Zhù Ying took the official document and opened it. She looked at the figures listed at the top first — that was always the most troublesome part.
This time was no different.
Zhù Ying said, “How was this figure arrived at?”
Ye Deng said, “It came out of the inner palace — it looks reasonable to me.”
Zhù Ying said, “Why does it not look reasonable to me?”
Ye Deng said, “The prince died in the palace as a young child. The inner palace will contribute some funds as well. Since it was an infant’s death, the costs are also lower — so naturally we contribute less. This follows the old precedents from the previous dynasty, and there are archived records to consult. Their itemized expenses are listed quite clearly.”
The late Emperor had had too short a reign to have any young children die during it. The “old precedent from the previous dynasty” thus referred to the Emperor’s grandfather’s time — the most recent comparable case was nearly twenty years ago.
Zhù Ying said, “Over twenty years, even the price of rice has risen by thirty percent. Will this figure be sufficient?”
Ye Deng asked, puzzled, “Surely you don’t intend to allocate more?” He was genuinely astonished — Zhù Ying’s usual style was to be generous in matters of proper business, but to release funds for the inner palace and such things extremely reluctantly.
Zhù Ying said, “I want you to be prepared — if anyone is unhappy and comes asking for more, have your reasons ready.”
Still the same old Minister! Ye Deng relaxed and said, “Understood! That’s easily managed. And this one?”
Zhù Ying picked up her brush and marked her approval: “Don’t release the full amount at once — hold it for a day, and simply say you are still in the process of preparing.”
“Yes, Minister.”
Ye Deng took the document and left to make preparations. He already knew his superior’s thinking and had decided to execute in line with Zhù Ying’s wishes. In these times, what family did not lose a child or two? The imperial family was no exception. The child had no close family connection to Ye Deng, had not grown up, and had no entanglement of interests with the Ye family — he had no particular desire to put on a grand ceremony for the child.
A young child who died in infancy — a simple, modest funeral was perfectly fine. A grand affair would carry the whiff of fawning flattery. The late Emperor’s own tomb had not been built on a lavish scale — all the more so for a child.
As Ye Deng walked out with the document, he had already worked out his response. If the Emperor insisted on a grand ceremony, he would ask the Emperor to personally make up the difference from his own funds, as a demonstration of paternal affection.
After Ye Deng left, Zhao Su also prepared to take his document and attend to his own business. His mood was quite cheerful. He felt that the Ministry of Finance was only now beginning to show its real importance. Before this, his adoptive father’s sense of public duty had been too strong — too upright — and she had done her best to accommodate all requests, never really throttling anyone. This had made the Ministry of Finance feel like a large storehouse anyone could walk into and help themselves.
But now it was different — his adoptive father was angry. Just a slight tightening of her grip on the purse strings, and these people would start to squirm.
Served them right!
Zhù Ying said, “Hold on a moment.”
Zhao Su obediently stopped and waited for her instructions. Zhù Ying asked, “How are our reserves?”
Zhao Su said, “Very well. The old grain was recently rotated out and replaced with new grain. What we have on hand can sustain the capital for half a year.”
“That’s still not enough. It needs to be at least a year. Keep working on it.”
“Yes.”
This was something Zhù Ying had arranged in secret. Previously Xiang Le had been handling it; when Xiang Le returned home to observe the mourning period, many of those duties had been transferred to Zhao Su. Alongside the official Ministry of Finance accounts, Zhù Ying had arranged for a separate storage facility, stocking an additional reserve of money and grain against unforeseen emergencies. When changes were made to land, population, or fiscal revenue, tax fluctuations often followed — and in most cases they were negative. A certain reserve of money and grain was needed to provide stability.
She had told no one about this. If something happened, this reserve could be of enormous use.
She once again impressed upon Zhao Su that he must keep it secret. Zhao Su promised seriously.
Zhù Ying reviewed the official business once more. The disaster relief allocation for the year had been set aside; provisions against sudden civil unrest and border conflicts had also been budgeted. She felt that for now, all she could do was wait for word from the Grand Council Secretariat — and that would take some time.
She was relatively free these days. Zhù Ying decided to personally take some time off to bring Lang Rui, Lu Danqing, and others for a stroll through the city and out to the countryside. She had already thought up a reason: spring planting had begun, and she wanted to go see for herself in the suburbs of the capital to get a sense of how the harvest might look. She would arrange tomorrow’s official duties today, and after morning court tomorrow, they would head out of the city.
……
The next day, Zhù Ying attended morning court as usual — only to find that Dou Peng had called in sick.
Zhù Ying first sent Zhù Biao back to the house to have the household prepare gifts for a sickroom visit. Then she chose several Ministry of Finance officials to accompany her out of the palace.
The group left the palace and, upon reaching the capital’s gates, happened to run into Lang Rui and the others. Zhù Ying said, “Perfect timing — come along with me! You should see something of how things work!”
Several people in neat, comfortable attire, each with their own attendants, happily joined the party. With the addition of the young people, the Ministry of Finance officials felt a breath of spring and suddenly felt several years younger themselves. Before long they were chatting with Lang Rui and the others. Seeing that Lu Danqing was a young woman, they made no move to strike up conversation with her on their own initiative, not wishing to be thought vulgar.
Lu Danqing was thus left for Zhù Ying, who explained things to her along the way: “Flat plains are different from mountainous terrain. Not only must your people adapt your hunting methods accordingly — it is the same with farming.”
Lu Danqing pointed at the fields and said, “These plows look somewhat larger than the ones back home.”
Lang Rui, hearing their conversation, also edged over: “They should be larger! I was looking at them just two days ago. The shapes of some of the farming tools here are also different from ours back home.”
Zhù Ying said, “When I was young, I traveled south and collected quite a few northern farming tools. Once I got there and took a look, I found most of them unsuitable. In the end they all ended up gathering dust in the storeroom, uselessly taking up an entire room.”
No one had known this story before and found it quite amusing — so even you have moments of miscalculation?
Their mood grew lighter still.
They spent the day wandering around outside, and everyone who had come along felt they had benefited greatly. Zhù Ying was never stingy about teaching those around her — whether it was adjudicating cases, handling practical administration, or everyday matters. She spoke freely, and if you had a question she would answer it.
When it seemed about the right time, Zhù Ying said, “Let’s leave it here for today. You several can go straight home.”
The officials all smiled: “The Minister is so thoughtful.”
Zhù Ying then took Lang Rui and the others back to the house. After changing clothes, she waited for Su Zhe and the others to return, then brought along those who held official posts and went to the Dou household to pay a sickroom visit.
The road to the Dou household was very lively — officials were hurrying to Dou Peng’s residence in a constant stream, some who hadn’t heard the news and were seeking an audience on unrelated matters, others who had heard and had come specifically to inquire after his health. The sound of hoofbeats prompted people to look back, and they recognized Zhù Ying at once — after which, regardless of who they were, everyone courteously made way for her, very well-behaved.
Dou Peng was suffering from “overwork,” “deficiency of energy and blood,” and “a chance cold,” and was confined to bed. Most of those who came were not permitted to see him — only the inner attendant sent by the Emperor had a brief meeting with him, and a small number of others, such as Xian Jing who had come in person, were admitted to the bedchamber.
Even Chen Meng’s representative Chen Zhi had been unable to see him. As he turned to go home, he ran headlong into Zhù Ying. He called out, “Uncle.” He explained what had happened.
Zhù Ying said, “I’ll try my luck and see if I can get in to see him. You take this news back to your father regardless.”
Chen Zhi said, “I’ll wait outside for Uncle. Uncle — Xian Prime Minister is inside.”
“I know.”
Zhù Ying stepped forward. Dou Peng’s gate keeper did not stop her — in fact said, “Minister, this way please.” Evidently Dou Peng had given instructions.
Zhù Ying was ushered into a reception pavilion, where Dou Peng’s son, Dou Xin, came out from within to receive her. Zhù Ying asked, “How is the Prime Minister keeping?”
“The imperial physician has examined him — overwork.”
Zhù Ying thought to herself: At this critical juncture, that’s not good at all.
She asked further about the physician’s findings, and heard no mention of any other ailment. She then asked after Dou Peng’s daily life and reminded Dou Xin not to forget to look after Madam Dou as well: “Now that the Prime Minister is ill, Madam is certainly going to be more attentive in looking after him. She is no longer young — take care she does not exhaust herself.”
“Yes.”
The two exchanged light conversation. A steward-looking man came hurrying in and exchanged glances with Dou Xin. Dou Xin was the first to speak: “Has Father woken?”
“He has.”
Dou Xin said, “Please, come.”
Zhù Ying walked with him toward Dou Peng’s bedchamber. On the way, they passed another group coming the opposite direction. Zhù Ying said, “Prime Minister.”
Xian Jing gave a small nod. “Zi Zhang is here too?”
“Yes — I was attending to official duties outside the city today and came late when I heard that Prime Minister Dou had taken ill.” As she spoke, Zhù Ying noticed that behind Xian Jing followed a young man who was glaring at her, his expression quite unfriendly.
Xian Jing clearly had no intention of introducing this young man to her, and left with him. Dou Xin noticed her glance linger on the young man for a moment and said, “That appears to be Prime Minister Xian’s nephew.”
“Ah — Xian Hong,” Zhù Ying said.
Dou Xin gave a nod and said no more, leading Zhù Ying inside.
On the other side, the uncle and nephew said nothing further to each other. But Xian Hong could not hold himself in — the moment they stepped out through the Dou household gate, he said to Xian Jing, “She has done such harm — how is she still the Minister of Finance? I simply don’t believe that without her, no one else could serve as Minister of Finance!”
Chen Zhi curled his lip and looked coldly at this loud and flustered fellow. Pfft! Just like his father Xian Yujing!
Chen Zhi edged sideways into the shadows — he had no desire to greet Xian Jing.
Xian Jing hadn’t even noticed him, and instead reprimanded his nephew: “Stop this idle talk!”
The uncle and nephew mounted their horses. After they had ridden a distance, Xian Jing said, “The Minister of Finance — you could put a dog in that seat, but a dog cannot do the job well.
You need a person who can hold that position without being toppled, who won’t collect bribes when tempted, and who at the same time can maintain stability — not cause greater disorder in the realm, not kill the goose for the golden eggs.
This person must not be corrupt; must not be easily manipulated; must be capable of smoothing over trouble and then doing the actual work that the role requires. The court does not run on ritual propriety alone — governing requires money.
Right now, there is truly no one else but her.
At this moment, we cannot find another. Stop spending time in philosophical debate with that lot of discontented, resentful pedants! Empty talk ruins nations! I brought you to the capital so that you could learn something of practical governance — not to become a pampered wastrel.”
Xian Hong was still unconvinced, but seeing his uncle’s stern expression, he dared not say more. Xian Jing looked at him and felt that most of what he had just said had probably not sunk in — he could not help but sigh.
And in his heart, Xian Jing felt a quiet sourness. He thought of himself — going through every qualification for a competent Minister of Finance one by one — and reflected that he himself had acted as deputy minister, barely qualifying as minister, back in the day. That he had been able to hold his position at the Ministry of Finance had relied on his teacher, Wang Yunhe, as his backer.
But now his teacher was gone!
A crushing wave of loneliness and desolation pressed down on him. Xian Jing was suddenly overcome with grief so deep he could not speak.
Chen Zhi slipped out from the shadows, his gaze dark and cold.
After waiting a little longer, he saw Dou Xin escort Zhù Ying out from within. He made no effort to hide himself and stepped forward to meet her: “Uncle.”
Dou Xin was mildly startled: “You…”
Chen Zhi smiled, “I heard last time that your honored father has a miscellany written by the late Chief Minister Liu, and I’d like to borrow it to copy. I’m accompanying Uncle back to your residence to fetch it now — I’ll be able to read it tonight.”
Dou Xin said, “It would be so good if Chief Minister Liu were still in the capital…”
Chen Zhi said, “You can take your time missing him. As for me — I get to read the book tonight. Farewell. Uncle.”
Zhù Ying said her farewells to Dou Xin. She and Chen Zhi rode side by side. Once they had turned the corner, she said, “Let’s go — to your father.”
“Eh? Uncle, my father is doing a night duty shift today.”
“Oh!” Zhù Ying slowed her pace and said, “Then come with me to fetch the book. Tomorrow morning I’ll go find your father personally.”
“Has something happened to Prime Minister Dou?”
Zhù Ying said, “Nothing has happened to him. I’m afraid it’s the court that is about to have something happen.”
Chen Zhi was startled and stopped jesting. He followed closely behind Zhù Ying to fetch the book.
……
Early the next morning, Zhù Ying saw Zheng Xi outside the palace gates before she even got inside — the Old Commandery Princess had fallen ill again; he had gone home yesterday to attend at her bedside and so had not personally visited Dou Peng. He was now speaking with Dou Xin.
Zhù Ying found Chen Meng and intercepted him: “Let’s find somewhere quiet.”
“There’s a duty room for the Imperial Guards over there.”
“Let’s go.”
The two entered the room. Their attendants stood guard outside the door. Only then did Zhù Ying speak: “I think Prime Minister Dou wants to flee.”
“What? Flee? Flee from what?”
Zhù Ying said, “I’ve seen quite a number of Prime Ministers — from my uncle, to Chief Minister Liu, Chief Minister Shi, and others. Whenever a man intends to retire on his own initiative, the expression on his face is much the same.”
“He wants to retire? There’s still a pile of work at the Grand Council Secretariat! If he goes, Zheng the seventh and Xian Jing will come to blows, and I’ll be left playing mediator alone? I…” Chen Meng began working himself up to say something crude.
“When a person is ill, they tend to dwell on things — melancholy, heartache. Perhaps once he recovers he’ll think it through and decide to stay after all. Look — his children and grandchildren aren’t settled yet. Even if he wants to go, it will take several more months. You have plenty of time to make arrangements.”
Chen Meng steadied himself and said, “I’m going to find him right now! How can he just run off at a time like this?”
Zhù Ying said, “Speak with him properly — it would be good if he stayed a while longer. He has a great deal of experience.”
“All right.”
The two parted. Chen Meng went to find Dou Peng. He inquired after his health, but Dou Peng only spoke of his advanced age and asked Chen Meng and the others to look after things — from here on, it was up to them. Chen Meng had already formed his suspicion; the more he looked, the more certain he became that the man wanted to flee. He went straight to the point: “There seems to be a note of withdrawal in your words.”
Dou Peng smiled slightly. “The years do not spare a man. I’m old!”
“When you go — who else is there?”
Dou Peng said, “Every generation brings forth its own talented people!”
Chen Meng said, “What kind of time do you think this is? You’re just feeling dispirited from the illness — get a good rest and stop entertaining such notions.”
Dou Peng did not argue with him. He closed his eyes, lay back, and rested quietly.
Chen Meng said, “I can read fortunes — and yours says you’re not going anywhere just yet. Get well properly, and once you’re better, you won’t feel this way anymore. Besides, if you leave, what becomes of the court? I alone cannot hold back Zheng the seventh and Xian Jing when they lock horns. Prime Minister Dou — for the country!”
Dou Peng sighed, and lay still without a word. Chen Meng bowed to him, instructed Dou Xin to take good care of Dou Peng, tucked in the corner of Dou Peng’s bedcover for him, and then took his leave.
Zhù Ying had read the situation accurately — Dou Peng did indeed want to go. Chen Meng was quite troubled. The “fortune-reading” he had offered was really a way of saying “you won’t be able to leave before your children and grandchildren are settled” — but for a Prime Minister to arrange things for his children and grandchildren was not all that difficult. Once Dou Peng recovered and made those arrangements, he would be gone.
Zhù Ying was forty-two this year — still a little young to be made Prime Minister. When it actually came to the moment of pushing someone into that position, Chen Meng found himself confronting Zhù Ying’s weakness: controlling a single region or a single ministry, her grip was sufficient — call it a faction, call it disciples, she had enough people at her disposal. As Prime Minister, managing an entire nation, the forces she controlled were still comparatively thin. A great tree takes time to grow; she still lacked a little seasoning.
If he pushed her up now, would it be pulling up a seedling to help it grow faster?
Chen Meng could not make up his mind.
……
The next day, Chen Meng went to morning court looking deeply troubled. He ran into Zheng Xi.
Zheng Xi had been on night duty the day before. One look at Chen Meng’s expression, and he asked, “You’ve already heard?”
Chen Meng thought he was referring to Dou Peng’s plans to retire. He was still puzzling over how Zheng Xi would have known — had Zhù Ying told him privately? Or was it something else? He answered vaguely: “Heard what?”
Zheng Xi leaned close: “The Western Tribes — a massive invasion! An urgent dispatch arrived last night!”
“What? How is that possible? When the northern barbarians were storming the passes, they took advantage of the chaos and tried to profit from it, but got no benefit and retreated very sensibly. How have they suddenly lost their senses now? The court has plenty of troubles, but how do they think they can gain any advantage from it? Is the news reliable?”
Zheng Xi nodded: “Two separate sources, both saying the same thing — large forces being mustered.”
He had two intelligence sources — one was Little General Leng, and the other was his own cousin. Two points of verification should be reasonably reliable.
Chen Meng said, “Well then — Prime Minister Dou won’t be going anywhere.”
“Hm?”
“He had a mind to retire.”
“Tsk!”
At court, this news was not widely circulated. After court was dismissed, the Emperor summoned the Prime Ministers and several generals to discuss the matter. Zhù Ying was also called in, given her experience.
It was only at this point that Chen Meng learned the full picture:
Zheng Xi said, “The Tribal Chief has died suddenly. Kun Da Chi prevailed over his brother in the struggle for succession. In order to overawe his generals, ministers, and the chieftains of the various tribes, he has personally led a large army to invade the border. It is said to be an army of two hundred thousand, advancing in three columns — but according to what Leng and Yao have reported, the actual figure is no more than seventy or eighty thousand.”
Leng referred to Little General Leng; Yao referred to Zheng Xi’s cousin, Yao Chen Ying. Kun Da Chi’s forces numbered seventy or eighty thousand in total, and not all of them necessarily followed his orders — yet the forces under General Leng and Yao Chen Ying were even fewer! Thus Little General Leng had taken a degree of losses and, sensing the danger, had sent an urgent report with all speed!
The Emperor said furiously, “Treacherous rebels! This is their true nature — no wonder they resort to unauthorized military action!” He composed himself and then asked, “What do the gentlemen have to say?”
The senior generals were gone. Several commanders each offered their views, all eager to volunteer: “Seventy or eighty thousand, in three columns — we should be able to defeat them in detail.”
“Order Yao Chen Ying to hold firm, pin down one column, and concentrate our force to encircle and destroy the other two…”
These were all sound suggestions.
The Emperor then asked Zhù Ying.
Zhù Ying said, “Seventy or eighty thousand men — how did he muster that many in such a short time?”
Zheng Xi said, “Ah — he first sent small raiding cavalry, who took some losses. After that he assembled the main force. There have been small skirmishes along the border these past few years — the frontier towns have grown used to it.”
A piecemeal escalation?
Zhù Ying was somewhat puzzled.
But whatever the case, troops had to be dispatched — that was the domain of the Ministry of War. Provisions and logistics had to be coordinated — and that fell to the Ministry of Finance. The immediate decision was made: a first deployment of fifty thousand troops to secure the border.
Zhù Ying had budgeted for warfare with the reserve calculated for the scale of the northern war campaign. The unused balance from the previous year had rolled over to this year — the money and grain were there.
But the fighting at the front could not wait. Mobilizing troops and marching, especially the transport of provisions, all took time. While the reinforcements were still on their way, the lines up front were already close to the breaking point.
Yao Chen Ying had experience, but the situation was different from before. Last time the barbarian forces had not come out in full strength against him; this time Kun Da Chi was personally leading a large army to press the attack. Yao Chen Ying threw himself into the defense with every ounce of strength he had — a civil official, he nevertheless held the city by sheer force of will. But the townspeople could no longer move freely outside the city gates.
Little General Leng, hampered by insufficient troops, could only strike at the enemy and fall back immediately, never daring to advance too far.
The court was anxious. Even Dou Peng’s illness cleared up and he returned to the Grand Council Secretariat. The draft memorial he had already written requesting retirement was not brought out.
When the Emperor saw military dispatches with nothing but bad news, he was greatly angered: “My realm and my people — are they simply here for him to use to establish his prestige? Gentlemen — produce a plan!”
Zhù Ying thought for a moment and then stepped forward: “I am willing to go.”
The Emperor did not agree immediately, and instead said, “The Ministry of Finance also needs you at its helm.”
Zhù Ying said, “Kun Da Chi will not allow himself to be bogged down at the front for long. He initially came not purely for external reasons, but for internal ones — it is his brothers and his own tribal factions he must overawe. So the way to handle him cannot rely purely on a clash of force; there needs to be something else as well, and someone must coordinate the whole picture. General Leng and Yao Chen Ying are not under each other’s command — the court must absolutely send someone to exercise unified command. I am younger than most, so making this journey is more manageable for me. As for the Ministry of Finance, there is no great business at the moment. I will go and come back quickly — it won’t delay anything.”
Zheng Xi did not want her to go: “If that’s the case, simply issue an order for the front to hold firm. There’s no need for you to go in person.”
What Zheng Xi did not want, Xian Jing — knowing nothing about military matters — was determined to oppose. He said, “The Minister once supervised the northern territories and has experience in such matters. A concentrated strike is more appropriate — better than dragging it out the way it went in the northern campaign.”
Chen Meng, watching as yet another war broke out and the reforms they wished to pursue would have to be put on hold, also thought about how Zhù Ying had had her noble rank stripped — going to the front to earn back military credit in exchange for a new rank was entirely reasonable. Leading troops also meant building influence, and Zhù Ying was precisely lacking in that area. He also needed someone who could fill the gap Dou Peng would leave behind. He therefore argued forcefully in support.
Dou Peng had no particular view either way. He simply felt that Zhù Ying genuinely had experience, and if she said she could handle it, then let her go.
Three to one — Zheng Xi was overruled. He was still not satisfied and asked, “What is your plan?”
Zhù Ying said, “Courtesy before force — I request that a national letter of protest be issued, demanding that Kun Da Chi explain why he has not sent an envoy to the court to announce his chief’s death.”
By proper protocol, he ought to have sent a formal announcement first — the exchange of envoys and the court’s formal recognition of his position would follow. By skipping this step, he had given them a small point of leverage.
As for anything further — she would have to see the specific situation at the western frontier before she could say. The primary approach was still defensive; the court’s preparations for a counteroffensive were not sufficient.
The Emperor made his decision: “You will supervise and command the western territories. Go quickly and return quickly!”
Zhù Ying accepted the order and then made one further condition to the Emperor: “I will need a number of people to establish my field headquarters.”
The Emperor said, “Approved.”