“That’s right! Fighting is serious business. You men go!”

Another woman loudly agreed, “If we let the Xiongnu break through, every single one of us will die, so you must stop them outside!”

The crowd’s emotions surged even higher as they pressed two steps closer to Chang Ning, all clamoring, “County Magistrate, accept us! We fear neither life nor death!”

“Accept us! We’re willing to follow the Lady to the battlefield!”

More and more people gathered at the county office entrance. Chang Ning’s forehead broke out in sweat. He had to turn and tell a bailiff, “Quickly go summon the Assistant Administrator.”

Zhao Hanzhang had already issued all her troop deployment orders. She was currently inventorying military supplies with Fu Tinghan. Hearing the commotion outside the county office, she merely cocked her head to listen briefly before paying it no mind. They were all voices requesting to join the battle—Chang Ning should be able to handle it.

She just hadn’t expected a bailiff to come running to find her. “Assistant Administrator, more and more people are surrounding the county office, all clamoring to join the army.”

Zhao Hanzhang was momentarily stunned and asked, “Very many? The notice was only just posted…”

“Extremely many! More people are hearing the news and rushing over. It’s getting dark, and the County Magistrate worries that if the crowd doesn’t disperse, something serious might happen.”

Zhao Hanzhang thought briefly, then had the bailiff light torches and go out.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to Fu Tinghan and turned to leave.

Fu Tinghan considered, set down the account books, and said, “I’ll go with you.”

This was a critical moment. He also feared something might happen. Judging from the noise outside, the commotion was considerable.

Two teams of bailiffs ran out from the county office carrying torches, splitting into two groups to clearly illuminate the commoners gathered at the office entrance who refused to leave. Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan emerged from the main gate.

Mixed in the crowd, Wang Nie and Xie Shi looked up to see her.

A very young lady, accompanied by a very young and handsome gentleman. No one would have thought that Runan Prefecture’s actual person in power was so young, and now she could even influence the survival of Yuzhou, even of Great Jin.

Zhao Hanzhang looked down at the people below with a slight smile, her lips curved. Chang Ning, seeing her, immediately bowed and retreated to the side, performing a salute and calling out, “Assistant Administrator!”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, raising her hand to quiet the people shouting to join the army. “I heard your calls in the county office and know your hearts.”

She nodded directly. “I accept your enlistment. Runan Prefecture belongs to all of us, as does Yuzhou. At this life-or-death juncture, no one can remain untouched. However, I also have several conditions.”

She said, “Those joining the army—no only sons!”

The crowd below immediately protested, unwilling. “Lady, though I’m an only son, I must protect my parents!”

Zhao Hanzhang pressed down with her hand. “This is only the first deployment. If we cannot hold, there will be a second, a third, even more times…”

Everyone hearing this fell silent.

“If it truly reaches that point, we can’t worry about only sons or not. Even the old, weak, women and children will have to go to the battlefield.” Zhao Hanzhang said in a deep voice, “Not letting you go doesn’t mean you have nothing to do. The soldiers at the front need grain supplies. The weather is turning cold—they need quilts, thick clothing, and military equipment. All this requires you in the rear to provide. Your contribution is no less than those going to the front lines.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her hand and bowed deeply to everyone. “You entrust your lives to us, and we likewise entrust our lives to you. Everyone, I’m counting on you!”

The commoners hurriedly returned the gesture. Some knelt directly on the ground and kowtowed to Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing this, others around them knelt one after another. In an instant, the ground before the county office was filled with kneeling people…

Wang Nie and Xie Shi stood among them, immediately standing out. Fu Tinghan’s gaze fell upon them.

Zhao Hanzhang, straightening up, also noticed them. She didn’t know who they were, but judging from their bearing, they were clearly not ordinary. She nodded slightly to them and told everyone, “Recruitment will be handled by County Magistrate Chang and will begin tomorrow. So please come again tomorrow.”

“Lady, are you leaving tomorrow?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Everyone’s eyes immediately misted over, especially the women, who began crying one after another. “You must return safely!”

“Lady, take care!”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to everyone, summoned Fan Ying who was waiting behind her, pointed at Xie Shi and the others, then turned back into the county office.

Fan Ying bowed and waited for Zhao Hanzhang to enter the county office before going down to find Wang Nie and Xie Shi. “Gentlemen, our Assistant Administrator requests your presence.”

The two exchanged glances, nodded slightly to Fan Ying, and followed her.

Seeing them go out to lead two fine horses with attendants behind them, Fan Ying showed no surprise, directly leading them toward a side courtyard of the county office.

Wang Nie, however, looked at her several times, feeling her bearing didn’t resemble an ordinary maid. He asked, “Are you someone close to Assistant Administrator Zhao?”

Hearing his question, Miss Fan felt secretly pleased and raised her chin in response, “That’s correct.”

But her haughty chin-raised manner made Wang Nie certain she wasn’t a maid!

Sure enough, an approaching clerk stopped and nodded to Fan Ying. “Registrar Fan.”

Fan Ying nodded back to him and led Xie Shi and Wang Nie directly to the side courtyard to meet Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang was in the courtyard speaking with Fu Tinghan. Hearing footsteps, she turned around.

Zhao Hanzhang showed a faint smile, nodding slightly to them. “You two are…?”

Wang Nie and Xie Shi said, “I am Wang Nie.”

“I am Xie Shi.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s face showed surprise. She looked them up and down for a moment before nodding with a smile. “So it’s you two gentlemen.”

She said apologetically, “I received your calling cards, and Uncle Ming also mentioned you to me. Originally I planned to visit you both tomorrow, but who knew things would be so inconvenient.”

Xie Shi said, “Fighting the Xiongnu is a major matter. We came here to join Assistant Administrator Zhao. There’s no need for you to visit us.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow and asked, “You both wish to go to the battlefield with me?”

Wang Nie, seeing her doubt, gripped his sword. “Would Assistant Administrator Zhao like to test us?”

Zhao Hanzhang was eager to try, involuntarily looking toward Fu Tinghan on the side.

Fu Tinghan understood and said, “I’ll go to the warehouse for inventory. You go ahead.”

Zhao Hanzhang then told Wang Nie and Xie Shi, “Let’s go to the front courtyard. The courtyard there is spacious. Someone, bring my…”

Seeing they were carrying swords, Zhao Hanzhang changed her words. “Bring my sword.”

Ting He acknowledged and turned to fetch the sword.

Fu Tinghan wasn’t worried about their sparring. He had so much to do, so instead of watching, he went directly to the warehouse to inventory military supplies and then issue production orders to Wushan.

While waiting for her sword, Zhao Hanzhang asked them, “Why have you come to join me? Master Wang, you’re from the Wang family. Shouldn’t you be seeking out Minister Wang?”

Before Wang Nie could speak, Xie Shi had already snorted. “Our paths differ.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved upward slightly as she asked, “How confident do you both think we are in this deployment to aid Chen County?”

Neither Wang Nie nor Xie Shi spoke. Their understanding of Zhao Hanzhang all came from rumors—they didn’t know her true capabilities.

But judging only from her handling methods just now and her current attitude toward them, after thinking briefly they said, “Fifty percent, perhaps.”

Zhao Hanzhang was surprised. “You both think so highly of me?”

“Originally it was only thirty percent, but if Assistant Administrator Zhao leads the troops, it should be fifty percent.”