Chapter Seven: Chengping County Borrows Grain

After settling some critical matters with Qiu Yangshu, Wei Tianze set off for Long'an County.

Along the way, Wei saw groups of villagers dragging their families and belongings, hurrying to flee the land that had once sustained them. Long'an County was nearly devoid of the young and able-bodied; those remaining were only the elderly, the infirm, the sick, or the young and helpless who were unable to leave.

When another group of villagers passed by, carrying their meager bundles, Wei could not help but step forward to stop them. "Honorable folks, please wait a moment! May I ask where you are heading?"

An elderly woman with a weary face looked up at Wei, noting his appearance suggested he had traveled from elsewhere. "Young man, we simply cannot stay in Long'an anymore. We have no choice but to head north and try our luck."

Wei furrowed his brow and said, "But this is your home. Even if you reach the north, can you be certain of finding a livelihood or filling your bellies? If you stay here, at least you have kin and a familiar homeland, and fields that can be tilled. As long as you are diligent, you should be able to sustain yourselves by farming."

A middle-aged man in the group interrupted, "Alas, young sir, you do not know. This cursed place has suffered drought for years. The fields yield nothing—not even a bite to eat. We have no silver to buy grain, so what is the point of guarding this barren, desolate patch of earth?"

Wei was silent for a moment before asking, "If the Imperial Court were to provide enough grain and relief funds in time, would you be willing to stay and stop fleeing?"

The moment he spoke, a burst of harsh, mocking laughter erupted from the crowd. Someone shouted, "Stop dreaming! The officials at the county office fled long ago. Who would care about the lives of us poor folk?"

With that, they ignored him and continued on their way. Wei took out his official documents and said in a deep voice, "I am sent by the Capital under the Imperial Court’s decree to provide disaster relief. If you trust me, stay here. The Court’s funds will arrive within a month!"

The crowd was stunned, looking at him in disbelief. "You truly come from the Capital?"

"Indeed! The Court has not abandoned you; funds were allocated, but they have been delayed. I have been sent to investigate this matter thoroughly."

Wei’s words finally convinced the remaining villagers to abandon their plans to leave. They knew that moving north held a bleak and uncertain future. If they stayed in their homeland with the Court's help, there was still hope for their livelihood, so they chose to trust Wei for one month.

Wei arrived at the county office to find the entrance overgrown with weeds. "Commoner Wei Tianze requests an audience with the magistrate."

Ping Borui rushed out. He had heard of Wei’s arrival with official papers, but he had not expected him to come so quickly.

"Sir, please, do not stand on ceremony. Come in, come in," Ping urged.

Wei smiled slightly. "Magistrate, there is no need for such formality. I hold only these documents and possess no official rank. You may call me by my name."

As Wei followed Ping into the office, he asked curiously, "Why is there not a single guard here?"

"To have an office, guards, or servants, one needs silver to pay them. Long'an has suffered drought for years, and the harvests have failed, so people have left. Naturally, the office is empty. Anything of value has been carried off; only this shell remains."

"Magistrate, though Long'an is destitute, as an official, you must lead by example. If even you give up, how can the people trust and support you?" Having said this, Wei began pulling weeds.

Seeing Wei working, Ping had no choice but to join in, sighing, "With everyone gone, what use is there in keeping up appearances?" He had long wanted to leave this barren place, but he was the magistrate; if he abandoned his post and the Court eventually investigated, he would have no way to answer for it.

Wei asked, "Is there any wealthy place nearby? Somewhere that produces grain?"

"As far as I know, only Chengping County, a hundred miles away, has grain. But even if they have it, it has nothing to do with us. We have no money to buy it, and they barely have enough for themselves."

"Magistrate, go and write a memorial to the Imperial Court to request disaster relief funds."

Ping looked shocked. "Are you not from the Court? Have you not already reported our lack of grain and silver?"

"I hold no official position. How could I submit a request?"

"I really believed your nonsense!" Ping felt utterly dejected, having assumed Wei had already arranged everything and that he only needed to wait for the supplies.

The next morning, Wei and Ping set out for Chengping County, intending to borrow enough grain to hold them over. Since Long'an was too poor to rent a carriage or even find a horse, the two had to walk the hundred miles on foot.

Fortunately, when they left, some villagers, knowing their intent, pooled together some dry rations for their journey.

On the road, Ping worried, "We are trekking all this way, but I fear we won't even get to see the scowl on Xian Yuzhou's face."

"Why do you say that?" Wei asked.

"Our county is poor, with no money, water, or grain. While Chengping has grain, they aren't wealthy either. If they lend to us, they will have nothing left. Xian Yuzhou certainly won't help." Ping had tried his best to be a good magistrate before, going to Chengping to borrow grain, but he was refused repeatedly. Having lost patience and confidence, he had eventually given up, as he truly had no other options.

After two days and nights, they finally reached Chengping. After a quick wash, they went to the office to see the local magistrate. Because Wei held documents from the Prime Minister’s residence, the magistrate of Chengping had to show him respect and granted them an audience.

As soon as Xian Yuzhou heard their request, he knew they were there to borrow grain. His face immediately twisted into a mask of misery, and he began to wail:

"Oh, Master Wei! You have no idea how difficult things are for us! It is not that we don't want to lend you grain, but our hearts are willing while our strength is lacking. Look, we are also suffering under this drought, just not as severely as Long'an. If we lend our grain to you, the people of Chengping will go hungry! Everyone is pinching every bite and skipping meals. With the Lunar New Year approaching, every household is tightening their belts to survive the year. It really isn't that we don't want to help, but we truly have no surplus!"

Standing to the side, Ping listened to Xian’s endless complaints and looked at Wei with disappointment and frustration, as if to say, "See? I told you this would be the result; we’ve made this trip for nothing."

Facing such a firm rejection, Ping felt that if they persisted, they would only look like troublesome scoundrels, and he heaved a heavy sigh.

Wei then spoke: "Magistrate, if Chengping is not wealthy either, why not join forces with Long'an to combat the disaster? If the Court learns that you both have been working so selflessly for the people, it will surely not treat you poorly."