The converted granary stood beyond White Orchard’s outer fence. Its old bins had been emptied and scrubbed, but the smell of husks remained in the timber. Ning had chosen it for the coalition meeting because no one in the room could pretend the stores were endless.
Village growers, former soldiers, clinic patients, and several people who had not decided what they thought of Yan took seats around the long table. Some leaned against the wall. Others stood near the open loading doors so they could leave without asking permission.
Ning set a blank roster in the middle. “We’ll begin with supplies and shelter. No one has to sign anything today.”
Bai Jiu unrolled a road map beside the table. He had marked toll gates, bridges, and places where carts could turn around. Wei laid a second map on top with the Registry’s recent troop signals.
“These are the roads still open,” Bai said. “The north road can carry grain carts, but the checkpoint watches it. The lower ridge is harder but avoids the gate. We should not send medicine through the eastern track until the culvert is checked.”
A farmer at the back called out, “The river village has a dry barn.”
