Wang Shi had no idea that her daughter had acquired “Xiping County” on this trip. She naturally assumed that with the child back, the matter was settled.

So as soon as they returned to the estate, she asked, “Where is Young Master Fu?”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “He’s still in Xiping County.”

She took the opportunity to express that she would go to Xiping County in a couple of days and would be staying there long-term.

Wang Shi was stunned and asked, “Aren’t you just going to escort your cousins back and then return? Why would you stay in Xiping?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “This is a long story, but I’ll make it short for Mother. I took down Xiping County, so now Xiping County is mine. I still need to go back to handle some matters.”

Wang Shi took a long time to recover. “What do you mean Xiping County is yours?”

But Zhao Hanzhang was no longer beside her. Seeing Wang Shi spacing out for so long, she patted her bottom and ran off to check on her glass workshop.

During her absence, the glass workshop had continued operating and produced quite a lot of beautiful glass.

For relatively ordinary pieces, everyone followed Zhao Hanzhang’s naming convention and called them all “glass.”

But for more beautiful, artistic pieces, everyone called them “liuli,” and even gave them various pleasant-sounding names. The craftsmen’s souls burned with passion.

Fu Tinghan had left behind several recipes. The liuli made according to these recipes were all different, and the craftsmen could create different shapes based on their characteristics.

However, compared to innovative shapes, the craftsmen still hoped more to create different types of glass and form different recipes.

Because the Young Lady had announced that whoever could improve the glass recipes and create more diverse types of glass would be rewarded not only with fields and money, but also with houses.

So the craftsmen in the workshop were as excited as if they’d been injected with chicken blood. Of course, no one had succeeded so far.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang arrive, except for those craftsmen who couldn’t leave their work, everyone else stopped what they were doing and turned to bow to her.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, telling them not to stand on ceremony and to continue with whatever they were doing.

Zhao Cai had people bring up the liuli made during this period, including one box carefully selected as the finest pieces.

Zhao Hanzhang picked them up to examine. They were transparent and clear, like crystal, not inferior to modern craftsmanship, and the shapes were very delicate.

Even though he had seen them many times, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but exclaim, “These are truly exquisite works of craftsmanship. Whether sold to the capital or to the Jiangnan region, they would be highly sought after.”

Zhao Hanzhang handed them to Ji Yuan. “If Master likes them, keep one. As for the rest, send thirty percent to Luoyang and the remaining seventy percent to Jiangnan. You can sell them along the way.”

Ji Yuan asked, “What should we bring back?”

“Grain, cloth, gold and silver, iron implements, and salt,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “We need to buy horses, and all of these require gold and silver.”

Ji Yuan asked, “Why not trade directly with the north?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’m afraid they might not return. Before we’re familiar with them, let’s use gold and silver for northern trades. Try to keep the trading location close to Yuzhou when the time comes.”

Thinking of the current situation, Ji Yuan nodded. “The guards needed for the caravan…”

“Calculate the personnel needed, and I’ll assign people to you from my retainers.” Zhao Hanzhang pondered. “This will require two clever and capable people. What do you think of Ji Ping, Master?”

Ji Yuan said, “He’s a squad leader. Wouldn’t it be somewhat wasteful to have him follow the caravan?”

“How could matters involving our reserves be a small thing?” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Let him go once first. If we find a suitable replacement later, we can substitute them. This is the caravan’s first time leaving Runan Commandery. The leader must be both capable and sufficiently loyal.”

Otherwise, if he ran off with the goods and people, where would she go to find him?

Thinking about it, Ji Yuan agreed. In terms of loyalty, Ji Ping was certainly sufficient.

“The workshop will remain here. This time I also brought back a hundred retainers who will stay to protect you all.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “I must trouble Master with the estate.”

Ji Yuan indicated there was no problem.

Walking out of the workshop, Zhao Hanzhang remembered something and headed toward the brick kiln. “I just remembered—we need to build military barracks in Xiping County, which will require quite a few bricks and stones. I’ll take a few craftsmen with me when I go back.”

Ji Yuan asked, “Why not fire the bricks here and transport them? Or build another brick kiln workshop…”

“It’s not that difficult. As long as we find suitable clay, it’s quite quick,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Xiping County town was severely damaged and needs many bricks and stones. Relying entirely on transport would be too labor-intensive, and moreover…”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at her vast estate. “I want to expand the Eastern and Western Camps.”

Ji Yuan’s eyebrows jumped.

Zhao Hanzhang said softly, “If Quyang cannot hold, we must prepare to resist the enemy in Shangcai and recover Quyang.”

Ji Yuan drew in a sharp breath, though his eyes gleamed with excitement. He suppressed the thrill in his heart and said quietly, “Young Lady, rest assured. I know what to do and will not fail this mission.”

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head, and they smiled at each other. Ting He, who had come looking for them, saw this and shivered, vaguely seeing an old fox and a young tiger.

Zhao Hanzhang saw Ting He and beckoned to her.

Ting He immediately lifted her skirts and ran forward. “Young Lady, the Second Madam is calling you back for the midday meal. Also, County Magistrate Chai has arrived.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “What’s he here for?”

She had only left the county town this morning.

Ting He shook her head. “I don’t know. The Second Madam couldn’t receive guests, so she invited him to the front hall and prepared a meal, just waiting for you and Master to return.”

Zhao Hanzhang and Ji Yuan exchanged glances, then turned back to the villa.

County Magistrate Chai was somewhat restless. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang enter, he immediately stood up and approached her. “Sanniang, a great calamity has struck!”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly tried to calm him. “Please speak slowly. What calamity?”

“Right after you left, people from the Provincial Governor’s office arrived. They’ve come to hold us accountable.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “It’s just after the autumn harvest, and it’s not yet time to pay taxes. Even if they’re collecting in advance, it takes time. He just notified you, County Magistrate, so how could he hold you accountable so quickly?”

“Oh my, it’s not about the autumn tax.”

“Then what is it for?”

“The horse ranch!” County Magistrate Chai said. “They went to the horse ranch to get horses, only to discover that all the mature horses had been taken by you, using my written authorization. The Provincial Governor’s office couldn’t get horses and was furious. They arrested the horse manager and came to demand horses from me. Sanniang, look…”

County Magistrate Chai looked at Zhao Hanzhang expectantly.

Last night Zhao Hanzhang had returned his men, but she hadn’t returned the military equipment and warhorses she’d been given. He had turned a blind eye and pretended not to know, but now with his superiors demanding answers, he couldn’t withstand the pressure.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “How many do they want?”

“Two hundred horses.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows and stared at him quietly.

“It’s true! I’m not lying to you. Master Chang is right here—you can ask him.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Changning.

Changning nodded slightly.

Zhao Hanzhang said coolly, “The horse ranch never had two hundred horses in total, let alone mature horses. This is highway robbery—demanding back double what they lent out?”

County Magistrate Chai lowered his head guiltily.