The coastal district of Penglai, where Judge Di began his government service, was jointly governed by the judge as the highest local civilian official and the commander of the imperial army units stationed there. The limits of their competence were defined quite clearly; Civil and military issues rarely overlapped. However, after only a month of service in Penglai, Judge Di found himself drawn into a purely army matter. My story "Buddha's Gold" mentions a large fortress, three miles downstream from Penglai, which was built near the mouth of the river to prevent the landing of the Korean fleet. It was within the walls of this formidable stronghold that the murder described in this story took place: an event in which real men took part without women - and endless yards of red tape used to bind official documents!