On the ninth day of the eighth month of the eleventh year of Jinghan, at the morning court session, Emperor Zhou Zhe of the Jinghan era approved several officials’ promotions and appointments. Among them was the decision to promote Li Pin, courtesy name Dexin, formerly magistrate of Nanhe County, to Deputy Transport Commissioner of Land and Water for the Hedong Circuit.

Throughout the Wu dynasty, the Transport Commissioner of a circuit, at the height of his authority, held a position roughly equivalent to a provincial governor in later ages. And in the capital, the one who truly held direct control over the nation’s transport authority was, more often than not, the chancellor himself — a clear indication of the position’s prestige.

Of course, the post of Deputy Transport Commissioner, ranked fifth grade junior, wasn’t considered particularly high within the capital itself, and among the officials granted audience for their promotions this time, his rank was, in fact, the lowest of the group. But Li Pin had originally been a seventh-grade county magistrate, and his promotion — coming before the end of his term, directly to a post as significant and substantive as Deputy Transport Commissioner — genuinely counted as a leap of three full ranks.

For this reason, among the handful of officials promoted, he drew no small amount of attention.

“…Among scholars and officials today, there’s a certain tendency that troubles me greatly,” Zhou Zhe remarked after the morning session, when he summoned several ministers for an audience. “They wish to become officials, yet dread being posted outside the capital — especially as local officials, as magistrates who serve as the ‘parents’ of the people. The post of county magistrate, most of all, they fear. It pains me deeply.”

“In the third year of Jinghan, one hundred and thirty-five county magistrate posts nationwide stood vacant. By the seventh year, over ninety vacancies still remained — particularly in the Guangnan region, where some who were granted actual posts refused to take up their duties, lingering in the capital instead, currying favor through every connection they could find! I know of all this.”

“Of course, the post of magistrate carries heavy responsibility and is judged by strict performance standards. Once one takes up the post, one may be sent to the farthest corners of the realm, perhaps never to see family again. I understand this too. But ‘parent official’ — what does that mean?! The magistrate is the most fundamental official of this nation, the one closest to the common people! And yet they speak of ten years of hard study, of serving the nation — while in truth, they pick and choose the easiest postings, and the moment they’re appointed, all they dream of is becoming a capital official! Frankly, anyone who receives a magistracy and refuses to take it up will find it exceedingly difficult to hold office again. I keep account of all of this in my mind.”

Since the formal morning session had already concluded, and to show a measure of familiarity, this audience had been arranged as a stroll near the imperial garden, meant to lighten the mood somewhat. But as he spoke of these matters, the composed and steady emperor clasped his hands behind his back, his tone growing stern, while the ministers trailing behind matched his pace in careful, anxious deference.

Zhou Zhe raised a hand slightly, signaling them not to be so tense, and continued his slow, measured walk.

“I have said before — anyone capable of serving well as a magistrate can do anything well. Since the third year of Jinghan, I have promoted more than one magistrate beyond their expected rank. Dexin, you men are the model of what a magistrate should be. In promoting you to Deputy Transport Commissioner this time, many have spoken against it, but having seen your record in Nanhe, I have decided to grant you this post regardless. Go to Hedong, and assist Liu Congming well. Work diligently, and do not disappoint me. The situation in Hedong is a thorny one indeed.” The Liu Congming he spoke of was Li Pin’s future superior, the Chief Transport Commissioner of Hedong Circuit.

Walking at the very back, Li Pin bowed his head. “This subject will devote himself entirely, so as not to fail Your Majesty’s expectations.”

A faint smile crossed Zhou Zhe’s face as he turned back and waved a hand. “It is not a matter of failing my expectations, but of not failing the expectations of the local people…” He pointed a finger toward the others behind him. “The same goes for all of you. Though this realm of Wu appears, on the surface, to be one of peace and prosperity, solid as iron — in truth, there are troubles both within and without.”

As he spoke, he stepped onto an arched bridge ahead. “As for external matters — the Liao are gone now, but do not assume the Jin are easy to deal with either. They too emerged from harsh, barren mountains — wolfish ambitions, difficult to tame. Before this campaign was even finished, they tore up our prior agreement. If not for the tireless efforts of Military Commissioner Tong, General Guo, and many others, we would not have recovered a single inch of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun…”

“…And as for matters within our own borders — this time, several circuits both north and south have suffered disaster, a million of our subjects caught in deep suffering. And even now, there remain countless ants and parasites, stirring restlessly, seeking to gnaw at the very roots of this nation! All of you must keep this firmly in mind. If matters are bungled, it is not merely I who will hold you accountable — the countless common people below will not forgive you, their parent officials, either. Remember these words. This is what I expect of you.”

With this, Zhou Zhe had essentially achieved the purpose of this audience. The ruler and his ministers exchanged a few more words, and Zhou Zhe even asked after the family affairs of a few of the officials present. Though he hadn’t singled out Li Pin again by name, Li Pin had, in truth, already drawn considerable attention during this audience. Once it concluded, the group made their way out together, several of them expressing warmth toward Li Pin and arranging to share a midday meal together. But upon exiting the palace walls, he found several carriages already waiting outside, and at the front stood the head clerk of the Bamboo Bookkeeper’s, clearly waiting for him.

Li Pin at first assumed Ning Yi wished to host a celebration for him, and went over to greet the man, intending to send him off first, since the meal with his colleagues was one he couldn’t skip. But the clerk simply bowed with a smile. “My master knew that Lord Li would certainly be gathering with his fellow officials this noon for a private meal among friends, and so sent this humble one merely to wait here. Wherever you gentlemen wish to go, this one can help arrange it.”

“Ha, Liheng…”

Eight officials in total had received promotions this time, and regardless of the significance of their new posts, most would be posted outside the capital. Their connections within the capital varied in depth, but in any case, the meal meant to strengthen their most important capital connections would typically be held in the evening — this midday gathering among the eight of them was simply a casual meal together. Hearing of Ning Yi’s arrangement, Li Pin couldn’t help but smile, though there wasn’t much genuine delight in that smile.

This kind of merchant’s habit of arranging everything a step ahead of time still left him somewhat uneasy — particularly coming right after His Majesty’s speech, to immediately encounter something so closely tied to wealth and influence left him unable to summon much of a favorable impression.

Still, seeing that Li Pin had such connections, the others were, to varying degrees, rather interested. To them, though Li Pin’s post remained modest, it was clear he had people in the capital. Such matters were usually the subject of idle speculation among them — but now, with a direct line from the Bamboo Bookkeeper’s to the chancellor’s household, and from there to the faction of Qin Siyuan and Li Gang, drawing a little closer to such connections could only be a good thing. Among the group, two other officials who maintained close ties with the chancellor’s household, being somewhat older and more experienced, could enjoy all of this with an easy conscience as well.

Once the midday meal concluded, the head clerk asked Li Pin where he’d be heading next, and conveyed, in passing, Ning Yi’s wish to celebrate his promotion.

Having just been promoted, Li Pin naturally needed to spend his first few evenings building relationships with important figures — Qin Siyuan, now serving as his backer, being the most important of all. Ning Yi, meanwhile, was merely a merchant in the capital and couldn’t possibly host him for a celebratory dinner that very night. Still, Li Pin thought it over and said, “Please trouble Steward Li to take me to the Right Chancellor’s residence in a moment — this promotion of mine calls for a visit to thank the Chancellor. But… please relay to Liheng that if the Chancellor happens to be unavailable tonight, I wonder if Liheng might have some free time himself — allow me to prepare some wine and dishes, and offer my thanks properly.”

Steward Li naturally nodded in agreement, then had the carriage take Li Pin to the chancellor’s residence, while he himself returned to report Li Pin’s words to Ning Yi. When he arrived at the Ning residence and found Ning Yi, the latter was in the courtyard, holding Ningxi and teaching him to count to four, while Su Tan’er sat nearby at the pavilion, embroidering as she watched father and son. When Steward Li arrived, Ning Yi set the boy down and let him toddle unsteadily toward his mother.

After hearing Steward Li’s report, Ning Yi looked somewhat puzzled. “Chancellor Qin has an engagement with Grand Preceptor Cai tonight, so he won’t be free. Go arrange a decent dinner, and while you’re at it… call over Wending and Wenfang and the others — anyone who’s free can come join in the fun. Li Pin’s a good man; it wouldn’t hurt for them to build a bit of rapport, get familiar with each other. I’ll invite Qin Shaoyu too — I think that should about do it.”

Su Tan’er walked over carrying the child, and once Steward Li had gone, she asked quietly, “Wouldn’t it be enough for the two of you to just have a private meal together? Wouldn’t having Wending and Wenfang and the others there just complicate things?”

Ning Yi shook his head. “My relationship with Li Pin has always been open and above board. Now that he’s been promoted and wants to host a meal, we might as well treat it as friends gathering together to celebrate — it’s more natural that way. Besides, back at Yushan Academy, he occasionally helped teach a class, so it’s not as though he doesn’t know Wending and Wenfang and the others either — this works out fine. What I find curious is… why he’s the one inviting me today.”

Su Tan’er laughed. “Maybe in his heart he feels that being noticed and promoted by Chancellor Qin is thanks to you, husband.”

“Not necessarily.” Ning Yi smiled. “Official business is one thing, personal friendship another. He’s just been promoted, and the task ahead of him won’t be easy — this is exactly the time to build connections on every side, to smooth the road ahead. He wouldn’t fail to understand that much…”

“Well, that’s your men’s business, I suppose.” Su Tan’er shrugged, imitating him, and lifted the child up, bouncing him playfully. When she and Ning Yi had first married, though gentle in nature, there had still been something of a young girl’s sharp edges about her — but by now, that outward edge had gradually softened, and she and Ning Yi had grown ever more attuned to one another; their occasional teasing and banter had become far more natural, no longer tinged with the awkwardness of feeling it “unbecoming.” In truth, she was still only twenty-one or twenty-two, youthful and lovely, and beneath her composure, still radiated a delightful vitality.

And within the household, the position the two of them held in others’ eyes had grown ever clearer as well. Ning Yi was steady and dependable, while Su Tan’er, as mistress of the house, carried authority of her own, along with abilities that inspired trust. Almost any matter, reported to either of them, would inevitably find a resolution — their styles differed somewhat, but both could handle affairs on the other’s side quite capably as well.

Having said this much, Su Tan’er let the matter of Li Pin go. That evening, Ning Yi hosted Li Pin at a banquet at the Bamboo Bookkeeper’s, with Su Wending, Su Wenfang, and Qin Shaoyu among others in attendance, and several beautiful women from the Alum Tower called in as well. Amid the flow of wine cups, the meal proceeded to everyone’s satisfaction. As the banquet was winding down and everyone had grown quite unrestrained in their playful teasing with the women, Ning Yi stepped out onto the balcony of the private room to look at the night scenery outside, and Li Pin came over with his wine cup in hand.

Since the Bamboo Bookkeeper’s had begun collaborating on certain business ventures with the Alum Tower, the two establishments had grown quite close, and Su Wending and the others were already familiar with several of the Alum Tower women who’d come this evening, laughing and joking merrily in the room. Li Pin looked out at the passersby on the nearby street, the lively bustle of merchants hawking their wares, and chatted idly with Ning Yi for a while before finally, after some deliberation, speaking up.

“Liheng, coming to the capital this time has stirred up a great many feelings in my heart. I understand well enough that you played a part in helping me reach this position. I hold that in my heart with gratitude — but for that very reason, there are a few words I’ve been holding back, unable to keep silent any longer. I hope Liheng won’t mistake me for the kind of arrogant petty man who, once promoted, starts finding fault with others…”

Ning Yi glanced at him. “Speak freely.”

“I want to know, Liheng — what exactly are you doing?” Li Pin thought for a moment, then spoke with some difficulty. “You and I met as strangers passing through life, and there’s much between us that needn’t be dressed up with roundabout words. Liheng, you know I studied hard from a young age, always hoping to build something of my own. When we first met in Jiangning, I greatly admired your learning, and often wondered why a man of your talent would marry into a wife’s household. You never answered that question directly, and I could only conclude that everyone follows their own path. Though you seemed indifferent to your status at the time, in your teaching, there was much positive conviction that you were willing to impart to those students — and I’ve always believed that, ultimately, you wanted to accomplish something meaningful.”

He paused. “None of this have I ever doubted. Your learning runs deep, Liheng, and your thinking may differ from others’, but the great principles remain the same in the end. You’ve always shown remarkable capability in handling all manner of affairs, including… the matter concerning Gu Yanzhen.”

Ning Yi frowned slightly. Li Pin gave an understanding smile. “…including the matter of the imperial merchants later on, including your brush with danger in Hangzhou, including the bandits of Liangshan — your ability to get things done has never been in question. But… having come to the capital this time and seen all of this — this Bamboo Bookkeeper’s, the carts you’ve sent out, the things you’ve been researching. I must say, this business of yours has truly succeeded beyond doubt, and the wealth you’ve amassed is surely no small sum — this is simply your talent at work. But what is it, exactly, that you’re trying to achieve?”

His voice had grown steadily lower as he asked this final question. Ning Yi tapped his fingers against the balcony railing, nodding faintly. Li Pin paused a moment, then lowered his voice further. “Liheng is a clever man, and having said this much, I won’t dance around it any further. These past days, I’ve been thinking — this is the path great merchant families take to build their fortunes. But Liheng, why would you need to walk such a path? These wealthy gentry and merchants may look prosperous and impressive on the surface, but in truth, when have they ever truly been respected by anyone? They’re… roots without soil, duckweed without water. Even if you can help the chancellor’s household manage its finances, what does that ultimately amount to? You’re far too clever, Liheng, not to see that this road, walked to its end, leads nowhere worth reaching — and might even…”

He hesitated a moment, then finally lowered his voice to its faintest. “It might even be a path toward one’s own destruction.”

The distant clamor and the noise from within the room both continued drifting past, but once Li Pin finished speaking, the balcony itself seemed to fall into a strange silence. Ning Yi’s fingers tapped lightly against the railing, and a faint smile crossed his face. In truth, from the very first sentence, Ning Yi had already understood roughly what the man meant — and understood, too, that if Li Pin didn’t genuinely regard their friendship as one between true gentlemen, he never would have spoken these words now, let alone chosen to spend the first evening of his promotion, a time normally reserved for building connections, on this instead.

It was only that many of his own thoughts simply couldn’t be shared with others. He nodded, weighed his words for a long moment, and when his fingers finally stopped tapping, he spoke. “Dexin, let me ask you something. Do you think this posting to Deputy Transport Commissioner is meant for you to accomplish something specific?”

Li Pin frowned. “Both north and south are currently facing famine — the situation is urgent. I know Lord Liu Congming is secretly one of Chancellor Qin’s own men as well, but since I’m still a fresh face there, capable of managing affairs and getting things done, even at the risk of offending people, I’ll naturally need to ensure the relief-grain routes remain open, so the relief grain can be properly distributed. I’ve prepared myself mentally for all of this.”

“…Not entirely.” Ning Yi smiled, then shook his head after a moment. “The greatest responsibility you’re being sent for this time isn’t ensuring the relief-grain routes stay open — it’s ensuring the trade routes stay open. You’ll understand what I mean before long.”

“Trade routes?” Li Pin looked puzzled.

Ning Yi continued. “Jumping three ranks from county magistrate to Deputy Transport Commissioner, and the post of Transport Commissioner being a genuinely important office at that — Dexin, for someone with slightly less ability, this appointment would be no different from poison. Even for you, it can only be counted as a powerful tonic. Fierce medicine like this can sometimes save you thirty years of struggle — but the slightest misstep, and it will turn on you instead. That you seem to have some mental preparation for this is the best possible sign.”

Hearing Ning Yi lay this bare, Li Pin’s expression finally turned genuinely serious. He suddenly understood that Ning Yi, standing before him, knew far more about this matter, and the inner workings of his entire promotion, than he had ever imagined. Which meant that Ning Yi’s position within the chancellor’s household was likely far more significant than he had ever supposed…

He furrowed his brow, waiting for Ning Yi to continue.