“Doesn’t it feel like we are just stemming the tide and not doing anything of substance?” Hua Yuanjia suddenly breaks the silence hanging over the cloistered meeting. “It’d be nice if we could achieve something meaningful — something with some considerable impact.”

  Fengxian softly thanks a young servant girl who pours fresh tea for him and then sets it aside to cool. In the early days after his arrival, Administrator Hua’s skittish and reserved nature kept him from being directly involved in state affairs, despite his initial assurances he’d do all he could to help. However, since his daughter departed for her sect in the mountains, he has become a new man, and even found his courage.

  ‘It seems administrator Hua just needed some time, or in this case, space,’ Fengxian muses while observing the wispy trails of steam radiating from his tea.

  “Hopefully, the tide recedes soon, because I am not sure how much more I can endure,” Magistrate Li Feng slumps into his chair across the table from Fengxian and makes a spectacle of his suffering. “I will be due a promotion after all this…”

  “Don’t worry, Magistrate. If you continue your exemplary service, you will be duly rewarded. I will make sure of it.”

  The magistrate performs a weary fist-in-palm salute from his seat and holds back a yawn. “It will be my pleasure, your highness. Do forgive me if I nod off, I have had little time to rest.”

  Fengxian gives him a reassuring smile and a permissive nod.

  Li Feng, the county magistrate who oversees the city of Anyi and the surrounding county, is a standard class, rank seven, upper grade official, a common rank and salary for a magistrate, though not for one who oversees a population center like Anyi. He should be, at least, a secondary class, rank six official, but only the emperor can appoint someone of rank six and higher. The rest are handled by the chancellor’s office, which circles back to one of the main problems the officials in this meeting are attempting to address.

  There is still no word on Governor Chen’s whereabouts.

  “My rider should be returning from Tiansheng by the end of the week, and then we will know more about the situation. Magistrate Li is not the only promotion being withheld, or overlooked. However, if Governor Chen hasn’t sent in the appropriate memorials, then nothing will have been done. Fortunately, I can handle that myself when I return to the capital, but it will still take some time.”

  “You are too generous, lord Fengxian,” Magistrate Li attempts a bow once more, but can no longer hold back from yawning.

  “Perhaps the physician can provide you with some medicine. A stimulating brew may help?” Yuan Huan, the local prefect, suggests.

  “No brew can overcome a lack of staff. Thankfully, the prince has loaned some of his men to aid my constables in their tasks, but I’m afraid the cases are piling up and I am struggling to keep up.”

  “It will all work out in the end,” Administrator Hua adds reassuringly, but even Fengxian finds it difficult to believe.

  “Let’s hope so, Administrator,” Fengxian answers. “The truth of the matter is that tensions are rising, and we can all feel it. Anyi — Fuzhou, seems to prosper at a glance, but the people seem to disagree.”

  “I admit, it has been… well, the people have been agitated,” Prefect Yuan comments. “My men have broken up more fights in the last three months than they have in three years, and the people are increasingly hostile to our presence. It is not a good sign.”

  Administrator Hua leans forward and folds his hands together atop the table. “Not a good sign?”

  Fengxian tests the temperature of his tea. It is almost ready. “Aside from the offices and estates of the local officials, the guards are the most visible government presence. So, what I believe Prefect Yuan means is that the more they lash out at the guards, the worse their view of the government is.”

  “Their sentiments are hardly unjustified,” Magistrate Li grumbles.

  Fengxian blows on his tea to cool it and then takes a sip before setting it back down. “The problems we face are many, and unless Governor Chen returns, we are going to be in charge of solving them. So, now that we have identified the issues, it is time to work on solutions.”

  Magistrate Hua perks up as the idea of making progress looms overhead. “Where do we begin?”

  “Five years ago, the governor raised taxes to pay for a new canal. In doing so, he promised easy access to irrigation for thousands of farms across the region, but since Governor Chen took over, that project has fallen behind. It is now three years behind schedule with another two years expected at the current pace. The people, however, are still paying increased taxes for the project and that funding has been… misappropriated.

  “This is a very visible and prominent issue, but it is one I am able to solve. I will be tasking the White River Cavalry with completing the canal. I cannot do anything about the taxes, but opening the canal will hopefully make up for it. I am not an expert on public works, but I suspect it will be completed in three months.”

  “A fabulous proposition! The people will benefit greatly, but at the same time, they will see the work being done with their own eyes. That will certainly soothe some tempers.”

  “Mmm… besides, it will give a good reason to reduce taxes going into the next year,” Magistrate Li agrees.

  “The other issues are more difficult to address,” Fengxian resumes, but pauses just long enough to drink some more tea. “I have already taken steps to solve at least one more. Magistrate Li has mentioned the local markets on several occasions. These are controlled by the government with prices set in Tiansheng, however, staff reductions and high taxes have put people on edge. The biggest issue here is that reliable information from the capital is sparse, at best.

  “We’ve requested updated records and prices from Tiansheng, and should be receiving them shortly. I also had my retainers ask around and found a dozen volunteers from the baggage train who are talented in this field. They will temporarily supplement the market staff and help get things back to normal while we are here. Hopefully, we can find some more permanent staff by then.”

  “Stability is important, and reliable and affordable food is paramount to stability,” Administrator Hua bobs his head. “I have had several candidates for similar posts on my desk for quite some time, but Governor Chen has yet to approve them, much less send them to the chancellory for instatement.”

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  “I believe I can handle that in place of the governor. My rank is greater, and thus I am well within my right to nominate appointees. Besides, the chancellor himself approved of this venture, so I don’t see him rejecting anything I send to his office.”

  “If only we could say the same about someone else,” Prefect Yuan growls. “I am in the same situation, and I suspect it is on your list. I am struggling to pay my staff, and keeping them properly equipped is even harder.”

  He huffs indignantly. “I sign off on a shipment of new weapons and armor from the Du clan at least once a month, if not more. Then we stand there with our armor rusting on our backs as it is carted off through my gatehouses and shipped north to the Great Bastion.”

  Fengxian furrows his brow. ‘The Du clan? I don’t recall any such name on suppliers for the Great Bastion. There are definitely none from Fuzhou, let alone Anyi.’

  He resolves to look into that later. “I have some funding available that I can direct towards maintenance on your behalf, Prefect Yuan. Perhaps we should ask the Du clan about their rates?”

  “Hmph. They are prickly bastards and not known for their cooperation, so don’t let them overcharge you just because there’s no real alternatives in town.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.”

  “My own plight is not that different, I fear,” Magistrate Li takes the opportunity to shift the focus in his direction. “My staff is down twenty percent because I cannot afford to pay them, which might not be an issue if crime wasn’t on the rise. Fuzhou is over-producing and over-taxing, so bandits and thieves are more common than ever. I’ve heard rumors of an encampment in the foothills to the west where they’ve been gathering in large numbers. We haven’t the constables, nor the guardsmen, to deal with such a threat under current circumstances.”

  “We’ll begin an investigation into these rumors and see if there is any substance to them. If so, they will be rooted out before anything happens.”

  Before anyone can speak further, someone bangs at the doors. Administrator Hua, who nearly leapt from his seat in fright, waves to the guard at the door who opens it to admit yet another guard. He rushes forward and drops to his knees at the foot of the table.

  “I apologize for the interruption, your highness, Administrator,” he takes a quick moment to catch his breath. “Refugees… they are pouring into the city!”

  “What? From where?!” Prefect Yuan pushes his chair back with a loud screech and stomps around the table to the guard. “Explain!”

  “Gaoluo, sir! They are saying the entire town was burned to the ground.”

  Fengxian leans towards Administrator Hua. “Where is Gaoluo?”

  “Uhm, Gaoluo is — well it’s a small town in the west.”

  Fengxian sighs. “Let me guess… near the rumored bandits?”

  “Uhm,” he gulps. “Yes, that is correct.”

  Fengxian exhales heavily as the Prefect interrogates his man about the situation in the background. Magistrate Li has passed out at the table, snoring loudly despite the commotion, and the administrator is pacing and fidgeting anxiously.

  He rests his elbows on the table and rubs at his temples. “It seems our problems seek to outpace our solutions. Administrator, please fetch a map. I need to know where Gaoluo is.”

  Administrator Hua snaps out of his nervous state and rushes off, not bothering to wait for a servant. “Right away, your highness!”

  “I apologize that we do not have a better map than this, but it at least shows where Gaoluo is in relation to Anyi.”

  Fengxian places both hands on the table and looms over the woefully outdated map. “This will suffice. Hmm… Gaoluo is in a different county. Why did Prefect Yuan imply he’d normally take responsibility for issues in Gaoluo?”

  Administrator Hua starts by spreading out a number of other documents, partially obscuring the map. “I can’t find what I am looking for, but this region is almost entirely farmland and the people live in small hamlets. There are no cities, and no guards. I’m not even sure if the old magistrate in charge of the county is alive anymore. He was getting rather old…”

  General Dong crosses his arms and observes with a steely-eyed gaze. “Since he is in charge of commandery-level forces, I assume Prefect Yuan is responsible for supplementing these regions.”

  “That is exactly right!”

  “But the current situation has his men stretched thin as it is,” Fengxian comments while nudging an aged scroll out of the way. “With these refugees pouring in from Gaoluo, they’ll be far too busy to respond in a timely fashion. Any true evidence of wrong-doing will be long gone before an investigation begins in earnest.”

  ‘Well, no, I wouldn’t say that,” Administrator Hua rushes to interject. “Prefect Yuan is more than willing to do his duty and dispatch those he can spare, and I believe Magistrate Li is already organizing an investigation team. It’s just, under these circumstances, they won’t be enough to deal with any major threats.”

  Fengxian sighs and locks eyes with his general. “I think this is the perfect opportunity, don’t you?”

  The wizened general nods. “We could deal with them.”

  “I hardly think it right of me to ask your highness to endanger yourself, or your men, for us. This is Fuzhou’s problem, and we can handle it!”

  “Don’t be stubborn!” Bai Chuanyu chides from near the door where he and his brother loiter in lieu of the Prefect’s guards. “This is what we’re here for!”

  “I know, but still—”

  Fengxian holds up his hand to silence his protests. “I appreciate your concern, but he is right. We set out to solve the problems of the empire, and I cannot shy away from a little danger when our people are under threat.”

  Administrator Hua quickly bows, and likely would have dropped to his knees to thank him had the table not been in the way. “Thank you, your highness!”

  “I shall muster the men. We should be able to arrive in Gaoluo by the evening,” General Dong’s declaration is brimming with pride, but he soon returns his attention to the map. “If I am not mistaken, these foothills are riddled with caves, especially when you get a little further to the north. If I were to hide a sizable encampment, it’d be here.”

  “I will be curious to see what we discover. Bandits are not a new occurrence, but they don’t often burn towns to the ground.”

  “Bandits are often misunderstood,” General Dong says while thoughtfully stroking his beard. “In small groups they might raid, pillage, and steal, but after a certain point they tend to settle down in a poor reflection of society. Their numbers swell until theft becomes insufficient.”

  “The rumors did indicate they are growing in numbers…”

  “If that is the case, they are likely sending a message. If they have the men for it, they will turn to extortion and expand their reach. It is more effective to take a portion of what others produce across a wide area than to plunder it all until it is bare. The destruction of Gaoluo could be a threat. Pay us, or suffer the same fate.”

  Administrator Hua covers his mouth with his sleeve. “How terrible…”

  A bit of commotion draws Fengxian’s attention so he turns around just as Chuanyu opens the door to admit Song Xinqi. She rushes in and salutes. “My lord, I return with news!”

  “Oh? Did you find Governor Chen?”

  “Not exactly, but I know where he is,” she takes a breath. “He’s just returned to Anyi.”

  Fengxian’s brow furrows and he turns back to the table. “How... coincidental. The timing of all these events is looking very suspicious.”

  “My lord?”

  He takes a deep breath and stands up straight. “Very well. Here are your orders. General Dong, you’ll be taking the White River Cavalry to Gaoluo. Enact swift justice and get to the bottom of this.”

  “General Song!” He turns to address her. “You’ve missed a lot while you were away, but I need you to continue your investigation. Meet with Prefect Yuan and get as much information as you can on the Du clan. Find out what they are doing and where the armaments they are producing are ending up.”

  Fengxian smiles at Hua Yuanjia. “You and I will meet with Governor Chen. We have plenty to talk about. Bai Chuanyu! Bai Chuanyun! You’ll be with me for this. Let’s get to work.”

  The over-eager retainers groan as the excitement of a looming battle is pulled out from underneath them. He understands their sentiment. As young men trained to fight his enemies and defend him from all threats, their desire to follow general Dong is palpable. However, meeting the governor might be more than any of them bargained for.

  Character & Setting Guide

  Tiansheng — Imperial capital located in Sizhou

  Anyi — Provincial seat for Fuzhou, and commandery seat for Weinan

  Xin Fengxian — Prince Lanxi, third prince of Da Xi’an

  Chen Yanshou — Governor of Fuzhou

  Hua Yuanjia — Administrator of Weinan commandery

  Li Feng — Magistrate of Weinan commandery

  Yuan Huan — Prefect of Weinan commandery

  Du Clan — A local clan of smiths and craftsmen in Anyi

  Gaoluo — A small town in Weinan commandery that was burned down by bandits

  Dong Peishao — Retainer of Xin Fengxian and general of the White River Cavalry

  Bai Chuanyu — Xin Fengxian’s retainer and bodyguard

  Bai Chuanyun — Xin Fengxian’s retainer and bodyguard

  Song Xinqi — Retainer of Xin Fenxian and master of the Twilight Pavilion

  Class, Rank, and Grades of the Imperial Officials

  So, this is something that may come up from time-to-time, depending on how much I feel like using it. All officials in the empire have a rank which determines their annual salary, and this system is heavily based on the nine-rank system, or the nine-grade controller system, used by Imperial China. It was created by the politician Chen Qun in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms, and used until the Song Dynasty some seven hundred years later. Similar ranking systems were also present in the Ming dynasty, Qing dynasty, and in Korea and Japan.

  My system is a little different than the nine-rank system. It still uses nine ranks, with rank one being the highest. As mentioned in the chapter, the Emperor is the sole authority capable of appointing someone to rank six or higher. Those below are appointed by the chancellery. The ranks of each official is divided into class, rank, and grade in the nine-rank system, but I have truncated it a bit in mine since it is based more on salary than rank, so inverted.

  Ranks one through three only have a rank only; ranks six through four only have rank and class; and the remaining three have all three. This reflects the concentration of officials within those ranks. Rank one is held by the Three Excellencies and the Grand Tutor (if one exists at the time), while standard class, rank eight, upper grade is made up of every small-county magistrate in the empire, plus who knows what else. That could be thousands of people, maybe more!

  I have not assigned a rank to each official in the story, but I have assigned one to every position an official can hold, so I know who will fall where. I also know how much their salary is, how much of it is in silver, grain, etc. Did I need to do this? Some might say no, but in my heart, I know it couldn’t be any other way.