Unfathomable
Bai Jingyan could tell that Lady Dong's grief was genuine. She drew out a handkerchief and wiped her mother's tears, soothing her gently.
"Besides, you never know how fate may turn. If a worthy man should come along willing to marry into our family, and if my heart should be moved by him, I promise I will never hide it from you. You will be the very first to know."
"Do you truly mean it?"
Lady Dong took the handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.
Bai Jingyan nodded.
"Of course. When have I ever deceived you, Mother?"
Then she deftly steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Tomorrow is the palace examination, so Jin Lang and the top graduate both have to attend it. They are a son-in-law of the Bai family and your own nephew, Mother — have you finished preparing their gifts?"
"I sent everything out yesterday."
Lady Dong let out another sigh.
"This time, our top graduate needs to keep his focus. Chancellor Yu's two legitimate grandsons and Grand Tutor Chen's legitimate grandson are the ones drawing all the attention at this examination. If he simply performs to his true ability, he should manage at least first place in the second tier!"
Grand Tutor Chen had himself been a top graduate, and his son, the Vice Director of the Secretariat, had been one as well. If his grandson now took the top spot in turn, the Chen family would make its name famous far and wide as a house of top graduates.
Chancellor Yu went without saying. Born of a distinguished clan, he had been the most brilliant flower-plucker — the third-place graduate — of his year, and both his sons had placed within the second tier.
"But Dongsu has Master Lu of Dayu as his tutor," Bai Jingyan said. "At the very least, he should be able to claim the rank of flower-plucker."
She wrapped her arms around Lady Dong's and added in a low, comforting voice, "So all you need to prepare now, Mother, are gifts with which to congratulate our top-graduate brother and our second brother's husband."
From ancient times, the flower-plucker had always been a man of fine looks as well as learning. Dongsu, the top graduate, possessed both scholarship and the poised bearing of jade carved to perfection — he was simply still too young.
Yet it was precisely because he was young that his future held possibilities no one could measure.
So long as her two uncles and the Dong family steered clear of any tangle with the Bai family's affairs, the fortunes of House Dong could only grow brighter with the years.
Bai Jingyan had just escorted Lady Dong to the courtyard when a maid from Qinghui Court came hurrying toward her.
Seeing Bai Jingyan, the maid dropped into a hurried bow.
"Commandery Princess, the gatekeeper sends word — someone has come from the palace. They say it is urgent military business, and they request your presence at court at once."
Urgent military business?
An armistice had already been signed with Xiliang. The Rongdi tribes were consumed by civil strife. And Yan — not only its hostage prince, but the Emperor himself, was presently in Dadu.
Which left... only the Kingdom of Liang.
On the road back from the Southern Border, the Crown Prince had once mentioned that Liang had deployed troops toward Jin's frontier, its intentions unclear. It seemed they had indeed been aimed at Jin.
But wasn't Liang's Fourth Prince also in Dadu at this very moment? To move troops at a time like this — was Liang not afraid that Jin might seize their prince as a hostage?
Chun Tao lifted her head and gazed at Bai Jingyan, who had sunk deep into thought. She prayed her mistress would not go to the palace. She feared that once there, Bai Jingyan might be sent off to war again.
Bai Jingyan nodded.
"Understood."
She turned back to Chun Tao.
"After I leave, tell Mother where I've gone. Tell her not to worry — I'll be back before long."
Chun Tao nodded as well.
"Yes, my lady!"
Because the messenger from the palace had spoken of urgent military affairs, Bai Jingyan entered the palace swiftly.
By the time she arrived, the Crown Prince, General Zhang Danyue, Left Chancellor Li Mu, the elderly Chancellor Yu, Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, Minister of Revenue Chao Zhongxing, and the vice ministers of War and Revenue had all assembled.
Minister of War Shen Jingzhong and Minister of Revenue Chao Zhongxing were embroiled in a frantic argument before the maps that two eunuchs held unfurled between them.
Shen Jingzhong, never one to speak softly, was now shouting himself hoarse, veins standing out on his neck, straight at Chao Zhongxing.
"Liang has positioned artillery on Mount Hongjue! They've even captured our scouts sent to probe the deployment of our forces on Mount Chunmu — and now you tell me we cannot afford to fight?"
Spittle flew as Minister Chao spoke. He brushed off his sleeves and, keeping several paces between himself and Shen Jingzhong, spoke.
"The war on the Southern Border, eh? Go on then, tell me — how many soldiers died! What of the pensions owed to those men? The indemnity from Xiliang hasn't even arrived yet! And do you propose we slight the envoys coming to celebrate His Majesty's birthday? Every last one of them is a prince or an ambassador — the King of Yan himself is coming! The Ministry of Revenue is barely holding on just so this nation isn't looked down upon by others, and now the Ministry of War blithely demands we hand over army grain. Where in heaven's name am I supposed to find it? Answer me that!"
"Your Majesty, Commandery Princess Bai has arrived."
Eunuch Gao Demu stepped forward and murmured his report at the Emperor's ear. The Emperor, clutching a fan, wassuppressing a pounding headache.
Overwhelmed by the suffocating din, he flung his fan onto the table and waved a hand in irritation.
"Let her in!"
The moment Bai Jingyan entered, Minister Shen Jingzhong broke off mid-sentence and withdrew to one side, greeting her with uncharacteristic courtesy.
The Crown Prince glanced once at the Emperor, and when the Emperor nodded, he spoke up quickly.
Commandery Princess, rise! Father received a secret report just now — Liang has deployed forces on Mount Hongjue and sent scouts to reconnoiter the positioning of our troops on Mount Chunmu. The ministers have deliberated and still cannot arrive at an answer, so I asked Father to summon you. We must work out a plan for Father together."
Only moments earlier, outside the great hall, Bai Jingyan had heard Minister Chao lamenting how the imperial treasury had been bled dry.
She considered for a moment.
Yan was planning to march and aid the Northern Rong. Could the Liang scout taken alive be one of Xiao Rongyan's planted pieces, she wondered? Only if Jin and Liang were entangled in war could Yan aid the Rongdi with boldness and without fear of reprisal.
For Great Yan to aid the Rongdi, its greatest worries would be Jin and Liang. If war broke out between those two, then even if Yan moved to help the Rongdi, neither nation would have the leisure to attack Yan or check its movements. And in a war between the two of them, the ones to bleed would be those two alone.
By the time Yan's garrisons were settled among the Rongdi, the war of attrition between Jin and Liang would have run its course — and by then, whatever Yan chose to do, no other nation would possess either the means or the strength to interfere.
Bai Jingyan's heart pounded heavily.
It was not war itself that frightened her. It was the thought of the calamity war would visit upon the common people.
War, in the end, was a contest of silver, a contest of grain, a contest of men.
The Ministry of Revenue had no money — so to fight, they would have to raise and squeeze the people's taxes.
The Ministry of War had no men — so they would have to conscript soldiers.
And yet this was not a war Jin truly needed to fight.
"Mount Hongjue does indeed border our Jin — but it borders the Rongdi lands as well. Liang may be marching to aid the Northern Rong."
Bai Jingyan spoke quietly from where she stood to one side.
"No. The Emperor of Yan has already declared he will help the Northern Rong restore their rightful succession — he said as much to Father. Yan's main army is to depart from Huyi, pass along our border, and proceed to the Northern Rong."
The Crown Prince stood with his hands clasped behind his back, glanced once more at the Emperor, and continued.
"At first I worried that in aiding the Northern Rong, Yan might swallow the Rongdi whole. But Father, in his wisdom, enlightened me. The Emperor of Yan's hostage prince resides here in Jin, and Yan's national strength is weak, its people mired in poverty — so Yan lacks the power to swallow the Rongdi and merely intends to help restore the rightful line while reaping whatever advantage it can."
Bai Jingyan closed her eyes, marveling inwardly. How very enlightened indeed! Isn't this what one calls a frog at the bottom of a well?
Yan had handed over its hostage prince only to lull Jin's suspicions.
How could any of them know that the Emperor of Yan and Xiao Rongyan alike were men of ambition — and of audacity?
Within ten years, the world's affairs would begin with Yan, and undergo a transformation that would turn heaven and earth upside down.
"Your Majesty — why not send an envoy to ask the Emperor of Liang directly whether he means to make war upon our Jin? And at the same time, if Your Majesty dispatches generals and troops to array themselves on Mount Chunmu at the Liang frontier, posturing as though prepared for battle, the Emperor of Liang will surely be frightened into caution."
"And if Liang truly insists on going to war?"
The Emperor spoke slowly.
He narrowed his eyes and tapped the table with one finger.
"The Rongdi are torn by civil strife and cannot fight Liang — and all of Jin's fertile lands lie in the region south of Mount Chunmu. Liang has coveted that land for a long time."
"As of now, at least, Liang would not dare go to war."
Bai Jingyan's voice rang out.
"Commandery Princess, explain yourself in detail."
General Zhang Danyue saluted her with the deepest respect as he asked. He had fought shoulder to shoulder with her in bloody battle, and he knew her capabilities better than anyone present.
Bai Jingyan approached the map held by the eunuchs and pointed a finger at Mount Hongjue.
"The reason Liang positioned artillery on Mount Hongjue of all places is clear. They are waiting. Waiting for the Rongdi to beg Jin for aid — and waiting for Your Majesty's answer, whether you will help or not.
If Your Majesty declares that you will aid the Northern Rong, then the moment Jin's main forces cross over into the Rongdi lands, Liang will seize the opening and strike at us!"
She tucked her hand back into her sleeve and bowed her head toward the Emperor.
"But if Jin chooses instead to accept the wealth of the Southern Rong and look on in silence, then Liang will openly march to the aid of the Northern Rong. I once offered counsel to His Highness the Crown Prince on this very matter — that aiding the Rongdi would win us the heavenly horse pastures."
The Emperor, ignorant of what his daughter had once proposed to the Crown Prince, turned to look at him. The Crown Prince felt a chill shoot up his spine, and cold sweat trickled down his back.
Minister of War Shen Jingzhong studied the map, nodded slowly, and judged that Bai Jingyan's reasoning held water.
"There is, however, one thing Liang has not foreseen," Bai Jingyan continued. She lowered her gaze and spoke with almost brutal directness. "The fact that Great Yan — the nation all the others scorn — will march to aid the Rongdi and restore their rightful succession."
"Yan has marched not to aid the Northern Rong, but for its own ends. I fear that Great Yan's purpose may be the same."
General Zhang Danyue frowned and looked toward the Emperor.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and leaned back against his chair. Resting against a pillow embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns and a golden dragon, he sank deep into thought.
The atmosphere in the great hall grew heavier by the moment.
The Crown Prince, dreading that the Emperor might blame him if Bai Jingyan's refusal of his own proposal came to light, spoke up in haste.
"Yan's hostage prince is here in our Jin. More than that, Yan has depended on us all this while. When the Emperor of Yan left Dadu, Father himself gave him a warning — that Yan may aid the Northern Rong and take its profit if it likes, but if Yan means to swallow the Rongdi whole, Jin will not stand by and watch."
The Emperor held his tongue and said nothing.
"Even if Jin wished to swallow the Rongdi, isn't Liang eyeing us just as hungrily? If Jin marches to aid the Rongdi, Liang will certainly attack in that very moment. The Minister of Revenue is right — Jin has only just emerged from war, and we lack the silver to fight another. But once the Xiliang indemnity arrives, then perhaps we might manage a single engagement with Liang."
The Crown Prince kept glancing at the Emperor's face as he spoke. Seeing no change in his expression, only then did he slowly exhale.
"Though Xiliang has ceded us its cities, our losses from the Southern Border campaign were immense. Now is the time to regroup."
General Zhang Danyue frowned, pondered briefly, and nodded. He judged the Crown Prince's words to be reasonable.