the silver.

Fan Changyu took the silver and said, “I’ll hold onto them for you for now. When we get home, I’ll put them in your little money box.”

Changning had a special little box just for keeping her New Year money, but two months ago, she had given it up to help cover the funeral expenses for their parents. Now she was starting to save again.

Changning happily responded with a soft “Mm.”

There were few shops open on this street, even fewer passing peddlers, and only some children playing and making noise along the road.

Rumors about grain requisition had probably already reached Qingping County. In the teahouses and taverns, when people talked about the Battle of Chongzhou, they couldn’t help but mention the Battle of Jinzhou from sixteen years ago.

The children had heard the adults talk about it so much that in their games of “catch the bad guy,” “Meng Shuyuan” had once again become the villain everyone was after.

In these games, the kid who was the leader usually played the hero, while the child who was often excluded or bullied took on the role of Meng Shuyuan. When caught, that child would be pushed around and teased by the leader and the others.

Hearing the children shouting as they chased the kid playing Meng Shuyuan, Changning looked up and said to Fan Changyu, “Meng Shuyuan was a great traitor.”

Fan Changyu squeezed her little sister’s hand gently and said, “Changning, you’re not allowed to play games like that, okay?”

“Why not?” Changning asked.

Fan Changyu patiently explained, “Those kids are just using the game as an excuse to bully the child playing Meng Shuyuan. You shouldn’t learn from them.”

Only then did Changning nod.

Fan Changyu smoothed the fine wisps of hair on her sister’s forehead. “Even Mom and Dad didn’t like to see kids playing games like that.”

Changning quickly said, “I won’t play like that!”

Fan Changyu smiled and ruffled her round little head, but her thoughts drifted away.

She had always been tough since she was little. Among kids her age, she was known for her strength—she had even beaten boys three or four years older than her until they cried and ran home to complain to their parents.

Her parents always reasoned with her. If she was wrong, they punished her; if she was right, they stood up for her.

But there was only one time when she played “catch the bad guy” with other children that things went wrong. A child playing Meng Shuyuan was pushed down by another reckless kid, hitting his forehead on the ground. The injured child’s parents went door to door demanding an explanation.

Fan Changyu hadn’t pushed anyone or joined in bullying the child playing Meng Shuyuan.

But when her mother heard that she had joined the game, she suddenly burst into tears. Her father was very angry and made her kneel in the yard all afternoon.

Fan Changyu thought about it for a long time and realized her parents probably didn’t want her to join in bullying others.

That night when she went back to her room, her mother’s eyes were still swollen from crying. She made Fan Changyu promise never to play the game of catching the “great traitor” Meng Shuyuan again.

Fan Changyu felt a heavy guilt. She had never seen her mother cry so deeply. Surely it was because she had disappointed her.

When she heard her little sister repeating the other children’s words, calling Meng Shuyuan a great traitor, she worried that Changning might go back and play the same game with the kids in the alley. So she took the initiative to warn her in advance.

By chance, after leaving Constable Wang’s house, Fan Changyu, unfamiliar with the roads in the county town, asked for directions to the bookstore. Wandering around, she passed by the Yixiang Restaurant on this side of town and ran into Yu Qianqian.

Yu Qianqian wore a thick coat trimmed with white fox fur, with the front and cuffs embroidered in elaborate gold thread patterns. Her bangs were cut straight across her forehead, highlighting a face as smooth and pale as white jade, looking just like a young maiden not yet married.

She seemed about to leave by carriage, surrounded by several attendants who bowed and nodded attentively as they listened to her instructions.

After finishing her orders, Yu Qianqian looked up and saw Fan Changyu approaching from the street corner, holding the hand of a porcelain doll-like little girl. Her eyes brightened with joy. “I was just planning to go back to town to find you! I didn’t expect to run into you right here at the door.”

Fan Changyu smiled and greeted her with New Year’s wishes before asking, “Did the shopkeeper want to see me about something?”

Yu Qianqian said, “Tomorrow I have a big deal here, and I definitely need your help!”

The largest bookstore in the county town was open for business as usual on New Year’s Day.

When Xie Zheng stepped inside, the shopkeeper was fiddling with an abacus and asked, “Young master, what would you like to buy?”

Xie Zheng let a jade ring, tied with a cord, slip down from his fingertips. The moment the shopkeeper saw the jade ring, his attitude instantly shifted to one of respect. He bowed deeply and gestured, “Young master, please come upstairs for a moment.”

The shopkeeper led Xie Zheng to an elegant private room on the upper floor of the bookstore. On the yellow pearwood table by the window sat a slender white porcelain vase, holding a branch of red plum blossoms just about to bloom. Against the delicate snow outside the carved wooden window, the scene was truly poetic.

“Please wait here for a moment, honored guest. I will go fetch the master.” As the shopkeeper stepped out, a servant came in with tea.

Wei Yan was highly skilled in the art of tea. Having been under his guidance for sixteen years, Xie Zheng understood some of the principles behind tea. The tea brought in was so fragrant that just its aroma rivaled the tribute teas from the palace.

He lowered his gaze to the red plum blossoms in the white porcelain vase on the table, lightly tapping the tea lid twice with his long fingers.

Zhao Xun pushed open the door and entered without delay, a forced smile on his rakish face. “I wasn’t expecting the Marquis’s visit. Please forgive the lack of proper reception.”

“Mr. Zhao, you’re too polite.”

Xie Zheng sat casually, his relaxed posture carrying a subtle hint of dominance, as if he were the host rather than the guest.

Zhao Xun said, “The tasks the Marquis entrusted to me have all been secretly assigned to the right people. Rest assured, even if the authorities investigate, they won’t find anything.”

Xie Zheng looked up. “There’s one more thing that needs your men’s attention.”

“What is it?”

“The matter of Wei Xuan allowing soldiers in Ji Prefecture to seize grain—this must be reported immediately to He Jingyuan. In the capital, we’ll use this incident of soldiers stealing grain and killing innocent civilians to make a big issue and denounce the Wei faction.”

The louder the public outcry, the more effective the impeachment speeches at the Imperial Court will be.

Hearing this was another move to suppress the Wei faction, Zhao Xun quickly bowed. “I’ll order it done right away.”

But as he looked up, he caught the faintest smirk curling at the corner of Xie Zheng’s mouth.

Zhao Xun hesitated for a moment before asking, “Marquis, why do you look at me like that?”

Xie Zheng lifted the tea cup before him and took a light sip. “Qingcheng Xueya—picked only one bud and one leaf—is a tribute to the royal family. I never expected to taste such fine tea in a backwater like Qingping County.”

Zhao Xun said, “I’m a businessman. It took some silver to get my hands on such a treasure. Knowing the Marquis was coming, of course I had to bring it out to pay my respects.”

Xie Zheng’s mouth tightened. “Even an ordinary merchant couldn’t buy up two hundred thousand shi of rice without the local authorities noticing. Your family’s wealth is clearly vast. If you really wanted revenge on Wei Xuan, you still have Grand Tutor Li and his faction in the court to rely on. The fact that you went to such lengths to find me—rather than simply seeking vengeance—is because you value my influence over the hundred thousand troops in Huizhou.”

His sharp eyes locked onto the unworthy merchant before him like a wolf confronting a hyena. “What you’re after is the military power I command. Since we’re cooperating, I don’t appreciate allies who hide things.”

Zhao Xun was silent for two beats, then suddenly laughed heartily, shedding his earlier meekness as he sat down opposite Xie Zheng. “Indeed, nothing escapes the Marquis’s sharp eye.”

===

*I’m not sure which dynasty this is based on but the Qing and Han dynasties had slightly different standards for “shi”.

By Han standards, 200,000 shi would be 18,000,000 kg or 39,683,160 lb.
By Qing standards, 200,000 shi would be 15,000,000 kg or 33,069,300 lb.

The Han dynasty came first, ruling from 206 BC to 220 AD, while the Qing dynasty ruled later from 1644 to 1912 (according to Wikipedia). I’m assuming this is based on the Qing dynasty.

Do y’all even read these notes? Let me know in the comments.