It had been a restless season in Fu-Chow. Yin-Yin had summoned shipwrights from the shipyards, mercenary captains from distant ports, and merchants with transports to sell. Contracts were being inked, bribes handed in jade and gold, and new hulls laid down under the watchful gaze of the Mistress of the Jade Sea.

“Security,” she said sweetly, eyes flicking over the gathered sellswords and ship-masters. “That is all this is. A stronger fleet to keep Cathay safe.”

She leaned back in her lacquered chair, lips curling with a private smile.

“Of course,” she added, tapping one long nail against her cup of wine, “if this fleet happens to find its way to a foreign land... like the Southlands… well, that is simply fate, is it not?”

She told them, as another bag of coin was paid out and the next captain entered to negotiate terms of enlistment.