Volume Three: The Southern Campaign and Expansion Chapter 138: The Reception

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More than twenty women were crowded into the cabin.

Li Xuerou had been sent aboard ahead of the others: three women of rank, eight dowry slaves chained together with thin iron chains, and ten sturdy Liao slave attendants. Outside the cabin were eight warriors and four boatmen.

The Tian family’s escort flag flew from the bow. The boat drifted downstream, making only slight headway against the wind.

At dusk, the boat reached Pengshui County. It was stopped outside the city, and the warriors’ leader came forward to negotiate, declaring that the passengers included the wife of the governor of Fuzhou.

The boat was allowed through and guided to a pier, where it was ordered to remain. They were permitted to walk about nearby and purchase necessities, but could not leave freely until they had undergone the official inspection the following day.

Because the passengers were members of the governor’s household, the authorities promptly reported their arrival to the governor’s office.

Governor Zhang Wencheng was taken by surprise. Wei Fufeng had mentioned his intended marriage alliance with the Tian family, but the wedding had not yet taken place. How had the woman come here on her own?

Zhang Wencheng dared not be negligent and went personally to meet the governor of Fuzhou’s wife.

The military commissioner’s authority was growing by the day. As an old retainer, Zhang Wencheng could be somewhat informal before Wei Fufeng, for that suggested intimacy. But before his wife, he absolutely could not show the slightest lack of respect.

To respect the wife was to show respect to the military commissioner himself.

With his guards, Zhang hurried to the mooring. He asked the lady to come out so that they might speak privately. He was eager to see her for another reason as well: he feared that she might not understand the gravity of the situation and would inadvertently reveal the military commissioner’s whereabouts.

When Tian Wen’er heard that the governor of Qianzhou had come to see her, she glanced outside—and was startled to find more than a hundred soldiers and officers there. She knew that if the visitors meant her harm, they could seize her immediately. She had no choice but to go out and meet them.

“Governor of Qianzhou Zhang Wencheng pays his respects to the lady.” When he saw Tian Wen’er disembark, Zhang walked forward several paces and saluted her.

“Does the governor have some business with me?” Tian Wen’er asked calmly.

“I do. May I trouble the lady to step aside so that we may speak?” Zhang replied gravely.

Tian Wen’er nodded and walked over. Zhang extended an inviting hand to the left, and they went ten paces before stopping.

“The military commissioner once spoke to me about your situation,” Zhang said with a slight bow.

“Oh? What did he say?” Tian Wen’er asked quickly.

Zhang hesitated. “My lady, this is not a suitable place for such a conversation. Would you be willing to go to the relay station?”

“Why should I go to the relay station?” Tian Wen’er asked warily. She was, after all, a stranger in this place.

“There are matters that cannot be discussed here. If you do not trust me, we could speak aboard another boat instead. This way, my lady.”

Tian Wen’er nodded and followed him onto a nearby vessel.

Once inside the cabin, she asked impatiently, “Governor, what did he say?”

“Does the lady know who Chu Yu is?” Zhang asked.

Tian Wen’er straightened. “The governor of Fuzhou.”

Zhang was momentarily speechless. Then Tian Wen’er added, “You know who he is, so why ask me?”

Zhang had no answer. He soon laughed and said, “Forgive me, my lady. I did not dare reveal the military commissioner’s affairs.”

“What did Wei Fufeng say?” Tian Wen’er demanded, growing impatient after so many days of anxiety.

Zhang answered solemnly, “The military commissioner said that in time he would personally take up the post of governor of Qianzhou. The lady would govern Qianzhou in his place, while I would be transferred to serve as governor of Tanzhou.”

“He really said that?” Tian Wen’er whispered in delighted surprise.

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“How would I dare invent such a thing?” Zhang replied solemnly.

“At least he has a conscience.” Tian Wen’er clenched her small hand as she murmured the words.

Zhang was speechless. He thought the lady somewhat naïve, but he bowed again and said, “I must remind you, my lady, that you must not mention anything concerning the military commissioner for the time being. Once word arrives from him, I shall immediately send an urgent report informing him that you have reached Qianzhou.”

Tian Wen’er nodded. “Very well. I understand. Thank you.”

“It is not safe for you to remain here. It would be best for you to stay at the relay station,” Zhang said.

“I can go to the relay station,” Tian Wen’er replied, “but can you provide two hundred soldiers as an escort?”

“Even if you had not asked, I would have arranged a heavy guard. I shall assign two hundred soldiers to your command. But please do not go out sightseeing. If you need anything, send my men to purchase it for you.”

He had no desire for anything to happen to the lady. Once he left office, her troubles would no longer be his concern.

“Very well. I will not go out,” Tian Wen’er agreed.

Zhang was relieved. The two of them left the boat, and under the protection of more than a hundred soldiers and officers, the eight dowry slaves were once again carried by sixteen attendants. They traveled through the night to the relay station.

The relay station consisted of eight white-walled, tiled dwellings. Each room contained tables, chairs, and a bed, accommodations that Tian Wen’er, accustomed to bamboo houses, found difficult to accept.

In her own dwelling, more than ten people could sleep together on a single animal hide. The earthen floors of the relay station were unsuitable for sleeping on the ground, while the beds were only wide enough for two.

Tian Wen’er entered one of the rooms and ordered it cleared. The attendants immediately carried everything outside.

She then ordered bamboo baskets to be brought in and had the eight dowry slaves, dressed only in bodices, helped inside. Their feet were bound together with foot-long iron chains, which the attendants removed.

The dowry slaves stood with perfect decorum. Most looked weary, and some were even pale, but that was merely the discomfort caused by their long journey on the water. The three women of rank and the ten attendants were largely unaffected.

Tian Wen’er smiled faintly. “This is Qianzhou. From now on, we shall settle here for a long time.”

The dowry slaves turned their beautiful eyes toward her. Tian Wen’er continued with a faint smile, “My husband is a Han gentleman. If you cannot devote yourselves to seducing him, I shall send you back to Sizhou to be sold.”

The women reacted at once. One after another, they twisted their waists and swayed their hips, smiling with parted vermilion lips and casting seductive glances as they struck alluring poses.

Satisfied, Tian Wen’er nodded. Her spirits were excellent. Having issued the necessary threat, she did not torment them further. She ordered the warriors to dismantle four of the beds and had the attendants lay them out in the room so the dowry slaves could rest. Four attendants were posted outside the door as guards.

While the attendants were carrying out her orders, Ling’er informed Tian Wen’er that the military officer who had come to pledge his allegiance wished to see her. Tian Wen’er received him in the front hall of the relay station.

When she entered the crude hall, she saw a burly man wearing chain mail. With his strong brows and tiger-like eyes, he possessed a strikingly martial bearing.

“Assistant Commander Li Hui pays his respects to the lady.” The armored man hurriedly bowed when Tian Wen’er entered.

“Commander Li, you may rise,” Tian Wen’er replied calmly.

Li Hui froze, then hastily corrected her. “My lady, I am only an assistant commander. I would not dare call myself a commander.”

“How high is the rank of assistant commander? And what offices exist in Qianzhou?” Tian Wen’er asked as she went to take her seat.

Li Hui replied, “The offices of Qianzhou are divided into two major branches: civil administration and military prefectures. They exist alongside one another and support one another. Civil administration is headed by the governor, while the military prefectures are headed by agricultural garrison commissioners. In addition, the regional commander oversees military deployment.”

Tian Wen’er nodded. Li Hui continued, “I serve under the governor’s office as one of its three guard assistant commanders. There are also four gate-division assistant commanders. The principal officials of the governor’s office are the governor, the senior secretary, and the military adviser. Their assistants are the six secretariat aides and a number of clerks. Pengshui County has its own office, headed by the county magistrate, registrar, and commandant.”

Tian Wen’er nodded. “And the military prefectures?”

“Qianzhou has four military prefectures. Each is headed by an agricultural garrison commissioner, a judge, and an investigating officer. The investigating officers report directly to the Chongzhou Metropolitan Commandery, while the other principal officials report to the Chongzhou General Command. The rank of an agricultural garrison commissioner is equal to that of a senior secretary, while the regional commander holds the same rank as a governor.”

“So the regional commander is the senior official in charge of the army?” Tian Wen’er asked.

“The regional commander is the supreme commander, but the military prefectures control the troops. The regional commander has the authority to formulate strategy and mobilize soldiers. His headquarters has military commissioners, assistant commanders, and ten-command officers. Whenever troops are mobilized, the regional commander issues the order. The officers who receive it take the military warrant to one of the four military prefectures to collect troops. Once the order has been carried out, they send their subordinates back to their respective prefectures,” Li Hui explained.

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Tian Wen’er nodded. “Then the governor’s subordinate forces have nothing to do with the military prefectures.”

“Not exactly. The men under the guard assistant commanders come from the agricultural garrison prefectures, while those under the gate-division assistant commanders come from the local militia. The men under my command have been placed at your disposal by order of the governor. Most of their military strength comes from the military prefectures.”

Tian Wen’er nodded and dismissed Li Hui. She returned to the dwelling and exchanged a few words with Yu’er and Ling’er. Then she went to Li Xuerou’s room to rest. She had endured the entire day and was exhausted in both body and spirit.

When she reached the room and pushed open the door, Li Xuerou, who had been dozing on the bed fully clothed, sprang up in surprise.

Tian Wen’er walked over with a faint smile and murmured, “Sister, I shall sleep here with you.”

Li Xuerou was wearing the trousers and tunic of a Liao attendant. She nodded, then rose and removed them, revealing her snow-white body with its graceful curves. Standing beside the bed, she swayed her waist and hips, facing Tian Wen’er with a faint, seductive smile.

Tian Wen’er paused briefly, then walked over and embraced her.

“Sister,” she said softly, “in a few days I will have someone send you back to Chongzhou.”

“Thank you, sister,” Li Xuerou whispered.

Tian Wen’er released her, turned, and went to extinguish the gauze lamp. Darkness filled the room, accentuating the faint moonlight at the window.

That night, Wei Fufeng was with the great army in Rongzhou.

…

The forty-thousand-strong allied army of Bozhou crossed Black God Ridge and advanced north at a steady pace. Along the way, information from every quarter continually reached Yang Duan, allowing him to march with confidence.

Although Yang Duan believed that Li Chenggang was conspiring with him, he did not wish to rely on him blindly. He had long since deployed numerous informants. If anything suspicious came to light, Yang Duan would not recklessly press forward.

As the army entered Qinzhou territory, Yang Duan still received no reports from north of the Great River. He sent four scouts across the river to observe the movements of the forces there.

Yang Duan hesitated. While he was still wavering, the army advanced deep into Qinzhou.

At that moment, Li Chenggang sent another messenger to urge Yang Duan to move quickly. He reported that the southern gate of Bacheng was being guarded by Military Commissioner Du Shenlong, who would be able to cooperate in bringing down the city.

Yang Duan was helpless. The arrow was already on the string. They had mobilized such a great force, and if they halted merely because no information had yet arrived from north of the river, they might lose the opportunity and give Chongzhou time to move its troops.

Yang Duan made his decision at once. Though he had received no word from north of the river, he had brought forty thousand men. Even if the attack failed, he possessed enough strength to withdraw safely to Bozhou. He ordered the army to quicken its advance.

The forty-thousand-man army passed through Qinzhou and Nanzhou, heading straight for Bacheng in Chongzhou.

…

Hejiang County lay south of the Great River and belonged to Luzhou. The government office of the Jingnan Military Prefecture stood within the county.

The Jingnan Military Prefecture administered the agricultural colonies of Hejiang, Gulin, Xuyong, and Xingwen Counties.

Most of the military prefecture’s agricultural colonies were concentrated in Hejiang, with only a small number in Gulin, Xuyong, and Xingwen. Most of the farmland belonged to Liao landlords, while government control remained weak.

Since the armies of southern Sichuan had taken power, the Liao landlords had generally behaved themselves and paid their grain levies and taxes.

The supervisory system established in southern Sichuan ensured that civil and military officials did not dare harass or extort the landlords without cause.

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