“Is that so?” Zhù Ying asked.

Su Deng gave a helpless smile. “It is. The foreign-learning school has a limited number of places — I’m not sure whether we can take them in.”

The foreign-learning school was not something Su Feihu could simply dictate to. Su Deng, having received Su Feihu’s request, still had to first report to Chou Wen. Chou Wen also found the situation awkward and so sent Su Deng to ask Zhù Ying for guidance.

Zhù Ying said, “If he’s willing to learn, teach him properly.”

Su Deng said, with some difficulty, “But he has six children! If we take his in, we’ll have to take in the Mountain Sparrow family’s children too.”

Su Feihu had nine children, of whom six had survived. Lin Miao alone had brought two children down the mountain with him; there were more still up in the mountain stronghold. The foreign-learning school had a cap on enrollment.

Zhù Ying said, “Couldn’t you just open a small schoolroom dedicated specifically to language instruction? No teachers? “

Su Deng said, “There aren’t many people who speak the official language. Some who speak the Wuzhou dialect are available. Just because someone can do something doesn’t mean they can teach it — knowing how to speak a language doesn’t mean you can teach it to others. And then there’s the official language itself — Miss Zhu has been filling in to teach some of those classes, but she has other things to attend to as well. I’ve heard that… the Lady Jiang speaks the official language excellently. I wonder whether she might be asked to help?”

Zhù Ying said, “You and the others can work that out yourselves — I won’t be involved.”

Chou Wen thought to himself: As long as you don’t object, I’ll go and try.

Zhù Ying went with him to take a look at the small adjacent schoolroom. It had been built but was sitting empty, going to waste. Zhù Ying and Chou Wen discussed the matter and immediately decided to put the small schoolroom to use, admitting people with no prior foundation to study some basic literacy and arithmetic — just two or three years’ worth, enough for everyday use. The prefectural seat would subsidize half the cost of living expenses, and enrollment could include the children of merchants from various tribal groups living in the city and similar families.

Only at the end did Zhù Ying add, “Work hard for a while first. Once their language skills improve, I’ll find you new teachers.”

Chou Wen immediately asked, “What kind of teachers?”

Zhù Ying said, “People who have studied properly.”

Chou Wen was overjoyed. “I will push their coursework harder! Anyone who picks fights again will be punished severely. With proper books to read, wasting time on such things is unacceptable.”

“Don’t worry too much about the occasional minor scuffle. If they really have too much idle energy, have them compete in archery, footraces, or horsemanship — whatever you think suits them.”

Chou Wen said, “They’re already reading books, and still they cause trouble.”

“We can’t have their spirit dulled just because they’ve come down to study. Two competitions a year — I’ll provide the prizes.”

Chou Wen agreed.

Zhù Ying said, “Then it’s settled — in a couple of days I’ll send the students over.”

“I’ll definitely admit the students. But please don’t forget about the teachers you mentioned.”

“I won’t forget,” Zhù Ying said.

Her mention of providing teachers for the foreign-learning school was not an impulse of the moment — she had thought of it before going up the mountain in the second month. The head of the prefectural school had already prepared the list of students she requested: all twenty-seven years of age or older, meaning those approaching the maximum age.

The head of the school, wishing to do right by these students, did not leave after handing the list over to Zhù Ying’s desk but remained firmly seated in the signing room, waiting for Zhù Ying to return.

When Zhù Ying returned to the prefecture, she had planned to call for Su Feihu first to tell him that arrangements at the foreign-learning school were ready, and that she intended for Su Feihu’s several children — including the young female cousin Su Zhe liked — to start studying language there. If Su Feihu was willing, he could also sit in as an observer, since learning basic conversational phrases was something he certainly needed.

For Su Feihu, life in the city of Wuzhou was even more tedious than life in the mountain stronghold. Here, as there, he had nothing useful to do. As long as the language barrier persisted, he would continue to be unable to do anything useful and would simply carry on rotting in idleness. That was not good for him.

Having formed this plan, when told that the head of the school was still waiting for her, Zhù Ying went to see him first.

The head of the school sat in anxious discomfort.

Several days earlier, a group of scholars from the former Fulu County had arrived together in the city of Wuzhou, on their way to take up their new posts. When Zhù Ying announced their appointments, she had gathered the current prefectural school students together with them.

To many, this gesture carried a secondary meaning: the current prefectural school students were far more fortunate than their predecessors, and the prefect might perhaps be able to secure official posts for them as well.

Yet the prefect had not said so plainly, and most of the students were finding it impossible to concentrate in class.

At last, the head of the school got his audience with Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying stepped into the signing room and returned the head’s bow. “There’s no need for ceremony between you and me — please sit.”

The head of the school remained standing. He picked up the list and presented it formally to Zhù Ying, saying, “The list you requested is here, but I don’t know what the prefect intends.”

Zhù Ying said, “I have some arrangements in mind.”

The head of the school said, “When the prefect called them together with those who are about to take up their posts, their hearts all stirred. One by one they have been distracted and unable to apply themselves to their books. Whatever the prefect has in mind, I respectfully ask to be informed clearly, so they can be set at ease. They are still young and not yet steady — this is unsettling to their spirits. They are still young, unsettled — this is an agitation to their minds.”

Zhù Ying glanced at the list. “I have a number of things at hand that require people. Go back and ask those on the list whether they would be willing to come and help me.”

“These are official school students. Does the prefect mean to have them serve as ordinary scribes?”

“Scribes? Those are salaried positions on the official register — do they think they deserve that? They wish they were so fortunate!” Zhù Ying said with a light tone of amusement. “Come and help me, follow my instructions alone, and I’ll provide meals.”

The head of the school was stunned. “What?”

Zhù Ying said, “Wuzhou is only just taking shape. These are the school’s own students from this prefecture — surely they should contribute their part?”

“Is this… a conscription?”

“I only provide meals.”

The head of the school thought over these students’ circumstances and qualifications and then asked, “And the other students?”

“They are still young — they should study properly!”

“Understood.”

The head of the school went back to the prefectural school, called together the students on the list, and asked whether they were willing to answer the prefectural seat’s call. Zhù Ying offered only meals — not so much as an official title — which made it impossible to call it a “conscription.” Some students were willing, others hesitant. The head of the school felt there were no guarantees in this arrangement either, and did not press them hard, letting the students consider it on their own.

Zhao Zhen was not within the age range specified. He happened to overhear two classmates whispering about it, and rushed at once to find the head of the school. “Head, the prefect is calling people in — does it absolutely have to be someone twenty-seven years of age or older? If you’re not that old, can you still go?”

The head of the school glared. “No one called you — what are you meddling in? Your priority should be your studies! Unlike before, times have changed. You’ve caught a good moment — put in two more earnest years and it’s not unthinkable you could become a tribute scholar and go to the capital.” Besides, this boy was still from Fulu County.

Zhao Zhen thought to himself: I could perhaps become a tribute scholar. But a tribute scholar is still a long way from being an official. There are more examinations to pass after that, and then everything depends on the Ministry of Personnel’s mood.

“In that case, isn’t it better to start doing real work under the prefect right now?” Zhao Zhen had made up his mind to go no matter what, and pressed the head of the school to put in a good word for him.

The head of the school would absolutely not agree. But Zhao Zhen had more avenues than the head of the school. He was from Fulu County, and Zhù Ying knew who he was. He simply went to the prefectural seat and presented himself.

Zhao Zhen went to the gate of the prefectural seat, but the gate was strictly watched — those who were not residents of the seat could not enter freely. Zhao Zhen steeled himself, called to mind the bold act of Gu Tong who had once “run off” on his own initiative, slipped the gate attendant a red packet, and asked them to announce him.

After a while, two people came out from inside. Zhao Zhen’s heart leapt — he thought they were coming for him. But they turned out to be two unfamiliar faces speaking the tribal language as they walked past. Because he had given them a red packet, the attendant took the trouble to tell him: “That’s the Chief Secretary and the Deputy Administrator. The prefect is planning for all their families to study some official language — they must be heading off to arrange that.”

Zhao Zhen nodded distractedly. Then another attendant hurried out, and Zhao Zhen rose from the bench — but that wasn’t for him either.

The third round was the one: “Is someone here by the name of Young Master Zhao? The prefect will see you.”

Zhao Zhen rushed over: “That’s me!”

He had prepared a whole stomach full of words to say. He entered the signing room, bowed first, and Zhù Ying asked, “Do you have something to say to me?”

Zhao Zhen stammered: “Pre-prefect, stu-student would like, would like—”

“What?”

Zhao Zhen quickly pulled himself together: “I’ve heard that the prefect is looking for people twenty-seven years of age or older. This student also wishes to serve you. As long as it doesn’t require a medicine ingredient that must be a hundred years old — ninety-nine years won’t do — I’m willing!”

Zhù Ying said, “There’s a lot of work, it’s tiring, and once you’re here there won’t be time to attend the school.”

“I’m willing!” Zhao Zhen said. He had prepared an entire speech to prove he was up to the task.

Zhù Ying said, “Very well then.”

That was it? Zhao Zhen hadn’t expected it to be this easy.

On the third day, he and three classmates presented themselves in a row to report for duty at the prefectural seat. Of those who came with him, one — Jing Sheng — was a nephew of Jing Gang’s clan, exactly twenty-seven years old, with a home, a livelihood, a wife, and children. Another, surnamed Fang, was nearly thirty years old. Both were from Nanping County. The last, Wang Sheng, was from Sicheng County and thirty years old to the day — he had been on the verge of aging out of the prefectural school in any case.

Two of the four were not locals. Zhù Ying arranged lodgings for them in a small courtyard not far outside the seat. The four could share meals with the prefectural seat’s communal dining hall, and they reported each morning. They received no salary — only room and board.

The treatment was modest. On their first day at the prefectural seat, they were assigned a task. Zhù Ying set them to work on one thing first: a survey. The first part was to determine how many sugar workshops there were, how much sugarcane land there was, and roughly how many workers each workshop employed. The second was to make a rough inquiry into the situations of out-of-towners living within the city. They would start with Nanping County. The other two counties would follow once Nanping was complete. With only four people and a narrowed scope, and no strict time limit, the four found the work quite manageable.

Zhao Zhen was somewhat excited — back in the day, it had been his classmates who had helped verify population and land records in Sicheng County, and that had been the prelude to something big! Wang Sheng was several years his senior and also knew about what had happened in Sicheng County back then. He too felt this was an opportunity.

The four set out with great enthusiasm.

With four extra people in the prefectural seat, anyone with eyes could see it. Chief Deputy Zhang, in a spirit of genuine curiosity, asked Zhù Ying, “If the prefect wants to know these things, a written inquiry would do. And if you feel the numbers reported up from Nanping County are inaccurate, you could simply order the local officials and clerks to conduct a verification. Why use students?”

Zhù Ying said, “They are literate and can write and calculate. The lower officials are capable enough, but not all the clerks are literate or can work through accounts properly.”

Chief Deputy Zhang said, “It’s true that literacy in the south is a little lacking. No wonder, really — in former years, studying here never led anywhere, so naturally people became lax. It is entirely thanks to you, Prefect.”

“You flatter me, Deputy — it still comes down to the students working hard…”

Both of them turned to look outside at the same moment, just as Peng Shi-shi came hurrying over and bowed to them both: “Prefect, the woodblock engravers have been found! The guilds all helped in the search and have located two master engravers, each bringing two apprentices.”

Zhù Ying said, “Oh? Where are they?”

“Still at the post station. They’ve each brought their personal tools and bedding — all there.”

“Excellent! Deputy, shall we go take a look?”

Chief Deputy Zhang said, “The prefect is truly approachable for someone of such rank.”

Zhù Ying said, “I’m poor — can’t be helped.”

The two shared a laugh and went together to the post station to meet the master engravers. Both masters had brought some of their finished works. One, Master Wu, who carved Buddhist scriptures and also carved portraits — the strands of the bodhisattvas’ hair rendered smooth and flowing. The other, Master Sun, who carved the Five Classics and similar works — the characters were upright and well-formed, brushstrokes clear and precise. Whether the larger primary text or the small annotations alongside it, everything was sharp and legible.

Not only were they skilled at carving — they could also print, and gave Zhù Ying a demonstration of the printing process on the spot. Both brought complete sets of engraving and printing tools.

Zhù Ying said, “Excellent! I’ll arrange lodgings in the city for you both.” She put the two masters up in the courtyard where Master Tang had previously stayed.

Neither master’s family lived locally — they had agreed to come because work was scarce in their home regions, and what they had in mind was to do the job, collect their pay, and return. Master Wu bowed and asked, “What work does the prefect require of us?”

Zhù Ying smiled and said, “Print one book first — not much, ten-odd passages, plus a preface and an afterword. Start with that, and if there is more work it will be paid separately.”

Knowing there was work to be done, both masters put their minds at ease.

The following day, Zhù Ying had Peng Shi-shi take them to see the literacy inscription steles, after which both masters had a clear mental picture of what was needed. They then asked about font requirements and the like, and Zhù Ying showed them Liu Songnian’s original manuscript. She put Peng Shi-shi in charge of liaising with the two masters; the matter did not require Little Wu.

One matter after another filled her days. No sooner had the woodblock masters arrived than she was also making arrangements for the winter wheat harvest and spring planting. Since the Fulu County magistrate was still on his way and his fate unknown, and Guo County Magistrate had already received his transfer and promotion, Mo — formerly a deputy — had moved to Nanping County to serve as county magistrate, which left Fulu County vacant. Zhù Ying had to pay a bit more attention to Fulu County, where the seat’s staff above and below were still all her people.

The brothers Tong Li and Tong Bo temporarily took on the role of receiving tasks from her and carrying them back for execution. Fulu County was now due to submit its winter wheat tax — but since the surrounding counties and prefectures did not yet have to submit theirs, Fulu’s amount was small enough that a separate trip wasn’t worth it. This batch was arranged for Tong Li to escort to Wuzhou for temporary storage. In autumn they would all be combined; in the future, when all the counties had spring harvests, a grain convoy would set off northward in the spring together.

Su Feihu had been in the city of Wuzhou for about a month. Each day he saw nothing but the city’s thriving bustle, and the prefectural seat itself was a scene of constant activity — yet not one word was spoken about moving against the Suoning family. He grew more and more restless. His language acquisition was proceeding at about the same level as the ten-or-so-year-olds in the foreign-learning school, mastering two categories of vocabulary: crude expressions — things like “Chapter One” — and the vocabulary of bargaining, since the young students usually had a bit of pocket money and loved to buy snacks outside, haggling with the older market women over prices.

Watching children bargain with market women over an extra handful of roasted beans and seeds to get thrown in with a piece of candy, Su Feihu found himself completely unable to sit still any longer.

That day, he finally made up his mind: he would go to the prefectural seat and press the issue. He skipped the foreign-learning school that day — he wasn’t a student anyway, and no one was there to tell him what to do.

Su Feihu strode into the prefectural seat. The gate attendants saw him and clasped their hands: “Chief Secretary.”

Su Feihu had picked up enough to understand, and gave a nod. He asked, “Is Godfather home?”

“She is.” The gate attendants knew his vocabulary was limited and kept their answer brief as well.

So no one told Su Feihu that Zhù Ying was occupied with serious business in the signing room at that very moment, and the entire prefectural seat had their eyes trained on that signing room. Just a short while ago, a group of people had arrived from outside — among them several who were wounded. One was being carried on a stretcher, one had wounds on his face, and another had half his head bandaged.

Zhù Ying looked at the three people before her and asked, “So something has happened after all?”

Su Qingtian said, “Yes.”

The man with half his head bandaged was a lowland merchant. He wept as he recounted: “We were traveling the same road we always use — we never showed any disrespect to them! We’ve traveled this road more than ten times without anything like this ever happening. We were going along fine, when down came a group of tribal people saying we had offended the mountain god and demanding we hand over valuables as offerings. I only tried to reason with them a little, and then this happened!”

Su Feihu walked in with great strides. Taking one look at the scene, he set his own affairs aside and asked, “Godfather, what happened? Qingtian?”

Su Qingtian said quietly, “The Suoning family attacked people passing through. By the time we discovered it, it was already too late — one person was killed, several more were injured, and even a lowlander had one ear cut off.”

Su Feihu erupted in fury. “Godfather! The Suoning family should have been dealt with long ago!”

Zhù Ying made a gesture and asked the merchant, “I issued orders to all points to be on guard — especially for merchant caravans entering the mountains to take precautions. Had you not heard or seen this?”

The one-eared merchant replied, “In answer to the prefect, we had been as careful as careful could be. But one must still eat. We are small traders living off the scraps left by the big merchants. How could we have known — how could we… if these people hadn’t arrived in time, this one’s life would have been forfeit too.”

Each time Zhù Ying took merchants up the mountain, they traveled in large convoys. The mountain marketplace, nominally held once a month, was in practice heavily influenced by the farming seasons — during planting and harvest, it was either postponed or canceled outright; there was no trade in the twelfth month either. In a given year there were not twelve sessions but around six or seven. Some merchants, seizing their chance, would enter the mountains when the large convoys were not traveling — riskier, but with less competition.

Su Feihu asked Su Qingtian quietly, “What is she saying?”

Su Qingtian translated in a low voice. Su Feihu said, “Godfather reminded them? When did she say this? I had no idea.”

Zhù Ying said, “I said it as soon as I came back. You couldn’t understand more than a few sentences back then. Now then — how are your language lessons coming along?”

Su Feihu had never imagined that this godfather, younger than himself, would seize every moment to push him to study. His face went thoroughly sour.

Zhù Ying said to Su Qingtian, “I have the full picture now. Ding Gui, go find the medical doctor and have their wounds treated. Also take out five strings of cash for funeral and burial expenses.”

“Understood.”

The room was quickly cleared. Su Feihu looked around at the familiar faces remaining, then said to Zhù Ying, “Godfather, let’s fight!”

Zhù Ying asked Su Qingtian, “How far along is the small relay station?”

“It has been completed.”

“Go back again and convey a message to the Suoning family.”

Su Qingtian asked, “What message?”

“He has injured my people. I want an explanation from him!”

“Understood.”

Zhù Ying added, “Tell Little Sister to take every care and keep a close watch at home. Have everything that should be prepared ready and waiting.”

“Understood.”

“Go.”

Su Qingtian bowed and departed. Su Feihu still wanted to say more, but Zhù Ying said, “You — you need patience. If you’re not in the mood for class, don’t go for now. You want to take action — is that so difficult? How many battles have you fought? What was your win-loss record?”

“Half and half — that brat has never once gotten the better of me!”

“I don’t want half and half. I want everything,” Zhù Ying said.

Su Feihu thought to himself: Everything Godfather has done before seems to have worked out. Perhaps this one will be a sure win too. Let me wait a bit longer and see.

And wait he did. The winter wheat was all brought in; the quicker farmers had already begun spring planting. The Suoning family attacked four more merchant caravans. Each time, there were merchant casualties; each time, a few survivors were released to carry a message back saying the affair had nothing to do with him, though he could collect a fee to protect caravans. Merchants, too frightened to enter the mountains alone, came one after another to the prefectural seat to cry their grievances. Zhù Ying did nothing but repeatedly demand that the Suoning cave-chief cease this behavior.

On his end, the Suoning cave-chief responded each time. On the third occasion he even sent men down the mountain all the way to the city of Wuzhou. But the beatings of merchants and looting of goods continued without pause. After the Suoning family’s delegation returned to the mountains from Wuzhou, on the fourth occasion the terms the Suoning cave-chief brought were changed yet again: he no longer reduced them — the sugar and other items he had previously said he would drop were added back in! Moreover he had tacked on more demands: silk and other goods as well.

Day by day time passed. Zhù Ying showed not the slightest sign of urgency, and the fourth month arrived — the pre-arranged date for going up the mountain.

Commandant Mei, having caught word of it, rushed over to Zhù Ying in an anxious state. “Prefect, how do we handle this? Are you still going up the mountain? Should I send an escort?”

Zhù Ying said, “The commandant is speaking nonsense again. You command the court’s soldiers and horses. When there is no conflict, it’s one thing for me to borrow a squad of your guards. But if there is real conflict and your troops enter the mountains — what would that mean? Suppressing a rebellion? Who is the rebel? How far would that suppression go? Would it not alarm everyone watching? The five counties have only newly submitted — this approach cannot be used!”

“Oh goodness — then don’t you go in either!”

Zhù Ying said, “This is my duty. The five counties are also Wuzhou’s territory. I cannot stay away.”

“But then…”

“I drew weapons from the armory and had the constables and attendants all carry them, as a guard escort. There are still the cave-soldiers of the five counties up in the mountains — in the mountains, it is more appropriate to deploy them than government troops.”

Commandant Mei said, “Then I’ll personally escort you to the mountain entrance and wait for you to come back.”

Zhù Ying smiled and said, “Very well.”

She personally saw Commandant Mei out of the prefectural seat, then turned and asked Ding Gui to go and summon Su Feihu.

Su Feihu, having pressed the matter fruitlessly on multiple occasions, had a face full of dark clouds when he next saw Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying said, “The armory has been opened. Come with me and pick out a few weapons that suit you.”

Su Feihu said with a sardonic air, “To play with and show the children?”

Zhù Ying said, “Going into the mountains.”

Su Feihu leapt to his feet. “Is it starting?”

“So many unnecessary words.”

Su Feihu also wanted to bring his eldest and second son. He was the elder brother and Su Mingluan was the youngest; his sons were eight or nine years older than Su Zhe and already capable of wielding a blade and drawing a bow.

Zhù Ying said, “Fine. When the time comes, stay with me.”

The biggest obstacle at present was still Zhù Da and Zhang Xiangu. Hearing that things were unsettled in the mountains, both urged Zhù Ying not to go. Zhù Da said, “Shouldn’t you wait for the government soldiers to clear out all the mountain bandits before going in? Otherwise what’s the point of keeping government soldiers?”

Zhang Xiangu also disapproved of her daughter’s constant trips back and forth, saying, “The mountain estate is really wonderful, and so is your life — if the road is too dangerous, let’s not bother with it! All right?”

Zhù Ying said, “Where are all these strange ideas coming from? What mountain bandits? There’s nothing of the sort.”

Zhang Xiangu said, “I’ve seen it with my own eyes! Last time, someone came back slashed with a blade! Hua’er and the others rushed to treat him — I saw it myself, they nearly didn’t make it!”

“That was them. I’m traveling with a guard escort. In all these years, has there been one instance where I wasn’t careful? Trust me over idle street gossip. Commandant Mei will see me off.”

Zhù Da and Zhang Xiangu assumed that Commandant Mei would escort her all the way in and out of the mountains for the full journey. At last they set their hearts at ease. They did not know that Zhù Ying had not the slightest intention of letting Commandant Mei set so much as half a footprint inside the mountains. In her own mind, the mountains were already her domain. The court? What court? She had given them the tethered county arrangement — that was fulfilling her obligations to the court!

As before, she did not bring her parents with her this time, and once again went into the mountains herself at the head of a merchant caravan. The number of merchants accompanying this trip was somewhat reduced, but as they were traveling with Zhù Ying’s large convoy, the majority still did not give up on entering the mountains.

The party set off under Commandant Mei’s escort, taking the Fulu route into the mountains. Commandant Mei stopped at the boundary marker stone. “Prefect, go early and return soon. Safe travels.”

Zhù Ying said, “When I come back I’ll bring you a few wolf pelts.”

Commandant Mei said, “Please, don’t say such things — if you need to hunt wolves, there are plenty down here, we certainly don’t lack for those. What we lack is you!”

Zhù Ying laughed, gave a bow of cupped hands, and urged her horse forward.

Hu Shijie held a small rattan shield and followed close behind. Su Feihu and his two sons rode on horseback with blades at their sides and bows on their backs, slightly to the rear. The remaining constables and attendants each carried their blades, a glint of cold steel all around, as they escorted the convoy deeper into the mountains.

After some distance, Su Mingluan came to meet them with a group of her people, stationed along the roadside. The two women fell in together and chatted as if nothing were amiss. Su Mingluan asked after her brother and after the nephews.

The nephews said cheerfully, “We gave that Lang fellow a good beating!”

Zhù Ying said, “They were playing around in school — the Talang family gave them a good beating too.”

Su Feihu cut in, “If you can’t beat them next time, I’ll beat you when we get back!” The two sons pulled faces at him from behind his back.

This time, Lu Guo had not come. Nearing the mountain estate, one of the Asu family scouts patrolling ahead came galloping back: “The Suoning family is blocking the road ahead!”

The atmosphere tensed.