The sky had not yet brightened. The lanterns in the corridors and under the eaves of the inn were still lit.
In the quadrangle courtyard a group of scholars had gathered.
They had risen early before the hour of Mao and hurried here to wait for Zhan Muchun to get up. It had something of the flavour of answering the roll call and they clearly took themselves rather seriously.
Normally they would rarely rise so early.
These scholars were all students from Shangyuan Prefecture. They had gathered out of admiration for the top examination candidate and also because he had summoned them.
As the saying went the Duke of Xuan had killed too many corrupt officials. He had killed so many that there were not even enough officials left to handle disaster relief. Even officials like Zhan Muchun from the capital county had been temporarily retained. The shortage of usable personnel could be imagined.
It so happened that this group of scholars admired the top candidate and regarded him as a model for literati. When they came to pay their respects the new prefect ran into them.
The prefect then had an idea and instructed Zhan Muchun to summon and employ them.
In a city during a disaster to keep everything stable and to sort out all aspects was no ordinary task. It required coordinating forces from all sides.
Scholars of this era mostly had some family wealth and local reputation. With this group of scholars distributed across various streets helping out the management of charity in the city would naturally be much better. The newly appointed prefect was going to all lengths to get through this disaster.
Thus Zhan Muchun used his own status as the top candidate to gather this group of scholars together for use. He gave them a pile of grand principles and assigned them tasks every day.
Zhan Muchun who had hurried out saw them and realised that the noisy commotion did not come from their quiet discussions but from outside.
Before the scholars could pay their respects he asked first. “What is all that noise outside about?”
A group of scholars immediately gathered round. One said. “Lord Zhan the disaster victims have entered the city.”
“Ah?” Zhan Muchun was greatly shocked. He immediately pushed through them and hurried with quick steps to the main gate of the inn.
Standing on the steps and looking left and right along the passage he indeed saw many raggedly dressed people sitting on both sides of the street. Some were wolfing down food in their arms. Some leaned against the wall sleeping. Others lay directly in the street corners snoring loudly. They were clearly all exhausted.
On the street raggedly dressed disaster victims continued to walk past. They ate as they looked around seemingly searching for a suitable place to rest.
The noisy commotion came from these disaster victims.
The surprise on Zhan Muchun’s face did not fade. For these disaster victims to settle down and sleep so peacefully they must have received food. With grain in their bellies they would not panic.
“What is going on?” he asked the scholars who had followed him out.
One scholar said. “My lord it is said that a great philanthropist has appeared outside the city and is distributing money to the disaster victims there.”
“It is true. My family lives near that city gate. When I came over I took a look at the gate. There really are people giving money to the victims. Five taels each. It seems they started from the hour of Xu last night and have continued until now. It is almost dawn yet they are still distributing.”
“Yes we were just talking about it. They have been giving out money all night. How much money must that be?”
“Earlier I heard the guards changing shift at the city gate mention that at least twenty thousand people have already entered. The victims gathered under the city wall have almost all been cleared.”
“No one knows who is showing such great mercy. This must have cost at least one hundred thousand taels of silver already. It is truly a grand gesture.”
Listening to the scholars’ discussions beside him Zhan Muchun looked around at the disaster victims on the street who now had food and sleep and had settled down peacefully. He felt somewhat dazed. Who would make such a move to save people at this time? A figure suddenly flashed through his mind.
A lonely figure covered in mud carrying a large bundle and leading the disaster victims forward.
His expression suddenly shook. He immediately jumped down the steps and broke into a run heading straight for the city gate. He did not even bother with washing up.
“Lord Zhan…”
“My lord…”
The group of scholars did not know why he had lost his composure or where he was going. He had not even assigned them tasks yet. Perhaps something had happened.
Not knowing whether they should help the scholars exchanged glances and followed along one after another.
The disaster victims outside the city had indeed almost all been cleared. At least outside the city they were basically nowhere to be seen. Looking into the distance only eight remained in front of the drawbridge.
“Five”
“Four”
“Three”
“Two”
“One”
The clerk holding the ink pad counted aloud. After the clerk stamping the seal had marked the back of one victim’s hand he stopped.
The victim marked “one” walked onto the drawbridge and crossed over.
Three remained. The three remaining nervous victims looked eagerly at Yu Qing because he had stopped taking out money.
The money house manager and two clerks were also staring at Yu Qing.
The guard commander and other guards were also staring at Yu Qing.
They all found it strange. So many people had been helped through yet for the last three he was hesitating.
Yu Qing whose eyes had turned red looked around. He very much wanted to shout at them. Why are you all staring at me? Do I owe you something?
Whoosh. He fully opened the mouth of the large leather bag. It was not enough so he turned the entire large leather bag inside out. He shook it hard to show them while making a silent roar. I have no money left.
They understood. The guard commander and the money house staff looked at each other.
Yu Qing was furious. He suddenly pointed at the money house manager’s nose and cursed. “Damn it. I have given you so much money yet you still guard a money house. You will not even give for these three people?”
The manager’s face turned bitter. “Brother it is not that I will not give but the money house has its rules. Not a single coin can be moved randomly. Even if one coin does not match the accounts it is trouble. A money house is not something one person can open. It has noble investors. Without permission we cannot spend randomly. I am just a counter clerk helping others work. I really cannot make this decision.”
“It is just fifteen taels of silver yet you give a pile of nonsense. Shut your mouth.” Yu Qing cursed loudly. He turned and asked the guard commander. “Just three people. Can you not let them in?”
The guard commander had a bitter expression. “Brother during a disaster everything is strict. No one dares violate the set laws. If I disobey orders I will also suffer. It is easy to let them in but once inside the city without money they will have to steal or rob for food. If caught they will be beaten to death.”
Seeing that there was really no money left the three victims panicked completely. They all knelt down with a thud.
This time they all spoke because only the three of them remained.
“Great philanthropist please save us.”
“Great philanthropist we cannot survive outside the city.”
“We beg you.”
They did not expect help from others and kept kowtowing to Yu Qing in pleading.
“You mother…” Yu Qing whose eyes had long turned red from anxiety kept cursing. He reached inside his clothes and fumbled out some loose silver pieces mixed with seven or eight copper coins. Altogether it was less than three taels of silver. He showed it in his palm to the guard commander and others. “The rest you figure it out.”
Then he turned and quickly divided the less than three taels of loose change roughly equally among the last three victims. He shouted at them. “Do not kowtow to me. I cannot accept it. This is all the money I have left. I have given you everything without a hair remaining.” He waved towards the guard commander and the money house staff. “Kowtow to them. Beg them.”
This was no empty talk. He really had not a single coin left now. He was almost going mad.
He had given away more than one hundred and sixty thousand taels of silver to others. Why would he still want these few bits of loose silver? To keep them and feel sad looking at them?
He did not want them. He did not want even a single copper coin. Even if given another ingot of gold he could throw it away like stinking dog shit.
He did not want them. He was completely done. His mentality had collapsed.
The three victims heard him and immediately turned to kowtow and plead to the others.
Those few were made extremely embarrassed.
Yu Qing threw the large leather bag that had contained the silver notes at the guard commander’s feet. “See how much this is worth. Take it to exchange for money. Look at my body again. Whatever you think is valuable just take it. If I am even half reluctant then you are my grandson.” He spread his arms and roared. Not only were his eyes red from anxiety but his voice had become hoarse. He allowed himself to be searched.
The guard commander looked very helpless. He very much wanted to tell him what is the use of getting angry at me? Now with the disaster prices have soared. Many soldiers below only manage a basic living to support their families. This is still because the four great families dare not let the garrison go hungry.
Anyone with sense knew that under this disaster the wealth in the city would concentrate into the hands of a few. For some people a great disaster was a great chance to get rich. Many ordinary people would have to rely on high interest loans to survive. After the disaster countless people would sell their children and property.
It was also human trafficking yet their methods were far more sophisticated than those outside doing it. They sat at home waiting for people to send their wives and daughters to their door and did not even bear any moral stigma.
“Manager take these three down to get the money. Put the remaining on my account.”
The guard commander helplessly waved his hand and gave the order.
He actually did not like doing such a thing in front of everyone. Facing such a disaster he could barely look after his own soldiers. How could he look after outsiders?
Yet there was no way. He had been forced to this point by Yu Qing.
After this night he really had no temper left towards Yu Qing. He submitted.
“Yes.” The manager agreed and immediately had two clerks lead the three victims away.
The three victims could only kowtow in thanks.
“Damn.” The guard commander suddenly looked into the distance and sighed. “Another group is coming.”
Yu Qing turned to look. In the dim light there indeed seemed to be another group approaching. They walked very slowly. One could guess they were disaster victims. No one knew from where they had fled. There were probably several hundred.
A strong wind blew. It made the torches on the city wall flicker wildly and the bonfires below blaze and swirl with sparks flying everywhere.
Seeing the disaster victims appear again Yu Qing looked completely dazed. He smelled the bloody scent from after his killings again and felt the sticky pull of the blood spots on his face from the wind.
He had truly fallen into a daze. He suddenly realised his own insignificance. Even if he kissed the bloody rain he could not save everyone.
The guard commander said. “No good. I have to order the drawbridge raised. Otherwise if these refugees go mad I can only order a massacre. Brother you have stayed up all night too. Go into the city and rest first. I will treat you to a drink.”
Yu Qing turned and spread his hands. “I have no money. Can I go in?”
“Uh…” The guard commander smiled wryly. “Your situation is special. Guaranteeing one or two people is no problem.”
Yu Qing sneered. “Forget it. I am poor but I have backbone. I will not make things difficult for you.”
He spoke toughly and turned to leave.
Why go into the city?
This was his city of heartbreak. In this life he did not want to see this broken city again. He would rather spend the night in the waterlogged disaster area than enter the city to see the refugees all over the streets spending his money.
“With water everywhere where can you go? Hey brother I have not yet asked your honourable name.”
“Idiot.”