Chen Mei had originally come just to watch the excitement. On Zhù Ying’s home ground, he had no concerns about his own safety. “Mere mountain barbarians,” after all — from the very beginning, he had been certain the Yigan household was heading for ruin.

Though the subsequent events had unfolded exactly as anticipated, Chen Mei could no longer sit still. Whether or not the weather had cooled down the mountain, whether or not Wuzhou’s autumn tax collection was ready — he was leaving. He had to bring word to the court at once. He understood now why the court had been holding back Zhù Ying’s rank.

Old grudges were only one part of it. By the court’s standards for establishing a prefecture, Wuzhou genuinely did not yet qualify as an upper prefecture. But at the rate Zhù Ying was expanding Wuzhou’s scale, reaching that threshold was only a matter of time — and yet Zhù Ying had already run out of patience with the court.

That same day Chen Mei returned to the guest lodge and ordered his luggage packed; the following day he would go to Zhù Ying to take his leave.

He went to the Zhù residence — now also addressable as the county yamen or the Prefecture Office, though the people of Zhù County were in the habit of calling it simply “the Prefect’s home” — to find Zhù Ying and bid farewell.

At that moment the Zhù residence was buzzing with activity. Lu Danqing and the others had each informed their own fathers and elders of their plans. Some had agreed readily, such as the chieftain who was Shanque’s father-in-law. Some had carped and grumbled, such as Lu Guo. Some had wavered, such as Su Mingluan. And then there was Lang Kunwu, who had no arrangements made for his children, only learned of what was happening midway through when he caught wind of it and went to ask Shanque’s father-in-law — it was only then that he understood the reasons.

A crowd had gathered before Zhù Ying. Lu Guo turned on his daughter: “Too headstrong by half, always stirring up trouble.”

Lu Danqing replied, “If Father finds me a nuisance, then just stop worrying about me. I will find my own way. I will not trouble Father in the future.”

Su Mingluan’s lips curved slightly upward. It had been through her assistance that Lu Danqing had been able to come to Zhù Ying’s side; what had caught her eye was precisely this streak of spirit in Lu Danqing. So Su Mingluan was no longer anxious. As the head of a household, of course one’s concerns centered on one’s own family. There was the worry that family members scattered apart would have no power base and be vulnerable to bullying, and the worry that with many dragons and phoenixes gathered under one roof, they would fight amongst themselves.

Having someone above them to anchor and lead them was ideal. What gave Su Mingluan pause was this: she had only one daughter, and Zhù Ying was clearly moving west, deeper into the mountains, and would grow ever more distant. She could not send her own flesh and blood along. She feared that as Zhù Ying’s focus shifted westward, Asu County would fall behind.

Perhaps that was not Zhù Ying’s intention, but the way circumstances developed would not change simply because “she was a good person.” From what Su Mingluan knew of Zhù Ying — warm-hearted enough, fair and just, yet also utterly clear-eyed.

The chieftain who was Shanque’s father-in-law had none of these complicated thoughts. His son had grown up; his wings had hardened and he wanted to fly. Better to let him go than keep him home and risk trouble.

The chieftain said, “He is willing, and I trust the Prefect. That said, he still needs to go home first — he has to take part in the courtship songs one winter and one spring and get himself a wife before that.”

Zhù Ying laughed and said, “Good. I must be there to drink the wedding wine.”

The chieftain cheerfully said, “Is it settled then?”

“Good.”

Su Mingluan made a swift decision. “They will be far from me but near to Grandma. With Grandma managing them, I can be at ease.”

Lang Kunwu watched in silence, unable to make up his mind. The strongholds he had been allotted were far from his main stronghold but close to the Yigan main stronghold — they had been set aside for A’Fa’s younger brothers. Those boys were still small; sending them to manage a stronghold was out of the question. By the time the children grew up and took over the strongholds, Gan County would already be established, and there would be nothing left to share.

The moment Su Mingluan spoke, he instinctively refused to be left behind and said, “I still have a son. The stronghold I just received was intended for him. He is still young, and his mother cannot bear to be separated from him. I will make the decision on his behalf: put the stronghold into the new county as well, and let Grandma take him under her wing.”

With all three of them in agreement, Lu Guo impatiently waved his daughter away in irritation. “Staying home only means more back-talk! Go, go, go.”

Xijin found himself standing alone, and so he said to Jin Yu as well: “The road is yours to choose — walk it yourself.”

The young people were all very pleased. Zhù Ying said seriously to the chieftain who was Shanque’s father-in-law, “Entrusted to my hands, I will not let them be shortchanged.”

The chieftain was perfectly clear-eyed, and offered Zhù Ying his thanks. Lin Feng had been the most smoothly accommodated of all and said happily to his father, “Father, these years I have spent following Grandma have brought me nothing but good.”

The chieftain was exasperated by his son’s foolishness and paid him no mind.

Lin Feng then said to Zhù Ying, “Grandma, how do I arrange the handover with Xiang Erlang and Qingjun?”

Zhù Ying said, “Those of you who want to go and see it for yourselves, go ahead. Those who find it too much trouble — I will have my people send a message.”

Lu Danqing said, “I want to go help, and learn something in the process.”

Zhù Ying agreed. Jin Yu, Su Sheng, and Lin Feng also wanted in on the excitement, and the chieftain who was Shanque’s father-in-law and the others raised no objections. Su Mingluan gave Su Sheng further instructions — how to conduct himself once he arrived at the stronghold, and so forth. Su Zhe and Lang Rui looked on as their former companions reveled in such enthusiasm, and a trace of envy flickered across their faces. They wanted to join in, yet they knew that their own main households needed them, and they stood rooted to the spot.

Chen Mei’s arrival interrupted Su Zhe’s thoughts. When the chieftains saw him come, they all fell silent. The chieftain who was Shanque’s father-in-law said, “Prefect, we will be heading off then. I am leaving the child here.”

“Good. Farewell.”

The elders took their younger family members and departed. Before leaving, there were always some final words of instruction. The autumn harvest at each household’s stronghold also required collecting rent, storing supplies, and holding a harvest celebration — they all needed to go back and oversee it. Su Mingluan’s mother was still ill, and her brother was at home; she especially needed to return.

Chen Mei stood in place, waited for them all to leave, and then stated his purpose.

Zhù Ying said, “In such a hurry?”

Chen Mei smiled ruefully. “Please stop teasing me, good nephew. This trip back to the capital, I am determined to see the matter settled, no matter what it takes!”

“Very well,” Zhù Ying said. “The grain is already being loaded. You have been running back and forth and are quite exhausted — why not travel by boat instead? I have a memorial here that may lend you some assistance.”

The memorial was written in courteous terms: stating her wish to build a road connecting with the outside world, to receive official dispatches, and to strengthen ties with the world beyond the mountains; simultaneously requesting the establishment of Gan County — which would, of course, be counted as a subordinate county under loose governance. But this subordinate county was different from the other counties, for its magistrate was not hereditary but would be selected by the Wuzhou Prefect — in other words, by Zhù Ying. She would choose; the court would issue the appointment. Should she wish to make a change, she would inform the court, and the court would issue a new appointment for the new person.

Which is to say: it would be done as she dictated.

This was presented as being better suited to “educating” the newly submitted populace, so that it would not remain indefinitely under loose governance. Her ultimate aim was to register households and bring the people into the official census, establishing it as a formal state county. Gan County was at a transitional stage — moving from subordinate governance toward regular county administration.

Chen Mei took the memorial, then asked Zhù Ying, “With regard to what you mentioned about Yao Shangshu — do you have any way of handling it?”

Zhù Ying said, “That would depend on the court’s esteemed gentlemen. Whatever course of action is taken, avoid wavering and shifting allegiances — otherwise nothing will be done well.”

Chen Mei noted this as well and asked if Zhù Ying had any other messages or letters to send. Zhù Ying said, “Everything that can be done, I have done.”

Chen Mei said, “What a pity. There is truly no one like you in the capital now.”

Zhù Ying made no response to this remark, but instead said, “Take care on the road. Please give my regards to your parents. Your elder brother is posted as an outside official in Yan Prefecture, and you, though you accompanied me on campaign, have yet to serve in a direct administrative post — that lesson, you still need to make up.”

Chen Mei demurred repeatedly, thinking to himself: This year I have already made two trips to Wuzhou. If I stayed in the capital and kept doing this, I might as well go on the run!

What Chen Mei did not know was that this year, he was destined to make a third trip. At that moment, he was walking from the Zhù residence toward the guest lodge when he ran into Wu Ren, who was leading several people and carrying a crate of paper and writing supplies out of the residence gate. Wu Ren pressed her lips together firmly, gave him a bow, and Chen Mei returned it. Wu Ren let out a quiet breath of relief.

Chen Mei thought: Am I really that ugly? Why that expression?

Wu Ren quietly urged the clerks along: “Quickly, get it to the school!”

Chen Mei hurried to catch up, deliberately starting a conversation: “Young lady, where are you headed?”

“Preparing the examination hall.” Wu Ren said softly.

“Examination hall?” Chen Mei was astonished. He had wandered around Zhù County and seen the school here… what could they possibly be testing?

Wu Ren drew a deep breath and spoke quickly and loudly: “Yes! Officials of this prefecture are to be selected by examination! If the capital can hold examinations, Wuzhou naturally can too! The court has never prohibited examinations!”

Chen Mei was taken aback. “I was just asking…”

Wu Ren said, “Oh. We are going.” She swept away briskly with her people.

Leaving Chen Mei rubbing the back of his own head: Miss Wu really was quite eccentric.

……

Chen Mei prepared quickly. The following morning he descended the mountain. Zhù Qingjun and Lu Danqing and the others had already gone to Gan County; Zhao Su was the one to see him off.

Zhù Ying saw them to the city gate, watched until they had gone into the distance, then turned back. The county magistrates from the various counties had likewise set off for home one by one. Su Mingluan and her daughter, with something on their minds, departed half a day later, intending to have a talk with Zhù Ying. When they returned to the residence and were still thinking about how to broach the subject, Zhù Ying said, “Little Sister, I actually have something I would like to discuss with you both.”

Su Mingluan’s scalp tightened slightly. She asked, “What matter might that be?”

“Salt.” Zhù Ying said.

Salt in Wuzhou was something Zhù Ying had long kept in mind. Production was now largely stable — not only able to supply Wuzhou, but with surplus to sell outside. The salt matter had originally been taken up by Su Mingluan and Huajie at Zhù Ying’s direction. Huajie was far away; Asu County had pressed southward in its exploration and touched the sea coast.

Later, Zhù Ying had found skilled salt-producing households, and Su Mingluan had contributed people and resources, building up to the present scale. It was also for this reason that Su Mingluan received a larger share from the salt production.

She asked, “What do you plan to do?”

Zhù Ying said, “Increase production and sell through official channels. The people of Wuzhou themselves need salt. In the last few months I have noticed salt prices are still somewhat high, and households are reluctant to use much — it is simply not produced in sufficient quantity yet. As Wuzhou grows and the population grows, the need for salt will grow as well — production must increase.

“As for official sales… everything requires money, and the mountain people have a hard enough life already. To ask them to perform labor service, go to war, and pay rent — piling on more taxes is out of the question. Selling the salt outside would be an excellent source of revenue. That way, no new taxes are levied, yet money is obtained. Asu County’s existing extra share remains as it has been.

“What do you think?”

The salt production site was something Zhù Ying had simply scribbled onto a map as part of Asu County’s jurisdiction — but it was genuinely within their territory, so she had to consult with Su Mingluan.

Su Mingluan knew that Zhù Ying held a “grand aspiration” — to push the price of salt down so that every person in Wuzhou could afford to eat it. Just as she had watched Zhù Ying annihilate the Yigan household, then turn around and draw all the strongholds the others had been divided into a single county — all of it carried off with cunning ease. Then, without missing a beat, she had not forgotten her “grand aspiration.”

Su Mingluan said, “Of course I am willing.”

“Then it is settled. For the detailed plan, we will wait for Zhao Su to return and then discuss it properly.”

“Good.”

Su Zhe waited for the two of them to finish talking, then interjected, “Grandma, do you intend to open up territory to the west going forward?”

Zhù Ying said, “Of course.”

Su Zhe asked, “Any newly opened territory needs someone to garrison it, and the larger the territory, the more distant it grows, the harder it is to control. If you want to educate and govern the people, you will put more and more of your heart into the west — and then I will grow farther from you, and you farther from me. What will become of us?”

Zhù Ying asked in return, “What do you think?”

Su Zhe cast her eyes down to the tips of her shoes. After returning to the stronghold, her manner of dress had changed a little. The shoes she wore were in the style of Asu custom, embroidered with bright flowers.

She lifted her gaze and said, “I have not thought it out very clearly. The ancestral foundation should not be lightly abandoned, but to gain something, one must give up something else. It is like the court officials — if one wants to be a high official of the realm, one cannot also serve as a local official in one’s hometown. What should I do?”

Zhù Ying turned to Su Mingluan and asked, “What do you think?”

Su Mingluan said, “I find it difficult to decide as well.” At a time like this, one could not help but wish one had borne more children.

Zhù Ying smiled gently and said, “Pushing westward is absolutely not something that can be done in a single day. We are all beginners at this — we can proceed and observe at the same time. Gan County has not even planted its first winter wheat yet, and people are still fleeing. For it to stabilize will take at least three years. Within those three years, I will not be the one making the first move westward. We have ample time. When you have made up your minds, you can come to me.”

The mother and daughter exchanged a glance. “Yes.”

Su Mingluan said, “Then we will head back first. Once my cousin returns, we will have a proper talk with him.”

……

Zhù Ying was entirely sincere when she said she would not advance further west until Gan County had been fully absorbed. Troops, provisions, and administrative talent — she was still short of all of these.

Beyond that, she did not yet have a deep enough understanding of the western Ka and neighboring tribes. And at present she had two other things to attend to: first, road construction — Wuzhou lacked personnel for planning, and she would have to handle it herself. Second, reviewing and reorganizing Zhù County and Wuzhou in full. Her consistent practice was to hold steady first, get a thorough understanding of the situation, and only then act.

It had now been some time since her return from the south. She had observed enough and the time to act had come.

She had long been away from directly governing a prefecture, and now she took up the work again. She began by building one east-west and one north-south “postal road” within Zhù County’s borders, with a relay station every thirty li. The road was narrow and the stations small, but for mountain terrain this was considered quite good. Even without a promise to the court, she would have done this.

“Only when the roads are open can administrative orders reach their destination,” Zhù Ying said to Xiang An, Wu Ren, and Xiang Yu.

Where administrative orders could reach, armies could reach as well — that was the true meaning of it.

Beyond roads, Zhù Ying also placed considerable emphasis on Wuzhou’s agriculture, industry, and commerce. She dispatched experienced farmers to Gan County, and also inspected the workshops and markets — this was also the reason she had brought Xiang Yu along. The Xiang family were now enormously wealthy and had risen from merchant origins, making them knowledgeable in such matters.

From that point forward, Zhù Ying toured Zhù County’s construction sites every day, occasionally making trips to the various strongholds of Gan County as well, taking the opportunity to survey the geography of Gan County and plan the next road to be built there.

When winter arrived, fire basins were lit in the residence for warmth, and Zhù Da spent two months huddled inside warming himself by the fire. The court sent a new Pacification Commissioner bearing the court’s edicts — establishing Gan County, appointing Xiang Le as county magistrate. And using the addition of one more county as justification, Wuzhou was provisionally elevated to the status of “equivalent to an upper prefecture,” and the Pacification Commissioner brought with him the purple robe.

The Pacification Commissioner was none other than Leng Yun. He had not come alone — accompanying him as vice commissioner was the unfortunate young man Li Yanqing.

Leng Yun was past fifty, Li Yanqing past forty, and both had been thoroughly worn out by the time they reached Jiyuan Prefecture. Li Yanqing had expected the south to be warm; instead it was damp and cold. Leng Yun carried not entirely pleasant memories of the place and was guided into the mountains by Zhao Su.

Once inside the mountains, it grew even colder.

Leng Yun’s mood deteriorated further.

When they reached Zhù County, Leng Yun let out three sneezes in a row, and said to Zhù Ying, who stood at the residence gate to receive him, “You live very comfortably here!”

Li Yanqing cleared his throat softly, murmuring a reminder: “My lord, etiquette. Courtesy.”

Leng Yun replied under his breath, “How am I being discourteous?”

Li Yanqing said, “You are a court minister — toward… toward a lady, ought you not be somewhat…” Less rude than that? Though Li Yanqing himself felt a touch of awkward uncertainty; Zhù Ying wore no hairpins or skirts, no powder or rouge, still dressed in that crisp, alert manner with arrow-cut sleeves and male headwear, looking refined and sharp, without a trace of what one might call feminine bearing.

Leng Yun started slightly — his very first glance at Zhù Ying, and he had quite naturally treated her as still that person who was far younger than himself, of a generational gap fitting nephew or niece.

“Are you truly a woman?” Leng Yun had been in mourning when word came out about Zhù Ying being a woman, and by then Zhù Ying had long since escaped from prison and fled.

Zhù Ying nodded.

Leng Yun said, “That outfit of yours? Should a woman not… dress like a woman?”

Zhù Ying smiled and replied, “I am different from what you described, which shows that women do not have so many ‘oughts’ after all. Please come in.”