Although preparations were underway for a relocation, Zhù Ying’s main base was still the mountain city of Zhù County — this was also the most prosperous place in all of Wuzhou. It could not compete with the great cities beyond the mountains in luxury and entertainment, but the contentment of its people was no less than elsewhere.

These three years, life in Zhù County had been harder than before. Able-bodied men were constantly conscripted; people kept dying; even the taxes collected had increased. Now all of that was over. The fighting had stopped, and she had won! Even while still wearing mourning clothes, people’s faces carried expressions of joy — at long last, the hardship would not go on.

Earlier, one family after another had received compensation and rewards, and everyone trusted that what came next was the time to redeem prizes. When Zhao Su again drew people together to prepare the ceremony, he heard no complaints.

In Zhao Su’s view, this ceremony ought to be grand. For one thing, the war had dragged on so long and everyone had lived so poorly that people needed some festivity. For another, this war held great significance — not until this moment had the foundations truly been laid for Zhù Ying and all of them, including Zhao Su, to stand firm in the southwest. It was worth a celebration.

The only pity was that Zhù Lian and Lu Danqing needed to make for the capital early to finalize matters on Zhù Ying’s behalf, and the timing would not allow it. Zhao Su could only reluctantly scale back many items on the program. Fortunately the harvest was already in, and from top to bottom everyone had a free hand. Zhao Su had many people to draw on. Before Zhù Ying had even entered the city, the roads were already swept clean, and the road leading out from the mountain city had been widened somewhat.

Twenty li from the city, Xiang Yu came out to meet her. Ten li from the city, those like Xiang Le from the Governor’s offices were waiting along the roadside. At the city gates, Zhao Su, Su Mingluan, Lang Kunwu, and others stood waiting respectfully. After entering the city, the mountain city’s people also lined the streets to welcome her. People all along the way wore their best clothes and finest jewelry. Adults and children alike waved and smiled. Zhù Ying and her people kept waving back to the crowds on both sides.

At the gate of the residence, Zhang Xiangu was waiting at the front door. Huajie stood to her left and Zhao Su’s wife, Lady Qi, stood to her right, the two of them supporting her. The rest of the household was gathered around Zhang Xiangu.

Zhang Xiangu saw her daughter riding in on a tall horse, and her eyes grew moist despite herself. Her heart kept saying: Finally she’s come home!

Huajie looked at Zhù Ying first, then at Qingjun, then saw Qingye, Qingxue, and the others — and seeing that all of them had come home safely, the smile on her face became genuine. Xiao Jiang also spotted her own daughter, and the two of them even struck a pose of waving to the crowds. Xiao Jiang’s nose wrinkled, she muttered something, then laughed.

Xiang An, among the crowd, caught sight of Wu Ren, and felt a small pang of regret. She had been stationed in Wuzhou to assist Zhao Su and had not been able to go west with the others, and had still not seen the Western Prefecture with her own eyes. Zhù Yin and others felt only pure joy. With Zhù Ying away from home, they had had no shortage of dealings with Zhao Su. Zhao Su conducted himself well enough, but they still felt more at ease around Zhù Ying.

Everyone was happy.

When Zhù Ying saw Zhang Xiangu, she remembered that Zhao Su had mentioned her leg was troubling her, and urged her horse to quicken its pace. Reaching the residence gate, Zhang Xiangu took two steps forward. Zhù Ying jumped down from her horse: “Mother, I’m home.”

“Yes~” Zhang Xiangu seized Zhù Ying’s right wrist with both hands.

Before Zhù Ying could exchange pleasantries with Huajie and the others, a whole crowd bowed in greeting from behind. Zhù Ying said: “Good. Everyone is well. Let us go in and talk at our leisure.” She noticed the Jin Yu brothers and Lin Feng among the faces and gave them a nod.

The troops returned to their garrison. Zhù Qingjun and the others went first to make arrangements. Zhao Su and company ushered Zhù Ying back inside. The onlookers, seeing her figure pass through the gates, gradually dispersed. As they walked on, the elation in their hearts faded without quite knowing why. Thinking of their own family members who had died, and the peculiar flavor of life these three years that was difficult to put into words, a faint, lingering melancholy drifted over their hearts.

Zhù Ying returned to the residence and went first to her room to change clothes. Zhang Xiangu and Huajie had prepared the outfit. She normally dressed very simply; this particular set of clothes, however, was an exquisite, elegant purple robe, paired with a jade belt and gold hairpin. With her upright bearing, and only the long scar on her cheek lending an air of “history” to her face, she looked once again like a clean, familiar, approachable presence.

When she came out to the main hall, Zhù Qingjun and the others had also returned. Nearly every “leading figure” in all of Wuzhou was gathered here. The county magistrates of the five outer counties, with the exception of Lu Guo, had also come. Lu Danqing nudged her elder brother’s shin and said in a low voice: “Where’s Father?”

“He’s fallen ill at home.”

“Then go tell the Old One now.”

Taking his younger sister’s advice, Lu Da took the initiative and told them that Lu Guo had fallen ill: “He went to an old friend’s funeral, fell unwell on the road back, and by the time he got home he had taken a turn for the worse.” The “old friend” was naturally Xi Jin. The Jin Yu brothers, hearing this, felt their faces darken. The mood dipped.

Zhù Ying asked: “Has he seen a doctor?”

“Yes, he is taking medicine, and the shaman has also prayed for him.”

Then came the actual meeting.

Zhao Su reported that venues and everything else were ready, awaiting only Zhù Ying’s word. The moment the words were out, a few people in the hall involuntarily shifted in their seats. To petition the court for an official investiture, Wuzhou first had to prepare its own set of appointments, including having new official robes made — all of this had to pass through certain people’s hands, and it could not be completely kept secret. More than a few people had already caught wind of the news through unofficial channels, and they had all been waiting for this day.

Zhù Ying said: “Everyone is tired today. Take a rest — we will proceed tomorrow. Oh, one more thing: now that the war is over, the excessive taxes must stop. Reduce them to a tenth part, and corvée duty as well reverts to what it was before. Go make the announcement now.”

Zhao Su smiled: “Just right — everyone can share in the good fortune, ease their spirits a bit, and give people the patience to wait for the good news still to come.”

Immediately a squad of yamen runners was dispatched, beating gongs as they went up and down the streets. Ten clerks were also assigned to copy out announcements for posting everywhere — every village and settlement, down to the last one, was to be notified.

That evening, Zhù Ying held no celebration at the Governor’s Residence. Instead, she went to the military camp, brought wine and food with her, ate her evening meal there, and because it was too late to leave, stayed the night in the camp, only setting out to return to the city the next morning.

The next day came the “Grand Ceremony.”

Zhù Ying went first, in proper fashion, to the temple to pay her respects, then sent someone to offer incense at Zhù Da’s grave. Then she announced that she was giving this new stretch of territory a new name — “Annan” — and declared herself the Annan Military Governor, with five prefectures beneath her jurisdiction. Everything else followed the roster she had previously worked out with Zhao Su, Zhù Qingjun, and the others, with each appointment being declared in turn.

After hearing this, Lang Kunwu raised a puzzled question: “Old One — and what about you? Is it only the title of ‘Military Governor’? What does that do? Does it still cover Wuzhou? Split into five prefectures — A’Lian can become a governor too, but what about the other three prefectures? The magistrates and chieftains of the five outer counties had no sons or brothers in the western campaign, so word had not reached them, and he had been out of the loop.”

Zhao Su stepped in to explain.

This stretch of “Annan” could have been divided into six prefectures, but Zhù Ying had drawn one of them somewhat larger and named it “Western Prefecture,” which she held herself as governor.

Zhù Ying said: “I will hold these three prefectures provisionally. I will see who can govern well and bring peace to the people, and then promote that person to hold the post properly.”

A single remark set a number of hearts pounding with excitement.

Next came the military officers. Their arrangement was more complex than the civil appointments — it involved military merits. The reward for military merit was primarily land. Nominally all land in Annan belonged to Zhù Ying; if she granted it to you, you could farm it, and if you could not farm all of it yourself you could sublease it, but you could not freely buy and sell it. The income from it, however, was entirely yours.

Beyond that, there was gold and silk to soothe anxious hearts. Inside the western city currently under construction, each person would also receive a house.

Ordinary native soldiers also each received land and a house, proportional to their military merit. Zhù Ying had planned for resettlement earlier; now that there was no more land to distribute in Zhù County, this was a fine opportunity to move part of the population west along with her to populate the Western Prefecture. The Western Prefecture was closer to the Western Tribes; to defend against them required a certain population. The population left behind by the Pusheng chieftain alone was still not quite enough.

With the full set of arrangements in place, everyone who had contributed received their due reward. Some might not be entirely satisfied, but there was also hope of advancement — all quietly set aside whatever eagerness they had been nursing, and joined in the shared celebration!

Outside the drums and cymbals rang out. In Zhù Lian’s room, Zhang Xiangu was helping him pack his luggage again: “Oh, you only just got back and now they’re sending you to the capital again?”

Zhù Lian smiled: “I’ll get my errand done and come right back. By then we’ll all be living well in Annan.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “Don’t you fool me. I heard them say — I and your aunt are going to the Western Prefecture, and you won’t be in the Western Prefecture. Sigh, you’ve really grown up — you’re even a governor now. When you first came home to us, you were only this tall.”

She held her hand out at a certain height to show.

Zhù Lian was overcome with feeling and deliberately changed the subject. He spoke to Zhù Ying: “Teacher, Annan is in hand. Whether or not the court agrees changes nothing. But given the standing you have now, Gu Tong and the others may well come to congratulate you.”

Wuzhou and Jiyuan Prefecture were very close, and there had always been trade between them. Although no one had been notified, before long Jiyuan Prefecture would catch wind of this.

Zhù Ying said: “I have a plan for them.”

“Will they come and work with us? They seem to…”

“Not compatible in temperament?”

“Well… once I am in the capital, there will inevitably be people I know at the Association. How should I answer them?”

“Wait. Once my investiture decree comes down, I will naturally recommend them for a return to official posts.” Only there would be no place for them in Annan.

Zhù Lian said: “I understand. If I happen to pass them on the road, I will say the same.”

Zhù Ying also packed up gold, silver, and other gifts. The tribute owed the Emperor could be waived, but small gifts certainly could not be skimped on. She specifically prepared a small casket of gold: “This is to send to Lady Zheng for distributing tips.”

“Yes.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “Then bring a little something from me too for Jin Da’s wife.”

“You two talk. I’ll go check on Danqing.”

Zhù Lian and Lu Danqing, though not escorting tribute grain for this trip, were carrying quite a lot nonetheless. Fortunately, the autumn revenues from various places had already set out ahead of them, and the roads were not congested. Whether by water or by land, travel was unobstructed. They arrived in the capital before the twelfth month, by which time the capital had already seen two snowfalls.

The two stopped at the hostel and went first, not to the Board of Revenue, but to deliver calling cards at the Chancellor’s residences. Both Chen Meng’s and Zheng Xi’s households were on their list. Zhù Lian and Lu Danqing discussed it: “Chief Minister Zheng pays the most attention to protocol. If we don’t go to his house first, he will certainly harbor resentment. But Chancellor Chen is genuinely good-natured, and it wouldn’t do to take advantage of honest people. Let us go separately.”

Zhù Lian went to see Zheng Xi; Lu Danqing went to see Chen Meng.

At Zheng Xi’s, the whole Zheng residence seemed to operate at a measured, unhurried pace. Even so he was able to jump the queue and was shown to wait outside the study. It was nothing like Chen Meng’s, where as soon as Lu Danqing mentioned Zhù Ying’s name, Chen Meng had her brought straight into the study: “This year Wuzhou’s autumn tribute didn’t come. What has she done now?”

Lu Danqing said: “There is a letter here. Once you read it, you’ll understand. This matter will also require your assistance, Chancellor.”

Chen Meng hurriedly tore open the letter, swept his eyes over two lines, and the world went black before him: “What? Unauthorized provocation of a border incident?”

“It is the opening of new frontiers,” Lu Danqing corrected. “Did not the Old One explain this to you before? Back when Chief Minister Wang and your father, the late Chancellor Chen, were still alive, she had already told you of her plans. What we say, we honor.”

Chen Meng drew a sharp breath: “She actually did it?”

“The letter says it’s already done. Which is why a certain amount of the accumulated savings was spent, and the court certainly can’t come asking us for this year’s money and grain.”

Chen Meng took a deep breath: “Have you been to Chief Minister Zheng’s yet?”

“Governor Zhù — oh, that is to say A’Lian’s elder brother — he went himself.”

“Governor? Zhù Lian?”

“It’s in the letter.”

Lu Danqing was a little puzzled. The Chancellor had gone blank — he’d read the letter, surely? Wasn’t the part about the Old One making Zhù Lian governor written there?

Chen Meng steadied himself and read the letter carefully a second time, saying inwardly: I truly owe you for this! You want to carve out your own domain — every official there is your own appointment, and you’re making yourself a Military Governor on top of it! Do you want to make the Emperor so angry he dies?!

“Come with me to the Zheng household!”

“All right.”

The party arrived at the Zheng residence. Zheng Xi had only just sat down with Zhù Lian. Zheng Xi also asked the same question: “What has she done now?”

Zhù Lian replied with courtesy: “It’s already done. You know what the Teacher is like — she doesn’t bring anything before you unless she has certainty of the outcome and the results in hand. She has always been the person who puts people most at ease.”

Zheng Xi cursed inwardly, read the letter to the end, then cursed aloud, and asked: “Have you been to Chen Da’s yet?”

“I had Danqing deliver the calling card.”

“Don’t go presenting your memorial to the Emperor just yet. Let me and Chen Da talk it over first.” Zheng Xi quickly composed himself. This was not bad news — it had to be made to work.

Lu Chao came to report: “Chancellor, Chancellor Chen requests an audience.”

“Invite him in quickly!”

The two lucky men came together and very quickly reached a conclusion: “This must go through!”

Zhù Lian and Lu Danqing were overjoyed. Both bowed down: “Thank you, Chancellor, for your help! Great kindness needs no words of thanks — our Teacher has never let people down!”

But Zheng Xi’s expression was not light: “Don’t celebrate too soon. Bring me the memorial. Let us look it over.”

Chen Meng also said: “You may well be summoned for an imperial audience. Do you know how to answer?”

Zhù Lian said: “This was originally a plan taking thirty years to carry out. The Teacher dedicated her entire youth to it, and now I come to report its completion.”

Zheng Xi said: “That’s a start, but not enough. People will try to pick it apart. You must describe Annan as poor soil and sparse people, the Western Tribes as ferocious and fearsome, requiring someone to hold the garrison. The troops and supplies…”

Zhù Lian memorized each point as it came. Chen Meng also guided them, telling them to make the rounds in the capital: “You can visit the households of the Imperial Princesses. Those of the imperial consorts’ families — absolutely do not make easy connections there.”

“Understood.”

Once everything was settled, the two of them took their leave. Zheng Xi said: “Never a moment’s rest.”

Chen Meng remarked: “Shao Shuxin’s errand went splendidly. You only need to put in one share of effort and you harvest two shares of fruit. Not bad.”

“Hmph.”

The next day, the two of them had the memorial forwarded through official channels. As expected, the Emperor read it and was completely taken aback: “What? Was she not in Wuzhou living in quiet retirement? How has she gone and done this?”

Chen Meng stepped forward and described the plan to “contain the Western Tribes,” once again invoking his late father as backing. The Emperor frowned: “I can’t tell whether this is true or not.”

Zheng Xi said: “It must be true. She has never spoken empty words or used deception. Even if it were false, it wouldn’t matter — the court has never collected much in the way of tribute from Wuzhou. All she is asking for is an empty title. The court need not provide anything beyond a single sheet of investiture paper. Letting her hold that position there — it is a fine arrangement.”

The Emperor was faintly displeased: “If she has opened new frontiers, how can she not be bound to the court?”

Chen Meng said: “The very fact that she is petitioning Your Majesty shows she still holds the court in her heart.”

The Emperor felt something was not quite right but could not put his finger on it. “This matter requires careful deliberation. We will discuss it further.”

Zheng Xi and Chen Meng had expected this — a matter of this magnitude, with the Emperor virtually ignorant of conditions in Wuzhou, could not possibly be settled in a few sentences without asking for more details. Both bowed deferentially.

But after the two left, the Emperor had Xian Jing summoned to the inner hall. The two of them spoke for a long while. Three days later, Zhù Lian received a summons to appear before the Emperor.

Zhù Lian had already been thoroughly coached by the two Chancellors and felt there was nothing that could go wrong. But the Emperor merely asked a few casual questions — “How many people does Wuzhou have?” “How long did the road take?” — and then said: “No wonder Zhù Ying recommended you. You are indeed fit to serve as Governor of Wuzhou.”