That man wore a small-eared scholar’s cap, had a dark beard on his face, eyes as large as bells, slightly flared nostrils, protruding ears, yet was born with a pair of bright red little lips.
Mo Zi met his gaze and saw his peculiar appearance—his age wasn’t great though, early twenties or so.
That man was quite well-mannered and smiled at Mo Zi with a slight nod.
Mo Zi raised the teacup in her hand and gave a faint smile at the corner of her mouth as a response.
“Old sir, do you understand the meaning of this story?” Mo Zi had no intention of conversing with those two men at that table and continued chatting with the tea pavilion owner.
“Roughly—” He understood. The old man had long put down his work and was listening with great interest. “That pig was too stupid. How much better to escape with the mouse.”
Eh! Eh! It’s not about whether to escape or not, okay?
Mo Zi laughed. “Old sir, the chickens and pig in this story represent Yuling and the Great Zhou. Da Qiu was originally a nomadic tribe from beyond the passes. Nomadic tribes settle where there’s rich grass, and though the grasslands are vast, there are only a few places where fertile grass grows. Without fighting and seizing, they cannot survive, to the point that their ability to wage war and their warlike nature are deeply fused into their bones and blood. Though they’ve established their nation for many years now and completely sinicized their people, their plundering nature remains strong. Da Qiu disregarded the century-old promise of peace among the four nations and suddenly sent troops against Yuling, catching Yuling off guard and destroying the nation. Their ambitions are clear—how could they possibly stop after swallowing one nation? If the Great Zhou doesn’t rescue the Yuling people now, when Da Qiu invades in the future, how can they expect aid from these Yuling people? During great battles, one more pair of hands means one more chance of defeating the enemy. These tens of thousands of refugees, if they can gain the Great Zhou’s shelter—their craftsmen can make more weapons for the Great Zhou, their strong men can go to battle to kill enemies for the Great Zhou, their women can weave cloth and make clothes for the Great Zhou, their children can continue the bloodline for the Great Zhou. Yuling is different from Da Qiu. Our ancestors were originally Great Zhou Han people, born from one lineage, transmitted generation by generation. If Great Zhou people abandon Yuling people, how are they different from that pig who only knew to fatten itself but didn’t know its fate?”
“There really isn’t much difference.” So not rescuing those refugees might lead to the Great Zhou’s destruction too. The old man grew a bit nervous. “Then the authorities should distribute grain early.”
“Indeed, the earlier the better. If people get too hungry, what you described will happen, old sir—they’ll be forced to rob for food.” Mo Zi drank her tea in one gulp and began eating the remaining half of the steamed cake.
“The four characters ‘when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold’ aren’t as vivid as the story Miss told.” The strange-looking man at the east corner table clapped his hands in appreciation. “However, please allow this humble one to say—in this story, the pig only needs to escape to avoid death, but the refugees outside the town now aren’t so easily fed. Food for over ten thousand people. And Luzhen belongs to just one small county. Even if the county magistrate opens the granaries, it would be difficult to support everyone for three days’ worth of rations.”
“Three days. For those people, that’s a chance to survive. It’s better than starving to death today, better than becoming rioters tomorrow. Over ten thousand people driven mad by hunger—can Luzhen’s thousand soldiers hold them back or not?” Mo Zi had no doubts. Blocking people outside the town for too long while turning a blind eye would truly lead to disaster.
“Miss speaks of it too lightly. What about after three days?” The other was a middle-aged man in a scholar’s robe with a short beard. His words were quite blunt, but without contempt for women—just discussing the matter at hand.
“Actually, what the authorities need to provide relief for is only the immediate urgent crisis. Ultimately, there must be a fundamental method to solve the problem.” Mo Zi herself had already thought of quite a bit.
“Oh? The rain has stopped.” The tea pavilion owner glanced outside.
The water lines dripping from the green tiles on the pavilion had turned into gradually decreasing droplets. In the wooden basin by the well, the branches and leaves of the old elm tree were clearly reflected.
Thinking the time was about right, Mo Zi asked the owner, “Old sir, how much?”
“Six copper coins.” The old man knew the customer was leaving and came forward to see her off.
Mo Zi counted out six coins from her purse, stacked them on his tray, thanked him, and made to leave.
“You just mentioned a fundamental solution to the problem. I wonder if Miss truly has any ideas?” The strange-looking man called out to her.
Mo Zi turned around, looked at him, and smiled with curved eyes. “Doesn’t this count as seeking any remedy in desperation?” She hadn’t wanted to engage with strangers, yet strangers came to engage with her.
“Miss, these words—” The strange-looking man stood up and was about to continue.
“Are naturally quite unreasonable.” The middle-aged scholar also stood up. “Everyone is merely tea friends chatting idly in this tea pavilion on a rainy day, casually concerned about town matters. There’s no need for the phrase ‘seeking any remedy in desperation.'”
“Since it’s idle chat, even if I have a solution, what use is there in speaking of it? Gentlemen, my apologies. I have an appointment with my young lady friends. I take my leave.” As Mo Zi spoke, she revealed Brother Mo’s straightforwardness.
“This young miss, please wait.” The strange-looking man ignored the middle-aged scholar’s meaningful look and stepped forward. “Hearing Miss speak, you have quite insightful views. This humble student wishes to seek Miss’s instruction on this fundamental solution.”
Humble student? Shouldn’t that be refined and cultured with delicate features? Paired with those large eyes, upturned nose, and cherry lips—truly strange. Mo Zi found it amusing in her heart.
“This humble student’s surname is Jiang, given name Tao, currently residing in Luzhen. I have absolutely no ill intentions toward Miss and can talk while walking.” He actually walked past Mo Zi, leaving three feet of distance.
“Student Jiang… this action is perhaps improper.” The middle-aged scholar was somewhat dumbfounded. “She’s a young lady. Having a strange man follow her will invite gossip.”
“Since this young miss can enter a pavilion alone to drink tea, she must be different from ordinary sheltered young ladies. This humble student sincerely seeks instruction, only wishing to do my part for those refugees outside.” Jiang Tao didn’t look at the middle-aged scholar, his large eyes gazing intently at Mo Zi.
That gaze was very persistent, very sincere, making Mo Zi feel guilty. Though she had thought of quite a bit, whether it was truly a fundamental solution—actually, she had no confidence at all.
“Why are you so certain I have a solution?” She had never truly admitted it from beginning to end. Out of ten people listening, nine should consider her talking nonsense, yet this Jiang Tao believed her.
“This humble student can’t quite say, but I just feel Miss is not an ignorant person, nor one who fabricates randomly, and seems quite confident in your words.” Jiang Tao waited outside the pavilion.
These two were most likely patriotic scholars who grew passionate when discussing national affairs. Talking with them a bit wouldn’t matter. Thinking this, Mo Zi stepped outside the pavilion, maintained that three-foot distance from Jiang Tao, and slowly walked toward the crowded marketplace.
The middle-aged scholar had no choice but to hurriedly settle the bill and follow behind the two.
“Though I have some ideas, whether they’re actually useful, I truly don’t know.” Easy to say, hard to do.
“This humble student wishes to hear the details.” Jiang Tao truly wouldn’t give up without hearing it once.
“Then let’s first discuss the county office’s current predicament.” To solve something, first one must analyze. Like building a ship—first one must analyze various data.
“What is the county office’s current predicament?” Jiang Tao wasn’t truly seeking remedies in desperation. He wanted to hear if Mo Zi spoke correctly.
“First, internal worries and external troubles.” Mo Zi held up two fingers. “Internal worries—they probably can’t get support from higher authorities, or higher authorities are evading the issue, making it impossible to fathom their intentions, resulting in not daring to drive people away but only intercepting them. External troubles—of course, fearing what to do if those people rebel.”
Jiang Tao said “yes” three times in succession, then urgently asked, “And the second?”