Chapter 10 – True and False News

In Qingzhou City, such a huge disturbance at the county yamen could never be completely hidden.

On the contrary, the bigger the institution, the faster news spread.

Yunyang Prefecture was already in chaos—driven by oppressive officials, the people had risen in revolt. Word of it spread among the common folk with astonishing speed.

The atmosphere in Qingzhou became like hot oil splattered with water—instantly restless and volatile.

In taverns and teahouses, everywhere one went, people could be heard whispering and speculating.

Some remained unmoved, while others had already begun quietly preparing to leave.

Within just a single day, prices in Qingzhou shot up, and the city was filled with unease.

Inside the county yamen, the magistrate paced the back hall like a millstone turning. Seated within were only his most trusted aides. Just moments earlier, he had received word that Yunyang Prefecture had completely collapsed—fugitives and bandits roamed unchecked.

Qingzhou was the key hub between north and south. Whether traveling south or north, one had to pass through it. This was exactly what worried him: once Yunyang lost all control, would not Guang’an Prefecture be next?

If the bandits pressed northward through Guang’an, Qingzhou would inevitably be in their path.

Thus he had urgently summoned his confidants—not for ceremony, but to debate the most pressing question: should they stay or should they flee?

Or, put another way: when would be the safest time to retreat?

Yet when he threw out the question, no one dared answer.

He knew the truth: if he ran, Qingzhou would immediately descend into chaos. And if the imperial court later restored order, he would be condemned for dereliction of duty and executed without doubt.

But… if he stayed, who could guarantee that starving peasants wouldn’t storm the yamen and slaughter his family?

Wasn’t that exactly how Yunyang had fallen?

The example lay plain before his eyes. These past nights he hadn’t slept soundly, plagued by the fear of having his head taken while he dreamed.

After enduring two or three sleepless nights, he could no longer hold out. The news of Yunyang’s collapse became the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

The moment he finished reading the dispatch, his first thought was to summon his confidants to decide when they would withdraw.

But they all sat silent, shrinking into their chairs, not daring to make a sound.

At last, Ma Fu was the one to speak:

“My lord… isn’t this too hasty? Surely the prefectural city still has garrisons stationed there to suppress the unrest? If we abandon our post like this, when blame is assigned later…”

The magistrate trusted this subordinate of his. Seeing that Ma Fu was the first to speak—and that he had spoken with the magistrate’s interests in mind—his expression immediately eased.

“You don’t know… The last time I went to the prefectural yamen, I heard from the officials there that most of the troops from each prefecture have already been deployed to the frontier. The autumn harvest is approaching, and every year at this time the northern tribes invade. The court has massed heavy forces on the border—it is very likely war is imminent.”

He paused, took a breath, and continued:

“I won’t hide this from you—the source of this information is absolutely reliable. The unrest in the south… it’s growing bigger and bigger, and we have no time to waste. If my guess is right, flames of rebellion are already spreading everywhere. From here on, chaos will only grow!”

“I’ll say something unpleasant—if we lose our lives, what’s the point of guarding a county yamen?”

These words stirred the room so deeply that the men present could not calm down for a long time. Most of them were long-established local gentry of Qingzhou City. For them to be seated here, it meant they were people the magistrate trusted absolutely.

None of them had expected the situation to deteriorate so suddenly. Their roots were here—where could they even go?

Everyone felt lost, caught completely unprepared.

In the end, they agreed to wait and observe for two more days. If by then things looked grim, they would withdraw first.

Of course, this discussion was carried out in the strictest secrecy. Apart from a few wealthy gentry, only the county registrar and Ma Fu within the yamen knew.

Though he had spoken words of caution earlier, in truth, Ma Fu’s very first instinct was to flee.

At this point, how could he spare a thought for marriage proposals?

After leaving the yamen, he hurried home. Fortunately, being alone, he had no family burdens—he quickly packed his belongings, and was just about to step out when he heard a familiar voice outside:

“Master Ma? Master Ma, are you at home?”

Helpless, he tossed the bundle back onto the bed, turned, and went out: “What are you shouting for?”

“Oh, Master Ma, I haven’t heard from you for days—I didn’t know what I should do!”

Seeing the old fellow, Ma Fu suddenly remembered. A few days ago, this man had shown him a beauty.

He’d heard that the beauty lived alone with her aged father. That day, his heart had been stirred, and he’d even sent a matchmaker to propose—only to be driven away.

By now… he had already forgotten about it. But when reminded, the thought warmed him again.

Still, escaping was more important now. Then again…

In a flash, he had an idea: “You’re awfully diligent in my matters, old man. But there’s no rush. The county magistrate is sending me out on business soon. When I return, we’ll speak again…”

As he spoke, he fished a piece of broken silver from his pouch, weighed it in his hand, and tossed it over.

Seeing the old fellow beam foolishly as he clutched the silver, Ma Fu added a sweet promise: “Don’t worry—I’ve already spoken to the county magistrate. When I return from this assignment, your second son can come to me directly!”

Sure enough, the old man looked as though he would kowtow to him on the spot.

As Ma Fu turned to leave, he casually asked: “Eh! Old man, which village did you say you’re from?”

“Liushu Village, Master Ma!”

“Good. I know now. You can go!”

He watched the old man leave before picking up his bundle and heading to the yamen.

What he didn’t know was that after he left, Chen Dashan had been waiting at the crossroads for a long time. Quietly, he shadowed Ma Fu all the way, and only after seeing him enter the county yamen with his bundle did he finally feel at ease.

With his second son’s matter finally settled, Chen Dashan’s heart was light. He could almost see a glorious future ahead for his family.

Little did he know that once inside, Ma Fu soon turned around and went elsewhere.

Everyone in the county knew that these past two days, the magistrate’s wife had been crying and demanding that her husband take her back to her parents’ home. The quarrels between the couple had become quite a spectacle.

The next day, when the magistrate went out to dine, many people saw the scratch marks on his neck.

In no time, the gossip of the magistrate’s marital squabbles became a source of endless amusement over tea, perfectly covering up the skyrocketing prices and the news of Yunyang Prefecture’s chaos beneath the surface.

After two days of this, the farce ended with the magistrate sighing, “Women and petty men are hardest to deal with.” In the end, he compromised and agreed to accompany his wife back to her family’s home for a short stay.

It was not unusual for the magistrate to travel occasionally, but never with such fanfare.

When a woman traveled, it was never a light affair.

From morning until dusk, carts continuously left the yamen carrying goods. Only by evening did the magistrate and his wife’s carriage finally leave the city.

The onlookers failed to notice that, at several other gates of Qingzhou City, large convoys of carts were also quietly departing.

Had Fang Yu been there, she would surely have sensed something. But in those days, she was too busy moving everything of value into the mountains.

For two consecutive nights, she went to the Xu household for secret meetings, explaining the route they would take and what preparations were needed.

Though the Xu family didn’t fully understand, they were obedient. The very next day, Madam Xu and her daughters-in-law began following Fang Yu into the mountains to “forage for food.”

By moving small amounts at a time, most of their supplies had already been relocated.

That night, after she finished giving instructions, one of the Xu daughters-in-law looked at her as though wanting to speak but hesitating. Fang Yu understood and spoke first: “You can tell your maiden family, but don’t force them.”

The eldest Xu daughter-in-law’s eyes brimmed with tears. These past days, watching the Xu family prepare to leave, she had been in torment—desperate to take her own family too, but afraid her husband’s side would refuse. She was caught in painful indecision.

Now, with Fang Yu’s answer, she made up her mind. Tomorrow, she would run to her parents’ village to warn them.

She understood Fang Yu’s meaning well—if not for her younger brother-in-law’s words, she wouldn’t believe the world was about to descend into chaos. Whether they left or not was her family’s choice, but whether she warned them—that was on her conscience.

After leaving the Xu household, Fang Yu began considering how to deal with the Chen family problem, before returning home under cover of night.

After a simple wash, she went to bed early.

The surroundings grew quiet, filled only with the chirping of insects, the calls of birds, and the mountain winds whistling through the dark. Her breathing gradually grew steady.

Moonlight spilled through the window, casting a pale glow across the floor beside her bed.

Out on the road beyond the village, a shadowy figure moved swiftly into the settlement. Pausing briefly at the entrance, he made his way directly toward the far end of the village.

In the stillness of the night, each footstep was starkly clear. Glancing down at his shoes, he quietly removed them and carried them in his hand. The bundle on his back glinted faintly under the moonlight…