Of all the emissaries sent to Wuzhou, Li Yanqing had brought back the most useful intelligence — but his words had left Xian Jing deeply uncomfortable. Even knowing that what Li Yanqing said made sense, Xian Jing still said, “One cannot be too careful with this person. Her identity fooled everyone for thirty years; for twenty years she has been quietly building up Wuzhou through hidden means. One ought not to speak in absolutes.”
Zheng Xi’s feelings toward Zhù Ying had long since moved beyond the former satisfaction of “planting a great tree with one’s own hands,” yet since Xian Jing was displeased, he found himself less displeased. He said, “Certainly one should not speak in absolutes — but that is no obstacle to speaking the plain truth. It is certainly better than alarmism and rashly provoking a border incident. And what the Vice Minister said is well-reasoned and well-founded. It is the nature of pacifying a region to be slow work. By common-sense judgment, she truly cannot do anything else. Even if she wished to, it would be a case of a clever housewife unable to cook without rice.”
Chen Meng said to Li Yanqing, “The Vice Minister might write up his observations in full.”
Li Yanqing said, “That is my intention exactly.”
Zheng Xi said, “Make haste.”
Li Yanqing acknowledged this and withdrew to write up his account. The three remaining Chancellors each had their own concerns.
The Grand Council had a tacit understanding about how to handle Zhù Ying: Chen Meng leaned toward appeasement and good faith; Zheng Xi too was reluctant to categorize Zhù Ying as “a rebel”; even Xian Jing had to acknowledge that in the court’s current condition it was not appropriate to show hostility. All three agreed that armed conflict with her was untimely.
Yet as Chancellors, they could not simply ignore or neglect so substantial a force. Each exerting his own methods, all of them sought to gather as much intelligence about Wuzhou as possible.
In the course of nearly a year, they had summoned a good number of southern scholars to ask about things, and had sent people to make contact with those at the Wuzhou Assembly Hall. None of the information obtained was satisfying. The “southern scholars” did not know Wuzhou deeply; many of them had never once encountered what was called a “tribal person” their entire lives. Gu Tong and Zhao Zhen were from Fulu County, but both men reported back that “the deep mountains are secluded and closed — we also don’t go into the mountains.” Between the lines, not a single scrap of information leaked through.
The Assembly Hall had Shu Qingtian and others running things. These women had been quite silent for a period right after Zhù Ying left the capital; the person in charge was Shu Qingtian, who had been in the capital a long time and had been at Zhù Ying’s side for a very long time as well — yet even she could not be gotten to say anything. Ask her, and she said they were law-abiding subjects who had surrendered voluntarily to the court — how could the Chancellors be so suspicious of them; it truly made them feel wronged.
Therefore, sending people directly to Wuzhou to see things for themselves had become a necessity. That was also why Chen Meng sent his own son; no one objected strongly. Zheng Xi followed with Leng Yun and Shao Jun; Xian Jing dispatched Li Yanqing as well.
Now the people had returned, and the situation appeared reasonably favorable. Xian Jing’s words were severe on the surface; in his heart he breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Meng also saw clearly enough: for Zhù Ying, this was a case of “Shi Kun stepping down and escaping the sea of bitterness” — she could now live in peace in Wuzhou. The one left to suffer was him, still facing this court. Not to mention other things: just these two in front of him — the moment the possible threat from Wuzhou was removed, these two would be at each other’s throats again.
To his surprise, Xian Jing was planning a larger gambit. He said, “Since Wuzhou harbors no rebellious intent, and she has a mind to educate and civilize the tribal peoples, we might as well bestow books upon them.”
Chen Meng thought to himself: How vicious! Given time, when they’ve been educated under your influence, what will she do?
Zheng Xi thought: Fool! Whether or not she uses the books you send is entirely up to her. Do you really think she’s still the magistrate of Fulu County, racking her brains to beg books from the Imperial Academy?
Chen Meng said, “It hasn’t yet been a year since we last sent an envoy — another mission would be too elaborate. When the autumn tribute comes in, have the envoys carry the books back with them on the return journey.”
Zheng Xi said deliberately, “Er’lang still hasn’t returned. This last year has really been hard on him.”
Chen Meng said, “Youth is the time for seeing the world. By the time you and I have reached our age, even wanting to move is hard.”
With a light touch, the two had steered the subject away. Chen Meng trusted Li Yanqing; privately he was already scolding his son for being insufficiently seasoned and failing to see what Li Yanqing had seen, while also feeling reassured by Zhù Ying’s “restraint.” It seemed that after his son returned to the capital, he would not need to make the journey again any time soon.
While his mouth chatted idly with Zheng Xi, he was already calculating in his mind when Chen Fang might return — forty days should be enough. He wondered what sort of letter the boy would bring back.
——
Chen Fang was quite comfortable in the mountain city. It was not prosperous, yet it had a vitality to it that refreshed the spirit. By the time Chen Fang was preparing to return to the capital, he felt even a small reluctance to leave.
Shao Jun had brought along an interpreter again and was off asking people questions. Chen Fang took the opportunity to go see Zhù Ying once more and ask about the reply letter.
Zhù Ying already knew from the preparations they were making that they would be leaving soon, and was directing that some local gifts be prepared for them to take back.
Zhù Qing Ye came in and said, “Official, Lord Chen requests an audience. Lord Shao has not come along.”
Zhù Ying said, “Bring him in.”
Chen Fang and Zhù Ying were well acquainted by now; coming in, he was less constrained and more respectful: “Esteemed Uncle, I am about to set out on my return journey. I’ve come to take my leave.”
Zhù Ying said, “If you wait any longer, the weather will be too hot and the road will be terrible to travel. I won’t keep you further. Once you’re back, you’ll need to take care. The court is going to grow more and more unpleasant.”
Chen Fang was startled: “What do you mean?”
“The rules have broken down,” Zhù Ying said. “In the past, the court was not without its power struggles — but those who struggled at least retained some semblance of conscience and left room for the people. Now: full mouths of benevolence and righteousness, but the people are merely a pretext, mere livestock. Every soul is seen as a pawn. Once such a disposition takes hold, people will no longer be treated decently, and trouble will follow. Still, this is not too great a problem for your family. Go back and tell your father: be wary of the Emperor.”
Chen Fang’s heart quickened. He stepped forward and bowed deeply: “I beg you to speak plainly.”
Zhù Ying said, “Our Emperor — his troubles are still to come. He is impatient and not wise; he is a half-filled jar of vinegar, yet the realm rests on this half-jar. He is the Son of Heaven; wherever he is, there is the mandate of heaven. The clever may have contempt for the man himself, but they cannot ignore ‘the Son of Heaven.’ Since Duke Huan of Qi, how many men have built their achievements by borrowing the Son of Heaven’s prestige?
If you disregard the Son of Heaven, others will not. Of Xian Jing and Zheng Xi, whichever one wins the Emperor’s support will win. This particular Emperor still wishes to play factions against each other, which is why he deliberately keeps both sides around — including your father — so that having several Chancellors at cross-purposes allows him to feel secure.
Do not disregard him because he is not very clever. When you see him, you must be earnest and sincere.”
Chen Fang memorized everything at high speed, knowing these words were precious. He only wished he could pull out a brush and write them down.
“He is no longer young either. Imperial sons will be born in succession and grow up — and before long you will be facing the issue of establishing an heir. The inner palace has no son, and the eldest son is even less capable than his father. Hearts are unsettled. There is bound to be a struggle — tell your father to be careful. Even with a thousand complications, as long as one stands on the right side in the major matters, one can remain unassailable. But I don’t look favorably on Shen Ying.”
Chen Fang asked respectfully, “Then, what should I do next?”
Zhù Ying looked him over at length — long enough to make Chen Fang’s whole body go numb with tension — then said, “A son of the Chancellor’s household, not without intelligence, not a disagreeable temperament — ah, well… go and spend some time at the local level, go down to the roots, and build yourself a solid foundation. There are things you cannot feel without living through them yourself. Zheng Xi paid the price for being too far up in the clouds.”
“Yes.” Chen Fang asked again, “The reply letter for my father — might I ask?”
Zhù Ying pulled open a drawer and lifted out a thick letter, which she placed on the table. Chen Fang stepped forward and received it with both hands — he could actually feel its weight.
Zhù Ying said, “Corresponding after this will not be so convenient, and you yourself may not have another opportunity to come here.”
Chen Fang suddenly felt a pang of something. He lowered his voice: “Please take good care of yourself. You…”
“Hmm?”
Chen Fang said, “Before we knew the truth about you, we worried for your sake — no clan, no descendants, and the southern students not very promising. We feared greatly for your old age. And now, here you are, alone in this place. Please plan ahead for what is to come. I have heard that when a wolf king grows old and loses his teeth, the pack will drive him out. Please, you must take care of yourself. If you should ever be in danger, please let me know. I would willingly provide for your care in your old age.”
Zhù Ying let out a laugh at this: “Very well.”
Chen Fang cradled the letter and withdrew with a respectful bow. Out the door, he tucked the letter safely away. Chen Fang returned to the guest house to formally announce their departure for the capital the day after tomorrow. He sent someone to find Shao Jun and bring him back, while saying nothing to Shao Jun about having gone to see Zhù Ying: “Tomorrow let us go to the prefecture to make our formal farewells. The south gets very hot soon — the road will be too uncomfortable if we delay.”
Shao Jun had no reason to doubt this. He agreed: “Very well. I’ve seen what there is to see here anyway; the Prefect would certainly not open her official archives and let us leaf through them at will.”
Chen Fang said, “Wuzhou is a protectorate — even if the Prefect were not she, we would still need to be respectful.”
Shao Jun said, “True. Ah — such a person… but then, at least she has had a good ending. Had she stayed in the capital, there is no telling what kind of a state she’d be in.”
Chen Fang was somewhat displeased and countered: “Saying it that way makes it seem as if you are underestimating her.”
Shao Jun had spoken offhandedly and was surprised by Chen Fang’s tone: “What is this about?”
Chen Fang said sternly, “We are still in the guest house. Mind what you say!”
“Oh.”
The next day the two formally went to make their farewells. In the courtyard they saw many chests and boxes; Zhù Ying gestured at the things in the courtyard and said, “Wuzhou is remote and poor — only these local products.”
The two men expressed their courtesy and accepted everything. From Chen Fang’s experience, there would be no gold or silver; it was surely just local goods and gifts. Shao Jun still had a little hope, and secretly inventoried everything once back with Chen Fang. He was somewhat surprised — it truly was only local products. The only thing of any slight value was a little lingzhi mushroom.
This was not what one would expect from the legendary Zhù Ying, and Shao Jun let out a long sigh: it seemed that tomorrow he would have to make a circuit of the market and buy more things along the way home.
Going out on official business like this, one was expected to bring back gifts for the family; the Zheng household especially could not be overlooked — gifts of distinctive southern character, and generous ones…
Chen Fang, by contrast, had adapted well. The gifts Zhù Ying gave included Wuzhou-style paper, cloth, and sugar, along with some inexpensive but distinctive small ornaments. They would do fine for his family.
The two men: coming, Chen Fang carried a weariness about him; returning, he was calm. Shao Jun had set out with a breast full of ambition; going back, the mere social obligations of the journey had aged him considerably, and his young face looked noticeably more careworn.
——
Zhù Ying personally saw both men out of the city, and then dispatched Xiang Yu to escort them all the way to Ji’yuan Prefecture. Xiang Yu stayed three days in Ji’yuan Prefecture; on the third day, together with Governor Xu and Marshal Pang, he saw the two men off on their way, then turned and headed back up the mountain.
Returning to the Zhù household in the mountain city, Xiang Yu reported to Zhù Ying that the imperial envoys had set off. Zhù Ying said, “Good. Zhao Su — I will set out for Gan County tomorrow. I leave the matters here in your hands. Xiang Yu — you and the others are to assist Zhao Su. The official gazette and documents, send someone to deliver them to Gan County each day.”
“Yes.”
Zhao Su asked again, “How many people will you bring? When will you return?”
Zhù Ying said, “Qingjun will come with me. I’ll stay in Gan County a month first; if anything changes, I’ll send word.”
“Yes.”
For this journey, Zhù Ying was leaving Zhang Xiangu behind. Huajie would come along. Xiao Jiang, Zhou Wei, and the others would stay at the household to accompany Zhang Xiangu. Zhang Xiangu was reluctant beyond measure: “Since it’s all our own land now, what would be wrong with me coming along? We’ve already gone through the formal channels — the court can’t just take us.”
Zhù Ying laughed: “The road is not yet properly built. In a couple of years, once the road is finished, I’ll accompany Mother and take a tour around everywhere. With me and Big Sister both away, the family can’t be without someone to anchor things. You must stay here and be well.”
Zhang Xiangu had no choice but to say helplessly, “All right, then. Take care of yourself.” And she insisted on checking Zhù Ying’s luggage, grumbling that she had packed too few clothes, and needed to check whether she had enough mosquito-repelling sachets…
She kept up her murmuring until Zhù Ying, Huajie, Zhù Qingjun, and the others had disappeared down the road toward Gan County. Only then did Zhang Xiangu, surrounded by the young Qi woman, Xiao Jiang, and others, turn and go back to the city.
Over on the other side, Zhù Ying rode at an easy pace. Zhù Qingjun led the way ahead; Honored Elder Sister Hu rode alongside them. Zhù Qingjun introduced the terrain as they went: “Twenty more li ahead, there’s a small village. The people there are fairly peaceable — they received their land allotments last year and have settled down. Of those who remain in Gan County now, very few are die-hard loyalists of the Yi Gan family. That sort of person fled long ago, back during last year’s events.”
Along the way, they came to fields. Zhù Ying dismounted to look and found the farming not very well done. She asked, “Haven’t the people we sent there been teaching properly?”
Zhù Qingjun spread her hands helplessly: “They’ve taught, yes — but one has to learn it well too. For one thing, the language barrier means teaching is slow. For another, these people have their own experience and won’t necessarily believe a stranger’s word. Some of them give an outward appearance of compliance while doing as they please. Xiang Er’lang and I discussed it and decided to set up some demonstration plots, so they can see for themselves which method gives higher yields. Oh — that’s the plot just ahead!”
Zhù Ying nodded: “That’s a good approach.”
Walking and stopping along the route, the two counties being adjacent, it still took Zhù Ying three days to arrive at the county seat of Gan County — the former main stronghold of the Yi Gan chieftain.
Xiang Le was not at the county seat. Among the welcoming party were people sent from the mountain city; two of them were Zhù Ying’s original attendants, who came forward in delight: “Official! Colonel!”
Zhù Ying asked, “Where is Xiang Le?”
The two exchanged a glance and could not help letting their gaze drift briefly toward Zhù Qingjun before quickly straightening their eyes again. They said, “Yesterday we got word that the nuisance from the Xi Ka family has come to provoke trouble again. With the Colonel absent, Second Young Master Xiang had no choice but to go and negotiate in person.”
Zhù Qingjun’s face darkened. Zhù Ying remained unmoved: “Whatever there is to discuss, let’s enter the city first and talk.”