One had to admit — Lin Xuejin's father and father-in-law certainly delivered.
Neither of them was the top man in their respective factions, but both were heavyweights all the same. In less than a month, Lin Xuejin's appointment came galloping into Taoyuan Town, official robes and official seal arriving right along with it. Had he set out for the prefectural capital that very day, he could have taken office that very day. Then again, it was also possible that the court had been jolted into action by the so-called eighty thousand taels of tax revenue.
"Congratulations, sir, on being restored to official standing," Jinyi said with a perfectly straight face.
Lin Xuejin smiled bitterly. "Jinyi, don't make fun of me — I'm walking back into a cage. Honestly, this past year and more has been the most contented stretch of my life since I first entered the bureaucracy."
"Don't say that, sir. Greater ability means greater responsibility. Serving as deputy town chief here is truly a waste of your talents."
"All right, Jinyi, spare me the flattery and just tell me what's on your mind."
"Very well, I'll come straight to the point. When you take up your new post, I'd like to send a few people along with you."
"Who?" Lin Xuejin's eyes lit up. In his view, everyone who had received an education in Zhao Baihui's new thinking was a person of real worth. Even the graduates of the Taoyuan Town school he served as headmaster — trained in as little as nine months, no more than a year — were all capable hands. Bringing some of them along would be a splendid thing indeed. Far better than his first appointment, when he had gone utterly alone and been taken for a fool and swindled accordingly. Of course, after everything he had been through, he had grown somewhat. Even on his own now, he would not be so easily deceived. But having capable people at hand was always a good thing.
"You'll need to hold military and civil authority together in this posting, sir. I'd like Mingwu to take some men along to help you put military affairs in order."
"And could you take Jinyuan with you, to let her gain some experience?"
Having worked alongside Jinyuan for over a year, he had grown genuinely fond of the girl and had nothing but respect for her abilities. He agreed at once without hesitation.
Three days later, Lin Xuejin departed. He had arrived in three carts; he left with more than thirty.
Taoyuan Town lay within the bounds of Qingjiang Prefecture, no more than two hundred li from the prefectural capital. The journey nonetheless took a full five days.
"Wow, so this is the prefectural capital? The walls are so high!" Jinyuan poked her head out of the carriage, marveling at the mottled walls that rose two zhang above the ground. Beside her, Lin Mengxuan's small head appeared as well, and she said with a grin, "The walls in the capital are even higher — three meters tall. I'll take you to see them someday."
"I'd love that. I've always wanted to see the legendary capital with my own eyes."
When the carts reached the city gate, the guards took one look at such an imposing procession and knew at once that important figures were inside. One of them stepped forward with a smile. "Which honored official graces us with a visit?"
Mingcheng rode at the head of the column and called out in a clear voice, "The Prefect has arrived. Open the gate."
The guard startled and, without asking a single further question, ran to clear the nearby townspeople out of the way and had the half-open gate thrown wide.
"We respectfully welcome the Prefect!" A row of guards dropped to one knee in greeting.
Mingcheng was completely bewildered. Are you all simple? You don't check anything? What if someone were impersonating the Prefect?
In truth he was overthinking it. Who would stake their life on impersonating a prefect? Besides, the previous prefect had departed for the capital a few days earlier in high spirits after receiving his transfer, and everyone had been waiting for the new one to arrive.
"Come on, let's go," Mingcheng said, steeling himself and passing through the gate. He pointed to the guard who appeared to be in charge. "You — lead us to the prefectural yamen."
"Yes, little sir!" The guard captain cheerfully led the way through the streets to the yamen.
"Sir, we've arrived!"
Mingcheng noticed the man lingering and watching him with an eager expression, and understood immediately. When in Rome, he supposed. He waved his hand and tossed the man a qian of silver.
"Thank you, little sir! Thank you, little sir!" The guard captain snatched the reward with a beaming face and trotted off. A short walk, just a few steps, and he'd earned a qian of silver — half a month's pay. The new prefect was clearly a man of means if even his servants were this generous.
Mingcheng came to stand before Lin Xuejin. "Sir, I'll leave a few men here to stand guard; the rest will fan out and gather information."
"Good, go ahead. We'll take a look inside the yamen first. Make sure everyone comes back for dinner tonight."
Lin Xuejin had picked up some of Zhao Baihui's habits and grown increasingly warm toward those around him. It struck him now that Mingcheng, Jinyuan, and the others were still young — he ought to look after them properly.
The yamen was large, but dilapidated.
Jinyuan surveyed her surroundings with undisguised displeasure. "This is absolutely falling apart. Why hasn't anyone bothered to fix it?"
Madam Lin patted her on the head. "There has always been a tradition that officials don't renovate their own offices."
"What a ridiculous tradition. Elder Sister always says officials should keep things simple — but simple doesn't mean filthy and broken-down. This won't do at all. Mingzhen, go find some craftsmen and get this place put in order."
"Consider it done." Mingzhen went off to hire workers.
In earlier days Lin Xuejin might have stopped her, but his outlook had changed. He simply watched with a smile and said nothing.
The back quarters were patched up first, reaching a standard that Jinyuan grudgingly declared livable. Over the following days, craftsmen gradually worked their way through the entire compound.
That evening Mingcheng hurried back to join everyone for dinner. The Lin family numbered five in all, but the eldest son, Lin Yunxuan, had been left behind in Taoyuan Town to continue serving as street director. The other four had come here. At the table sat Jinyuan, Mingcheng, Mingwen, and Mingzhen alongside the family. Mingcheng, the eldest of the three brothers, was steady and capable, equally at home with the pen and the sword; Mingwen and Mingzhen both carried more of the scholar about them.
"Sir, I've gathered some information that may prove useful…"
The following day, calling cards began arriving at the yamen. The tongzhi — Lin Xuejin's second-in-command — together with a host of other officials and prominent merchants and gentry of the city, jointly invited him to a gathering at the finest restaurant in town.
The first time he had been appointed prefect, he had received a similar invitation and refused it without a second thought. This time, he accepted without hesitation.
That evening he set out for the banquet with Jinyuan and Mingcheng at his side.
Nearly a hundred guests were assembled — every notable figure in Qingjiang Prefecture. You would not lightly provoke a single one of them picked at random. Yet at that moment, all of them wore broad smiles and rose to receive him with elaborate respect. Lin Xuejin stepped through the door, let the pleasant expression drop from his face, and walked past the assembled crowd with a cool, unsmiling countenance, taking his seat at the head of the table with an air of lofty indifference. He reserved the only faint smile in his arsenal for the tongzhi seated beside him.
The tongzhi, finding himself the sole recipient of the prefect's goodwill, felt a small, unexpected surge of gratification. The prefect smiled only at me!
"Please, everyone be seated."
"This official has only just arrived and will be relying on all of your assistance in every respect."
"You are too kind, Your Excellency."
"It is we who must look to you for guidance."
"I'll be candid: I have not come here intending to stay long."
A ripple of unease passed through the room. What did the prefect mean by that? Was he planning to make enemies of everyone and then simply walk away? They had all made inquiries into his past. Surely it wouldn't happen again?
"My years away from office gave me time to think things through. When everyone prospers, everyone prospers — that is the best of all possible outcomes."
"So my plan is to produce results quickly and then return to the capital."
Translated plainly: I need achievements to show for my time here. I don't particularly care how those achievements come about. Give me results to point to, and life will be good for all of us. Refuse, and life will be good for none of us.
"When those achievements reach His Majesty's eyes — and when I eventually make my way back to the capital — I will not forget what any of you have done."
A collective breath of relief moved through the room. The prefect had come to his senses. Excellent. Results, achievements, the appearance of good governance — these were things they knew very well how to manage.
They may, however, have relaxed too soon.