The chieftains spoke in their own tribal tongue, leaving Chen Mei as lost as a duck hearing thunder. Watching the chieftains’ expressions, he could tell they had run into a problem. How strange — they had clearly won the battle, so why were they still troubled? Wu Ren had long since moved away from him, and he had not managed to find a single interpreter. He cursed himself inwardly for the oversight — how could he have been so careless?
Zhù Ying remained perfectly composed, saying, “Removing one nuisance is a good thing. Why does everyone look so glum? Yes, Yigan is newly acquired territory — there were all kinds of friction before, and there will be some difficulties when we take it over and govern it. But it is in our hands now. This is a good thing, worth celebrating. Qingjun, go through the merits, faults, injuries, and casualties of those under your command and report them to me. Little Wu, Zhù Yin — prepare rewards and condolences. As for the contributions from each of your households, do not be stingy with your commendations. Erlang.”
Chen Mei was called by name and quickly responded, “Yes!”
Zhù Ying said, “Wuzhou — nothing will go wrong there, will it?”
“Of course not. With you in charge, expanding the territory — how could anything go wrong?”
Zhù Ying said, “Then celebrate together with us?”
“Certainly.”
The reckoning with the Yigan household was finished, but those who had gained the strongholds did not feel entirely at ease. The initial intention of each county’s chieftains — to carve out an estate for their own kin and younger generations — served two purposes: to prevent disputes from festering within the main household, and to provide their loved ones with a better situation through blood ties. To spread one’s branches, so to speak! It both eliminated the risk of inheritance quarrels and created an additional mutual support.
When the chieftain who was Shanque’s father-in-law raised the matter of official posts, the chieftains could not help but ponder it further. A small, nagging resentment stirred in their hearts. In the end, they had received a benefit, and so the joy in their hearts was only slightly dampened — a feeling of something not quite perfect.
As for the newly acquired strongholds: except for the one in Zhù County, which was firmly in Zhù Ying’s hands and not to be divided, the others did not enjoy the same peace of mind.
It had been a great victory, and every household had suffered losses. They agreed to celebrate that evening, each household gathering separately first to deliberate on the aftermath.
The Wuzhou Prefecture Office was temporarily housed in the Zhù residence in Zhù County. The official staff could not extend their reach to the other counties; the Prefecture Office and the county yamen operated together, and they quickly arranged to first distribute condolences to the fallen, then award the meritorious. Zhù Qingjun was the foremost contributor, but Zhù Ying currently had no higher official title to bestow on her, nor could she grant her a noble rank.
Zhù Ying said, “You are most familiar with the Yigan main stronghold. It is newly submitted and will still need you to oversee it.”
“Yes.”
Zhù Ying then called over Xiang Le: “You will go together with Qingjun. The two of you will manage our stronghold in Yigan — Qingjun handles military affairs, Xiang Le handles civil matters. Xiang Le, you must quickly take inventory and measure the stronghold’s population, land, granaries, and produce, then register and document everything. It is time to plant winter wheat. For all those who sincerely submit, distribute land to them and teach them cultivation. Oh, and keep a close watch on the Yigan household’s silver mine.”
Xiang Le smiled and said, “Yes.”
When official posts had previously been assigned, all of Zhù Ying’s longtime followers had received one — he alone had not. Although he wore an expression of composure, taking glory and disgrace in stride, he could not entirely suppress a measure of speculation. Now, though not yet given a formal title, the appointment gave him real authority, and he trusted that Zhù Ying would make arrangements for him.
Zhù Ying also reminded them: “Mind your safety.”
“Yes.”
Zhao Su said, “Just the two of them may not be enough. The number of capable hands at our disposal is still rather limited.”
“Are there not many literate people there? Use the experienced to lead the new. Take one-third of the skilled veterans at home and send them ahead with Qingjun. Then select twenty literate people from the county to send over as well, to assist and learn by doing. The vacancies left at home will be filled by others.
“While we are at it, put out the word: three days from now, I will personally oversee an examination in the county! The literate and those with special skills from all the strongholds may come to sit for it! We will select twenty people this time, and students from the school may also take part. If a school student passes and a place opens up, others may sit for an examination to fill it.”
Wuzhou and Zhù County had never been under the court’s jurisdiction, nor did the court govern their schools. How to select officials, how to test students — all of it was hers to decide.
Zhù Ying also instructed Zhù Yin to prepare paper, brushes, and other examination supplies, with the examination hall set inside the county school.
Huajie said, “Since Qingjun is going, bring along a few physicians too — among the medical students, some have already completed their training.”
“Good.” The senior medical students had studied under Huajie for over a decade and were ready to practice independently.
Zhù Ying had arranged everything here with meticulous care, while the other five counties, by comparison, were considerably more haphazard. Su Mingluan divided the spoils, giving two smaller strongholds to Su Sheng, keeping none for herself, and planning to split the rest equally among her other brothers.
Lang Kunwu planned to divide things among his other sons in the future. The strongholds Lu Guo had obtained were largely won through Lu Danqing’s efforts — she wanted them, yet Lu Guo also wanted to distribute some to his other sons. Xijin, for his part, was giving to Jin Yu and Jin Yu’s other brother.
The chieftain who was Shanque’s father-in-law was also a father. Lin Feng had contributed more, so he received more. Besides Lin Feng and the eldest son, he had two other sons — each of them also got a stronghold.
Lu Danqing and her father always talked past each other. Sensing that Lu Guo’s tone was not quite right, she did not argue with him this time but left with a cold expression, wanting to unburden herself to Su Zhe. Then she thought: Su Zhe’s situation was different from hers — Su Zhe was Su Mingluan’s only daughter and was born to inherit an entire county. Her own situation was more similar to Su Sheng’s, and pouring out her troubles to Su Zhe would not solve anything.
She was standing under a tree in a daze when Zhao Su walked over and asked, “What is the matter? Who has upset you? Now that you are in Zhù County, I cannot allow you to say that you have been treated coldly at the residence. Whatever it is, just tell me.”
Lu Danqing’s expression showed hesitation. Zhao Su said, “Even if you do not trust me, you should trust Grandma. How has she always treated you?”
Only then did Lu Danqing speak of her situation: “The household is being divided up. If I can get even one small stronghold, that would already be fortunate. After this, I will just be trapped in these mountains forever.”
Zhao Su asked, smiling, “Not willing to accept that?”
Lu Danqing calmed herself and studied Zhao Su with pursed lips: “What are you trying to say?”
Zhao Su said, “You, Little Sister, and many of the women here — you all have ambition, and none of you are willing to accept your lot. Your situation is rather different from the rest. Even if you were a son, there is only one Crown Prince in all the world, is there not?
“Feeling like there is no road ahead? That you can see everything to its end in one glance? Think of it this way — a small water vat: no matter how hard a fish thrashes, it can never grow larger than the vat. In a pond, it can grow bigger. Only the ocean can hold a leviathan. With just one small stronghold, you cannot stir up any waves. Why not stand alongside someone who can summon clouds and bring rain?”
“Grandma?” Lu Danqing’s eyes lit up.
Zhao Su gave a small nod. “I chose to return to Wuzhou from the capital because I knew that in the capital, I had also reached about my ceiling. But here — when Grandma advances one step, those around her can advance one step as well. Would you not agree?”
Lu Danqing said, “If you have a plan, you might as well say it plainly. If there is something you want me to do, say that plainly too.”
Zhao Su said, “The court ought to have returned the purple robe to Grandma, yet they only gave her the red. It is time to let the court know that we are not to be trifled with. If the court were to know that she had come back less than half a year ago and has already taken another county…”
Lu Danqing understood: “We would need to approach Lin Feng and the others. Our few strongholds combined with what Grandma holds — altogether it is not a small amount. What is wrong with establishing a new county? That way, there would be yet another county magistrate…”
Zhao Su said, “Your vision is too narrow, is it not? One county magistrate means only one child of yours can inherit. Take the court beyond the mountains as an example — no one monopolizes an official post for generations, yet generation after generation there is family property. Descendants with ability can rise to even greater office; those without can still live comfortably. Is that not better than the way things stand now? Once the new county is settled, there will be land to the west, south, and north — plenty of room! Grandma will not be content to retire in one small stronghold. Neither will I. What about you?”
Lu Danqing said, “You are very crafty. But I trust Grandma. I will go find Lin Feng and the others.”
Lin Feng was still a little flush with excitement. Seeing Lu Danqing’s expression, he asked, “What is wrong? Who offended you?”
Lu Danqing answered his question with one of her own: “The new strongholds at your family’s place — were they all given to you?”
“I still have several brothers at home!”
Lu Danqing said, “Every family has brothers, and giving some away when dividing the household is only natural. I heard your family is now looking for a wife for you?”
“Ahem, ahem.”
“There you go, grinning again like a fool. Once you marry and have children, how will those children live? It is not like you are in the capital, where your son could receive a hereditary post from your shade. Right now you only have one stronghold, and you have no real official title — you are already a rung below others. Everyone here knows what our official titles are — just decorations. In the future, your elder brother’s line will be county magistrates for generations. What about us?”
That put Lin Feng in a foul mood as well. It was true! His official rank was higher even than his own father’s, yet now…
There was indeed something of a letdown.
He asked, “What should we do then?”
Lu Danqing said, “There are still Jin Yu, Su Sheng, and the others. Call them together for a discussion.”
“Alright!”
Very quickly, several of them gathered together, exchanged information, and discovered that their fathers’ thinking was remarkably similar — and that their own situations were identical as well. Official titles: only nominal ones. Benefits: only a limited one or two strongholds. Compared to their backgrounds, not being able to inherit the main household’s estate and having a stronghold at all was already considered fortunate.
Compared to the wider world they had already seen, they were unsatisfied.
The one who took the lead was still Lu Danqing. She said, “What are you all grinning about like fools? You see only that you have one stronghold. I see that you will have only this one stronghold for the rest of your lives, and nothing more. Are you willing to accept that? I am not! The Yigan strongholds are poor, hemmed in deep in the mountains, and the people are difficult to manage. Managing them alone, we will never amount to anything.”
The others began to look worried as well. Wuzhou was doing better than before because it was near Jiyuan Prefecture and had benefited from Zhù Ying’s management. The territory the Yigan cave master had held was deeper in the mountains, where not even winter wheat had been properly cultivated, no tea trees were grown, and no sugar or salt was produced. That was very different from being a prosperous gentleman farmer with an estate outside the mountains.
Jin Yu said, “You have said so much — what exactly do you mean?”
Lu Danqing said, “Lean in closer. Let us go together to ask Grandma…”
The group discussed it among themselves and all felt the plan was viable. Lu Danqing summarized: “Even if a county is established and there is only one county magistrate, and even if that goes to someone else — the places Grandma governs are more prosperous than anywhere else, and our strongholds will be better off than if we had only ourselves to rely on. Jin Yu, your father and my father got the worse of it when they were contending against the Yigan household — all the more reason we need to stand closer to someone reliable.”
The other points might be argued with, but the last was plain fact. Handing a stronghold over to them was easy enough; actually managing it well so that their lives were no worse than now — that was a different matter altogether.
The group quickly reached an agreement. Lu Danqing then thought of another tactic: “Keep this secret for now. Tonight everyone will be present, so we must make our fathers and elders declare in front of everyone which strongholds are being given to us — so they cannot take it back afterward. Then we ask Grandma.”
Lin Feng said, “Excellent! That way no one can go back on their word.”
Their minds were made up. Their fathers, meanwhile, had no idea that these devoted children had already decided to spare them the trouble of worrying and were making their own way.
That evening, bonfires were lit. Many people began to drink; some struck up songs, others broke into dance. This day was both a victory celebration and Zhù Ying’s send-off for Zhù Qingjun and Xiang Le. Newly acquired territory had to be absorbed at once. The two of them would depart the next day with part of the force; in a few days, once the newly selected personnel were ready, they would be sent over as well.
Zhù Ying raised her cup to the two of them. Lu Danqing seized the moment — once Xiang Le and Zhù Qingjun had finished drinking, she turned to Lu Guo and asked, “Father, what about our strongholds? How will they be managed? Will my brother and I each manage our own?”
“Yours?”
Su Mingluan said, “She has merit. You have not allocated a stronghold to her yet? That is not right.”
Lu Guo had no choice but to nod. “Very well.”
Zhù Qingjun asked curiously, “Which one?”
Lu Danqing said, “I want one close to yours — so we can look out for each other.”
Lu Guo had no choice but to agree.
She had opened the way; Jin Yu and the others began making their own requests as well. Su Mingluan did not wait for her nephew to speak — she gave to him first.
Before long, everyone had their own territory. Lu Danqing raised her cup and stepped forward: “Grandma!”
Zhù Ying smiled and said, “Congratulations to you as well.”
That day’s victory celebration left everyone in high spirits.
Early the next morning, Lu Danqing rallied Lin Feng and the others and went to find Zhù Ying. Zhù Ying had only just finished the morning assembly and was preparing to see Zhù Qingjun and Xiang Le off out of the city, when Lu Danqing and company dropped to their knees before her.
Zhù Ying asked, “What is this about? Did your father go back on his word?”
Lu Danqing said, “Grandma! You have always treated me very well — you raised me and guided me. I still beg Grandma to continue taking pity on me. I have only one stronghold and know nothing. Please help me manage it too. I am willing to go with Qingjun.”
Lin Feng and the others immediately chimed in, and Lin Feng, who could not keep a secret, blurted it out directly: “Together, these strongholds are enough for a county. I only want to collect a little rent; everything else can be managed under the county. From now on, I will just follow Grandma.”
Lu Danqing shot him a furious glance — that idiot, he had stolen her lines!
Zhù Ying said, “This matter should be communicated to your fathers first.”
Lu Danqing said, “My brothers have their own households. We are all going to be branching off and need to find our own way. Father cannot give me that much, so he cannot control me that much either. We will inform him, and even if he does not agree, I will still do this. I only ask that in the future, Grandma will not forget us. We may have little ability, but we are literate and can count, and we follow instructions. We do not want to be trapped and wasted away in one stronghold.”
The others all nodded.
Zhù Ying said, “Go and speak clearly to your fathers — you cannot keep it from them. You must explain your reasons fully.”
Lu Danqing said, “Yes.”
Zhù Ying said, “Off you go. Zhù Biao, please invite Erlang over.”
Zhao Su had been watching silently until now, and finally said, “Let me go instead. The court owes you your purple robe. It is time for it to be returned. I need to borrow his voice for this.”
……
Chen Mei had drunk a little too much the previous evening, and after the mountain songs and dancing, Chen Erlang had been unable to maintain his composure and had drunk two extra bowls. That morning he woke up late.
He downed a bowl of strong tea — there was no time for breakfast — and was jarred awake by Zhao Su’s message: “You are not going to make me run back and forth a third time, are you?”
Zhao Su smiled and said, “I must trouble you, dear fellow, to submit a memorial on our behalf. I will not make things difficult for you. Our Prefect is currently planning to build a postal road. Broad official roads cannot be constructed in these mountains, but even if it is built somewhat narrow, it must be able to connect with the outside world. At the very least, we need to receive official dispatches and facilitate communication with the court. That is the first matter.
“With the Prefect in Wuzhou, none of the mountain tribes will be able to cause trouble — that is the second matter.
“The new county is to be named Gan County. The Prefect has already convened craftsmen to print literacy chants and carve stone character steles to educate the newly submitted populace — that is the third matter.
“The Prefect has always kept her word. A policy set twenty years ago, she will carry out. She said she would hold the western barbarians in check, and she will hold them in check. Going forward, she will advance steadily westward, to relieve the court of its burdens.”
Chen Mei drew a long breath. “Very well. The new county magistrate — who will it be?”
“Xiang Le.”
Chen Mei grumbled under his breath. Zhao Su added, “The weather down the mountain has not yet cooled, so there is no rush. The autumn harvest taxes are still being gathered — it will not delay your escort of the autumn grain to the capital.”
Chen Mei sighed, “As long as my uncle does not forget to write back, that is all I ask.”
Zhao Su said, “He certainly will not.”
Chen Mei said, “I wish to see the Prefect.”
“Please, go right ahead.”
Zhù Ying had already seen Zhù Qingjun and her party off and was in conversation with Xiang An: “Your abilities are no less than those of your brothers. In the past, because of my status, it was not convenient to keep you by my side and teach you governmental affairs — you were held back. Now it is convenient at last. You are to stay by my side and learn and practice more.”
Xiang An was deeply moved: “Yes!”
“In a moment, work with Zhao Su and the others to sort out the road construction costs and also draft a plan for how it should be apportioned among the counties…”
“Yes!”
Zhù Ying issued instructions one by one, Xiang An recording them one by one. Zhù Ying also said, “You will need to bring a few people with you — in the old days when Lao Qi was here, there were also several students…”
“Yes!”
And then Chen Mei arrived!
Zhù Ying was putting the court in a difficult position, but the most difficult position of all was Chen Mei’s. On one hand, he silently cursed the court for being so dishonest as to not simply give the purple robe at once, leaving him squeezed in the middle. On the other hand, he was genuinely frightened of this “uncle” who never stopped causing situations. Just look at what she had done!
Not a moment’s rest in between!
Zhù Ying said, with a warm and benevolent air, “You already know everything, I take it? I have no more patience for going back and forth with the court like sawing a log. I do not want the court to allocate money and grain to me. One sheet of paper — is that so difficult? If they are short on paper, I have some here; shall I handle the paperwork myself?”
Chen Mei was so startled he could barely breathe: “No, no, no! I will do it! I will do it!”
Zhù Ying said, “Do you know why Yao Chenying submitted a memorial to abolish that statute?”
“Wh-what?”
“They cannot carry on. The court is going to have its hands full going forward. It would be best not to waste any more time and effort on me.”
……
In the capital, at the Zheng residence.
The cousins were likewise in the midst of discussing the prohibition on land transactions.
Zheng Xi certainly had no love for Xian Jing’s reforms, but he also acknowledged that land consolidation had to be curbed. His cousin’s sudden desire to halt the matter left Zheng Xi utterly baffled — he thought his cousin had lost his mind.
“Even though we and Xian Jing come from different backgrounds, we absolutely cannot leave the restraint of consolidation entirely undone. Why in the world are you so insistent on this?”
“The text on government states: where the person exists, the policy flourishes; where the person is gone, the policy perishes. Now that Zhù Ying has departed — there is no one left at court who can carry it out.” Yao Chenying said.
Zheng Xi said, “Cannot be done without her? How are the others inferior to her?”
Yao Chenying said, “She had no husband, no children — well, could not have had a husband either — no brothers or sisters, no close kinsmen, only aging parents near death’s door. Only someone like that could have seen it through.”
“I do not need to clarify the world entirely,” Zheng Xi said. “Water that is too pure holds no fish — as long as it does not become a cesspool, that is enough. You do not need to outdo her, nor do you need to imitate her style. Even being somewhat inferior to her would do.”
Yao Chenying continued to shake his head. “Have you not noticed, in reading history, that once a nation’s decline has set in, both ability and conviction fail from the top down? People act for private gain, neglecting the common good. At such a time, regardless of what new policies are enacted to save the situation, they will be hijacked by those with selfish motives, and the more one struggles, the faster the end comes!”
“Nonsense! There are also periods of revival and restoration.”
Yao Chenying said, “A dying glow before final darkness, nothing more. For any dynasty: in the early days of its founding, reform and new governance are for the most part achievable. By the middle period, the more is done, the worse it gets. Take the military colonies — surely a good thing? Graft only makes consolidation worse. By the final days, every action is an error. Things are not yet at that stage, but Wang Xiang’s hand has already moved — look at Xian Jing now that he has taken over. Is there not a faint drift toward that final stage?”
Zheng Xi said, “Bold words! Hold your tongue!”
Yao Chenying spread his hands. “Even for the sake of the people, stop stirring things up. To push this through, how many people would be made enemies? Since they cannot be made enemies, just delay — delay until someone who is unafraid of sacrificing everything, their nine clans included, comes forward. Then there may yet be hope. A perfectly capable person — not kept to join in a great endeavor, but driven away in anger. What were they thinking? Seventh Brother, you have given her considerable latitude for thirty years. What is the harm in continuing to stay on good terms with her?”
Zheng Xi fell silent.