There was also Zhao Cheng’s nephew by marriage, the son of a Zhao family aunt, who could be considered Zhao Hanzhang’s cousin. His mother died early, and his father remarried within a year. Unable to get by at home, he ran away on his own, fumbling his way back to his maternal clan.
It was said that when he first arrived at the Zhao family fortified village, everyone thought he was a beggar.
Fifth Great-Uncle took pity on him and let him live in the household. After nursing him back to health, he sent him to study with Zhao Cheng, and he had been following Zhao Cheng ever since.
His name was Ning Yu.
Last year when Zhao Hanzhang selected people from Zhao Cheng’s side, he didn’t sign up and even avoided Zhao Hanzhang’s selection, so initially Zhao Hanzhang didn’t even know such a person existed.
Zhao Hanzhang asked with a smile, “Is Cousin Ning also willing?”
Zhao Cheng nodded. “He admires you greatly. I think he would be willing.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded and pressed further, “What about Zhao Ze and the others?”
She still preferred Zhao Ze and Zhao Zheng—lively and intelligent, they got along well not only with her but also with Erlang. Such talented people were a waste not to use.
Zhao Cheng looked at her helplessly. “They’re still young.”
“Not that young—only two years younger than me. I was already leading troops into battle last year, and Erlang is even younger, only thirteen, the same age as Zhao Ze, and he’s already accumulated enough military merit to become a Lieutenant.”
Zhao Cheng froze slightly, his gaze sweeping across Zhao Hanzhang’s face, and he no longer voiced his objection.
Having gained Zhao Cheng’s tacit approval, Zhao Hanzhang smiled and was about to rise and take her leave to recruit Zhao Ze and the others.
But Zhao Cheng stopped her and asked, “How do you plan to use them?”
Zhao Hanzhang sat back down and told him, “I want to keep them here to assist County Magistrate Chen in building the county capital. Uncle hasn’t been to Song County capital and doesn’t know the situation there. When I came from there, most of the city had been burned down, and what remained were ruins. Only scattered households still lived in the city, and even the outlying villages were nine-tenths gone.”
“Such a county capital—rebuilding it would not only consume enormous human and material resources but also sadden people.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “There, I felt only death’s aura, unlike the Chen family fortified village. Though small and just a little fortified village, it’s full of vitality. Building a county capital here can also attract other people from Song County and let them live and work in peace.”
Zhao Cheng fell silent before asking, “Is that the only reason?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “Also, this place isn’t far from Song County capital. If the population increases in the future, people can be distributed to that area. Here, just ahead is a three-way intersection—a very strategic location. Very coincidentally, like Song County, we can defend this position.”
Beyond the Chen family fortified village’s three-way intersection, walking about the same distance again would reach Song County capital. She thought that when Song County originally chose that location as the county seat, they had this strategic consideration as well. Now that she was changing locations, she likewise needed to consider this strategic point.
“Besides that is the mountain not far from the fortified village,” Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “The world is in great chaos now. Although I hope Yuzhou will have no more warfare, I alone cannot guarantee this, so I must consider the worst outcome.”
“If one day I cannot hold Yuzhou, then I hope the people of Song County can retreat from here into the mountains.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’ve kept the bandit dens on the mountain. When they retreat into the forest, they can defend from the dangerous terrain.”
Seeing she had thought this through, Zhao Cheng nodded. “Good, I’ll have them stay.”
He sighed. “It’s just that they’re still young after all. I fear they’ll have difficulty completing your grand plan. Well, since you’re going to build another academy here anyway, I’ll stay to help keep an eye on them.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved up halfway before she suppressed it. With a face full of difficulty, she said, “That’s not quite appropriate. Uncle, you don’t know—Seventh Great-Uncle has sent another letter urging me to send you back to Xiping.”
Zhao Cheng immediately firmed up his decision, his face darkening. “Then it’s settled. Find us a house. We’re guests—we can’t all crowd into the Chen family’s home. Haven’t you noticed the whole family is squeezed into the side rooms?”
Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand with grand wealth. “Uncle, since you’re staying, how could you live in those old houses? I’ll have someone build new houses immediately.”
Before Zhao Cheng could object, Zhao Hanzhang turned and ran, calling Zhao Kuan and Fan Ying with great fanfare. “Quickly, quickly, quickly, send people to find stone materials and timber for building houses. Get the soldiers to go dig foundations—I need to build houses.”
Zhao Kuan was stunned. “We’re not leaving?”
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him. “What are you thinking? I’m building the academy, county offices, and residences for officials.”
She said, “These three places are most urgent and must start immediately.”
Zhao Kuan swallowed. “Your Excellency, building houses isn’t accomplished in a day. We won’t be staying here to build houses the whole time, will we?”
Fan Ying said, “You’re being foolish. If you can think of it, how could Your Excellency not? She must be planning to lay the foundation first, provide a model, so County Magistrate Chen can follow it.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction. Fan Ying was finally learning to think, though this time his thinking still sided with her against Zhao Kuan.
She said, “County Magistrate Chen has no experience with work relief. Although I’ve established regulations with him, without actually doing it, he’ll inevitably be flustered. So we’ll provide him a model.”
“The fortified village has taken in quite a few refugees now. With them, building a county capital is entirely possible, not to mention our support.” Zhao Hanzhang told them a particularly good piece of news. “Uncle Cheng plans to stay with Zhao Ze and the others to help.”
Fan Ying congratulated Zhao Hanzhang happily. “Congratulations, Miss, on gaining excellent talent again.”
Zhao Kuan’s feelings were mixed. These past days, his teacher had lectured him daily until he was terrified, but hearing the teacher would stay here and not accompany them, his heart still felt disappointed.
In the future, he would face Zhao Hanzhang and Uncle Ming alone again.
Sigh…
Zhao Hanzhang and Chen Yin had already selected the location for the county offices, not inside the fortified village but outside.
Because the fortified village was very small and they would definitely expand later, plus she intended to move the county capital toward that mountain, making the mountain the back door barrier for the new Song County, so she selected the county offices outside, then later encompass the fortified village within.
Chen Yin initially wasn’t very willing, but after seeing what Zhao Hanzhang planned to build, he could only agree.
Because the things she wanted to build were truly numerous.
The county offices had official residences next door, across one street was the county academy, and around the academy were residences for students and teachers…
In any case, it was a very large architectural system that his small fortified village simply couldn’t accommodate, let alone residential districts and commercial streets.
Chen Yin agreed, and Zhao Hanzhang led people to mark out the land according to the blueprints, directly delineating the county offices and academy. “Build these two blocks first. Bring lime to mark the boundaries and begin construction.”
Chen Yin responded but was actually somewhat confused, not knowing what to do first.
Zhao Kuan and Fan Ying had experience. They first found craftsmen to measure, and after confirming everything, they used lime to draw lines while having people build wooden shelters not far away for the workers to rest.