As it had rained yesterday, the air today felt especially fresh. Stepping out of the house, Yuxi felt a little cold. As she stood in the co...
As it had rained yesterday, the air today felt especially fresh. Stepping out of the house, Yuxi felt a little cold. As she stood in the courtyard practising Wuqinxi📹
and listening to the birds chirping happily, she couldn't help but feel in high spirits.
After breakfast, the group set out again. Zaozao wrapped her arms around Yuxi's neck and muttered, "Mom, Dad—Miss Dad..." It had been such a long time since she last saw him.
Yuxi stroked Zaozao's head and comforted her, "Be good. You'll see your Dad in a few days." Judging by the time, Yun Qing should have already set out. Since he was travelling on horseback, he would probably catch up with them in four or five days.
Zaozao wasn't having it, though. She clung to Yuxi and kept calling for her father, which made Liu-er cry too. With both children crying at once, Yuxi ended up with a splitting headache.
Momo Quan suggested, "The weather's nice outside—why not let Hongdou take Young Miss for a walk?" With Zaozao's lively and restless temperament, anything fun outside could instantly distract her.
However, Yuxi wasn't quite at ease with the idea of leaving Hongdou alone with her child, so she summoned Xu Wu.
After hearing what had happened, Xu Wu said, "Madam, please let me take care of Young Miss." He didn't feel comfortable leaving her with anyone else, either.
But Zaozao refused to let Xu Wu carry her—she wanted to climb onto a horse. Yuxi shook her head helplessly and said, "She wants to ride, so just take her on the horse with you." Since the weather was fine and they were travelling slowly, letting her ride wouldn't do any harm.
As soon as Zaozao got on the horse, her tears turned to laughter, which amused and exasperated Yuxi. Seeing her like that, Yuxi couldn't help but worry: would this child ever grow up as a proper lady?
The group arrived in Linzhou City the following afternoon. Rather than staying at the official posthouse, Yuxi had booked the largest inn in the city.
Less than half an hour after they had checked in, Yuxi received a calling card from the wife of Yao Guangzhang, the Prefect of Linzhou. Looking at the card, Yuxi smiled and muttered, "That was fast." The arrival of five hundred elite soldiers was bound to alarm the local officials, but for the prefect's wife sending her card within half an hour showed just how quickly she had responded.
Xu Wu said, "Madam, if you don't wish to meet her, then don't." Given Madam's current standing in the northwest, no one would dare stop her from doing as she pleased.
Yuxi placed the card on the table and replied, "I won't meet Madam Yao—have Prefect Yao come instead! Also summon the Tongpan1 and Tongzhi2 to meet me."
Xu Wu looked doubtful and asked, "Madam, why do you want to see them for?" While it would have been understandable to meet the officials' wives, summoning the officials themselves seemed improper.
Yuxi responded, "I want to understand the situation in Linzhou in detail."
Xu Wu hesitated momentarily before saying, "Madam, isn't this against protocol?" He felt that Yuxi was stretching her hand too far3—state affairs were not something she ought to meddle in.
Yuxi answered calmly, "The General doesn't think I'm breaking protocol—so who would dare object?" As long as Yun Qing was backing her, even if others had objections, they wouldn't dare voice them—at least, not in her presence.
Xu Wu looked up at Yu Xi. Seeing that she remained calm and collected, he suppressed the doubts in his heart. "I'll have someone invite Prefect Yao right away." After a pause, he asked, "Madam, would you like to see Xu Zhen?" Xu Zhen was the head of the Linzhou garrison and had once been a soldier under Yun Qing's command. Xu Wu knew him quite well.
Yuxi shook her head. "No need." She could manage civil affairs well enough but wasn't familiar with military matters. If she gave rash orders out of ignorance, upsetting her subordinates would be the least of her concerns—delaying important matters would be far more dangerous.
Yao Guangzhang found it very strange that Yuxi wanted to see him. However strange it seemed, though, he dared not refuse. Entering the room, he bowed to her in greeting. "I pay my respects, Madam." Yao Guangzhang's manner was neither servile nor arrogant; he carried himself with an unquestionable integrity.
Scholars generally looked down on women, upholding strict rules that men and women should not have close contact. Therefore, for Yuxi to summon him, a male outsider, was an act that greatly displeased Yao Guangzhang. It was just that the situation was stronger than the person4; he didn't dare not come over. If he angered Han Shi, losing his black gauze hat5 would be the least of his concerns—he feared he might not even keep his head. Yun Qing killed people as easily as cutting hemp, and their lives were now in his hands. If he had offended Han Shi, and Yun Qing had killed him in a fit of anger, his death would have been for nothing.
Yuxi sat in the seat of honour, gazing at the proud-faced Yao Guangzhang. "Born in the second year of the Guangzong era, you passed the imperial exam as a jinshi6 in the thirty-fourth year. You were imprisoned in the forty-fifth year for offending Ge Hongtao, one of Grand Chancellor Yu's disciples. You were later stripped of your rank and sent home. You now have one wife, three concubines, four sons and five daughters. Have I said anything wrong?" Yun Qing kept a record of every newly appointed official of the fifth rank and above in the Northwest. Before leaving Yu City, he had given Yuxi a copy.
Not only was Yao Guangzhang astonished, but Xu Wu was too.
Yao Guangzhang nodded. "What Madam has said is all correct. May I ask why you have summoned me?"
Yuxi inquired about the situation in Linzhou. "How many people are there now in Lin City?" Yun Qing had been very busy lately and was unfamiliar with such details.
Yao Guangzhang replied curtly, "Madam, I will submit a written report for the General to review in due time." He found it utterly laughable that a mere woman would meddle in state affairs.
Yuxi said coolly, "Telling me is the same as telling the General." These so-called learned men truly look down on women.
Yao Guangzhang straightened his back and said stiffly, "Madam, you are putting this humble official in a difficult position."
Yuxi tapped the table lightly and responded indifferently, "You don't even know something this basic. It seems, Prefect, that you are like a corpse sitting in an official post, eating without doing anything7. In that case, then let's choose someone who can handle this position."
Yao Guangzhang's heart began to pound with fear.
Yuxi had neither the patience nor the intention to show courtesy to someone who looked down on her. "Xu Wu, see him out!"
Hearing this, Yao Guangzhang grew anxious and quickly bowed his head. "Madam, the city of Linzhou now has a total population of 139,865." Initially, a place had to have at least two hundred thousand commoners to be considered a prefecture, but the population of every area has declined sharply due to years of war in the northwest.
Yuxi furrowed her brows.
Yao Guangzhang hurried to add, "Ten years ago, Linzhou's population had been over 398,000. But many have died of hunger or in battle during these years of war, so only this many remain."
Yuxi felt the weight of responsibility bearing down on her. "How much land was cultivated in this year's spring planting?" Although she had planned to send people to Haocheng to purchase grain, it would be far safer if the northwest could produce more of its own.
Upon hearing this question, Yao Guangzhang became much more respectful and replied, "A total of 640,000 mu8 of land has been cultivated." All of this had been properly recorded.
After speaking, Yao Guangzhang couldn't help but praise Yun Qing: "It's all thanks to the General's benevolent decree, which allowed the government to lend grain to the people for planting. The granaries will surely be piled high with grain when the summer harvest comes." It was this very decree that caused Yao Guangzhang to submit to Yun Qing.
However, Yuxi felt that Yao Guangzhang was being overly optimistic. "That still depends on Heaven's mood. If the weather stays favourable, the granaries might indeed be full. But if there's a drought, people might not even have enough to fill their stomachs."
Yao Guangzhang hadn't expected Yuxi to know so much about farming.
As for agricultural taxes and suchlike, Yuxi's understanding was, for now, no different than discussing military strategy on paper9. Still, she wasn't in a hurry; things could be learned step by step. "How much silver does the prefectural treasury have left?" Yun Qing had allocated funds to each prefecture, albeit modestly.
The series of questions made Yao Guangzhang too cautious to treat her lightly; he answered each only after careful thought.
After Yao Guangzhang left, Yuxi met with the Tongpan1. His surname was Guo, and he held the degree of juren10. His mother was revered by the people of Linzhou as a 'living Bodhisattva' for her kindness and was highly regarded in the city.
This Tongpan1 Guo was not very tall, with small eyes and a plump, fair face. He looked somewhat like the laughing Maitreya Buddha, with a permanent hint of a smile on his lips. Such a person easily inspired goodwill in others.
After exchanging a few polite remarks, Yuxi asked Tongpan1 Guo a series of questions about his official duties, such as grain transport, irrigation and the administration of justice. Yet he couldn't answer a single one clearly, stammering and evading each one.
He had been in office for almost four months — even if he was unfamiliar with his duties at first, he should have familiarised himself with the affairs of the government by now! Instead, he answered every question with 'I don't know', showing that he had never focused on his duties. Unwilling to waste more time on him, Yuxi curtly said, "You may leave."
After Tongpan1 Guo had left, Xu Wu asked in astonishment, "Madam, how is it that you're so well-versed in irrigation and the law? Even the General himself might not know them this well!"
Yuxi replied, "I wouldn't call myself an expert. I've just read a few books." Although she had abundant theoretical knowledge, she had zero practical experience.
Xu Wu thought, That's hardly 'just a few books'; she's clearly studied deeply for a long time. Otherwise, she wouldn't have rendered Tongpan1 Guo completely speechless.
Next, Yuxi met with the Tongzhi2 Gao.
Tongzhi2 Gao also held the degree of xiucai11 and had previously served as a seventh-rank official. He was a clever man — he had become thoroughly familiar with his administrative duties in less than four months. Thus, he answered Yuxi's questions in great detail, providing precisely the information she needed.
By the time Yuxi had finished speaking with Tongzhi2 Gao, night had already fallen. Momo Quan came in and, seeing that Yuxi was about to start writing, quickly said, "Madam, please eat first — you can continue working afterwards." Once Yuxi got busy, she was sure to forget things. If she wasn't reminded, she would even forget to eat.
After dinner, Yuxi looked for Xu Wu and asked, "Does the city of Linzhou have a night market?" She wanted to go out and see if there was one.
Unfortunately, the city of Linzhou had no night market.
Xu Wu said, "Madam, there's a night market in Lanzhou. When we reach Lanzhou, you'll be able to enjoy it properly." After all, Lanzhou was the capital of Gansu Province — of course, it had night markets.
Yuxi didn't respond to that statement, but instead said to Xu Wu, "Xu Zheng has been stationed in Linzhou City for over four months and should be very familiar with local affairs. Please ask him whether anything unusual has happened in the past few months." Xu Zhen was stationed there to maintain stability in Linzhou and keep watch over the local officials.
Xu Wu didn't quite understand, so he asked, "What exactly does Madam wish to find out?"
After a moment's thought, Yuxi answered, "With such a Tongpan1 in office, do you think the lawsuits in the city of Linzhou could be handled fairly and justly?"
Xu Wu immediately understood. "So, does Madam also believe that this Tongpan1 Guo is unfit for his position?" From what had just happened, Xu Wu considered the man to be a complete straw bag12.
Yuxi nodded in agreement.
Xu Wu said considerately, "Given the circumstances at the time, there wasn't enough time to investigate these people thoroughly. Madam, shall I have Prefect Yao, Tongzhi2 Gao, and the others examined as well?"
Yuxi did not blame Yun Qing — extraordinary measures were necessary in extraordinary times. However, once the situation had stabilised, all officials would have to undergo a proper evaluation, and anyone unqualified would be dismissed without exception. "Do it discreetly, so they don't find out."
Footnotes Full List
- 通判 tōngpàn: local magistrate
- 同知 tóngzhī: government sub-prefect (old)
- 手伸得太长 (shǒu shēn de tài cháng) — idiom meaning 'overstepping one's bounds' or 'interfering in matters beyond one's place'.)
- 形势比人强 (xíngshì bǐ rén qiáng): Literally 'the situation is stronger than a person' - meaning 'circumstances are beyond one's control' or 'external forces overpower individual will'
- 乌纱帽 (wūshāmào) refers to an official's hat, a metaphor for his office or career.
- 进士 jìnshì: successful candidate in the highest imperial civil service examination
- This idiom 尸位素餐 (shīwèi sùcān) is used to criticise someone (especially an official or employee) who occupies a position of authority without doing any actual work, but still collects a salary or benefits
- 亩 (mǔ) is a traditional Chinese land unit, about 1/6 of an acre.
- "纸上谈兵 (zhǐ shàng tán bīng)" is an idiom for having theory without practical experience.
- 举人 jǔrén: a provincial-level scholar
- 秀才 xiùcai: one who passed the imperial examination at the county level during the Ming and Qing dynasties
- 草包 (cǎobāo) is a slang idiom for an incompetent or useless person.
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