Though Yan Chengzhao urged him to stay, Pei Shaohuai still decided to return to Tong’an Town under cover of night.
The eastern shore of Jiahe Island was battered by wave after wave, but the western shore was calm and tranquil. The ferry boat advanced smoothly and steadily.
Pei Shaohuai stood at the bow of the ferry, letting the cool wind blow against him. The mild intoxication had largely cleared. Before long, the ferry docked and Pei Shaohuai changed to a carriage back to the yamen.
In the rear lane of the yamen, the night watchman beat his watch — the clacking sound of the bamboo clappers rang out particularly crisp in the night. It was already the third watch. Yet the eaves lantern in the rear courtyard still glowed, swaying gently in the wind.
Pei Shaohuai moved with light hands and feet, not wishing to disturb his wife and children. Unexpectedly, just as he had gently half-pushed open the bedroom door, he heard Yang Shiyue call out: “Husband?”
He gave a soft “mm” in reply.
Presently the candle inside was lit, and Yang Shiyue came out to meet him.
“Nothing is wrong with me — I only drank lightly, and the intoxication had cleared by the time I returned.” Pei Shaohuai glanced toward the inner room and lowered his voice to ask: “Were Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng well-behaved going to sleep tonight?”
“After dinner they quarreled over who could recite more lines of verse, and kept saying they wanted to wait for their father to come home so they could compete face to face. They kept asking why Father wasn’t back yet.” Yang Shiyue replied. “It grew late into the night, they naturally became tired and drowsy, and only then were they coaxed to sleep.”
“Shiyue, you have worked hard.”
Pei Shaohuai held a lantern in one hand and cupped the other over the flame, stepping lightly into the inner room. By the thin light leaking between his fingers, he saw the two small bundles — one lying flat on their back, the other on their side — sleeping soundly and sweetly.
He also noticed some paper cards scattered at the foot of the bed — these were the flashcards Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng used to learn characters.
Pei Shaohuai gazed quietly for quite some time before turning and coming back out. He had no drowsiness yet, so he lit the lamp in the study and sat at the writing desk, lost in thought.
Yang Shiyue came from the kitchen carrying a sobering soup. Seeing her husband sitting in the study with a slight furrow in his brow, deep in thought, she said: “Husband, have a bowl of this sobering soup first. You have only just arrived here to take up your post — no matter how urgent the official business or how many difficulties there are, they must be dealt with one by one… It is most important to take care of your health.”
“I know what matters most.” Pei Shaohuai took the sobering soup and said: “It is only that there is a thousand loose ends tangled together, and I cannot yet fall asleep.”
“Your wife will sit with you for a while.”
Husband and wife sat together at the writing desk. It began as casual conversation, talking about the sights they had seen recently. As they chatted, they came around to the question of why this location had been chosen to open the seas, and Yang Shiyue asked: “When one place opens, all places open — why did you choose this place to open the seas, rather than a prefectural county similar to Taicang Prefecture?”
Shuang’an Prefecture faced obstacle after obstacle in opening the seas — it was far more difficult than opening the seas at Taicang Prefecture had been.
“Only when this place opens can all places open.” Pei Shaohuai explained: “Along Da Qing’s ten thousand li of coastline, stretching without end, it may seem that the seas could be opened anywhere. In truth, natural harbors suitable for constructing ports can be counted on one hand.”
First, there needed to be a large river’s mouth. Large rivers flow from west to east, with water transport running unceasingly, allowing goods from the interior to be shipped outward in a steady stream.
Second, it needed to resist the force of sea winds and waves and allow merchant vessels to moor easily, keeping ships anchored safely within the harbor.
These two conditions alone eliminated most locations.
“Do you mean that this place cannot be replaced?”
“Precisely.”
Pei Shaohuai arranged small objects on the table and said: “This one represents Taicang Prefecture in the north; this one represents Jiahe Island in the south. The ships of Taicang Prefecture sail south fully loaded, and the shipping lane necessarily passes through here. If the pirates were to seize this strategic key point of the Min region, they could blockade the shipping lane running from north to south. In other words, if the southern lane is blocked, no matter how many more commercial ports are opened in the north, they are useless — equivalent to ‘one place blocked, all places blocked.'”
“Furthermore, as you yourself have seen, this place has nine parts mountain, one part water, one part field. Transport by official road is extremely difficult — a short distance can take days. The kilns of Dehua, the tea of Wuyi, the paper of Shunchang, the sugar of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou… if these goods were first shipped north to Taicang Prefecture and then sent out to sea, would that not be going the long way around, adding transport costs for nothing?”
Choosing Jiahe Island to open the seas ensured the smooth passage of the north-south shipping lane while also bringing benefit to the Min region.
By the small window, in the candlelight, Pei Shaohuai spoke freely, and his mood lightened. Yang Shiyue listened attentively, gaining new understanding.
……
Morning light entering the quiet courtyard, the early sun casting its glow on the garden wall.
Though he had rested late the previous night, Pei Shaohuai was up early again today. After washing and dressing, he sat quietly at the bedside waiting for Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng to wake.
He wanted to make up a little for the regret of coming home so late last night.
As daylight filled the window, the two small bundles finally stretched and yawned, waking up languidly.
Seeing their father sitting at the bedside, they immediately scrambled up and lunged over together, wanting Pei Shaohuai to play with them.
It seemed they had already forgotten about their quarrel over reciting verse the previous night.
Pei Shaohuai asked: “Didn’t you two want to compete over reciting verse last night? Father has a day off from court today, and will stay home to serve as your examiner.”
“But, but…” Xiao Feng scratched the back of her head and said, tilting her head: “After falling asleep last night, it seems I already beat Brother.” Her tone carried a hint of uncertainty.
Xiao Feng was still small and did not understand the concept of dreaming — she had taken what she had seen in her dream for real.
This left Xiao Nan startled, and he said indignantly: “We haven’t even started competing yet — how can Sister have already won?”
Pei Shaohuai could not help laughing aloud, and took the opportunity to explain to Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng what “dreaming” meant.
Yang Shiyue pushed open the door and came in, holding a calling card. She urged Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng to get out of bed quickly and change their clothes, saying: “Uncle Yan will be bringing little Yi’er over shortly.”
Xiao Feng slid down from the bed in a flash, quick as the wind, and had already chosen which outfit to wear today.
Xiao Nan, putting what he had just learned into practice, looked up and asked Pei Shaohuai: “Father, this is not a dream, is it?”
“That’s right — Yi’er is truly and surely coming to play with you today.”
……
By evening, Yan Chengzhao’s family said their farewells and headed home.
Yan Chengzhao, seeing his daughter’s reluctance to part with Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng, conceived the idea of making a home in Tong’an Town.
Chang Fan sought out Pei Shaohuai and asked: “Sir, Qi Family Hall sent over a jar of fine wine, saying it was the blessed wine from yesterday’s ancestral hall sacrifice, sent over to add blessings for the Governor… should we accept it or not?”
Chang Fan had been managing household affairs for a long time and would normally handle such things with ease. It was only because Qi Family Hall was not a single household, but the foremost family name in Tong’an Town, that Chang Fan felt it was better to ask.
For fear of inadvertently spoiling Pei Shaohuai’s plans.
Pei Shaohuai understood — this was a signal sent by Qi Family Hall, and the “blessed wine to add blessings” was nothing but a pretense.
If he did not accept it, Qi Family Hall would not take the next step.
Pei Shaohuai replied: “Accept it — of course we should accept it.” He then instructed: “From now on, all gifts sent by Qi Family Hall and by Assistant Governor Qi are to be accepted without exception, registered, and set aside untouched.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sure enough, after Pei Shaohuai accepted this jar of blessed wine, Qi Family Hall sent gifts with increasing frequency, and the gifts grew ever more valuable.
Finally, on this particular day, Assistant Governor Qi spoke up and said: “Our humble household has prepared some wine and food, and respectfully invites the Governor to honor us with his presence.”
The fox had made its move.
The one arranging the gathering was Assistant Governor Qi, but the one truly wishing to meet was the Qi clan chief.
Exquisite Lanling wine with a rich golden amber glow, served in fine jade bowls — the banquet that Assistant Governor Qi had “modestly prepared” was in fact a lavish spread, with both tea and wine carefully selected.
The Qi clan chief was an old man of over sixty who had passed the prefectural examination — his name was Qi Yu. He displayed his finery openly before Pei Shaohuai, not concealing his air of wealth in the slightest.
As if he wished to use his attire to demonstrate the formidable strength of Qi Family Hall.
During the pleasantries, Qi Yu wore a false smile and flattered Pei Shaohuai: “The Governor is an official personally appointed by the court, with a reputation that precedes him. For Tong’an Town to encounter a fine official such as Magistrate Pei is a blessing for the people.”
One hears nothing but flattery in official circles, and usually the thing to do is to let it pass with a vague response. However, Pei Shaohuai also smiled and flattered in return: “No matter how great a blessing, I am afraid it must first have Clan Chief Qi’s nod of approval before the people can receive it.”
He neither deflected the title of “fine official,” but instead turned it around and placed a hat on Qi Yu’s head — Pei Shaohuai could wear the hat of “fine official,” but Qi Yu might not dare to wear the hat Pei Shaohuai had passed over to him.
Qi Yu had clearly not expected this young man’s very first sentence to counter-check him.
Then he heard Pei Shaohuai say: “Clan Chief Qi may speak plainly.”
Clan Chief Qi and Assistant Governor Qi exchanged a glance, dropped their smiles, and decided to get straight to the point. Clan Chief Qi had no choice but to lower his head and say: “I do not know how large the Governor’s annual salary is, but Qi Family Hall is willing to offer ten times that salary — we ask only that the Governor turn a blind eye and let a little light through his fingers, to leave the people of Tong’an Town a way to survive.”
Assistant Governor Qi let out a soft sigh, with an air of helplessness, and chimed in: “The Governor can also see that Tong’an Town has many people and too little land, and the fields are prone to saltwater intrusion… In a world like this, it is not easy for the people to find a livelihood.”
He struck a pose of earnest devotion to the people’s welfare.
He even worked himself up, his neck flushing red, and challenged Pei Shaohuai: “As the head of this one prefecture, can the Governor bear to watch the people of Tong’an Town be driven to a dead end with nowhere to turn and nothing to do? Can you bear to clamp down on the sea frontier and drive the people to become pirates?”
Clan Chief Qi sought to tempt with wealth; Assistant Governor Qi pressured with the people’s welfare. The two of them were doing nothing more than wanting Pei Shaohuai to turn a blind eye and allow Qi Family Hall to continue its smuggling trade.
The fifth month was nearly upon them, and with it the southerly winds that come from the sea. Borne on the sea wind were ships returning laden with cargo. Summer was the harvest season for Tong’an Town.
“Since Assistant Governor Qi speaks with such passion and fervor, how about this — first return to the people the fields under the Qi household’s name, and then we may discuss what it means to ‘serve the people.'” Pei Shaohuai took a sip of tea and said with unhurried ease.
Pei Shaohuai turned to face Clan Chief Qi and said: “Before Clan Chief Qi opens his mouth to negotiate a deal with me, he ought at least to have inquired — this official has come from the capital, bearing the Emperor’s personal command. Whether or not I am in need of the wealth you speak of.”
Not only was he not in need of it — he held this kind of wealth obtained in such a manner in contempt.
Assistant Governor Qi and Clan Chief Qi had thought that by offering benefits and setting up a proper staircase, Pei Shaohuai would descend step by step. But clearly it was Pei Shaohuai directing the proceedings, even though it was Assistant Governor Qi who had arranged the banquet.
Clan Chief Qi asked: “What the Magistrate seeks is not wealth?”
A governor in his twenties at the fifth rank — how could he possibly be seeking wealth? Clan Chief Qi turned things over in his mind and came up with a new approach.
Pei Shaohuai nodded and said: “What this official seeks is indeed not wealth.”
He did not say outright what he sought.
“I was careless and negligent.” Clan Chief Qi said: “Qi Family Hall will do its utmost to satisfy whatever the Magistrate seeks.” A look of hidden sorrow lay in the depths of his eyes.
Advancement in rank, or accumulation of wealth — if not wealth, then a promotion.
“This official awaits Clan Chief Qi’s new answer.” Pei Shaohuai replied, drinking down the very last mouthful of tea in his cup.
As for drinking wine — that could wait for another occasion. Pei Shaohuai set his tea cup on the table, swept his sleeve, and took his leave.
The fifth month’s southerly winds had arrived. The sea beyond Jiahe Island lay calm and still, with commercial ships nowhere to be seen, hidden away in some unknown place, not daring to show themselves.
And yet on a sunny day, with visibility wide open — a time utterly unsuitable for concealment — a dilapidated old boat came swaying and tottering toward the harbor.
The yamen runners stood waiting at the ferry crossing outside the town and, without the slightest effort, seized this smuggling merchant vessel.
Inside the yamen, a long shout rang out: “Report —”
“Reporting to the Governor — a private vessel has been intercepted at the ferry crossing outside the town. Thirty-one merchants and bandits have been apprehended.”
Pei Shaohuai looked up.
Clan Chief Qi had miscalculated after all.