The armed collectors arrived before the appeal date, when the bitterleaf racks were halfway through their second day of drying. Their provincial cart stopped across the shed lane. Two men climbed down with a new order, and a third went straight to the door as if he expected the seal to give way.
Wei Zheng met them at the entrance. “The inquiry is still open. The council ordered the crop held here.”
The leader unfolded the paper. “This order authorizes collection for the guild.”
“Show me the hearing record that supersedes the council hold.”
“The guild’s claim predates your local ruling.”
“Then the claim belongs in the hearing.” Wei did not step aside. “The provincial order directs me to secure disputed goods. They are secured in place.”
The collector looked past him at the racks. “You’re siding with rebels.”
Han Yue arrived at the gate with several local watch volunteers. She had seen the cart from the road and brought them at a walk. She told them to keep their hands off their weapons unless someone attacked. The volunteers spread along the lane, leaving space for the growers to come and go. She positioned two at the far end to keep the cart from reversing into the drying racks.
