Chapter 16: The Examiner

The examiner was a small, dry old man.

He came into the general's study at dawn with two clerks and a lacquered case, and he did not sit.

He did not smile either, which Shuyi found restful after the Censor.

"I am here to establish the hand," he said.

"Not to judge it."

"The Censor will do the judging."

Du Wenyuan stood by the door in his fur-lined robe, smelling of roses, with his soft hands folded.

Mo stood behind the general's chair, and Lanxin sat very straight.

Shuyi had been told to stay in a corner and say nothing.

The cedar box was open on the table.

The examiner took out the first letter and held it to the window.

"Paper from the north, southern sizing," he said.

"Ink of pine soot, made in the garrison workshop."

"The ink is not at issue," said Lanxin.

"Everything is at issue," said the examiner.

He drew a thin glass from his case and bent over the characters.

The study was so quiet that Shuyi heard the scrape of his sleeve on the table.

"Twelve strokes in the character for heart," he said to the nearer clerk.

"A hook on the dot, turned to the left, with a small lift at the end."

"Write it down."

The clerk wrote.

Shuyi's stomach turned over.

"Now the ration orders," said the examiner.

The second clerk opened a thick roll.

"From the quartermaster's archive, signed Ye Lanxin, three winters," he said.

"The Censor sent for them on the night he arrived."

Du's smile was gentle and patient.

The examiner laid an order beside the first letter and looked from one to the other through his glass.

He looked for a long time.

Then he straightened, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and turned to Shuyi.

"You are the copyist," he said.

"I am."

"You made the fair copies for the Hall."

"Yes, sir."

"Bring me one."

Shuyi crossed the room and laid a copy beside the originals.

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