Zhao Hanzhang had someone take the minor official away to rest. Only then did she look toward Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan sitting to the side. She mainly looked at Ji Yuan. “Master Ji came specially—do you have something to tell me?”
Ji Yuan glanced at Fu Tinghan sitting motionless to the side like a mountain, then said, “My lady, Quyang County is in danger. Now not only is there no Governor, even the Commandery Vice-Governor is gone. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you.”
Zhao Hanzhang said thoughtfully, “I don’t think much of County Magistrate Sun.”
“We don’t need him. There are plenty of ways—exile him, or have someone lead him in escaping.” Ji Yuan said meaningfully, “You’ve placed Zhao Kuan and the others in Shangcai County to learn administrative affairs. It’s been half a year now. Isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for?”
Zhao Hanzhang tapped her fingers, then said, “As soon as it’s light, I’ll lead troops and depart. I must trouble Master to accompany me.”
Ji Yuan readily agreed.
Fu Tinghan said, “I’ll go with you too.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “If we can’t negotiate peace and fighting breaks out, I’ll still need you to sit in the rear.”
Fu Tinghan smiled and readily agreed.
Taking advantage of the remaining time, Zhao Hanzhang went to the front county office and had someone fetch Changning and Zhao Qianli and the others.
After thinking it over, Zhao Hanzhang said, “Have Zhao Qianli bring Erlang too.”
Zhao Erlang now spent most of his time living in the military camp. Originally, he really liked living with his sister, but over the past six months, Zhao Hanzhang had also been training in the camp most of the time. He felt that even if he couldn’t match his sister in studying, he couldn’t lose too badly in fighting, so he followed on her heels training.
One thing led to another, and to save time and have more time to practice martial arts, he stopped returning to the county office to sleep, spending day and night in the military camp training.
After the New Year, he would nominally be thirteen years old, but he’d grown taller than boys of fifteen or sixteen. Only his round face made him look more age-appropriate.
He emerged from his bedding completely confused, following Zhao Qianli back to the county office in a daze. Seeing his sister seated at the head, he asked, “Sister, is the military camp having emergency training? Then why didn’t you call my soldiers?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “They’ll be called in a moment, but we’re not having emergency training—we’re going out to fight.”
Zhao Erlang’s eyes lit up, and he said eagerly, “Really? Can I be the vanguard this time?”
Last time when they went to Quyang, he went along too, but everyone didn’t dare let him charge at the very front. He just followed behind playing a supporting role, watching his sister charge ahead and even kill the enemy general. He was quite envious.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “You can’t be the vanguard yet. This time Uncle Qianli will be the vanguard. How about you serve as a junior officer under him?”
Zhao Erlang nodded vigorously. As long as he could stand at the front, he wasn’t picky.
“Go back and muster the troops. Before dawn, prepare food. Bring enough dry rations.” Zhao Hanzhang paused, then said, “Muster three thousand soldiers and two hundred cavalry.”
This was quite a number. Their roster only had one thousand soldiers.
Zhao Qianli accepted the order and immediately went to muster troops.
Besides the soldiers in the city military camp and the suburban camp, they also needed to draw troops from the nearest settlement point.
Three thousand men was no small number. The soldiers in the city and suburban camps alone weren’t enough.
Mustering troops was Zhao Qianli’s responsibility. After giving instructions, Zhao Hanzhang went to see Changning. “Prepare provisions and fodder.”
Then she turned to Fu Tinghan. “Inspect the military equipment.”
As for Zhao Hanzhang, at daybreak when the city gates had just opened, she galloped back to the fortified village, running all the way to the Zhao residence. Ting He jumped off her horse and pounded on the door.
Over the past six months, she’d been running in and out with Zhao Hanzhang, exercising her body in the process. This time she was determined to stay by Zhao Hanzhang’s side to serve her.
The lady was getting busier day by day. When leading troops on campaign, she naturally needed her care.
At this moment, dawn had just broken. The household had just begun stirring. The gatekeeper was still drowsy. Suddenly hearing the knocking, he muttered to himself—who would come calling so early in the morning?
But his actions didn’t dare be slow. In his heart, he knew that someone coming this early likely meant urgent business.
The gatekeeper opened the door and saw Zhao Hanzhang standing behind it, holding her horse. Startled, he quickly moved aside. “Sanniang has arrived. Please come in quickly.”
He paused, then added, “It’s just that the master and young masters might not be up yet…”
Before he finished speaking, the steward was already hurrying out from the courtyard. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang, he jogged forward and bowed. “Sanniang, the young master requests you go to the rear courtyard to speak.”
Zhao Hanzhang acknowledged and followed the steward to the rear courtyard.
Zhao Ming’s control over the household was truly strict. She’d only just knocked on the door, and he in the rear courtyard had already received the message.
Zhao Ming had just risen and was washing his face at the moment. He wasn’t shy in front of his niece, tossing aside the cloth, sitting before the dressing table while having a maid comb his hair, and asking at the same time, “Speak. What’s happened?”
Zhao Hanzhang said with a smile, “Uncle, Hanzhang has come to borrow someone from you.”
Zhao Ming asked, “What person do I have left that you could use?”
“I wish to ask you for Brother Kuan.”
“Zhao Kuan has been following you for a while already, hasn’t he?” Zhao Ming said. “Didn’t you have him manage administrative affairs for you in Shangcai?”
“Shangcai is still too close to Xiping. He can even return home on his rest days, so it doesn’t really count as being away. But this time I need him to go elsewhere, and it will be for a long, long time away from home. So I need to obtain your consent.”
Zhao Ming paused and asked, “Something happened in Quyang? It belongs to you now?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “…Not yet, but it’s close. Uncle, will you give him to me or not?”
Zhao Ming waved his hand impatiently. “I’ve already placed him by your side—why ask again? What happened in Quyang?”
“Oh, the common people of Quyang couldn’t bear the heavy burden and rose up in revolt. They rushed into the Governor’s office and killed the Commandery Vice-Governor, and are now surrounding the county town.”
Zhao Ming frowned. “You’re going to send troops?”
Zhao Hanzhang hummed in acknowledgment. “I’ve already mustered the troops. I’ll be leaving shortly.”
Zhao Ming understood—she’d come specially to inform him.
He looked up at her and asked, “What else do you want me to help you with?”
Zhao Hanzhang chuckled and said, “Uncle, taking Quyang won’t be difficult. The difficulty lies in how to keep it, how to occupy it openly and legitimately. This is the key.”
“You want…”
Zhao Hanzhang bowed deeply to him. “I humbly request that Uncle take Brother Kuan on a trip to Chen County and have Brother Kuan obtain the official seal of Quyang County Magistrate.”
Zhao Ming looked at her for a long time without speaking.
Zhao Hanzhang bent at the waist with her head lowered, waiting for a long time. Still not hearing Zhao Ming respond, she quietly raised her head to look at him, meeting his gaze fixed upon her.
She immediately broke into a grin, calling out ingratiatingly, “Uncle Ming…”
Zhao Ming came back to himself and waved his hand. “I understand. You may withdraw.”
Zhao Hanzhang probed tentatively, “Then shall I have someone invite Brother Kuan back?”
Zhao Ming hummed in acknowledgment, essentially agreeing to the matter.
Zhao Hanzhang left contentedly, but she didn’t return to the county office. Instead, she found Eleventh Grand-Uncle’s house on another street.
She asked Eleventh Grand-Uncle for the unfinished mountain and river map, though the sections for Xiping, Shangcai, and Quyang had already been completed.