From winter into spring, Vice Prefect Zhang bustled about the capital, just as he had the year before. The capital was filled with people much like him; many had already caught wind of something in the air, and compared to the previous year, the atmosphere was even more restless.

While making his rounds visiting various households in the capital and gathering with familiar local colleagues, Vice Prefect Zhang finally secured another place in Wang Yunhe’s queue. On this particular day, someone from the Wang household came to invite him to call the following morning. Vice Prefect Zhang dared not be careless — he tidied himself up at once and arrived at the Wang residence early to wait. Wang Yunhe returned from the imperial city and received him in the study.

Vice Prefect Zhang still had a lingering wariness from his last audience with Wang Yunhe, yet a meeting with the Chief Minister was simply unavoidable. He did not expect the Chief Minister to treat him with any particular warmth — he only hoped the Chief Minister would not get the impression that he thought little of him and thereby invite unnecessary misunderstanding.

He stood respectfully before Wang Yunhe. Wang Yunhe glanced at him and said, “Sit.”

Vice Prefect Zhang sat down. A servant brought tea; he touched the cup briefly to his lips as a gesture and set it back down.

Before he could even open his mouth, Wang Yunhe spoke first: “Wuzhou has tribute scholars this year.”

“Yes.” Vice Prefect Zhang quickly bowed in acknowledgment.

Wang Yunhe asked further, “Are you well acquainted with them?”

Vice Prefect Zhang had not at all anticipated that the Chief Ministers would take such particular interest in assessing the “feudal lords.” He assumed Wang Yunhe was simply being especially favorable toward Wuzhou on account of Zhù Ying, and his spirits lifted. “We traveled together along the way,” he said. “I know them somewhat.”

Wang Yunhe asked, “Who among them is stronger, and who weaker?”

Vice Prefect Zhang replied, “All are quite capable. Wuzhou has always been impartial — in selecting scholars, the examinations are conducted with sealed names, so all who pass are genuine talents. From among those talents, capable and practical individuals are then chosen. Beyond the tribute scholars, the students recommended by the Prefect are none of them without ability.”

Wang Yunhe questioned him on each one in detail. Vice Prefect Zhang, intent on seeing the matter through, added, “The language and customs of the tributary counties remain not fully understood, yet the civil education of Nanping, Sicheng, and Fulu Counties has been steadily improving day by day, with Fulu County faring best of all. The Prefect has put in more than ten years of effort there, and has also taught from Your Excellency’s own writings. The young people of those days have now grown to maturity — it is a time of bearing fruit.”

Wang Yunhe’s face twitched slightly. “If one cannot even learn the teachings of the sages properly, reading a few scattered lines I happened to write is of no use whatsoever.”

Vice Prefect Zhang smiled along and said, “Quite right — the Five Classics and the Six Arts have not been neglected either. Before my posting to Wuzhou, I had served in several local positions, and in my view, because Wuzhou’s people live alongside the Liao peoples, their horsemanship and archery far surpasses that of the bookish scholars in many other places.”

Wang Yunhe said, “Zi Zhang wrote in a letter that when he was occupied with the tributary county affairs, the general affairs of the prefecture were handled by you in his stead?”

“Yes — I merely carried out my superior’s instructions.”

Wang Yunhe said, “You did well.”

“Your Excellency is too generous.”

“As for the officials of Wuzhou as a whole — what is your assessment?”

Vice Prefect Zhang went through each person’s name, position, and evaluation in detail, saying each had done well. He concluded by saying, “There is still a vacancy for a Director of Granaries — the former Director Wu was transferred away. It has not caused any disruptions, however; the Deputy Director of Granaries has been conscientious in fulfilling his duties.”

“The Director of Households, Qi Tai — what manner of man is he?”

“A man who does not speak much but knows how to get things done.”

It seemed that official business had come to a close. Wang Yunhe’s manner and tone both relaxed, and he said with easy familiarity, “This is not the Hall of State Affairs — be at ease. Was your journey pleasant?”

“The journey went smoothly — the road was a bit crowded, that’s all.”

Wang Yunhe smiled. “Of course — everyone heading to the capital, all converging at the same time. More people makes for more liveliness. Anything amusing happen along the way?”

Vice Prefect Zhang said, “The regional dialects caused quite a few laughable misunderstandings.”

The two chatted freely for a while, and as Vice Prefect Zhang saw how at ease Wang Yunhe’s manner had become, he gradually let his guard down. By the time he left the Chief Minister’s residence, he could no longer recall exactly what he had said — only that he felt his answers had all been reasonably satisfactory.

Wang Yunhe did indeed think reasonably well of him and wrote the two characters “Zhang Jiong” on a slip of paper, then moved on to receive the next visitor. By the time Wang Yunhe retired that night — neither too early nor too late — six names had been written on that paper.

The following day, he took the slip with him, first to court, then to the Hall of State Affairs to confer with Shi Kun.

——

Shi Kun had been on overnight duty in the palace the day before; before going home, he needed to meet with Wang Yunhe as well, to report that nothing of consequence had occurred through the night.

Wang Yunhe showed Shi Kun his written slip. “These individuals.”

Shi Kun pointed to one of the names and asked, “This Zhang Jiong — is he the same Zhang Jiong that Minister Yao just mentioned the other day?”

Wang Yunhe gave a nod. “The very one. Vice Prefect of Wuzhou — a practical, capable man.”

Shi Kun smiled. “Having survived in good standing under Zhù Zi Zhang’s authority until now — that alone shows he is a man of talent. I think he will do.”

Wang Yunhe also smiled. “We should quickly assign him a new Vice Prefect. The Senior Clerk and Military Commissioner of Wuzhou are not capable of serving as the Prefect’s deputy — only the Vice Prefect can fill that role. Send him a new Vice Prefect to properly temper and sharpen.”

Shi Kun said, “Which prefecture should Zhang Jiong be sent to govern?”

Wang Yunhe said, “No particular preference — I think any would suit him.”

“Very well.”

The two then discussed the remaining names on the list. A drought had struck the northern lands; both men had been on alert, and through their review had identified a number of problems and dismissed certain officials, leaving vacancies that needed to be filled.

One of the significant tasks for Yao Zhen following his appointment as Minister of Personnel was the selection of officials to fill these vacancies. Yao Zhen, newly in post and caught in the year-end grand review, was overwhelmed and frantic. The Chief Ministers could not help but take over the appointments and removals of officials at the rank of Prefect and above, to relieve the burden on this new appointee.

A few days prior, Yao Zhen had mentioned a man like Zhang Jiong — “in the prime of his years,” with sufficient seniority and consistently good evaluations. After conducting his own assessment, Wang Yunhe decided to give his approval today. He also took the opportunity to ask Zhang Jiong about his view of Qi Tai, for Zhù Ying had made a specific request: if she were transferred, she needed to bring Qi Tai along, as well as several constables she had brought from the capital.

Once the two men had finalized the list and informed Yao Zhen, they presented it jointly to the Emperor.

In exchange for taking away a Vice Prefect she had been accustomed to working with, the Hall of State Affairs readily approved Zhù Ying’s recommended candidates such as Zhao Zhen. Because Zhù Ying had once brought four people to the capital and Wang Yunhe had seen all four in person, the Ministry of Personnel promptly issued documents to Wuzhou granting all four official appointments. Among all the concessions extracted through the bargaining of the various “feudal lords,” these were among the earliest promises to be fulfilled.

Imperial relay horses galloped southward from the capital through biting winter winds, and the documents reached Wuzhou right at the New Year.

——

This year, with Vice Prefect Zhang away, Zhù Ying presided at the Prefect’s office.

The atmosphere of the New Year was reasonably good. The court had ordered additional tax collection; Zhù Ying first issued a public notice explaining the reasons to the local people, then decreed that beyond this, the prefecture would levy no additional taxes of its own — and only then began the collection.

A bit more tax was collected, but because Wuzhou had seen income from its sugar mills and other ventures in recent years, as well as from the cultivation of winter wheat, the people’s lives were manageable. Apart from the occasional loose-lipped grumble from a few individuals, there was no significant discontent.

Zhù Ying planned to make the Lantern Festival a lively occasion for the prefecture, and at the same time she was pondering the matter of salt. She had long intended to lower the salt price in Wuzhou, but had never been able to free up her hands for it.

Salt and iron were sold exclusively by the government — more indispensable even than sugar, and enormously profitable. One misstep and the people would see no benefit at all, with the gains merely fattening corrupt parasites. If she could find the right approach to bring the salt price down, it would ease some of the hardship the people were bearing from the increased taxes. She still had more than half a year — it should be achievable, and would serve as a small gift to Wuzhou before she departed.

She took out writing paper and began composing letters to several Prefects, inquiring about conditions in their jurisdictions. Their territories contained salt fields, and — conveniently — they had all received wheat seed from her.

She had barely written half a letter when Xiao Liu came to report: “My lord, an official dispatch has arrived from the capital!”

Xiao Liu’s face wore a slightly peculiar expression. By the calendar, this was a leisurely period — short of something major, no one would think of conducting official business around this time.

Zhù Ying said, “Bring it to me!”

Zhù Lian took the dispatch and carried it to the desk. Zhù Ying opened and read it, and a faint smile rose on her face — Wang Yunhe was truly fair: the official appointment documents for Zhao Zhen and the others had come through.

This was mildly surprising: every one of them had been given a substantive post, the kind where they were to take up their duties as soon as the New Year was done.

Zhù Ying said, “Where is the courier? Quickly, bring him to see me. Xiao Liu — go fetch all four of them: Zhao Zhen and the others!”

Xiao Liu said, “Young Master Jing and the others are within the city, that’s easy enough — but Young Master Zhao has gone home to celebrate the New Year.”

“Then send someone to call him back! It is good news — their appointment documents have arrived!”

“Yes.” Xiao Liu answered with a smile. He was very pleased; in the first month of the New Year, hearing good tidings — anyone would feel happy. He also stole a glance at Zhù Ying and thought to himself: following the lord really does have its rewards. Perhaps one day he too could be like Brother Xiao Wu…

Zhù Ying herself was also glad. She had wanted to cultivate more officials for Wuzhou before her own departure. She only wished she could serve another three years in Wuzhou!

Before long, Jing Sheng and the others whose homes were in Nanping County came running to the Prefect’s office in the midst of the festive celebrations. By that point, the whole office already knew the news, and the duty constables all wore smiles on their faces. Jing Sheng was a clan relation of Jing Gang; his family knew the proper customs and had prepared many red envelopes, handing them out all the way in.

When he reached the main hall and saw Zhù Ying, Jing Sheng knelt and pressed his head to the ground: “This junior pupil pays his deepest respects to the Teacher.”

Zhù Ying stepped forward to help him up. “Please rise, quickly.”

When Jing Sheng lifted his face, it was already streaked with grateful tears. “Had it not been for the Teacher’s guidance and support, how could this junior pupil have come to this day?”

His heart held the same hope as Xiao Liu’s. Where Xiao Liu’s model was Brother Xiao Wu, his was Gu Tong. He had intended to bide his time, dutifully doing whatever was asked of him for a few years before cautiously probing for any opportunity — yet Zhù Ying had quietly made it happen without a word.

Jing Sheng wept with overwhelming joy, kowtowing repeatedly. Zhù Ying could barely hold him back. Jing Sheng cried, “Teacher’s profound grace and great virtue — this pupil will never forget it for as long as he lives! Wuu wuu…”

Jing Sheng sobbed for a long while before, with the assistance of Xiao Liu and the others, finally managing to stand. Seeing how perfectly composed Zhù Ying looked, he felt embarrassed.

Xiao Huang, quick-witted, went to fetch water for him to wash his face, which only made Jing Sheng feel more embarrassed still. He hurriedly washed his face. Then his classmates Wang Sheng and Fang Sheng also came in, weeping. Having just entered, they had not yet seen him — they knelt the moment they laid eyes on Zhù Ying and each called out, “Teacher.”

Jing Sheng stared wide-eyed at his two classmates, dissolved in grateful tears. He thought that Wang Sheng’s words — “This pupil will surely be diligent and conscientious, take the Teacher as a model, and not bring disgrace upon the Teacher’s name” — and Fang Sheng’s — “Above, to repay His Majesty and the Teacher; in the middle, to comfort one’s parents; below, to bring peace to the common people” — were both better than what he himself had said. He hastily added, “That is exactly how all of us feel.”

Only then did Wang Sheng and Fang Sheng notice Jing Sheng, their ears immediately turning red. After both had also washed their faces, Zhù Ying smiled and said, “At last, our acquaintance has not been for nothing.”

The three offered yet another round of thanks. Jing Sheng hesitated for a moment, then asked, “I wonder about Zhao Zhen — is he…”

“His home is farther away — he will come in a day or two. We shall all gather together then; I have some instructions for you.”

“Yes!”

——

By the time Zhao Zhen arrived, Jing Sheng and the others had already returned to their respective homes to prepare their celebrations. Zhao Zhen came accompanied by his parents and elder clan relatives, including Elder Zhao. People from Fulu County always felt a particularly solid confidence when they came to the prefectural city.

They presented their calling card at the gate and were received promptly.

Elder Zhao and Zhao Zhen’s parents were so moved that their voices trembled slightly. Zhao Zhen’s father, in a careless moment, let slip: “Ever since the lord summoned him to come and work here, we’ve always said — our family’s good fortune is nearly upon us. It came a little later than others’, but a fine meal is worth the wait — owww…”

Zhao Zhen’s mother pressed her foot down on her husband’s foot once more, then quietly stepped away, regretting she had not done it sooner. The hem of her skirt grazed his robe, fluttered, and fell open. Zhao Zhen’s father endured the pain with a face twisted in agony.

Zhù Ying smiled. “Your good days are nearly here as well.”

Both Zhao Zhen’s father and mother were overjoyed — with their son now an official, they too could become an Honored Lord and Honored Lady. The whole family broke into expressions of gratitude.

Zhù Ying said to Zhao Zhen, “I shall invite you all to dinner — Jing, Wang, and Fang as well. We shall all gather together; I have some instructions for you.”

Zhao Zhen answered with a clear and confident, “Yes!” then smiled and added, “This pupil is a little anxious — I am not quite sure how to go about things. I was just hoping to ask the Teacher’s guidance.”

The Zhao family stayed at the Fulu County Guild Hall. The next day, Zhù Ying hosted a banquet at the office, with the prefecture’s officials as attendants. Every courtesy was extended with full ceremony.

Zhù Ying made arrangements for all of them: first, a few days of celebration at home, and then they were to set out. The positions these several individuals were to take up were quite distant — all in the north. Unlike Gu Tong, from whom a letter could be sent every couple of months with greetings and a few gifts tucked inside, the places where Zhao Zhen and the others were going were thousands of li away, and correspondence was not convenient.

Zhù Ying gave them particular instructions: “This may be connected to the dismissal of some officials in recent days. Once you arrive there, you must be careful. I have no doubts about your ability to get things done, but just as people can fall ill in an unfamiliar climate, work can run into the same trouble, and so can social relations. When you arrive, take the time to understand the lay of the land before you act.”

“Yes.”

All four had done practical work under Zhù Ying’s hand. Though not as polished and well-rounded as Gu Tong or Zhao Su, they had learned by observation and experience, and each felt reasonably confident they could manage.

Zhù Ying added, “Once you are there, you must always keep the people at heart. Get along well with those above and below you, and be courteous to your colleagues. And most importantly — do not let improper thoughts take hold. As long as you do your work well, you will not go unnoticed.”

Hearing this, all four felt reassured. Zhù Ying also gave them travel funds; the elders of their families likewise each received gifts. Before the first month was out, all four set off together heading north, traveling the same road for a stretch before going their separate ways. They did not know that at the Ministry of Personnel, a whole batch of people had been approved at once — those others were not as fortunate as they were, and had to go through the Ministry of Personnel in person, to be reviewed by its officials before they could receive their appointment documents.

What Zhù Ying also did not know was that at that very moment in the capital, the Emperor had already approved Yao Zhen’s recommendation and was about to transfer Zhang Jiong away from Wuzhou. Zhang Jiong’s rank was somewhat higher and the procedures a bit more complex, so his documents were issued later. The Hall of State Affairs intended to select his successor first, then issue the documents together — giving her no time to react.

She remained in good spirits, on her way to the country estate. She planned to go to the estate to visit her parents, then return to oversee the spring planting and wait for Vice Prefect Zhang to come back.

Ever since they had learned of Zhù Ying’s plans, her father Zhù Shenhan and mother Zhang Xiangu had found their opposition useless, and so resigned themselves to first “making the nest ready” for her at the estate. Because Xiang Le had just married and was spending time at his family home in Fulu County, he was not at the estate for the New Year; the old couple felt it would not do to have no one of their own keeping watch over the estate, and so had not come down the mountain.

Accompanying her were the estate’s attendants.

Hua Jie and the others had been left by her at the Prefect’s office, to keep close watch on affairs in Wuzhou at all times.

——

The mountain roads were considerably easier to travel than before. The five counties had said they would not repair the roads, yet had still smoothed the main paths slightly. Zhù Ying rode on horseback, breathing out puffs of white mist. The group took the near route — that is, the central route.

The southern route — the left route — was the Asu line; the northern route — the right route — was the Ta’lang line; the central route passed through that narrow, elongated mountain valley. The valley offered a more direct path and was therefore shorter than both the left and right routes.

At the far end of the valley, a simple fortified post had now been built — or rather, a checkpoint.

When Zhù Ying’s group reached the checkpoint, Zhù Yin called out loudly, “The lord has come — open the gate quickly!”

The people atop the checkpoint looked down and hurried out: “The lord has come!”

These were two young men, their faces lit with an eager excitement, their eyes bright and shining as they looked at Zhù Ying. There were around twenty or so people at the checkpoint in total — all men trained by Hou Wu. The moment they saw Zhù Ying arrive, two were left to guard the gate while the rest came forward and lined up before her.

Zhù Ying expressed her appreciation to them for their hard work, then pointed to one man’s boots and asked, “Did you not receive a new pair for the New Year?”

The man smiled and replied, “I did — but today it’s my turn to collect firewood, so I put the old ones on.”

Zhù Ying asked further about how they were eating and living: “How many days have you been at this post? When do you rotate? Can you manage? Is there someone to tend to things at home?”

The leader, a young man with a wispy moustache, replied, “In answer to the lord: our shift lasts one month; there are still five days until the next rotation comes. There is plenty of help at home! We eat the lord’s food, so naturally we must put the lord’s work first! Without the lord, where would any of us be today?”

Zhù Ying said, “You must also look after your families.”

The young man’s spoken official language was not very good; he heard her words and blinked in confusion: “We belong to the Zhù family — which ‘Gu’ family are you referring to?”

Zhù Ying smiled. “That’s right — you belong to the Zhù family, not to any other.”

The young man gave a firm nod. “Mm.”

Zhù Ying continued smoothly on to visit her parents. She stayed two days at the estate, first arranging the spring planting affairs there — in case she was unable to get away in time and no one was on hand to manage when the season came.

When she came back down the mountain, she was met with a surprise from the court — Zhang Jiong had been promoted to Prefect of Anyang, and the court had assigned her a new Vice Prefect. The newcomer’s surname was Zhang, given name Yun. He had no particular reputation, and Zhù Ying had not heard of him before; what sort of person he was, she had no way of knowing.

These old foxes at the court — truly, they had a bellyful of mischief, and were supremely skilled at stirring up trouble for the localities.