Fan Ying proudly lifted her chin and said: “The Governor said she can’t do without me now!”

Starting from New Song County, Fan Ying had been organizing all official documents sent to Zhao Hanzhang from the Provincial Governor’s Office, sorting and categorizing them for her.

Zhao Hanzhang’s orders to the Provincial Governor’s Office and various commanderies were conveyed through Zhao Kuan. Now that Zhao Kuan was staying behind, this part of the work fell to her as well. She was now Zhao Hanzhang’s most trusted person!

Thinking of this, Zhao Kuan felt even more stifled.

Zhao Hanzhang mounted her horse, and Fan Ying immediately abandoned Zhao Kuan and scurried after her, also leaping onto her horse.

Zhao Hanzhang gave Madam Wang a final nod, then led everyone away.

Their group traveled light with few attendants, marching rapidly. On the third day they returned to Runan Commandery, and one day later entered Xiping.

But she didn’t stop, directly leading everyone to Shangcai.

The Marquis of Shangcai’s fief was in Shangcai. Besides his food estate and privately purchased manors, there was also a residence.

This residence was official property, the Marquis of Shangcai’s mansion—oh, it now belonged to Zhao Ji.

But what did it matter?

The servants remaining in the residence still belonged to the main branch. Zhao Hanzhang led everyone directly inside, with the gatekeeper’s family already bowing in attendance.

They escorted Zhao Hanzhang all the way to the front courtyard, where the gatekeeper Uncle Yi knelt to report: “Miss, the rooms have all been cleaned. Please see if anything is lacking…”

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to help him up, saying: “Prepare ten or so hoes and shovels.”

“Ah?”

Zhao Hanzhang, who was removing her cloak, turned to look at him. “Is there a problem?”

Uncle Yi came to his senses and immediately said: “No, this humble one will go at once.”

This was in the city, so finding tools would take some time. Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t in a hurry. She removed her cloak and tossed it aside, then turned to ask Fu Tinghan: “Tired?”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “A bit.”

“Then I’ll have them heat water for your bath so you can rest first.” Zhao Hanzhang turned to instruct Ting He: “Go have the kitchen prepare some food.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at Ji Yuan and the others: “Everyone should go rest first.”

Several people exchanged glances, bowed, and withdrew.

The residence had a substantial guest courtyard that could easily accommodate them. However, there weren’t many servants, but fortunately everyone had brought attendants and could manage without much service.

After choosing a guest courtyard to enter, He Heng directly followed Yu Sheng into the room.

Because of Governor He’s relationship, the two of them were grouped as one faction in Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes. Not only did outsiders view them this way, but they viewed themselves this way too—at least for now.

He Heng asked Yu Sheng in confusion: “What does Provincial Governor Zhao mean? Didn’t she come to Runan to take over the iron mine?”

Yu Sheng said: “I’m afraid it’s not just for the iron mine. Let’s wait and see.”

From the moment Zhao Hanzhang ordered hoes and shovels, Ji Yuan had his suspicions, so he didn’t rest at all but waited to watch the excitement.

Sure enough, they had just eaten something when Uncle Yi brought the hoes and shovels. Zhao Hanzhang immediately summoned a dozen guards to go to the back garden.

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t called them, but Ji Yuan heard the commotion and immediately tucked his hands together to go watch the excitement.

Zhao Hanzhang took out a map and carefully compared it, finally stopping twenty paces away from a rock garden and having people dig.

Fu Tinghan had already bathed but couldn’t sleep either, so he came out to watch the excitement too.

Watching the soldiers dig enthusiastically, Ji Yuan sighed deeply: “I wonder if the old master foresaw this day.”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Grandfather’s original intention in leaving these things was for the clan. Using them today for the people of Yuzhou can be considered taking from the people and using for the people—ultimately it will benefit clan members.”

Ji Yuan asked curiously: “How much is down there?”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head directly. “I don’t know.”

Ji Yuan said: “…You don’t know the amount of gold and silver, yet you dared tell me to procure as many supplies as I could contact?”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him. “Right now Yuzhou is in ruins with everything needing reconstruction. How many people and how many supplies dare enter? Don’t worry—Grandfather definitely left enough money. If it’s not enough, I have other things to exchange. If nothing else, I now have two iron mines in my hands.”

Ji Yuan was startled. “You want to trade the iron mine for grain?”

Zhao Hanzhang: …

Fu Tinghan spoke before Zhao Hanzhang could: “She means iron implements.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Ji Yuan relaxed slightly but still said: “That’s also very important—don’t trade if you don’t have to.”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Mister Ji, there’s a commodity called a purchase qualification certificate.”

Ji Yuan: “What?”

Seeing his confusion, Fu Tinghan smiled and explained: “She wants to sell the qualification to purchase iron implements to them. They can use this qualification to pre-order goods first, then make payment later.”

“…Why would they agree?”

Zhao Hanzhang lifted her chin slightly. “Because in the future, all iron implements in Yuzhou must go through the government office. Without a qualification certificate I’ve issued, no one can buy finished iron or sell it either.”

“Of course,” Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Ji Yuan, “except for those who privately mine iron or privately trade in iron. But for these two activities, once discovered, I won’t show mercy—everything will be confiscated.”

Ji Yuan: …Governor, have you forgotten that you were the first to privately mine iron?

However, with different identities, standing in different positions, one’s stance naturally changed.

Ji Yuan quickly adapted and after brief consideration nodded. “This is indeed a method.”

His gaze fell on the pit being dug. Now it just depended on whether Zhao Changyu had left enough wealth.

Uncle Yi, who had delivered the hoes, watched in bewilderment. He hadn’t reacted yet. “Miss, what are we digging for?”

Zhao Changyu had been very cautious. Although the loyal Uncle Yi had been left to guard the residence, he didn’t know anything was buried here.

Zhao Hanzhang gave him a slight smile. “Digging for the treasures Grandfather left me.”

Uncle Yi asked no more. None of those present mentioned that the current Shangcai Marquis residence belonged to Zhao Ji.

The deeper they dug, the more Zhao Hanzhang stood at the pit’s edge. Just when she was beginning to doubt she had found the wrong place, there was a ding sound as someone struck something hard.

Hearing this sound, Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows slightly. The soldier was already digging with his hands, and soon revealed a row of jars—approximately five of them.

Having found something, even the soldiers became energized and immediately dug deeper, quickly extracting all five large jars.

The soldiers worked together to lift the jars upward, while other soldiers dug to the sides and discovered another row of large jars.

Opening a jar revealed gleaming golden cakes. Zhao Hanzhang reached in and took one out, weighed it, then handed it to Ji Yuan. “Mister Ji, see if this is enough?”

Ji Yuan took it and, after glancing at these five large jars, said with a smile: “If they’re all gold cakes, naturally it’s enough.”

But that was impossible. Though Zhao Changyu was wealthy, gold was even scarcer than silver and not easy to collect. That he could obtain this much gold and silver was already a testament to his great wealth.

Three of the other four jars contained silver ingots, while one held quite a few pearls, gemstones, and the like, wrapped in oiled paper and stored separately in the jar, preserved exceptionally well.