Zhao Su walked out of the study, paused briefly, glanced in the direction of Su Zhe’s quarters, then strode first to his own office, wrote a short note, and called over a trusted subordinate to deliver it to Su Mingluan: “Take another person with you — the two of you go to my aunt’s place together and put this letter directly in Little Sister’s hands.”

The subordinate accepted the letter and said, “I’ll take Xiao Wuzi with me.”

“Off you go.”

Zhao Su leaned back in his chair for a moment’s thought, then rose and went first to find Xiang Yu.

The governor’s residence and the county office in Wuzhou were in the same compound, making it easy to find people. As he walked, Zhao Su turned things over in his mind: a separate new city really should be built to house different government offices.

Xiang Yu was in his room wiping his face while a servant straightened his clothes. Zhao Su said: “What happened to you? Such a sorry state.”

Xiang Yu put down the cloth, smiled ruefully at Zhao Su, and said: “A drowning man can’t grab hold of a boat to save himself — he’ll grab at any straw and think himself lucky if it doesn’t snap. These people really are something. They just had to stir up trouble at this very moment. Even if they had to cause a scene, couldn’t they at least have waited until our business here was settled?”

Zhao Su said: “Good — you understand the situation. That puts my mind at ease.”

“You flatter me. Whether I understand it or not, I know where my loyalties lie. Where’s the sense in throwing ourselves in for their sake?”

“Did you send someone to escort the messenger back down the mountain? Has anyone from home sent word asking us to plead their case? She is busy with important matters right now — these smaller things need to be managed by us on her behalf.”

Xiang Yu said: “Ah! I gave the messenger supplies and travel money but didn’t send anyone with him.”

Zhao Su said: “Careless! The city hasn’t closed its doors to merchants and travelers, and the school still has students from outside the mountains. If he goes about blabbering and sobbing to everyone he meets, that’s yet another nuisance. Even if it can be dealt with, it wastes time and energy.”

Xiang Yu said: “I’ll make arrangements right away.”

Zhao Su nodded and said: “I’ll take a walk through the city.”

“I’ll come too once this is sorted.”

The two parted to handle their respective matters. The messenger, bearing his mission, had no reason to linger. But a small rumor had already begun to trickle through the city — something about “someone arriving in tears calling for help.” One of the Fulu County residents who had long settled in the mountain city discreetly asked Xiang Yu about it. Xiang Yu said: “After all these years, they’re still making a fuss over nothing. It’s no big matter — nothing that’ll affect how we live.”

The locals were half-convinced, half-doubtful, but seeing that Xiang Yu spoke without any agitation, and feeling a lingering unease of their own, they pressed him to stay and have dinner.

Zhao Su went first to the school to see Huajie. Huajie was preparing examination papers — a batch of students had just been sent out to work, so new ones needed to be recruited. Jiang Zhen and Jiang Bao, who were usually mischievous, were at this moment helping methodically: counting out sets of five sheets, tying them with thin twine, setting them aside, counting the next five.

Huajie heard that Zhao Su had arrived and was rather puzzled: “What does he want?”

Jiang Zhen said under her breath: “Something’s definitely up.”

Jiang Bao also whispered: “Zhao Da Ren is quite up to something himself.”

Huajie’s rolled papers tapped each of them on the head once: “Back to work!” She wiped her hands and went out to greet him.

Zhao Su took two quick steps forward: “Auntie.” Supporting Huajie by the arm, he slowly explained the matter.

Huajie said: “None of them has come to me. But you know what it’s like down the mountain — generations of marriage alliances. A passed-along word, and we can’t stop their families from worrying. These children do trust me, though. If anyone asks, I’ll say I’ll look into it for them. When things are so far away, the news is never quite reliable anyway. Better to know clearly before saying anything. Only with clarity can you deal with things properly.”

“Good, thank you, Auntie. Then…”

The two were still murmuring to each other when Zhù Qingye arrived, and both Zhao Su and Huajie laughed: “Just as expected!”

Zhù Ying had always put people at ease. The three of them exchanged what needed to be said — Zhù Qingye had indeed brought words of reassurance for the students from outside. Female students, with their attentive natures, could hardly help worrying about their families. Zhù Ying’s intention was to make no promises: this group had been half-rendered useless, and she had no plans to keep cleaning up after them.

Huajie said: “All right then. I’ll tell them I’m going to find out more, and that they should focus on their studies in the meantime. What they learn belongs to them.”

Zhao Su said: “I’ll go take a look around outside.”

“I’ll come too once I’ve finished.”

The two feared that Xiang Yu was too young and smooth-faced — however clever, he might still arouse suspicion. Zhao Su walked through the market and found things orderly enough. Asking around, he discovered that Xiang Yu had been invited by two Fulu County men to have tea at a teahouse.

Zhao Su made his way to the teahouse, and his attendant inquired and found Xiang Yu in a private upstairs room. Master and servant went upstairs, just in time to find two middle-aged men asking Xiang Yu: “It’s not something trivial that would disturb my lord. I’m truly uneasy in my heart.”

Zhao Su gave a look. The attendant stepped forward to knock on the door, and someone inside asked not very politely: “Who is it?”

Zhao Su said: “Me!”

Xiang Yu rose and opened the door. Zhao Su entered without ceremony, swept his gaze around the room — everyone inside jumped up and stood at attention with hands at their sides. Zhao Su asked: “The count of seed grain and plowing oxen is still unfinished, and here you are hiding away being idle. What’s going on?” Xiang Yu said: “They insisted on asking — they’re worried something has happened outside the mountains.”

Zhao Su said: “What big thing could there be? If something truly happened, would Gu Weng not come in person? It’s not as though he can’t find her residence.”

Seeing the expressions on the two middle-aged men visibly relax, Xiang Yu felt a certain admiration for Zhao Su, mixed with a bit of vexation: that’s an argument I could have thought of — why didn’t it occur to me?

Zhao Su led him back out, then sat him down to go through the ox count — even off the land, fighting still required supplies, and a portion of the draft animals had been requisitioned for the campaign. With fewer oxen and horses available for plowing, managing the allocation was a greater test of logistics, and the tail end of the spring planting had accordingly slowed. Zhao Su had not made up the excuse.

On the other side of things, Su Zhe had rested well overnight in the residence, and in the morning she attended a briefing. She found herself envying the urgency and efficiency of Wuzhou’s operation. Working under Zhù Ying, life was busy but reassuring — every task produced visible results.

After the meeting ended, with nothing else to do, Su Zhe naturally drifted along at Zhù Ying’s side into the office. Zhù Ying made no move to stop her, so she stood there beside her. Zhù Ying first worked through some documents, and Su Zhe ground ink for her. When the documents were done, Zhù Ying asked: “Today’s official gazette — where is it?”

Zhù Qingye said: “Strange, it hasn’t been delivered. Let me go ask — it shouldn’t be missing.”

Su Zhe looked curiously at Zhù Qingye’s departing back, thinking: now what’s this about?

Zhù Qingye came back quickly and said: “Very strange — there’s no official gazette.”

“Investigate!”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying said nothing more to Su Zhe about other matters, and when official duties were done, she took Su Zhe to the training ground for a bit of a change of scene. The day passed without incident. After dinner, Zhù Qingye came to report: “Every relay station along the route has been checked — no official gazette has passed through.”

“First thing tomorrow morning, if the gazette still hasn’t arrived, send someone quietly out beyond the mountains to find out what’s happening.”

“Yes.”

The next day the gazette still hadn’t come. Zhù Ying dispatched two groups: one to continue going to meet the relay horses, and one to travel the route through Fulu and Jiyuan to make inquiries.

That evening, the group meeting the relay horses had nothing to report. Those heading toward Jiyuan Prefecture had not yet returned. After another day, word finally came — Jiyuan Prefecture’s official gazette was going out as normal. They brought back copies of the gazettes from the past several days.

Zhù Ying read through the official gazettes first. They announced that the superior authority over Jiyuan Prefecture had a new official — a man Zhù Ying knew well: Jiang Zheng, who had previously served as the Governor of Yanzhou. Jiang Zheng had evidently not yet arrived, and his administrative seat was not at Jiyuan Prefecture either.

After reading the gazette, Su Mingluan arrived.

Zhù Ying had her brought to the main reception hall, and did not call Su Zhe to join them.

——

In the reception hall, Su Mingluan felt a certain tension.

This emotion had rarely appeared in her for a long time, but now it surfaced without warning.

Zhù Ying said: “Sit.”

Su Mingluan took a deep breath and sat in the lower seat. Just as she settled, took a sip of tea, set down her cup — Zhù Ying said one sentence: “What have you been thinking?”

The tone was conversational, even carrying a lightness. Yet Su Mingluan dared not be careless. After all, Zhao Su was her first cousin — and not only had he spoken sternly to Su Zhe, but in the short note he had also dropped a few pointed words for his younger cousin.

Su Mingluan’s mouth felt slightly bitter. She said softly: “I’ve been thinking until my head aches.”

“You’re not foolish,” Zhù Ying said. “I appreciate your intelligence, yours and the others’. You, all of you — Qingjun, Danqing, Xiao Jiang, Zhou Wei, and the rest — even Xiang An and Wuren — none of you are the kind who simply parrot others. That’s good. It means I have people to talk with. Someone with nothing to say, no point of view — I can’t reason with them, and I don’t bother. It’s terribly dull.”

Su Mingluan said: “I’m no more than an ordinary person, exhausting myself with ambitions, busy all my life. This morning, looking in the mirror, I wasn’t surprised to find gray hairs — but I was heartbroken to find I’d lost my courage. I have only this one child, and I…”

Zhù Ying said: “Many things — you’ve been sitting in that position long enough to understand them all without anyone spelling it out. As for your family matters, I won’t say more. Because I’m speaking to you and to them, let me be plain: although we are rushing to meet this enemy, my mind is made up — the westward advance is something that must happen. Little Sister told me she wishes to join.”

“Yes. I think the same.”

Yet Zhù Ying said: “I didn’t agree to her request.”

“Our intentions are genuine.”

“Where there is effort, there must be reward — but I can no longer divide the gains the old way. If I can’t give that, then I have no choice but to grit my teeth and do it alone rather than call on others. As for your elder brother’s stronghold — does it really answer to you? Scattered here and there, piecemeal. Each person has their own wish, and I am no exception. I do not wish my wishes to yield to others’. I have served in high office and weighed the affairs of the realm — I will not be satisfied with a single mountain city.

I have A’Jie, I have Xiao Jiang, I have you, I have Little Sister — and I want more. We should not have to be rare curiosities.”

Su Mingluan was silent.

Zhù Ying said: “Words I have spoken always hold. Your A’Ba asked you siblings to live in harmony — I promised to protect them, and that stands. I also swore oaths with the five counties, and what I agreed to then, I will honor. As for other prices — I can no longer pay them. We have known each other for twenty years and have always been on good terms. I do not wish for regrets.

I came back to Wuzhou, and everyone still accepted me — I remember this kindness. Whether it be trade or agriculture, I will continue to support everyone.

I will take their second and younger sons, their daughters — to spare the main family from internal strife. If the imperial court becomes unreasonable, I will continue to protect them — that is the best I can do for them as a friend.

Anything beyond that would exceed my capacity.”

Su Mingluan said: “Then… for what is contributed, what can be gained?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “What do you offer?”

Su Mingluan said quietly: “The elder of the Mountain Sparrow clan has grown old and no longer has the energy to involve himself. My uncles — if they’re not told, by the time they find out, it will already be done. As for the Talang clan, they may have some lingering hopes. I am willing to help you make the case to them, lay out the advantages and risks. So long as the residence’s power is strong, they will have no choice but to behave — and if they don’t, they can be beaten into behaving.

What concerns me is this: how will your ambitions continue after you? Are we simply to wait for the imperial court to appoint some stranger? Or have you already prepared a person — a young lord — for us?

If such a person exists, please let us come to know her early. Without familiarity, it is hard to establish authority. Without authority, it is hard to earn trust.

If no one has been prepared yet, please begin to consider it soon.

Only if your ambitions can be carried on, and if my descendants can accompany those ambitions — then there is nothing I am unwilling to give.”

Zhù Ying said: “In the school in Asu County — among the students, the one you designate as the leader: is it guaranteed she will be the one who comes out on top? Once they’ve spent time together, doesn’t a person naturally emerge whom everyone trusts?”

“What kind of person qualifies to enter this ‘school’? After entering, is it competition? Examinations? Or something else?”

Zhù Ying said: “All of those. And it won’t be decided by a single examination. When I select someone, I must consider every angle — I will ensure she has merit, ability, the respect of the crowd, keeps her word, and possesses an unyielding character.”

Su Mingluan rose and bowed: “I am willing!”

Zhù Ying helped her up, saying: “That means hard times ahead.”

Su Mingluan smiled: “It’s nothing.”

“Let’s go eat.”

Su Mingluan said: “I’m not very hungry. Let’s settle the proper matters first. How many people and how much effort do you need from me?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “Let Little Sister lead five hundred first — same terms as the others.”

“Good!”

——

The first banquet at the governor’s residence since Lu Danqing and the others had gone off to war was well-attended. Zhù Ying was putting on a show of honor for Su Mingluan — not only did Zhao Su’s whole family come, but Erjiang brought their daughters as well, and beyond that there were A’Pu, Xiang Ting, and other young people. The dinner was lively indeed.

Su Zhe wore a relaxed smile on her face — mother and daughter had apparently already talked things over. Su Mingluan carried a faint smile and chatted with Qi Niangzi, asking about Lin Feng’s wife, and Qi Niangzi said: “She’s with child, wasn’t feeling well today, took medicine, and fell asleep.”

Qi Niangzi had never been interested in serious matters, and the topic of pregnancy gave her plenty to say about household life. Su Mingluan showed not the least impatience. Jiang Zhen and Jiang Bao, however, had no interest in such talk, and had long since left their seats to play with A’Pu and the others.

After the banquet, the mother and daughter went back to their room and talked long into the night. Su Mingluan wanted her daughter to return with her, choose their soldiers, and then join the campaign.

Su Zhe agreed with delight!

Upon returning to the main stronghold, Su Mingluan made no secret of the matter — quite the contrary, she was open and deliberate about it. This drew the attention of the clan elders and brothers. Every time Su Mingluan had gone out to fight, she had come back with gains and had brought good returns to those close to her, especially the brothers. As her brothers grew older with ever more descendants, they were keen to participate. On one hand, watching the main Asu stronghold with only Su Zhe as a solitary heir, they couldn’t help but feel a pull to “lend a hand.” On the other hand, seeing how many sons and grandsons they had among them, they also had in mind finding some other means of settling them.

This was also one of Su Mingluan’s original hopes — that there would be more places to “place” her nephews and great-nephews. Her own bloodline was thin, so it was better to send those collateral branches away to somewhere farther.

But if they couldn’t be sent away…

Su Mingluan let out a sigh. She said to her brothers and nephews: “This time it won’t be easy. We’re going to places none of us have been before, and fighting people none of us have faced. People will die — many people. If any of you die, I will grieve, and the A’Ba and A’Ma who have passed on will also blame me. Perhaps better not to go.”

Not participating made it hard to claim good prizes, and their ranking would fall — this was something they were unwilling to accept.

In the great hall it became a clamor. Su Mingluan raised her voice: “It’s not me blocking your good fortune. It’s that this is different from before — it’s a big battle. She deploys the army by official military law. Do poorly, and by the commander’s decree, heads will roll.”

Su Feihu called out, “We know about that!” Su Sheng had come home and told them.

Su Mingluan could only say: “Then let us swear: I agree to let you go, and if there are casualties, you will not blame me.”

“Of course!” they said.

Su Mingluan said: “Also, not everyone can go. Each family sends the one with the best martial ability — someone who can win merit, bring honor to our family, and come back alive.”

That made people unhappy. But Su Mingluan put her foot down: “That’s settled. Anyone whose skills aren’t up to it — not permitted to go!”

Her brothers all stroked their beards and nodded. Su Mingluan said: “And another thing — you must listen to Little Sister. If you won’t listen, I won’t take you.”

Of course they would agree in word! Once there, whether they’d actually obey — well, they’d see how things played out.

They invited the great shaman, and the whole family slaughtered oxen and horses to swear oaths, choose their soldiers, and let Su Zhe lead them first to the mountain city to await orders.

On the other side, Zhù Ying had already ordered Jin Yu to clear out another set of barracks to house this portion of troops — they would need to drill first before entering battle. It wasn’t for any other reason than that Su Zhe couldn’t afford to fall on the field because her soldiers’ discipline was poor.

Jin Yu, leading his own forces, was expanding the camp at the foot of the mountain when a sentry reported: “Fast riders on the postal road approaching!”

Jin Yu said: “If they can pass through the narrow pass, they should be our own people. Go ask — what’s the matter.”

The sentry quickly returned with another piece of news — the Mountain Sparrow clan’s father-in-law had died.

Jin Yu said: “This is bad!” Lin Feng was still at the front!

“Where is he?” Jin Yu said. “Quickly — take him to see her!”