54. Eulogy
◎“The north wind blows fiercely across the wilderness; may your soul return home.”◎
Shen Suqin returned to the General's Mansion.
As she walked through the front yard porch, she suddenly remembered the person she had brought back on the way, and asked her guard, "That child?"
The guard clasped his hands in greeting, "Reporting to Madam, the people we rescued on the road have been placed in a side courtyard. They said this morning they have woken up. Would you like to go and see them?"
"Take me there."
"This way, Madam."
Jiang Si's family did not live in the servants' courtyard, but in a side courtyard next to the main courtyard. As Shen Suqin walked along, she saw that the area was cleaned and tidied up even more neatly than the main courtyard.
Upon entering the side courtyard, the guard called out twice, but no one answered. "They've probably gone out. I'll go and bring them out to see the madam."
"No need, I'll go in."
After saying that, without asking which room the person lived in, he went straight to the smallest and narrowest one.
Pushing open the door, the room was dimly lit, with only a few slivers of light filtering through the window cracks, barely illuminating the outline of the bed.
However, a pair of bright, shiny eyes on the bed stood out conspicuously in the darkness, like wolf eyes.
"You're awake?" Shen Suqin asked calmly.
The person on the bed remained silent.
"Do you hate me?" Shen Suqin asked again.
Those eyes dimmed for a moment.
“You should hate me,” Shen Suqin took two steps closer, “If I hadn’t stood by and watched you die, you wouldn’t have had to escape with your life. What about your family?”
The guard, unable to bear it any longer, urged in a deep voice, "Speak!"
He was a veteran of the scout battalion, and although his relationship with the general was not as close as that with Xu Youcai and the others, it was not exactly distant either.
Shen Suqin waved her hand, "Go outside and wait for me."
"But......"
"He's just a kid, what can he do to me? Don't worry."
"yes."
After the guards left, Shen Suqin walked to a bench and sat down, quietly looking at him for a long while before asking, "What's your name?"
Before the other person could speak, she continued, "You don't have to reply to me, you can even stay silent for the rest of your life and hide in this room. I can afford to support you."
This time the child finally spoke, but his voice wasn't the clear, crisp tone of a child; instead, it was low, hoarse, and raspy: "Why did you save me?"
Shen Suqin scrutinized him. Judging from his appearance, the person in front of him might only be a little over ten years old, but his voice sounded like that of an adult.
"Just consider it a change of heart on my part."
How can I repay you?
Shen Suqin raised an eyebrow. "No need."
After saying this, she got up, opened the door, and went out. She saw her personal guards standing at the door and said to them, "Take the person to my courtyard and settle him in."
"This... is probably not appropriate. The general is not in the mansion, and after all, he is not a woman."
"It's alright, I will explain to the general myself."
The guard reluctantly agreed.
Back in the main courtyard, Shen Suqin took out paper and pen, flattened them, pondered for a moment, and then began to write, continuing until the sun was setting.
As dusk falls and the earth's energy rises, the weather grows increasingly cold.
With Ju Tao absent, and no one to help Shen Suqin light the charcoal fire, she was so cold that she could barely write, so she got up and took a few steps.
On the table is a copy of the "Twelve Articles for the Beginning of Business in the North," which consists of three parts: commerce, land, and taxes.
Business enthusiast Shen Suqin was no longer satisfied with Xingyuan Restaurant; she wanted to explore new business opportunities in the northern border region.
As for land taxes, it has all the problems that Daliang has, and it also has the problems that Daliang doesn't have. The biggest problem is that there are no people in its territory.
After years of war, the people of the northern border had long since fled to avoid the disaster. Even if Shen Suqin surveyed all the land in the northern border and divided it equally, it would be difficult to find people to cultivate it.
Without cultivating the land, there would be no tax revenue, and the Black Flag Army's livelihood would have to be addressed through commerce, making each step more difficult than the last.
After night had completely fallen, Ju Tao returned, bringing with her some bad news.
"Manager Zhao said that with this wave of Shatuo invasion, another group of people fled from the northern border. Those with some assets have all left, and there's hardly anything left."
Shen Suqin frowned deeply. "So, you mean we can't pick up anything that's readily available?"
"More or less." Ju Tao poured herself a bowl of tea, which was ice-cold. "Also, it seems that our restaurant has been targeted by the Pei family. People come to cause trouble every now and then, and business has been much worse lately."
"Tsk."
Pei Ruhai had asked her for Xingyuan Restaurant before, but she refused, using the Crown Prince as an excuse.
Right now, with the Crown Prince fleeing to the northern border with her, this restaurant is like a piece of fat meat falling into a tiger's mouth; the situation is not optimistic.
"What should we do, Sister Qin?"
Shen Suqin had not yet come up with a solution. Since ancient times, the people have never fought against the officials, let alone the prime minister who was second only to the emperor.
“Give me some time,” she said.
Ju Tao sighed, glanced at the teacup in her hand, and complained, "How does the General's Mansion serve its people? We can't even get a sip of hot water."
Shen Suqin patted her hand, "Aunt Jiang is used to making decisions and probably doesn't take me seriously. Fortunately, she is the general's person, so let's not make her work for us if we can avoid it."
Ju Tao was annoyed. "Then I'll go to the market tomorrow and buy two personal maids."
"No, I don't like strangers around." Shen Suqin took out another coat from the cabinet and put it on. "Right now, the most important thing is military rations. It wouldn't have been a problem to transfer some from Xingyuan as usual, but after the Pei family got involved, I don't know if we can gather enough for next month."
"Moreover, marching and fighting consume even more supplies. About 80% of what was sent before has been used up, and we need to replenish it as soon as possible."
"Shall I take a trip to Liangzhou?"
Jinzhou is short of grain, while Liangzhou is prosperous and should have some surplus grain in the hands of the people.
Shen Suqin shook his head, "You forgot that the governor of Liangzhou mobilized tens of thousands of troops to the Shule River, and 80% of the grain in the prefecture was depleted."
Speaking of Shen Suqin makes me angry. It is said that when the Shatuo invaded, they scattered the Liangzhou army like birds and beasts, and all the army's food supplies were captured by the Shatuo.
In this way, it's equivalent to Daliang feeding the enemy well with its own grain.
"This won't work, that won't work, what should we do? Are we just going to stand by and watch?"
Shen Suqin got up, shook out the quilt, and crawled into the bed, gesturing for Ju Tao to come in as well.
“It’s so cold,” Shen Suqin shivered. “This battle is fought for the court, and the court can’t just stand by and do nothing. I will help the general collect a debt, as a way of repaying Prime Minister Pei for messing around Xingyuan.”
"But will His Majesty listen to you? The key is that the inner quarters are not allowed to interfere in politics, so even if you wanted to submit a document, you wouldn't be able to."
"I won't hand it to them; I want them to give it to them themselves."
"Give it to me willingly? That's impossible."
Shen Suqin laughed, “I am not only the general’s wife,” she was also the most famous female teacher in literature, standing above all the scholars in the world. “I will write a eulogy in the next few days. Please help me distribute it so that all the states of Liang can see it, especially the capital.”
"A eulogy? For whom?"
"A tribute to the Black Flag Army soldiers who died from war and starvation."
Ju Tao was stunned for a moment, not realizing what the sacrificial text had to do with urging grain delivery.
Shen Suqin took the initiative to explain: "Once the sacrificial text is released, the people of the world will know that the Black Flag Army is fighting on an empty stomach. As long as Emperor Jingkang still has any face to save, he will have no choice but to provide the rations."
Ju Tao turned the corner, wanting to laugh, but the cool breeze made her sneeze twice.
Shen Suqin pulled the person closer and tucked the blanket around her.
Ju Tao sniffed. "The Northern Border is really no place for humans to live. If I keep freezing like this, I'm afraid I won't make it through the winter."
"What nonsense are you talking about! I've already had someone make a heated kang bed, it'll be ready soon."
"A heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed)? Is that the kind they're making in that abandoned house?"
"Yes, it's a fire pit downstairs, and people sleep upstairs, similar to the 'Empress's Chamber'."
The Pepper Chamber was designed to allow heat to circulate within the walls; only the imperial palace could afford to build and maintain such a structure.
The south is better, unlike the north where water freezes instantly. In previous years, Shen Suqin and her group would get through the year with just a few charcoal braziers.
This is my first time in the North this year, and it's colder than I expected. I really need to find a solution.
"When will it be ready? I don't want to freeze anymore."
"It should be soon. This thing shouldn't be too difficult."
Unfortunately, Shen Suqin spoke too soon.
The next morning, she was summoned to the abandoned house to see the so-called heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed).
In the center of the courtyard, there was a square earthen bed, sealed off on all four sides. A stove extended from one side of the bed, and a fire was roaring inside.
It looks similar to the drawings she made.
“This is the eighteenth one we’ve built. The previous ones either exploded, didn’t heat up properly, or were just full of smoke,” Xu Youcai said. “This one is the best.”
Shen Suqin nodded. She squatted down and peered into the stove, but couldn't see anything clearly. So she got up, walked to the bedside, and reached out to touch it.
He touched the bed from one end to the other, and then touched it back from the other end.
"The head of the bed is too hot, and the foot of the bed is too cold. I'll turn off the fire and see how long it can stay hot."
Xu Youcai called for help, and they quickly extinguished the fire in the stove.
Half an hour later, the entire heated kang bed had cooled down considerably.
“That won’t do. We can’t stay up all night to add firewood,” Shen Suqin said.
"What should we do then?"
"I suspect there's something wrong with the flue underneath. We need to figure out a way to make the smoke circulate inside a few times before it goes out." The smoke is hot, so anywhere the smoke reaches shouldn't get cold. "We also need to keep it warm. We need to find a way to add insulation layers to the surface, walls, and bottom of the kang (heated brick bed).
Xu Youcai was completely confused and asked the bricklayer next to him, "Did you understand?"
The bricklayer hesitated and nodded. "Although I don't understand it very well, I have a general idea of what it is."
After all, he had spent most of his life working with bricklayers, so he understood immediately with just a little guidance.
"Okay, that's good enough."
"You've all worked so hard, please put in the effort. If this heated kang can be built, it will save a lot of people from freezing to death in winter," Shen Suqin said dryly.
Xu Youcai: "I'll find a few more bricklayers to work on it together. Don't worry, we'll definitely be able to make it."
"I'm waiting for good news from Brother Xu."
Setting the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) aside for the time being, Shen Suqin returned to the General's Mansion in the morning sun, where Ju Tao greeted him with a food box.
“The breakfast at the manor is rather simple, so I went to Xingyuan to get a takeout,” Ju Tao said.
Shen Suqin glanced at Aunt Jiang, who was cleaning not far away, and asked her, "What do you eat at the manor?"
"Millet porridge and pickled vegetables."
"Those guards too?"
"yes."
Shen Suqin thought for a moment, then beckoned Aunt Jiang over and asked her, "Does the General have any property in the Northern Territory?"
Aunt Jiang put down her broom and came over to reply, "There are a few acres of public land, enough to feed everyone in the manor."
"I understand, you can go ahead and get back to work."
Aunt Jiang's eyes flickered, and she whispered, "There's something I'm not sure if I should say."
Shen Suqin turned to look at her: "Please speak."
“Madam shouldn’t have allowed a man from another family to stay in your courtyard; it doesn’t sound good to outsiders.”
"Outside man?"
"It's the one that the lady rescued on the road."
"He's still a child."
"He's not young anymore. In the past, he could have gotten married and had children."
Shen Suqin's eyes were somewhat cold. "If Fourth Aunt takes good care of him, I won't need to get involved. Don't worry about this. If anyone has any objections, tell them to come to me. The same goes for Xiao Pingchuan."
Aunt Jiang was terrified that the lady would actually address the general by his full name.
"Go down." Shen Suqin waved her hand.
Aunt Jiang hesitated before leaving.
Ju Tao watched her departing figure and whispered, "The manor still needs a capable steward, otherwise there will be many obstacles."
“There’s no one capable,” Shen Suqin sighed. “Let’s leave it at that for now. Later, take some money from your room and give it to her so she can help supplement the household’s income and improve their meals.”
"yes."
These past two days, every time I open my eyes, there's something to spend money on; it's really annoying.
In the afternoon, Shen Suqin didn't go anywhere. She ground ink and sat down at her desk to carefully consider the memorial text.
The most important thing about this eulogy is that it can stir emotions and make those who read it say the things she couldn't say.
Therefore, she hesitated several times when she put pen to paper, and it took her a long time to come up with a good idea.
In a room not far from her, a window was slightly ajar, and a pair of bright eyes were fixed on her from behind it, seemingly lost in thought.
For two days in a row, Shen Suqin did not leave the mansion and did not allow anyone to disturb her.
On the afternoon of the third day, she summoned Ju Tao, handed her a stack of papers, and said, "Find someone to transcribe these and send them to various places to be posted. Make sure as many people as possible see them."
Ju Tao took the book and opened it. At first, she only glanced at it briefly. But when she saw the words "Paper ashes fly, the north wind blows fiercely, may the soul return home," she paused and almost burst into tears.
Previously, she had only regarded this eulogy as a tool to ask the imperial court for grain, but now, upon closer inspection, she found it to be sincere and deeply moving.
"Sister Qin, this eulogy wasn't just written for those people in the Mingtang, was it?"
Shen Suqin sighed, "Once I start writing, those young people who died young will come knocking on my door. They died for their country, and someone should remember them. Let's pass it on, so that the world will not forget the white bones by the Wuding River."
"good."
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