Futile Devices Scans

“Your servant Wei Fu, having been dispatched as envoy to Longsha, departed after taking leave of Your Majesty on the twenty-eighth day of the tenth month last year and assumed his post on the first day of the twelfth month. I now respectfully submit the following account of the state’s governance and security:

“The Heir Apparent of Longsha, Yugong Lie, is twenty-one years of age, dignified in bearing, courteous, modest, and respectful. He personally led the civil and military officials beyond the capital to welcome the diplomatic mission, providing abundant accommodations and exceedingly generous treatment. After consultation between the Ministry of Rites and the diplomatic mission, the investiture ceremony was held on New Year’s Day, whereupon he formally ascended as the new king. Longsha’s central government is administered through a Cabinet overseeing affairs of state, whose members are drawn from the heads of the various ministries; its structure resembles our own State Affairs Hall. Upon my arrival, I obeyed Your Majesty’s command to assist the new ruler, taking charge of the Cabinet and ranking first among the chancellors. All important military and state affairs pass through me for deliberation and judgment. The national situation has only recently stabilized, but government orders still circulate effectively.

“Since its war with Yanyuan, Longsha has spent several years recuperating, and its vitality has only somewhat recovered. Yet in recent years floods and droughts have struck repeatedly, harvests have failed year after year, and the common people possess no surplus grain, to the point that some have been forced to sell their sons and daughters. The court has exhausted every means of organizing relief and has even purchased grain from Dongyu. Though this may relieve the immediate crisis, allowing the nation’s lifeblood to remain dependent upon others is truly a grave hidden danger.

“Longsha borders the Qionghai Sea to the east and possesses excellent harbors such as Pingdu, Liangang, and Wushan. Merchants from north and south gather there, ships come and go in an unending stream, and goods from every region converge in abundance. The profits of trade are a hundred times those of other industries. Unfortunately, in former years, when Yanyuan sought a marriage alliance with Qiyun, Pingdu and Liangang were ceded as betrothal gifts. The greater part of their commercial taxes therefore fell into Qiyun’s hands, leaving Longsha’s strategic throat under another’s control while its treasury steadily emptied. Qiyun’s power has now grown still greater. Having secured the seaports, it also seeks influence within the Cabinet. Its intentions are plain and must be handled with the utmost caution.

“Longsha has since ancient times been one of the principal suppliers of salt to the northern states, and Xiling likewise depends heavily upon this supply. Investigation shows that Yanyuan and Longsha once maintained an agreement exchanging salt for horses, but trade ceased after the war, leaving Longsha in urgent need of new markets. Dongyu is itself rich in salt, so Longsha cannot exchange salt there for grain and instead faces direct competition. What Longsha lacks is precisely what our dynasty possesses in abundance. The two states are therefore ideally suited to complement one another’s strengths and deficiencies, to the benefit of both.

“Longsha borders Xiling to the north, Dongyu to the south, and Yanyuan to the west. When Yanyuan invaded in former years, the late king sent his second son, Yugong Ming, to Dongyu as a hostage in exchange for military aid. Although the enemy was driven back, Dongyu forces still occupy two cities along Longsha’s southern frontier, controlling strategic passes and threatening the capital from afar. To the west, Yanyuan watches like a tiger stalking its prey, and no one knows when it may invade again. Military defense concerns the very survival of the state and cannot be delayed for even a moment.

“Considering the present circumstances as a whole, Longsha’s foremost task in governance is to ‘strengthen the foundation and nourish its vitality.’ When righteous energy remains secure within, external evils cannot invade. Thereafter, it must cultivate strong relations with neighboring states, restrain powerful regional factions, reorganize military preparedness, and guard strictly against foreign enemies. Once the state is secure, it may serve as a shield for the southern frontier, while the vast seas stretching for thousands of li may become maritime thoroughfares. Having received this command from Your Majesty, how could your servant dare do anything but devote his utmost efforts to assisting the new king?

“Longsha is rich in local products and also possesses rare curiosities from foreign lands. Respectfully enclosed for Your Majesty’s inspection are ten crates of assorted marine goods, sixty canisters of tea, five barrels of fresh fruit, two chests of purple-crystal carvings, two chests of porcelain, two chests of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, ten foreign-made flower-pattern felt rugs, one pair of foreign parrots capable of singing mountain songs, one pair of lion cats skilled at catching mice, and one pair of large-eared hunting dogs adept at chasing rabbits.

“Your servant remains stationed far away on the maritime frontier, vigilant day and night without slackening. The state is presently at peace. I ask only that Your Majesty remain in good health and take good care of your sacred person. I respectfully submit this memorial and humbly await Your Majesty’s enlightened judgment.”

Mu Heng sat in the warm pavilion reading the memorial Wei Fu had sent back. A snow-white lion cat with odd-colored eyes lay sprawled lazily across his lap, yawning, while another cat—pitch black except for four snow-white paws—had jumped onto the imperial desk and was now strutting curiously across it with its fluffy tail held high.

Two gray parrots with red tails perched inside a golden cage. One bobbed its head as it recited, “The east is sunny while the west is raining; they say there is no sunshine, yet sunshine remains,” while the other sang enthusiastically, “Walk a hundred steps after meals and live to ninety-nine.”

Zhong Yi crouched below the steps playing with the little hunting dogs. The two short-legged, flower-backed, large-eared creatures chased one another around his legs, their staggered barking filling the entire hall. The peculiar rhythm drilled straight into the skull, irritating every eunuch and palace maid present until they shut their eyes and frowned, unable to bear listening any longer.

Probably not even Fengdu’s Eastern Market was this noisy.

Amid the complete chaos of flapping parrots and barking dogs, Mu Heng maintained superhuman composure. Holding a vermilion brush, he wrote beneath the memorial: “Understood. Maritime trade and salt administration are important matters. You have only recently arrived in Longsha and have not yet had time to investigate them fully. Once you are familiar with affairs of state, submit another memorial setting out detailed proposals. If the local products prove satisfactory upon trial, procurement may be approved as appropriate. As for excessively noisy creatures, there is truly no need to send any more. Remember this well.”

One of the little hunting dogs abandoned Zhong Yi and wandered curiously over to Mu Heng. It thrust its muzzle beneath the emperor’s robes and sniffed back and forth before suddenly biting the leg of the imperial desk with a loud crunch. Zhong Yi hurriedly pulled a strip of dried meat from a leather pouch to lure it away. “Shh. Come here. Don’t disturb His Majesty.”

The black cat on the desk instantly lit up at the sight. It kicked off with lightning speed, pounced, snatched away the dried meat in one bite, and swallowed it whole.

The little hunting dog: “…”

Mu Heng finally finished reading the memorial, set down his brush, and rubbed his temples, his brain tied in knots by the noise. Sweeping a cold gaze across every living creature in the hall, he ordered, “Get these things out of here at once. Otherwise, I’ll summon the Imperial Kitchen and have the lot of them stewed together in one pot.”

Zhong Yi coaxed the hunting dogs back to his side and looked up with a smile. “They are Shuchen’s heartfelt gifts, after all. Your Majesty should graciously accept them.”

Mu Heng asked indifferently, “Do you know what I hate most in this life?”

Zhong Yi replied, “I would be honored to hear.”

“What I hate most are things that cannot understand human speech, things that are noisy, and things that are both noisy and incapable of understanding human speech.”

Zhong Yi: “…”

He picked up the little hunting dog bouncing anxiously at his feet and held it before Mu Heng with complete seriousness. “Your Majesty has never cared much for hunting. Shuchen understands Your Majesty’s wishes best, so all the pets he sent back are clever and gentle creatures, perfectly suited for amusement during moments of leisure. Please look, Your Majesty. This little dog has an innocent face and pure eyes. It must surely be a loyal and devoted hound.”

The puppy stared at him with round black eyes, wagged its stubby tail, and barked loudly and innocently.

Condescending to lower himself, Mu Heng reached out and pinched one of its soft, floppy ears, then casually wiped his fingers on Zhong Yi’s sleeve. “Seeing it makes me think of its owner. Looking at this thing is exactly like looking at Wei Shuchen himself. Too noisy. Take it farther away.”

The snow-white lion cat on his lap lazily rose, stepped directly across the emperor’s memorial, and wandered toward his teacup. It lowered its head to sniff and was just about to boldly take a drink when Mu Heng covered the cup with his hand. “No manners. Jiang Ling, carry it away and give it some water. And where did that Black Cloud Treading Snow go?”

“Over here.” Zhong Yi casually fished the black cat out of a dark corner where its body was almost impossible to distinguish and handed it over along with the white one.

Jiang Ling exclaimed, “Goodness!” The solid weight of the cat dragged his arms downward, yet he still praised sincerely, “Commander truly has excellent eyesight. This servant searched with my eyes wide open for ages and never noticed there was a cat there.”

“Wei Shuchen only knows how to create trouble,” Mu Heng said. “What exactly have those parrots been taught all day? He’s supposedly an elegant civil official, yet the parrots he raises only know how to sing mountain songs. I’m embarrassed for him just hearing it. Take them away and retrain them!”

The palace maids struggled desperately not to laugh as they hurried forward to remove the golden cage.

The two parrots began singing over one another: “Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer; eat ginger at night and it’s worse than arsenic…”

Mu Heng flew into a rage. “They’ve even mixed up the sayings!”

Unable to hold back any longer, Zhong Yi bowed his head and laughed so hard his entire body shook. When he finally recovered and looked up again, Mu Heng was glaring at him in utter condemnation.

Holding up one of the puppy’s paws as though making it bow, Zhong Yi crouched on the floor and asked, “Your Majesty, what about these two?”

Mu Heng waved dismissively. “They’re yours. Take them back and let the Egret Guards raise them.”

The corners of Zhong Yi’s mouth immediately threatened to rise again. Pretending reluctance, he said, “That hardly seems appropriate. They are tribute personally sent back from thousands of li away by Shuchen. How can this subject monopolize them? Why not keep one, Your Majesty?”

Mu Heng replied decisively, “Its barking could probably be heard from the central court. I absolutely refuse to allow something this loud inside the palace.”

Zhong Yi smiled. “Then what if Shuchen finds out and throws a tantrum?”

“Raise them without worry. He probably wishes those dogs could bark loudly enough for the whole world to hear.” Mu Heng snorted. “If you take them outside and show them to those spoiled young masters of Fengdu who spend all day parading around with hawks and hounds, he may even thank you. Hmph. I know exactly what he’s plotting.”

Zhong Yi rubbed the puppy’s head, folding its ears into various shapes. “This subject is dull-witted and begs Your Majesty’s instruction.”

Mu Heng flicked the memorial Wei Fu had submitted. “More than half the local specialties he sent back came from Lancang City. Guess what that place is most famous for?”

“What?”

“Yugong Zhaoye.”

Mu Heng smiled with an expression that looked almost murderous and said softly, “Lancang City is Yugong Zhaoye’s fief.”

Zhong Yi: “…”

“Lancang has no coastline and no harbor. Three parts mountains, three parts rivers, and four parts farmland. One of those mountains is Xiaohui Mountain, where his mother once became a bandit.” Mu Heng continued, “Among Longsha’s sixteen cities, Lancang cannot be considered prosperous. It survives by relying on its mountains. Yet look at everything Wei Shuchen sent back: tea from Xiaohui Mountain, porcelain from Xiaohui Mountain, purple crystal from Xiaohui Mountain, rabbit-hair and wolf-hair brushes made from the rabbits and wolves of Xiaohui Mountain… perhaps even the rabbits your two dogs were bred to chase.”

“He is determined to elevate Lancang and raise Yugong Zhaoye’s standing along with it. What those above favor, those below will pursue even more strongly. Once these products arrive in Fengdu and are distributed among the ministers by imperial favor, they become goods personally recognized by the throne. When word spreads, merchants will inevitably scramble to purchase them. As soon as trade routes between the two countries fully open, many of Lancang’s remote towns can transform from impoverished backwaters into thriving market centers. At that point, who will still dare sneer about bandits? And how could the local people fail to feel grateful toward him?”

Zhong Yi asked in confusion, “But Prince Yugong is… Given his identity, shouldn’t he prefer not to attract too much fame or prominence?”

This time Mu Heng did not answer immediately. He merely looked at Zhong Yi with calm gentleness, smiling faintly with a trace of helplessness.

Zhong Yi did not understand, and perhaps even Yugong Zhaoye himself would not have understood. Only Mu Heng could empathize with Wei Fu’s concerns and see through his intentions at a glance.

“To plan so far ahead for someone… it is not only parents who love their children this way.”

“Chuiyun,” he sighed softly, “you may be part of the Egret Guards now, but that does not mean I intend for you to remain only an Egret Guard your entire life.”

Bihan City, Longsha.

Night was falling. Rows of lamps inside Yeguang Hall were lit one after another while attendants raised long poles to hang pale lanterns beneath the eaves.

“Your Highness, aside from Kui Yue, from whom there is still no news, all secret reports from the Moon Envoys stationed abroad have arrived on schedule.”

Inside a rear courtyard room, Yugong Zhaoye accepted the long rectangular box Ying Yue handed him, fiddled with the mechanism, and slid open the lid for a glance. “Alright. I’ll read them tomorrow. Go rest.”

Seeing Ying Yue hesitate instead of leaving, Yugong Zhaoye looked up. “Worried about your sister?”

Ying Yue nodded somewhat awkwardly. Yugong Zhaoye had just opened his mouth to comfort him when Ying Yue tactfully added, “Also… Xu Ri, whom Your Highness assigned to secretly protect Lord Wei, asked me to pass along a message. Tonight, the Resident Port Envoys from Pingdu and Liangang are hosting Lord Wei at Huifeng Tower on Kaiyang Avenue. Your Highness previously told him to keep count. This makes the tenth time this month.”

Ten drinking engagements in one month. Why didn’t Wei Fu simply move into a winehouse?

Not counting Wei Fu, Longsha’s Cabinet had only nine members. Since he had only recently arrived, it made sense for each of them to host him once as an introduction. But where exactly had these two suddenly come from tonight?

Yugong Zhaoye and Ying Yue exchanged a look, finding the exact same helplessness reflected on each other’s faces. Every minute expression seemed to say, The child has gone wild outside and refuses to come home. He’s probably causing trouble again.

Yugong Zhaoye rose, snatched his outer robe from the rack, and strode toward the door while putting it on. Without looking back, he ordered, “I’m going out for a while.”