The Stone Road by G R Matthews Page B

striding quickly away. Much more quickly than he had ever moved in the whole time Zhou had known him. Cheng and the guards, in a whisper of slippered feet and jangle of armour, caught up then passed Zhou. By then it was too late, Hsin was already through the door and out in the gardens.
    “This way, I believe.” Hsin turned again and headed off towards the hedge arch that Zhou had visited yesterday.
    “Sir?” said the new guard, his voice sounding concerned to Zhou’s ears.
    “I know, Kang, but what can be done. A guest is honoured and protected, above all. Such is the law of the emperor and our traditions.” Cheng passed the guards and rushed to catch up with the still accelerating Hsin.
    “Honoured Hsin, if you could tell me what it is you want to see then I can guide you by the shortest route,” Cheng spoke politely but firmly.
    “No need, I know the way,” Hsin responded.
    No matter how the guards and Cheng sought to catch up, Hsin was always a few steps ahead. The hedge arch came into view and then was gone as Hsin passed through as fast as a runaway horse. Beyond, the gardens opened up from pathways, hedges and planted beds to reveal a small open field bordered by a wooden fence and, surrounding that, a tall hedge. The only entrance was the arch they had passed through. In the centre of the fenced area were three cattle. Three unremarkable, head down, cattle chewing grass.
    “You needed to see our sacred cattle, Hsin?” Cheng asked, out of breath.
    “Indeed, I did. Magnificent beasts. I had no idea that cattle were sacred to Yaart,” Hsin replied.
    “We are a nation of the plains, we are cattle farmers by history and tradition. It makes sense, no?” Cheng said calmly, though his eyes darted around the field.
    “I will tell you what makes sense and maybe Zhou will finally learn something.” Hsin turned to Cheng and the guards, “Your nation is in trouble. The tent city at the gates is full of refugees, starving ones at that. The first ones to reach the city were housed inside the walls but more and more came. If I had to guess, then I would say there was a disaster in the north, perhaps a flood of the Blue River. It is not unheard of. Indeed it is mentioned quite often in the histories and has always had implications for regions further away from the flood itself. The refugees need food and you have little left to feed them. They also brought with disease and illness them. The graveyards contain many fresh graves, my sources tell me. That is why you came to us for peace. You need time to secure your northern borders and you need troops to do it. Banditry and lawlessness will follow any crisis.”
    Cheng looked shocked and fought to find words, “I... there is no... what I mean is...”
    “Do not bother, Cheng. You have been outmanoeuvred here. Before we came, we sent our traders out by the long roads to gather knowledge and intelligence on the situation.” Hsin was taking to his task with undisguised glee. Zhou could see that the old man was enjoying his triumph. “They found out something interesting too. They found out that somehow, for some reason, you were buying up all the wheat and flour you could find at extortionate prices, even from the eastern kingdoms. Why were you doing that, and more to the point, how could you afford it, hmm?”
    The guards looked at Cheng, worry was clear on their faces and Zhou could feel his heart beat faster. This would not end well, he thought. A tragic accident, two diplomats killed in a fall somewhere, apologies would be sent and the duke would send two more to fill their places. Peace was a great prize after thirty years. Neither the guards nor Cheng spoke.
    “How could you afford it?” Hsin repeated, “Now we come to the most intriguing piece of the puzzle. War bankrupts countries, even after thirty years we are both struggling to pay for the conflict but now you, more than we, need money. I would imagine you are close to complete collapse, to total