Luo Jiaxiu was about two years older than Zhù Ying, approaching forty that year, with the thoroughly standard appearance of an official. He had a square face, a sturdy frame, thick brows and large eyes, and wore a fine, well-kept beard.

The moment Jing Gang arrived at the relay station, he spotted him among the crowd. After exchanging pleasantries, Luo Jiaxiu said in surprise: “Does the Military Commissioner know of Luo Jiaxiu?”

He let his pleasure show, and Jing Gang naturally offered a round of flattery, adding: “Lord Zhù has been unable to get away due to pressing military affairs of late, and has specially ordered this official to come welcome you. You have had a tiring journey, Your Excellency — would you care to rest another day?”

Luo Jiaxiu replied openly: “If he is still diligent, how can the rest of us afford to be lazy?”

Jing Gang said kindly: “You may not be aware, but the court has issued orders for Lord Zhù to temporarily oversee the western route military affairs — he is even busier than before, and is assigning tasks to people everywhere. Once you stand before him, I fear you will never know a moment’s rest again!”

Luo Jiaxiu was somewhat fatigued from the journey, but felt it was nothing serious, and said: “I appreciate your good intentions. I came here to work.”

Jing Gang saw that he would not be persuaded, and thought to himself: once you reach the command yamen, you’ll have plenty to cry about!

The appointment given to Luo Jiaxiu was that of Prefect. The reason he had been transferred to the Northern Territories to serve as Prefect could be traced back to Zhù Ying. Since Zhù Ying’s arrival in the Northern Territories, she had already replaced half of the region’s officials. The vacancy Luo Jiaxiu was to fill was exactly that of a Prefect. Luo Jiaxiu had been keeping an eye on the official gazette and other sources of information, and had also made inquiries among acquaintances, forming the impression that Zhù Ying was a formidable and exacting person.

He could not afford to be anything less than serious.

Reaching the rank of Prefect by forty was already no small achievement, though because of people like Zhù Ying standing ahead, Luo Jiaxiu had not particularly distinguished himself. He observed and assessed everything along the road, and after entering the Northern Territories he found the common people living in peace and order. Occasionally he would encounter convoys and riders connected with military requisitioning, but everything was well-organized and orderly — not at all what one would expect of a place that had been harassed by northern barbarians.

This made him feel all the more strongly that, both for the public good and for his own sake, he could not afford to be slack.

Jing Gang saw that he could not be persuaded to change his mind, and could only say: “The hour is already late today — why not set out tomorrow morning? It would be inconvenient to miss a lodging stop along the way.”

Luo Jiaxiu agreed, and the two men retired for the night. Luo Jiaxiu’s servant hesitated a moment, then urged him: “My lord, you have been so exhausted on this journey — since they say you may rest, why not take two days? It would also give you a chance to inquire about this person’s way of doing things.”

“That won’t do,” said Luo Jiaxiu. “I must first go and meet this Zhù Ziqiang in person, see with my own eyes what manner of man he is and what his character is, before I can feel at ease. As long as he has the greater righteousness at heart, I can follow his orders without worry, work together with him with full effort, and need not waste energy fighting him over small matters.”

The servant murmured: “That person has powerful backers up above…”

Luo Jiaxiu shot him a stern look: “You talk too much!”

The servant fell silent.

Luo Jiaxiu took no offence. His background was not bad — he came from a family of rural gentry, and his household was among the more prosperous ones in the county. His father, grandfather, and cousins from the clan had all held minor official posts; it could not be said he had no lineage at all. He possessed considerable ability and an upright character, which had caught the eye of the Council of State in earlier years and opened a path for him to walk.

But that was all it had done — no one had gone out of their way to cultivate or support him.

The servant sometimes thought that his master was excellent in every respect, and yet had still not risen to the rank of Prefectural Governor. He supposed it must be because there was no one powerful backing him from above.

The next morning, Luo Jiaxiu gave one more pointed reminder: “You must not be rude. If you are rude to people, it reflects poorly on my upbringing!”

The servant quickly said: “This servant understands — I won’t cause trouble for my lord!”

Only then did Luo Jiaxiu set out with the servant, going to find Jing Gang and travel together to the command yamen.

When Jing Gang saw that he had very little luggage — only two carts in total, with just four servants accompanying him, two of whom were the cart drivers — and no family members with him, he exclaimed in admiration: “You are truly a man of simple living.”

Luo Jiaxiu said modestly: “The Ministry of Personnel urged me along, saying the Northern Territories were urgent and setting a deadline for me to report for duty. It was not convenient to bring too many encumbrances.”

The two men rode on horseback, chatting as they went, briefly exchanging accounts of their respective careers. Compared to Luo Jiaxiu, Jing Gang’s official career had been considerably less distinguished — he was older than Luo Jiaxiu, yet his rank was lower. They talked for a while longer and exchanged their places of origin, whereupon Jing Gang discovered that Luo Jiaxiu also counted as something of a fellow native — he was from the south, though not the deep south.

After their conversation, Jing Gang felt a measure of wariness: this Luo Jiaxiu was a man of real ability.

When they reached the outskirts of the prefectural city, both men reined in their horses to watch a column of soldiers hurrying into the city, covered in road dust.

Luo Jiaxiu said: “Are the soldiers all moving into the city?” If Zhù Ying was still managing military affairs concurrently, it would not be very convenient for her to remain in the city. Surely it would be better to stay in the main camp to direct operations, would it not?

Jing Gang said: “They appear to be newly arrived. The Commissioner is in the process of establishing a military headquarters — people have been coming and going these past few days. Shall we go in?”

“Very well.”

……——

If it had been Jin Liang who had been sent to receive the new arrivals, he would have told Luo Jiaxiu that the person coming was one of their own — Wen Yue.

Wen Yue had been ordered to the front lines. He had not been assigned to Marquis Leng, but had instead gone straight to Zhù Ying. The court had not given Zhù Ying any additional troops, and Wen Yue had only brought twenty men with him.

After riding hard the whole way, when he reached the gates of the command yamen, he saw quite a number of fully armored soldiers coming and going. When they saw him dressed in military attire, someone struck up a conversation: “Where are you from, brother?”

Wen Yue returned their greeting and was about to explain when someone called out: “Wen Da!”

Wen Yue had come from the Zheng household, and there were many old acquaintances of his among the military. He looked toward the voice and smiled: “Old Li!”

The man who had spoken to him asked: “Do you two know each other?”

Old Li said: “Of course, old friends.”

After a round of introductions, they quickly grew familiar with one another. Captain Li said: “You’ve come at just the right time — these past two days have all been about reassignments.”

Wen Yue smiled: “Then I’ve arrived at a good moment.”

Old Li warmly pulled him off to meet Zhù Ying. Before they had even reached the study, Zhù Ying herself came out to greet them. Old Li quietly said to Wen Yue: “You’re quite the honored guest.”

Then he cupped his hands toward Zhù Ying: “Commander, the person has been brought. This subordinate takes his leave.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Then followed a reunion of old acquaintances, with Jin Liang’s laughter ringing out the loudest of all.

Zhù Ying said to Wen Yue: “I’ve been hoping you’d come!”

Wen Yue naturally asked: “What do you need me to do?”

Zhù Ying said: “Come inside and we’ll talk.”

The group entered the room, and Wen Yue’s first glance fell on the large map hanging on the wall, marked with various shapes and symbols. Zhù Ying said: “Don’t look at that for now — it gives me a headache. How is everyone at home?”

Wen Yue said: “All well!”

“Is everything fine in the capital? And at the household?”

Wen Yue produced Zheng Xi’s letter: “The Chief Minister sends this for you.”

Zhù Ying received it and tore it open. It said that she should act within her means, not overtax herself, and that what she had already done was more than sufficient.

Zheng Xi saw clearly: Zhù Ying had not come from a military background, had been governing the Northern Territories for less than a year, and the region had not fallen into chaos. More than that — she had settled veteran soldiers, opened up wasteland for cultivation, and increased the population of the Northern Territories.

In a border region with active warfare, to maintain order while simultaneously relocating people could be described as truly outstanding.

In the letter, Zheng Xi wrote that the original arrangement made by Marquis Zheng had been for Zhù Ying to take over — something that had to be done whether she felt capable or not. Now that the court intended to split the forces, Zhù Ying should adopt a more prudent strategy: let Marquis Leng take the lead in battle, while Zhù Ying simply needed to hold out until the autumn harvest, require no further subsidies from the court for the Northern Territories, and moreover have something of a surplus — and the whole court would have a clearer understanding of her ability.

“Wuzhou is, after all, too distant and remote a place. No matter how well one does there or how great a reputation one builds, it remains second-tier. Better to be here in the Northern Territories, closer to the capital, with the court’s current attention fixed upon it — one achievement, and all under heaven will know of it.”

Zheng Xi was paying very close attention to the Northern Territories. The four prefectures had seen no refugees fleeing outward, had required no further grain and money from the court in relief, and had even provided conscript labor to support the great campaign.

Excellent.

Under these circumstances, Zhù Ying did not need to take further risks. To attack on her own initiative — if she won, it would amount to nothing much; if she lost, it would damage her reputation. Zheng Xi urged Zhù Ying: just hold the cities steadily.

When the time came, even if Marquis Leng achieved a great victory, Zhù Ying would still deserve credit for her management of supply and transport. If battle was unavoidable, let the generals and officers left behind by Marquis Zheng and the newly arrived Wen Yue and others fight according to Marquis Zheng’s original plan, while Zhù Ying herself directed from the center — her own safety above all else.

Though there was some intent to help Wen Yue and the others accumulate military merit, this was not to be forced! First ensure the achievements that Zhù Ying could reliably claim, then speak of the rest.

Zhù Ying finished reading, folded the letter away, and said: “Marquis Leng has taken some of the men, so the troops I have on hand at the moment are not many. I am currently recruiting new soldiers from the Northern Territories and also organizing officers and establishing a headquarters staff. Now that you’re here, work alongside Elder Brother Jin to train the new recruits, get acclimatized, and then we’ll arrange other things.”

Wen Yue agreed at once. Jin Liang said: “The young men of the Northern Territories are easy to train.”

Wen Yue said: “Sanlang and I have known each other for over twenty years — there’s no need for any talk of standing on formality. I know Sanlang won’t treat me unfairly. I came to the front lines to win merit, but I also have to follow the Military Commissioner’s orders. Easy or hard to train, I’ll train them.”

He spoke with candid openness; Jin Liang was almost the one who felt self-conscious. Zhù Ying said: “Then that settles it.”

Wen Yue also asked: “Will it be organized like the Loyal and Martial Army?”

Zhù Ying said: “I have no idea what the Loyal and Martial Army looks like. For now, just use the court’s authority to recruit three thousand men first. I’ll issue their rations and pay in the court’s name. Local people defending their own land is their duty, but it can also too easily create local power factions. The money must come from the court.”

Wen Yue said: “I see. Very well.”

While the group was talking, Jing Gang arrived with Luo Jiaxiu. Wen Yue said: “Then I’ll take my leave.”

Jin Liang enthusiastically took Wen Yue off to get settled, passing Jing Gang and the newcomer as they went in opposite directions.

……

Luo Jiaxiu was shown into the main hall, where Zhù Ying had already risen from her seat.

Jing Gang cupped his hands toward her: “Prefect Luo has arrived.”

Zhù Ying stepped forward two paces, and offered a bow in return to Luo Jiaxiu, who was in the midst of his own salute: “Brother Luo.”

Luo Jiaxiu saw her courtesy and grew all the more careful himself: “This official pays respects to the Military Commissioner.”

Zhù Ying said: “Brother Luo is too formal — please, sit.”

The two sat down and exchanged some of their shared history. Zhù Ying knew Luo Jiaxiu’s background: he had been dispatched here by the court, and Zhù Ying had sent Jing Gang to receive him partly because of his place of origin.

Zhuo Que had worked hard to steer a great many southern scholars under Zhù Ying’s wing. The fact that this plan had been carried out successfully was not so much due to any exceptional ability on Zhuo Que’s part, but because Zhù Ying genuinely needed exactly this kind of people.

She treated Luo Jiaxiu with particular courtesy.

He was, after all, a “talented young man” who had been recognized by all three Chief Ministers, and he had earned his way up through more than a decade of proven service at the local level.

Zhù Ying asked after the hardships of his journey; Luo Jiaxiu replied with polite propriety. She also inquired after his family; Luo Jiaxiu gave much the same answer he had given Jing Gang.

Zhù Ying said: “Your selfless devotion to the public good is truly admirable. You and I both left the capital the same year — to be able to meet again here in the Northern Territories is its own kind of fate. Tonight I’ll host a welcome banquet for Brother Luo.”

Luo Jiaxiu thanked her, then said: “In that case, shall this official set out to take up the post tomorrow?”

Zhù Ying said: “Wait a moment — bring it here.”

At that, a compact, sturdy man carried over a tray of ledgers and registers, setting them before Luo Jiaxiu. Luo Jiaxiu said: “What is this?”

Zhù Ying said: “This is your jurisdiction. Just before you arrived, I had people go and take stock of the place. After the Northern Territories were harassed by the northern barbarians, the records kept in the Ministries of Revenue and Personnel can no longer be relied upon.”

Luo Jiaxiu rose to his feet and expressed his thanks with great solemnity: “That the Commissioner should confide in me so openly — this official can only give his utmost in carrying out his duties, serving His Majesty above and bringing peace to the common people below, and not failing the trust the Commissioner has placed in me.”

Zhù Ying said: “You’re too kind — take them. Tomorrow I’ll also send someone to escort you to your post. I am in need of people here, and some of them are local young men. Tonight you can also meet with them, and perhaps inquire about local customs and conditions.”

The tension in Luo Jiaxiu’s expression eased considerably: “The Commissioner is most thorough.”

“There’s no need for such formality. Zhuo Que, please take Prefect Luo to the relay station to get settled.”

A young man stepped forward and gave Luo Jiaxiu a bow: “Your Excellency, this way please.”

……

That evening, Zhù Ying held a banquet at the command yamen to welcome the newly arrived personnel.

In addition to Luo Jiaxiu and Wen Yue, there were also five newly arrived captains, Zhuo Yu’s nephew Shen Ji, and other young men — about twenty new arrivals in all, making the yamen lively and bustling.

Among them were people who already knew one another, as well as strangers; introductions were made and warmth gradually spread. Luo Jiaxiu observed discreetly from the side: the oldest person present was Jin Liang, and below Jin Liang came Wen Yue and Jing Gang. The rest were all younger than himself, with roughly two-thirds of them between twenty and thirty, along with a couple of people barely in their teens.

Both men and women.

Young! Full of spirit! Brimming with life.

Even veterans like Jin Liang had a light shining on their faces — their eyes all carried hope.

A kind of brightness gradually lit up in Luo Jiaxiu’s eyes as well. Taking advantage of the mood of the wine, he said to Zhù Ying: “This is a good place, Commissioner — united in purpose. With things like this, we can all focus on doing our work.”

His own backing was not strong, and he had the deepest aversion to being drawn into factional strife. Seeing Zhù Ying making every effort to reduce the influence of such strife, he was genuinely pleased. In his previous post he had clashed with colleagues on both sides of the political divide.

Wen Yue was unaware of Luo Jiaxiu’s history, but also rose to say: “Prefect Luo is absolutely right — since we are all under the Commissioner’s command, of course we should be of one mind and open with each other!”

Wen Yue had spoken with Jin Liang and others during the day, and knew clearly that Zhù Ying’s forces were genuinely strained. After the division, Zhù Ying had been generous — whatever Marquis Leng wanted, she gave. Marquis Leng, naturally, wanted to stockpile as much as he could for himself. Zhù Ying had been gracious about it, so Marquis Leng could not treat her as a complete pushover either, and had left her a roughly comparable share.

This “roughly comparable” meant he had not asked for the sky — he had not hollowed out every last resource the way he would when competing with others. Marquis Leng, with an experienced general’s eye, had calculated that what he left for Zhù Ying would just about suffice.

That is to say, if there were any unexpected losses in personnel, it would no longer be sufficient — he had not left Zhù Ying much margin for error.

Zhù Ying was not concerned. After the great battle, Marquis Zheng had planned to conscript additional troops from the Northern Territories as reinforcements, and had already reported this to the court. Zhù Ying was now simply using that existing plan to fill the gap.

Jin Liang and Wen Yue had muttered between themselves about Marquis Leng: “Decent enough, but not overly generous.”

When Luo Jiaxiu raised the subject, Wen Yue stood to make his position clear — he wanted to show his support for Zhù Ying. She had not come from a military background, and Wen Yue felt he needed to back her up.

Zhù Ying smiled: “Very well. Tomorrow you come to me and we’ll discuss official matters. Tonight is an exception — let us drink a cup.”

Everyone raised their cups. Jin Liang watched Zhù Ying anxiously, and only relaxed and drank himself when he saw Zhù Wen pour her a cup of tea.

When the wine had gone around three times, someone suddenly came to report from outside: “Captain Yao brings urgent military intelligence!”

Everyone had to set down their cups. Zhù Ying said: “You all keep eating.” She pointed to Jin Liang and Wen Yue, gesturing for the two of them to follow her.

She ordered the messenger brought to the study. The remaining guests had no more appetite for eating and drinking, and began whispering among themselves.

The messenger brought Zhù Ying a piece of intelligence: a scout under Yao Jingxia had happened to overhear some news — the barbarian Chancellor intended to escort the “Crown Prince” and strike at Marquis Leng while his position was not yet secure!

Wen Yue felt a slight alarm — that was quite plausible. Marquis Leng had only just arrived and had not yet grown familiar with the soldiers under his command; coordination would be somewhat sluggish, and if response was not timely, it would give the enemy an opening to exploit.

Jin Liang’s brow also furrowed.

Zhù Ying asked: “Is this intelligence reliable?”

The messenger said: “The scout is a member of the Yao clan — he would never be bought off by the barbarians.”

“His command of the barbarian tongue is quite fluent?” Zhù Ying pressed.

“This… he should be able to understand it.”

Zhù Ying said: “Verify it thoroughly. If they were speaking the barbarian tongue, that’s one thing. But barbarians, speaking in the official tongue, letting a scout hear them clearly, and then letting him escape alive to report back?”

Wen Yue said: “Bait?”

Zhù Ying said: “Hard to say. I don’t understand military affairs, but I know something of human nature. Marquis Leng has only just arrived — but am I not also a newcomer to this army? Barbarian Lady, go and call Qingjun and Xiang An.”

In a short while, Zhù Qingjun and Xiang An had come from the banquet, accompanied by Su Zhe.

Su Zhe said: “You go in — I’ll wait outside.”

Zhù Qingjun said: “You…”

Su Zhe kicked at the ground: “Get in there quickly — don’t keep grandfather waiting.”

The moment Zhù Qingjun entered the study, Wen Yue looked her up and down. Jin Liang said: “You’ve seen her before.”

Seeing Zhù Qingjun in full military attire, Wen Yue said: “This…” She was still just a girl — this was far too dangerous.

Zhù Ying said: “Qingjun, I have something for you.”

“Yes.”

“Set out first thing tomorrow morning. Take your people and head north to investigate the barbarian Chancellor’s movements!”

“Yes.”

Wen Yue could no longer contain himself: “Sanlang, this is just a young girl — it’s far too dangerous.” Wen Yue acknowledged that the women Zhù Ying had deployed were capable, but warfare?

Zhù Ying said: “You’ll understand in time. Qingjun — can you do it?”

“I can!”

“Xiang An, her supplies — you oversee them.”

“Yes.”

“Off you go.”

……

Zhù Qingjun and Xiang An came out of the study, and Su Zhe stepped forward to ask: “How did it go?”

“I’ve been assigned a task.”

“Oh, then you’d better prepare well. I just received a very fine water bladder — sturdier and lighter than the one you’re using now. I’ll go fetch it for you. I won’t be needing it anyway.”

Xiang An tried to persuade Su Zhe: “Little Sister, you…”

“I know — I can’t come to any harm. If I do, everything at home will fall apart. Staying alive and well is itself a great matter for me.”

Zhù Qingjun said: “Then — I’ll go and pack.”

“I’ll keep you company.”

The three of them went to Zhù Qingjun’s room. She now had a room of her own, and on the western wall were enshrined several memorial tablets. The “Liao people” had no custom of keeping memorial tablets — these were a people who had not even possessed a written script — and the tablets had only come to exist after Zhù Ying had specifically taught them the official tongue and written characters, allowing them to imitate what others had.

Each name on the tablets began with the character for “Zhù,” and every single name was that of a young girl.

Zhù Qingjun took a cloth and wiped down the altar table, changed the water in the offering vessel, and then lit incense.

Xiang An and Su Zhe each offered incense as well. Xiang An said: “They will watch over you and keep you safe.”

Zhù Qingjun said: “They’ve already suffered enough — let’s not trouble them further.”

Su Zhe found this inauspicious, and said: “Then stop looking at them. Come, let’s pack your things. Here’s the water bladder. No being melancholy in here.”

Zhù Qingjun said: “I’m not melancholy — I just feel a pang of sorrow for them.”

Su Zhe said: “Sorrow won’t let you delay what needs to be done. You go on — I’m not allowed to go anywhere too dangerous. I’ll take care of things here for you: three sticks of incense every day, offerings morning and evening, the tablets kept clean. Will that do?”

Zhù Qingjun wiped away her tears and said: “They were all such fine, fine people. Female soldiers have never had it easy! With male soldiers, one man can be conscripted from a single household, or one in three, and an army can be formed. Female soldiers are chosen one in a hundred — at the very least, one from every twenty or so — selecting only those physically strong enough to fight. And this is how they die. Everyone who was willing to come had fire in her heart. It’s only been a few days, and already this many are gone.”

Xiang An said: “Why not tell the Commissioner you don’t want to go?”

“No!” Zhù Qingjun rejected the idea outright. “We’ve only just managed to build a little something with blood and sweat. I can’t let their deaths be in vain!”

With that, she turned away and set about packing her things with brisk efficiency.

The next day, Zhù Qingjun slipped quietly out of the city with a troop of soldiers. Zhù Ying did not see her off, but instead issued orders to General Ye and others: reinforce all defenses against a possible barbarian surprise attack.

She then dispatched an escort to see Luo Jiaxiu off to his post, while simultaneously sending a warning to Marquis Leng.

After that came the establishment of the headquarters: she drew up a list of official posts, appointed some to northerners and recalled others from the southern scholars, and quickly filled most of the positions.

Chen Fang finished copying out the final roster and said: “There are still four vacancies.”

Zhù Ying said: “I have people in mind for those.”

Among the four vacancies was one at the fifth rank, which she was holding for someone to accumulate the right to wear crimson robes. The rest were all lower-ranking positions. She had deliberately reserved one ninth-rank minor captain’s post, to be waiting whenever Zhù Qingjun had accumulated enough merit. She would establish a female soldiers’ battalion for Zhù Qingjun, and at the same time promote Xiang An as Zhù Qingjun’s paired logistics officer, bringing Xiang An up as well.

Xiang An and Xiang Le had come to her side at the same time, and Xiang Le already held an official position. Xiang An was no less clever or hardworking than Xiang Le, yet had never had an opportunity — and had whittled away her youth, with the pressure of her mother bearing down from above.

But none of this could be spoken of in advance.

Chen Fang saw that she had given this answer and asked no further. In this roster, there were two fellow southern scholars among the selections. At times like this, it was always acquaintances, relatives, and people from one’s home region who benefitted. Chen Fang felt a flicker of anticipation at the prospect of two of his own people coming.

He glanced at the vacancy at the senior fifth rank and thought to himself: who is this one being saved for? Can it possibly be another southerner?

Zhù Ying caught the direction of his gaze. That vacancy?

She said to Zhù Yin: “Take my card, and invite Royal Consort Luo here for a meeting.”

Zhù Yin went at once to invite Luo Sheng.

……

Luo Sheng had nothing to occupy him, and arrived before long.

Zhù Ying said: “Are you finding it tolerable here?”

Luo Sheng said: “I have nothing pressing to do — how could I find anything intolerable?”

From anyone else, this might have sounded like a complaint about wanting power. From Luo Sheng, it simply meant he was idle. Zhù Ying said: “Ah, that makes me almost embarrassed to bring this up — there is something I would need to trouble you with.”

Luo Sheng immediately asked: “What matter is there that I can actually be of help with?”

Zhù Ying said: “With the division of forces between Marquis Leng and myself, he is a seasoned general whom I cannot match. But it would not do for the two of us to sit here and accomplish nothing either — we must play to our strengths and have something to show for it. Otherwise, the two of us just sitting here idly — would it not appear that we are being negligent?”

Luo Sheng said: “You’ve always been sharp and resourceful — you’re sure to have a plan. Tell me, what needs to be done?”

Zhù Ying lowered her voice: “Taking command on the battlefield — neither of us is quite seasoned enough for that. But don’t forget, we both came from the Office of Foreign Reception!”

“How do you mean?”

“The court has always dealt with foreign peoples through a combination of awe-inspiring might and benevolent education.”

Luo Sheng said: “Oh!”

He understood. The Office of Foreign Reception — at times it also engaged in things like stirring up discord within foreign courts, and cultivating rival factions in foreign households.

Luo Sheng said: “Unfortunately I’ve come alone, without having brought any staff. To make contact with them we’d need people, interpreters, and all manner of other things…”

The more he thought about it, the more he felt the task would be difficult. He had never handled specific practical operations.

Zhù Ying said: “We can simply transfer someone from the Office of Foreign Reception.”

“Excellent!”

Zhù Ying said: “What do you think of transferring Zhao Su here?”

“Would Leng Yun release him?”

“Li Yanqing is also very capable — it won’t hinder the Office of Foreign Reception’s day-to-day affairs.”

“Good.”

Zhù Ying said: “Then this matter shall be left in your care. As for what I have here —”

She spread her hands. Luo Sheng looked at the scrolls and documents stacked everywhere in her room, and at the map covered in a jumble of markings on the wall, and nodded: “Your headquarters has only just been established, and the staff is not yet fully in place. I’ll take care of this matter.”

“Good. When we need to co-sign something, just say the word.”

Zhao Su was also nearly forty now. Getting him a set of crimson robes — not too much to ask, was it?