Out of friendship, Zhu Chuan still gave a reminder before parting: “Magistrate Zhao should encounter quite a few southbound merchants along the road. Right now they should be stuck inside Nanyang Kingdom.”

Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang narrowed her eyes: “What, are there so many bandits in Nanyang territory?”

Zhu Chuan said meaningfully: “Those aren’t bandits—it’s normal tax collection.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile faded slightly: “Oh? What taxes did Master Zhu pay along the way?” Let her broaden her knowledge.

“There are many tax categories—cart and horse tax, goods passage tax, road damage tax, oh, and foot履 tax.”

Zhao Hanzhang was completely confused: “Foot tax?”

“Some small merchants don’t have enough capital—they have neither livestock nor carts, but rely on carrying goods on their shoulders and backs. So they’re missing the cart and horse tax and naturally must make up with a foot tax.”

Zhao Hanzhang: …

Fu Tinghan was also stunned. He instinctively asked: “So those like you who have the cart and horse tax don’t need to pay the foot tax?”

“Of course we must pay. Although we have carts and horses, most people still walk. So for however many people are standing on the ground, we must pay that many shares of foot tax.”

Zhao Hanzhang reached up to rub her forehead, her head aching. She asked: “Has Master Zhu come all the way from Shu—is it only Nanyang Kingdom like this, or…”

“Not quite. Shu is still fine. After leaving Shu, various commercial taxes with all kinds of names multiplied. Nanyang Kingdom is just one among them, though comparatively… a bit more.”

Zhu Chuan smiled: “On this journey I saw many merchants, with small merchants three times more numerous than before. They all heard that Yuzhou’s Provincial Governor has a treasure trove and spends generously—any supplies brought are guaranteed to sell. Commercial taxes along the way are reduced or exempted, so everyone came.”

Zhao Hanzhang lifted the corners of her mouth and nodded: “That’s right. I have indeed reduced and exempted commercial taxes. How much did Master Zhu pay in commercial taxes passing through Nanyang Kingdom this time?”

Zhu Chuan said: “Upon entering Nanyang Kingdom, I paid one lump sum of one million two hundred thousand coins for a transit permit. With this permit I can pass freely through Nanyang Kingdom, though other provinces and counties outside Nanyang Kingdom might not recognize it.”

One million two hundred thousand—that’s about twelve hundred taels. Money is valuable now. Mm, calculated this way, her heart doesn’t ache quite so much.

Zhao Hanzhang consoled him: “Master Zhu, rest assured. After entering Runan Commandery, there are no commercial taxes along the way. You may travel with confidence.”

Zhu Chuan also smiled.

He now had only three carts of valuables left. Most of his assets were on them. Having just donated thirty carts of goods to Zhao Hanzhang, honestly, his heart did ache a bit. If the rest of the journey still had such taxation, even with a great family fortune like his, he couldn’t withstand it.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the small merchants and lowered her eyes in thought.

After Zhu Chuan left, Fu Tinghan said: “For small merchants like these, commercial taxes could be completely exempted.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded: “That’s what I was thinking too. Later I’ll issue detailed regulations and notify all commanderies.”

She said with a smirk: “I originally thought that since Nanyang Kingdom is close to Runan Commandery and has always belonged to Yuzhou’s inner five commanderies, problems would be fewer. But looking at it now, they’re not few at all.”

Fu Tinghan also fell silent. He sensed the faint killing intent emanating from Zhao Hanzhang. But raising his head to see the refugees sitting not far away, huddled together for warmth, so weak they could barely move; then seeing those children running barefoot or in straw sandals through the forest collecting firewood, ragged but with bright eyes—he swallowed the words he wanted to say.

She was right!

Zhao Hanzhang was also looking at these refugees. The two stood shoulder to shoulder, silently watching together.

Zhao Erlang burst out from somewhere, covered in leaves, carrying a rabbit in each hand. He ran happily toward them: “Sister, Brother-in-law, look at the rabbits I shot!”

Behind him, Lu Hu carried a roe deer, grinning foolishly at them. Zhao Erlang said loudly: “Lu Hu shot that. This roe deer was so dumb—seeing us shoot rabbits, it ran around everywhere and was about to crash into Lu Hu’s arms. Lu Hu knocked it out with one punch.”

Zhao Erlang had played very happily today. He stuffed the two rabbits into his sister and brother-in-law’s hands, had Lu Hu toss the roe deer to other guards, and wanted to go back into the forest to play.

“Sister, lend me your bow. Your bow is bigger and shoots farther than mine. I want to shoot roe deer too. I heard there are also deer in the mountains—maybe I can shoot deer!”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Qiu Wu.

Qiu Wu immediately brought over her bow and arrows.

Zhao Hanzhang handed them to him, asking: “Can you draw it?”

“I can!”

Zhao Erlang immediately stepped forward, raised his hand to draw it for her to see.

The veins on his neck bulged as he pulled it to a half-circle, his arms trembling slightly.

Zhao Hanzhang saw this, reached out to grasp his hand, helped him draw the bow to full circle, then released it.

She squeezed his arm: “Still need more practice. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Zhao Hanzhang took back the bow, tossed it to Qiu Wu, and patted his shoulder and back thoughtfully: “After the New Year you’ll be another year older. You should be able to use medicinal herbs for body tempering. Then with daily training and sandbags tied to your arms to build arm strength, it won’t be long before you can draw my bow.”

Hearing this, Zhao Erlang’s eyes brightened: “I can also soak in the herbs Sister uses? Before when I wanted to, Uncle Qianli wouldn’t let me.”

“That formula was prepared for me, and you were young, growing rapidly. Soaking in medicinal herbs at that time wasn’t good. After the New Year you can. Then have Uncle Qianli prepare a new formula for you.”

Zhao Erlang agreed. He flexed his arm, but in the end honestly went to get his own bow and arrows, called Lu Hu, and was about to head back into the mountains.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t stop him. She beckoned Qiu Wu over and had him send some guards to follow, calling out loudly: “Get more—tonight we’ll also eat well!”

But it was deep winter now, and there weren’t many animals active outdoors. Zhao Erlang already had quite good wilderness survival skills and knew to search along water sources.

Sure enough, following the water source inward, they discovered many traces of wild animals. Going a bit farther ahead was a large pond. Parting the tall weeds, they saw a whole herd of wild deer inside.

Zhao Erlang’s eyes lit up bright. He excitedly called to those behind him: “Look quickly—deer! I’m going to hunt deer for my sister!”

Zhao Hanzhang quite envied Zhao Erlang for being able to hunt in the mountains without worry. She also wanted to go, so she turned to Fu Tinghan: “When we make camp tomorrow, let’s also go hunting in the mountains.”

After all, once things were arranged and left to Fan Ying and the others to follow routine, as long as she subdued these refugees tonight, tomorrow she wouldn’t need to specially stay behind to intimidate them.

Fu Tinghan also enjoyed occasional outdoor activities to relax, so he nodded.

The sky gradually darkened. When Zhao Erlang and his group excitedly carried out two deer, the camp was already filled with the aroma of rice.

Shu still primarily grew rice, though there was also wheat. So this time Zhu Chuan had mainly brought rice.

Fan Ying and her people cooked it directly with the hulls—there was no help for it. Dehulling in such a short time was too troublesome.

But they had simmered it for a long time. The hulls burst open, and even the rice inside burst into flowers. The thick porridge gave off wave after wave of sweet, enticing fragrance. Everyone stared unblinking at those pots.