"Uncle!" Meng Changqing followed the yamen servant and walked in quickly, and saw Wei Fangyun already waiting in the study.
"Changqing, sit down." Wei Fangyun said to the two people behind Meng Changqing: "Sit down, too."
Meng Changqing's buttocks rested on the bench, "I wonder what uncle is calling me for now?"
"You have been in Liangzhou Mansion for two days, but I have not had time to have a good chat with you because I am busy with affairs in the barracks."
"As an official of the imperial court, my uncle should take state affairs as his top priority."
Wei Fangyun grabbed a handful of peanuts for her and said, "I have to go to the military camp in an hour, so I asked someone to call you over. I have something to take care of you."
"Uncle, please speak."
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve." Wei Fangyun said, "I guess you are leaving for Beishan County today."
"yes."
"You returned to the city from the camp today, and you must have seen those refugees at the city gate." Wei Fangyun continued: "Those are the people of Beishan County.
Beishan County is just outside the Yan Army's border defense line. Unlike the adjacent Weishan County, there is no cover in front. If you are not careful, you will be invaded by the Yan Army, so no people want to stay there. "
Meng Changqing asked: "Since Beishan County is our territory, why not build a city wall or send troops to garrison it?"
Wei Fangyun looked at Meng Changqing and hesitated to speak.
"Uncle, you might as well say so."
"Before the Meng army forced the Yan people back, that place had been a battlefield. The city wall and garrison you mentioned were just behind Beishan County."
Meng Changqing clenched her fists in her sleeves, wishing to punch the prince again, otherwise she would be sorry for what she was going through now.
"Since it is a former battlefield and there is no military defense, why are people willing to move there?" Her mood remained relatively stable.
"Wherever there are people who voluntarily go, they are all sent there because they have committed crimes. The original intention is to let them build the city wall, but after many years, it has never been completed.
Changqing, the first thing you have to do when you get there is to build the city wall. "
Meng Changqing still couldn't figure it out.
Since they were criminals who were sent there, and there was a city wall blocking them from behind, how did those people get to Liangzhou City? A group of skinny men can pass through the city wall at the rear. Wouldn't it be easier for the Yan army?
"Uncle, let me ask one more question, how did those people get outside Liangzhou City?"
"I gave my permission." Wei Fangyun said, "It's winter now, and the Yan people, like us, are busy dealing with the Jiewan barbarians and generally won't attack us.
Although those people in Beishan County are sinners or their descendants, it is really pitiful to force them to die of cold and starvation.
I told the soldiers guarding the city that if there were too many people surrounding the gate, let some old and weak people in and let them beg all the way. When they got outside Liangzhou Mansion, I would give them some relief food and then send them back. "
"Why not distribute relief food directly in Beishan County, so as not to cause trouble to the people in other counties."
"My dear nephew, to be honest, this move is not to save the people of Beishan County."
The lanterns burst, and the flickering firelight shone on Wei Fangyun's face.
Meng Changqing understood.
Not for relief, just to drag them to death.
What about her, Meng Changqing? Was she sent to Beishan County just to drag her to death?
The emperor shouldn't have such hatred for her, he must have other motives.
"Changqing, you are here. That place is called Beishan County. The emperor has high hopes for you. Whether those people are saved or punished is all up to you." Wei Fangyun patted Meng Changqing's arm, "There is a man named Sun outside the door. The general magistrate is waiting for you, and I have told him to bring some grain and salt from the treasury to you."
Meng Changqing stood up and saluted Wei Fangyun, "Thank you uncle."
"Go ahead."
Meng Changqing bowed and stepped back, but when he reached the door, he was stopped by Wei Fangyun again, "Changqing."
"Uncle, do you have any other instructions?"
"Pay attention to safety and bring more people with you." Wei Fangyun said, "The emperor hopes that you will make great achievements in Beishan County and don't embarrass your father."
Meng Changqing looked calm on the surface, and it was not rude to nod and step back for a moment, but in fact, he had already cursed in his heart.
The emperor was also crazy. He expected her to achieve results, so he threw her outside the city wall and locked her up with a group of exiles. What an idea! What an idea!
When she went out, she happened to pass by the government servant delivering breakfast, and a large bowl of fragrant noodles passed in front of her.
This uncle was really stingy. He called her over at three o'clock and didn't even give her breakfast.
After walking a few steps out of the study door, I heard someone shouting from behind: "Mr. Meng!"
Meng Changqing turned around and saw a young man with two red marks on his face, "I'm sorry, Mr. Meng, I accidentally fell asleep while waiting outside the room just now. Sun Xiang, the lower official, has been ordered by the prefect to open the warehouse and allocate food to you. "
"Excuse me, Sun Tongpan."
"My lord, please follow me."
Sun Xiang took the government servants and moved thirty stones of grain and one stone of salt from the warehouse. He registered it in the account book and handed it to Meng Changqing, a grain spy, "Please inspect the grain."
Meng Changqing inspected every stone and inspected it from different positions to confirm that the grain was not moldy and the grain was full, and then he signed and sealed the account book.
When Wen and Liang started chatting, the grains had already been loaded onto the cart in the backyard of the post house.
Seeing that Mrs. Wen was worried, she told Xiaodai, "Go find some big oilcloths and cover them up."
"Mother, mother, let's go have breakfast." Meng Changqing said, "After breakfast we have to set off."
The noodles for breakfast were specially made by Meng Changqing after he came back from the government office.
She also drizzled a few drops of sesame oil on it to make it delicious.
"What happened to the child you brought back yesterday?" Wen said. "She still needs to take medicine. I'm afraid it won't be convenient to take her back to Beishan County. Why don't we ask Dr. Hu to take care of her for a few days."
"That's what I think too. I'll tell Doctor Hu later."
By the time they finished breakfast, the carriages, horses and entourage were ready.
Twelve imperial guardsmen, thirty soldiers brought back yesterday, plus people brought by Meng Changqing's own family, together with carriages, horses and food, were so crowded that there was no space in the backyard, so they had to be pulled out to the street in advance.
Meng Changqing went to see Dr. Hu, and was inevitably insulted by him. Knowing that he was hard-mouthed and soft-hearted, Meng Changqing never took his harsh words to heart.
As she left, she said a few words to the child.
The child still didn't respond. He just bit his finger and looked at the kitchen.
At the beginning of the morning, Meng Changqing took his people and set off for Beishan County.
They went out through the east gate, and when they went out today, they couldn't see any of the refugees outside.
"The prefect sent those people back to Beishan County last night."
The person who spoke was the head catcher Li Ting who was ordered to send them away.
"Going along this road, you will reach Yangmen County. After leaving the city wall of Yangmen County, you will reach Beishan County."
There were many of them and they were transporting grain and grass, so they walked slowly. When they arrived at the gate of Yangmen County, it was already Shen Shi, which was three o'clock in the afternoon.
"Mr. Meng." Li Putou came to Meng Changqing's carriage, "After this gate, you will reach Beishan County. My subordinates will be sent here."
