The Crown Prince came out of Zhù Mansion. After turning a corner, Hao Dafang knocked at the gate ring of Xian Jing’s home.
The Crown Prince sat briefly inside Xian Jing’s residence and made no mention of court affairs: “The palace has been rather stifling. I came out for a walk. How is the Elder Madam keeping?”
Xian Jing expressed his mother’s thanks on her behalf, then said to the Crown Prince: “At a time like this, Your Highness should remain within the palace, so that if any urgent matter arises, His Majesty may summon you readily.”
The Crown Prince said: “Very well.” And quite agreeably took Hao Dafang and the others and returned to the Eastern Palace.
Inside the Eastern Palace, Luo Hua was waiting for him to return so they could eat together. The Crown Prince said: “Go ahead and start — do not ruin your health for my sake.”
Luo Hua said: “I am not hungry either, and eating alone has no appeal.”
The two sat down. Luo Hua asked: “Elder Brother’s mood seems a little better.”
The Crown Prince said: “Is it that obvious?”
Luo Hua said: “Just a little — not very much. These past couple of days you have kept a stern face; now it has eased.”
The Crown Prince raised a hand and rubbed his face, then suddenly asked: “When you visit the outer residences, what do you hear people say about the two Chief Ministers, Wang and Zheng?”
Luo Hua thought for a moment. “Grandmother does not care much for Chief Minister Wang.”
The old grievance between An Ren Princess and Wang Yunhe stretched back far too long. An Ren Princess could not do anything to Wang Yunhe, and in time the feeling had gradually faded. By now, all that remained was a single verdict: “That man is disagreeable.” With An Ren Princess setting that tone, no one in the household praised Wang Yunhe.
Only Luo Sheng could put in a word: “Chief Minister Wang is not targeting A’Niang — he is not a bad person; there is no deliberate ill intent.”
As for the rest of the household, no one openly spoke well of Wang Yunhe.
The Crown Prince said: “And what about Zheng Xi?”
Luo Hua thought a moment. “Well… Grandmother says… slippery.”
The Crown Prince broke into a smile: “I heard something interesting today when I went out — I asked on a whim.” He lifted the chopsticks in his hand, signaling Luo Hua to eat with him.
Luo Hua watched this cousin of hers carefully. Seeing that the Crown Prince’s brow creased and then relaxed, not looking as though he was continuing to nurse anger, she thought to herself: Why bring up the two Chief Ministers?
The Crown Prince’s thoughts had already drifted back to the latest military situation — with a mobilization of this scale, things would be quite difficult to untangle. He could only hope they would be able to restore order as soon as possible.
The Crown Prince was eager; the Emperor was eager; the Council of State was urging things along even faster.
Zhù Ying’s side moved without much commotion. But Zheng Hou was bringing relief troops, and the moment troops moved, the news could no longer be concealed. Also because of the need to deploy soldiers and grain supplies, Zheng Hou’s departure came two days later than Zhù Ying’s.
Before leaving, Zhù Ying first invited the southern scholars who were in the capital to a meal at her home, placing Zhao Su at the first seat on her left.
Those who came to the banquet had vaguely heard hints of what was afoot beforehand — especially those who were close to Zhuo Jue. That young man had been reassigned these past two days and had packed his bags.
There was a faint reddish glow on Zhuo Jue’s face. He had not been long in the capital, and had held no great hopes about advancement. Anyone who came to the capital knew how it was — once you took office as an ordinary person, rising further was extraordinarily difficult. But this time, Zhù Ying had given him an opportunity and was taking him along!
From the intelligence Zhuo Jue had gathered through Gu Tong, and from what he had seen and heard recently, when Zhù Ying assigned you a task, there would always be a reward.
Zhuo Jue had not the slightest resistance to heading into the dangerous north!
Zhù Ying said: “I will be departing northward. Su Zhe, Zhuo Jue, and the others will accompany me. Zhao Su will look after the residence in the capital.”
Zhao Zhen asked: “When we have matters to discuss, do we still come to the residence?”
Zhù Ying said: “He will be residing here temporarily.”
Zhao Zhen said: “Understood! Good to know.”
Su Zhe blinked at Zhao Su.
This meal Zhù Ying held was to arrange affairs for the southern scholars in the capital during her northern absence, designating Zhao Su to “keep the house” — that is, naming him her deputy for day-to-day affairs during her absence from the capital. Beyond that there were a few other instructions, such as exercising caution, which need not be elaborated.
That same evening, Zhuo Jue settled in as a guest in the side room, so that he and Zhù Ying could set out together when the time came.
The next day, Jin Liang came to call first thing, inquiring about Zhù Ying’s arrangements.
Zhù Ying said: “We have already delayed several days — we must set out as soon as possible. Every day we arrive earlier is a day sooner the people can be settled. I hear the north is very cold; the later it gets, the harder it will be to work. Let me finish reviewing the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Personnel records and we will go.”
Jin Liang asked: “What are those?”
Zhù Ying said: “One needs to have a picture of things!”
The four northern prefectures — though what was written in the records was nothing but the official line, and everyone knew these official figures would differ from reality to some degree, still the basic situation had to be read from these documents. Beyond that, there were the officials’ dossiers: once in the north, she would need to match wits with these people.
Zhù Ying skimmed through the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Personnel records on the north, then hurried to take her leave of the Emperor, gathered her people, and departed the capital at full gallop without stopping.
Chen Meng and others came outside the city to see them off. Chen Meng urged Chen Fang again and again: “Once you are there, listen to your uncle’s instructions. Serve your uncle as you would serve me.”
Chen Fang gave his ready assent.
Chen Meng said to Zhù Ying: “This child — I entrust him to you. Do not stand on ceremony.”
Zhù Ying smiled: “I am taking him away from all these people — when have I ever stood on ceremony?”
On the other side, Shi Jixing had also come. Officially he was there to see off his superior, Zhù Ying, but behind his horse followed a small carriage with its gauze curtain slightly open, and the faint figure of a young woman visible inside. Shi Jixing said to Zhù Ying: “My father says that if he were to advise you, you would not listen anyway — your disposition is too unyielding. He hopes you will take all possible care.”
Zhù Ying said: “When I was little, I often heard my mother say: ‘Heed advice, eat your fill.’ For the sake of eating, I have no choice but to heed.”
Shi Jixing said: “Very good, very good!” Then he said a few more words to Chen Fang.
Beyond these, Jin Biao and Jin Danian came to see Jin Liang off; Wen Yue, Zheng Yi, and Zheng Chuan came to see Zhù Ying off. Zheng Yi said: “Once you are there, take every care.” Zheng Chuan also said: “Grandfather is heading north before long — he asked me to tell Third Elder Brother: should you encounter any difficult characters in the north, just send word to him. He will arrive quickly.”
Zhù Ying said: “I would not dare to delay the Prince’s military affairs on my account. Please, his military duties take priority. I will do my utmost to manage on my own, and if I truly find myself in a difficult spot, I will not hesitate to call for help.”
Chen Meng said: “We have seen you off a thousand li — at last a parting must come. Return safely in good time!”
“I will!” Zhù Ying said, then turned to Zhao Su: “Do not forget to feed and water the cat.”
Then she led the party northward.
Zhù Ying traveled the post road, riding at full gallop.
In ordinary circumstances, this kind of journey would not move very quickly, because a Pacification Commissioner and Inspection Commissioner with a full ceremonial procession would include many people traveling on foot — and how far could people on foot go in a day? Jin Liang had selected able-bodied soldiers, but they still had to cover several hundred li on two feet before reaching the borders of the northern territories. The four northern prefectures were not small in area, and from the southern border up to the northern frontier was another several hundred li — altogether well over a thousand li.
Fortunately Zhù Ying had anticipated this situation. Having secured a hundred soldiers from Jin Liang, she had also requisitioned some large carts for them, counted within the baggage train.
The carts served one purpose only: to carry these men.
Jin Liang and Zhù Ying both rode on horseback. Jin Liang said: “You are spoiling them.”
Zhù Ying said: “It is for the sake of speed. Cavalry are hard to come by — all we have are foot soldiers, so we have no choice but to have them ride carts.”
A hundred cavalry were not something that could be cultivated lightly — it was not as simple as putting a horse under a foot soldier and calling him cavalry. Asking the court for a hundred pure cavalry would be inappropriate. They could only “exercise expediency” as well.
Jin Liang said: “True enough. Best to cover as much ground as we can before the cold sets in.”
They pushed on with heads down, resting at relay stations whenever they found them. All were young and vigorous, and the pace was swift. Jin Liang looked at Zhù Ying’s male and female attendants, all riding on horseback, and said: “Their horsemanship is decent.”
Zhù Ying said: “It is just enough for traveling. Three thousand li from Wuzhou to the capital — not learning to ride would hold things up. But it would not do for cavalry — we will have to find other solutions once we reach the north.” The attendants’ horses had all been equipped by her.
Jin Liang said: “The north is close to the barbarian territories — there are plenty of skilled riders and archers there. Once the Prince arrives, the army’s spirits will surely be restored! Once the Prince wins a battle, your commission will be easier to carry out.”
Zhù Ying gave a small smile, thinking to herself: Easier, my foot!
From the capital going north, a fresh astonishment came upon her — another vast, open plain. Even where there were mountains, the mountains here were quite different in form: long and ridge-like, like the veins of a leaf, a single long central rib with smaller veins distributed evenly on either side. Below the mountains the land was entirely flat — completely unlike the south, where mountains crowded together and valleys pressed against each other.
Zhuo Jue gazed into the distance and suddenly understood some things written in books that he had never grasped before. The strategic advantages of mountains and rivers — that was no idle phrase.
Zhù Ying said to Jin Liang: “With terrain this flat, once a pass falls, it would be easy for an enemy to sweep through, would it not?”
Jin Liang said: “Yes.”
Both their moods darkened. Zhù Ying was concerned about Jin Liang’s age, but Jin Liang said: “While I can still move. All these years, thoughts of those days used to come to me now and then. The capital life is comfortable, but thoughts of the old times kept coming. The Prince himself has gone out on campaign — what do I amount to, compared to that?”
Zhù Ying asked: “Was the Prince very valiant in those days?”
Jin Liang said: “He certainly was — we fought a great many battles.”
Zhù Ying said: “I have not seen much written about it. Could you give me a detailed account?”
Jin Liang said: “Of course!”
The two of them talked as they traveled, traveling by day and resting by night.
On the fifth day, Zhù Ying ordered a halt for rest and recovery. Jin Liang said: “Were we not in a hurry? Why have we stopped? We would arrive in the northern territories tomorrow.”
Zhù Ying said: “It is precisely because we arrive tomorrow that we need to rest and recover today, and have the ceremonial procession properly arranged.”
Jin Liang said: “If I had not been reminded, I would have forgotten — these little rascals have been sitting in those carts in comfort!”
His soldiers were climbing down from the carts, grinning at him: “General, our bones ache from all the sitting — we have been taking turns getting down to walk alongside.”
Jin Liang said: “Aching bones from sitting, is it? Starting tomorrow — no more carts! Everyone walks! Get the procession in proper order!”
The one whose mouth was fastest was dragged into a corner by his companions and given a beating.
Zhù Ying arrived at her quarters in the post station hall and sat down. The station master bowed and stepped forward: “Food and water have all been prepared, my lord. Would you prefer to eat here, or in the main hall?”
Zhù Ying said: “Here will do. Prepare a proper table with wine — I have a guest. Help me deliver a letter.”
“Yes. May I ask which guest you are expecting?”
“Someone you should recognize — the county assistant magistrate of this locality.”
Back in the day when there had been trouble in the north, Zhù Ying had not hesitated to place a good many of her students in the northern territories through Wang Yunhe’s connections. They had been serving in local posts for several years by now and ought to understand the local customs, ways, and recent changes well.
Zhù Ying said to Xiang Le: “There is bound to be a familiar face for you!”
Xiang Le also broke into a smile. He too had received a placement — a low-ranked official title of Serviceman Fit to Serve — and though the rank was modest, he now had a formal position. He too rode on horseback and wore the blue-green official robe, and had grown out his beard — he cut a presentable figure. Pity his height was not great — he regretted, as a southerner, being on the shorter side.
That evening, a student from the official school at Fuluo County, surnamed Lin, came running: “My lord! Teacher! Revered Teacher!”
He and the Lin Weng household were of the same clan, but he was not among the county’s prosperous families — he was a poor relation within the larger clan. Being a male child, and appearing sharp and willing to study, the clan had collectively scraped together a little money to let him attend school as well. When Zhù Ying was administering Fuluo County, she had used examinations as the criterion for selection, and he had passed into the county school.
He was two years older than Xiang Le, and already had a wife and children; but he had come to his post alone, his wife and children remaining at home. The life of a low-ranking official was lean, but life in Fuluo back home was much improved compared to before, so it was still endurable.
He made his way to the post station, asked after Zhù Ying’s location, and entered. The moment he saw her he prostrated himself in a full bow.
Zhù Ying smiled: “You have been running hard, have you not? Sit — let us talk over the meal.”
Magistrate’s Assistant Lin said: “Yes!” Then seeing that Xiang Le was also wearing official robes, he offered his congratulations. Xiang Le smiled and traded pleasantries with him.
The two first caught up on what had passed since parting. Magistrate’s Assistant Lin said: “Only just seeing it in the official gazette — you have risen again! Truly, a capable person can do anything!”
Zhù Ying said: “Let us go to the north and see first. Speaking of which, you are close to the northern territories — have you heard any word?”
Magistrate’s Assistant Lin said: “Not a great deal — but hereabouts things are all of a piece.”
They ate and talked. Zhù Ying asked about local conditions and the unspoken understandings between officials. Magistrate’s Assistant Lin said: “At first, when the north suffered disasters, the holes got exposed — but once the sores were peeled open, they were actually easier to treat…”
From this day forward, Zhù Ying would pause briefly at each stop as she continued northward. Her “students and subordinates” had been scattered through this stretch like sesame seeds — she could always count on gathering no small amount of intelligence from them that no document could convey.
Zhuo Jue, Xiang Le, and others attended as companion guests. Xiang Le was well acquainted with these people. Even Su Zhe and Lin Feng recognized several of them. Zhuo Jue knew none of them — but hearing that Zhuo Jue had been recommended by Gu Tong, and that he too was a southerner, they immediately grew warm toward him.
Within a few days, Zhù Ying had grasped a fair picture of the situation in the north.
The officials of the northern territories had been rotated through one cycle — the new arrivals included both good and bad. Replacing the previous unsatisfactory ones did not guarantee the newly posted were saints. Some good, some bad, some mediocre time-servers — all of this was perfectly normal. And having only recently been inspected, even those inclined toward corruption would need to keep up appearances for now.
So the northern officials had their faults — perfectly normal, and worth investigating.
As for the previous accounts — the previous round of unfortunate souls had taken the fall for all the deficit in the ledgers, so what could be found in the books was limited, and what remained in the granaries and storehouses was even less.
The north had four prefectures. The situations varied between prefectures and counties, though on the whole the variation was less extreme than in the south. The south had many mountains, the north was flat. In terms of dialect alone, the dialect within a single northern prefecture was basically uniform, while in the south the dialect of the prefectural city could be entirely different from that of the counties below.
That at least spared Zhù Ying having to learn northern dialects on the spot.
Then there was the friction between the imperial army and local populations — there were soldiers who harassed women, and those who stole chickens and dogs, but localities with army garrisons tended to be somewhat safer.
The one thing no one had anticipated was that the officials would suffer such a crushing defeat, leaving four cities sacked.
Zhù Ying also asked about the refugees, and learned that some people had fled southward, but that quite a few had stayed put. For one thing, their livelihoods and ancestral graves were in their home places, and they could not bring themselves to simply abandon them. For another — northern people were not to be trifled with. Close to the barbarians and skilled with horse and bow, they gathered together and built earthen fort villages, dwelling by clan. When the cities were sacked, some of those fortified enclosures in the surrounding areas had survived. As long as they did not encounter the main barbarian force, they could hold their own.
Another day passed, and Zhù Ying encountered the first Prefect.
The Prefect was surnamed Yang, and was from the same family as the former Censor-in-Chief Yang, though a different branch. Prefect Yang was in his forties but very unattractive in appearance — swarthy, stout, short, with mismatched eyes — nothing at all like a “legendary man of fine bearing from an eminent family.”
Zhù Ying’s expression did not change. Her procession was already assembled, and she formally read out her appointment to Prefect Yang. Prefect Yang solemnly returned the formal greeting.
Prefect Yang said: “The heavenly envoy has at last come! We have been waiting and hoping!”
Zhù Ying said: “I myself am burning with anxiety!”
The two sat down. Prefect Yang asked: “Where does your lordship intend to set up headquarters?”
Zhù Ying said: “Naturally I must go north.”
Prefect Yang was worried about her safety and hoped she would remain behind. Zhù Ying said: “Without seeing it myself, there is no way to give a satisfactory report. Prince Zheng is past seventy and has not shrunk from the danger, riding north in person to oversee the battle — how could I dare to hang back?”
Prefect Yang said: “So Prince Zheng has truly gone north! Excellent! How wonderful! His old reputation still carries great weight!”
Zhù Ying said: “Indeed — a great deal to ask of someone his age.”
Prefect Yang also asked: “How much in the way of relief provisions and grain has the heavenly envoy brought?”
Zhù Ying said: “Enough.”
Prefect Yang could not get a read on her, and could only say: “Very good, very good.”
Zhù Ying said: “I cannot afford delays — I must continue northward. Once I have toured the entire territory, I will not fail to call upon you.”
“I dare not say otherwise — I would be honored to serve as the heavenly envoy’s vanguard.”
Prefect Yang said he would serve as her vanguard — but he could not leave his prefecture to go further north. Zhù Ying still had to travel on her own.
Zhù Ying continued northward, and students kept coming running to pay their respects. Zhù Ying made a point of asking specifically about local cases in which people had been driven to their deaths, and from this quickly confirmed that the accusations were not false. The powerful clans of the north had people like Yellow Twelve, and few would mourn if such people were driven to their deaths. But some officials, seeking to pad their own records for merit, had also set their sights on certain “benevolent and charitable elders.”
The case that had been brought to the capital was that of a family named Zheng — unrelated to Zheng Xi’s family, merely sharing the surname.
Old Man Zheng had also engaged in land annexation and concealed some household registrations, but his methods were gentle, and he treated his tenant farmers well. Compared to the local officials who were like wolves and tigers, he was actually rather decent — his family fortune had not been built purely through collusion with the government and seizing others’ land.
The student who was relating this spoke quietly: “Watching, your student could not bear it. The county magistrate was determined to go after him. I had read Chief Minister Wang’s writings, and I thought — Chief Minister Wang could never be the kind of man this county magistrate is. So I… let his son go and file a complaint.”
Zhù Ying said: “Understood.”
The outcome was that the county magistrate had been removed from office, some of Old Man Zheng’s property had been returned, but the concealed fields and concealed households had been registered by the government and would continue paying taxes in the normal way.
Zhù Ying brought her party through all four prefectures in turn, meeting with each of the four Prefects, all of whom invited her to base herself in their territory, and all of whom asked about relief provisions and grain.
Zhù Ying gave the same answer to each: “Let me finish my tour first.”
She continued northward, and half a month later arrived before the first of the sacked cities.
Outside the city, a field of scorched earth — the barbarians, before withdrawing, had set fire to the crops that were nearly ready for harvest.