Zhù Ying made a circuit of the city with Zhù Xinle guiding her horse at the front, pointing out what was here and what was there. Zhù Ying looked out at a scene of utter devastation.
Zhù Xinle said: “There are a few houses over that way that didn’t burn too badly.”
Zhù Ying had memories of this city. She looked, compared what she saw against those memories, and knew immediately that the losses were severe.
The last time she had entered this city it had been prosperous — considerably larger than the mountain city of Zhù County, and more populous. The construction inside the city was not all timber — stone had been used for the lower walls, with brick, stone, or wood rising above to half a man’s height, capped with clay roof tiles. Some of the simpler dwellings were nothing more than wooden plank houses. Once a fire took hold, it burned with complete abandon. Given a little more time, Zhù Ying could almost believe the Western Tribal people could have burned the whole city to the ground.
Zhù Ying did not take up residence inside the city. There was almost nowhere suitable for her to stay anyway. The Pusheng chieftain’s great hall would have been the most fitting, but it had been reduced to ash, dragging down an entire surrounding area of houses with it. Two of the granaries nearest the great hall had also burned. The most prosperous part of the city was entirely a smoking ruin, with occasional corpses of various causes of death half-visible among the debris.
Few people remained in the city now. Most had fled outside the walls and were living in the two camps flanking Zhù Ying — both subsidiary camps were packed to bursting, and Zhù Ying had no choice but to assign over a thousand troops each to guard both encampments.
Zhù Ying made a final inspection of the city’s granaries, estimated the reserves, and let out a small breath of relief — at the very least, enough to feed the refugees for a while. It certainly would not be fine eating, but they would not starve. Her own military provisions were figured separately. The campaign was all but decided; it was time to start sending some of the native troops home. The drain on supplies would ease. Earlier they had also harvested the Pusheng family’s crops, so food could just barely hold out until spring wheat harvest.
Zhù Ying said to Zhù Xinle: “Take your men, divide into four squads, and go through this whole area section by section. Clear away anything useful — stone materials, timber — and stack it neatly. As for the people: those willing to stay here temporarily, don’t drive them away either. Register them all — I will send two clerks to help you. Keep a close watch on the granaries; nothing is to be disbursed without a matching order token.”
“Yes! Old One, don’t worry. We’ve got the strength for it. And my brothers know how to build houses — give us half a month! In half a month we’ll definitely have a fine hall built for you…”
Zhù Ying said: “Don’t build any hall. Just clear the land — I will send craftsmen to help you, and they’ll repair the city gates and walls at the same time. Don’t do anything else.”
“Eh?”
Zhù Ying said: “Although you speak the same language, you came from the Yigan family and then escaped the city to lead me here. Whether it is a chieftain or a slave, it would be no surprise if some people gave you cold looks. Watch out for yourself.”
“Yes!”
Zhù Ying said: “Get started.” With that, she took Jin Yu and the others and returned to the main camp.
The main camp was in high spirits. Native soldiers murmured about how long it had been since they had seen their families. One young soldier was counting on his fingers: “My family can receive an extra twenty acres! He had distinguished himself in battle and would be allotted additional land — no small amount for an ordinary person. He was thinking about whether to swap it for land in the west. Land in the east was already scarce, and whatever was left now would not be well-situated.
Others were calculating: “If we go back now, we’ll miss the wheat planting — but we can have a proper New Year at home, and help with the wheat harvest come spring.”
Even the wounded spoke and laughed freely. Injuries were treated; families would receive compensation: “Either way, I’m alive, and there’s money to come.”
There were somber corners too. In one section of the camp, bodies were being carried in one by one. There was no time to make proper coffins; a length of rough cloth was draped over each. When the cloth ran short, they requisitioned some of the slaves from the left camp and the craftsmen within the army, and with straw wove rough plain mats to wrap each body in. Names and home counties were written on them, and they were loaded cart by cart to be transported home for burial.
In the left camp there was also weeping. War was always cruel, and slaves died most easily. Zhù Ying heard the cries and did not dare neglect them. As dusk fell she walked into the left camp and patiently inquired. She learned that many people in the eastern camp also had family who had died. She assigned Wu Shuang and Jiang Zhen: “One of you stay here continuing the register; the other go to see Xinle, and have the bodies cleared from inside the city brought outside the walls so that people can identify them and help with burials. The weather is starting to turn cold, but unburied corpses breed disease. Move quickly.”
“Yes!”
“Once the identifications are complete and the burials done, report back to me. Get their household registers done quickly too.”
“Yes. Almost finished.”
Zhù Ying then told Su Sheng: “Go keep order in the right camp. Anyone who causes trouble, detain them immediately. My younger sister has already gathered some intelligence on what they did in the past; you will continue to get a full picture.”
“Yes!”
The right camp had been under Su Zhe’s supervision; now that she had been sent off to continue the campaign, that gap fell to Su Sheng. Jin Yu stood by and watched, itching to be included: “Old One — what about me?”
“Come here.”
“Aye!”
Jin Yu followed Zhù Ying cheerfully back to the main tent. The tent was perfectly quiet. Zhù Ying took out a letter and slid it forward across the table: “Your father is gone.”
“Huh? Where did he go? Back down the mountain? That doesn’t seem right… he wouldn’t cause trouble…” Jin Yu’s face went pale with shock!
Zhù Ying nodded: “He has passed on.”
Jin Yu took the envelope, opened it, and sure enough it contained the news of Xi Jin’s death. His gaze lingered at the end on the date. Zhù Ying unhurriedly produced another document, then took out a small wooden box the size of a palm, opened it — inside lay a round seal: “I did not tell you before because your merit was not yet sufficient for a promotion. I am now promoting you two levels. When you return, your rank will exceed your eldest brother’s. This will carry some authority in settling family disputes among your brothers — when it comes time to divide the inheritance, even if there is quarreling, no one will be too brazen.”
Jin Yu hesitated a moment before making the connection to Lin Feng. Even if his own brothers quarreled, he had never imagined it could be as bad as the Lin brothers — that hadn’t even entered his mind just now. He had only a mild question about why the obituary had reached his hands so late.
Zhù Ying produced another document: “I cannot leave my post right now, so I am sending Lin Feng back with you to offer condolences on my behalf. He is also going to deliver orders. Your father has passed; your eldest brother should be the one to inherit.”
Jin Yu lowered his head: “By now he may already have been laid to rest.”
Zhù Ying said: “Count the days — it will be just about right. You can get there in time for the burial. Once you are back, don’t rush to come back here. Make sure to set the affairs at home in order and leave no loose ends. A family should live in harmony.”
“Yes.”
Jin Yu went to pack his belongings. Zhù Ying then gave Lin Feng a thorough briefing and sent him on ahead with five thousand troops: “It has been a long and grueling campaign. Take them back first. Before year’s end, rewards and punishments will definitely be settled.”
“Understood. I will reassure them and explain things clearly. Is there a message for the Great Madam and your aunt? Anything you’d like said?”
Zhù Ying smiled: “Tell them — from now on, the days will be peaceful. Tell A’Lian and Zhao Su: this year Wuzhou will not be sending tribute grain or cloth to the court.”
Wuzhou could barely feed itself, and the largest captured city had been burned down leaving only a small grain reserve — Lin Feng could understand why nothing would be sent to the court as tribute. “But how will we explain this to the court? You are due for confirmation as Military Governor — we still need the court’s official investiture.”
Zhù Ying smiled serenely: “Is that not exactly the point? I opened new frontiers without spending a single coin of the court’s money or a single one of its soldiers. These funds should count as military expenditure. These several newly-held prefectures have all been through war — would the court not ordinarily exempt them from tax and tribute for three to five years as a matter of convention? Consider it already exempted!”
Lin Feng actually felt a wave of relief. This way did seem quite satisfactory.
Zhù Ying pushed forward two letters and several written orders, all for him to carry, and charged him with handling official business along the road as well. Never mind that Lin Feng was leading troops home and shepherding the bereaved Jin Yu — she had loaded him up with any number of tasks. And her own burdens were only heavier!
Zhù Ying stood before the map and surveyed this stretch of territory anew. The original plan had been to use the Pusheng old city as a base, expand and renovate it, and make it the seat of her command headquarters. Now that the old city had burned to that dreadful state, repairing and expanding it would not save that much effort compared to building a new city from scratch.
Moreover, the old city had grown gradually over many years, its layout irregular and its planning rough. Better, then, to build a new city entirely — and a new site could be chosen as well, shifted a little to the east, with a new city planned from the start to be spacious and well-ordered.
She jotted down a few figures, made rough estimates of the materials and labor needed, then made a rough calculation of the grain on hand.
By evening, Zhù Xinle, Jiang Zhen, and the others all came to the main tent to eat. Everyone was busy, yet also happy. Lu Danqing fretted a little: “I don’t know how Elder Sister Qingjun and Little Sister are getting on.”
Qingye said: “There are no urgent reports, and the scouts have picked up no signs of Western Tribal troop movements. It seems all is well.”
This reassured everyone a little. Their greatest worry at present was Western Tribal interference. Fortunately, the Western Tribal people had touched and then withdrawn, which had actually saved a great deal of trouble. Now they only needed to repair the old city, move inside it, and they would no longer fear a sudden Western Tribal strike. Wuzhou had been fighting for three years; it could not afford to fight another war.
Zhù Xinle took the opportunity to report on the cleanup work in the city, and then asked: “Could you spare me some extra hands? It would go faster.”
Zhù Ying said: “Certainly. I’ll give you a thousand men — pick them from the left camp. When you finish, pick from the left camp again and take them to the location I mark off, and start laying foundations.”
“Huh?” Everyone looked at Zhù Ying in surprise.
Jiang Bao asked: “Old One, what are you doing?”
“Building a new city.”
Wu Shuang could no longer hold back: “But there’s one right there already, isn’t there? And winter is almost upon us. Fix up some houses first and get you settled in the city — that would be better. Why build a new city?”
Jiang Zhen chimed in: “That’s right, that’s right!”
By now everyone had figured out Zhù Ying’s temperament: as long as it wasn’t a secret matter, if you were willing to ask, she was willing to answer. When she did not answer, it was something that shouldn’t be asked about — keep your mouth shut after that. If there was something you wanted to learn, as long as she had the time, you just had to ask.
Zhù Ying had her reasons: “Have you counted up the numbers yet? There are more of them than we have troops! The shackles are off, the chains are gone, there’s no work in the fields, and they wake up every morning to eat. Once they’ve eaten their fill, what will they do? So many people crammed into such a small space — will there be quarrels? One quarrel leads to a fight, and then the camp explodes into disorder. You won’t be able to contain it. Once it spirals into chaos, all the fighting of this last battle will have been for nothing.
And besides — while they work, it is also a chance to sort out the rules, teach them the official tongue. Watch during the work for anyone sharp and capable; find the right people and have them carry on to learn to read and take on responsibilities.”
Zhù Xinle said: “But one of my brothers who knows about construction says the materials we have right now aren’t even enough to repair the old city. A new city is even more of a problem. And if the Western Tribes stir up trouble again…” The few men sitting close to the tent entrance who knew him well nodded along. These men were of slave background who had been put forward because their minds were sharper than most, and they had quite naturally thought of the same things Zhù Xinle was thinking about.
“That is precisely why we start with the foundation — and then fell trees, quarry stone from the mountains. What isn’t enough, we requisition from the surrounding prefectures and counties. The idle people must have things to do!”
Master Hu’s elder sister added a word: “But you can’t have the elderly, the small children, and people like that all doing heavy labor.” That much common sense she had. Construction was heavy work. Old people, children, teenagers, and many women — you couldn’t just send all of them to the construction site.
Zhù Ying said: “Pick out from our own soldiers those who know how to farm, and have them start planting winter wheat and clearing land. In short, everyone must have something to do. Since they are going to work, let them do something useful. In the beginning, no need to rush — just first get the people organized.”
Everyone’s questions had been answered, and they all found Zhù Ying’s arrangement sound. They bowed together: “Yes.”
Zhù Ying then turned to Su Sheng: “Have you finished getting to the bottom of the right camp’s worst? Tomorrow, drag out a few of the most brutish and cruel — those who tyrannized and killed innocents — and bring them to the eastern camp. I want to pass judgment on them in person!”
Su Sheng also gave his acknowledgment.
And so, in all things following Zhù Ying’s plan, Zhù Ying seized hold of a string of brutal chieftains, recited their crimes in detail — tyranny, unlawful killings, and more — and had them beheaded publicly, drawing cheers from the eastern camp, which then grew more compliant. Among the chieftains, even those who had merely cut off a slave’s hands or feet were ranked among the most vicious. After several days of such trials, Zhù Ying seized the opportunity to declare the abolition of all slave status — all slaves were to become free commoners.
The crowd was not particularly surprised. Ever since arriving at the eastern camp, apart from armed native soldiers who stood guard, the slaves had not been kept in chains. Zhù Xinle and the others had been saying all along that there would be no more slaves. Now that it was made official, everyone smiled and celebrated.
Zhù Ying gestured for her attendants to strike the gong. The scene quieted. She then announced that she required their labor to build a new city, along with the farming arrangements.
This time everyone was in a daze, and with a few of the sharper people leading, they answered in a ragged chorus: “We will work hard.”
Zhù Xinle and the others had been proclaiming all along that Zhù Ying would come and give everyone livestock, farmland, and houses. People had only half-listened. They had fled because the city had become uninhabitable. Since coming here, the food was there and there was no beating — that was already more than they had expected. Livestock, farmland, houses? Those were things they hoped for in their hearts, but that such hopes might actually be fulfilled had never quite felt real.
Even without livestock and farmland, people still had to live. If they were told to work, then work — as long as work meant food.
Zhù Ying then said: “I promised that when you came, I would keep you fed and clothed. Have you been fed and clothed these past days?”
Indeed! Life these past few days had been noticeably more comfortable than before, and it wasn’t as if anyone had refused to work. The crowd murmured their assent once more.
“Your registers are already complete. Livestock, land, and housing will be distributed by headcount — how much everyone gets depends on how much work everyone puts in during these days.”
The crowd below buzzed with discussion and disbelief. Zhù Xinle and others again stepped forward to testify from personal experience. Slowly people began to believe. Zhù Ying began reorganizing them into units of five and ten, with households as the basic unit, assigning conscript labor and giving out tasks.
Zhù Xinle meanwhile pressed on with the cleanup of the old city, remaining ever on guard for Western Tribal movements.
Only after the city gates were rehung did Zhù Xinle break into a smile again, and he urgently petitioned Zhù Ying to move into the old city, arguing that the main camp was not as safe as a place with proper walls.
Zhù Ying shook her head: “You don’t understand. That old city — it is going to be demolished in the end.”
“What?!”
“We are holding onto it for now because the walls of the new city haven’t been built yet. Once the new city’s walls are up, the materials from the old city will be transferred there to build houses.” That way there would be no trace left of the Pusheng chieftain’s existence in this land.
Zhù Xinle said: “Even so, that will only happen after the new city is done. For now, the old city is safer.”
Zhù Ying shook her head: “That won’t do. I cannot leave this main camp. Only when these people can see me will they stay calm. To establish ourselves here, we need their trust. I cannot move. You just keep the old city in good order.”
Zhù Xinle was frustrated: “Then I’ll move back here. Let Deputy Lu or those three young ladies go into the city. I have thick skin and tough flesh; they’re young women, and the city is better for them.”
“Any hardship you can endure, they can endure too. Once the old city is cleaned up, come right back and lead your people to start laying foundations.”
“Yes.”
On Zhù Xinle’s side, he split his men into two shifts and kept them working continuously without pause. At the same time, Zhù Qingjun and Su Zhe sent word of their victories, and additional clerks and scribes were also requested to go and manage the intake of the newly-taken settlements.
Even faster were Zhù Lian and Zhao Su. The two of them ran into Lin Feng and, the moment they read the letter, could not be bothered with anything else. They raced west with everything they had — the war was over, and yet the person herself was not coming back, and had actually decided to stay and build a city? The two of them charged into the main camp, but Zhù Ying was not in the tent — she had gone out to check on the progress of the construction sites. She came back after receiving word and met them halfway.
The group exchanged formal greetings. Zhù Lian said: “I also brought Wu Ren along — she’s in the main camp, and she’ll get to meet up with Wu Shuang. Jiang Wan gave birth to a son. She originally said he would follow the father’s surname, but the father wouldn’t agree.” She piled up an entirely unrelated piece of news on top of everything else.
“Oh? Why not?”
“The two of them fled here together precisely because the man’s birth was undistinguished — he was an outside son. He looked refined and literary and could read and write, so Jiang Wan’s parents wouldn’t have ordinarily chased them out. The first wife of the family refused to let him be formally acknowledged, and Jiang Wan’s parents didn’t want to give their daughter to him. So the two of them ran away. The family doesn’t recognize him, and he is nursing a grievance.”
Domestic gossip was duly recounted in full.
Zhao Su was the same. From Zhang Xiangu’s old aching legs he moved all the way to the fat cat’s twenty jin of weight.
Only once they stepped inside the main tent did both their expressions change. Zhù Lian spoke first: “The campaign is decided. You should not still be in a place this close to danger!”
Zhao Su added: “You have caused the Great Madam great worry!”
Zhù Lian continued: “Leave the remaining operations to Qingjun. You should go back and preside over the broader situation.”
Zhao Su said: “The earlier plans must now be put into action! Not sending tribute to the court — I have already notified Governor Jiang; this year we won’t follow his lead. But who will we send? How should the memorial be written? Everyone is waiting for you to come back and give a final word. How can you still be here? Even if this place will become the new city, you should wait until it is built before moving here!”
They had a whole list of reasons: first, the war was all but finished, and the soldiers who had already been sent home on rotation needed their rewards settled and their bonus decrees issued. Second, the “civil officials” — with roughly five or six prefectures now under Wuzhou’s control, how should appointments be made? So many people were watching and waiting. Third, the court — how would she handle it?
Her “center of operations” had previously been in the mountain city to the east; now she herself had come to the west — she had to either have everyone come to see her, or she had to go back. Either way, she had to gather everyone in one place and give a final word!
Of course, the two of them were recommending — go back, at the very least for the New Year.
Zhù Ying said: “Everything is ready — you two go back first and tell everyone. I will set out in half a month. A’Lian, you and Danqing will be joint envoys — go to the capital to present the map and request the imperial investiture.” She had them take another portion of the troops back along the way to be demobilized.
Requesting imperial investiture meant that within Wuzhou’s territory, the settlement of merits and the assignment of each person’s position had to be worked out first.
Zhù Ying had been drafting an arrangement during these days: “Good — let us discuss this now.”
For military affairs, Zhù Lian and Zhao Su were not well-informed, so Zhù Ying did not let them weigh in. Their primary role was as advisors on the appointment of local officials for each prefecture and county.
Zhù Ying would hold three prefectures herself as governor. Wuzhou would go to Zhao Su as governor. Zhù Lian also received a governorship. Zhù Qingjun and the others all held military positions. In addition, Xiang Yu and others received county magistrate postings. Zhù Ying listed all at once a roster including one general, twenty company commanders, three governors, and thirty county magistrates, with corresponding subordinate positions listed accordingly.
The centerpiece was the “command headquarters” — i.e., the Military Governor’s staff. Zhù Ying brought Su Zhe, Zhù Qingjun, Wu Ren, Su Sheng, Lin Feng, and others all into the headquarters.
The two of them endured seven days in the main camp, made minor adjustments to Zhù Ying’s roster, and then — not being able to linger further — went back with the list finalized. Zhù Ying wrote the memorial and they prepared for departure.
Zhù Qingjun and Su Zhe also returned in triumph. Zhù Ying met with the two of them again to discuss military merits and rewards.
Half a month later, Su Sheng and Lin Feng returned. Zhù Ying ordered Lin Feng to hold and garrison the new and old cities; Su Sheng pressed westward to guard the passes. Then she herself led her forces home!
Though the campaign had not gone entirely according to plan, and there had been some dangerous moments in between, it was finished at last!
Barring unforeseen events, by next spring all her plans would be fully realized, and the title of Military Governor would be in hand. From there, it would only be a matter of letting the land recover and the people rest.
On the journey home, Zhù Ying was in a fairly light mood.