Chen Wan and Xiang Yu had voluntarily gone to squat in prison. Though deep down they didn’t think they’d done anything wrong—in fact, if given another chance, they would do the same thing again—

They were convinced by Zhao Hanzhang. From a legal standpoint, they were wrong, so they voluntarily bound themselves and went to prison.

Having entered the prison, they never expected to leave again, so when Zhao Hanzhang suddenly appeared before them, they were rather surprised.

The two stood up excitedly. “County Kun Zhao…”

Zhao Hanzhang had the jailer open the cell door and walked into the prison, looking at the two and sighing, “I’ve come to request two righteous men’s help.”

Chen Wan and Xiang Yu exchanged glances and immediately clasped their fists. “Whatever County Kun commands, please speak freely.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked touched. “You two are indeed righteous men.”

Zhao Hanzhang seemed not to care at all about their leading people in rebellion. She directly led them out of the prison, and after having them eat a meal, assigned them some soldiers and had them lead people to supervise.

“Supervise?” Chen Wan was surprised.

“Correct,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I’ve decided to open the granaries to provide relief grain to the people, but I’m not very familiar with Quyang County. I can’t guarantee the grain I distribute will reach every person’s hands, nor can I guarantee every person who needs relief grain will receive it, so I need two people to patrol and supervise.”

Chen Wan’s eyes lit up brightly, even more moved. He knelt directly before Zhao Hanzhang. “My lady trusts me—I’m willing to dedicate myself completely to my lady.”

Seeing this, Xiang Yu also quickly knelt. “I’m also willing to dedicate myself completely to my lady.”

Zhao Hanzhang hurried to help them both up. “Good, then let’s work together for the people of Quyang.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately had Zhao Ju assign them two squads of soldiers each. The two each led a squad and set out to supervise immediately.

“I’ve already ordered people to tally the grain in the granary. You should supervise from the source.”

The granary was still tallying and screening grain mixed with sand and stones, but the grain in the county office storeroom had no quality issues—only discrepancies in quantity.

So this grain could be distributed directly.

The county magistrate hesitated several times before finally couldn’t help saying, “County Kun Zhao, if you open the granaries for relief now, what about the taxes for the governor’s mansion?”

He said, “This is all grain prepared for the governor’s mansion. County Magistrate Sun isn’t here right now…”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Do you think County Magistrate Sun can still return to Quyang County to continue as county magistrate?”

The county magistrate fell silent.

To be honest, he thought it was very difficult now.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Don’t worry. You’re just the county magistrate. Tax matters should trouble the next county magistrate—we don’t need to worry about it.”

“The urgent matter is pacifying the people. I don’t want them to rebel again.” She said, “Honestly, aren’t the losses from one popular uprising more than these taxes?”

The county magistrate silently nodded.

“So if Quyang County can withstand one more uprising, then it can certainly withstand the consequences of losing these taxes.”

The words weren’t quite right—Quyang County could withstand it, but the county office couldn’t!

But Zhao Hanzhang had already made up her mind. When Fu Tinghan handed her that data, she had already decided.

Though she very much didn’t want to offend Governor He, if the price was dropping the mountain hanging over Quyang people’s backs down onto them, then she chose to offend Governor He.

Governor He wasn’t worth her attacking innocent people for. Rather, no one in this world was worth her doing such a thing against her conscience for, including herself.

She wasn’t that important, nor did she have the courage to violate her conscience to do such things.

She had always been decisive. Once she decided something, she wouldn’t change it.

The county magistrate only dared to advise a little—he didn’t dare be too forceful, after all, the chief clerk’s corpse had just cooled.

After the county magistrate left, Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes to think, then said, “Send someone to the chief clerk’s home. The grain embezzled from the granary should be returned. The people are still waiting for relief.”

The county magistrate probed, “Is it… confiscation?”

“No, let their family members tally it and return it themselves.”

The county magistrate breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to send someone to notify the chief clerk’s household.

The chief clerk’s home was filled with mourning. Zhao Hanzhang had only allowed the chief clerk’s family to collect his body from the granary early this morning.

Because Zhao Hanzhang had publicized the chief clerk’s crimes, no one in his family dared complain. They were only sad. Now seeing the county magistrate arrive with guards, they felt even more sorrowful and fearful.

The county magistrate directly found the chief clerk’s father to speak with.

“Return the grain? This… where can we find grain to return?”

“However he embezzled it from the granary, that’s how it must be returned. Uncle, this is already County Kun Zhao being lenient,” the county magistrate said. “Normally such matters should result in property confiscation…”

The chief clerk’s father immediately stopped talking.

The county magistrate said in a low voice, “In the past, embezzling grain wouldn’t merit such severe punishment, but look how many died this time. The people rioted because of it—even Luoyang probably knows by now.”

“Not to mention the chief clerk—even County Magistrate Sun probably can’t end this well…”

The chief clerk’s father looked worried and finally said, “There’s not much grain left—it’s all been exchanged for money. Please, county magistrate, help me inquire whether money can substitute?”

“How can you be so confused? If you have money, can’t you buy grain?” The county magistrate said, “County Kun Zhao said she wants grain, so it’s grain. If you give her money, and she misunderstands, won’t you still be the ones to suffer?”

Hearing this, the chief clerk’s father gritted his teeth and agreed, then took money from home to buy grain.

But right now, the hardest thing to buy in Quyang County was grain.

Before Zhao Hanzhang had time to control grain prices, grain shops weren’t opening these two days either. The chief clerk’s father tried to buy grain privately, and due to the panic from the riot two days earlier, grain prices had shot sky-high.

The chief clerk’s father: …

Meanwhile, Zhao Hanzhang had just found time to manage this issue. She ordered, “Have all shops in the county town open as usual. Prices must not differ from the same period in previous years by more than five percent. Anyone who violates this will be dealt with according to laws against price gouging and disrupting government.”

Such regulations were very strict for a normally free market, but the county magistrate didn’t dare say no. In chaotic times, harsh measures were needed. The wealthy people were still locked in the granary counting grain—no one dared challenge Zhao Hanzhang’s patience at this time.

After agreeing, the county magistrate hesitated before asking, “What about the granary? The various gentlemen are asking if they can go home.”

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes to think, remaining silent.

The county magistrate’s forehead broke out in cold sweat. “They say they’ve tallied all the grain, and the grain mixed with sand and stones has been screened out. Old Master Guan says the granary numbers don’t match up, and the Guan family is willing to help fill some of Quyang County’s deficit.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved slightly as she asked, “How much will he supplement?”

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang willing to respond, the county magistrate quietly sighed in relief and said softly, “He’s willing to supplement one hundred bushels.”

Zhao Hanzhang said nothing.

The county magistrate swallowed and asked quietly, “How much does County Kun Zhao think is appropriate?”

—