To appease the people and rebuild their homes

The cheers of reclaiming lost territory had barely subsided when Shen Qingci gazed at the devastated city, his brow furrowed. Amidst the ruins, the elderly and children were scattered, some weeping bitterly over their burned homes, others bewildered by the loss of loved ones—the wounds left by war were heartbreaking. He turned to Su Yunqing and said, "As long as the border is unstable, the people will not have peace. We will not withdraw our troops for now; we will stay and help them rebuild their homes."

Su Yunqing's eyes were already red. She nodded and said, "Brother Qingci is right. These people have suffered greatly from the war. We should do our part."

Shen Qingci immediately ordered the allocation of surplus military provisions to relieve the people, and commanded his soldiers to work in groups to clear the ruins and repair houses. Moved by the suffering of the displaced people, the soldiers worked with great enthusiasm, and the once desolate city gradually came to life. Shen Qingci personally visited every village, comforting the affected people and promising the court that it would provide seeds, farming tools, and reduce taxes for three years. Seeing the once-majestic general so compassionate towards the people, the despair in the hearts of the people was gradually replaced by hope, and they spontaneously joined the reconstruction efforts.

Su Yunqing set up a makeshift medical shed next to the military camp, treating wounded civilians during the day and lighting oil lamps at night to teach women to identify herbs and treat external injuries. She discovered many children who had lost their families in the war, so she took them in and cared for them, teaching them simple truths and using warmth to dispel their fear. A little boy who had lost his parents always followed her timidly, so Su Yunqing saved her own rations for him every day, teaching him to write and telling him, "As long as you live well, your home will definitely be rebuilt better."

However, chaos always breeds opportunists. Several gangs of roaming bandits robbed people of their belongings under the cover of night, and even set fire to newly repaired houses. Upon hearing the news, Shen Qingci was furious and immediately dispatched elite soldiers to form patrol teams to search the villages day and night. Within three days, all the bandits were apprehended. In the presence of the people, Shen Qingci severely punished the ringleader according to the law, while the rest were exiled to the border to cultivate land, thus deterring further bandits and adding manpower to the reconstruction efforts.

To help the people resume production as quickly as possible, Shen Qingci petitioned the court, requesting the allocation of grain seeds, farming tools, and disaster relief funds. The emperor, grateful for his meritorious service on the frontier and his compassion for the people, not only approved all requests but also bestowed upon him an additional batch of cloth and medicinal herbs. Shen Qingci distributed these supplies fairly among the people and invited agricultural officials to guide them in reclaiming wasteland and constructing irrigation systems. Su Yunqing, meanwhile, mobilized the families of soldiers, teaching the people how to spin yarn, weave cloth, and raise poultry to supplement their household income.

Months later, new houses rose from the ruins, lush crops grew in the fields, and children's laughter echoed through the village. To express their gratitude to Shen Qingci and Su Yunqing, the villagers spontaneously erected a monument at the village entrance, inscribed with the words, "General Shen Qingci, Protector of the North, and Lady Su Yunqing, Protector of the Nation, protected the land and its people, their benevolence extending far and wide." Upon learning of this, Shen Qingci ordered the monument removed and said to the villagers, "Protecting the land and its people is my duty. Your peaceful and prosperous lives are the greatest reward for me."

Standing atop the rebuilt city wall, gazing at the rising smoke and bustling crowds, Su Yunqing whispered, "Brother Qingci, look, everything is getting better." Shen Qingci grasped her hand, his eyes filled with relief, "Yes, as long as the people are here, the country is here. Once the border is completely stable, we'll return to the capital." Under the setting sun, their figures blended into this revitalized land, becoming the warmest refuge in the hearts of the border people.