This was perhaps the greatest spectacle Daxing City had witnessed in over a decade. The wedding of the Ning Army’s Grand Marshal brought radiance to the entire city.

And yes — it was not that Daxing City honored him because Tang Pidi had chosen to marry within its walls. It was that because Tang Pidi had chosen to marry within its walls, Daxing City was honored.

Compared to the wedding of the previous Chu Emperor, this celebration felt far more genuine in its joy.

In the words of the common people: the Chu Emperor Yang Jing’s wedding had felt less like a celebration and more like a superstitious ritual to drive away the misfortune of a dynasty on the brink of death.

Tang Pidi’s wedding was something the entire city of Daxing could share in — a chance to absorb a little of the joy.

One could even say that once news of the Grand Marshal’s wedding spread across the realm, all the people of the world would be glad to share in that happiness.

—

In the ten days following the wedding, Li Chi and his council of officials remained absorbed in other affairs. The question of how to improve governance over the common people alone was enough to consume their full attention.

Lu Chonglou, who had been inspecting local regions on Li Chi’s behalf, also returned to Daxing City. Though he had not been acquainted with the Grand Marshal, he arrived in time to hear news of the wedding.

In the following days, he came to Xinyuan early each morning to speak at length with Li Chi, reporting in careful detail everything he had observed during his travels through the regions.

This man had a remarkable mind — and the way he thought differed from other officials.

Even among officials with reputations for wisdom and benevolence, most had only a shallow understanding of governance.

What they called “putting the people at ease” did not truly mean putting the people at ease. It meant doing something sufficient for the people to accept — so that the official himself could rest easy. So that the court could rest easy.

For a local official, being able to rest easy was not unimportant — it was everything.

Lu Chonglou approached the problem from two directions. First: how to genuinely put the common people at ease, in real contentment, with genuine hope for the future. Second: how to, within the constraints of the first, spare the court a reasonable degree of trouble.

When Lu Chonglou traveled through the regions on his inspections, he would often repeat a phrase — his colleagues had all come to know it as his personal motto:

*”As long as officials don’t create trouble for themselves, the common people won’t create trouble for them.”*

This time, after his travels, Lu Chonglou compiled a memorandum of over ten thousand characters. It carried tremendous weight.

Seated to one side, listening in quiet, were several others — including Yan Xiansheng, and Xu Ji.

Xu Ji had made his way from Jizhou to the southern territories, and the journey had gone rather well for him.

He understood: Prince Ning had transferred him from Jizhou all the way south. Even a lateral appointment, at the same rank, meant that he was valued.

As long as Prince Ning valued him, it meant that all the mistakes he had made in the past had truly, genuinely, turned a new page.

*”Xu Ji,”* Li Chi said, extending the memorandum toward him. *”Read it.”*

Xu Ji rose at once, accepted the document with both hands, and read carefully. Though he had already heard Lu Chonglou speak, and had filed the man away firmly in his memory — reading through what Lu Chonglou had written now, Xu Ji felt an involuntary sense of urgency rising within him.

This Lu Chonglou was simply too capable.

One could debate what constituted unrivaled martial ability — the gap between practitioners of different levels was easier to assess in martial arts. Official ability was harder to measure — it was less obvious who carried deeper knowledge within them.

But as Xu Ji read, he thought: this Lu Chonglou truly knows how to govern. A man like this would eventually rise to the highest ranks of the court.

Xu Ji committed the name to memory — not merely as a rival, but as a threat.

A rival and a threat, within the same system, were two different things.

Just moments ago, when Xu Ji had seated himself, he had been thinking: if Lu Chonglou’s proposals contained any gaps, he could easily interject with a few casual additions. Occasionally, saying less was more — land the most important point at the right moment.

But when Lu Chonglou finished speaking, Xu Ji had found no opportunity to say a single word.

Reading the memorandum from beginning to end, with all of Xu Ji’s ability — he could find nothing to add.

The feeling was deeply unsettling.

*”You two should consult frequently after this.”*

Li Chi said: *”Chonglou knows the situation in Jiangnan better. Xu Ji has more experience in governance. Together, manage the affairs of Jiangnan’s people well — and that will determine how quickly the hundreds of millions of Jiangnan residents can begin to live good lives.”*

Lu Chonglou immediately rose: *”This subordinate is willing to assist Deputy Xu.”*

Xu Ji also rose at once: *”Commissioner Lu should be the primary official. I am willing to assist and support him.”*

Li Chi smiled slightly. Lu Chonglou’s words were humble self-deprecation; Xu Ji’s words were a statement of position.

Lu Chonglou prostrated himself: *”This subordinate would like to continue traveling — to see more of the farther territories. Yuezhou in particular is in a state of collapsed law and disordered governance. I will compile what I observe there and submit it to Deputy Xu to determine the appropriate course of action…”*

Before he could finish, Xu Ji was already preparing to express his position again.

But Li Chi spoke before Xu Ji could: *”Since you intend to travel further, do it as you see fit. I’ve transferred a number of talented young people up from Jizhou — all well-read men, who lack only the experience of travel.”*

He turned to Yan Xiansheng: *”Compile a list of names for Lu Chonglou to choose from. Let him pick his own team.”*

He looked at Lu Chonglou: *”Many local governments in Jiangnan no longer exist. The common people have no one to appeal to. This time, take a larger group with you. I grant you the authority to act independently — assess each person’s abilities and assign them appropriately. If someone is capable of serving as a county magistrate, appoint them as a county magistrate. If someone can manage a prefectural seat, let them manage the prefecture.”*

That was an enormous grant of power.

When Xu Ji heard this, his expression shifted — though he worked to contain it.

He had come to Daxing City without a clear formal appointment yet. But he had his own assessment of what it would be.

If Jingzhou was being built up as a rear base for the Shu campaign, then Prince Ning would likely keep him in Jingzhou to hold the rear. Just as he had once managed logistics against the Black Wu — he had done that job extremely well.

If Prince Ning chose Liangzhou or Jingzhou as the main base instead, then he might be posted somewhere farther — somewhere like the currently ungovernable Yuezhou.

The harder the posting, the better, as far as Xu Ji was concerned. Others might see an assignment from the prosperous center to some remote backwater as a slight. But this was precisely what Xu Ji hoped for.

Bringing order to Jingzhou was no great feat — Prince Ning’s forces had already fully consolidated control there, and most local government offices had restored normal operations.

Yuezhou was different. Chaotic, impoverished, remote, unpredictable.

To bring a place like that to order — now that was a future with no ceiling.

He had even calculated it himself: if within three years he transformed Yuezhou, then when Prince Ning proclaimed himself Emperor in Chang’an, Xu Ji would be recalled to the capital and appointed Chancellor.

And now, Prince Ning had just given Lu Chonglou that same enormous authority — to dispatch officials and appoint positions across Yuezhou.

How could Xu Ji not feel it keenly?

Even if Prince Ning now turned to him and said, *”Go to Yuezhou as military commissioner,”* he would not feel nearly as pleased as he should.

Lu Chonglou would arrive in Yuezhou ahead of him, bringing a full complement of officials, appointing local positions according to his own methods.

By the time Xu Ji arrived — what would be left for him to do?

To earn the loyalty of subordinates, to make them willing to serve — the most essential method was to bestow favor. These young talents from the north, if they had traveled south with Xu Ji and received their appointments through him, would have been his men.

*”Xu Ji?”*

At that moment, he heard Li Chi call his name. He immediately rose and apologized.

*”My mind was absorbed in Commissioner Lu’s proposals — I missed your words, my lord. This subordinate deserves reproach.”*

Li Chi smiled. *”Being absorbed is a good thing. Only by being absorbed can one do things well.”*

*”To lose focus while my lord was speaking — that was truly inexcusable.”*

*”Think nothing of it — it doesn’t matter.”* Li Chi rose and paced as he spoke. *”I brought you all the way from Jizhou for a reason — to do more for the people of Jiangnan, as you once did in Jizhou.”*

He turned to look at Xu Ji: *”The greater a person’s ability, the more they must go to the hardest places — so that the hardest places can improve more quickly. If I were to send you somewhere remote and difficult, would you be willing?”*

At this, Xu Ji felt a chill inside — yet he still bowed and said: *”This subordinate follows my lord’s appointment. Wherever my lord sends me, I will go.”*

*”Good. If you were unwilling, I would reconsider your placement.”*

*”To serve my lord, to bring prosperity to the people of the Central Plains — I am willing to go wherever I am needed.”*

*”Then go to Yuezhou. Once Lu Chonglou has first surveyed the situation there and laid the groundwork, you will go to Yuezhou as Military Commissioner.”*

At those words, Xu Ji suddenly understood.

All those young talents were being transferred from the north. Prince Ning could not possibly trust a single person to fill every opening in the appointment roster.

Who could guarantee there was no connection between those men and Xu Ji? They were all from the north — could one truly ensure that appointments were made purely on merit?

Giving that role to Lu Chonglou was entirely different. Lu Chonglou was unfamiliar with these people — he could only build an understanding of them during the journey south. He would then use that understanding to assign them appropriately. In this way, factional entanglements could be avoided.

And Lu Chonglou knew the south intimately — the local conflicts, how to resolve them — he could serve as counsel to these young officials. Xu Ji could not do that.

At that realization, a cold sweat broke across Xu Ji’s back.

If his reactions just now had been even slightly more visible, his future would have become genuinely murky.

*”This subordinate obeys.”*

Xu Ji knelt fully to the ground. *”I am willing to stake my position on this. If I cannot bring Yuezhou to order, if I cannot give Yuezhou’s people peace and prosperity — I accept any punishment.”*

Li Chi smiled and leaned down to help Xu Ji up: *”The harder the place I put you, the more you should know how much I value you.”*

He placed a hand on Xu Ji’s shoulder and patted it: *”You possess great talent — not merely the talent to govern one place. So you must be all the more careful. Do you understand?”*

*”This subordinate understands.”*

—

That evening.

In his quarters, Xu Ji held counsel with his attendants, who were indignant on his behalf.

*”Where did this Lu Chonglou come from? How can Prince Ning favor him so?”*

*”Exactly.”*

*”This man is practically sitting on top of the Commissioner already.”*

*”‘Practically’? He’s already there.”*

Xu Ji listened until he was tired of it. He waved a hand. *”Enough.”*

The room fell silent.

After a long pause, Xu Ji gave an order: *”Dong De — take a group of men and shadow Lu Chonglou’s journey south in secret. Find me something about this man that doesn’t bear the light of day. Prince Ning values him for now, so I can’t move against him directly. But I can’t afford to lose to him either — so I must have something in hand at all times…”*

Xu Ji let out a long, slow breath. *”I cannot afford to lose to anyone…”*

—