After the delegates left, Wei kept the route sheets on the planning table. The granary was almost empty now. A few chairs had been pushed under the benches, and the sound of carts on the yard road came through the open doors.
Yan picked up the first draft. “The village lead, the alternate, and the signal. What happens if the lead is at the wrong end of the road?”
“The alternate takes over when the transfer mark is raised,” Wei said. “If no one can get to the post, the district keeps the last safe route and reports when it can.”
“That leaves people waiting.”
“It gives them a known path instead of a guess.” Wei turned the map so Yan could see the old mill and the east crossing. “I don’t want every village waiting for a central order. You may be fighting. I may be on another road. Ning could be moving the clinic.”
Yan touched the route line. “Make a plan that works when I’m gone.”
Wei erased the central command mark from the top of the sheet. He drew a box for each district, with space for the primary, alternate, local guide, and clinic route lead. “The local commander can reroute civilians without waiting for us. The transfer signal tells everyone when the alternate takes over.”
