Beihe County

Chapter 31: Beihe County

Beihe County was said to have originally been crossed by a great river, and was formerly called Beihe County.

Later, the river shifted southward, and only then was it renamed Beihe County.

The county seat had a population of more than seventy thousand, making it one of the largest counties among the thirteen under Xingyuan Prefecture.

That figure of more than seventy thousand counted only those officially registered. Including hidden households and servants, even if it did not reach one hundred thousand, it probably was not far off.

Seen from afar, the walls of Beihe County looked old, even somewhat dilapidated.

The square bricks made of bluestone had weathered several hundred years. After being battered by wind and rain, they were covered in mottled patches.

Many of the blue bricks atop the walls had long since rotted and fallen away, yet no one bothered to manage them.

Xingyuan Prefecture was not a border region. No barbarians came to attack the city or batter its passes, so the local officials naturally would not waste silver repairing the walls.

Several drowsy runners stood guard outside the city gates, collecting the gate tax from passing pedestrians and merchants.

Ordinary commoners entering or leaving the city were not charged, but large livestock such as cattle and horses, as well as merchants carrying goods, had to pay the gate tax before entering.

Mo Dao produced the travel document he carried to prove their identities, and only then did the two of them enter the city.

People hurried back and forth inside and outside the city, while shops stood in rows along both sides of the streets. Cries of hawking and shouting rang out without end.

"Let's buy some things first. Then it'll be proper for us to visit the County Commandant's Residence," Mo Dao said.

Chen Mo found a market and bought pastries, dried fruit, tea, paper, ink, and other gifts. Altogether, they spent a little over three taels of silver.

Chen Mo and Mo Dao were visiting this time in the name of General Sun. The gifts did not have to be particularly expensive, but they could not be too meager, either.

After asking the pastry seller for the approximate location of the County Commandant's Residence, Chen Mo and Mo Dao brought the gifts there to pay a visit.

"May I ask who the two of you are?" The gatekeeper of County Commandant Li's home saw that the two men were tall and broad-shouldered, and immediately greeted them without daring to slight them.

"We are both adopted sons of General Sun Shouren, the garrison commander of Xingyuan Prefecture. We have come today especially to pay a visit to County Commandant Li," Mo Dao announced, stating their identities and purpose.

"Then please come in quickly. Our master is currently at the county government office. I ask that you wait a moment."

Upon hearing this, the gatekeeper hurriedly invited them into the courtyard, while servants took the gifts from Chen Mo's hands.

The County Commandant lived in a three-courtyard compound built of bluestone, with several pavilions constructed within it.

After crossing the front courtyard and arriving at the main courtyard's central hall, they saw half-new, half-old redwood furniture, along with several famous calligraphies and paintings apparently acquired from who knew where.

Seeing guests arrive, two maids lit the warming brazier in the hall.

With the County Commandant absent, his wife came out first to receive the two men and ordered tea and pastries to be served.

Before long, a hearty laugh rang out, and County Commandant Li hurried over in his official robes.

He looked no more than forty, with a round, fair, plump face full of smiles.

He must have practiced martial arts in his younger years, but as his training gradually lapsed over the past few years, he had grown fat.

"Lord County Commandant." Chen Mo bowed in greeting.

"County Commandant Li." Mo Dao cupped his hands in salute. He, too, held an eighth-rank official position, and County Commandant Li was merely of equal rank, so he did not need to bow before him.

"There's no need to be so polite. Since you're Shouren's adopted sons, just call me Uncle Li." County Commandant Li wore an easygoing expression, and his tone was full of familiarity.

"This is a letter from our adoptive father." Chen Mo took the letter from his robes and presented it with both hands.

There was no fault to be found with excessive courtesy. Since they would be asking for his help later, showing more respect could never hurt.

County Commandant Li accepted the letter and read it back and forth twice before looking at Chen Mo. "I know all about your matter. Do you have the contract with you?"

Chen Mo took out the contract he had carried with him all this time and handed it to County Commandant Li. He took it, looked it over, then turned and instructed a servant nearby, "Go to East Market and bring Granny Sun here."

The County Commandant and County Clerk were both subordinate officials under the county magistrate, responsible for maintaining order within the county, suppressing banditry, and handling a range of similar affairs. If the bandits were only on a small scale, the County Commandant would personally lead troops to eradicate them instead of directly notifying the local garrison forces.

Since Granny Sun was a merchant—and especially since she dealt in human trafficking and served as a broker for servants—she had to maintain a good relationship with the County Commandant. Otherwise, she would not be able to continue doing business.

After giving this order, he pulled the two men into drinking tea and chatting, asking about General Sun's recent circumstances.

"Master, I've brought her!" the servant shouted loudly from outside the door.

Granny Sun wore a flower-patterned cloth jacket and gray padded clothing as she entered the hall trembling with fear.

Along the way, she had kept wondering what exactly she had done wrong. Otherwise, why would the County Commandant suddenly want to see her?

She clearly did not recognize Chen Mo. That was perfectly normal. The Chen Mo before her was worlds apart from the starving refugee who had fled to Xingyuan Prefecture half a year ago.

"Do you remember buying a refugee named Zhao Yu half a year ago and selling him to the Liu Family in the west of the city?" County Commandant Li took the contract and casually handed it to Granny Sun.

She accepted the contract and examined it carefully, her mind sinking into ceaseless recollection. There had been too many refugees half a year ago. Every day, she sold many people and bought many more—how could she remember the details so clearly?

But she was certain that the contract had been written by her. She recognized the handwriting clearly.

"Replying to you, my lord, there was indeed such a matter." Even though she could not recall it for the moment, she did not dare deny it while looking at the contract.

"This person is the first wife of my adopted nephew here. I'll accompany you to the Liu Family now and redeem her," County Commandant Li said as he rose.

If Chen Mo had come alone, he certainly would have helped with the matter, but at most he would have sent someone to handle it.

But with Mo Dao accompanying him, he had to go personally.

The group did not take horses or sedan chairs. They simply headed straight for the Liu Family.

Along the way, Granny Sun evidently recalled Zhao Yu and could not help casting frequent sidelong glances at Chen Mo.

She truly could not bring herself to see the tall, broad-shouldered man before her, striding like a dragon and tiger, as the same person as the gaunt refugee who had fled disaster and nearly starved to death.

Yet she understood that, whether she was willing or not, these two were the same person. Now all she could do was pray inwardly that Zhao Yu was unharmed—better yet, that he was still alive.

Otherwise, she did not know what would become of the Liu Family, but she herself absolutely would not survive!

Who could have expected it? A refugee who had nearly starved to death while fleeing disaster had, in barely half a year, suddenly established a connection with the County Commandant!

The Liu Family was not an old aristocratic clan, but it was one of the wealthiest and most substantial households in Beihe.

"Why has Lord County Commandant suddenly honored us with a visit today? You didn't even notify this old man beforehand, so I could make preparations."

With graying hair and two small mustaches, Liu Wangshi learned that the County Commandant had personally come and hurried out from inside to welcome him. His words carried a hint of flattery and fear.

The Liu Family had risen to prominence during the two generations of his father and himself. They had plenty of money, but even now, no one in the family had obtained scholarly honors.

If he had not regularly sent generous offerings to several officials at the county government office, his family fortune would never have remained intact until today.

He truly could not imagine why the County Commandant had suddenly come to visit.

Granny Sun rushed forward and quietly explained the situation.

In only a few words, Liu Wangshi understood the whole chain of events, and unease immediately rose in his heart.

There were at least fifty or sixty servants in his household. He knew at most the few who regularly served at his side, and he had indeed never heard of this name.

It was not unusual for the lowest-ranking servants in his household to be beaten to death or die of illness. Still, seven or eight died over the course of a year.

Now he could only pray inwardly that Zhao Yu was still alive. Otherwise, his best possible outcome would be to scatter his entire fortune just to preserve his life.

Many people had their eyes on his money. Even without cause, they could seize it through trickery or force, let alone when they had a reason to strike.

"Master, there is such a person. He is responsible for washing the clothes of several young ladies and madams," the steward beside him hurriedly said.

"Then go and bring him to me at once." Liu Wangshi immediately felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

As long as the man was alive, everything would be fine. If he was dead, then Liu Wangshi might as well die too.

"I'll go with you." After Chen Mo spoke, he followed closely behind the steward.