Peacock set out first from the salt fields and headed to the Asu main stronghold, which conveniently allowed her to travel together with people from the Asu stronghold who were going to Mountain City for the traditional year-end market.

When they departed from the Asu main stronghold, the sky was slightly overcast. Halfway through the journey, a light rain began to fall. In the latter half, the rain turned to tiny pellets of sleet — by Wuzhou’s standards, this counted as bitterly cold weather.

When Peacock caught sight of Mountain City’s outline in the distance, the hand gripping her reins was already swollen and numb from the cold. She breathed out a puff of white mist and waved at the group behind her. “Keep up! We are almost there!”

From behind came a collective sigh of relief — in this wretched weather, being able to stop and rest properly at last was everything they had hoped for.

As they drew very close to Mountain City, a group of riders came galloping from another direction. Peacock looked carefully and saw at the head of the group a neatly dressed young woman in close-sleeved riding clothes, mounted on a small horse. Behind her were a number of people of varying heights, all wrapped in straw rain capes and armed with weapons.

Peacock recognized this young woman — she was Su Mingluan’s young cousin, Lu Danqing. The two were not well acquainted, but they exchanged greetings. Peacock said, “Still out on duty in weather like this? You must have had a hard time.”

Lu Danqing pressed her lips into a stiff smile — her face was half-frozen and the expression came out somewhat rigid — and said, “Just coming back from over that way. It was not so dreadful. And you?”

Peacock said, “The New Year is almost here — I could not very well wait for the lord to summon me.”

Their two groups joined into one. Lu Danqing asked, “Did A’Jie not come?”

Peacock said, “The stronghold still needs her. She will come in a few days. I wanted to come ahead to explain and ask for leniency — it would not be right to let her stand in front of me and take the blow.”

Lu Danqing said quietly, “Just tell the truth. Admitting a mistake is always better than hiding it.”

Peacock said, “I know.” She did not wish to dwell on it further with Lu Danqing. Lu Danqing’s father, Lu Guo, was himself a source of trouble. So many things had their roots in the blundering foolishness of Lu Guo and Xi Jin between them.

To break the silence, Peacock twisted around in the saddle to glance behind Lu Danqing and, for lack of anything better to say, asked, “How many soldiers can you command now?”

Lu Danqing said carefully, “It is hard to say — a company officer’s command varies depending on whether you are in the capital, in a frontier army, or here with us. It is always somewhat fewer than what the court’s regulations specify. You would do better to ask Little Sister about the exact numbers. In our situation here, things are smaller scale than the court’s, though it is easier to do as one pleases. By the way — how is Little Sister faring?”

“She has grown into quite a capable young woman…”

The two chatted casually as they reached the gate of the prefecture. Lu Danqing said, “Good timing — I need to report to the lord. I will announce you. Your people?”

Peacock said, “They came for the year-end market. Same as always — only these two are from the salt fields.”

Lu Danqing said, “Then send the others to the market to settle in. In this cold, there is no sense keeping them standing here — if they wait much longer, the shopkeepers will be closing for the evening.”

Peacock kept only two people behind and sent the rest off to the market: “Go on ahead. We will stay at the guesthouse — come find us tomorrow. Do your trading on your own first. I will come find you when I get a moment.”

Lu Danqing went inside to make her report to Zhù Ying.

The prefecture at that hour was approaching dinnertime, yet Zhù Ying could still not rest. Since Zhao Su had departed, there were things she needed to handle personally. At that moment she was with Xiang An, Wu Ren, Xiang Yu, and others, going over the year’s income and the budget for the coming year, as well as the expenses for the New Year celebration and so on.

Zhù Qingye said, “Danqing is back.”

Zhù Ying looked up at the angle of the light. “Ah — it is already time for dinner. Just as well — let us eat together. More people make it livelier. Qingye, go bring Danqing over. We will continue the rest of this tomorrow.” Wu Ren efficiently stacked the account books and other materials together.

Zhù Qingye assented and went off lightly to find Lu Danqing. Xiang An and the others filed out of the study. Halfway along, they saw Zhù Qingye and Lu Danqing coming in this direction. Lu Danqing’s boot soles left faint damp traces on the blue-stone floor. They exchanged greetings; Xiang An said, “We will all eat together shortly.”

“Good.” Lu Danqing said.

Once outside the study, Zhù Qingye announced their presence. Lu Danqing stood outside and stamped her numb feet to get some feeling back.

Zhù Ying walked out: “Why are you standing out here? Bring her a brazier to warm her feet. Are the people you brought back with you — is there something the matter?”

“Elder!”

Zhù Ying said, “There must be something.” Lu Danqing, who had been rather self-conscious when she first arrived in the capital, had gradually loosened up, and after returning to Wuzhou she was even less inclined to stand on ceremony at Zhù’s residence. The fact that she was acting so formally today meant something was afoot.

Lu Danqing walked alongside Zhù Ying and spoke as they went: “The soldiers are all quite good — really. We ran into A’Jie this morning when we went west. She said the same, and said that by your example she wants to try this same method of drilling troops…”

Zhù Qingjun and Lu Danqing and the others had been drilling soldiers, and Zhù Ying was not entirely a hands-off leader about it — she had given orders to Hou Wu and those below him that, in addition to regular drill grounds exercises, they were to take the soldiers out for field exercises. Hunting was merely recreation; from now on, they were to begin practicing rapid marches through mountain terrain and similar exercises, so as to be ready for future needs.

Zhù Ying said, “I will take a look later.”

“Yes. Elder…”

“Hm?”

“About… Peacock is here.”

“Oh? Where?”

“Waiting at the gate — she brought two people from the salt fields. The ones from the Asu main stronghold who came for the market have all gone off to settle in at the market…”

Zhù Ying waved her hand. “Leave the brazier for you — come, let’s go have a look. Oh — where are the soldiers you brought back?”

“They just returned to their barracks.”

Zhù Ying walked and said as she went, “You are uneasy because of her situation?”

Lu Danqing fell back into step beside her and said quietly, “The matter at the salt fields — I heard about it afterward. My father also had a part in…”

Zhù Ying gave a nod. In this web of relationships, everyone was connected to everyone else, and it was only natural for Lu Danqing to be concerned. Lu Danqing had left her straw rain cape hanging under the eaves of the main hall. Zhù Ying did not put on a rain cape again either but took up a large umbrella and opened it. Lu Danqing moved to take it from her; Zhù Ying waved her off. Lu Danqing picked up another for herself, and the two walked to the gate together.

Peacock was standing in the gatehouse. When she saw Zhù Ying, she bowed at once: “Elder.”

Zhù Ying took her by the arm and raised her to her feet. “You made it. Coming out in weather like this must have been a trial.”

“I happened to meet them heading up the mountain, so I came with them.”

Zhù Ying said to the gatekeeper, “Take these two and give them a bowl of hot soup first — and feed them well at dinner. It is time.” Then she brought Peacock and Lu Danqing with her to the barracks to check on the soldiers who had returned from the field exercises.

Peacock looked curiously around the barracks. She saw orderly patrols, gleaming blades, and guards on duty standing ramrod straight, each one lifting their chin and presenting a muscular, solemn bearing.

The soldiers here were divided into women’s and men’s barracks. When Zhù Ying arrived, she looked in on the women’s barracks first. Every one of the women was exhausted. Though they had worn straw capes through the day, their clothes were still damp and clung to their skin, and the shoes on their feet had been thoroughly soaked through by the cold rain. They were all pulling off their footwear, rubbing their hands and stomping their feet, calling out for hot soup; others were sitting quietly to one side, unwinding their head wraps and combing their hair.

Lu Danqing called out, “The lord is here!” The women soldiers immediately set about straightening things up — hiding what needed hiding, clearing what needed clearing — until the room barely passed muster.

Zhù Ying said, “I know you have worked hard. Even now that you are back, do not let your guard down. There are sentries posted outside, and you must also have one or two of your own people on watch.”

“Yes!”

“Make sure there is hot soup tonight, and add more charcoal fuel. Warm up properly, and do not let anyone get frostbitten. For situations like this in the future, everyone is to receive an extra ration of meat bones, and each barracks room gets ten extra jin of charcoal.”

The women’s stiff reserve broke into smiles. “Yes.”

Zhù Ying then went to the men’s barracks. The men’s barracks were in even greater disarray than the women’s, and the smell was enough to knock one sideways — fortunately, it was cold weather, and in any case neither Zhù Ying nor the other two women were particularly delicate. Since it was a cold day, the men still had their clothes on. When they saw women entering, they felt a flush of embarrassment, and one foot kicked a muddy shoe under the bed.

Zhù Ying looked around and laughed. “Not bad — everyone still seems quite spirited. Same treatment as the other side — hot soup, charcoal fuel.”

The young men began hooting, and Zhù Ying made a brief gesture of acknowledgment, then smiled and led Lu Danqing and Peacock back the way they had come.

…

Back in the study, Zhù Ying said, “Why are there only this many seats? Add another one.” Zhù Qingye darted out and very quickly returned with two more people, who brought in another brazier and set it beneath Peacock’s feet.

Peacock did not dare sit. She knelt where she was and pulled from inside her robe another small book: “Elder, I know I was wrong. This is the hidden ledger. When we passed through the main stronghold, the clan head also told me I should be honest with you. So I brought it all.”

Lu Danqing felt rather awkward. She wanted to stay — partly because she had not yet finished reporting on the soldiers, and partly because she wanted to follow the situation, on the chance that she might be able to put in a word on Peacock’s behalf. Yet she also knew it was not strictly her place, and she felt uncomfortable listening. She was still hesitating when she accidentally kicked the brazier; she stood up and said, “I should…”

Zhù Ying said, “Stay still.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Qingye took the ledger and placed it on Zhù Ying’s table. Zhù Ying did not look at it. Instead, she said to Peacock, “Since you came here yourself, that means you have some sense of where you stand. But you are an Asu County person at the end of the day — to deal with you, I cannot bypass Su Mingluan. Stand up first.”

“She — she already knows.”

Zhù Ying said, “Whether she knows or not, we still have to follow proper process. This is not a matter one person can decide alone, nor a responsibility one person can bear alone. If you had hidden this from her, you would have been pickled in brine by now and turned into a piece of salt cod.”

Peacock drew in a very quiet breath.

Zhù Ying said, “Fortunately, she will be here in just a few days. Put your mind at rest. Qingye — take her to Little Sister’s room, and let her change out of those clothes. That whole outfit is stuck to her skin and must be terribly cold.”

“Yes.”

After the two left, Zhù Ying asked Lu Danqing about the state of the soldiers. The problems that could arise from moving troops through rain and mountain terrain, what equipment was needed, what conditions one might face when engaging an enemy — and so on. All of this needed to be considered and prepared for: rain protection, non-slip measures, keeping warm — these were all things to address going forward.

Once they had finished talking, dinnertime had come around.

Zhang Xiangu had been having a lively and bustling time of it lately. People were constantly dropping by the Zhù residence for a meal. Today, Er Jiang had gone home with her daughter to discuss their year-end summary with Zhou Wei, and Lu Danqing and Peacock had both returned.

Zhang Xiangu said, “I do not recognize her face.”

“She is from the Asu family,” Zhù Ying said.

Zhang Xiangu said, “Oh my, I wonder how Little Sister is doing these days.”

Peacock said, “Her mother and daughter are planning to come ring in the New Year with you.” The custom of the New Year was the most deeply felt tradition here; in the strongholds, people did not strictly observe the dates on the almanac calendar.

Zhang Xiangu said, “That would be wonderful — more people means more cheerfulness. Oh, but…” She thought of how Su Mingluan was still in mourning.

Zhù Ying redirected the conversation, asking Zhang Xiangu how many red envelopes she had prepared for the New Year. Zhang Xiangu said, “I have them, all ready!”

At the dinner table, not another word of serious business was mentioned. Peacock’s meal, however, sat uneasily in her stomach. That night she slept in Su Zhe’s room. A small brazier had been lit inside, but the room had been uninhabited for some time, and she could not help feeling there was something stale and lingering about the air. She slept poorly. The next day, she went to the market to check on the Asu clan’s business — it was proceeding as before, without any apparent impact.

Peacock grew more and more unsettled.

The days passed like this until Su Mingluan arrived with her daughter.

…

Mother and daughter stayed inside the residence. The two walked hand in hand ahead, with Peacock following behind. This time, it was not the study where they met Zhù Ying, but in the small garden reception room.

Zhù Ying was dressed very casually that day — she had not put on the long sword she usually carried, only a shorter blade hung from her belt. She was seated on a low couch, with a piece of wood in her hand that she was carving into a hairpin. When she saw them, she set it aside: “You are here? Sit.”

But Su Mingluan, mother and daughter, were not so composed. Su Zhe’s expression was solemn; Su Mingluan wore an equally serious face.

Su Mingluan said, “Elder, the matter of the salt fields — that was my decision…”

Su Zhe gave a small, discontented cough. Peacock was more anxious than she had ever been in her life.

Zhù Ying said, “Sit.”

Su Mingluan said, “Please let me finish. It was my decision. Before, there was no one in charge, and beyond a few matters on which everyone could agree, each party had no choice but to look after themselves. I am not making excuses — the facts are what they are. I also lacked the ability to bring all the households into alignment. My own uncles alone gave me enough headaches. You are different. Whatever solution you have, I will follow your lead.”

Zhù Ying pointed at Peacock and said, “What happened with her — once we leave this room, it is not to be discussed again. As far as the outside world is concerned, nothing happened.”

Su Mingluan said, “And… on the inside?”

“Lu Guo and Xi Jin — they are not to be indulged indefinitely either. Sharing benefits with them is meant to see that they take good care of the people under them and treat ordinary folk decently — not to raise ancestors to be waited upon. Did you promise them you would share the profits? Or did I ever promise to provide for them?”

“No.”

Zhù Ying said, “Then is that not settled? However, we are still all on the same side. What they already have, I will not strip away. Sometimes they are confused and cannot help themselves from making trouble for you — that is something you will have to deal with. To prevent them from muddying the waters, the salt fields will remain under Peacock’s management. But I will send a few people over. In the future, if Lu Guo and Xi Jin have complaints, direct them to me — I will reason with them. How does that sound?”

Peacock’s mind went momentarily blank. She could not quite grasp what was happening.

Su Mingluan bowed her head and said, “This salt field was your arrangement from the start. If you send your own people as well, that is far better than us struggling along on our own.”

Zhù Ying said, “I know how hard you have worked. Managing such a large estate is no small thing. This salt field — your share will always be one part more than theirs.”

Su Mingluan said, “I will follow your word.”

Zhù Ying said, “Let us see how things develop.”

Su Mingluan smiled. “Good.”

And just like that, the matter was resolved? Peacock was a little incredulous. This did not seem like something a woman of such formidable achievement would do. The person she knew best was Su Mingluan — decisive, and who kept power clutched tightly in her hands. A person who could make Su Mingluan bow in deference would surely have more moves up her sleeve than simply posting a few people at the salt fields to “work alongside” her.

And yet Peacock could not see what further trick there might be.

Su Zhe was far more perceptive. She picked up two packets of tea, went to find Huajie, and asked her about things. Everyone close to Zhù Ying knew that Zhù Ying held only two people truly dear. Zhang Xiangu generally did not meddle in her daughter’s affairs; Huajie was the one who could be asked or might be persuaded to speak on someone’s behalf. The two packets of tea were merely a pretext — not quite a bribe, when it was like that. If things turned out as hoped, she would follow up with medicine, books, paper, and grain — gifts that suited Huajie’s tastes. Huajie was known for her charitable works; these were exactly the sort of gifts she appreciated.

Huajie accepted the tea and listened as Su Zhe brought up the matter of the salt fields with a rather tentative air. She said, “That is something I do not know about either. Why — are you worried about your mother?”

“Could you… ask about it for me? When I first found out, I was angry too — but she is my family, and I cannot help but be concerned. I also fear I might say something wrong myself.”

Huajie thought for a moment and said, “You are letting your concern make you flustered. Since she has not pursued the matter further, that means it is settled. She has always been true to her word. This way — I will ask again for you. Wait for my news.”

Su Zhe was delighted. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Huajie said, “A’Jun said she would be back today as well — she should be arriving soon. The two of you have not seen each other in a while. When she comes, you can meet her — once you see a familiar face, your heart will settle.”

“She is coming back? I will go welcome her.” Su Zhe, recognizing her cue, took her leave.

Huajie then quickly found Zhù Ying and, having explained the situation: “It seems they are still uneasy! Don’t you think you should offer some reassurance? And about Lu Guo and the others — how are you going to bring them to heel? You and the Asu family have both been too lenient with him. Danqing is such a good girl — and he has treated her the way he has. Danqing, too — she can’t simply abandon her own father. It is a difficult thing, truly.”

Zhù Ying said, “Reassure them? How would I go about that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Empty promises are worthless. They need either to see tangible benefit or to feel genuine deterrence. What do I have right now? The court is no longer standing behind me as a backer — it would be extraordinary if certain people refrained from stabbing me in the back, let alone offering support.

What I have is this estate in my own hands, and Gan County on the other side. Xiang Le and A’Jun have only just managed to stabilize the situation there, and the Xika are still harassing us. Adding it all up, I command barely more than one county and a half of real strength. As for the Asu family — Su Mingluan has spent over twenty years building her foundations, and her roots run deeper than mine. Factor in the other counties, and what I as Prefect can actually mobilize is less than what a Jiyuan Prefecture magistrate at the foot of the mountain commands. Anything I say now is hollow.

What I am watching right now are those new recruits, and A’Jun — and perhaps Danqing as well. The only thing that matters is drilling the soldiers. I need five thousand soldiers who can fight. Then I need to take two or three more counties. After that, I am counting on a few capable people coming to Wuzhou this coming spring to help me govern the newly taken territory.

Once that is done, then whether I am reassuring or deterring — the words will carry weight. Without soldiers and grain that outstrip any two of these counties combined, those tributary counties will not only be tributary to the court — they will be tributary to me as well. That cannot be allowed. What I want is true, genuine command and obedience.”

“So it really has come to that… Does that mean using one’s own people against one’s own people?”

“Not necessarily — but preparations must be made. If we want to avoid drawing blades, we need a credible deterrence — enough that Lu Guo and Xi Jin would not dare. These past few days, the Su family — mother and daughter — Peacock, and Danqing — I cannot allow any two of those parties to meet each other, and whatever I say to one side must not reach the other. This goes absolutely.”

“You have it so hard. But relying only on military deterrence surely cannot be a lasting strategy. And the salt fields — what about the ordinary people under Lu Guo and Xi Jin? What will happen to them?”

Zhù Ying said, “It is not only salt. There is also copper, and cinnabar…”

“But are those not the produce of their two families’ territories?”

Zhù Ying said, “The copper mines must come under my control. If they want a share of the profits from the state’s salt fields, then the copper mines must also contribute a share to the state.”

“Why?”

“Copper coins.”

“What?”

“While balancing the accounts these past few days — outside of grain and cloth, the taxes collected have been mostly in local goods. Wuzhou does not mint coins, yet copper coins are needed for trade with the outside. Minting currency is critically important. And in the market, there is also…” she paused.

Huajie had managed a household — and a sizable estate at that, and for quite a long period of time — yet she found herself somewhat lost: “What?”

Zhù Ying said, “Grain and currency, grain and currency — in truth, they are equally important. We absolutely must be able to mint our own coins. Without that, it would be far too easy for the court to bring Wuzhou to its knees.”

This part Huajie understood clearly. “Then let’s do it!”

“Not yet. The new army is not ready — so I need the revenue from the salt fields to fund the troops first. Three years. At least three years.”

“I believe you can do it!” Huajie said without hesitation. “You have already mapped out the road ahead — then walk it. As for Little Sister, I will not say any of this to her. I will simply tell her you will not let her down. Will that do?”

Zhù Ying said, “Of course it will.”