Zhù Ying generally did not trouble the Grand Council with minor matters.

If not for the somewhat larger number of official posts this time, and the fact that the students were all still private citizens, she would have handled anything somewhat smaller directly through the Ministry of Personnel, without needing the Grand Council.

Take, for instance, the brothers Tong Li and Tong Bo.

These two had been personally selected by Zhù Ying for the county office when she first arrived in Fulu County, and had remained in Fulu County when Zhù Ying was promoted to the Southern Prefecture. After Zhù Ying took charge of Wuzhou, the performance evaluations of each county’s officials and clerks were all handled at the prefecture level, which in turn reported to the Ministry of Personnel.

The country was vast, and there were so many officials and clerks across the regions that the Ministry of Personnel could only directly evaluate a limited number. The evaluations, appointments, and recommendations for the large and unwieldy body of lower-level local officials in the regions were matters the Ministry largely relied on feedback and suggestions from the regional states and counties. By the rules it was the Judicial Officer’s responsibility, but in practice the primary official generally had very broad authority.

Zhù Ying had naturally recommended those two brothers for a rank of junior ninth-grade posts. The official paperwork had already been sent to the Ministry of Personnel — she had not even mentioned it to the Grand Council, treating it as the trivial detail it was.

While the Grand Council was jokingly complaining about her, she had already arrived at the border between Fulu County and the A’Su County, and was staying as a guest at A’Jie’s home.

Receiving a prefect was considerably more ceremonious than receiving a county magistrate. Zhao Feng had personally ordered the guest rooms set in order and prepared for Zhù Ying’s arrival. He and his wife came out thirty li to meet and wait for Zhù Ying.

Zhao Feng could scarcely put into words the elation in his heart. Ten years, and the county magistrate had become a prefect! One could say that his own family had known this prefect “in humble beginnings” — a bond like that was very difficult for latecomers to forge.

He stepped forward quickly and bowed deeply: “Welcoming the Prefect.”

Zhù Ying dismounted: “Brother-in-law, rise.”

A single “brother-in-law” made Zhao Feng’s heart deeply pleased. He said quickly: “I would not dare.”

Zhù Ying smiled: “Were you put away by A’Jie?”

Zhao Feng was momentarily taken aback, caught between laughter and exasperation: “What are you talking about, Prefect?”

Zhù Ying then looked at Zhao Niangzi: “A’Jie, it has been a long time.”

Since Zhù Ying had served in the Southern Prefecture, Zhao Niangzi had seen far less of her. Seeing that Zhù Ying was not standing on ceremony, she was pleased: “Little Brother has grown even more imposing and impressive!”

The two exchanged a few words of greeting, and Zhao Niangzi said: “The house is all in order — it is cold out, let us go in and talk.”

“Good.”

Most of the party was on horseback. Zhao Feng had kept the roads at his farm estate in good repair, and within half a day they arrived. On the road, Zhù Ying looked at the winter wheat growing on both sides and asked Zhao Feng how things were going.

Zhao Feng said: “Adding one crop without needing to break new ground — naturally it is wonderful. And some of the others are casting envious eyes at the sugarcane. I say: aren’t there enough oranges to grow? But the profit on sugar truly is substantial!”

Zhù Ying said: “When your eyes are bigger than your chopsticks, you can only have one bite at a time — get what is in front of you into your stomach first.”

Zhao Niangzi said: “I say the same thing. The little sister and A’Fa up in the mountain, after growing grain they grow tea, and there is not more land to grow more orange trees anyway. Little Brother, you have not gone up to visit in a while — you will be astonished when you do! I just came back from Sister-in-Law’s place — it is completely different from before!”

The three chatted about this and that. When the mountains came up, Zhù Ying said to Zhao Niangzi: “I am heading into the mountains on this trip.”

Zhao Niangzi was delighted: “You are finally going again! I heard you had been going through the Liji family’s territory and becoming neighbors with the Floral Headband people. When that market opened, the visitors to my market here thinned out a bit.”

Zhù Ying said: “Here I am now, am I not? A’Jie, guess what I have come for this time.”

Zhao Niangzi said: “What? Surely you are not thinking of coming around here more often as well?”

Zhù Ying smiled and shook her head: “Something good that can already be seen.”

“What is it?”

“The appointment documents for the eldest have come through. For the next three years he will be Wuzhou’s Chief Secretary. This visit is to announce that and bring him to reside in Wuzhou. In three years it will be another family’s turn, but he will still carry his official rank.”

Zhao Niangzi was even more pleased: “That really is wonderful! A grown man like that, always cooped up at home — what sort of life is that? I told him, don’t just sit there brooding. He would strap on his bow and go hunting in the forest. His sister-in-law and little sister both worried about him getting into trouble in the forest, so they had to send someone after him, and he would play hide and seek with the escort…”

Once Zhao Niangzi’s flow of speech started, there was no room for anyone else. Zhao Feng made a helpless face at Zhù Ying; Zhù Ying smiled, and Zhao Feng had no choice but to let his wife continue drawing closer to Zhù Ying in her own way. She was as lively as ever, talking the entire way to the estate.

Only then did Zhao Feng say: “Let the Prefect rest for a moment. Let us prepare the evening banquet, and then you will have all the time to sit and say whatever you please.”

“All right!” said Zhao Niangzi. Then she bustled about making arrangements for Zhù Ying’s accommodation.

Zhù Ying and her party moved into the previously used guest rooms, which had been freshly swept and cleaned. All the furnishings and bed-curtains were somewhat finer than before, and the bedding had been freshly replaced. Zhù Lian followed behind Zhù Ying, and Zhao Feng and his wife had not paid much attention to him — until Zhù Ying instructed that Zhù Lian should be lodged in the room beside hers, at which point Zhao Niangzi asked: “This would be… the one they call Hammer, would it not?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “His name is Zhù Lian now. He is my student. The past is best left in the past.”

Zhù Lian was a little tense. This woman was a senior relative of Su Zhe’s, and was of the A’Su clan. He was said to be of the Liji tribe, and the two tribes had had enmity between them.

But to his surprise, Zhao Niangzi, like Su Mingluan, showed no sign of turning against him. Instead she said: “So it is him! Able to stay at Little Brother’s side — he must be quite good. Little Brother must keep a close eye on him; do not let some ghost of a thing lure him away again.”

Zhù Ying said: “That time — it was his maternal uncle who came to take him.”

“Raised for several years and he left without looking back! Hmph! That is not how mountain people behave! We of the A’Su clan are nothing like that!”

Zhù Ying listened smilingly to Zhao Niangzi’s complaints, then watched as Zhao Niangzi assigned two attendants to wait on Zhù Lian: “Take them along — when you get to the mountain settlement, do not lose sight of your teacher.”

Zhù Ying had Zhù Lian thank Zhao Niangzi, and the attendants stayed. Zhù Lian was a little awkward — he had never had personal attendants before. Zhù Ying, however, saw the two as Zhù Lian’s bodyguards. As they were human beings and thus inevitably possessed of eyes and ears, one simply had to be careful in speech — that was all.

Very soon the banquet was also prepared. Zhao Feng and his wife invited several guests to round it out, and the occasion was lively.

Zhù Ying said to Zhao Niangzi: “Was it because you already knew good news was coming that you prepared such a lively celebration?”

Zhao Niangzi said: “Did Little Brother not just tell me just now? About the eldest.”

Zhù Ying said: “I meant good news about your own household.”

Zhao Niangzi thought for a moment and could not think what it might be. Zhao Feng suddenly said: “Could it be Da Lang?”

Zhù Ying nodded: “I have arranged for him to sit the examination this year. If he passes, he can be posted out as an official.”

Zhao Feng and Zhao Niangzi were overjoyed — a gift fallen from the sky. Zhao Su had left home to study for several years now, and had not produced any notable results. Fulu County had few people who could make it to official status; the first had been Gu Tong. Zhao Su had pledged his allegiance even before Gu Tong, yet Zhao Su still had no good news — they were anxious, and did not know how to broach the subject.

Zhao Niangzi said: “Official or not, the least that could be asked is that he come home and see us — he is already thirty and still not married! I am truly afraid he might be making a mess of himself out there.”

Zhù Ying said: “What is there to fear? He is a person who knows his own mind.”

The evening banquet was even more lively — the menu was changed three times before it finally concluded. Zhao Feng and his wife were still not at ease and followed Zhù Ying to her lodgings. Zhù Ying understood and invited them into the room to sit, telling them: “When I was in the capital last year I had a talk with him. This year he sits the examination first; if he passes, everything is well; if he does not pass, I will make other arrangements.”

The couple finally set their minds at rest. Zhao Niangzi said: “We will leave everything to Little Brother!”

Zhù Ying said: “Once he receives his posting, he will have leave to come home and visit — you will see him then.”

Zhao Niangzi said: “That is truly wonderful! Little Brother, get some rest now — tomorrow I will send you up into the mountains!”

——

Zhao Niangzi was as good as her word, seeing Zhù Ying off into the mountains herself the next day. They moved quickly. Zhao Niangzi had brought a considerable number of people, all of them carrying swords and looking extremely alert.

Zhù Ying asked: “What is this about? Surely there is no banditry?” Even when she had been county magistrate of Fulu County, in the days before her relationship with the A’Su family was well-established, the road had never been this tense.

Elder Sister Hu, hearing this, quietly moved her hand toward her sword hilt.

Zhao Niangzi said: “Who is afraid of bandits? It is that wretched creature from the Suoning family!”

Zhù Ying asked: “Him? What happened?”

“Hmph! He claims Little Sister enticed people away from his settlement, and wants Little Sister to hand them back! Rubbish! He says so, does he? He has not a scrap of proof! If he can do anything about it, let him go and demand them from the Talang family! No returning them — none!”

Zhù Ying understood. Compared to the likes of Xijin and Shanque, both the Suoning family and the A’Su family belonged to the Qixia tribe — sharing language, customs, and even adjacent territory. If others fled, those from the Suoning family would be even more likely to. From Zhao Niangzi’s manner, the two sides had come to blows. Down the mountain in the three counties there had been no reports of Suoning disturbances — most likely the conflict was concentrated within the mountains.

Zhù Ying kept a mental note: the Suoning family was located somewhat deeper in the mountains, and she was currently entering from the direction of Fulu County into A’Su County. It was also possible that the Suoning family’s conflict with the A’Su family was taking place on another side and had not spread to this area — and that today’s display was simply the A’Su family making a small complaint to her in person.

The party traveled all the way to the A’Su family’s main settlement without encountering a single person from the Suoning family.

Arriving at the settlement, one look was enough to understand what Zhao Niangzi had meant by “change.”

The perimeter wall of the settlement had been extended outward by one circuit. The new stone wall, the gate — all had been refurbished, somewhat resembling her own estate. Su Mingluan came out with her daughter to meet them. As soon as they saw each other, she bowed and addressed Zhù Ying as godfather. Zhù Ying dismounted and helped her up, saying: “I have come bearing good news.”

Su Mingluan smiled: “I know.”

They made their way to the main house. Along the route, the houses had changed from before — not only crumbling sections repaired and larger buildings newly erected, but the decoration was also richer than before. Things inside and outside the houses were noticeably more plentiful. The clothes on the people they passed were also more often new, their cheeks fuller.

In the main house, A’Su Madam and Su Feihu were also present. Zhù Ying called her sister-in-law first, then said: “The eldest’s appointment has come through!”

A’Su Madam gave Su Feihu a push: “Hurry and thank your godfather.”

Zhù Ying looked at Su Feihu — a beard covering his mouth, slightly rounded shoulders, but still robust and strong. She helped Su Feihu to his feet: “The world is vast!” She then asked Su Mingluan to prepare an incense table so she could formally announce this appointment.

Su Feihu’s post was Chief Secretary — somewhat higher than Lin Miao’s Commandant post that the Shanque chieftain’s father-in-law’s brother had received, giving the A’Su family a slight edge over the Shanque family in this matter. The A’Su family were all quite pleased.

Su Feihu accepted his appointment document; outside, a wave of cheering arose. Here the wine and feast were also laid out. Zhao Niangzi and A’Su Madam exchanged glances — both wore the look of a relief born of happiness. Zhao Niangzi was fond of her niece as the head of the household, but also cared about her nephew. Now that the nephew also had a good outcome, she could finally breathe easy.

There was no “business” spoken at the feast. A’Su Madam, Su Mingluan’s third elder brother, and others all spoke of how A’Su County had changed in recent years — life getting better and better, and so forth. Not a word was said about how there had also been some who resisted along the way, only to be dealt with by Su Mingluan. The only regret was that blood sacrifice had already been abolished — it would have been a perfectly good reason to use in offering them up as a sacrifice to heaven. Now other reasons had to be found.

Zhù Ying paid quiet attention to those around her, especially the men, looking for any obvious wounds on their bodies. After a while she found two men. Both sat at some distance, and their appearance was not entirely clear. Zhù Ying noted them inwardly and continued speaking with A’Su Madam and the others.

She also asked where Tree Elder Brother had gone. Su Mingluan said he had been sent to a small outlying settlement on business and had not yet returned.

A’Su Madam then asked about Zhù Lian, and proceeded to give Zhù Lian a box of gold beads as a gift upon meeting. Zhù Lian looked at Zhù Ying; Zhù Ying said: “Grandmother gives it to you — take it.”

Zhù Lian accepted it: “Thank you, Grandmother.”

A’Su Madam said: “What a good child.”

Beside them, Su Zhe quietly rolled her eyes and turned away to talk with her young cousin: “So after this we will all be living in the mountains below!” This little cousin was Su Feihu’s youngest daughter, one month older than Su Zhe. The child had grown up under much smoother circumstances than Su Zhe and was a little naive. Su Zhe enjoyed her company.

The adults, watching the children getting along, felt considerable comfort in their hearts.

When the feast was over and Zhù Ying returned to her room to rest, Elder Sister Hu insisted on personally taking on guard duty. She had barely laid out the bedding when footsteps approached. Elder Sister Hu drew aside to stand by the door — and on looking, found it was Su Feihu.

Elder Sister Hu was quite uncertain what to do. Su Feihu could speak the Qixia and Floral Headband languages fluently, and could converse simply in the Liji dialect, but knew almost nothing of the mountain-area dialect spoken below, and even less of the official language. Elder Sister Hu, in turn, knew the regional dialect and a little of the official language, but was unfamiliar with the mountain tongues.

The two could not communicate.

Elder Sister Hu had no choice but to turn and call: “Prefect.”

Zhù Ying had already come over: “What is it? Da Lang? Come — come in and sit down.”

Su Feihu steeled himself: “Godfather, I heard this post carries no real duties — since it carries no real duties, does it matter where one lives?”

Zhù Ying poured him a cup of tea and set it on the table. Both sat down. She said: “You do not want to come with me?”

Su Feihu said: “I know what you are all worried about. Father worries about the settlement, Little Sister worries that I will stay here and contend with her, Mother worries about me, and Godfather, at Father and Mother’s behest, needs to take me away. I will not contend with Little Sister. But there is trouble at the settlement right now and I cannot leave. What Little Sister has done benefits the settlement; the trouble falls on others. The Suoning family keeps causing difficulties. I lack the skill to manage the settlement, but I still have a pair of useful hands. I am also one of Father’s children — I need to protect this settlement.”

Zhù Ying said: “The Suoning family? Tell me what is happening. Speak slowly.”

Su Feihu’s account was consistent with what Zhao Niangzi had said. Luoguo, Xijin, and others had come before Zhù Ying because they had already received imperial enfeoffment. The Suoning family had no enfeoffment — naturally, when Zhù Ying convened county magistrates for meetings, they were not included, but their losses were entirely real. The Suoning chieftain was a straightforward man and had simply gone head to head with the A’Su family.

The Suoning chieftain personally led patrols along the boundaries between the two families, apprehending runaway bondservants and ordinary tribal members who had gone over to the A’Su family. The borders between the mountain clans were not very strictly defined, and there were occasional “accidental injuries” to A’Su family members. Unlike the five counties, the five counties had all accepted Zhù Ying’s condition of “no human sacrifice” — but when the Suoning family caught someone, they would from time to time draw blood to offer as a sacrifice to heaven.

A’Su County had no desire to fight with them. Growing grain and making money was already more than enough to keep them busy — who had time for this? The A’Su County’s tea cakes were in greater production now, quality had improved somewhat — not exceptional, but the market had improved compared to before. Grain output had also increased, and there was some other trade as well. Su Mingluan, alongside tea growing, had also introduced some orange trees through the connection of her aunt’s husband, and had even ventured into that trade a little. She only regretted that the cleared land was too scarce — only a small amount could be grown, and conspiring with the uncle it was passed off as “Fulu Oranges” too.

Her mountains were more numerous and higher than those of Fulu County — Fulu County also had mountains, but none very high, and the county seat sat on a stretch of relatively flat land. High mountains meant relatively cool caves, easier for storing certain goods.

Su Feihu also acknowledged that his sister was genuinely capable. But to get things done required people, and A’Su County’s population was not very large. On one hand, chains were gradually removed from the more tractable bond-servants, allowing them to work in a manner similar to hired farmhands on the plains below, with a small share of the harvest given to them and modest bonuses for good work. On the other hand, people were being gathered from all directions.

Close maternal relatives were too awkward to press — quietly, in small quantities. With outsiders there was no such restraint.

Zhù Ying asked Su Feihu carefully: “After the chains were removed from the bond-servants, did anyone run away? How did Little Sister manage it?” And other such questions.

Su Feihu did not know all the details, but knew the people were selected, and that indeed very few had actually run.

Su Feihu said: “I want to stay and help the settlement through this difficult time. Little Sister says Godfather is unwilling to go to war — then we will fight it ourselves!”

Zhù Ying said: “I also need to go to the estate. This matter is not urgent — let me think it over.”

“Godfather.”

Zhù Ying said: “Do not rush. When you rush, you lose sight of the road.”

Su Feihu said: “I want to remain in the settlement as long as a single day remains.”

Zhù Ying said: “You are already Wuzhou’s Chief Secretary — the appointment you accepted as well. You must make one journey with me, so people will know it is you, it is the A’Su family, who holds this Chief Secretary post. You must meet each of the county magistrates. Make this one journey first — what comes after, we can discuss. How would that be?”

Su Feihu rose decisively: “Good. I will make this one journey with Godfather and then come back. Godfather rest — I am going back.”

——

The next day, Zhù Ying and her party rose early. That day she planned to rest a day in A’Su County, while the traveling merchants accompanying them could also do a small amount of trade in A’Su County.

That day she changed her clothes and wandered aimlessly around the settlement, claiming to be a merchant herself. Some disbelieved her, so she pulled out a packet of needles to trade with people. Zhù Lian found this amusing. Keeping in mind that he must not speak the Liji language here, he played mute and followed with Elder Sister Hu, one on each side of Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying chatted with people, and he listened along. After walking around for some time he could not help but wonder: the Su Zhe group were supposed to dislike Liji people — so how was it that they seemed to hate the Suoning family even more?

While thinking this, a basin of water suddenly splashed at them from out of nowhere. Elder Sister Hu pulled Zhù Ying aside and lifted Zhù Lian out of the way. Zhù Lian then spotted an old acquaintance — Su Zhe’s small personal attendant. So she had returned!

Zhù Ying glanced at the room the small attendant had emerged from and asked: “Is this your home?”

The small attendant had been looking only at her adversary and had not noticed Zhù Ying. The moment she saw Zhù Ying she hurriedly hid the basin behind her back. Zhù Ying saw this and laughed. She beckoned: “Come here — this is for you.” She produced a handful of candy for the small attendant. She also exchanged a few words with the small attendant — reminding her not to neglect her studies, that she would have her uses in the future, and so on — and then wandered off and returned to the guest room.

From her observations around the main settlement, there were indeed some who bore injuries from confrontations with the Suoning family. Zhù Ying now had a clear picture.

That evening, Zhù Ying went to find Su Mingluan.

Su Mingluan said playfully: “Godfather, it is quite late now!”

Zhù Ying said: “What is the situation with the Suoning family?”

Su Mingluan, still leading her inside, replied with a continuing smile: “Nothing of any great consequence.”

“Then the eldest is a very great consequence.” Zhù Ying said bluntly.

Su Mingluan stopped deliberately smiling, ushered her in, and sat down. Zhù Ying sat as well, at ease: “Let us talk about matters by their facts and not infer too much about motives. If one judges everything by motive, one ends up full of suspicion. Tell me about the Suoning family.”

Su Mingluan ventured: “Is Godfather still unwilling for us to raise arms?”

She still remembered from the very earliest time that Zhù Ying had refused to support the A’Su family in absorbing other clans, and had stated very sound reasons for doing so. From Su Mingluan’s perspective, Zhù Ying was not the type to easily abandon that line of reasoning. So even when there had been all manner of conflicts with the Suoning family, she had borne them on her own.

Zhù Ying said: “That would depend on the nature of the matter. It is better to resolve things peacefully when possible. Whatever the method, this cannot go on dragging like this — I need to take the eldest away.”

Su Feihu’s very presence was a threat to Su Mingluan. If in a situation with ongoing external threats Su Feihu were kept at the settlement for an extended period, it would only build his reputation there. That would create instability — either Su Mingluan would be the one to come undone, or Su Feihu would be suffocated and suppressed. Neither was a good outcome. The best solution was to separate them.

Su Mingluan asked: “Godfather’s meaning is?”

Zhù Ying said: “A two-pronged approach.”

“Please explain.”

Zhù Ying said: “First, find a way to reconcile. Second, if reconciliation is not possible, do not be afraid to act.”

Su Mingluan said in surprise: “Is Godfather going to use force?”

Zhù Ying shook her head: “I am not the one wanting to use force — I want everyone to live well together. Beyond you few families, the world is wide and people are many. If he is willing to get along with everyone as the others do, I am willing. If he is not willing, and insists on disrupting your settlement, that would be unacceptable. Times are different from before. In the past it was old enmity — I was unwilling to deepen the cycle of killing and revenge. Now you look with care after your people and cultivate good governance from within. I certainly cannot leave behind the reputation that ‘being a subordinate county means you have to take beatings from your neighbors without recourse.’ What would that amount to?”

“Godfather’s meaning is?”

Zhù Ying said: “If he listens to persuasion, negotiate with him properly. If he will not be reasonable —” She pointed in the direction of the mountains below: “You can go to the trading post and buy what you want to buy.”

“Iron implements as well?”

“Iron implements as well.”

Su Mingluan smiled: “Very well! I promise Godfather — so long as he is willing to talk, I will talk with him properly. And if he will not be reasonable, I will not be afraid of him either!”

Zhù Ying said: “One more thing.”

“Please speak, Godfather.”

“Relay stations.” Zhù Ying’s visit had in fact not originally been about the Suoning family at all — but her own prior plans had turned out to coincide well with addressing the matter.

Zhù Ying had originally planned to gradually build roads through the mountains, but the Shanque chieftain’s father-in-law and others had not been responding to that opening lately. Since they would not engage with it, so be it — Zhù Ying intended to start with A’Su County first.

Building roads in the mountains was enormously difficult — far more difficult than building an estate. Su Mingluan said: “We are already a bit short on hands.”

Zhù Ying said: “Not roads like those below. There are already some small paths through the mountains. We will first build small relay stations — every ten or twenty li, a small shelter at the roadside that can protect against wind and rain. Then we develop it gradually. The route is toward the estate.”

Su Mingluan was reassured and curious at the same time: “Not toward the mountain below?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “You feel quite comfortable with a wide road leading directly to your main gate?”

Su Mingluan gave a somewhat bashful smile: “The market at the estate really is very useful.”

Zhù Ying said: “Then it is settled.”

“Very well. Godfather, how many iron implements can I purchase? There is also iron ore in the mountains here, but the blacksmithing skill is very poor — what is produced here is never as good as what comes from below.”

Zhù Ying said: “You have been buying small amounts at a time for a while now. I have known.”

Su Mingluan’s heart gave a sudden jolt. She sat up straight and proper, stopping her probing — she had nearly forgotten: this particular godfather was easy to talk to but not easy to get around.

Zhù Ying stood up: “All right — rest early. I am going.”

Zhù Ying had made no excessive demands. The mountain clans were generally quite alert, and Zhù Ying knew this well. Su Mingluan was considerably more capable than the Shanque chieftain and others, but on matters of her own security she had not entirely committed everything to Zhù Ying either. If the roads were insufficient, Su Mingluan would build them herself without being urged. What Zhù Ying wanted was the development of her own “estate.”

——

Zhù Ying returned to her guest room, where Zhù Lian had not yet slept and only went to rest when he saw her return.

The next day, Zhù Ying and her party rose early. That day she planned to rest a day in A’Su County while the traveling merchants could do a small amount of trade there.

That day she changed clothes and wandered aimlessly around the settlement — she had already visited the settlement the previous day to observe. So on this second day she simply spent time with A’Su Madam and the others, speaking casually.

The following day, Zhù Ying and her party set out, heading toward her mountain estate.

The party was sizable. The road held no obstructions. At a midpoint they rested again at the Luoguo family’s place. Luoguo was a little warmer than last year — all of his bond-servants had pressed their handprints now, so there was no fear of losing them! Seeing that nephew Su Feihu was Chief Secretary, Luoguo did not know exactly what duties the post entailed, but knowing it was not a small office, he was quite pleased. He also asked Zhù Ying whether the kind of plow said to be very useful at the estate might be available to them: “Prefect, the Prefect has already agreed to help Xijin’s area with grain growing — please, do not leave us out!”

Zhù Ying said: “I have not forgotten — this trip into the mountains is also to discuss this matter.”

Luoguo said with delight: “That is truly wonderful!”

Zhù Ying also smiled: “Is it not?”

The journey went smoothly. That day they arrived at Zhù Family Manor when the sun had only just reached midday. From a distance the sentries had already spotted them. Before they even reached the gate, Xiang Le had brought ten-odd people running out to receive them.

Xiang Le greeted her first with a bow and said: “Everyone has been hoping for the Prefect’s arrival! Oh, and Magistrate Lang and the others have also arrived.”

Zhù Ying smiled: “One year’s holiday and you have grown thinner — come, let us settle in and talk.”

The slightly sparse small city instantly became lively! The merchants each sought out familiar lodgings. The residents were glad to receive these merchants in exchange for payment. Whether rent, food, or some of their own locally produced goods — all could be exchanged for decent earnings.

Su Mingluan and the others settled first into the guest rooms. Over two months, Xiang Le had put the large residence in good order. He himself lived in one of the guest rooms, and the gatehouse had two men selected from the city’s residents standing watch. This large residence also had twelve female servants and ten male servants. The female servants were responsible for sweeping and so on; the male servants also doubled as patrols and guards.

Zhù Ying was in the main room, but when it came to arranging Zhù Lian’s accommodations Xiang Le was somewhat at a loss, and consulted Zhù Ying: “And… Hammer — how should he be placed?”

The estate and the residence below had difficulty communicating, but during the New Year Xiang Le had followed convention and sent some of the estate’s produce to the Prefectural Office as a gift. The messengers brought back news of Stone. Stone and Hammer had been linked together for years, and separating one’s perception of them was not easy.

Zhù Ying said: “Whatever Gu Tong’s arrangement was before, his arrangement is now the same.”

Xiang Le immediately said: “Yes!” He lodged Zhù Lian in the second courtyard — he could not enter the inner chambers, but he was not treated purely as a guest either. He also found a young boy to keep Zhù Lian company, and then went to find female servants for Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying said: “Do not keep women in my room. When cleaning is done have them go and rest.”

Xiang Le asked no reasons, escorted Zhù Ying to the inner chambers, and at the outer gate said: “Prefect, there are matters I must report. Please change your clothes — I will be waiting in the study.”

Zhù Ying said: “Understood.”

Zhù Ying closed the door, did a sweep of the room. The water on the washstand was steaming, the table spotless, the bedding sun-dried and soft.

At this moment the room held only her. There were no parents, no Huajie — it was again as if she had returned to some faraway time, some earlier days. She smiled, washed her face, changed her clothes quickly, pushed open the door and walked out. Coming out of the inner gate, Elder Sister Hu had also finished storing the luggage and walked out. Seeing her, Elder Sister Hu quietly fell in behind her.

The two went to the study.

Xiang Le stood with hands at his sides before the desk. Zhù Ying gestured for him to sit, but he would not. Xiang Le brought tea to Zhù Ying. Zhù Ying accepted it and asked: “What is the matter?”

Xiang Le took up a stack of registers from the desk and said quietly: “Prefect — I have failed.”

“Hmm?”

“The estate’s population has not grown much.”

“How many are there now?” Zhù Ying asked.

“Four hundred and one households — one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six people.” Xiang Le said with some difficulty. In the dead of winter, they had added only twenty households. He had hoped that at the rate the population had previously been gathering, they might be at five hundred households by now — which would give the estate a decent scale. The current problem was that the growth rate had slowed down, and at this pace the accumulation of population would stagnate. They would have to rely on natural reproduction alone — but population growth took time, and breaking new ground at the estate needed large numbers of adult laborers, and guarding the estate also needed strong able-bodied men.

Zhù Ying asked: “What about the fields?”

Xiang Le said: “Another three hundred-odd mu — in winter there is nothing much to grow, and only one rough plowing has been done. We will plant something haphazardly in spring, enough to recoup the seed with a little left over. The surplus will not be large.”

Zhù Ying said: “From now on do not send grain down to me — leave it at the estate.”

“Understood.”

Zhù Ying asked: “How many able-bodied men are there?”

“Males between sixteen and fifty: about five hundred.” Xiang Le said.

“People cannot be rushed — watch and see for a while. If we rush, there will be trouble.”

Xiang Le said: “I have failed.”

Zhù Ying set down the tea cup and took one of the registers from the stack, looking at the household census information. She shook her head: “That is no such thing!”

People in the mountains were naturally less densely settled than below, and news traveled more slowly here. The Shanque chieftain and others had also begun tightly restricting the flow of people out. For the population to suddenly swell to a large number would be the strange thing.

Zhù Ying took the whole stack of registers: “I will look through these at my leisure. You have worked hard. I will be here for a few more days — we have all the time in the world to talk slowly.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Xiang Yu has come to the residence — have you heard?”

Xiang Le smiled: “Yes. He is just wild — let us hope he has not caused any trouble.”

“With Xiang An teaching him I think he is doing very well — he and Lian get along too. You two — are you set on having him go into commerce?”

Xiang Le said: “Our family has done commerce for generations — it is what we do. For now there is no spare capacity, but in another two years when we have more land established, the descendants will not need to be on the road all the time.”

Zhù Ying said: “Well thought through. Has Yigan chieftain been making any movements lately?”

Xiang Le said quickly: “I was just about to bring this up — he has betrothed his daughter to the Suoning chieftain. The engagement was just settled not long ago.”

“Oh! Did the girl herself take a liking to him? To betroth her just like that?”

Xiang Le said: “Although in the mountains young men and women generally make their own choices and parents largely leave them to it, it still does not come to too much variance. The Suoning chieftain is considered something of a hero among the tribal people.”

Zhù Ying said: “Then this is quite timely. You make a trip — go to Yigan chieftain’s place and ask him to come here tomorrow. I have something to entrust to him.”

Xiang Le said: “Yes, ma’am. What if he asks what it is about?”

“Then tell him I want to ask him to carry a message to the Suoning family.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Xiang Le was afraid of the subject drifting further off course and quickly reported everything else that remained.

“With the limited workforce, progress on construction has been somewhat slow. When the city was first being built we borrowed labor and materials from Talang County — now for internal renovations I have no such standing to borrow their people. So I did not borrow. Our own affairs are best kept private.”

“Very good.”

“The small school the Prefect mentioned has been roughly constructed, using their corvée labor. It was not finished by the twelfth month, the labor allocation was used up, and in the first month there were many things to attend to, so it was paused for now. Work will restart in the second month using this year’s labor. It is noted here.”

Zhù Ying said: “Good.”

“In the twelfth month once and in the first month once — we assembled about twenty men and drove off wolves on two occasions.”

“Were there injuries?”

“Three men with falls, two who twisted their ankles, one wounded by a wolf — all have been given time to recover. We killed five wolves. In the first month we heard a tiger’s roar, and out of caution did not leave the city.”

“Mmm.”

“The estate’s able-bodied men have also gotten some drilling under their belt.”

Zhù Ying sighed: “You have done very well — but time is pressing now, and you will need to stay at the estate a while longer.”

Xiang Le quickly asked: “What does the Prefect intend to do?”

“We need to build some ‘small relay stations’ along the road connecting the estate to A’Su County — no one will be stationed in them, but there should be shelter from wind and rain. Along the roads around the estate, we also need some. Before spring plowing starts, we should begin.” Zhù Ying stood up and pointed out positions on the map. Fifty li in radius sounded like a large area, but the roads from the estate to each county numbered only three, giving only six “small shelters” in total — this would not require much labor, and Xiang Le was reassured.

Seeing the sky was not early, he quickly requested permission to leave and go right away to find Yigan chieftain with the message. Zhù Ying said: “Be careful on the road.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

——

The next day was the opening market day. Zhù Ying presided over the opening ceremony. As the merchants got lively, Yigan chieftain arrived at the city gate.

Xiang Le brought him in and led him all the way to the main hall of the residence.

Zhù Ying was in the seat of honor, with a row of county magistrates on each side. Zhù Ying stood and said: “The chieftain has come — you kept me waiting. Please sit.”

Yigan chieftain said: “I do not know what message the Prefect wants me to carry?”

Lang Kunwu and the others all had no idea what this was about, and looked together at Zhù Ying. Zhù Ying said: “I hear the chieftain has gained an excellent son-in-law — first let me offer congratulations.”

Yigan chieftain cleared his throat, and could not help but let a smile come to his face: “The Prefect has heard as well? When the weather warms, I invite the Prefect to come to my settlement for the wedding wine.”

Luoguo and Xijin, right in front of him, one rolled his eyes and the other gave a sideways glance. Both families had wanted to seek a match with Yigan chieftain’s daughter. That in the end it went to the Suoning family made them deeply aggrieved.

Zhù Ying said: “Since they are to be family, I would ask you to carry a word to the Suoning chieftain on my behalf.”

“What word?”

Zhù Ying said: “I know the Suoning family and the A’Su family have some small friction. Bloodshed each time is no solution — I have a mind to mediate between them.”

“That is not something I can agree to on his behalf.”

“No need to agree — only to carry the message.”

Yigan chieftain agreed.

Zhù Ying politely escorted him out of the estate. Turning back, the several county magistrates were all looking at her. None of them were particularly fond of the Suoning chieftain. Zhù Ying said: “Harmony is still best — if reasonable conversation is possible, there is no need for weapons.”

The Shanque chieftain’s father-in-law said: “I am afraid the Prefect thinks one way while the Suoning family thinks another. Hmph — relying on his own strength, he does love to cause trouble.”

Su Mingluan thought to herself: your son-in-law is no great deal better.

Zhù Ying said: “Never mind them — I have brought good wine.”

On the third day, Yigan chieftain returned, bringing the Suoning chieftain’s conditions: Su Mingluan was to return his people, and further pay him one hundred bond-servants in compensation. Lang Kunwu was also to return his people and also pay compensation in bond-servants. All of the trade currently conducted with the five counties he also wanted to participate in, with no lower prices than those given to others. Additionally, Zhù Ying was to give him a certain quantity of salt, a certain quantity of sugar, five thousand piculs of grain, a certain number of knives, a certain number of arrows…

Even Luoguo could not help saying: “Has he gone mad?”

Zhù Ying’s face did not change. She asked Yigan chieftain: “What can he give me?”

“Godfather!” Lang Kunwu called out.

Yigan chieftain said with some embarrassment: “During this time he has not taken anyone from your territory to offer in blood sacrifice! And the merchants who deal with you — he has not troubled them.”

Zhù Ying said: “Anything else?”

Yigan chieftain hesitated, then said: “That between himself and you — no mutual hostility.”

Zhù Ying said calmly: “His demands are too high. Please tell him to reduce them somewhat.”

Yigan chieftain said: “What — what would you like them reduced to?”

Zhù Ying said: “He asked the sky, now he sits on the ground to bargain. I would think he has a number in his own heart that he considers acceptable. Please ask him to come up with a figure he feels he could live with.”

Under the consuming gazes of five county magistrates, Yigan chieftain hardened his scalp and said: “Very well — I will go now.”

Zhù Ying courteously saw him out of the estate, and turned back to find the county magistrates all looking at her. None of them were particularly fond of the Suoning chieftain. Zhù Ying said: “Harmony is still best — if reasonable conversation is possible, there is no need to fight.”

The Shanque chieftain’s father-in-law said: “I am afraid the Prefect thinks one way and the Suoning family thinks entirely another. He does love to use his arm-strength to bully people.”

Su Mingluan thought to herself: your son-in-law is no great deal better.

Zhù Ying said: “Never mind him. Come — I brought good wine.”