Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Meng Changqing looked at the person in front of her. Despite her confident demeanor in front of Zheng Jie, she had no confidence whatsoever.

Ultimately, who among normal people would like war?

In ordinary martial arts competitions, people always say that swords and spears have no eyes. But when a war breaks out, thousands of people rush out regardless of their own lives, throwing swords and gunpowder around like they don't care about money. How can that be a good thing?
The city wall she wanted to build wasn't to reassure the people; she genuinely felt that if the Yan army attacked, the soldiers of Liang and the existing city wall might not be able to withstand it. She wanted to build a new wall to buy the people time to escape.

"Changqing, what can't you tell me?" Xi Bei felt that Meng Changqing was becoming more and more sullen, especially after Bafanglaicai returned to Beijing last year. He couldn't talk to anyone about anything and kept it all to himself.

"Master, war is about to break out." Meng Changqing leaned on the table, a posture she rarely adopted in public. "The Yan Kingdom is going to fight us. Do you think we can survive?"

Without even thinking, Xi Bei said, "What's there to be afraid of? I'm telling you, child, is this really something to worry about?" Xi Bei pulled up a chair and sat down opposite Meng Changqing. "You've met the Yan army before, so what's there to be afraid of? They're just people, they don't have three heads and six arms, they're not any different from us."

As the old saying goes, the entire Daliang was reclaimed from the Yan army by your father and his men.

Look at the place where you're sitting. This Beishan County was only created because you led your men to hold off the Yan army.

You were never afraid before, so why are you afraid now that you're older?

I still remember when you first came to Liangzhou, you stood on the wall every day, determined to retake Tuozhou. If you had that kind of courage, why fear those bandits?

Meng Changqing rarely heard him say so much at once, and she knew in her heart that he was trying to comfort her.

"Are you stupid?" Xi Bei asked her, "Why haven't you said a word?"

Meng Changqing smiled and said, "What you said makes sense, so I don't need to say anything more."

"Alright, alright, don't overthink it. There's a saying that things will work themselves out, and there's always a way out. Let's take it one step at a time."

“I understand,” Meng Changqing said.

"I know you're not going to sleep, what are you doing sitting there like an idiot?" Xi Bei got up and called to Meng Changqing, "Come on, let's go back to the back office and go to sleep."

"I took a nap during the day, so I'm not sleepy yet. You should go and rest first." Meng Changqing picked up the ink stick beside him and started grinding ink again. "I'll write something and then go to sleep later."

"Alright then." Xi Bei couldn't do anything with him. He had said everything he could think of. "Be aware of your own situation. The more urgent the situation, the more you need to take care of yourself."

Seeing Meng Changqing nod, but then pick up her pen to concentrate on writing, Xi Bei knew that she couldn't rest for a while, and sighed helplessly.

The study door opened and closed.

After his emotions subsided and his rationality returned, Meng Changqing quickly wrote down what he was about to do.

By the time she put away her pen, it was already getting light.

Judging by the time, it was not yet dawn, so Meng Changqing went back to the back office first.

As Meng Changqing walked to the back, he happened to see Xiao Dai climb down from the west wall.

"Brother Dai," Meng Changqing greeted him first, "You're here so early?"

Xiao Dai landed and walked up to Meng Changqing. "What time did you get back last night? Why are you up so early again?"

After saying this, he noticed that Meng Changqing's undergarment, visible at the collar, was the same as yesterday. Although life here wasn't as particular as before, and outer clothes weren't changed every day, his young master would definitely change his undergarments whenever he washed up.

"You didn't sleep all night?" Xiao Dai asked with concern. "Something happened," Meng Changqing said. "I'll go wash my face first, and we'll talk later."

"Okay. I'll go to the kitchen and see if there's any hot water."

As soon as Meng Changqing entered the room, Xiao Dai followed her in with hot water, poured water into her washbasin, asked no questions, and quickly returned to the kitchen.

Meng Changqing touched the water in the basin; the temperature was just right.

At this point, one can't help but wonder why so many people want to become exploiters.

Being served is indeed very comfortable.

Comfort can corrupt even those who come from poverty, causing them to completely forget where they came from. At that point, their suffering becomes a test of fate, while the suffering of others becomes a result of their own inaction.

Fortunately, Meng Changqing is a person with some mental issues. When she gets ruthless, she will take down anyone's bottom line, even her own.

Hearing a noise outside, Meng Changqing looked out the window and saw that Wen Shi had actually gotten up and was walking towards her.

"Mother, you're up so early." Meng Changqing opened the door and helped her in. "Be careful of the water on the floor. I spilled some while washing my face."

“I can’t sleep when you’re not home,” Wen said. “Your mother is also very worried about you.”

"Mother, how have you been lately?" Meng Changqing suddenly asked.

Ms. Wen replied, "My health is still good. With Dr. Hu and his family taking care of me, I feel much better this year than in previous years."

“Mother, you said before that once Bafang Laicai passes the exam, you should go back to the capital to help them.” Meng Changqing could only make a move on this aspect. She said softly, “In my opinion, it would be too late to smooth things over by then. We should go back as soon as possible and inquire about it. What do you think?”

"You want me to return to the capital," Wen asked.

“I would like you to bring your family and Dr. Hu’s family back to Beijing together,” Meng Changqing said.

"So when do you plan to let us leave?" she asked, as casually as if she were asking what we'd have for lunch, but she was already certain that something bad had happened.

If Wen had arrived a little later, Xi Bei would have already told her what had happened. Unfortunately, just as Xi Bei was about to call her, Meng Changqing had already helped her into the house.

Meng Changqing assumed that Wen's question meant she had agreed, and even carefully chose a time, "tonight."

"Is war about to break out?" Wen asked.

"Master told you." Meng Changqing blinked unconsciously, his words amounting to an admission of guilt.

“Your master hasn’t told me yet.” Madam Wen grasped Meng Changqing’s tightly clenched hand. “If we leave, how will you persuade the other people? We won’t do anything to make things difficult for you, neither will your mother.”

"No matter what happens, our family will not be separated." Madam Wen spoke with unwavering resolve, but compared to others, she couldn't bear to leave them in this place of turmoil. "Dr. Hu has already been implicated too much by us. Let them leave. Tell them to take Mancang and Xiao Dai back to the capital."

Everyone has selfish motives.

“Okay, I’ll guide them.” Meng Changqing agreed.

Since Wen Shi and Liang Qiuqiu are staying here, Meng Changqing has nowhere to retreat; she must defend Beishan County to the death. (End of Chapter)